The Schenn negotiation will be interesting. Go with the bridge deal to UFA or buy a few years of free agency? I don't think Hexy will take a shot at a high dollar UFA like Stamkos or Lucic. However, maybe a player like Troy Brouwer if he could be signed for a couple of years to play on the third line and be bumped up into the top 6 if needed.
- ravishingone

I'd be very interested in lucic. No more then 3 years.

Lucic g jake
Lw schenn simmonds
Lw or read( yuck) coots konecky

I'd be ok with moving up. That's one of the benefits to having all of those extra picks. Wouldn't be upset of they move some picks for picks in next year's draft.
- PhillySportsGuy

I keep them & see how the board plays out while seeing who maybe willing to make a trade.

If not I am personally content keeping all the picks.

I keep them & see how the board plays out while seeing who maybe willing to make a trade.

If not I am personally content keeping all the picks.
- ob18

Covered all your bases there, ob.

- PhillySportsGuy

He's still my Captain....

I'd like to see things out with Cousins for next year. He looked good.

Would also like to bring Gagner back on a 1 year deal as I thought he played well and adds to the (lack of) playmaking in the top 9.

A deal for a right handed dman like Demers is definitely something I'd be interested in. Other than that, just keep the train of development moving. They exceeded expectations, but I would like them to approach the offseason the same way they would if the team missed the playoffs by 10 points.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agree with all of this.

Bringing Gagner back, to me, depends on what he's gonna look for in term and dollars.

But I think Nick Cousins needs to stay. I like what he's brought.

Some incremental help in the blueline, until the kids come up, would be great.

Covered all your bases there, ob.
- Mononoke

With MDZ back in the fold next year who comes out for Provorov? (assuming he's sticking around)

I'd go

Ghost AMac
MDZ Streit
Gudas Provorov
Schultz

Manning to AHL
Medvedev trade

I'd love to move Streit at the draft but I feel like that's more likely a deadline deal.
- hereticpride

Streit's not tradeable. Flyers have to eat his contract.

Watching this US Canada.


Count me officially on the Clayton Keller train. Woooowwweeeeeee

Hands, speed, shot. Lets trade up. I'm all for it

Watching this US Canada.


Count me officially on the Clayton Keller train. Woooowwweeeeeee

Hands, speed, shot. Lets trade up. I'm all for it
- Just5

Will you be upset when he doesn't fall to #18?

This will work just fine, too many people in a damn hurry to rush every prospect into the lineup.

It's called a work in progress for a reason people.
- ob18

I want to see him in Lehigh valley. Not Sweden. This news sucks

Will you be upset when he doesn't fall to #18?
- ob18

No. I'm still compiling my big board there should be someone there

What's going on with young Canadian hockey?

was unable to watch even a second of the game today which further proves that i was the ____ ___ ___ ________.

Any news from Russia on Mikhail Vorobyov?

Any news from Russia on Mikhail Vorobyov?
- jstross

I wrote this in late March:

http://flyers.nhl.com/clu...=875107#&navid=PHI-search

I'd be very interested in lucic. No more then 3 years.
- jmdodgeser4

Sounds like he fully intends to re-sign with Kings: http://www.latimes.com/sp...alier-20160424-story.html

No to Gagner -- though he improved his game and was a good soldier, I'd like to see that roster slot upgraded

I want to see what Cousins does at 3C with the experience he's gained, if he makes it out of camp and wins a spot. He's improved every single year since his draft year. If he can somehow do anything with that skating...

Would be looking really, really hard at moving on from Matt Read -- probably can't move him at that salary, but I wouldn't have him penciled into the lineup if it was me. He looked like a fringe NHLer a lot more than anyone wants to acknowledge for stretches over the past couple of seasons, though there was the ankle problem. But let's not forget Hakstol scratched him a couple of times, as well

I would not be scared to let Colin McDonald challenge VDV for a slot, and I'm not sure I love Bellemare enough to not want to try to see what's out there. Would be totally unafraid to lose either VDV or Bellemare on waivers, at any point

I have no real feel for any names that will be out there that will allow them to upgrade -- it's a lot easier to say than do. 29 other teams are going to be looking to do the same things, so upgrading three or more slots in the forward ranks might be a heavy lift

MDZ coming back automatically makes the defense better, because he eats minutes and has really solidified his game. An MDZ-Gudas pair can fake it as a top pairing so Ghost can be spotted with hopefully an upgrade from somewhere

Streit did not look good...and it's to be expected, at his age. He should be counted on for nothing more than third-pair minutes. Doubt you can trade him, so you count on him to be a leader and help set a positive example

MacDonald, Schultz and Manning can fight over the final two slots, though I wouldn't be surprised if MacDonald starts in the "A" again if they don't want to risk losing Manning on waivers again

I didn't pencil Provorov or Morin in because Hextall's so damn patient, he might not let either of them get a sniff if they're not rock solid. But I think they should have enough cash and assets to get someone in here to help

This is what I mean by the upgrades to the roster being tricky for Hextall -- it's not easy to just reach out and grab guys who are upgrades. Straight-up upgrades are going to cost cold, hard cash, or assets in trade.

A guy like Kyle Okposo's gonna get $5.5 x 5, easily. There are teams out there starving for offense. It's not easy to identify who is going to be out there who is going to make the Flyers better who isn't going to have half the league chasing them

Sounds like he fully intends to re-sign with Kings: http://www.latimes.com/sp...alier-20160424-story.html
- bmeltzer

Bill,

Appreciate all your work this year. Couple of quick questions, any idea if the Flyers are looking at anyone playing in Europe for next year? Laughton, seems like Hakstol doesn't have a lot of faith in him. Should he have spent more time with the Phantoms?

I too agree with the notion that we should either a) explore the possibility to trade up and see if teams are willing to negotiate, and if they are, possibly strike a deal if a player available is one the Flyers consider valuable or b) not trade up

No to Gagner -- though he improved his game and was a good soldier, I'd like to see that roster slot upgraded

I want to see what Cousins does at 3C with the experience he's gained, if he makes it out of camp and wins a spot. He's improved every single year since his draft year. If he can somehow do anything with that skating...

Would be looking really, really hard at moving on from Matt Read -- probably can't move him at that salary, but I wouldn't have him penciled into the lineup if it was me. He looked like a fringe NHLer a lot more than anyone wants to acknowledge for stretches over the past couple of seasons, though there was the ankle problem. But let's not forget Hakstol scratched him a couple of times, as well

I would not be scared to let Colin McDonald challenge VDV for a slot, and I'm not sure I love Bellemare enough to not want to try to see what's out there. Would be totally unafraid to lose either VDV or Bellemare on waivers, at any point

I have no real feel for any names that will be out there that will allow them to upgrade -- it's a lot easier to say than do. 29 other teams are going to be looking to do the same things, so upgrading three or more slots in the forward ranks might be a heavy lift

MDZ coming back automatically makes the defense better, because he eats minutes and has really solidified his game. An MDZ-Gudas pair can fake it as a top pairing so Ghost can be spotted with hopefully an upgrade from somewhere

Streit did not look good...and it's to be expected, at his age. He should be counted on for nothing more than third-pair minutes. Doubt you can trade him, so you count on him to be a leader and help set a positive example

MacDonald, Schultz and Manning can fight over the final two slots, though I wouldn't be surprised if MacDonald starts in the "A" again if they don't want to risk losing Manning on waivers again

I didn't pencil Provorov or Morin in because Hextall's so damn patient, he might not let either of them get a sniff if they're not rock solid. But I think they should have enough cash and assets to get someone in here to help

This is what I mean by the upgrades to the roster being tricky for Hextall -- it's not easy to just reach out and grab guys who are upgrades. Straight-up upgrades are going to cost cold, hard cash, or assets in trade.

A guy like Kyle Okposo's gonna get $5.5 x 5, easily. There are teams out there starving for offense. It's not easy to identify who is going to be out there who is going to make the Flyers better who isn't going to have half the league chasing them
- AllInForFlyers

has cousins surpassed laughton in your mind for this role?

has cousins surpassed laughton in your mind for this role?
- stayinthefnnet

I think Cousins is a pure center who makes better reads than Laughton, thinks the game better

Laughton's a better skater and more physical; he could be the 3LW or 4LW if they improve

Some people might lose their minds on this, but if Laughton tops out as a very good 4LW, I'd take it -- when I look at the Caps, guys like Jason Chimera and Jay Beagle were every bit as impactful as Justin Williams and Marcus Johnansson

I think if Laughton really applied himself, he could be a poor man's Jason Chimera. But the game needs to slow down a bit for him yet

I think Cousins is a pure center who makes better reads than Laughton, thinks the game better

Laughton's a better skater and more physical; he could be the 3LW or 4LW if they improve

Some people might lose their minds on this, but if Laughton tops out as a very good 4LW, I'd take it -- when I look at the Caps, guys like Jason Chimera and Jay Beagle were every bit as impactful as Justin Williams and Marcus Johnansson

I think if Laughton really applied himself, he could be a poor man's Jason Chimera. But the game needs to slow down a bit for him yet
- AllInForFlyers

i see what you're saying, although i think chimera is different a bit because his game is very speed based. i just feel like laughton definitely is getting lost in the shuffle a bit. i think he would benefit from being given a position and a role and left to marinate on it for a while. look at the jump schenn had this year. there were times earlier that laughton looked like a gamer.

i see what you're saying, although i think chimera is different a bit because his game is very speed based. i just feel like laughton definitely is getting lost in the shuffle a bit. i think he would benefit from being given a position and a role and left to marinate on it for a while. look at the jump schenn had this year. there were times earlier that laughton looked like a gamer.
- stayinthefnnet

What I don't want to see happen is Laughton being upgraded out of the lineup

What I would prefer is to see Laughton pushed down to 4LW and VDV pushed out of the lineup -- I do think he's a winger, and he has more tools than VDV

But at the same time, I am not sure Laughton is truly ready to produce at the level of a 3LW in today's game, and I don't know if Hakstol trusts him, either

I wrote this in late March:

http://flyers.nhl.com/clu...=875107#&navid=PHI-search
- bmeltzer

Thanks. Great update.

What I don't want to see happen is Laughton being upgraded out of the lineup

What I would prefer is to see Laughton pushed down to 4LW and VDV pushed out of the lineup -- I do think he's a winger, and he has more tools than VDV

But at the same time, I am not sure Laughton is truly ready to produce at the level of a 3LW in today's game, and I don't know if Hakstol trusts him, either
- AllInForFlyers

yeah. its hard. i dont see a ton of guys out there. its so hard to get legitimately better through FA anymore. the flyers definitely need one more top six impact forward. ideally a second center would be great, but i do think coots can be the second line center if a good enough winger is brought in. i know he is a douchebag but i still think james neal would be perfect for this team.