Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/16/19 vs. DET

Hey Bill,
can you give your explanation for this deal? How or why it makes sense? I doesn't to me.

Not Bill, but there are two possible explanations. One, they don't trust Stolarz's health going forward. Worried of another Neuvirth situation. Two, Stolarz's was an RFA and perhaps with Sandstrom coming they didn't see a need to resign him. Just my two cents.

Not Bill but I’d have to think Stolie wasn’t going to get 10 games in and would be a UFA.
Talbots is probably on a sort of tryout to see if his game improves here. Would of liked a pick back to be honest. Yeah a 4th rounder or later does not bode well for them being a NHL player but that pick could be future trade incentive.

Welp, if Talbot makes a start, we'll break the NHL record for number of goaltenders started in a single season. So, there's that.

Hey Bill,
can you give your explanation for this deal? How or why it makes sense? I doesn't to me.
- kennygarcon

I explained it in the game preview. Both players are potential UFAs (Stolie would have to play in the 10 of the remaining games to be an RFA instead of a UFA).

I explained it in the game preview. Both players are potential UFAs (Stolie would have to play in the 10 of the remaining games to be an RFA instead of a UFA).
- bmeltzer

SO that's why the Flyers made this deal? Trading for an older, 5x more expensive goalie with worse stats because they both MIGHT be UFAs. That doesn't make sense.
Doing Edmonton a favor and lose the deal is annoying to say the least.

Not Bill, but there are two possible explanations. One, they don't trust Stolarz's health going forward. Worried of another Neuvirth situation. Two, Stolarz's was an RFA and perhaps with Sandstrom coming they didn't see a need to resign him. Just my two cents.
- EducatedOpinion

Could the Flyers trust Stolarz to stay healthy if Hart was to get hurt? No. Stolarz in his 7th pro season has appeared in only 19 NHL games. He obviously didn’t fit into the Flyers plans going forward. So take Talbot for a 25 game test drive....even if he flops, your not exactly losing a future hall of fame goalie to make this deal. One thing Fletch didgood in Minny was find a goalie no one else wanted and that guy has turned out pretty good. Devon Dubynik.

SO that's why the Flyers made this deal? Trading for an older, 5x more expensive goalie with worse stats because they both MIGHT be UFAs. That doesn't make sense.
Doing Edmonton a favor and lose the deal is annoying to say the least.
- kennygarcon

Talbot was also 4th in the Vezina race just two seasons ago and played 73 games that season. His creds are better than Stolie's, struggles the last two seasons aside. Stolie has had three injuries all to the same knee, missed almost all of last season and, recent strong play aside, has been up and down this season, too.

In yesterday's blog, I expressed my personal preference: Wait until the summer, see how Stolie plays, and then re-evaluate. But I understand the trade, especially in light of Hart considering Talbot a friend and mentor.

Talbot was at one point in ny heralded as the successor to Henry and they wanted them to actually trade Henry and keep Talbot. Than he went and absolutely got beat into the ground with Edmonton behind a poor defense. He is at the very least equivalent to the quality of goalie elliot is without the injury history. Hos relationship as hart calls him his mentor is huge. Hes a better goalie than stoly. Stoly flopped around like a fish out of water vs Minnesota and continues to struggle with rebound control. Hes 25 and likely wasnt going to re sign. I think this trade was fine even though I thought we should of received a mid to late round pick in the deal.

Talbot was also 4th in the Vezina race just two seasons ago and played 73 games that season. His creds are better than Stolie's, struggles the last two seasons aside. Stolie has had three injuries all to the same knee, missed almost all of last season and, recent strong play aside, has been up and down this season, too.

In yesterday's blog, I expressed my personal preference: Wait until the summer, see how Stolie plays, and then re-evaluate. But I understand the trade, especially in light of Hart considering Talbot a friend and mentor.
- bmeltzer

Well this is not at all encouraging.

Talbot was at one point in ny heralded as the successor to Henry and they wanted them to actually trade Henry and keep Talbot. Than he went and absolutely got beat into the ground with Edmonton behind a poor defense. He is at the very least equivalent to the quality of goalie elliot is without the injury history. Hos relationship as hart calls him his mentor is huge. Hes a better goalie than stoly. Stoly flopped around like a fish out of water vs Minnesota and continues to struggle with rebound control. Hes 25 and likely wasnt going to re sign. I think this trade was fine even though I thought we should of received a mid to late round pick in the deal.
- Tfaehner

Talbot was also 4th in the Vezina race just two seasons ago and played 73 games that season. His creds are better than Stolie's, struggles the last two seasons aside. Stolie has had three injuries all to the same knee, missed almost all of last season and, recent strong play aside, has been up and down this season, too.

In yesterday's blog, I expressed my personal preference: Wait until the summer, see how Stolie plays, and then re-evaluate. But I understand the trade, especially in light of Hart considering Talbot a friend and mentor.
- bmeltzer

I understand the trade, but I don't understand trading an asset away for a guy you could have had for nothing this summer (as your plan suggests).

Also, I think the friend thing can be overrated.

Dumb trade.

We finally see a bit of deviation from Hextall. He would’ve wisely continued to evaluate Stolarz and waited until the offseason to address.

Let’s see how off the rails this can get in the name of wins now and higher revenue.

I understand the trade, but I don't understand trading an asset away for a guy you could have had for nothing this summer (as your plan suggests).

Also, I think the friend thing can be overrated.
- johndewar

Stoly had 25 games left in his flyers career. Hes an ufa at the end of the year at least he would of been for us and would likely have went somewhere he could stay in the NHL or get a legit shot at starting. He was not an "assett"

Talbot was at one point in ny heralded as the successor to Henry and they wanted them to actually trade Henry and keep Talbot. Than he went and absolutely got beat into the ground with Edmonton behind a poor defense. He is at the very least equivalent to the quality of goalie elliot is without the injury history. Hos relationship as hart calls him his mentor is huge. Hes a better goalie than stoly. Stoly flopped around like a fish out of water vs Minnesota and continues to struggle with rebound control. Hes 25 and likely wasnt going to re sign. I think this trade was fine even though I thought we should of received a mid to late round pick in the deal.
- Tfaehner

When we signed Elliot, like Talbot, he was also 31, without injury history.

The thing you hope for with Talbot, is that a coach won't run him into the ground the way Hakstol did with Elliot. And as long as Hart is healthy and performing to expectations, Talbot shouldn't see the ice that much.

I understand the trade, but I don't understand trading an asset away for a guy you could have had for nothing this summer (as your plan suggests).

Also, I think the friend thing can be overrated.
- johndewar

Yeah the friend thing is a bunch of nonsense. Especially for a guy as mentally mature as Hart. He has already shown he can handle himself in that department.

I don't mind the Talbot trade. I still feel the Flyers could of gotten an additional asset for the cap space Edmonton gains, but on the other side I can see how the Flyers got the better goaltender to even it out.

The only big question mark is the re-signing of Talbot. Obviously he will not be getting paid the same or more. I would expect or at least hope he re-signs somewhere between 2.5-3m with the understanding of what his role would be with the team. If he can play well in the games he is needed then it could be a great deal.

At least it is better than getting saddled with Quick or Crawford. Now what to do with the others.

McKenna - Waivers
Neuvirth - Most likely retires at end of year
Elliott - Hopefully another team wants goaltending depth for the playoffs and offers a 5th or 6th.

Yeah the friend thing is a bunch of nonsense. Especially for a guy as mentally mature as Hart. He has already shown he can handle himself in that department.
- StepfordSam

Hart told the story of how he was unbelievably nervous for his first game and called Talbot who calmed him down for his NHL debut. Say whatever you want even hall of Famers have support systems and mentors. You have to in this game. Nobody is this immortal mental super hero.

I don't mind the Talbot trade. I still feel the Flyers could of gotten an additional asset for the cap space Edmonton gains, but on the other side I can see how the Flyers got the better goaltender to even it out.

The only big question mark is the re-signing of Talbot. Obviously he will not be getting paid the same or more. I would expect or at least hope he re-signs somewhere between 2.5-3m with the understanding of what his role would be with the team. If he can play well in the games he is needed then it could be a great deal.

At least it is better than getting saddled with Quick or Crawford. Now what to do with the others.

McKenna - Waivers
Neuvirth - Most likely retires at end of year
Elliott - Hopefully another team wants goaltending depth for the playoffs and offers a 5th or 6th.
- Glak18

I'm not even past keeping elliot as roster is about to expand anyway lol. The way our goalies have gone this year...

Well this is not at all encouraging.
- Wildschwein

Stolarz does have the ability and skills to be a solid backup in the NHL, but it is a risky gamble Edmonton took.

I'm not even past keeping elliot as roster is about to expand anyway lol. The way our goalies have gone this year...
- Tfaehner

I'm sure the timing of Elliott's conditional stint was not coincidental, but even with an expanded roster the Flyers are not going to keep 4-5 goaltenders to finish the year.

I'm sure the timing of Elliott's conditional stint was not coincidental, but even with an expanded roster the Flyers are not going to keep 4-5 goaltenders to finish the year.
- Glak18

Elliot Talbot hart. Fletcher already said if we get officially eliminated hart will go to phantoms for the playoffs.

Stolarz does have the ability and skills to be a solid backup in the NHL, but it is a risky gamble Edmonton took.
- Glak18

It's substantially less risk than the Koskinen deal, so I'm not entirely displeased.

Elliot Talbot hart. Fletcher already said if we get officially eliminated hart will go to phantoms for the playoffs.
- Tfaehner

That would make sense to send Hart down in a couple weeks, although Hart is one of the big reasons I am still watching the games still.