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.
- sjk540

It was insteaf od NAK but ok, who is a third line winger for $2.5M that we can sign?

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

Well that is what they are doing. Hextall sat on his hands and didn't supplement his strong drafts via trade or FA. Fletcher overpaid for players that don't put them into contender status. So you are right. They couldn't wait for Hextall's plan to come to fruition. They got impatient and went back to the way they have always operated.

Hextall would probably still be here without the blind loyalty for Hakstol.

no way it happens Fletcher makes good decisions
- 2Real

Agree, based off of what he has done so far..

Wait, you were being sarcastic right.

Not sure they bridged the right guy here.

If Sanheim plays as he's capable of, he could be looking at a monster pay day in 2-years. But I guess he and his reps looked at Ghost and Coots deals and went... yeah, nah.

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

it won't happen. I'd be more than happy with Curtis Mcelhinney. He'd be the perfect guy to pair with Hart.

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.
- sjk540

Hartman has less points last season than Laughton, figure Laughton comes in at 2.5, I think Hartman is going to want about the same. I am not sure if the Flyer at that number don't move on and go with an in-house option. I hear Kase skates really well and hustles with some upside to get some points.

Don't forget the Flyers have a huge upgrade in goal this year as well, I would not consider them the worst team in the division by any means.
NJ top two centers are 18 and 20 they have some work to do, and no guarantee Kakko even plays this year with he Rags
- Daceroni

I am probably most excited about a full year of Hart. I wouldn't start him more than 55 games, and I expect ups and downs, but I think he's the real deal and will allow us to make a real leap in the standings.

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.
- sjk540

Unless someone is traded or the RFA's come in much cheaper than speculation they don't have a couple of million to sign a 3rd line RW.

The Flyers have 8 forwards signed with 2 RFAs, 6 dmen signed with 2 RFAs and 1 goalie. Goes to reason after signing the RFAs they will still need to add whether by UFA, promotion or trade 1 goalie and 2-3 forwards. Counting Schlemko’s buried contract they have rounded 22.5 million in cap space. If the rumored numbers for the UFAs are accurate you are looking at 18-20 million. That really doesn’t leave much for the additional goalie and forwards they need to add. This is why I am leery about adding Hayes, Braun (at least there are no long term ramifications) and Niskanen (not Niskanen as much as the retaining Gudas salary part).

Yes of course we want to add players to improve and I believe those players do but are they players that help get the flyers get to real contender status? Is having Giroux, Voracek, Hayes and JVR on 7 million plus cap hits going to help the Flyers become an elite team?

I get the frustration with Hextall. It was taking too long and we wanted to see progress. See the kids pushed along a bit. Changes made to better the team. But I won’t lie that Fletcher does bring back bad Holmgren (I believe there was also a good Holmgren) nightmares. Obviously building a cup winner is hard. 30 out of 31 teams fail every season and there is urgency with the Flyers because they have become so irrelevant over the last 9 years but you have to build wisely and spend wisely. I still am not confident in the leadership of Holmgren/Fletcher.
- nastyflyergirl

On paper, we’re a better team but still unbalanced. We have eight defensemen, so to balance out the forwards, a move or two must be looming.

On the flip side, I thought we were a much improved because of the signing of James Van Riemsdyk. Of course JvR got hurt early, Simmonds didn’t play to standards, while Ghost and Provorov both took steps back.

It’s easy to say we’re a better team but we still have to play the games and last season proves this. I’m alone on think mindset but Carter Hart, sophomore jinx. Hoping for the best but preparing for all that comes with growing pains.

Not sure they bridged the right guy here.

If Sanheim plays as he's capable of, he could be looking at a monster pay day in 2-years. But I guess he and his reps looked at Ghost and Coots deals and went... yeah, nah.
- Tomahawk

Great contract now but I have a feeling this one is going to come back to bite them.

Not sure they bridged the right guy here.

If Sanheim plays as he's capable of, he could be looking at a monster pay day in 2-years. But I guess he and his reps looked at Ghost and Coots deals and went... yeah, nah.
- Tomahawk

Sanheim might make a killing. I said and believe he could develop into the Flyers’ best defenseman

But if he does — and earns that payday — that was why it wasn’t horrific to get York into the system. You can maybe cash Ghost in after those two seasons, for example, if York or even Attard, or Ginning or whoever, can help on an an entry level contract to offset what Sanheim earns, if he gets to that level

Again: It’s a good thing if he does, and the Flyers have options if he does without hurting the present or future

Great contract now but I have a feeling this one is going to come back to bite them.
- MJL

I doubt it, especially if he's not on PP1 and plays second line with a Braun or Ghost. The kid is not gonna have significant point totals without quality PP time.

it won't happen. I'd be more than happy with Curtis Mcelhinney. He'd be the perfect guy to pair with Hart.
- PLindbergh31

Im fearful we are looking at Scott Darling post buy out as he wont need a lot of $ for a one year show me deal.

On paper, we’re a better team but still unbalanced. We have eight defensemen, so to balance out the forwards, a move or two must be looming.

On the flip side, I thought we were a much improved because of the signing of James Van Riemsdyk. Of course JvR got hurt early, Simmonds didn’t play to standards, while Ghost and Provorov both took steps back.

It’s easy to say we’re a better team but we still have to play the games and last season proves this. I’m alone on think mindset but Carter Hart, sophomore jinx. Hoping for the best but preparing for all that comes with growing pains.
- SuperSchennBros

I'm ok if that happens, but I pray that the org doesn't panic with him and allows him to grow for a least a few years.

I was hoping we would have been able to get Sanheim locked up to a Ghost type deal. 4 or 5 years at 3.25. Good for him. Are we going to be able to afford him in 2 years?

Sanheim might make a killing. I said and believe he could develop into the Flyers’ best defenseman

But if he does — and earns that payday — that was why it wasn’t horrific to get York into the system. You can maybe cash Ghost in after those two seasons, for example, if York or even Attard, or Ginning or whoever, can help on an an entry level contract to offset what Sanheim earns, if he gets to that level

Again: It’s a good thing if he does, and the Flyers have options if he does without hurting the present or future
- AllInForFlyers

There are ways to get out of the cap problems as we've seen of late. It may cost us some picks, but I would assume that we'd be in win now mode.

I was hoping we would have been able to get Sanheim locked up to a Ghost type deal. 4 or 5 years at 3.25. Good for him. Are we going to be able to afford him in 2 years?
- cdearth23

Yes.

Does this Sanheim Bridge exclude him from expansion? We could just wait until after the expansion draft to re-sign him correct?

Cap situation looks a lot better now.

Hopefully Provorov is bridged, as well. Maybe for 3 years.

Does this Sanheim Bridge exclude him from expansion? We could just wait until after the expansion draft to re-sign him correct?
- ClaudeFather

No, he will have to be protected, or Seattle could take him. Doesn't matter if he has signed a new contract or not.

There are ways to get out of the cap problems as we've seen of late. It may cost us some picks, but I would assume that we'd be in win now mode.
- Hextall271

truth is the Flyers are hitting on their picks from the Hextall era, with all the prospects still not in the NHL or AHL, they were always going to have to move some of them. Buying your way out of a contract is easier when you have a real good farm system and keep most of your picks year over year.

I don't know but it looks like they will have less than 500K on cap, that is not good for in-season management. Depending where they land, they might have to let a Hartman walk.

Sanheim might make a killing. I said and believe he could develop into the Flyers’ best defenseman
- AllInForFlyers

Which is why I'd prefer to bridge Provorov if he wants 7 x $7.5m or something similar.

In two years Sanheim could be the #1D with Provy on the second pairing.

There are ways to get out of the cap problems as we've seen of late. It may cost us some picks, but I would assume that we'd be in win now mode.
- Hextall271

I just think that it’s good that the GM is using all the tools at his disposal — to try to strengthen the entire organization

I don’t hate Ron Hextall. He did many good things for the organization

But IN MY OPINION, not being harsh, I think he didn’t help the NHL club as much as he could have and should have by being so cautious with risk. Just my opinion

Which is why I'd prefer to bridge Provorov if he wants 7 x $7.5m or something similar.

In two years Sanheim could be the #1D with Provy on the second pairing.
- Feanor

Agreed. Personally, not to encourage a hostile negotiation, but I would not be afraid to bridge Provorov. Just how I see it

Cap situation looks a lot better now.

Hopefully Provorov is bridged, as well. Maybe for 3 years.
- Feanor

Yeah, hoping for that too.