Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Rookie Camp Date, Lycksell Wylie and More

Happy birthday to Jimmy Watson. Up til now, he was the Flyers best homegrown Dman of all time. However, I think he may soon fall to 3rd on that list behind Provorov and Ghost.

Happy birthday to Jimmy Watson. Up til now, he was the Flyers best homegrown Dman of all time. However, I think he may soon fall to 3rd on that list behind Provorov and Ghost.
- BiggE

Um...Brandon Manning???

Thanks Bill. The amount of detail you provide on prospects is incredible. Especially since we're in the middle of August.

And yeah, BigE needs to show Manning some respect. And let's not forget Erik Gustafsson.

Um...Brandon Manning???
- jmatchett383

It was close.

Thanks Bill. The amount of detail you provide on prospects is incredible. Especially since we're in the middle of August.

And yeah, BigE needs to show Manning some respect. And let's not forget Erik Gustafsson.
- EducatedOpinion

True, no one could stand there and get punched in the face like Brandon Manning. And who could forget Erik Gustafsson? Hell, he was almost as good as Kerry Huffman.

So many prospects to keep an eye on and look forward to. Hextall and company have done a great job with asset management and on the draft floor!!!

Next couple years should be interesting, lots of prospects to watch as pro and only so many open spots. A very good situation to be in, but also ramps up the pressure on Hextall. Stage 1 is now complete, build a prospect pool and develop. Stage 2 in process, building a team capable to win a championship.

Next couple years should be interesting, lots of prospects to watch as pro and only so many open spots. A very good situation to be in, but also ramps up the pressure on Hextall. Stage 1 is now complete, build a prospect pool and develop. Stage 2 in process, building a team capable to win a championship.
- Glak18

Hextall's done a great job acquiring more draft picks, in good positions, to build over the past four years. 42 picks over that time is like an extra draft over some of the bottom teams that are poorly managed such as Buffalo (37 picks) and Vancouver (33 picks) plus one free one from the NHL for Tortorella.

Hextall's done a great job acquiring more draft picks, in good positions, to build over the past four years. 42 picks over that time is like an extra draft over some of the bottom teams that are poorly managed such as Buffalo (37 picks) and Vancouver (33 picks) plus one free one from the NHL for Tortorella.
- DraftandDestroy

Ok.

Ok.
- Glak18

Great talk

Next couple years should be interesting, lots of prospects to watch as pro and only so many open spots. A very good situation to be in, but also ramps up the pressure on Hextall. Stage 1 is now complete, build a prospect pool and develop. Stage 2 in process, building a team capable to win a championship.
- Glak18

Should be fun. Hopefully having so many prospects and picks will allow Hextall to make a trade or 2, if needed, to land the kind of impact players that will hopefully put them over the top. I could see them perhaps putting together a package to try to land another all situations top pair Dman that you can pair with Provorov during a crucial PK or in the last minute of a period or game when protecting a lead. As much as I like Ghost, Sanheim and some of the other young D, there's no guarantee that any of them will be able to fill that role.

The other thing that the Flyers, and for that matter most teams, could use is a pure shoot first sniper on the wing. I'm not sure if they have anyone like that in the system.

Great talk
- DraftandDestroy

Sorry took your comment as justification of what Hextall has done, which I need no such justification. He has done an amazing job, clearly has done what he was brought to do if not more.

Hextall built the pipeline, has the flow turned on for years, now he is at the tough part of the job...making decisions on managing the best damn, pun intended, water reserve the city has seen in a long time. Not concerned with Buffalo or Vancouver's systems.

Should be fun. Hopefully having so many prospects and picks will allow Hextall to make a trade or 2, if needed, to land the kind of impact players that will hopefully put them over the top. I could see them perhaps putting together a package to try to land another all situations top pair Dman that you can pair with Provorov during a crucial PK or in the last minute of a period or game when protecting a lead. As much as I like Ghost, Sanheim and some of the other young D, there's no guarantee that any of them will be able to fill that role.

The other thing that the Flyers, and for that matter most teams, could use is a pure shoot first sniper on the wing. I'm not sure if they have anyone like that in the system.
- BiggE

I wish Hextall could find his "Pronger", damn you Grabovski, but that kind of impact rarely comes around often. As for a sniper...best bet would be tanking for that and I don't want that. Although Seguin may be a free agent soon....

I wish Hextall could find his "Pronger", damn you Grabovski, but that kind of impact rarely comes around often. As for a sniper...best bet would be tanking for that and I don't want that. Although Seguin may be a free agent soon....
- Glak18

Yeah, neither type of player will come cheap and, at this point, it's hard to say if they would need to make either move. I'd still keep an eye on Trouba. If he's not signed to an extension by the draft, he's a guy I'd try to acquire. Even if Sanheim is part of the price, so be it. The Flyers already have Ghost to anchor the top pp unit for the foreseeable future and some combo of Provorov and Myers should be able to run the 2nd unit. I would be very happy going into 19-20 with a defense corps of:

Provorov-Trouba
Ghost-Hagg
some combo of Myers, Morin and/or AMac

edit: re Seguin
I'd be shocked if Dallas doesn't re-sign him, but if he becomes available as a UFA, I'd be all in. The guy is an offensive machine.

Yeah, neither type of player will come cheap and, at this point, it's hard to say if they would need to make either move. I'd still keep an eye on Trouba. If he's not signed to an extension by the draft, he's a guy I'd try to acquire. Even if Sanheim is part of the price, so be it. The Flyers already have Ghost to anchor the top pp unit for the foreseeable future and some combo of Provorov and Myers should be able to run the 2nd unit. I would be very happy going into 19-20 with a defense corps of:

Provorov-Trouba
Ghost-Hagg
some combo of Myers, Morin and/or AMac

edit: re Seguin
I'd be shocked if Dallas doesn't re-sign him, but if he becomes available as a UFA, I'd be all in. The guy is an offensive machine.
- BiggE

Yeah I thought about Pacioretty, but he feels like he would be too redundant for the Flyers...now Seguin would be a tier above. I just can't see Dallas letting him go, but not sure they have any control over it.

Yeah I thought about Pacioretty, but he feels like he would be too redundant for the Flyers...now Seguin would be a tier above. I just can't see Dallas letting him go, but not sure they have any control over it.
- Glak18

From what I hear Patches is very intent on playing in Florida so I don't see that happening. Honestly, I'm surprised that Dallas hasn't already re-signed Seguin to an 8 year extension, but like I said, if he becomes available, Hextall needs to go for it. If they don't re-sign Simmonds, between him and Lehtera alone, they will have freed up 8.675 million in cap space so they could make it work.

From what I hear Patches is very intent on playing in Florida so I don't see that happening. Honestly, I'm surprised that Dallas hasn't already re-signed Seguin to an 8 year extension, but like I said, if he becomes available, Hextall needs to go for it. If they don't re-sign Simmonds, between him and Lehtera alone, they will have freed up 8.675 million in cap space so they could make it work.
- BiggE

I believe that Seguin is likely to ultimately re-sign with the Stars. He loves it in Dallas, where he is a celebrity (but not so much of one that he's in fishbowl 24/7) plays in a state with no state income tax, is close friends and linemates with Jamie Benn and believes the team is capable of a deep playoff run in the near future (we'll see about that, because the Stars have underachieved the last two seasons).

We'll see, though.

From what I hear Patches is very intent on playing in Florida so I don't see that happening. Honestly, I'm surprised that Dallas hasn't already re-signed Seguin to an 8 year extension, but like I said, if he becomes available, Hextall needs to go for it. If they don't re-sign Simmonds, between him and Lehtera alone, they will have freed up 8.675 million in cap space so they could make it work.
- BiggE

Seguin has a pretty friendly contract now, I would assume he would look for a 11-12 per which could work, but the signing of JvR still leads me to believe that no more big contract will happen for awhile. Seguin has played both center and wing, but his commitment to team is a concern of mine. With more low contracts coming in next year I could definitely see it as feasible.

I believe that Seguin is likely to ultimately re-sign with the Stars. He loves it in Dallas, where he is a celebrity (but not so much of one that he's in fishbowl 24/7) plays in a state with no state income tax, is close friends and linemates with Jamie Benn and believes the team is capable of a deep playoff run in the near future (we'll see about that, because the Stars have underachieved the last two seasons).

We'll see, though.
- bmeltzer

That's right you cover Dallas pretty in depth as well. Thanks for the insight. My assumptions are pretty much based on gut, so my opinion is worthless. I know Dallas has some intriguing prospects, do you see them as a possible contender in a few years?

I believe that Seguin is likely to ultimately re-sign with the Stars. He loves it in Dallas, where he is a celebrity (but not so much of one that he's in fishbowl 24/7) plays in a state with no state income tax, is close friends and linemates with Jamie Benn and believes the team is capable of a deep playoff run in the near future (we'll see about that, because the Stars have underachieved the last two seasons).

We'll see, though.
- bmeltzer

yup, like I said, I really would be shocked if they let him go.

yup, like I said, I really would be shocked if they let him go.
- BiggE

I know every team is different, but why would any team want to go in the final season of a players contract without an extension in place. Most of the time it is either a 1) Show me you are worth it or 2) The player wants to think about options. I don't believe Seguin is in the show me category otherwise the extension would of been signed before anyone would even realize he will become a UFA.

Stamkos extension dragged on, but I think he wanted to see his options until realizing his best bet to get paid and win was in Tampa. I don't see Seguin in that situation unless Dallas surprises everyone this year.

That's right you cover Dallas pretty in depth as well. Thanks for the insight. My assumptions are pretty much based on gut, so my opinion is worthless. I know Dallas has some intriguing prospects, do you see them as a possible contender in a few years?
- Glak18

I think Dallas is at a crossroads. They have come up short on the blueline and in goal more than anything else. They've added some prospects, and Nichushkin will be coming back this year but Benn is 29 (so he's inching toward the latter portion of his prime), Radulov is 32, Spezza is 35 and nearing the end of the line, and Seguin has to be re-signed. They've been through Ruff and Hitchcock as head coaches and are now giving Jim Montgomery his first NHL coaching experience. They have five more years (and nearly $5M of cap space) tied into Ben Bishop being their No. 1 goalie. He was fine when healthy last season, but is 31 and has had some injury issues the last couple years.

damn..
dont hate on Mandog..
He played his role to the best of his ability..and yes..he got punched a lot but he jumped in every time.

And lets not forget he literally tried to kill McJeebus said by everyone Oilers fan.

Sorry took your comment as justification of what Hextall has done, which I need no such justification. He has done an amazing job, clearly has done what he was brought to do if not more.

Hextall built the pipeline, has the flow turned on for years, now he is at the tough part of the job...making decisions on managing the best damn, pun intended, water reserve the city has seen in a long time. Not concerned with Buffalo or Vancouver's systems.
- Glak18

No justification, just genuine enthusiasm!!