There's a boatload of quality moves that were made by Holmgren. Unfortunately, only the bad ones are remembered and talked about on here, on a regular basis.

As far as Hextall is concerned. I like that he is being patient. In my opinion, that is the absolute right play now.
- MJL

They're remembered because they have hampered this team for the near future...He overpaid for mediocre defense-man whom most if not all have NMC's...You have a 4.5 mil/per year player that is healthy scratch and not moveable. You traded a very promising young player in JVR for a borderline NHL defenseman. Homer gets criticized for the bad because of the reasons above.

Agreed. Tampering is illegal, but let's face it, it happens all the time. It takes months to hammer out an extension for your own players who are pending FA's, yet on July 1st, we see guys signing 6 year deals an hour after teams can start negotiations.

Once you trade for a guy, he's kind of got you over a barrel. You just spent an asset to get exclusive rights, but he has an idea of the market for him come July 1st. If you don't match that, it's no skin off his ass to refuse your deal. He's not the one that lost a draft choice.
- Jsaquella

It's just choosing a different barrel. You go into the making the trade for the rights, knowing pretty much what it's going to cost. If the player hits the open market, he can hold you over another barrel, that is possibly more expensive.

I truly hope you're right but stepping in as a regular NHL dman at 19 is a tall order
- BiggE

I know. I just really like him and our defense is going to be poopty next year too, so he'll likely look real good in the preseason.

I don't want him playing if Berube is the coach though. He'll play him 5 minutes for three straight nights then complain he isn't battling enough and scratch him.

By the time the Flyers are a contender, AMac, if he's still here will likely be on the 3rd pair. Sorry, but a 3rd pair dman is not worth a mid to high 2nd round pick. Those who constantly support AMac around here can go on for eternity, but I put more stock in my own 2 eyes which see an average player who adds nothing special to a team.

I have no prob trading a 2nd for a dman if they feel that they are just that one dman away from being a strong cup contender. However adding AMac to last years squad did not make them a contender which is why I don't like the move now or then
- BiggE

That's part of it, but they also compounded it by giving him such a costly and long extension.

We can-and we certainly have-argue over whether or not MacDonald is worth the contract he got. But the reality of it is, the Flyers are one of a handful of teams that have two defensemen with an AAV over $5mm per year.

They're remembered because they have hampered this team for the near future...He overpaid for mediocre defense-man whom most if not all have NMC's...You have a 4.5 mil/per year player that is healthy scratch and not moveable. You traded a very promising young player in JVR for a borderline NHL defenseman. Homer gets criticized for the bad because of the reasons above.
- flyerfan28

And the good deals that he made aren't helping the team for the near future? My point isn't that there aren't legitimate criticisms, my point is that only criticism is offered, and the good that he did is largely ignored, which is reinforced by your post above.

I know. The NBA actually has a legal tampering period before FA begins. I kinda like that.
- PhillySportsGuy

The NHL has it now, as well.

That's part of it, but they also compounded it by giving him such a costly and long extension.

We can-and we certainly have-argue over whether or not MacDonald is worth the contract he got. But the reality of it is, the Flyers are one of a handful of teams that have two defensemen with an AAV over $5mm per year.
- Jsaquella

Agree 100%

And the good deals that he made aren't helping the team for the near future? My point isn't that there aren't legitimate criticisms, my point is that only criticism is offered, and the good that he did is largely ignored, which is reinforced by your post above.
- MJL

No doubt he made some really good moves on this team, not discreditng that. However what good is a young core if you dont have the cap space or other solid veterans to build on.

Regardless of the opponent, it amazes me how much of a different team the Flyers are at home vs the road. It's night and day.

The NHL has it now, as well.
- Jsaquella

I see. Well, then I don't understand the idea of trading for players when they will be FAs in a few days.

I think the Flyers have overpaid in several instances because they miscalculated market value for a certain player. I doubt anyone comes close to the Flyers offer for Bryz. They could have had Vokoun for what, $2M?

That's part of it, but they also compounded it by giving him such a costly and long extension.

We can-and we certainly have-argue over whether or not MacDonald is worth the contract he got. But the reality of it is, the Flyers are one of a handful of teams that have two defensemen with an AAV over $5mm per year.
- Jsaquella

There are 8 NHL teams that have two or more defenseman with an AAV of 5M or over. And a number of other teams that have one with an AAV of 5M, and another defenseman with an AAV in the high 4M range.

No doubt he made some really good moves on this team, not discreditng that. However what good is a young core if you dont have the cap space or other solid veterans to build on.
- flyerfan28

The cap space issue is drastically overblown. There are always ways to work within the cap.

No doubt he made some really good moves on this team, not discreditng that. However what good is a young core if you dont have the cap space or other solid veterans to build on.
- flyerfan28

It's also amazing when you consider the veterans on the team are mostly the dead weight on the roster. Many of the young guys are forced into doing the heavy lifting while also dragging the anchors around.

No doubt he made some really good moves on this team, not discreditng that. However what good is a young core if you dont have the cap space or other solid veterans to build on.
- flyerfan28

That's really the conundrum. The Flyers are a mediocre team. They're under .500 and they will need to play much better than they have shown to make the playoffs. Fans see the disparity between the team's NHL leading payroll and their spot in the standings (22nd overall right now, before the evening games) and it's hard to feel good about what the former GM did.

The new GM has a fairly shallow farm system, little cap space, a handful of bad or at least very questionable deals moving forward and no 2nd rounder in what is a very deep 2015 draft. We can look at the good deals and good players he added, but it's little solace right now.

The cap space issue is drastically overblown. There are always ways to work within the cap.
- MJL

Then why did Hextall say he would have liked to have done more in FA but couldn't because of the limited cap space?

Regardless of the opponent, it amazes me how much of a different team the Flyers are at home vs the road. It's night and day.
- Pelle31Forever

Matchups. The Flyers have some glaring weaknesses in their lineup, having last change is huge

By the time the Flyers are a contender, AMac, if he's still here will likely be on the 3rd pair. Sorry, but a 3rd pair dman is not worth a mid to high 2nd round pick. Those who constantly support AMac around here can go on for eternity, but I put more stock in my own 2 eyes which see an average player who adds nothing special to a team.
- BiggE

This is an assumption that really has no basis behind it. MacDonald is 28 years old, and just in his prime right now. He could easily play another 10 years. So the gist of this post is an assumption on what MacDonald is going to be when the Flyers are a contender, as the basis for why the player was not worth a 2nd round pick. Not much concrete there.

Then why did Hextall say he would have liked to have done more in FA but couldn't because of the limited cap space?
- PhillySportsGuy

Because of selective perception. If one poster is making a point, it's easy to create cap space. If somebody else brings up a topic or he's in disagreement, there's dozens of roadblocks to consider.

It's kind of funny, really.

Then why did Hextall say he would have liked to have done more in FA but couldn't because of the limited cap space?
- PhillySportsGuy

That's the nature of the salary cap. I'm sure that most top teams would've have liked to have done more. The cap by it's nature limits a team's spending. Every year the Flyers have the cap space to make the moves they needed to make, and add players.

I see. Well, then I don't understand the idea of trading for players when they will be FAs in a few days.

I think the Flyers have overpaid in several instances because they miscalculated market value for a certain player. I doubt anyone comes close to the Flyers offer for Bryz. They could have had Vokoun for what, $2M?
- PhillySportsGuy

They didn't want Vokoun, they wanted Bryzgalov.

Because of selective perception. If one poster is making a point, it's easy to create cap space. If somebody else brings up a topic or he's in disagreement, there's dozens of roadblocks to consider.

It's kind of funny, really.
- Jsaquella

And thus our club was formed

Because of selective perception. If one poster is making a point, it's easy to create cap space. If somebody else brings up a topic or he's in disagreement, there's dozens of roadblocks to consider.

It's kind of funny, really.
- Jsaquella

I just like seeing the response he comes up with when disputing the indisputable.

That's the nature of the salary cap. I'm sure that most top teams would've have liked to have done more. The cap by it's nature limits a team's spending. Every year the Flyers have the cap space to make the moves they needed to make, and add players.
- MJL

I guess it's a good thing we only needed a couple of 6/7 defenseman

Then why did Hextall say he would have liked to have done more in FA but couldn't because of the limited cap space?
- PhillySportsGuy

There were some pretty good bargains too this year in FA that could have helped this team as well.