They should. They should focus on Hart, Frost, Farabee, and York and build from there. I'd keep Sanheim and Provorov, but would be willing to move on from guys like Konecny and Atkinson. JVR can go for a 7th.

The problems is they gave Hayes a NMC and locked up Risto. Plus, what do you do with a guy like Couturier who, when healthy, is still an elite 2-way player?

They're in no man's land. They're capped out, and not good enough to contend and not bad enough (injuries aside) to get a top-3 pick. Fletcher should have been fired for making the Ristolainen trade, and should have been castrated for extending him. That deal, more than the Hayes deal, is going to cost them a young player at some point.
- jmatchett383

Pretty much sums it up. Although, I would keep Konecny unless you get a really nice return.

They'll never be more than a bubble team with Fletcher.

I think anytime a team loses their key franchise pieces, which despite their ages, I think Malkin and Letang still are, to free agency, I think it's a failure. The only way I could understand it is if there is no deal to be made. These guys want to leave and there isnt a deal to be made. I dont think that's the case, but it's possible.

In that case, I get it. No, I wasnt saying they should've dealt them at the deadline. I merely wish this had been business done last offseason, especially Letang. I guess I can understand not signing Malkin given his offseason surgery.
- SuperHenderson13

Well think about Drury and Briere, the co-captains of the Sabres, in 2007. The Sabres were leading the NHL in points and ended up going to the Conference Finals. Drury and Briere had made it pretty well known that they didn't want to stay, so should Buffalo have traded their best 2 players and thrown the season away? No. Sometimes you have to roll with what you have and let the consequences play out.

Pretty much sums it up. Although, I would keep Konecny unless you get a really nice return.

They'll never be more than a bubble team with Fletcher.
- rayc16

Konecny is maddening. Honestly, he's got the skills but he only uses them 1/4 of the time. He could be a poor man's Marchand, but he's becoming a poor man's poor man's Marchand.

Konecny is maddening. Honestly, he's got the skills but he only uses them 1/4 of the time. He could be a poor man's Marchand, but he's becoming a poor man's poor man's Marchand.
- jmatchett383

He’s your Kapanen lol

He’s your Kapanen lol
- Rinosaur

Kap is gonna be back...book it.

He’s your Kapanen lol
- Rinosaur

He didn't go through an 407 game goalless streak.

He didn't go through an 407 game goalless streak.
- jmatchett383

LOL fair enough, but at least you didn’t waste a first rounder on him twice.

LOL fair enough, but at least you didn’t waste a first rounder on him twice.
- Rinosaur

I actually liked the trade to move up and draft him, he looked really promising a few years back. His play has really dropped off. He's got the tools to be a 30/40/70 guy if he applies himself.

Konecny is maddening. Honestly, he's got the skills but he only uses them 1/4 of the time. He could be a poor man's Marchand, but he's becoming a poor man's poor man's Marchand.
- jmatchett383

Not disagreeing he can be maddening, but of all the problems with Flyers, to me, he's far down the list. Hard to believe he was their leading scorer this year. Maybe a guy like Torts can get some consistency out of him.

Not disagreeing he can be maddening, but of all the problems with Flyers, to me, he's far down the list. Hard to believe he was their leading scorer this year. Maybe a guy like Torts can get some consistency out of him.
- rayc16

Either way, with the Risto and Hayes deals, they've prevented themselves for being a contender for the next 4-5 years. Risto should have been traded at the TDL for the best package and the rebuild should have commenced.

Either way, with the Risto and Hayes deals, they've prevented themselves for being a contender for the next 4-5 years. Risto should have been traded at the TDL for the best package and the rebuild should have commenced.
- jmatchett383

100% agree. Fletcher is awful and they're giving him another summer to set the org back even further.

Well think about Drury and Briere, the co-captains of the Sabres, in 2007. The Sabres were leading the NHL in points and ended up going to the Conference Finals. Drury and Briere had made it pretty well known that they didn't want to stay, so should Buffalo have traded their best 2 players and thrown the season away? No. Sometimes you have to roll with what you have and let the consequences play out.
- jmatchett383

And how many times has Buffalo been in the playoffs since? Im not saying you're wrong, but was it worth harming your franchise for years for one playoff run?

I never advocated for trading Letang and Malkin. You had to play these years out with them. If you wanted to trade Malkin, 2017 or 2018 would've been the year to do it.

I just dont see why these contract discussions are only heating up now? You could've engaged them last offseason and all this year. Hextall signed Jeff Carter to a 2 year deal, but not these two.

Either way, with the Risto and Hayes deals, they've prevented themselves for being a contender for the next 4-5 years. Risto should have been traded at the TDL for the best package and the rebuild should have commenced.
- jmatchett383

Both the Hawks and Flyers trading top 15 picks last year trading picks for defensemen that werent going to put them over the hump in terms of competing for a playoff spot was very confusing.

The Hawks could've signed Seth Jones as a free agent this offseason and still had their 1sts and defenseman prospect.

Both the Hawks and Flyers trading top 15 picks last year trading picks for defensemen that werent going to put them over the hump in terms of competing for a playoff spot was very confusing.

The Hawks could've signed Seth Jones as a free agent this offseason and still had their 1sts and defenseman prospect.
- SuperHenderson13

We basically got Robert Hagg, at a significantly higher cap hit, for Robert Hagg and a 1st.

We basically got Robert Hagg, at a significantly higher cap hit, for Robert Hagg and a 1st.
- jmatchett383

Yea, Im not surprised Buffalo traded him, I was surprised it was the Flyers that took him for the price they paid.

Is he holding back a young guy from having a regular NHL spot?

Yea, Im not surprised Buffalo traded him, I was surprised it was the Flyers that took him for the price they paid.

Is he holding back a young guy from having a regular NHL spot?
- SuperHenderson13

I'm not surprised at all, that's a total Flyers move lol

I’d try to get rid of Zucker as well. If you sign Malkin you need to sign wingers for him, which no one ever mentions. Let the 3rd and 4th line wings fill up with AHL guys that are hungry to be a full time NHL player and sign Geno two wingers.

Is Simon up for a new contract? If he and Boyle would both sign for 750k there’s your fourth line.

I’d try to get rid of Zucker as well. If you sign Malkin you need to sign wingers for him, which no one ever mentions. Let the 3rd and 4th line wings fill up with AHL guys that are hungry to be a full time NHL player and sign Geno two wingers.
- Grinder47

Crazy how you missed every daily conversation about the Penguins lack of finishing talent and the poopty wingers Geno has been playing with for the last year or so.

Crazy how you missed every daily conversation about the Penguins lack of finishing talent and the poopty wingers Geno has been playing with for the last year or so.
- j.boyd919

No you just contradict yourselves by saying sign Malkin at all costs.

Crazy how you missed every daily conversation about the Penguins lack of finishing talent and the poopty wingers Geno has been playing with for the last year or so.
- j.boyd919

He was trolling so hard there lol

No you just contradict yourselves by saying sign Malkin at all costs.
- Grinder47

Who the (frank) says that? Lol you extract some buzzard poop out of thin air. I say sign him between 6-7.1m. Which is fair value for a PPG center. I don’t see anyone on this board saying at all costs. You clown yourself in the daily.

He was trolling so hard there lol
- Rinosaur

I actually don’t think he was. I think he just clowns in himself most of the time. He’s not that good of a troll.

For people who are interested in Kadri, I have to think this season is an aberration. Very rare for a player to find that level in their game so late in their careers. Same reason I don’t expect Kreider to replicate what he did this year or even come close.

Someone is going to throw the bank at Kadri and it’s going to hurt when he regresses back to 3rd line production.
- Rinosaur

The point total is for sure, but he is a great 2 way player and can really get in guys heads. So even if he is just a 60-70 point guy he is worth $7m per year to me.

Perfect scenario would be unloading Zucker and Pettersson and having a Kadri/Malkin second line.

So the Canes aren't actually that good either? They look pretty average against the Rangers.