Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Injuries,Worlds, Three Anniversaries

Great write up as usual Bill. With Ek reporting WPG getting call after call about the 2nd overall pick, do you think the flyers are a potential team to make a play for the pick? I know the cost would not come cheap to hop from 18 to 2 but we do have quite the amount of picks as well as d prospects.

Great write up as usual Bill. With Ek reporting WPG getting call after call about the 2nd overall pick, do you think the flyers are a potential team to make a play for the pick? I know the cost would not come cheap to hop from 18 to 2 but we do have quite the amount of picks as well as d prospects.
- arichardson22

The Jets will likely also want an NHL roster player. The 18th overall, high-end prospect (Sanheim, for example) and a top-six forward would be extortionate but likely about accurate price tag for the 2nd overall plus something else.

The Jets will likely also want an NHL roster player. The 18th overall, high-end prospect (Sanheim, for example) and a top-six forward would be extortionate but likely about accurate price tag for the 2nd overall plus something else.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, my guess is that the Jets would open up the discussion by asking for Provorov, the 18th pick and Laughton, or Sanheim, the 18th pick and Konecny.

Figured Giroux was hurt...no first-step explosion down the stretch and in the playoffs

Kudos to Matt read for making it through another year unscathed

Yeah, my guess is that the Jets would open up the discussion by asking for Provorov, the 18th pick and Laughton, or Sanheim, the 18th pick and Konecny.
- BiggE

Wouldn't do either, mainly because they aren't one or even two pieces away

Wish they were, but they just might need all the picks this year, too, if they can get a couple of forwards who they feel good about

Kudos to Matt read for making it through another year unscathed
- Just5

Lol

Wouldn't do either, mainly because they aren't one or even two pieces away

Wish they were, but they just might need all the picks this year, too, if they can get a couple of forwards who they feel good about
- AllInForFlyers

If I could get the #2 overall pick for Sanheim, Laughton and the 18th pick, I'd do it. Whether you get Laine or Matthews, it would still be upgrade over any piece that you are trading.

Now that we're through the 2nd round do we know what numbers our top 100 picks will be?

If I could get the #2 overall pick for Sanheim, Laughton and the 18th pick, I'd do it. Whether you get Laine or Matthews, it would still be upgrade over any piece that you are trading.
- BiggE

3:1 is too steep tho... this team needs quality AND quantity. Trading Sanheim would also be putting too many eggs in the Provorov basket.

3:1 is too steep tho... this team needs quality AND quantity. Trading Sanheim would also be putting too many eggs in the Provorov basket.
- Tomahawk

I hear you, but I feel that Matthews or Laine and Provorov are all better prospects than Sanheim, so I'd make the deal. Along with a blue chip impact forward prospect, you'd still have Provorov, Konecny, Morin, Lindblom, Leier, Aube-Kubel, Hagg, Fazleev, Myers and 3 or 4 solid goalie prospects. Plus, young guys like Ghost and perhaps Cousins already on the roster too.

The Jets will likely also want an NHL roster player. The 18th overall, high-end prospect (Sanheim, for example) and a top-six forward would be extortionate but likely about accurate price tag for the 2nd overall plus something else.
- bmeltzer

I was hypothetically thinking the possibility of B Schenn being in play. I personally want to keep him long term, but have to think of the chance of contract talks going sour if both camps can't agree. and if B Schenn were to be moved, we could go FA to add a top 6 forward with his money. So 18th overall, B Schenn, Sanheim as a starting point. Sweeten the pot ( IF needed to even) with one of our 2nds or 3rds if needed or even one of Laughton or Hagg. I know it's steep but Laine seems to be a guy who fits our need and has huge upside.

I was hypothetically thinking the possibility of B Schenn being in play. I personally want to keep him long term, but have to think of the chance of contract talks going sour if both camps can't agree. and if B Schenn were to be moved, we could go FA to add a top 6 forward with his money. So 18th overall, B Schenn, Sanheim as a starting point. Sweeten the pot ( IF needed to even) with one of our 2nds or 3rds if needed or even one of Laughton or Hagg. I know it's steep but Laine seems to be a guy who fits our need and has huge upside.
- arichardson22

Not interested in that. B Schenn is a 60 pt winger. Trade all that for a guy you hope will be an 80 Point winger type if everything pans out?

Imo you don't make that kind of deal for a winger. I don't care how good he is

Jets will want an arm and leg

I hear you, but I feel that Matthews or Laine and Provorov are all better prospects than Sanheim, so I'd make the deal. Along with a blue chip impact forward prospect, you'd still have Provorov, Konecny, Morin, Lindblom, Leier, Aube-Kubel, Hagg, Fazleev, Myers and 3 or 4 solid goalie prospects. Plus, young guys like Ghost and perhaps Cousins already on the roster too.
- BiggE

The league's so damn tight now. I want to believe that there's a way to snag a reasonably young Top 6 forward for a fair price -- I don't mind paying value for value -- but man, nobody who has one even wants to be reasonable

I hate to say it, but I don't know that I wouldn't offer Andrew Ladd $6x5 and see what he says -- and believe me, I don't WANT to do that. But finding someone who can play in the Top 6 via trade...man. That is a tough bit of business

Not interested in that. B Schenn is a 60 pt winger. Trade all that for a guy you hope will be an 80 Point winger type if everything pans out?

Imo you don't make that kind of deal for a winger. I don't care how good he is
- Just5

I have no interest in trading Schenn either, and I view him as part of our core for the foreseeable future, but like I said, that could change depending on contract negotiations. If Schenn has really been involved with trade talks / on "trade block" past couple seasons, you have to think Hexy isn't at least having an ear open when his trade value has never been this high.

It certainly is a risk as you stated: hope it pans out, but imo, Laine arguably has a higher ceiling than Sanheim, Schenn, and whoever is selected at 18. High risk, high reward potential.

The league's so damn tight now. I want to believe that there's a way to snag a reasonably young Top 6 forward for a fair price -- I don't mind paying value for value -- but man, nobody who has one even wants to be reasonable

I hate to say it, but I don't know that I wouldn't offer Andrew Ladd $6x5 and see what he says -- and believe me, I don't WANT to do that. But finding someone who can play in the Top 6 via trade...man. That is a tough bit of business
- AllInForFlyers

I hear you on Ladd, and if it was a 3 year deal, or maybe 4 at the right price, I'd consider it. 5 years? No thanks.

I hear you on Ladd, and if it was a 3 year deal, or maybe 4 at the right price, I'd consider it. 5 years? No thanks.
- BiggE

You know what? You're right. What the hell am I thinking?

In three years, Ladd is R.J. Umberger

If the rumors about the Flyers trying to trade up with Florida were true, Hexy isn't averse to potentially doing big deals. Of course, that was in pursuit of a franchise dman. He wasn't afraid to give up assets to go get Konency in a smaller trade last season.

If he tries to get #2 overall, I'm pretty sure Schenn would be part of the package. The development of Friedman and Myers could make Sanheim expendable. If Laine is considered a franchise changing forward, he could become the main cog of the offense as the defensemen grow together and G still is an important cog, just not the main cog. I like Schenn, but his trade value probably isn't going to be much higher then right now. Still an RFA, 26 goal scorer, who showed a real physical edge in the playoffs.

If the rumors about the Flyers trying to trade up with Florida were true, Hexy isn't averse to potentially doing big deals. Of course, that was in pursuit of a franchise dman. He wasn't afraid to give up assets to go get Konency in a smaller trade last season.

If he tries to get #2 overall, I'm pretty sure Schenn would be part of the package. The development of Friedman and Myers could make Sanheim expendable. If Laine is considered a franchise changing forward, he could become the main cog of the offense as the defensemen grow together and G still is an important cog, just not the main cog. I like Schenn, but his trade value probably isn't going to be much higher then right now. Still an RFA, 26 goal scorer, who showed a real physical edge in the playoffs.
- ravishingone

My point exactly. He's an attractive RFA who can be a top 6 forward for a team for now and in the future where he stands at his age. Having said that, he's an attractive young forward to keep in our core for the next several years, too.

My point exactly. He's an attractive RFA who can be a top 6 forward for a team for now and in the future where he stands at his age. Having said that, he's an attractive young forward to keep in our core for the next several years, too.
- arichardson22

Yes, that is the dilemma. Schenn's agent is going to want $5 million/yr. If he can maintain last season's productivity he is worth that amount. However, if Laine and Matthews are generational talents, gotta be willing to move on from Schenn. Personally, I'm not the one to suggest either is a generational talent. However, if Hexy trades significant assets to get either prospect, the results of his first two drafts suggests he will be able to quickly replace the prospects in the pipeline who would be dealt.

Id package Schenn and Sanheim together for Laine in a heartbeat. There literally is zero question in my mind.

Obviously gonna have to add another prospect and multiple picks (assuming the 18th is already going the other way) but it's absolutely worth it up until a point. This kid will step in next year and likely immediately replace Schenn in the lineup.

We're talking about a kid who just smashed the point record for an U18 player at the World Championships, a record thats stood since like 1939. He's got 9 points in 5 games playing against grown men. He's got better numbers than Jagr did as an U18 at the Worlds.

Brayden Schenn
Travis Sanheim
Robert Hagg or Samuel Morin
2016 1st
2016 2nd
2016 3rd
2017 2nd

for

2016 2nd overall pick
Mathieu Perrault
Adam Lowry

I don't think that's bad at all nor is it unrealistic. Flyers may be able to squeeze a roster player or two out of this deal. Winnipeg will have an insane glut of forwards regardless if they have Laine or Schenn on their roster next year. It's a huge gamble, but I do it in a heartbeat.

Flyers would still pick in the first 3 rounds this year even after trading away all those picks. We'd only lose a 2nd round pick next year, but we currently have three 3rd round picks. So if we trade one, we still have two. One of the 3 is a conditional pick that could be a 4th if the Coyotes acquire a 3rd round pick. General point being: we can afford to trade away some picks.

Losing Sanheim and one of Hagg/Morin is a huge pill to swallow, but if we can acquire a player like Laine without losing Simmonds, Ghost, Provorov, Konecny, Laughton, or Cousins, that's amazing. There's not a doubt in my mind Laine is a bigger impact player long term than Brayden Schenn. It's not even close. I also really like guys like Phillipe Myers, Mark Friedman, and even Reece Wilcox.

If we can get them to take this exact deal and they'd take Hagg over Morin, I'll drive them all to the airport myself.

Brayden Schenn
Travis Sanheim
Robert Hagg or Samuel Morin
2016 1st
2016 2nd
2016 3rd
2017 2nd

for

2016 2nd overall pick
Mathieu Perrault
Adam Lowry
- mochoson

Just for poops and gigs...

Simmonds-Giroux-Laine
Raffl-Couturier-Voracek
Perrault-Lowry-Cousins
Laughton-Bellemare-Read
-Vandevelde, McDonald/White/Phantom/FA

A budget team like Winnipeg is never going to trade a cost controlled potential superstar in Laine. Also since they are on just about every players no-trade list, the draft is the only way they can get such a player.