he is putting in the work with the right people.


https://theathletic.com/1...ore-his-first-pro-season/
- wcorvette

Well hopefully he doesn't look out of place in the AHL, which would definitely be reasons for optimism.

My hope is that he's more driven to improve than his brothers. Being picked #3 and a #5 overall, you're pretty much guaranteed to get a shot at the NHL. Being picked in the 4th round, you're not guaranteed an ECHL shot. So I would hope that he's working harder to improve his weaknesses, and it sounds like he is.

Well hopefully he doesn't look out of place in the AHL, which would definitely be reasons for optimism.
- jmatchett383

It was nice to see/read he’s been the most improved person in the skate training in the year.

He was nursing a back injury
- BiggE

That or his shoulder. For the most part I just think he didn't play well.

Tyrell Goulbourne with the Knights
- arichardson22

Nah, it'll be superstar Vecchione getting another Cup for the Blues.

Didn’t realize that as thought it was up to the player for European players
- daryl stanley

Any player has to be signed by the team first, and the Flyers already have six goalies under contract for 19-20.

The next goalie prospect they need to sign is Ersson.

https://www.capfriendly.c...teams/flyers/reserve-list

If anyone has an EA Access membership, you'll be able to play NHL 2020 early at midnight instead of waiting until the 13th. Enjoy.

If anyone has an EA Access membership, you'll be able to play NHL 2020 early at midnight instead of waiting until the 13th. Enjoy.
- dubc55

Midnight tonight?! Thanks for heads up

He has everything but the skating. Some people have said it's overrated, but in my one viewing (the rookie game 2 years ago), he was very noticeable. Even my friend, who is an Oilers' fan, said to me, "Why is that guy so slow?" If he can put in the work and become passable like you said, I agree he could definitely be a steal.
- jmatchett383

Athletic dedicated a piece to his skating recently. He's been working with two top-end skating gurus who have rebuilt his stride from the ground up. Guy who runs BioSteel camp sees a noticeable improvement. He's a much more viable prospect that he was last year.

Federer struggled last night. Missing easy winners, shanking balls into the crowd. He was not right.
- MJL

yeah, he tried to gut it out but in the end I think his injury got the best of him.

Still a class act though and gave credit to his opponent unlike Serena who would make excuse after excuse.

Athletic dedicated a piece to his skating recently. He's been working with two top-end skating gurus who have rebuilt his stride from the ground up. Guy who runs BioSteel camp sees a noticeable improvement. He's a much more viable prospect that he was last year.
- Tomahawk

If Pat Maroon -- whose skating and conditioning were severely panned entering the pros and dealt with some off-ice issues early in his career -- can make it, so can Strome.

yeah, he tried to gut it out but in the end I think his injury got the best of him.

Still a class act though and gave credit to his opponent unlike Serena who would make excuse after excuse.
- MBFlyerfan

I feel lucky to have been able to watch Federer/Nadal/Djokovic all in their primes. I always liked Federer the most, but those 3 were flat-out amazing to watch (sorry Murray).

Bill, with rookie camps starting this week, can we expect these RFA contracts to start being signed by the weekend? The first of the dominoes at least.

Bill, with rookie camps starting this week, can we expect these RFA contracts to start being signed by the weekend? The first of the dominoes at least.
- ClaudeFather

There's gonna be a lot of hold outs. Nylander was the canary in the coal mine.

There's gonna be a lot of hold outs. Nylander was the canary in the coal mine.
- Tomahawk

There's about 10-15 star players without a contract, NHL can't be happy about this.

There's about 10-15 star players without a contract, NHL can't be happy about this.
- ClaudeFather

I think you have it in reverse, it's the NHLPA that would be more upset. I'm sure the owners are more than willing not to pay people 10+ million a year. People will still come out and watch and the TV money is guaranteed.

What this will also do is make the league super wide open. Toronto and Tampa are obviously still very good teams without their star players, but it's still leaves them slightly more vulnerable. Vancouver is possible a lottery team without Bosner and a playoff team with him. If I was a Flyers fan, I'd be concerned about opening without those two because I don't think any team in the Metro can afford a slow start. ADA would be a pretty significant loss for us as well.

There's about 10-15 star players without a contract, NHL can't be happy about this.
- ClaudeFather

Not like the league can do anything about it. And it didn't alarm them enough to re-open the CBA negotiations.

Used to be that you could convince kids to take bargain bridge deals (see Simmer, Coots and Ghost), but player agents have done a better job of educating their clients on what they're really worth.

GM's need to plan accordingly. This issue isn't going away.

I think you have it in reverse, it's the NHLPA that would be more upset.
- 2sticks1puck

Nah, the PA has never minded holdouts and other tough negotiating ploys. What they don't want are these young RFA's caving in and taking less than they're worth.

I think you have it in reverse, it's the NHLPA that would be more upset. I'm sure the owners are more than willing not to pay people 10+ million a year. People will still come out and watch and the TV money is guaranteed.

What this will also do is make the league super wide open. Toronto and Tampa are obviously still very good teams without their star players, but it's still leaves them slightly more vulnerable. Vancouver is possible a lottery team without Bosner and a playoff team with him. If I was a Flyers fan, I'd be concerned about opening without those two because I don't think any team in the Metro can afford a slow start. ADA would be a pretty significant loss for us as well.
- 2sticks1puck

Overlooking many things. If a team struggles due to missing a few players or having a key player struggle, that can effect attendance and effect revenue and profit for a team. Flyers certainly weren't happy with ticket sales in the last few years and their response was that they were going to become a cap team.

Not like the league can do anything about it. And it didn't alarm them enough to re-open the CBA negotiations.

Used to be that you could convince kids to take bargain bridge deals (see Simmer, Coots and Ghost), but player agents have done a better job of educating their clients on what they're really worth.

GM's need to plan accordingly. This issue isn't going away.
- Tomahawk

I think the big contracts for the 28-30 year olds is the issue. In an ideal situation it would be ELC 20-23, bridge 23-25/6, big contract, then a smaller one at the end of the career. Or ELC, Big Contract, smaller one.

If anyone has an EA Access membership, you'll be able to play NHL 2020 early at midnight instead of waiting until the 13th. Enjoy.
- dubc55

I will give you all a couple of weeks head start and buy my Tangible disk on the 13th before I unleash absolute carnage upon everyone in the EA Sports NHL world.

Bold prediction: This year, one or more Flyers' players will win individual NHL awards not named the Masterton, King Clancy, or Lady Byng.

Overlooking many things. If a team struggles due to missing a few players or having a key player struggle, that can effect attendance and effect revenue and profit for a team. Flyers certainly weren't happy with ticket sales in the last few years and their response was that they were going to become a cap team.
- MJL

I get that Comcast was embarrassed at empty seats, but it doesn't matter revenue wise as much as you think, especially with TV money

20,000 X 100 ticket average (I'm just guestimating here to it's probably less) X 41 home games= 82 million

The flyers probably averaged about 16-17k a game only about a 13 million difference.

Them spending the extra money to get more gate revenue, really isn't going to line their pockets.

Bold prediction: This year, one or more Flyers' players will win individual NHL awards not named the Masterton, King Clancy, or Lady Byng.
- jmatchett383

Giroux Hart
Cooter Selke

Nah, the PA has never minded holdouts and other tough negotiating ploys. What they don't want are these young RFA's caving in and taking less than they're worth.
- Tomahawk

You aren't wrong, but considering Fehr came from baseball, it's possible they would fear what's happening over there in that teams just aren't signing people until the middle of the season. That's a huge thing the baseball union is upset about. Granted, RFAs who are 25 aren't in the same boat as a baseball UFA who is nearing 30.

You wonder though, as these albatross contracts end and analytics take more of a hold in the hockey world, if veterans will be similarly squeezed.

I think the big contracts for the 28-30 year olds is the issue. In an ideal situation it would be ELC 20-23, bridge 23-25/6, big contract, then a smaller one at the end of the career. Or ELC, Big Contract, smaller one.
- ClaudeFather

ELC into big contract will probably be the meta for top talents. Those guys will probably still get a big third contract, too. Teams will really need to be more selective about 4th contracts, even for career stars.