Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Worlds, Phantoms, Flyers Charity Classic

Go Sens!

edit: when did we shift 4 time zones, and why wasn't I informed?

Bill - what are your thoughts on the Bishop signing? I seemed the Flyers would be scared off by the numbers but with an AAV of under $5M, it seems reasonable. That is less than $1M more than the deal Mason is coming off of. To me that is a Home Run for the Stars. I wonder if the Flyers were ever interested as had been reported a couple of months ago.

What was the surgery for on Morin?

Bill - what are your thoughts on the Bishop signing? I seemed the Flyers would be scared off by the numbers but with an AAV of under $5M, it seems reasonable. That is less than $1M more than the deal Mason is coming off of. To me that is a Home Run for the Stars. I wonder if the Flyers were ever interested as had been reported a couple of months ago.
- BOSS_TWEED

I'm not Bill, but I'll chime in. Were the Flyers probably interested at some point? Sure, absolutely. I think they would have been thrilled with 4.9 million and would have probably been ok with any price up to 6 million per, provided the deal was no more than 3 years. There was no way they were going to lock themselves into Bishop, or anyone else on the market, for 6 years. That would be a non-starter for Hextall.

Go Preds

When you look around the league, you don't see a lot of teams looking for starting goalies. Us, Calgary and maybe Buffalo are all that jumps out at me. And, depending on what happens at the exp. draft, I guess you might add Vegas to the list.

Mason, IMO, is the best on the list. Since I doubt he's coming back here, I'm guessing he gets a 4 year deal somewhere around 4 million per with the Flames.

That leaves this lovely group still available:
Brian Elliot, Chad Johnson, Anders Nilsson, Jonathan Bernier, Darcy Kuemper, Keith Kincaid, Mike Condon, Peter Budaj, Curtis McElhinney, Ryan Miller and Ondrej Pavelec.

Of that group, Bernier, Nilsson and Miller are the only 3 I'd have any interest in. Folks seem to think Miller wants to stay out west due to his wife, but unless Vegas signs him or he's willing to be a backup, there may be nothing available. Last time I checked, an actress can also find work in NYC, so a return to Buffalo or signing with the Flyers could be in his future. Miller/Neuvirth would be an ok stop gap tandem for next season, it's not they are going to be Cup contenders.

If it's not Mason or Miller, my guess is Bernier. Nilsson would be my longshot. I really don't see too many other alternatives other than trading for Halak or going after Fleury if he gets bought out.

xx

Uh oh. Morin posting photos of an injury on instagram. Hextall going to have a field day with him.

Bill - what are your thoughts on the Bishop signing? I seemed the Flyers would be scared off by the numbers but with an AAV of under $5M, it seems reasonable. That is less than $1M more than the deal Mason is coming off of. To me that is a Home Run for the Stars. I wonder if the Flyers were ever interested as had been reported a couple of months ago.
- BOSS_TWEED

6 year? no thanks

When you look around the league, you don't see a lot of teams looking for starting goalies. Us, Calgary and maybe Buffalo are all that jumps out at me. And, depending on what happens at the exp. draft, I guess you might add Vegas to the list.

Mason, IMO, is the best on the list. Since I doubt he's coming back here, I'm guessing he gets a 4 year deal somewhere around 4 million per with the Flames.

That leaves this lovely group still available:
Brian Elliot, Chad Johnson, Anders Nilsson, Jonathan Bernier, Darcy Kuemper, Keith Kincaid, Mike Condon, Peter Budaj, Curtis McElhinney, Ryan Miller and Ondrej Pavelec.

Of that group, Bernier, Nilsson and Miller are the only 3 I'd have any interest in. Folks seem to think Miller wants to stay out west due to his wife, but unless Vegas signs him or he's willing to be a backup, there may be nothing available. Last time I checked, an actress can also find work in NYC, so a return to Buffalo or signing with the Flyers could be in his future. Miller/Neuvirth would be an ok stop gap tandem for next season, it's not they are going to be Cup contenders.

If it's not Mason or Miller, my guess is Bernier. Nilsson would be my longshot. I really don't see too many other alternatives other than trading for Halak or going after Fleury if he gets bought out.
- BiggE

With so much supply, I don't see any goalie in this market get more then a 2 year deal. I'll refer to Bill on the perception of Mason around the league. I expect Miller and Elliott to get a,better contract then him.

6 year? no thanks
- nastyflyergirl

A #1 goaltender at that number would be very easy to trade at any point in the life of the contract provided he doesn't turn into Bryz. Who knows, maybe a nice asset comes back from a team in need. None of their current G prospects are a lock to become #1 goalies (although several offer hope). If/when one does, trade Bishop, which again would not be difficult in my opinion.

With so much supply, I don't see any goalie in this market get more then a 2 year deal. I'll refer to Bill on the perception of Mason around the league. I expect Miller and Elliott to get a,better contract then him.
- ravishingone

Maybe, but I don't see any GM liking Elliot any better than Mason and Miller will be 37 in July. Plus, I doubt Miller's wife is going to have any interest in going to Calgary.

You may be right about the length of the deal, but I still think Mason can get at least 3 years, 3.5 per from the Flames. I really think either Miller or Bernier end up here. If it's Miller, it's probably his final contract, so I'm guessing 2 years at 3-3.5 per would be the deal. If it's Bernier, he'll be wanting to prove that he can be "the guy", so I think they could get him on a 1 year, 3 million dollar deal.

Halak is the only other real wildcard. If you can swing a deal with the Isles where they agree to take back a forward the Flyers would like to lose, like Matt Read, I could then see Halak being the guy.

edit: there may be a lot of guys available, but very few of them are proven starters.

If Ott resigns Condon, can we package pick etc for Hammond?
He seems like a similar reclamation like Mase was coming from Clb.

If Ott resigns Condon, can we package pick etc for Hammond?
He seems like a similar reclamation like Mase was coming from Clb.
- Konalover

Not sure it's worth moving a pick for a guy who might have just been a flash in the pan. I'd rather have Bernier or Miller. Actually of the 2, I'd rather have Miller. Both Sandstrom and Hart will be with the Phantoms in 18-19 and there is a good chance at least one of them will be ready by 19-20. Go with Miller/Neuvirth for 2 years and be done with it already.

Maybe, but I don't see any GM liking Elliot any better than Mason and Miller will be 37 in July. Plus, I doubt Miller's wife is going to have any interest in going to Calgary.

You may be right about the length of the deal, but I still think Mason can get at least 3 years, 3.5 per from the Flames. I really think either Miller or Bernier end up here. If it's Miller, it's probably his final contract, so I'm guessing 2 years at 3-3.5 per would be the deal. If it's Bernier, he'll be wanting to prove that he can be "the guy", so I think they could get him on a 1 year, 3 million dollar deal.

Halak is the only other real wildcard. If you can swing a deal with the Isles where they agree to take back a forward the Flyers would like to lose, like Matt Read, I could then see Halak being the guy.

edit: there may be a lot of guys available, but very few of them are proven starters.
- BiggE

Agreed, it's definitely a game of musical chairs with one less spot with Dallas being filled. Personally, if Hexy is going to use an asset for a goalie, I would rather see him acquire a younger goalie stuck behind a proven starter. Couple of guys out there potentially. Cap hit and term won't be that bad. I think he has 10 picks in this year's draft. For example, I think Anderson went to Toronto for two 2nd. I could be wrong

What was the surgery for on Morin?
- Lawless18

Minor hand surgery.

Bill - what are your thoughts on the Bishop signing? I seemed the Flyers would be scared off by the numbers but with an AAV of under $5M, it seems reasonable. That is less than $1M more than the deal Mason is coming off of. To me that is a Home Run for the Stars. I wonder if the Flyers were ever interested as had been reported a couple of months ago.
- BOSS_TWEED

Posted Stars blog re: Bishop.

yy(z)

When you look around the league, you don't see a lot of teams looking for starting goalies. Us, Calgary and maybe Buffalo are all that jumps out at me. And, depending on what happens at the exp. draft, I guess you might add Vegas to the list.

Mason, IMO, is the best on the list. Since I doubt he's coming back here, I'm guessing he gets a 4 year deal somewhere around 4 million per with the Flames.

That leaves this lovely group still available:
Brian Elliot, Chad Johnson, Anders Nilsson, Jonathan Bernier, Darcy Kuemper, Keith Kincaid, Mike Condon, Peter Budaj, Curtis McElhinney, Ryan Miller and Ondrej Pavelec.

Of that group, Bernier, Nilsson and Miller are the only 3 I'd have any interest in. Folks seem to think Miller wants to stay out west due to his wife, but unless Vegas signs him or he's willing to be a backup, there may be nothing available. Last time I checked, an actress can also find work in NYC, so a return to Buffalo or signing with the Flyers could be in his future. Miller/Neuvirth would be an ok stop gap tandem for next season, it's not they are going to be Cup contenders.

If it's not Mason or Miller, my guess is Bernier. Nilsson would be my longshot. I really don't see too many other alternatives other than trading for Halak or going after Fleury if he gets bought out.
- BiggE

I'm starting to think they might go the trade route for a goalie. There are enough available.

If Ott resigns Condon, can we package pick etc for Hammond?
He seems like a similar reclamation like Mase was coming from Clb.
- Konalover

Yes, minus the natural talent, the Calder Trophy and previous pedigree (OHL championship, WJC gold medal).

Yes, minus the natural talent, the Calder Trophy and previous pedigree (OHL championship, WJC gold medal).
- bmeltzer

I was just about to ask what you thought would come of the Stars backup goalie situation because Lehtonen and Niemi are a ton of money on the cap as now #2 and 3 goalies on their depth chart, but then you pointed us to the Stars blog and that answered that.

I guess depending on how the UFA goalie market ends up, having the Stars eat some salary and take on one of them as a stop-gap isn't the worst thing in the world. I'm assuming the Flyers (or any interested party) wouldn't be giving up anything of value other than cap space.

Yes, minus the natural talent, the Calder Trophy and previous pedigree (OHL championship, WJC gold medal).
- bmeltzer

Bringing down the hammer

Frank Getzlaf and frank Cogliano and frank the refs for just not calling penalties on plays where guys could have sustained career-ending injuries. Nice job refs.