And a lot can change in two years. Cap can go up, maybe a big contract like Voracek or van Riemsdyk is moved because younger guys are now here. Niskanen is off the books.

Think the deal is pretty sound.
- J35Bacher

The top part of the roster could look different in two years. Guys get hurt, traded, regress

To me, Fletcher played it right. Hextall wasn’t wrong signing JVR and Fletcher wasn’t wrong to sign Hayes. They take a shot the next two seasons, move older guys out via expansion or contract expiration or trade with sweetener attached

Was never as bad as it sounded

Rangers: Trouba
Devils: Subban
Flyers: Braun and Niskanen
- Scoob

didn't use the word hate....said leery. time will tell. I like Hayes and I do believe he makes the team better. i do believe having him as the 2 C could help Patrick in the 3 C role. Have to see the bottom line....the product on the ice over the next few seasons.

I also get Fletcher has to have the opportunity to mold the team he wants. he inherited a lot of contracts. who knows what he really thinks of them. I just am leery about spending to the cap and putting yourself in the position we are seeing Toronto and other teams in.
- nastyflyergirl

they were always going to spend to the top of the cap. why are people surprised by this?

True. A full season of Hart should lead an uptick in the standings. I'm sure they aren't going to want to play Hart more than 55 games or so. Who is the backup going to be? Elliott/Talbot aren't the answer.
- PLindbergh31

I expect a substantial uptick in the standings with Hart and the normal improvement that comes with an establishing coach like AV.


They don't have a backup yet and I am 100% with you, it's totally a disaster since its Sept 24th. No wait I mean Aug 24, Damn it , July 24.. Ugh ..June 24.

I’d much rather it be a 6 year deal but fletcher seemingly backed himself into a corner to make a bridge deal
- Just5

Can't sign every guy long term, I'd rather Provy get the long term contract now than Sanheim. Let the kid prove his worth, he played well for half a season.

they were always going to spend to the top of the cap. why are people surprised by this?
- daryl stanley

Well, I was surprised that it happened all before the draft.

I wouldn’t be scared to go just four or five years with Provorov, either

Don’t want it to be one or two, but personally if he’s asking for 8, I either don’t pay it or need to see more

Doesn’t have to be hostile

I expect a substantial uptick in the standings with Hart and the normal improvement that comes with an establishing coach like AV.


They don't have a backup yet and I am 100% with you, it's totally a disaster since its Sept 24th. No wait I mean Aug 24, Damn it , July 24.. Ugh ..June 24.
- opeth_pa

Bring back Neuvirth!

Well, I was surprised that it happened all before the draft.
- NC Flyers Fan

he got the guys he wanted is how i look at it. Had specific holes he wanted filled. 2 of them are short term that will hopefully get the ship righted in the right direction.

he got the guys he wanted is how i look at it. Had specific holes he wanted filled. 2 of them are short term that will hopefully get the ship righted in the right direction.
- daryl stanley

That’s the thing — they have to get this poop turned around. They were basically irrelevant after Thanksgiving last year, with a few stretches of good play. They were never really in it or out of it

Got to be better than that

he got the guys he wanted is how i look at it. Had specific holes he wanted filled. 2 of them are short term that will hopefully get the ship righted in the right direction.
- daryl stanley

For sure.

I’d like to see Provy go for a 7 year deal.

That’s the thing — they have to get this poop turned around. They were basically irrelevant after Thanksgiving last year, with a few stretches of good play. They were never really in it or out of it

Got to be better than that
- AllInForFlyers

he isnt looking at this as cup contender but a step in the right direction is all imo. need to start somewhere

The top part of the roster could look different in two years. Guys get hurt, traded, regress

To me, Fletcher played it right. Hextall wasn’t wrong signing JVR and Fletcher wasn’t wrong to sign Hayes. They take a shot the next two seasons, move older guys out via expansion or contract expiration or trade with sweetener attached

Was never as bad as it sounded
- AllInForFlyers

agreed, Leafs and Preds showed you can always move a contract

No. They are still a playoff bubble team. The two teams in the division they finished ahead of last year adding the following players to their rosters:

NJD Hall (Played 30 games last year). Subban, Hughes.
Rags Kakko, Trouba.

This is before July 1. They both have a fair amount of cap room left as well.
A case can be made the Flyers are the worse team in the division.

Teams like the Islanders, Hurricanes and Jackets may regress. Who knows. Have to see how July 1 plays out. But barring a surprise, what the Flyers have now is pretty much their team.
- PLindbergh31

well isn't that really my point? the changes should make them better but just being better isn't what I want. i want a cup contender. adding all that salary/cap hits may ties their hands unless they can shed elsewhere while adding better players.

YES I get the Hextall plan was taking way too long for the progress on the ice made. I just feel like the Flyers are always all over the place. Just feels like they are in such limbo and have been for a long time.

Bring back Neuvirth!
- PLindbergh31

If that happens, I'm applying for full membership in Team Negative and will complain about this team more than you do.

they were always going to spend to the top of the cap. why are people surprised by this?
- daryl stanley

who is surprised by it? spending to the cap isn't always wise and doing so you need to be smart about the contracts. are you confident the contracts they brought in in conjunction with the current contracts are wise?

they were always going to spend to the top of the cap. why are people surprised by this?
- daryl stanley

pretty true, as long as they hit on their picks the cap was going to come into play. You can argue over Braun or taking some back on Gudas but there was always going to be something to question and play monday morning QB on

If that happens, I'm applying for full membership in Team Negative and will complain about this team more than you do.
- opeth_pa

no way it happens Fletcher makes good decisions

well isn't that really my point? the changes should make them better but just being better isn't what I want. i want a cup contender. adding all that salary/cap hits may ties their hands unless they can shed elsewhere while adding better players.

YES I get the Hextall plan was taking way too long for the progress on the ice made. I just feel like the Flyers are always all over the place. Just feels like they are in such limbo and have been for a long time.
- nastyflyergirl

so what do you propose the GM should have done to make them a contender in 1 off season.

The 2 d contracts does not tie their hands.

well isn't that really my point? the changes should make them better but just being better isn't what I want. i want a cup contender. adding all that salary/cap hits may ties their hands unless they can shed elsewhere while adding better players.

YES I get the Hextall plan was taking way too long for the progress on the ice made. I just feel like the Flyers are always all over the place. Just feels like they are in such limbo and have been for a long time.
- nastyflyergirl

5 years into a business plan and you aren't seeing results, see Hexy, and it's 100% to be expected that a change was going to take place.

I personally have no issues with the moves or draft that Fletcher has made. Of those moves the Braun one is the least exciting and the hiring of AV is the most exciting to me.

I'm at least looking forward to the start of this season while at the end of the past I was so over the Flyers.

well isn't that really my point? the changes should make them better but just being better isn't what I want. i want a cup contender. adding all that salary/cap hits may ties their hands unless they can shed elsewhere while adding better players.

YES I get the Hextall plan was taking way too long for the progress on the ice made. I just feel like the Flyers are always all over the place. Just feels like they are in such limbo and have been for a long time.
- nastyflyergirl

5 years into a business plan and you aren't seeing results, see Hexy, and it's 100% to be expected that a change was going to take place.

I personally have no issues with the moves or draft that Fletcher has made. Of those moves the Braun one is the least exciting and the hiring of AV is the most exciting to me.

I'm at least looking forward to the start of this season while at the end of the past I was so over the Flyers.

well isn't that really my point? the changes should make them better but just being better isn't what I want. i want a cup contender. adding all that salary/cap hits may ties their hands unless they can shed elsewhere while adding better players.

YES I get the Hextall plan was taking way too long for the progress on the ice made. I just feel like the Flyers are always all over the place. Just feels like they are in such limbo and have been for a long time.
- nastyflyergirl

so what do you propose the GM should have done to make them a contender in 1 off season.

The 2 d contracts does not tie their hands.

If that happens, I'm applying for full membership in Team Negative and will complain about this team more than you do.
- opeth_pa

no way it happens Fletcher makes good decisions

So the Flyers drafted, developed, and built up decent cap space over the past several seasons. They excised the MacDonald and Lehtera contracts.

I understand the Hayes signing but I think they got fleeced. I understand the Niskanen contract but again I think they got fleeced. The Braun contract I don't understand at all. I think if they're going to do sign/trade for a defenseman you do one of those not BOTH. Flyers are already log-jammed on D. Now they have to sign several players and all that beautiful cap space is gone.
- Pixote Andolini

With fletchers past history why does this surprise you?

We are 100% a better team with Hartman on the third line than NAK, like someone mentioned I'd be more interested if a twarynski or Farabee could make the team. Pass on Lyumbov too.
- ClaudeFather

Hartman should not be on the third line period, he would make a very nice 4th with Raffl and Laughts. We have a couple million to sign a 3rd RW, we should definitely be looking to sign one.