A player has to be placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout first, before being bought out.

That's not hardball, it's exactly what Umberger wants.
- MJL

So you know Umberger wants to sit in the pressbox for majority of the season. Go through all the motions without having a real chance to play.

A player has to be placed on waivers for the purpose of a buyout first, before being bought out.

That's not hardball, it's exactly what Umberger wants.
- MJL

If a player has a NMC, does he still have to be placed on waivers? I thought that, for a player with a NMC, you don't have to, as the NMC means that he doesn't have to go to another team if he doesn't want to, which is what would happen if he's claimed.

Have we determined when the draft is considering the year end? Is it league year or when season is over. Because that could change on if the Flyers would have to protect a UFA.
- J35Bacher

A player the Flyers sign this off season to a multi year deal would not be a UFA at the time of the expansion draft.

Have we determined when the draft is considering the year end? Is it league year or when season is over. Because that could change on if the Flyers would have to protect a UFA.
- J35Bacher

It will be before July 1st, which means it's still technically the 16/17 year. So no, Morin does not have to be protected. Any player whose contract expires at the conclusion of the 16/17 season is a possibility to protect, I believe.

If a player has a NMC, does he still have to be placed on waivers? I thought that, for a player with a NMC, you don't have to, as the NMC means that he doesn't have to go to another team if he doesn't want to, which is what would happen if he's claimed.
- jmatchett383

Not sure about that, you might be right about that. Have to look into it.

So you know Umberger wants to sit in the pressbox for majority of the season. Go through all the motions without having a real chance to play.
- J35Bacher

I know that Umberger's best chance of being on an NHL roster for the 16/17 season is under his current contract with the Flyers. If he chooses to terminate, or is bought out, I'd say his chances of being in the NHL next season are less than 50/50

A player the Flyers sign this off season to a multi year deal would not be a UFA at the time of the expansion draft.
- MJL

Per NY POST June 7:

A source with firsthand knowledge of the regulations that would be in place for an anticipated 2017 NHL expansion draft told The Post that, contrary to initial information reported on Sunday, teams only would be compelled to protect players with no-move clauses (and contracts) that extend through at least the 2017-18 season.

That means that players whose no-move clauses (or contracts) that expire at the end of 2016-17 would not have to be protected.

That class of players would include Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi, whose no-move clause will become a modified no-trade clause as of July 1, 2017; Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on that date; and Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman, whose no-move and contract both expire after next season.

The NHL, whose executive committee met on Tuesday in New York, is expected to expand to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season. The Board of Governors is expected to vote when it convenes on June 22 — in Las Vegas.

Per NY POST June 7:

A source with firsthand knowledge of the regulations that would be in place for an anticipated 2017 NHL expansion draft told The Post that, contrary to initial information reported on Sunday, teams only would be compelled to protect players with no-move clauses (and contracts) that extend through at least the 2017-18 season.

That means that players whose no-move clauses (or contracts) that expire at the end of 2016-17 would not have to be protected.

That class of players would include Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi, whose no-move clause will become a modified no-trade clause as of July 1, 2017; Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on that date; and Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman, whose no-move and contract both expire after next season.

The NHL, whose executive committee met on Tuesday in New York, is expected to expand to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season. The Board of Governors is expected to vote when it convenes on June 22 — in Las Vegas.
- J35Bacher

What does any of that have to do with what I said?

I don't think it's about what Umberger wants more. He is not going to make any move. The ball is in the Flyers court. They're the ones who have to make a move here. Umberger if he's not bought out will show to camp and play. That is his best option if not bought out, to continue his career.

One caveat to the Flyers signing any free agent to a multi year deal, is that it could expose another player to the expansion draft.
- MJL

There is no rule that the Flyers have to protect a player they sign to a multi-year deal this offseason

What does any of that have to do with what I said?
- MJL

Based off those notes if the flyers kept Umberger and signed a FA they would not have to keep a space to protect umberger.

There is no rule that the Flyers have to protect a player they sign to a multi-year deal this offseason
- YuenglingJagr

I'm aware of that.

Based off those notes if the flyers kept Umberger and signed a FA they would not have to keep a space to protect umberger.
- J35Bacher

Umberger is not the player they might want to protect, the player they sign as a free agent would be a potential player they might want to protect, which would in turn cause another player to have to be unprotected.

Umberger is not the player they might want to protect, the player they sign as a free agent would be a potential player they might want to protect, which would in turn cause another player to have to be unprotected.
- MJL

Ok.

If Umberger is gone and they don't have to protect him doesn't that open a spot to protect another player?

I know that Umberger's best chance of being on an NHL roster for the 16/17 season is under his current contract with the Flyers. If he chooses to terminate, or is bought out, I'd say his chances of being in the NHL next season are less than 50/50
- MJL

Agreed. If he terminates, he gets paid $0 from the Flyers and has to find work elsewhere.

If he gets bought out, he gets paid $3M from the Flyers and has to find work elsewhere.

If the Flyers keep him, he makes $4.5M this year as a 13th/14th forward, and then has to find work elsewhere next year.

Why would he agree to turn down his last big payday?

Bellows and Gauthier seem like good options.

Ok.

If Umberger is gone and they don't have to protect him doesn't that open a spot to protect another player?
- J35Bacher

No. They are under zero obligation to protect him. The only player they are obligated to protect is Giroux.

Ok.

If Umberger is gone and they don't have to protect him doesn't that open a spot to protect another player?
- J35Bacher

Let's look at a potential list of forwards the Flyers might want to protect.

Giroux
Voracek
Simmonds
Schenn
Couturier
Raffl
Laughton

That's 7 players. If they sign a UFA forward, to a multi year deal, that would be a potential 8th player that might need to be protected. Exposing another player to the expansion draft. They could only protect one goalie, then they expose a goaltender to the draft.

Bellows and Gauthier seem like good options.
- Pelle31Forever

If a player has a NMC, does he still have to be placed on waivers? I thought that, for a player with a NMC, you don't have to, as the NMC means that he doesn't have to go to another team if he doesn't want to, which is what would happen if he's claimed.
- jmatchett383

He still has to be put on unconditional waivers...he would have the option to choose a buyout over playing for any team that claims him though

He still has to be put on unconditional waivers...he would have the option to choose a buyout over playing for any team that claims him though
- YuenglingJagr

So if he's put on waivers, he could force the Flyers to buy hi out?

Let's look at a potential list of forwards the Flyers might want to protect.

Giroux
Voracek
Simmonds
Schenn
Couturier
Raffl
Laughton

That's 7 players. If they sign a UFA forward, to a multi year deal, that would be a potential 8th player that might need to be protected. Exposing another player to the expansion draft. They could only protect one goalie, then they expose a goaltender to the draft.
- MJL

I am only half paying attention to this debate (one on the Pens blog is more interesting)...but I would not hesitate one bit to sign a player as a UFA this year and leave him unprotected

- MBFlyerfan

Another day, another mock Gautheir going to the flyers. I know they are just mocks, but id say 90% of mocks going back to several months have us taking him.

Let's look at a potential list of forwards the Flyers might want to protect.

Giroux
Voracek
Simmonds
Schenn
Couturier
Raffl
Laughton

That's 7 players. If they sign a UFA forward, to a multi year deal, that would be a potential 8th player that might need to be protected. Exposing another player to the expansion draft. They could only protect one goalie, then they expose a goaltender to the draft.
- MJL

If the Flyers sign a FA this offseason you don't think they would do it knowing full well someone else might be exposed?

Also there is a TDL that they could move a player for picks instead of losing him for nothing. Of course that depends on where the Flyers are in the standings.

So if he's put on waivers, he could force the Flyers to buy hi out?
- jmatchett383

No...I think you are thinking about two different things as if they are the same.

A NMC does not protect a player from being bought out. The first step in a buyout is putting a player on unconditional waivers, which essentially is saying they are going to buy him out, but any team can take him if they want.

So in your hypothetical, that a team claims him. Umberger's NMC allows him to get claimed and then either accept that claim, or say screw it and just take the buyout.

It is completely different than Umberger being put on waivers with the intention of sending him to the AHL...that is not allowed under his NMC, which by the way...it is completely clear at this point that the Flyers had the opportunity to void his NMC, but kept it

If the Flyers sign a FA this offseason you don't think they would do it knowing full well someone else might be exposed?

Also there is a TDL that they could move a player for picks instead of losing him for nothing. Of course that depends on where the Flyers are in the standings.
- J35Bacher

Plenty of options. I'm simply saying that signing a UFA to a multi year deal this off season, adds variables as far as who to protect for the expansion draft.