Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Frost Signs, Michkov Season Debut, TIFH (McCrimmon) and more

Good news about Frost.

Morning Bill!

Good deal for Frost...

Better than the Sanderson deal. 8 years @ 8.05...that will come back to haunt them.

Good deal for Frost...

Better than the Sanderson deal. 8 years @ 8.05...that will come back to haunt them.
- Glak18

Really strange to give a player that kind of deal after one season. I don't know that it will come back to haunt them because he has star potential. There is definitely risk there though.

2025 will be a big summer for Briere. Cates, Frost, Foerster and York will all be RFAs, , TK will be a UFA, and Laughton will be eligible to sign an extension. Of course, some of these players may be moved before then.

2025 will be a big summer for Briere. Cates, Frost, Foerster and York will all be RFAs, , TK will be a UFA, and Laughton will be eligible to sign an extension. Of course, some of these players may be moved before then.
- Feanor

I doubt Laughton is still a Flyer by then and, if Briere is really serious about rebuilding, Konecny should be gone as well.

Some might say it's weird that both of them are still here now given Briere's declaration that this is a rebuild.

I doubt Laughton is still a Flyer by then and, if Briere is really serious about rebuilding, Konecny should be gone as well.
- BiggE

A lot of concern surrounding Michkov and his future in the NHL. I’m not one of those fans who are concerned, I think he’ll be here. With this said, if you move Konency between now and June and really push for another 2024 first round pick, that gives us 3. Excitement like that should turn anxiousness away from Michkov. I think Briere is doing a good job and I think moving Konency for a first is a high possibility.

Some might say it's weird that both of them are still here now given that Briere's declaration that this is a rebuild.
- Feanor

There have been rumored potential deals but who knows what is reality and what isn't. I personally don't want Briere to feel he has to rush into deals. I want him to find the best deals for the team. That requires patience to pull off. I don't think this is going to be a quick process.

Better cap hit than I thought but 2 years. I am not worried, cap will go up and Briere can shape the team his way 2 years from now. Overall solid signing.

There have been rumored potential deals but who knows what is reality and what isn't. I personally don't want Briere to feel he has to rush into deals. I want him to find the best deals for the team. That requires patience to pull off. I don't think this is going to be a quick process.
- MJL

If they are really serious about rebuilding (and I have my doubts), it will be a very long process.

Good deal for the Flyers. Need cap flexibility and this contract gives them that. If Frost is great they will need to make a tough decision in 2 years. If he isn't great they are not stuck with a longterm deal.

If they are really serious about rebuilding (and I have my doubts), it will be a very long process.
- BiggE

The defense is a mess. Unless there are some huge surprises internally or a great trade to fix it, hard to imagine the D core being turned around anytime soon. The forwards have some potential.

Good deal for the Flyers. Need cap flexibility and this contract gives them that. If Frost is great they will need to make a tough decision in 2 years. If he isn't great they are not stuck with a longterm deal.
- mickel25

Why would that be a tough decision, if he’s great you sign the player for what he’s worth.

Why would that be a tough decision, if he’s great you sign the player for what he’s worth.
- ClaudeFather

Or you could trade him for more assets towards the rebuild? Either way is fine with me.

There have been rumored potential deals but who knows what is reality and what isn't. I personally don't want Briere to feel he has to rush into deals. I want him to find the best deals for the team. That requires patience to pull off. I don't think this is going to be a quick process.
- MJL

Exactly: a rebuild doesn't mean dump every vet at the first chance. It means everyone is available for the right return but there's also no rush to trade top players in their primes just for the sake of assets. See if you can gain leverage and, when the time is right, deal from strength.

Have to be honest here: If Torts hadn't been publicly critical of Hayes and DeAngelo -- and made it obvious to everyone that he wanted them gone at all costs -- the Flyers might have gotten at least a little more back in return. Sanheim's contract term made a deal tough anyway, but Torts ripping on him so publicly and seemingly prioritizing him as another player who'd be gone if he had his druthers, certainly didn't help the Flyers' chances of trying to make a trade from anything but a position of weakness.

Sometimes, Torts' candor is a double-edged sword. Moving forward, while he shouldn't -- and almost certainly won't -- totally avoid scathing critiques when he believes they're merited, he should also consider the factor of trying not to tie the GM's hands. Just my opinion.

The defense is a mess. Unless there are some huge surprises internally or a great trade to fix it, hard to imagine the D core being turned around anytime soon. The forwards have some potential.
- ClaudeFather

Sanhiem May be the hardest to move. Hope he turns it around. Hopefully Andre turns into a second pair guy and grand or ginning could slot into the third pair. York imo is the best we have and only one who could play 1 st pair minutes. The issue is just like provie, he’s prob not a number 1.

Why would that be a tough decision, if he’s great you sign the player for what he’s worth.
- ClaudeFather

Because you can't sign everyone, and there will be a glut of players in line for raises with UFA status looming. But that's not a concern for Sept. 2023. It something that will take shape over the next two seasons.

Why would that be a tough decision, if he’s great you sign the player for what he’s worth.
- ClaudeFather

Here is why potentially. Frost is a center. Couturier is back and signed to a long term deal. If he is healthy and plays well, he is locked in unless traded in the future. Cates is a strong two way center who regardless of lineup spot, is pretty much going to be cemented into the lineup. They Gauthier playing center. Michkov has been moved to center in the KHL, although 3 years away. There is a potential logjam at center.

Exactly: a rebuild doesn't mean dump every vet at the first chance. It means everyone is available for the right return but there's also no rush to trade top players in their primes just for the sake of assets. See if you can gain leverage and, when the time is right, deal from strength.

Have to be honest here: If Torts hadn't been publicly critical of Hayes and DeAngelo -- and made it obvious to everyone that he wanted them gone at all costs -- the Flyers might have gotten at least a little more back in return. Sanheim's contract term made a deal tough anyway, but Torts ripping on him so publicly and seemingly prioritizing him as another player who'd be gone if he had his druthers, certainly didn't help the Flyers' chances of trying to make a trade from anything but a position of weakness.

Sometimes, Torts' candor is a double-edged sword. Moving forward, while he shouldn't -- and almost certainly won't -- totally avoid scathing critiques when he believes they're merited, he should also consider the factor of trying not to tie the GM's hands. Just my opinion.
- bmeltzer

No question about it. You may not agree but in one season, there have been far more negatives with Tortorella than positives. He needs to go in my opinion.

Here is why potentially. Frost is a center. Couturier is back and signed to a long term deal. If he is healthy and plays well, he is locked in unless traded in the future. Cates is a strong two way center who regardless of lineup spot, is pretty much going to be cemented into the lineup. They Gauthier playing center. Michkov has been moved to center in the KHL, although 3 years away. There is a potential logjam at center.
- MJL

There is no logjam at center! What are you talking about? Coots could go down very quickly with his wonky back and then what? Frost will probably be sitting in the press box after his next "soft" game cause if you think Torts was tough on him before just wait and see how it goes now that he is making real money. I make TK the captain! Laughts and Sanheim can go although I'm guessing no one will take Sanheim with that burden of a long contract. BAH!

Sanhiem May be the hardest to move. Hope he turns it around. Hopefully Andre turns into a second pair guy and grand or ginning could slot into the third pair. York imo is the best we have and only one who could play 1 st pair minutes. The issue is just like provie, he’s prob not a number 1.
- Peter Richards

York is no more a 1st pairing defenseman than Sanheim is. Neither is legitimately a first pairing defenseman. Sanheim is a solid player who had a subpar year offensively and with the puck. He was the teams best defender last year.

There is no logjam at center! What are you talking about? Coots could go down very quickly with his wonky back and then what? Frost will probably be sitting in the press box after his next "soft" game cause if you think Torts was tough on him before just wait and see how it goes now that he is making real money. BAH!
- Phillywhiteout

You have multiple times in the last few days, criticized others for reading comprehension. Apparently, a big shot former executive does not know the meaning of the word "potentially". My comment was obviously looking towards the future with Gauthier and Michkov involved.

Here is why potentially. Frost is a center. Couturier is back and signed to a long term deal. If he is healthy and plays well, he is locked in unless traded in the future. Cates is a strong two way center who regardless of lineup spot, is pretty much going to be cemented into the lineup. They Gauthier playing center. Michkov has been moved to center in the KHL, although 3 years away. There is a potential logjam at center.
- MJL

I don’t see Gauthier playing center at the NHL level. Cates should not be a top 2 center either. Coots is hopefully gone at some point. Center is not a stong point of the flyers.

You have multiple times in the last few days, criticized others for reading comprehension. Apparently, a big shot former executive does not know the meaning of the word "potentially". My comment was obviously looking towards the future with Gauthier and Michkov involved.
- MJL

You worry about that when the time comes. You don't worry about a logjam at center when they will be very weak at center if Coots goes down again. Guess you've never ran your own business. Huh?