MELTZER'S MUSINGS: JUNE 24, 2015
1) The National Hockey League's salary cap ceiling next season will be $71.4 million with a $52.8 million floor. The Philadelphia Flyers currently have about $67.1 million of cap space committed for next season to 21 players, including the unofficially retired Chris Pronger. Although this year's unrestricted free agent crop is rather underwhelming, the team would still like to shed salary for more maneuverability without having to exceed the cap over the summer.
Undoubtedly, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall will be actively involved in trade discussions throughout the week leading up to the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, FL, as well as over the Draft weekend itself. It is no secret that the team has excess bodies on the blueline.
Given the way that NHL teams tend to covet -- and horde -- veteran defensemen, the Flyers should be able to trade a player or two, whether it is for a 2015 or 2016 Draft pick. Those avenues will be explored.
However, they may also opt to sit tight and wait until shortly before the season to pare down the roster. Going this route would give new head coach Dave Hakstol the opportunity to evaluate young players and veterans alike and provide a little depth insurance to start the season in the event of significant injuries during training camp or the preseason. Additionally, it is virtually inevitable that other teams will have blueline injuries of their own, which could fetch even a slightly better trade return than making the move ahead of July.
The salary cap floor is also of interest to the Flyers. If they are to find a trade partner for Vincent Lecavalier come July 2nd after he collects a $2 million signing bonus installment, a team such as the Arizona Coyotes could have interest in picking up a player with a much lower real-dollar salary owed than cap hit.
Pronger's case is uncharted territory. It is not expressly forbidden under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the Flyers to trade Pronger's NHL rights -- he is collecting a $575,000 real-dollar salary against his frontloaded $4.9 million cap hit -- despite the fact he will never play again and now works for the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
The NHL did not compel Pronger to file retirement paperwork as an "active" player, which would have incurred cap penalties for the Flyers because he is on an over-35 contract. Instead, the Flyers are allowed to keep him on long-term injured reserve for the remainder of his contract. Pronger is still a dues paying member of the NHL Players Association until he formally retires in 2017, so the NHLPA is mum on the issue. Pronger can even be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame while still technically not retired.
Allegedly, the Flyers tried to trade Pronger's rights last summer. However, that was not realistic a year ago, when he was still due to collect $4 million in real-dollar salary before the contract back-dived precipitously in its final two seasons; actually, a level of drop-off that is now forbidden under the current CBA. Now, presuming the NHL would simply let the same arrangement carry over to a franchise in need of getting to the cap floor, a financially troubled team such as Arizona (which just lost its arena lease) might benefit cap-wise from getting $4.9 million of help toward the cap floor at a $575,000 cost.
2) Of all the names being mentioned as a potential seventh overall pick by the Flyers, Kingston Frontenacs left winger Lawson Crouse is probably the most controversial. There seems to be some misconception about the power forward's upside because his offensive stats as a 17-year-old were not as gaudy as some other players projected to go in the top half of the first round and he played more of a checking role for Canada at the World Junior Championships.
A major part of the reason why his offensive stats were middling for such a highly touted Draft prospect was that Calgary Flames prospect Sam Bennett was limited to 11 games this season. Without Bennett, Kingston lacked a high-end playmaker to get Crouse the puck. It is no coincidence that, with Bennett back on hand late in the 2014-15 campaign, Crouse went on run of 12 points in six games.
What sets the 6-foot-4, 215 pound Crouse apart from many other draft-eligible power forward types is that he plays both sides of the puck and is a good, if no-frills, skater. Crouse knows how to use his size effectively and is hungry for the puck. He is unafraid to battle for real estate on the ice and has a decent shot. He won't make a lot dazzling east-west plays but he is a good north-south player.
For many power forwards, it takes time and the right linemates for their goal-scoring games to emerge. There's no reason why Crouse cannot follow suit. The projections of him as an NHL third-liner assume a median rate of development. His ceiling is that of a top-six and even a first-liner with the right linemates.
If I had to liken Crouse's upside that that of a recent NHL player, I'd compare him to a better-skating version of Scott Hartnell with more two-way upside. Hartnell, himself a sixth overall pick in 2000, scored 27 goals in his draft year, and has gone on to produce a pair of 30-goal NHL seasons and eight seasons of 20-plus goals, with three seasons of 60-plus points and four with 50-plus.
There is no reason why Crouse cannot have a similar and perhaps even better career arc to Hartnell's. He probably won't be a franchise player, but he has the potential to bring a lot of good things, both tangibly and intangibly, to his future NHL team. He would be a justifiable pick with the seventh overall selection if things work out that way.
Actually, part of what makes the top end of the 2015 Draft so appealing beyond the projected franchise players in the top two spots is that there many different prospects with very projectable upper-end NHL roles and upsides. The various candidates have different styles, skill sets and natural positions, but similar ceilings relative to their roles.
Assuming the obvious top two plus Mitch Marner, Dylan Strome, and Noah Hanfin are among the five that go off the board within the first six picks, if Flyers take any of Ivan Provorov, Mathew Barzal, Mikko Rantanen, Kyle Connor, Pavel Zacha, Crouse or Zach Werenski with the seventh overall pick, it would be hard to call any of them a reach at that spot.
3) Hextall has said that it would take a ridiculous overpayment by another team to convince the Flyers to move down in the first round. Personally, I would not mind seeing the Flyers drop as many as three to five spots if they can pick up a higher second-round pick in the process of letting another team get a player it covets.
Even drafting in the 10th to 12th spot, the Flyers would have their choice of several players with significant upsides. Additionally, they would still have the 29th pick, an earlier second-round pick plus the 61st overall pick acquired in the Kimmo Timonen trade with Chicago.
In a draft in which there are about 55 players who have been mentioned by NHL scouts as potential first round picks -- and multiple project players with above-average NHL upside if they work on certain areas in the years to come -- the more high end picks, the better.
4) Due to a scheduling conflict over Easter weekend, the Flyers Alumni's annual benefit hockey game at the Rink at Lehigh Valley to support You Too Animal Rescue was rescheduled for September. In the meantime, the Alumni are supporting the cause in a variety of other ways.
Bernie Parent, who is one of the organization's most ardent supporters, did an autograph-signing fundraiser earlier this year on behalf of the animal rescue. On July 16, Joe Watson and Bob "the Hound" Kelly will be the featured attractions at a golfing event at Wedgewood Golf Course in Coopersburg, PA. Participation is open to the public ($75 fee) with a July 9 registration deadline.
You Too Animal Rescue is a group of volunteers who have been working from their homes for the past few years. In 2014, they rescued and found homes for 175 cats and kittens and 10 dogs. They recently obtained non-profit status, which will help with raising money. Right now, all money raised has gone directly to medical bills. Food, transportation and other expenses come from the volunteers. While their main focus has been and spaying and neutering, a goal this year is to get a much-needed building, which will be a lot easier for the animals and volunteers.
To volunteer, donate money, sponsor an event, or to learn more, please visit the You Too Animal Rescue Facebook page, call 570-637-8644 or email youtooanimalrescue@yahoo.com.
