Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/6/14 @ LA; Phantoms Update, Flyers Alumni and More

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/6/14 @ LA; Phantoms Update, Flyers Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

Love Hexy's quotes from yesterday... stick to the long-term plan.

Love Hexy's quotes from yesterday... stick to the long-term plan.
- Tomahawk

I think we all went of this season knowing threat this team wasn't better than last years. We all saw the propensity for a flop. But Hexy knew I it hen he took the job. We have all become so accustomed to the win now that we expect a major trade. Thr truth is that a trade now would cost too much. We aren't in a position to fleece anyone and would more than likely be the "fleeceee" not the "fleecor". The young d rep will be on the way. I'm a bit concerned with ghost being out. But it's a journey not a destination.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/6/14 @ LA; Phantoms Update, Flyers Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

Bill-
I'm kind of surprised tha MDZ is scratched over Coburn. He really seems to be playing with little confidence right now...well, who is really? But MDZ seems to have been more reliable of late. Thoughts? Are they keeping Coburn on the ice for all the scouts at games?
Oh...and I saw where the Stars were scouring the Flyers as well. Any feeling as to their needs vs. ours and what that could likely mean?

Love Hexy's quotes from yesterday... stick to the long-term plan.
- Tomahawk

I'm somewhat concerned that Umberger and Rinaldo are part of the long-term plan. Hectalls first few transactions aren't inspiring much confidence at the moment.

The good news is this current tailspin hasn't spawned any short sighted quick fix Holmgren type moves YET!

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/6/14 @ LA; Phantoms Update, Flyers Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

From what the beat writers were reporting yesterday, Michael Del Zotto is in, Luke Schenn out.

Seravalli tweeted these lines from practice:
12-28-93
10-49-17
18-14-24
36-78-76

15-47
55-5
8-32

I'm somewhat concerned that Umberger and Rinaldo are part of the long-term plan. Hectalls first few transactions aren't inspiring much confidence at the moment.

The good news is this current tailspin hasn't spawned any short sighted quick fix Holmgren type moves YET!
- PLindbergh31

Depends on your definition of "long". Umberger cam in because of contract relief over Hartnell's longer deal. So while it sucks short term. It will be gone soon. I agree on Rinaldo though.

Bill-
I'm kind of surprised tha MDZ is scratched over Coburn. He really seems to be playing with little confidence right now...well, who is really? But MDZ seems to have been more reliable of late. Thoughts? Are they keeping Coburn on the ice for all the scouts at games?
Oh...and I saw where the Stars were scouring the Flyers as well. Any feeling as to their needs vs. ours and what that could likely mean?
- section32

MDZ struggled quite a bit in the games since returning from the LBI he had in the Rangers game. Then again, Coburn has struggled in quite a few games since his return some weeks back.

Stars have the worst GAA in the NHL, partially because of poor team D and partially because of spotty goaltending from the usually reliable Kari Lehtonen (his backups have been less-than-mediocre, though, resulting in Anders Lindbäck being waived and dispatched to the AHL but Jussi Rynnäs wasn't any better in Detroit the other night).

MDZ struggled quite a bit in the games since returning from the LBI he had in the Rangers game. Then again, Coburn has struggled in quite a few games since his return some weeks back.

Stars have the worst GAA in the NHL, partially because of poor team D and partially because of spotty goaltending from the usually reliable Kari Lehtonen (his backups have been less-than-mediocre, though, resulting in Anders Lindbäck being waived and dispatched to the AHL but Jussi Rynnäs wasn't any better in Detroit the other night).
- bmeltzer

So their D is as anemic as ours.

I'm somewhat concerned that Umberger and Rinaldo are part of the long-term plan. Hectalls first few transactions aren't inspiring much confidence at the moment.

The good news is this current tailspin hasn't spawned any short sighted quick fix Holmgren type moves YET!
- PLindbergh31

I think Hexys plan all along was to buyout Rj this July if he didn't like what he saw on the ice.

I personally would look to move on from Rinaldo. I don't think he's nearly as effective under a coach that preaches discipline. If I could drop him for a 2nd or 3rd at the deadline I would gladly do it with the way we've been drafting lately.

Depends on your definition of "long". Umberger cam in because of contract relief over Hartnell's longer deal. So while it sucks short term. It will be gone soon. I agree on Rinaldo though.
- section32

Umberger isn't much contract relief over Hartnell. Three years (including this one) at virtually the same cap hit versus two additional seasons wasn't really much improvement of the cap outlook.

so what is the plan with vinny? 3 games sitting out in a row. i know he has been bad but not giving him a chance to show he wants to play. dont get me wrong i think they should move on from him but what are they doing with him?

Vinny to the Devils for future considerations.

Snider to buyout the lower bowl for all Sixers games for a few years.

Sound fair? Trying to come up with anything here.

Umberger isn't much contract relief over Hartnell. Three years (including this one) at virtually the same cap hit versus two additional seasons wasn't really much improvement of the cap outlook.
- bmeltzer

I imagine we'll all be thankful for that extra $9.5M in future cap space once Umberger comes cleanly off the cap... or the much easier to swallow buyout scenario if they want an early escape from him.

Love Hexy's quotes from yesterday... stick to the long-term plan.
- Tomahawk

I really liked his comments too. At the end he says, in a couple of weeks you guys won't even be asking this question. Shows a lot of confidence in the team.

Bill, is it me or was the Flyers defense playing their best with Coburn and MacDonald on the shelf.

I really liked his comments too. At the end he says, in a couple of weeks you guys won't even be asking this question. Shows a lot of confidence in the team.
- Hextall271

Gotta say whatever you can to get the team get going and not look like a desperate GM.

Maybe they can put a little something together this month. Outside of LA today and a matchup with the Bolts and Preds this month doesn't look terrible. Even this team should be able to take two of three with the upcoming NJ CBJ CAR series coming up.

Umberger isn't much contract relief over Hartnell. Three years (including this one) at virtually the same cap hit versus two additional seasons wasn't really much improvement of the cap outlook.
- bmeltzer

Hey Bill,

I just checked on capgeek. According to their information, there is one huge difference between the two contracts though. Hartnell has a full No Movement Clause whereas Umberger has a modified No Trade Clause.

Given this, don't they have the option to waiving Umberger at assigning him to the Phantoms, say going into next year, if he doesn't start playing better?

I could have bought the NHL package for the cost of the dinner at the Cadillac Grille a few weeks ago with my customer friend, no desert, one martini.

I certainly hope Hexy has a plan, because there will be empty seats soon.

And maybe thats the best thing that can happen to this franchise is for it to lose money at the concessions and no playoff money.

Thats the only thing that speaks to people in the monolithic cable snake corporation, is loss of income. It might even get the NHL commish's attention and he will have to cut us the favor he cut all the other recent cup winners via the draft lottery joke and favorable officiating

Why spend the money there when you can see players actually trying in Allentown and to an extent in Reading.

I'm somewhat concerned that Umberger and Rinaldo are part of the long-term plan. Hectalls first few transactions aren't inspiring much confidence at the moment.

The good news is this current tailspin hasn't spawned any short sighted quick fix Holmgren type moves YET!
- PLindbergh31

I dunno... I actually am on board with most of his moves so far.

- 3rd for McGinn,
- finding value in MDZ, Schultz, Colie,
- Bellemare,
- getting Emery to take a 40% haircut,
- flushing Rosehill down the toilet,
- the cap-number for Kimmo, although that didn't work out.

I don't even mind the Hartsy trade, since I wasn't holding much hope out for the next couple of years anyway. Rinaldo was vexing, but at least that contract can be buried 100%.

It seems like there have been a lot of moves that he could have made, that he thankfully didn't/hasn't/won't. AKA the kind of poop Homer would do. He probably could have moved Vinny out this summer... at a tremendous cost in assets and retained salary... and turned around and blown that money on another AMac or something.

TL;DR: not perfect, but already better than Homer.

Gotta say whatever you can to get the team get going and not look like a desperate GM.

Maybe they can put a little something together this month. Outside of LA today and a matchup with the Bolts and Preds this month doesn't look terrible. Even this team should be able to take two of three with the upcoming NJ CBJ CAR series coming up.
- hereticpride

They are certainly not contenders but I think they can be a borderline playoff team. I've said it before, but I want them to get into the playoffs so that younger players get experience and I think then Hexy can deal from a position of strength at the draft and deadline. Stay the course. Having said all of this, if he can flip one of our dmen for a pick of some sort (say a 3rd) then do it.

I'm somewhat concerned that Umberger and Rinaldo are part of the long-term plan. Hectalls first few transactions aren't inspiring much confidence at the moment.

The good news is this current tailspin hasn't spawned any short sighted quick fix Holmgren type moves YET!
- PLindbergh31

The umberger deal I liked. Clearing term out

I could have bought the NHL package for the cost of the dinner at the Cadillac Grille a few weeks ago with my customer friend, no desert, one martini.

I certainly hope Hexy has a plan, because there will be empty seats soon.

And maybe thats the best thing that can happen to this franchise is for it to lose money at the concessions and no playoff money.

Thats the only thing that speaks to people in the monolithic cable snake corporation, is loss of income. It might even get the NHL commish's attention and he will have to cut us the favor he cut all the other recent cup winners via the draft lottery joke and favorable officiating

Why spend the money there when you can see players actually trying in Allentown and to an extent in Reading.
- Steelmanpa

The tickets are already sold. People will be in the building.maybe not the people who originally bought the tickets but people will be at games with the prices you can get on stub hub now. They're still paying for parking, buying food, merch etc.

This franchise will only see a significant drop in attendance if they start sucking for multiple years in a row.

I dunno... I actually am on board with most of his moves so far.

- 3rd for McGinn,
- finding value in MDZ, Schultz, Colie,
- Bellemare,
- getting Emery to take a 40% haircut,
- flushing Rosehill down the toilet,
- the cap-number for Kimmo, although that didn't work out.

I don't even mind the Hartsy trade, since I wasn't holding much hope out for the next couple of years anyway. Rinaldo was vexing, but at least that contract can be buried 100%.

It seems like there have been a lot of moves that he could have made, that he thankfully didn't/hasn't/won't. AKA the kind of poop Homer would do. He probably could have moved Vinny out this summer... at a tremendous cost in assets and retained salary... and turned around and blown that money on another AMac or something.

TL;DR: not perfect, but already better than Homer.
- Tomahawk

This

What he hasn't done is just as impressive as what he has done
Umbergers deal being 2 years shorter is absolutely a big deal when we are not competing for a cup in the next 3 years anyway. But in 5 who knows? It's a better outlook not having to worry about hartnells deal

They are certainly not contenders but I think they can be a borderline playoff team. I've said it before, but I want them to get into the playoffs so that younger players get experience and I think then Hexy can deal from a position of strength at the draft and deadline. Stay the course. Having said all of this, if he can flip one of our dmen for a pick of some sort (say a 3rd) then do it.
- Hextall271

Last thing I want is for this team to squeak into the playoffs yet again with a subpar team. Take the beating this year and come back better the next.

Getting one more top flight prospect won't solve everything but it will do wonders for this organization headed back on track.