Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers 'Cap Hell' Greatly Exaggerated, Alumni and More

Well put Bill, as always.

Oh, this should be a fun day.

1998: The Flyers sign veteran checking center Marc Bureau as an unrestricted free agent. Bureau signs a three-year contract worth $1.1 million per season.

I never forgave him for that Petr Svoboda hit.

Hhhhmmmm. LTIR Umberger?

just hope the flyers don't get in trouble here if doctors physically clear him to play but umby says he's in pain. Flyers can always pay off doctors though. I like this option

Hextall has done a great job with the "length" of contracts as well. Only one defenseman signed for more than two seasons.

Excellent break down of the Flyers' cap situation. It's kinda becoming the go to narrative about the Flyers that isn't necessarily true. I think most teams (and some run by men considered to be smart guys) have a deal or two on their cap they'd rather not have.

I never forgave him for that Petr Svoboda hit.
- johndewar

Same. One of the worst cheapshots ever.

The recent spate of columns are taking things to an extreme in terms of the cap, bu the Flyers are still limited by too many questionable contracts and there is a negative impact.

This season isn't as big an issue, because let's face it, they're not a serious contender. There's no need to subject themselves to any additional cap penalties to move out a Lecavalier or Umberger via buyout now. However, next summer those options become more viable and may be needed.

The issue the Flyers have is they're paying too much for secondary talent. Premium prices for 4-5-6 defensemen. Big contracts to fading star forwards who are no longer top six quality. Hopefully, in a couple/few seasons, they'll have guys like Hagg or Ghost on a second or third pair, making $1.2mm instead of a guy making $5mm or $4mm

I never forgave him for that Petr Svoboda hit.
- johndewar

Neither did Svoboda. They co-existed when both were on the Flyers but Svoboda did not forgive him. That elbow, completely unprovoked, cowardly and gratuitous could easily have killed Svoboda with the way he hit the ice.

Neither did Svoboda. They co-existed when both were on the Flyers but Svoboda did not forgive him. That elbow, completely unprovoked, cowardly and gratuitous could easily have killed Svoboda with the way he hit the ice.
- bmeltzer

Yeah that was really scary. That and the Chelios hit on Propp were the two that really stick out for me in Flyers history.

Neither did Svoboda. They co-existed when both were on the Flyers but Svoboda did not forgive him. That elbow, completely unprovoked, cowardly and gratuitous could easily have killed Svoboda with the way he hit the ice.
- bmeltzer

My dad and I actually did think he was dead. The pool of blood under his helmet and then the blood coming out of his mouth were the scariest thing I've ever seen happen in a hockey game aside from the Malarchuk and Zednik throat cuts. I liked the McTavish beating, but at that point, there was no undoing what had been done.

One has to think that Lecavalier retires after this year, when:

A) his game has not markedly improved from last season;

B) he runs into the same benching problems with the new coach as the old coach; and,

C) he realizes... "I don't need this s***, I am a wealthy man. I have many leather bound books, and my office smells of rich mahogany."

Excellent break down of the Flyers' cap situation. It's kinda becoming the go to narrative about the Flyers that isn't necessarily true. I think most teams (and some run by men considered to be smart guys) have a deal or two on their cap they'd rather not have.
- johndewar

Yep. Agreed. It's reason 10,237 why Bill is best source for anything flyers by leaps and bounds.

One has to think that Lecavalier retires after this year, when:

A) his game has not markedly improved from last season;

B) he runs into the same benching problems with the new coach as the old coach; and,

C) he realizes... "I don't need this s***, I am a wealthy man. I have many leather bound books, and my office smells of rich mahogany."
- redcoat75

That would be the best thing, but he says he wants to go out playing. I don't think anyone has interest in him. He's looked really bad for two years and is getting older.

Yep. Agreed. It's reason 10,237 why Bill is best source for anything flyers by leaps and bounds.
- FlyersFirst

Proof positive that you can use logic, reasoning, and relevant data to be a successful writer instead of scare tactics and doomsday scenarios.

My dad and I actually did think he was dead. The pool of blood under his helmet and then the blood coming out of his mouth were the scariest thing I've ever seen happen in a hockey game aside from the Malarchuk and Zednik throat cuts. I liked the McTavish beating, but at that point, there was no undoing what had been done.
- jmatchett383

It was scary. Even more than Brad Marsh when he slammed his head on the ice.

One has to think that Lecavalier retires after this year, when:

A) his game has not markedly improved from last season;

B) he runs into the same benching problems with the new coach as the old coach; and,

C) he realizes... "I don't need this s***, I am a wealthy man. I have many leather bound books, and my office smells of rich mahogany."
- redcoat75

You would think....but Vinny will just end up hating Hakstol and making the same comments, I predict.

Excellent break down of the Flyers' cap situation. It's kinda becoming the go to narrative about the Flyers that isn't necessarily true. I think most teams (and some run by men considered to be smart guys) have a deal or two on their cap they'd rather not have.
- johndewar

They can't really use the "goalie" issue anymore unless you are Roenick or Milbury.

One has to think that Lecavalier retires after this year, when:

A) his game has not markedly improved from last season;

B) he runs into the same benching problems with the new coach as the old coach; and,

C) he realizes... "I don't need this s***, I am a wealthy man. I have many leather bound books, and my office smells of rich mahogany."
- redcoat75

It was scary. Even more than Brad Marsh when he slammed his head on the ice.
- Jsaquella

I do not recall a lot of blood in the Marsh incident. Svoboda was bleeding all over the ice.

That would be the best thing, but he says he wants to go out playing. I don't think anyone has interest in him. He's looked really bad for two years and is getting older.
- Jsaquella

Maybe if he rediscovers his power forward game a la Trent Klatt, he'll have a resurgence.

I do not recall a lot of blood in the Marsh incident. Svoboda was bleeding all over the ice.
- mickel25

There wasn't. But Marsh looked like he was in serious trouble, he wasn't moving at all.

Maybe if he rediscovers his power forward game a la Trent Klatt, he'll have a resurgence.
- jmatchett383

There wasn't. But Marsh looked like he was in serious trouble, he wasn't moving at all.
- Jsaquella

The Mike Richards hit on David Booth was the worst one I've ever seen live. His limp body just spiraling down on the ice was pretty scary.

Gotta love the witty guy in the next section over going, "Oh, come on...what, did he DIE or something!?" Well, dude, he's not moving and just took severe head trauma, yeah, he might be.