Short term...like 2-3 years at a fair market value. Please...don’t jump to extremes.
- NC Flyers Fan

Even at 3 I'd be hesitant. If they do sign him, 3 is the absolute limit for me.

Tampa is playing three games in four nights when they play us tomorrow. We need them to beat Columbus tonight.

Tampa is playing three games in four nights when they play us tomorrow. We need them to beat Columbus tonight.
- SuperSchennBros

I'm hoping for a very physical game with TB winning in regulation.

Tampa is playing three games in four nights when they play us tomorrow. We need them to beat Columbus tonight.
- SuperSchennBros

Excellent idea. We don’t want them to feel like they need a bounce back game against us.

Excellent idea. We don’t want them to feel like they need a bounce back game against us.
- NC Flyers Fan

Well that, plus Columbus is one of the teams we are chasing.

Well that, plus Columbus is one of the teams we are chasing.
- jmatchett383

Yes, a win, win and we don’t even have to play tonight. Although if it turns into a lose, lose, the Flyers still need to beat Tampa tomorrow.

Nothing changes. Fletch unloads Simmer for a draft pick at TDL. He should surpass 20 goals this season for the 7th time in his career. Maybe get close to 50 points.

If Simmer was playing lights out and was the reason for this recent surge, then I could see keeping him as an internal "rental" for the playoff push. He's had an up and down year. Seems like it took him a little time to get fully healthy but he hasn't missed a game. He is a warrior. True Flyer.

But he is gone. Fletch needs to get something for him. I will miss him and wish him the best.

Nothing changes. Fletch unloads Simmer for a draft pick at TDL. He should surpass 20 goals this season for the 7th time in his career. Maybe get close to 50 points.

If Simmer was playing lights out and was the reason for this recent surge, then I could see keeping him as an internal "rental" for the playoff push. He's had an up and down year. Seems like it took him a little time to get fully healthy but he hasn't missed a game. He is a warrior. True Flyer.

But he is gone. Fletch needs to get something for him. I will miss him and wish him the best.
- cdearth23

In my opinion, I agree with you, keeping him as a "rental" is not an option. Trade him or re-sign him. I think it's foolish to think this team is going to do anything this year.

Nothing changes. Fletch unloads Simmer for a draft pick at TDL. He should surpass 20 goals this season for the 7th time in his career. Maybe get close to 50 points.

If Simmer was playing lights out and was the reason for this recent surge, then I could see keeping him as an internal "rental" for the playoff push. He's had an up and down year. Seems like it took him a little time to get fully healthy but he hasn't missed a game. He is a warrior. True Flyer.

But he is gone. Fletch needs to get something for him. I will miss him and wish him the best.
- cdearth23

If they do want to keep him past this year, I'd still trade him, improve the team going forward using the assets in the trade, and then resign him as a UFA.

I think it's a bit disingenuous to claim that all Simmonds brings is fighting.

Obviously Jmatch doesn't value that specific element as being part of a cup winning team. He might be right but their are 82 games before the playoffs and while I don't think we will ever go back to the days of Tony Twist or Tie Domi I still see value in a guy that can do multiple things including fighting.
- opeth_pa

Kinda like the pendulum theory. When something is one way for too long, the people on the other side will pull the pendulum to their side, and back and forth we go. At one time hockey had a joke about going to the fights and a hockey game broke out. Now it’s like the Ice Capades where you touch someone and they dive like they were shot, and the refs arm goes up immediately. Can we please meet in the middle, where we get rid of the instigator rule, and have guys like Rick Tochett who can play well, but drop em when it’s appropriate? Is that too much to ask? Speed, skill, scoring, and make douchebags pay cheap sh!t? Guys like Marchand et al, would need to look over their shoulder, but we wouldn’t have goons. To me, that would be perfect hockey!

Should Fletcher claim Manning on waivers so he can send down Myers and healthy scratch Ghost?

Provorov-Sanheim
Hagg-MacDonald
Manning-Gudas

Should Fletcher claim Manning on waivers so he can send down Myers and healthy scratch Ghost?

Provorov-Sanheim
Hagg-MacDonald
Manning-Gudas
- Feanor

I think it's a bit disingenuous to claim that all Simmonds brings is fighting.

Obviously Jmatch doesn't value that specific element as being part of a cup winning team. He might be right but their are 82 games before the playoffs and while I don't think we will ever go back to the days of Tony Twist or Tie Domi I still see value in a guy that can do multiple things including fighting.
- opeth_pa

I think Simmonds is one of those guys (bolded). I think we can all agree that someone who brings multiple skills to the table has value. Building a Cup team has lots of parts and roles to be filled and factors to consider and a degree of good fortune (health, match ups etc.) involved. I don’t know enough about all the players on those cup teams to say who was what, jmatch later mentioned Mike Richards as one of the guys with intangibles like tenacity...I’m sure there were several of those on all those Cup teams.

Jmatch also admitted he didn’t think we have enough of those guys right now...so although he doesn’t value Simmonds as highly as I do, he does seem to value those roles (just doesn’t want to call them a fighter).

In my opinion, I agree with you, keeping him as a "rental" is not an option. Trade him or re-sign him. I think it's foolish to think this team is going to do anything this year.
- MJL

I agree that we aren't going anywhere this season. Playoffs would be nice, but we've played our "best" hockey and only made up 10 points. We need to keep focusing on 19-20. Raffl, Simmonds, Elliott, Nuevy gone. If we can get something for them, great.

I said "best" because I really don't feel we are playing good hockey despite our recent record. I think we show signs of life, but still too many turnovers, and d coverage breakdowns. It has been so much more exciting thanks to Mr. Hart. But still a ways to go for us as a serious contender.

I watched Pitts vs. Rangers the other day and the Pens just get it. Even they are in a fight for a playoff spot. They've had some injuries and their goalie play has been inconsistent but they play hard and do the right things. Might not even make the playoffs this year but still could work their way in. Malkin got one goal in the 3rd and comes right back a shift or two later to get his second. I want Jake to be greedy like that. Geno's backhand goal was sick and I think he was just trying to get it on net, not pick the corner. But still. My point is good teams and players go for the kill.

Should Fletcher claim Manning on waivers so he can send down Myers and healthy scratch Ghost?

Provorov-Sanheim
Hagg-MacDonald
Manning-Gudas
- Feanor

I just rubbed my eyes...I don’t understand...what...are...you...suggesting?

I just rubbed my eyes...I don’t understand...what...are...you...suggesting?
- NC Flyers Fan

OMG GUYZ TEH FLYURZ NEVER PLAY THE YOUNG GUYZ FML!!!

I think Simmonds is one of those guys (bolded). I think we can all agree that someone who brings multiple skills to the table has value. Building a Cup team has lots of parts and roles to be filled and factors to consider and a degree of good fortune (health, match ups etc.) involved. I don’t know enough about all the players on those cup teams to say who was what, jmatch later mentioned Mike Richards as one of the guys with intangibles like tenacity...I’m sure there were several of those on all those Cup teams.

Jmatch also admitted he didn’t think we have enough of those guys right now...so although he doesn’t value Simmonds as highly as I do, he does seem to value those roles (just doesn’t want to call them a fighter).
- NC Flyers Fan

I think there's a difference between a fighter and a player who can/is willing to fight. However, the player's talent should always be placed above intangibles. Brandon Manning wasn't primarily a fighter, but he was a guy who would fight. He'd lose, badly, but he'd fight. Do we need more players like Brandon Manning? I say no. Give me a guy like Miles Wood or Sam Bennett, they can fight and are actually talented (edit: and are much younger/cheaper).

So yeah, if we could have a handful of 25-year-old Wayne Simmonds types, I'd be very happy.

OMG GUYZ TEH FLYURZ NEVER PLAY THE YOUNG GUYZ FML!!!
- jmatchett383

Manning was an AHL-quality player who was over used by Hakstol ahead of talented prospects like Sanheim because of some supposed "veteran presence". I'm not sure why you would be afraid to admit that, except that it bothers you when I'm proven right.

Manning was an AHL-quality player who was over used by Hakstol ahead of talented prospects like Sanheim because of some supposed "veteran presence". I'm not sure why you would be afraid to admit that, except that it bothers you when I'm proven right.
- Feanor

I agree with you point, you just beat it to death last season and this season.

I agree with you point, you just beat it to death last season and this season.
- jmatchett383

If you take a step outside the Buzz bubble, you'd find a lot of people being a lot harsher than I was about their usage of reliable vets like Brandon "Barf" Manning and Andrew "Starfish" MacDonald.

I agree that we aren't going anywhere this season. Playoffs would be nice, but we've played our "best" hockey and only made up 10 points. We need to keep focusing on 19-20. Raffl, Simmonds, Elliott, Nuevy gone. If we can get something for them, great.

I said "best" because I really don't feel we are playing good hockey despite our recent record. I think we show signs of life, but still too many turnovers, and d coverage breakdowns. It has been so much more exciting thanks to Mr. Hart. But still a ways to go for us as a serious contender.

I watched Pitts vs. Rangers the other day and the Pens just get it. Even they are in a fight for a playoff spot. They've had some injuries and their goalie play has been inconsistent but they play hard and do the right things. Might not even make the playoffs this year but still could work their way in. Malkin got one goal in the 3rd and comes right back a shift or two later to get his second. I want Jake to be greedy like that. Geno's backhand goal was sick and I think he was just trying to get it on net, not pick the corner. But still. My point is good teams and players go for the kill.
- cdearth23

Listen, I know you may not want to hear from the one that bet they make the playoffs, but here is my two cents:

“we've played our "best" hockey and only made up 10 points”- That is no small feat. And 23 games to go...

“We need to keep focusing on 19-20.”- From a management standpoint, the focus is now, 19-20 and beyond. You can never ignore the balance.

“My point is good teams and players go for the kill.”- From Meltzer’s current blog: “Overall, the Flyers moved to 12-1-1 over their last 14 games and 13-2-1 over the last 16 games.“ No team does this without good players. Provy’s stick block to keep it out of our net, Hart’s consistent timely saves, TK’s OT winner, Coots magic defense into offense...the list goes on and on. They have holes. They aren’t perfect but goodness! You can’t possibly say that a team with that record isn’t good or doesn’t have good players.

“But still a ways to go for us as a serious contender.”- It isn’t about making us a contender right now. Making the playoffs is a huge help to the development of all our players, especially the younger ones. Occasionally, resilient teams that are inferior to the cup contenders, do win it all.

Manning was an AHL-quality player who was over used by Hakstol ahead of talented prospects like Sanheim because of some supposed "veteran presence". I'm not sure why you would be afraid to admit that, except that it bothers you when I'm proven right.
- Feanor

I don't think you're right about this at all. How are you proven right?

More importantly, what are they saying about this over on HF boards.

I don't think you're right about this at all. How are you proven right?

More importantly, what are they saying about this over on HF boards.
- MJL

Ahem...quitters, stick in the bums, scaredy-cats 🤬😂🤣

As I said on the last blog, we have the third hardest schedule remaining. This upcoming 2 weeks are brutal and make or break really. If we're gonna make the playoffs we will have truly enjoyed it because the rest of the season is a gauntlet. We didn't get points when we should've because of leaky goaltending and bad special teams. Now we're paying the price. But I still believe

Is Coots more important to this team than Giroux, right now?