In the immediate future? It's devastating. They were 28th in the league in goals for last season, and that was with Kovy. In the far future? Like I said a few pages pack, it could potentially mean the beginning of the end for the team.
- JAKEw1234

Let's not get carried away... they're still a veteran-laden team, play a strong team game, led by a sharp-as-a-tack coach, and they just added a top-flight young goalie. They've got some really fantastic d-prospects coming up and a whole bunch of fresh cap space to make some noise with. They also have a brand-spanking new arena with favorable lease terms to call home. That's the kind of situation that the NHL won't mind propping up until they're able to get their financial house in order.

Let's not get carried away... they're still a veteran-laden team, play a strong team game, led by a sharp-as-a-tack coach, and they just added a top-flight young goalie. They've got some really fantastic d-prospects coming up and a whole bunch of fresh cap space to make some noise with. They also have a brand-spanking new arena with favorable lease terms to call home. That's the kind of situation that the NHL won't mind propping up until they're able to get their financial house in order.
- Tomahawk

And I hope they do. A lot more rides on how they do in the next couple seasons than just a few jobs.

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.
- BringBack25

I reiterate:

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.
- BringBack25

But is the bartender lady in it too?

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.
- BringBack25

Sounds like must see entertainment. Does anyone have any idea what time this starts at?

But is the bartender lady in it too?
- wilsonecho91

Tune in and find out! #nospoilers

Sounds like must see entertainment. Does anyone have any idea what time this starts at?
- dingo8urbaby

usually 10 to 15 minutes after Bill posts a new blog.


(sorry, couldn't resist that one)

Sign Gagne!!

If you name your team after something singular, you should only be allowed to have one player. That would nip this crap right in the bud. Wanna be the Portland Brave? Fine, good luck playing one on six all season long you idiots.
- BringBack25

I just expect it now, man. I'm like a whipped puppy when it comes to that guy. I fully expect every single game that the Flyers need to win against them will be a loss, with Brodeur and Elias driving in the shiv.

It's unreal how those two have brutalized the Flyers -- Brodeur looked done like dinner in 2010, when the Flyers busted them up. He looked absolutely and completely done.

I couldn't believe that was the same guy who beat the Flyers in 2012. A 40-year-old freaking goalie who looked completely done TWO SEASONS before comes back and somehow beats you two years later?

Only that guy, that franchise, against us. Only them. Two of their three Cups absolutely should've been ours, in 1995 and 2000.
- AllInForFlyers

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I didn't think Brodeur was as terrible in 2010 as your painting him.

Question fellas, is it possible for Kovalchuck to play a year in the KHL and than return to the NHL next year as a FA? I think I read somewhere that the Devils are not tolling his contract.

There is speculation that Devils couldn't afford to buy Kovy out next year thus why he retired. Though why would he retire and leave all that amnesty money on the table.
- Pat MaGroin

If Kovalchuk was trying to return, he'd need all 30 NHL teams to agree to rescind his retirement papers.

Why retire and leave that money on the table? He'll probably make more per season (I read somewhere that he could make $20mm a year) while paying less in taxes and with no money going to escrow. He'll more than recoup his money in the KHL.

Yet out of the last four teams standing, every single on of them went into the PO's w/ ample cap-space, despite many of them adding big contracts at the TDL:

LA: $8,174,201
Boston: $5,713,438
Pittsburgh: $3,460,867
Chicago: $2,856,456


The only three teams (MIN, PHI, VAN) that ended the season essentially at (or over) the max? They only managed to win a total of 1 playoff game between them, with two of those clubs incurring bonus overages (PHI, MIN).

It looks like, at least during the course of 2012-13, that maxing out cap space isn't exactly the arbiter between success and failure.

Smart spending > Free spending


- Tomahawk

I never stated that maxing out Cap space is the key to success. What I did state is that teams with Championship aspirations should use all the resources available to them, including Cap space, to make their team as good as it can be. It's a simple concept. Not suggesting to just spend to spend. But top teams should not approach a Season looking to cut corners.

Yet the Flyers used all their open contract slots on aging vets, an Austrian longshot, and a third-string goalie this summer while only adding a couple of UFA overagers to the prospect pool... how does that fit within that ridiculous dichotomy of yours?


- Tomahawk

I guess I now have to explain how a team is built. Why they added Streit, Lacavalier, and Emery. Why they added Newbury, and Danis. We can have that discussion again, if you'd like. Not every single contract slot is going to be devoted to a young player. They still have an NHL team to put together. Still have a need for an emergency Goalie. Still want to have a veteran presence on the Phantoms to help with the young players down there. All fundamentals of running a franchise.

I'll reiterate, every team in the NHL could stand to benefit from having some open cap space and a few open contract slots for unforeseen eventualities and opportunities... it's not only prudent, it's just plain common sense.

Virtually every other team plans ahead like that... the Flyers, on the other hand, are always over the cap and up against the 50-limit and have been forced into making several bad moves as a result. Jsaq mentioned one related to the 50-limit... and we all know there are plenty of examples related to the cap-limit.

But hey, who cares. Need another Jason Bacashihua? Sure, let's sign Yann Danis.
- Tomahawk

Yes, you do need another Jason Bacashihua. Which is why they signed Danis. And Jsaq incorrectly stated that the Flyers had to include a 2nd round pick when they traded Legein. It was not a 2nd round pick, it was a 6th round pick. And boy, did that set the franchise back. The Flyers trade history is filled with simple moves to clear a contract space that had no long term effect on the team. They've never been hindered by how they operate. Every year they add free agents. Trade for players. Sign undrafted free agents. Claimed players on wiavers.
I've given you ample opportunity to make your case. I like I said previously. It's obviously criticism just to criticize. With no substance behind it.

Provide some specific examples of how the Flyers handling of contract spaces has hurt them as a team. Kept them from trying to make the team better.

They'll probably split the state between Flyers and Rangers and some Islanders sprinkled around (pretty much how it is now :lol so lower state Devils fan will come to the Flyers, and upper state people will just shift their focus to the Rags.
- JAKEw1234

Conversely, there are many Devils fans here in SJ that chose NJ as "their team" because they have detested family members/acquaintances who are Flyers fans (akin to PLindbergh31's Flyers fandom, IIRC). So I could see them becoming Rangers fans -- or simply root for the Devils' new incarnation wherever they end up.

- hammarby31

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.
- BringBack25

Yes, you do need another Jason Bacashihua. Which is why they signed Danis. And Jsaq incorrectly stated that the Flyers had to include a 2nd round pick when they traded Legein. It was not a 2nd round pick, it was a 6th round pick. And boy, did that set the franchise back. The Flyers trade history is filled with simple moves to clear a contract space that had no long term effect on the team. They've never been hindered by how they operate. Every year they add free agents. Trade for players. Sign undrafted free agents. Claimed players on wiavers.
I've given you ample opportunity to make your case. I like I said previously. It's obviously criticism just to criticize. With no substance behind it.

Provide some specific examples of how the Flyers handling of contract spaces has hurt them as a team. Kept them from trying to make the team better.
- MJL

Not to add fuel, I stand corrected, the 2nd rounder was given to LA to take Denis Gauthier off their hands.

Still piss poor asset management to have to trade a draft pick to get rid of a player. It doesn't mean all areas of their team building are bad, it just means that they could make better use of certain assets.

Agree, disagree whatever. The fact is they have had to trade away draft picks to lose bad contracts at least twice. If that's a broken egg in baking the cake to you, great. Me, I'd rather they be less aggressive in certain instances.

Next up on HBTV: MJL vs. Tomahawk in SlotNado!

Action/Adventure yarn in which two highly opinionated HockeyBuzz posters use subtle semantic differences, misquotes, and thinly veiled put downs to argue endlessly about the importance of contract slots and the right way to build a hockey team. All during tornado somehow filled with HB Mods that could ban them at any moment. Amazing dialog and first rate special effects. Four stars from Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.
- BringBack25

lmao

Not to add fuel, I stand corrected, the 2nd rounder was given to LA to take Denis Gauthier off their hands.

Still piss poor asset management to have to trade a draft pick to get rid of a player. It doesn't mean all areas of their team building are bad, it just means that they could make better use of certain assets.

Agree, disagree whatever. The fact is they have had to trade away draft picks to lose bad contracts at least twice. If that's a broken egg in baking the cake to you, great. Me, I'd rather they be less aggressive in certain instances.
- Jsaquella

The Salary Cap was instituted in 2005. So in 8 years it's happened twice? Doesn't seem like a problem to me. I'm sure you can find the same thing with just about every team. And the bottom line for me. Some make it out to be a lot worse then it actually is. Not referring to you.

The Salary Cap was instituted in 2005. So in 8 years it's happened twice? Doesn't seem like a problem to me. I'm sure you can find the same thing with just about every team. And the bottom line for me. Some make it out to be a lot worse then it actually is. Not referring to you.
- MJL

Yes, twice in 8 years the Flyers have had to trade an asset to get rid of a dumb contract. It's not a major issue, but it is still wasting assets because of overaggression

Yes, twice in 8 years the Flyers have had to trade an asset to get rid of a dumb contract. It's not a major issue, but it is still wasting assets because of overaggression
- Jsaquella

They had to include a 6th round draft pick to move Stefan Legein. Who they acquired from Columbus in a trade of prospects. The Flyers took a chance on a player. It didn't work out. I don't see how it's over aggression. In fact I don't see how it's a big deal at all. And he had a Cap hit of about 800k. Doesn't really qualify as a dumb contract.