Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: The Strangest of Springs, Hayes, Bernie Event and More

Bill,

Not sure if you’ll answer this but it’s worth a shot. Which path would you rather take / who would you rather have? Sign Hayes or trade for Kadri?

Are flyers fans more delusional than any other fan base?

Good point on Hayes...what purpose does that comment serve? If he did sign with the Flyers that comment is something the player now has to answer for...Just dumb.
I will go on record by stating the obvious. Kadri is and would be a better player for the Flyers. I like Hayes, but Kadri is simply a better hockey player.

Are flyers fans more delusional than any other fan base?
- daryl stanley

no...they are no more delusional. present company included.

Good point on Hayes...what purpose does that comment serve? If he did sign with the Flyers that comment is something the player now has to answer for...Just dumb.
I will go on record by stating the obvious. Kadri is and would be a better player for the Flyers. I like Hayes, but Kadri is simply a better hockey player.
- landros 2

But but who have to give up picks and/or prospects. Those 2 are greater than a nhl player who can help his team win.

Congrats to Chief, Schenn, and the rest of the Blues! If it isn't Philly, I'm happy
St. Louis got their first cup. Well deserved. Hopefully it will be us in the not-too-distant future.
I agree 100% with Bill on this Hayes negotiation. Pretty obvious move by the Hayes camp. If someone says your team isn't their first choice publicly like that, trade him to whoever wants him and get the 5th rounder back if you can. I wouldn't hate trading for Kadri, especially considering the contract he's under.

Bill,

Not sure if you’ll answer this but it’s worth a shot. Which path would you rather take / who would you rather have? Sign Hayes or trade for Kadri?
- arichardson22

I think Kadri is the better player. However, it is always better to add a useful piece and still keep your more coveted assets (top-end picks, prospects) in-house. If Leafs would take a deflated return on Kadri to ensure they aren't vulnerable to a Marner offer sheet, I would be interested for sure (but I don't know that they would do that or to what degree).

People say it all the time, but any team really can win the cup. Crazy run they had. Congrats Blues.

I think Kadri is the better player. However, it is always better to add a useful piece and still keep your more coveted assets (top-end picks, prospects) in-house. If Leafs would take a deflated return on Kadri to ensure they aren't vulnerable to a Marner offer sheet, I would be interested for sure (but I don't know that they would do that or to what degree).
- bmeltzer

It is not always better imo. They have picks and prospects out the wazzoo. Now I am not saying overpay for him though the flyers can easily afford to give up some of those pieces if that is what the leafs are looking for.

Kadri has value and you have to give to get.

At this point I don't think Hayes is signing here.

Imagine he takes a big contract and doesn't live up to it amidst comments that he really didn't want to come here to begin with?

Mentally I am moving on and chalking up the Jamie Benn pick as a missed opportunity.

Oh well.

I think Kadri is the better player. However, it is always better to add a useful piece and still keep your more coveted assets (top-end picks, prospects) in-house. If Leafs would take a deflated return on Kadri to ensure they aren't vulnerable to a Marner offer sheet, I would be interested for sure (but I don't know that they would do that or to what degree).
- bmeltzer

Not sure about it’s always better. Kadri would come at a severely diminished cap hit and contract term which could be better for the team long term. Even factoring in traded assets

Not sure about it’s always better. Kadri would come at a severely diminished cap hit and contract term which could be better for the team long term. Even factoring in traded assets
- Just5

VERY important point.

Not sure about it’s always better. Kadri would come at a severely diminished cap hit and contract term which could be better for the team long term. Even factoring in traded assets
- Just5

The cap hit and term for Kadri is a better fit I agree but unless we know what the cost of trading for him will be, hard to say.

Do you think the player is usually on board when it comes to decisions about these types of negotiation tactics?

If he doesn't sign, there are many UFA forwards to go after. Its not the end of the world

At this point I don't think Hayes is signing here.

Imagine he takes a big contract and doesn't live up to it amidst comments that he really didn't want to come here to begin with?

Mentally I am moving on and chalking up the Jamie Benn pick as a missed opportunity.

Oh well.
- MBFlyerfan

I think it's way too early to know that but if he doesn't sign here, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The cap hit and term for Kadri is a better fit I agree but unless we know what the cost of trading for him will be, hard to say.
- MJL

As far as roster players go...ghost is pretty close in value. I know you think it’s insane and fletcher should be fired if the trade happens ..but ghosts value is right around that of an established 2C in this league on a team friendly deal.

It is opening a hole to close another one. But perhaps they have someone else in mind for the D and they like kadri.

If he doesn't sign, there are many UFA forwards to go after.
- atlasgibbs

Not really.

There are a bunch of factors that play into getting players via Free Agency or trade to take into account. I really don't care how the GM gets it done, just get it done. The Blues are just another example of a team not worrying too much about the future or "the kids", but rather to win today - it paid off. The Pens did it when Rutherford took over and they won 2 more cups. I'd just like to do what it takes via trade/free agency to win "A" cup every now and then than to try to set team up for the future which still may not pan out. There are no guarantees, but at least the team would be relevent. Congrats to the Blues

As far as roster players go...ghost is pretty close in value. I know you think it’s insane and fletcher should be fired if the trade happens ..but ghosts value is right around that of an established 2C in this league on a team friendly deal.
- Just5

Other factors in the deal that you aren't looking at here.

There are a bunch of factors that play into getting players via Free Agency or trade to take into account. I really don't care how the GM gets it done, just get it done. The Blues are just another example of a team not worrying too much about the future or "the kids", but rather to win today - it paid off. The Pens did it when Rutherford took over and they won 2 more cups. I'd just like to do what it takes via trade/free agency to win "A" cup every now and then than to try to set team up for the future which still may not pan out. There are no guarantees, but at least the team would be relevent. Congrats to the Blues
- RustyPipes

The Flyers tried to do what it takes vie trade/free agency how many times in the Holmgren GM era? I don't care about just being relevant. We were relevant for 40 years. The Blues were further along than the Flyers are now.

The Flyers tried to do what it takes vie trade/free agency how many times in the Holmgren GM era? I don't care about just being relevant. We were relevant for 40 years. The Blues were further along than the Flyers are now.
- MJL

True, but just about each one of those years the Flyers were a tough team, competative, and damn near won the cup. Since the plan of the future, the "5 year plan" or "10 year plan" I forgot which, the Flyers were barely competitive to just make the playoffs. Yeah, yeah I know, at least now the Flyers have a bunch of good prospects. You know, other teams have good prospects too. I'm glad Hextall is gone. He didn't give Berube much of a chance and took on other team's albatrosses to set up for the future. We'll never see the end of his plan in full, but I hope that the current regime can inject some needed talent to get the team ready for a Cup run.

I am just glad tough physical hockey is still here. The Blues and Capitals the prior year showed physicality is still useful.

I was listening to the radio this morning and keith Jones made an interesting point. Some GM's get fooled thinking that the game is completely changing, mentioned Hextall, and yet the two past cup champions won bringing a physical game. Said it shows that physicality is still needed.

The Flyers tried to do what it takes vie trade/free agency how many times in the Holmgren GM era? I don't care about just being relevant. We were relevant for 40 years. The Blues were further along than the Flyers are now.
- MJL

Yeah. See that was the trap we fell into. Being relevant every year but not building a consistent contender over a that span like Chicago has done. That's what I want them to do and that's done through the draft primarily. I think fletch will proceed in that manner as I believe he doesn't want to flip picks for older players. Hayes shows d values those assets as he would rather sign the right ufa than trade two firsts for kadri for example.

Now sounding good on the Hayes front though. He'll prob test ufa but who knows.