Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: New Philosophy for Development Camp, Quick Hits

I do wish the invites were at camp. With what looks like a lack of forward prospects, it seems kind of narrow to not invite at least a couple of forwards.
and if you have interest in undated player X, why would you let him go to some other developmental camp and not your's?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: New Philosophy for Development Camp, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Was looking for them to invite some undrafted players, but get the change

Not much sense trading VL while eating a "big chunk" of his salary, especially if it's for all the remaining years of the contract. Give Vinny away, let another team have him for no assets, or keep him on the team and figure something else out.

Good luck to Bryan Murray.

Not much sense trading VL while eating a "big chunk" of his salary, especially if it's for all the remaining years of the contract. Give Vinny away, let another team have him for no assets, or keep him on the team and figure something else out.

Good luck to Bryan Murray.
- wolfhounds

No way Jose!

Maddeningly inconsistent during much of his time in the NHL, Dykhuis arguably played the best sustained two-way hockey of his career during the Flyers' run to the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals.
- bmeltzer

You nailed that one, Bill. The perfect description.

I do wish the invites were at camp. With what looks like a lack of forward prospects, it seems kind of narrow to not invite at least a couple of forwards.
and if you have interest in undated player X, why would you let him go to some other developmental camp and not your's?
- nails

I hear you. But simply having the player come to camp means nothing in terms of where (if anywhere) he ends up signing.

A good example is Trevor van Riemsdyk, who attended both the Flyers and Senators camps (the dates did not overlap, so he was able to do both) in 2012 and signed two years later with Chicago. Another example is goalie Eric Hartzell, whom the Flyers had in that same camp but who signed with Pittsburgh the next spring.

I hear you. But simply having the player come to camp means nothing in terms of where (if anywhere) he ends up signing.

A good example is Trevor van Riemsdyk, who attended both the Flyers and Senators camps (the dates did not overlap, so he was able to do both) in 2012 and signed two years later with Chicago. Another example is goalie Eric Hartzell, whom the Flyers had in that same camp but who signed with Pittsburgh the next spring.
- bmeltzer

Understood.
but to not have them in camp at all just seems like a wasted opportunity.
when I am recruiting kids, the more looks I get the better. Especially firsthand, not just video.

No way Jose!
- Streit2ThePoint

Just depends on what you deem more valuable.
vinny
or
vinny ' s cap space

Not much sense trading VL while eating a "big chunk" of his salary, especially if it's for all the remaining years of the contract. Give Vinny away, let another team have him for no assets, or keep him on the team and figure something else out.

Good luck to Bryan Murray.
- wolfhounds

That, I wouldn't do. He's still worth something, especially if he's healthy. And considering what FA's are going for this off season, Vinny's contract looks like a bargain. I think people are really worrying too much about the situation... yes, it would be nice if he could be moved for a couple prospects, or picks, or cap relief... in a perfect world. But I still think he can play a role on the team if he stays healthy. So either way... it is what it is.

Quick healing to you Bryan Murray. Cancer is a cowardly disease that Governments need to get off of their a**es and find a cure for! I've lost too many people to that disease. And to that disease I simply say to you...FU** YOU

Just depends on what you deem more valuable.
vinny
or
vinny ' s cap space
- nails

I really don't see one winning out majorly over the other right now. Let's say you unload Vinny for nothing... maybe a late pick and a prospect. You can't get any solid available Dmen with that money... and now you're going to have to fill that hole with either someone from the Phantoms or sign another forward... which doesn't put you really any farther ahead. And as far as the future... sure, it would be nice to have that space for re-signings and stuff, but you also have Timonen retiring (immanent), and who knows what will happen to Grossmann in that time.

I say just hang on to him if the price isn't right. Don't just give him away. Heck, who knows... maybe he'll come out healthy and do good next season, opening up more trade routes, and increasing his value. If not, you're in the same position you are now..

Just depends on what you deem more valuable.
vinny
or
vinny ' s cap space
- nails

Yup. I figure, we gave nothing up to get him except cash, how does it hurt to give him away to another team if he doesn't really fit on the club and we apparently need his cap space?

Quick healing to you Bryan Murray. Cancer is a cowardly disease that Governments need to get off of their a**es and find a cure for! I've lost too many people to that disease. And to that disease I simply say to you...FU** YOU
- twpguy

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a cure... locked up somewhere by the govt, pharm companies, and big food producers. They have too much to lose if cancer was cured.

But I agree... I've lost a few family members in recent years due to it. When I was young, I remember presentations in our school auditorium on cancer, and when they asked how many kids knew someone with cancer, only a few raised their hands. Year by year that number grew. By the time I was a senior, most of the auditorium was raising their hands... and then I started losing family members to it, and some have survived it.

It's sad that it almost seems guaranteed we'll all get some sort of cancer in our lifetime anymore...

Bill, do you know anything about the late sessions during prospect camp? Will it be all invitees drilling together, or will it be more verbal? I wanna head down there, but waiting around 3+ hours is probably not in the cards. I know it's mostly drills as far as the on-ice stuff goes, and am just trying to make sure I get the best bang for my buck.

That, I wouldn't do. He's still worth something, especially if he's healthy. And considering what FA's are going for this off season, Vinny's contract looks like a bargain. I think people are really worrying too much about the situation... yes, it would be nice if he could be moved for a couple prospects, or picks, or cap relief... in a perfect world. But I still think he can play a role on the team if he stays healthy. So either way... it is what it is.
- WarriorHockey21

I don't think I am concerned about vinny's cap hit vs performance this year. it's the last 2-3 years of that hit that probably won't work.
Dead line or next summer might be his best value time to trade him.

Might as well just keep Lecavalier. His Holmgren contact is horrible and no one as miserly and scrooge-like as Poile is going to take it off our hands. Lecavalier would probably block the trade to hockey-Siberia anyway. Only Euros like signing there because they think we Americans are all the same anyway.

I really don't see one winning out majorly over the other right now. Let's say you unload Vinny for nothing... maybe a late pick and a prospect. You can't get any solid available Dmen with that money... and now you're going to have to fill that hole with either someone from the Phantoms or sign another forward... which doesn't put you really any farther ahead. And as far as the future... sure, it would be nice to have that space for re-signings and stuff, but you also have Timonen retiring (immanent), and who knows what will happen to Grossmann in that time.

I say just hang on to him if the price isn't right. Don't just give him away. Heck, who knows... maybe he'll come out healthy and do good next season, opening up more trade routes, and increasing his value. If not, you're in the same position you are now..
- WarriorHockey21

I think it's similar to the Hartnell for Umberger rationale...the payoff for the trade isn't this year, it's the final 2 years of Hartnell's contract where the value is found. It's likely the same with VL. If he was difficult to fit into the lineup last season, what's it going to be like in the 2015/16 season or beyond? The money would also be nice to have, but secondary in this situation, imo.

Might as well just keep Lecavalier. His Holmgren contact is horrible and no one as miserly and scrooge-like as Poile is going to take it off our hands. Lecavalier would probably block the trade to hockey-Siberia anyway. Only Euros like signing there because they think we Americans are all the same anyway.
- redcoat75

I am sure the Flyers know he would be ok with going to Nashville. It doesn't seem to make sense to have all these talks with Nashville if they haven't already known where Vinny would be ok going. I think the whole thing was a stare down to see who would blink first. Now with Fisher going down I think Nashville might lesson on the mon a little. To compete in the west you need centers and at this time theym are not going to compete with teams like Dallas or the teams from CA. Just my opinion.

Glad the rookie are getting on the ice.

I am sure the Flyers know he would be ok with going to Nashville. It doesn't seem to make sense to have all these talks with Nashville if they haven't already known where Vinny would be ok going. I think the whole thing was a stare down to see who would blink first. Now with Fisher going down I think Nashville might lesson on the mon a little. To compete in the west you need centers and at this time theym are not going to compete with teams like Dallas or the teams from CA. Just my opinion.
- J35Bacher

The Poile thing to do will be to sign Derek Roy for one year and limp to the end of another other long season.

Their Center depth, even with a healthy Fisher is a joke. Why Poile hoards D men while his forward core remains the worst in the league is something I will never understand.

Bill, do you know anything about the late sessions during prospect camp? Will it be all invitees drilling together, or will it be more verbal? I wanna head down there, but waiting around 3+ hours is probably not in the cards. I know it's mostly drills as far as the on-ice stuff goes, and am just trying to make sure I get the best bang for my buck.
- jmatchett383

Not sure, but I think it will be divided between drills and some chalk-talk type of stuff. I also think the on-ice schedules will ultimately change from the posted one (it often does).

I think it's similar to the Hartnell for Umberger rationale...the payoff for the trade isn't this year, it's the final 2 years of Hartnell's contract where the value is found. It's likely the same with VL. If he was difficult to fit into the lineup last season, what's it going to be like in the 2015/16 season or beyond? The money would also be nice to have, but secondary in this situation, imo.
- wolfhounds

I agree... I also hope they can unload him by next summer at the latest. I'm just not in a hurry to give him up for nothing in return though.

How is Stolarz projecting these days? Sounded like maybe his last year in junior wasn't so hot… but then again, he's a goalie and all that.

I read in the leafs blog they are running their camp with fewer invitees also. Looks like we're on the right path!