Then it's time to walk away. Signing third pair guys to $3.5mm deals is part of the problem. Using that much cap space on depth players is part of the issue.
- Jsaquella

It is part of the issue for sure. But, sadly, they don't yet have the NHL-ready young guys to fill spots as they undergo their learning curve nor is there a top end first-pairing worthy guy to anchor the club.

I don't think the trade market is very promising right now to upgrade. Meanwhile, the upcoming UFA market means massively overpaying for minor upgrades or shopping for reclamation projects and hoping they work out.

And replace them with whom and at what cost? Therein lies Hextall's problem.
- bmeltzer

Maybe one will be morin. Another will be a UFA like Schultz. Or even of you have to pay a healthy cap hit to get a UFA on a one year deal, that's fine. The whole thing here is getting picks, future assets. It can't be done sitting on your hands

It is part of the issue for sure. But, sadly, they don't yet have the NHL-ready young guys to fill spots as they undergo their learning curve nor is there a top end first-pairing worthy guy to anchor the club.
- bmeltzer

What about Manning? He's ripping it up for LHV so far.

Dudes like Schlemko get waived all the time as well.

And replace them with whom and at what cost? Therein lies Hextall's problem.
- bmeltzer

I agree with you Bill, the "fire sale" talk is nonsense, who plays next season in that case?
I don't agree with the notion that any of our defenseman are easily replaceable. To do so they would command certain term, & salary, then your stuck in the same boat moving forward, as your blog points out.

It is part of the issue for sure. But, sadly, they don't yet have the NHL-ready young guys to fill spots as they undergo their learning curve nor is there a top end first-pairing worthy guy to anchor the club.

I don't think the trade market is very promising right now to upgrade. Meanwhile, the upcoming UFA market means massively overpaying for minor upgrades or shopping for reclamation projects and hoping they work out.
- bmeltzer

The time has come for at least one of the draftee's to hold down a 3rd pair role. Whether they play with a guy like Schultz or Carlo is up in the air to me. If its approaching 4 mil to keep Schultz I'm taking my chances with a cheap vet.

I agree with you Bill, the "fire sale" talk is nonsense, who plays next season in that case?
I don't agree with the notion that any of our defenseman are easily replaceable. To do so they would command certain term, & salary, then your stuck in the same boat moving forward, as your blog points out.
- puckhead17

Its not exactly nonsense. There is a very good chance that the team ends up with a stud of a D pick if they going into sale mode. And the Ghosts, Haggs and Morin's will be coming up within the next two years. You don't draft as many D men as you have over the last two years unless that is exactly what the plan is.

We can't be afraid to deal these guys.

What exactly are we clinging onto here? We just got rocked by freaking Carolina and nj. That's not being shortsighted. Changes need to be made for the sake of acquiring picks/prospects.

At this point, depleted or not. Berube has to go. He has lost the team. Let Berube watch begin.
- section32

I read a great article explaining that Guy Boucher would be a great fit in Philly...Certainly can't do any worse.

On a side note it won't be long before we don't have to worry about dropping games to teams who are behind us in the standings.

The time has come for at least one of the draftee's to hold down a 3rd pair role. Whether they play with a guy like Schultz or Carlo is up in the air to me. If its approaching 4 mil to keep Shultz I'm taking my chances with a cheap vet.
- hereticpride

Then your screwing with his developmental process, how much impact would a young player have in a game like last night?

We can't be afraid to deal these guys.

What exactly are we clinging onto here? We just got rocked by freaking Carolina and nj. That's not being shortsighted. Changes need to be made for the sake of acquiring picks/prospects.
- Just5

Lost to Arizona, Carolina, NJ in the last 6 days. Flyers getting smoked by NHL doormats, but then again they are a doormat as well. The pathetic thing is the Flyers have spent the most money in the NHL to build this steaming pile of poop.

What about Manning? He's ripping it up for LHV so far.

Dudes like Schlemko get waived all the time as well.
- Tomahawk

Scrap heap could be the name of a new league. It certainly provides as much quality as AMac and NG. They have to stop overpaying for guys that'll give them the same results or it's like the hamster on the wheel.

Lost to Arizona, Carolina, NJ in the last 6 days. Flyers getting smoked by NHL doormats, but then again they are a doormat as well. The pathetic thing is the Flyers have spent the most money in the NHL to build this steaming pile of poop.
- PLindbergh31

Definitely a difference between building a team and buying one. Flyers have been guilty of doing the latter for way too long.

I agree with you Bill, the "fire sale" talk is nonsense, who plays next season in that case?
I don't agree with the notion that any of our defenseman are easily replaceable. To do so they would command certain term, & salary, then your stuck in the same boat moving forward, as your blog points out.
- puckhead17

the ice girls

Holy hell.

Capgeek has ceased all operations

Holy hell.

Capgeek has seized all operations
- Just5

they were hacked by north korea

Its not exactly nonsense. There is a very good chance that the team ends up with a stud of a D pick if they going into sale mode. And the Ghosts, Haggs and Morin's will be coming up within the next two years. You don't draft as many D men as you have over the last two years unless that is exactly what the plan is.
- hereticpride

Asking too much of these guys would be a mistake, and the "tanking" crap is non existent. Imagine 2 more full seasons of watching the last 2 games every night?

Asking too much of these guys would be a mistake, and the "tanking" crap is non existent. Imagine 2 more full seasons of watching the last 2 games every night?
- puckhead17

yes thats why we have a fire sale... burn mother(frank)er!

the ice girls
- JoeRussomanno

No, the ice guys that were quickly replaced by the ice girls.

And replace them with whom and at what cost? Therein lies Hextall's problem.
- bmeltzer

At this point does it matter? How much worse can they get ? When you sign a guy like Schultz and he comes in out performs your entire core !!! I mean there is some good youth starting to knock on the door...
Besides Edmonton's D ....who's worse then philly ? Blow the bloody thing up back there....and if you need to add a few Delzotto, Schultz type deals until the young kids are ready ....fine.....

It is part of the issue for sure. But, sadly, they don't yet have the NHL-ready young guys to fill spots as they undergo their learning curve nor is there a top end first-pairing worthy guy to anchor the club.

I don't think the trade market is very promising right now to upgrade. Meanwhile, the upcoming UFA market means massively overpaying for minor upgrades or shopping for reclamation projects and hoping they work out.
- bmeltzer

I really wish the Flyers had had the ammo to go after Nick Leddy when the Hawks had to trade him for Salary cap reasons. He's getting virtually the same amount of ice time as Andrew MacDonald and doing a better job with those minutes. A little more PP time and a little less PK time.

I know several people here don't think the Flyers need him but I, for one, wish they had him as a building block going forward.

Most importantly he is 21 on an entry level deal. No, you don't know about these opportunities ahead of time but the Flyers are always paying the minimum on a maxed out credit card bill.

yes thats why we have a fire sale... burn mother(frank)er!
- JoeRussomanno

100 % correct !!

yes thats why we have a fire sale... burn mother(frank)er!
- JoeRussomanno

Because a fire sale would make things worse, and for much longer, this isn't Edmonton.

Then your screwing with his developmental process, how much impact would a young player have in a game like last night?
- puckhead17

No you aren't. Ghost is the most likely candidate. He is about as NHL as he can be. If your waiting for a good Flyers team to exist before these guys come in then these guys will be stuck in Lehigh for a very long time.

Definitely a difference between building a team and buying one. Flyers have been guilty of doing the latter for way too long.
- Tomahawk

The long title drought has had a big effect on how they approach things imo. An 82 year old owner who wants to win, and a starving fan base they have gone about business by trying to throw money at every weakness. In the salary cap era that doesn't work. You have to use the draft as a tool. A team has to have young talented players on ELC be big contributors to a teams success.

This team is a while away from being good. Will Hextall have the patience to do it the right way? We'll see.

At this point does it matter? How much worse can they get ? When you sign a guy like Schultz and he comes in out performs your entire core !!! I mean there is some good youth starting to knock on the door...
Besides Edmonton's D ....who's worse then philly ? Blow the bloody thing up back there....and if you need to add a few Delzotto, Schultz type deals until the young kids are ready ....fine.....
- landros 2

Why he was scratched for so long is a question I want answered,