Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Umberger, CHL Playoffs

I feel bad for Umberger. Not sure if the trade to Columbus ruined him or not, but I'm sure it didn't help at all.

Umberger has been a good sport over all of this. And I still tip my cap for him last season; dealing with couple of bad injuries that he continued through to play and never made excuses. As for Ivan and Myers, great to see them getting some deep playoff run experience and winning experinces as well!

this is why players sign long term deals with the stresses of family life and the body aging

didn't like the trade but understood what Hextall was trying to accomplish. A buyout is in everyone's best interest.
Watched the 3rd period comeback yesterday for Rouyn-Noranda against Moncton. They trailed 4-2 going onto the third ...tied it with 3 minutes left and took the lead a minute or so later,,, Myers played well...He's a big kid. not a bad skater and moves the puck well....If he can adapt with a faster pace of pro hockey he could be player.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Umberger, CHL Playoffs
- bmeltzer

Umberger was so good in that Montreal series. It's time to move on though

How many years does Umberger's buyout count against the cap?

Does anyone know when the Calder nominees get announced? Seems like every other trophy has had its nominees named so far.

Also, I hate to sound mean, but the Masterson Trophy is, some years, kind of a "forced" trophy. There are guys like Saku Koivu, Josh Harding, and Bryan Berard who overcome severe physical ailments to continue playing. This season, you have a guy who decided to stop playing (but sill get paid) because of blood clots, a guy who's nominated for being 45, and a guy that came back from surgery (albeit life-threatening) without missing a game this season.

I felt the same way when Lappy won it: he tried to come back, but couldn't, and won a trophy, effectively, for retiring. Yes, the effort can be applauded, but sometimes it just feels like the NHL is forced to nominate players for the trophy.

How many years does Umberger's buyout count against the cap?
- JoeRussomanno

2

Bill,
I think you got it pretty much on the head. Everyone knew that trading Umberger was a business decision. They simply could not pay him.

There is an entire Greek tragedy surrounding the 1st round pick

Trading to bring Umberger back....I said it at the time and I will say it again...it MIGHT have worked, but it really seemed like a GM trying to appease a coach and use the cap as an excuse.

Umberger was always a favorite of mine because of how he played. He wasn't flashy, he was just effective. It was sad to see how much his hard driving play had eroded his game. His hand skills seemed to be completely gone. I don't blame him for Holmgren or Hextall's decisions...or for having a contract that he earned and signed in good faith...I think it is just his game ended before the term on his contract.

I understand feeling bad for the umburger,Lecavalier and luongos of the hockey world, but they are the ones pushing for big long term contacts that more often than not hurt them and their teams in the long run. Apparently there is a negative side to greed. Who knew.

The biggest problem I have with the Hartnell for Umberger trade is the fact that Umberger was a legitimate buyout contender for the Blue Jackets. He would have been bought out. We traded Hartnell for him, and Hartnell has gone on to score 51 goals and 109 points.

Our biggest need? Top six left wing with size.


I get that there are cap implications, but still think it was a terrible trade then and now.

So who is getting traded in Toronto.

They have a newly signed Kadri at center, Bozak and now Matthews coming in. If Stamkos wants to be center who is getting moved.

Does anyone know when the Calder nominees get announced? Seems like every other trophy has had its nominees named so far.

Also, I hate to sound mean, but the Masterson Trophy is, some years, kind of a "forced" trophy. There are guys like Saku Koivu, Josh Harding, and Bryan Berard who overcome severe physical ailments to continue playing. This season, you have a guy who decided to stop playing (but sill get paid) because of blood clots, a guy who's nominated for being 45, and a guy that came back from surgery (albeit life-threatening) without missing a game this season.

I felt the same way when Lappy won it: he tried to come back, but couldn't, and won a trophy, effectively, for retiring. Yes, the effort can be applauded, but sometimes it just feels like the NHL is forced to nominate players for the trophy.
- jmatchett383

Calder finalists are announced today.

The biggest problem I have with the Hartnell for Umberger trade is the fact that Umberger was a legitimate buyout contender for the Blue Jackets. He would have been bought out. We traded Hartnell for him, and Hartnell has gone on to score 51 goals and 109 points.

Our biggest need? Top six left wing with size.


I get that there are cap implications, but still think it was a terrible trade then and now.
- jak521

And what would you do with Hartell now? He is another year older and he has a NMC. I am not saying it was a great trade in production but it had it's merit. Also with the possible expansion draft, if hartnell was around you would have to protect him due to the NMC.


Also what if keeping Hartnell wouldn't have allowed Schenn to break out? Schenn got quality time with the top unit and may have now turned the corner.

Yes. I would have liked more from Umberger. But I can see the merit of getting out of the Hartnell deal.

I agree it was a terrible trade but I believe Hartnell trade was for a culture change in the room, basically to get rid of the party mentality that was there while Richards and carter were the leadership group

The biggest problem I have with the Hartnell for Umberger trade is the fact that Umberger was a legitimate buyout contender for the Blue Jackets. He would have been bought out. We traded Hartnell for him, and Hartnell has gone on to score 51 goals and 109 points.

Our biggest need? Top six left wing with size.


I get that there are cap implications, but still think it was a terrible trade then and now.
- jak521

Those 51 goals in 109 could have potentially won the Flyers a playoff series the last 2 years.

And then we'd be crying that we have this again LW that we have to protect in the expansion draft that will cause us to potentially lose a younger, cheaper player.

If you don't like the return, that's fine. But view it as trading a long-term, expensive contract with a NMC for 2 rebuilding years with young players getting a chance and it's a lot easier to stomach.

I agree it was a terrible trade but I believe Hartnell trade was for a culture change in the room, basically to get rid of the party mentality that was there while Richards and carter were the leadership group
- tocchettough

Hartnell was friendly with those guys, but he wasn't one of the guys boozing and womanizing around the way that Carter, Richards, Lupul, and Upshall were. Remember; for a good portion of their tenure, he was married. He was a lot more grounded that those 4, and was closer with guys like Briere and Carle.

I agree it was a terrible trade but I believe Hartnell trade was for a culture change in the room, basically to get rid of the party mentality that was there while Richards and carter were the leadership group
- tocchettough

I seem to remember alot of complaints about #19s skating and bad penalties....

Berube wanted Hartnell out. He got his wish. Good thing, since Berube is such a key figure in the organization.

Seriously though, the Umberger trade sucked in the short term, the thinking was that Hartnell was going to become an albatross, and gain the cap flexibility for the future.

Hartnell was friendly with those guys, but he wasn't one of the guys boozing and womanizing around the way that Carter, Richards, Lupul, and Upshall were. Remember; for a good portion of their tenure, he was married. He was a lot more grounded that those 4, and was closer with guys like Briere and Carle.
- jmatchett383

this is why he was divorced

So who is getting traded in Toronto.

They have a newly signed Kadri at center, Bozak and now Matthews coming in. If Stamkos wants to be center who is getting moved.
- J35Bacher

Dunno, I never felt like Stamkos was going to Toronto... and I always got the feeling that TO's new management group was more Hexy and less Homer.

Berube wanted Hartnell out.
- PLindbergh31

Pretty sure Hexy shared that point of view, too. Like somebody said above, Hartsy was a good player, but not the kind of guy you want your kids emulating -- a bit too happy go lucky off the ice, and too erratic/undisciplined on the ice.

And yeah, that contract.

Pretty sure Hexy shared that point of view, too. Like somebody said above, Hartsy was a good player, but not the kind of guy you want your kids emulating -- a bit too happy go lucky off the ice, and too erratic/undisciplined on the ice.

And yeah, that contract.
- Tomahawk

Yeah true... I think Umberger will be bought out. He literally fell off a cliff overnight. Was totally shot from the second he got to Philly.

Dunno, I never felt like Stamkos was going to Toronto... and I always got the feeling that TO's new management group was more Hexy and less Homer.
- Tomahawk

I didn't think so either.

I think he would prefer a place close to contending. Not wasting his prime during a full rebuild.