Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Practice Day, Covid List, Taxi Squad, Phantoms, TIFH

Hi, Bill. Thanks.

Thanks Bill! A lot of moving parts to keep track of in this messed up season!

Thanks Bill! A lot of moving parts to keep track of in this messed up season!
- jd250

This is a very complicated case... You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta uh, strands to keep in my head, man...

Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber.

Not sure exact day when our guys will be back (as mentioned by Bill), but for a good sign: Giroux is back home with his son and wife.

good write up by the A on the Ekholm scenario. Their proposed cost is less than I expected. I do like his size and that he plays with an edge.


https://theathletic.com/2...mattias-ekholm-trade-fit/

Bill whats the del with Carsen Twarynski? Is he hurt? He hasn't played any games for the phantoms. If he is healthy why on earth are Morin and AA playing over him?

So the coach likes size it seems over talent with his comments.

good write up by the A on the Ekholm scenario. Their proposed cost is less than I expected. I do like his size and that he plays with an edge.


https://theathletic.com/2...mattias-ekholm-trade-fit/
- wcorvette

can you share the proposed cost?

can you share the proposed cost?
- login

If I remember they said 2 second round picks. The comparables were Alec Martinez and Muzzin

If I remember they said 2 second round picks. The comparables were Alec Martinez and Muzzin
-wcorvette

If that's all it will take, why is he not a Flyer by now? Oh wait, that cap thing ... darn!

meh

This is a very complicated case... You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta uh, strands to keep in my head, man...

Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber.

- Bendecko

good write up by the A on the Ekholm scenario. Their proposed cost is less than I expected. I do like his size and that he plays with an edge.


https://theathletic.com/2...mattias-ekholm-trade-fit/
- wcorvette

That's still a high cost. This year, the TDL will be bonkers. You'll have to factor in quarantine times if you decide to trade for a player in Canada, the expansion draft etc. My gut is, we don't make any big moves until maybe the draft/UFA. We need a top pairing RD.. Gee, that's not hard to come by at all is it??

If that's all it will take, why is he not a Flyer by now? Oh wait, that cap thing ... darn!
- jd250

Yeah, that darn cap thing. I realize that every team has bad contracts, but IMO this team just has too many to be considered a legit contender this year or even next. By that I mean the roster just isn't quite good enough and they don't have the space, nor the ability to create the space, to make moves that would move the needle in terms of improving the team in the short term. Basically stuck with what they got. Especially with the expansion draft & financial impact of covid further complicating things.
And then we have the G & Couts situation looming. I've seen some say they think both will get re-signed and the overall cap hit will essentially be a wash compared to what it is now. It's kinda silly to try to predict what contracts will look like 2 years from now, but unless the covid impact really drives market prices down, I don't see that being the case. Couts is at $4.3M. Despite his age, I don't see G signing for less than $5M. And if the Flyers aren't legit contenders at the time then I could definitely see him exploring short term deals to be a secondary player on a true contender. As for Couts, I gotta think he'll be highly motivated to cash in on his next deal given that he clearly left money on the table with this current one. Assuming he continues his strong play, I see him in the $9M range. And if the Flyers were to sign those two deals, how would those contracts look in year 3 and beyond?

Yeah, that darn cap thing. I realize that every team has bad contracts, but IMO this team just has too many to be considered a legit contender this year or even next. By that I mean the roster just isn't quite good enough and they don't have the space, nor the ability to create the space, to make moves that would move the needle in terms of improving the team in the short term. Basically stuck with what they got. Especially with the expansion draft & financial impact of covid further complicating things.
And then we have the G & Couts situation looming. I've seen some say they think both will get re-signed and the overall cap hit will essentially be a wash compared to what it is now. It's kinda silly to try to predict what contracts will look like 2 years from now, but unless the covid impact really drives market prices down, I don't see that being the case. Couts is at $4.3M. Despite his age, I don't see G signing for less than $5M. And if the Flyers aren't legit contenders at the time then I could definitely see him exploring short term deals to be a secondary player on a true contender. As for Couts, I gotta think he'll be highly motivated to cash in on his next deal given that he clearly left money on the table with this current one. Assuming he continues his strong play, I see him in the $9M range. And if the Flyers were to sign those two deals, how would those contracts look in year 3 and beyond?
- Big_E_88

while I agree that G and Coots could get sticky I don't see the Flyers with a lot of bad contracts. I think they are sitting pretty well right now. They will have choices with G, Jake and Coots. I think JVR could be the one contract but if he plays like he is, he will provide the value. Hayes maybe in the last 2 years but all teams who want to compete have similar issues, some worse. The flat Cap due to Covid put the Flyers in a crunch. I think G will stay and if he see's a good team he will give the hometown discount. Coots is a tougher call, he should get paid after providing excess value on the prior contract and being in his prime.

while I agree that G and Coots could get sticky I don't see the Flyers with a lot of bad contracts. I think they are sitting pretty well right now. They will have choices with G, Jake and Coots. I think JVR could be the one contract but if he plays like he is, he will provide the value. Hayes maybe in the last 2 years but all teams who want to compete have similar issues, some worse. The flat Cap due to Covid put the Flyers in a crunch. I think G will stay and if he see's a good team he will give the hometown discount. Coots is a tougher call, he should get paid after providing excess value on the prior contract and being in his prime.
- wcorvette

I also think he stays because if he had any interest in winning he would have wanted to bolt here long ago. He is comfortable and complacent.

That being said what do you think his home town discount will be in terms of years and dollars?

Bill whats the del with Carsen Twarynski? Is he hurt? He hasn't played any games for the phantoms. If he is healthy why on earth are Morin and AA playing over him?

So the coach likes size it seems over talent with his comments.
- login

Twarynski may have been a Covid case, which are not disclosed for Taxi Squad players until they get back. He didn't practice last week.

Not size over talent; it's valuing a size/mobility combo (which is in high demand as dual traits). Sushko isn't devoid of talent. Does need more consistency.

can you share the proposed cost?
- login

Comparables were a first-round pick and two prospects (Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi) for Muzzin in January 2019 and two second-round picks for Martinez in February 2020.

O’Connor lays out the Flyers options with the expansion draft if they did trade for Ekholm. I kind of think the third one might be the best choice.

“ Expose Ekholm and likely lose him to Seattle.

Protect Ekholm in place of one of Provorov, Sanheim or Myers and likely lose that player to Seattle.

Protect all four defensemen and likely leave both Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick exposed for Seattle to take.

Protect all of Provorov, Sanheim, Myers and seven forwards, and pay Seattle in assets to not select Ekholm.

Trade Ekholm after the season but before the expansion draft to recoup some of the cost of trading for him.”

Not sure exact day when our guys will be back (as mentioned by Bill), but for a good sign: Giroux is back home with his son and wife.
- arichardson22

This is terrific news!

Also thank you, Bill, for all the updates and info.

Twarynski may have been a Covid case, which are not disclosed for Taxi Squad players until they get back. He didn't practice last week.

Not size over talent; it's valuing a size/mobility combo (which is in high demand as dual traits). Sushko isn't devoid of talent. Does need more consistency.
- bmeltzer

Tha is a great combo if you can play. Those 3 offer next to nothing. Kase is a better option than morin, AA, and Sushko.

Just not sold on AV being the coach that will get them to a cup finals let alone win one.
This team hasn't been playing well since the playoffs.

Comparables were a first-round pick and two prospects (Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi) for Muzzin in January 2019 and two second-round picks for Martinez in February 2020.

O’Connor lays out the Flyers options with the expansion draft if they did trade for EkholmI. I kind of think the third one might be the best choice.

“ Expose Ekholm and likely lose him to Seattle.

Protect Ekholm in place of one of Provorov, Sanheim or Myers and likely lose that player to Seattle.

Protect all four defensemen and likely leave both Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick exposed for Seattle to take.

Protect all of Provorov, Sanheim, Myers and seven forwards, and pay Seattle in assets to not select Ekholm.

Trade Ekholm after the season but before the expansion draft to recoup some of the cost of trading for him.”
- Djapana

to expand on the 3rd one; leave Jake unprotected. Protect Patrick. Have to give him some time. It would suck to lose Oscar though that's the cost of doing business. Top 4 dman more crucial than a top 9 winger.

Or do nothing and wait until the summer

to expand on the 3rd one; leave Jake unprotected. Protect Patrick. Have to give him some time. It would suck to lose Oscar though that's the cost of doing business. Top 4 dman more crucial than a top 9 winger.

Or do nothing and wait until the summer
- login

I really like Jake, but I really have a feeling that if they need a core shakeup, he could be exposed. Top 4 dman is more crucial. Jake has a NMC correct? He'd need to waive that to be exposed?

to expand on the 3rd one; leave Jake unprotected. Protect Patrick. Have to give him some time. It would suck to lose Oscar though that's the cost of doing business. Top 4 dman more crucial than a top 9 winger.

Or do nothing and wait until the summer
- login

Well under that option they can only protect 4 forwards: G, Hayes, Couts, TK.

V is exposed anyway. Patrick and Lindblom have their obvious risk factors. I could see both being bypassed by Seattle particularly if their play does not improve this season.

Comparables were a first-round pick and two prospects (Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi) for Muzzin in January 2019 and two second-round picks for Martinez in February 2020.

O’Connor lays out the Flyers options with the expansion draft if they did trade for EkholmI. I kind of think the third one might be the best choice.

“ Expose Ekholm and likely lose him to Seattle.

Protect Ekholm in place of one of Provorov, Sanheim or Myers and likely lose that player to Seattle.

Protect all four defensemen and likely leave both Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick exposed for Seattle to take.

Protect all of Provorov, Sanheim, Myers and seven forwards, and pay Seattle in assets to not select Ekholm.

Trade Ekholm after the season but before the expansion draft to recoup some of the cost of trading for him.”
- Djapana

Why trade for a player in the offseason, when you need that player this season?

Yeah, that darn cap thing. I realize that every team has bad contracts, but IMO this team just has too many to be considered a legit contender this year or even next. By that I mean the roster just isn't quite good enough and they don't have the space, nor the ability to create the space, to make moves that would move the needle in terms of improving the team in the short term. Basically stuck with what they got. Especially with the expansion draft & financial impact of covid further complicating things.
And then we have the G & Couts situation looming. I've seen some say they think both will get re-signed and the overall cap hit will essentially be a wash compared to what it is now. It's kinda silly to try to predict what contracts will look like 2 years from now, but unless the covid impact really drives market prices down, I don't see that being the case. Couts is at $4.3M. Despite his age, I don't see G signing for less than $5M. And if the Flyers aren't legit contenders at the time then I could definitely see him exploring short term deals to be a secondary player on a true contender. As for Couts, I gotta think he'll be highly motivated to cash in on his next deal given that he clearly left money on the table with this current one. Assuming he continues his strong play, I see him in the $9M range. And if the Flyers were to sign those two deals, how would those contracts look in year 3 and beyond?
- Big_E_88

All of our “bad contracts” are literally the only guys getting points outside of farabee. It’s still the older guys driving the bus, if this team is going to take a step forward we will need a LOT more from TK/Oskar/Patrick