Hamilton might stay in Carolina because he does not want to play for a high pressure market team. I think as long as he gets paid well and Carolina continues to challenge, he would probably choose to stay in Carolina.
- jd250

don't think philly is high pressure market any longer. Where does this he doesn't want to play in a high pressure/big market come from?

Unless Carolina lowballed him he turned down there contract offer to test free agency. Usually the big markets offer the big deals.

I don't disagree with that. Does that mean he actively chose to not go to the Flyers?
- mickel25

I'm speculating now, but I liken the situation to the Red Sox a few years ago when they wanted to sign David Price. Price did not want to pitch in Boston but the Red Sox blew him away with a $217M contract, so much above anyone else that Price had no choice but to accept. Price put on his best happy face and said all the right things, and even won a World Series with Boston. But it quickly unraveled to a point where Boston had to ship him out to LA for practically nothing in return. I just feel like for the Flyers to get Hamilton, they would have to blow him away financially and in the end its not going to work out because I don't believe Hamilton wants to play in a tough market like Philly.

Well you didn't answer my question.

However I will answer yours. I assume you are comparing why would he stay in Carolina over Philly. Pretty simple to me. They have a better team. A much better up and coming team. Better coaching. Nicer place to live. Probably missing a few tings though that should be sufficient.

Now he may leave there to go elsewhere. Don't see elsewhere being PHilly unless it was just too good an offer to pass up.
- hello it's me 2050

Do you mean the coach they have been resistant to extending? Do you mean the team that doesn't have a goalie?

So you are saying he might go somewhere else if offered the same term and dollars but you are sure that won't be Philly? Why are you sure he will not sign in Philly? Do you know him personally? Are you his agent?

I honestly still am not sure if the solution is "legitimate top pair RHD" or best fit for this team makeup.

This is not a knock on Niskanen, but he wasn't a #1 top pair guy, what he was, was a good partner for a #1 guy.

Maybe what this team needs is a Therien to Dejardins or a Carle to Timonen type player. Neither would be considered top pair dmen, but they were good partners for top pair dmen.

A guy who can be the right partner for Provorov like Niskanen was. If it is a top pair 8 million a season type player so be it. But maybe it just needs to be a solid veteran who can play 20 minutes a night riding shotgun to Provorov, thus allowing the other pairs to be slotted correctly.

Im just saying that perhaps that hole on the top pair can be filled with a few types of options while allowing us to fill other holes as well.

I'm speculating now, but I liken the situation to the Red Sox a few years ago when they wanted to sign David Price. Price did not want to pitch in Boston but the Red Sox blew him away with a $217M contract, so much above anyone else that Price had no choice but to accept. Price put on his best happy face and said all the right things, and even won a World Series with Boston. But it quickly unraveled to a point where Boston had to ship him out to LA for practically nothing in return. I just feel like for the Flyers to get Hamilton, they would have to blow him away financially and in the end its not going to work out because I don't believe Hamilton wants to play in a tough market like Philly.
- jd250

I do not think players actively look at Philly as a place they do not want to play in. That is my opinion.

I do not think players actively look at Philly as a place they do not want to play in. That is my opinion.
- mickel25

winning and being competitive every year would probably help change that narrative.

I honestly still am not sure if the solution is "legitimate top pair RHD" or best fit for this team makeup.

This is not a knock on Niskanen, but he wasn't a #1 top pair guy, what he was, was a good partner for a #1 guy.

Maybe what this team needs is a Therien to Dejardins or a Carle to Timonen type player. Neither would be considered top pair dmen, but they were good partners for top pair dmen.

A guy who can be the right partner for Provorov like Niskanen was. If it is a top pair 8 million a season type player so be it. But maybe it just needs to be a solid veteran who can play 20 minutes a night riding shotgun to Provorov, thus allowing the other pairs to be slotted correctly.

Im just saying that perhaps that hole on the top pair can be filled with a few types of options while allowing us to fill other holes as well.
- MBFlyerfan

You know I’ve agreed with this as well and that the “right fit” it crucial. Nisky was the right fit. Thinking on the other side of the argument, I guess the main benefit and advantage of getting that 1RD is we have a legit partner for Provorov for a long, long time. It would be an area we wouldn’t have to adjust (hopefully) for the foreseeable future whereas if we go with a short-term “right fit” we likely are revisiting the hole.

This is positive but how many teams will be in on him? It’ll be a big commitment, and we have to ascertain if he’s really the guy we need. If we sign him to a 7 year deal and he turns out not to be the guy. Uh oh.

I do like that we might be able to get him without giving up too much. I’m all for a switch up of chemistry, but don’t want to lose a lot of young players which will create one hole to fill another
- Hextall271

Trading for rights of impending UFAs generally doesn't cost too much.

What you have to worry about is going 8-years w/ Dougie. He's not the fastest guy as it stands... he's gonna lose a couple of more steps by the end of it (if he reaches the end of it).

With that said, he's a fantastic player right now. He's peak Ghost without any of the consistency/confidence issues and the Flyers desperately need a guy they can rely on to transition the puck and QB the play from the point.

I honestly still am not sure if the solution is "legitimate top pair RHD" or best fit for this team makeup.

This is not a knock on Niskanen, but he wasn't a #1 top pair guy, what he was, was a good partner for a #1 guy.

Maybe what this team needs is a Therien to Dejardins or a Carle to Timonen type player. Neither would be considered top pair dmen, but they were good partners for top pair dmen.

A guy who can be the right partner for Provorov like Niskanen was. If it is a top pair 8 million a season type player so be it. But maybe it just needs to be a solid veteran who can play 20 minutes a night riding shotgun to Provorov, thus allowing the other pairs to be slotted correctly.

Im just saying that perhaps that hole on the top pair can be filled with a few types of options while allowing us to fill other holes as well.
- MBFlyerfan

Fit > Overall score in NHL21

winning and being competitive every year would probably help change that narrative.
- landros 2

I think players are human beings. If the money is the same why wouldn't you choose a place you are unfamiliar with? Hamilton was born in Toronto and was drafted by Boston. He played in Calgary and Carolina as well. Why would he choose the Flyers if the money is the same?

Of course they need to pay extra.

ugh. i can't believe no one wants to sign here ever again.

I do not think players actively look at Philly as a place they do not want to play in. That is my opinion.
- mickel25

Yes, I think a lot of players would want to play for the Flyers. All I am saying is I am not sure Hamilton is one of them.

Trading for rights of impending UFAs generally doesn't cost too much.

What you have to worry about is going 8-years w/ Dougie. He's not the fastest guy as it stands... he's gonna lose a couple of more steps by the end of it (if he reaches the end of it).

With that said, he's a fantastic player right now. He's peak Ghost without any of the consistency/confidence issues and the Flyers desperately need a guy they can rely on to transition the puck and QB the play from the point.
- Tomahawk

I can’t say I’ve seen him play much, but what a about Vince Dunn as a back up plan if we miss out on Hamilton and want an offensively minded dman? He was involved in rumors last year and appears he is again this summer.

Do you mean the coach they have been resistant to extending? Do you mean the team that doesn't have a goalie?

So you are saying he might go somewhere else if offered the same term and dollars but you are sure that won't be Philly? Why are you sure he will not sign in Philly? Do you know him personally? Are you his agent?
- mickel25

Then help me understand why he would choose Philly over over places. Surely you have a strong belief he would choose Philly so please share your thoughts why.

I mean the team that is much better than the Flyers. But please defend it otherwise.

I think players are human beings. If the money is the same why wouldn't you choose a place you are familiar with? Hamilton was born in Toronto and was drafted by Boston. He played in Calgary and Carolina as well. Why would he choose the Flyers if the money is the same?

Of course they need to pay extra.
- mickel25

Yes, I think a lot of players would want to play for the Flyers. All I am saying is I am not sure Hamilton is one of them.
- jd250

Money talks as well. Are we forgetting AV took this coaching job expecting to win?

I honestly still am not sure if the solution is "legitimate top pair RHD" or best fit for this team makeup.

This is not a knock on Niskanen, but he wasn't a #1 top pair guy, what he was, was a good partner for a #1 guy.

Maybe what this team needs is a Therien to Dejardins or a Carle to Timonen type player. Neither would be considered top pair dmen, but they were good partners for top pair dmen.

A guy who can be the right partner for Provorov like Niskanen was. If it is a top pair 8 million a season type player so be it. But maybe it just needs to be a solid veteran who can play 20 minutes a night riding shotgun to Provorov, thus allowing the other pairs to be slotted correctly.

Im just saying that perhaps that hole on the top pair can be filled with a few types of options while allowing us to fill other holes as well.
- MBFlyerfan

Agree, however, I think they need the right partner for Provorov AND another top pairing guy. If we want to be cup competitive.

I can’t say I’ve seen him play much, but what a about Vince Dunn as a back up plan if we miss out on Hamilton and want an offensively minded dman? He was involved in rumors last year and appears he is again this summer.
- arichardson22

Won't Dunn likely end up in Seattle?

And Flyers do really need a righty for sealing the boards, one-time option, etc. If they fail to get a righty, then just keep rolling w/ Ghost (aka tell AV to quit scratching him).

I get he can be a frustrating guy at times and have some brain farts. I’ll have to do some digging to find this article or perhaps it was a Twitter thread with some analytics . But shortly after the season I read that our team as a whole had so many defensive break downs which had a ripple effect on other players having to play out of position to cover for whoever missed their assignment. Yes, our vets were these guys at times (every NHL player makes mistakes) but one major line that Couts said a few times in his exit interviews was losing proven guys who “knew their role” and that some players maybe weren’t ready to take on those roles. It makes you wonder if some of the older guys (G, Jake, Couts, JVR) were doing this throughout the season to cover the ample young guys who struggled this year.
- arichardson22

I don't think you need an article to see that was happening and it affected young players so drastically to the point where it looked like they couldn't play worth a lick. I documented it many times during the season.

Money talks as well. Are we forgetting AV took this coaching job expecting to win?
- arichardson22

did av not talk to giroux before he came? he didn't know winning isn't a top priority for him?

Then help me understand why he would choose Philly over over places. Surely you have a strong belief he would choose Philly so please share your thoughts why.

I mean the team that is much better than the Flyers. But please defend it otherwise.
- hello it's me 2050

They are much better than the Flyers? So getting to the second round is the new barometer?

I stated in another response that players are human. If money is the same why would he choose to play in a place he is not familiar with?

Of course the Flyers and probably most other teams, would need to pay extra to get Hamilton.

I disagree with you on this one. If the Flyers want to change their culture, which they desperately need to do, they must move on from Jake immediately. Its not about of the points, its all the negative baggage that comes with them, i.e. longer shifts, costly turnovers, lost puck battles, passing when he should shoot and lazy backchecks. He is part of the current core that needs to move out IMO if a new culture is to be established.
- jd250

You can't sabotage the future in order to do so. It results in a wash.

Won't Dunn likely end up in Seattle?

And Flyers do really need a righty for sealing the boards, one-time option, etc. If they fail to get a righty, then just keep rolling w/ Ghost (aka tell AV to quit scratching him).
- Tomahawk

Ah that’s my bad, thought he was a righty. Not sure about Seattle. I think Dunn is a RFA and I forget how RFAs work with the ED.

Looking at raw totals is a bad way to evaluate anything, night in and night out he was sloppy with the puck and made turnovers we are not prone to seeing with him. He did not have a good season, asked to do a lot but he was part of the problem all year.
- ClaudeFather

I don't disagree with this in a vacuum but expecting him to rise above what was happening team wise is not a fair assessment.

did av not talk to giroux before he came? he didn't know winning isn't a top priority for him?
- Ftown19125

🤣🤣🤣