Jones is someone being pushed by the Flyers beat guys.

He is also someone who is in the mold of Hayes. A decent piece, nowhere near being an actual top d-man in the league, but wanting to be paid like it.

Which if the Flyers trade pieces for him, will be forced to back down in negotiations to ensure he isnt just a rental.

Paying superstar level contracts to players who aren't on that tier is folly. All in an attempt to force this thing forward. Not enough was gathered through those Hextall years, and trying to force fill those holes with guys like Jones is going to be an interesting but predictable experiment.
- FlyerFan3260

I don't see what the Flyers beat guys are pushing has to do with it. That's irrelevant. Jones is a legitimate top pairing NHL defenseman who is right handed. I disagree completely that he is in the mold of Hayes. Comparatively, he is a much better player. He's a player that could make a real difference for the Flyers. Of course you wouldn't be trading for him as a rental. The Flyers has a real need for a top pairing RH defenseman and he fills that hole. You negotiate a fair market value deal for him. Of course there are risks if you lose him to free agency.

Hi Bill:

Huge fan of your work here at HB. I've been a longtime reader and lurker, but felt compelled to comment for the first time about two very important issues:

First, what can we do to get a live organ player back at the WFC?! All we get is that canned, recorded "Let's Go Flyers" riff and the atmosphere would be so much better with a real organ player that could play that and other things.

Second, we desperately need a new goal song! It's criminal that the city of Columbus has a better goal song than Philly, a city with one of the richest rock and music histories in the country. Man, even Toronto does it better with Philly's own Hall & Oates.
- Son of a Gunderson

welcome new poster.

Eichel couldn't move the needle in Buffalo. That's the player they need to stay away from. If Jones becomes available, the Flyers have to be in the mix for him.

The core of this team moving forward is going to be made up of the young players. It's way too early to definitively know what the young players as a whole are capable of.
- MJL

So who is this young core?

I’m assuming you’re referring to TK, Farbee, Coots, Sanheim (puke), Myers (puke), Provy, Hart.

You believe that core is a cup contending team???

If you're trying to say that Hextall didn't tank well then I guess you're correct. However I agree with how Hextall approached the situation and how he tried to remain competitive instead of tanking. I would not and would never support tanking.

As far as your other point is concerned, one season does not paint the complete picture. Hextall amassed a solid amount of quality young talent that will help form the future core of this team. They had some very bad luck with how Patrick has turned out. This is an example of how a very large portion of the fanbase is overreacting to one bad season. Now all of a sudden, the team is bereft of young quality talent and has no future. I don't see it that way.
- MJL

That is the problem. That "core" is nothing special by any means. Not 1 season. It is over a decade.

So, you think Habs beat Vegas, eh? Why?

You may be right. Here is my take. Habs haven't seen a team like Vegas. Toronto was a pretty team in their play. Jets were neutered by the suspension of Scheifele. Vegas is a big, ornery, playoff experienced team. They are going in knowing how Price has been playing and that he is the Habs biggest weapon by far. They are going to be in the paint, their bums in Price's face, all game long, and they are going to look for lots of deflections and dirty sog.

Here is a gentleman's wager for you (with the dubious premise that we are both gentlemen), swami: Vegas in 6 or less.
- PT21

Price save % above .920~ they win series

Price save % below.920~ they lose

Team has a ton of gaping holes to fill, very little cap space and a GM who literally did nothing for a decade in Minnesota. Be prepared to be disappointed next month.

This team also has a good number of quality young players and prospects. It's also going to have future drafts. Management lost patience with the Hextall plan and really, it has set them back. I think from a fan perspective, we should decide what we want. Do we want the team improved and become "relevant" again? Or do we we want to the team to be patient and build towards becoming a contender with a wide window of contention. I would agree with anyone who makes claims that the best way to acquire elite talent is with high draft picks. However I would not agree with anyone suggesting that the Flyers should tank to obtain those picks.
- MJL

Or maybe his "core" pieces were and are overrated.

Team has a ton of gaping holes to fill, very little cap space and a GM who literally did nothing for a decade in Minnesota. Be prepared to be disappointed next month.
- PLindbergh31

Only think I am sure of is with this GM and coaching staff they are in "win" now mode. I fully expect picks and the top prospects to be moved for NHL players. We shall what type of nhl player. I expect the GM to get taken in the majority of moves that he does end up making.

So who is this young core?

I’m assuming you’re referring to TK, Farbee, Coots, Sanheim (puke), Myers (puke), Provy, Hart.

You believe that core is a cup contending team???
- Fopa21

He must believe it as he mentioned it numerous times. Their aint anything special about that group at all.

I completely disagree with this. Couturier should absolutely be re-signed. There is no reason why he can't remain a top player well into his 30's. With any team, it can't be all just youth. Now the caveat is that if any team presents an offer that can't be refused, well them you make it. That's different from actively shopping the player. We have no idea what we're getting from the 13th pick. Drafting is not an exact science for even the experts let alone the fans.
- MJL

The dreamer is back. So you agree you need top picks to get the talent to move forward but DONT support “tank”. Then the only other way to get the top picks is to move assets. And the only flyers that can bring that talent are probably hart and coots. Can’t trade hart. But you believe you absolutely re sign coots. So how do you get the top picks? This is status quo excuse driven thinking. Time for a real change. Also they should’ve kept Hextall and let him start turning over the roster

Corporate Flyers have to realize they have no true marketable star at this point. No one the league really cares about. This is why I can def seeing them pursue Eichel. Other teams have more to offer so if it happens it will cost out the ass.

Eichel couldn't move the needle in Buffalo. That's the player they need to stay away from. If Jones becomes available, the Flyers have to be in the mix for him.

The core of this team moving forward is going to be made up of the young players. It's way too early to definitively know what the young players as a whole are capable of.
- MJL

Eichel COULDNT move the needle in Buffalo… yet every expect says eichel top 5 center in league of healthy. Weird? Maybe it’s not eichel that’s the problem.

Could hasek move the needle In Buffalo? Did he win cups once he left Buffalo? Maybe it’s Buffalo and not the player

Eichel COULDNT move the needle in Buffalo… yet every expect says eichel top 5 center in league of healthy. Weird? Maybe it’s not eichel that’s the problem.

Could hasek move the needle In Buffalo? Did he win cups once he left Buffalo? Maybe it’s Buffalo and not the player
- Stayin alive

When has he ever been healthy? He just finished his 6th season and has missed 91 games.

Eichel COULDNT move the needle in Buffalo… yet every expect says eichel top 5 center in league of healthy. Weird? Maybe it’s not eichel that’s the problem.

Could hasek move the needle In Buffalo? Did he win cups once he left Buffalo? Maybe it’s Buffalo and not the player
- Stayin alive

Love the fire Eichel shows asking to be moved. He is tired of losing. He wants ot try to win. He isn't complacent collecting a check. Unlike other players.

I’d vote to address the defense first and foremost. But the problem is, do the Flyers even have the cap space to get something done? Couturier is going to get paid and it’s going to be by the Flyers.

When has he ever been healthy? He just finished his 6th season and has missed 91 games.
- MBFlyerfan

Ummm 2 seasons ago

When has he ever been healthy? He just finished his 6th season and has missed 91 games.
- MBFlyerfan

And even tho only 2 goals last season he was still point a game player. While injured

Nobody shuts a team down like these Icelanders.

He must believe it as he mentioned it numerous times. Their aint anything special about that group at all.
- hello it's me 2050

Yeah, yikes. I don’t even knoe if that is a .500 core. Pieces I like but no game breakers.

And even tho only 2 goals last season he was still point a game player. While injured
- Stayin alive

Irrelevant to my point. You cant tie up 10 million a season in a guy you aren't sure will even be on the ice. And he was a .86 ppg player.

Jack Eichel has hit the 70 games played mark 2 out of 5 seasons.

Last year was season number 6. A shortened season and was limited to just 21 games due to injury.

He has a neck injury that is still unresolved and is a major cap hit at $10 million for 5 more years.

What are the Flyers trading away to get him?

How are the Flyers fitting him under that cap for the next 5 years?

And how are they fixing all the problems they have when Eichel is taking up so much cap space?

What if Eichel does not fully recover from his neck injury? You're paying a $10 million cap hit for a guy who might be limited to 15-20 goals a year and has a NMC that kicks in after next season.

2 goals in 21 games last season is a red flag. Yes. He might bounce back from this injury and score 30 goals a season for you. But there is a fair chance he might not.

I find something funny about this whole hextall talk…

1) some are judging his picks for elite talent… they shouldn’t. He was toward the end of gaining assets and developing them. Least we forget the first 3 of his 5 years he was fixing cap and moving untradable(pronger/Vinny contracts out). Absolute bare prospect pool that was ranked dead last in league? That takes time. He was fired because he was a tyrant? Didn’t comply with the bean counter yet 2years later most are saying core needs change and players need to be held accountable? Isn’t that what hexy was saying? “It wasn’t go time” who knows how over the last 2 years what moves he would’ve made? Yes the nopa was a big miss. But he wasn’t given a chance to move plan forward. Other than the nopa pick I think his biggest mistake was not moving g Jake possibly coots simmer for prime assets while in their primes. Think about it… what would g have brought 6 or 7 years ago? Or Jake. Or coots? Or simmer? Surely g at 25 or 26 would’ve brought really high pick at the least. Had he moved those players just for picks how different is team now? I truly believe snider gave hexy full rebuild blessing and when he passed hexy was probably given a little different mandate. Look at when Carter/Richards in prime when traded look at the assets we got. I think they could’ve gotten same value or more.

Jack Eichel has hit the 70 games played mark 2 out of 5 seasons.

Last year was season number 6. A shortened season and was limited to just 21 games due to injury.

He has a neck injury that is still unresolved and is a major cap hit at $10 million for 5 more years.

What are the Flyers trading away to get him?

How are the Flyers fitting him under that cap for the next 5 years?

And how are they fixing all the problems they have when Eichel is taking up so much cap space?

What if Eichel does not fully recover from his neck injury? You're paying a $10 million cap hit for a guy who might be limited to 15-20 goals a year and has a NMC that kicks in after next season.

2 goals in 21 games last season is a red flag. Yes. He might bounce back from this injury and score 30 goals a season for you. But there is a fair chance he might not.
- Captain_Ahab

Well injury should drive price for him down no? And look at the talent around him. Eichel healthy is 35-40 goals 55-60 assist full season. Maybe better. Especially with good line mates. True stat. With eichel in line up Buffalo top ranked pp in league. Without drop into 20’s. Skinner in eichel swing 40 goals. Olofson scoring tons of goals on pp with eichel. Squat without. Think of it this way. What do leach and barber do without Clarke centering them? Not saying eichel is Clarke but eichel is a driving force.

The dreamer is back. So you agree you need top picks to get the talent to move forward but DONT support “tank”.
- Stayin alive

Your inference here is incorrect.

Eichel COULDNT move the needle in Buffalo… yet every expect says eichel top 5 center in league of healthy. Weird? Maybe it’s not eichel that’s the problem.

Could hasek move the needle In Buffalo? Did he win cups once he left Buffalo? Maybe it’s Buffalo and not the player
- Stayin alive

Feel free to quantify and provide the evidence that every expert says Eichel is a top 5 NHL center. What do those experts say about his neck injury?