He technically didn't break any rules... he just pushed the back-diving deal to a level it's never gone before, and league arbitrarily decided to draw a line in the sand there.

It could just have easily been the Pronger deal, or Lecavalier deal, or Luongo deal that could have served as the proverbial straw.
- Tomahawk

That's definitely true. And I still think the ruling by the NHL was BS.

Morin sent back to juniors.
- wilsonecho91

That was quicker than I anticipated.

That's definitely true. And I still think the ruling by the NHL was BS.
- MJL

Agreed. As a Flyers fan I was really happy they got screwed, but they definitely got screwed.

That was quicker than I anticipated.
- mayorofangrytown

Probably felt he should spend some time with his QMJHL team before the season starts. I was happy he got to play with the big boys though.

Edit: Nevermind, already missed 2 games.

That was quicker than I anticipated.
- mayorofangrytown

Apparently not some.

Agreed. As a Flyers fan I was really happy they got screwed, but they definitely got screwed.
- jmatchett383

It's the stupidity of the NHL. They left loopholes in player contract structure, and NHL teams used it to their advantage. They got mad about it, and decided to punish a team, and take away a high draft pick. Well that hurts a team, and could potentially weaken the product. Why would you bite off your nose to spite your face?

It's the stupidity of the NHL. They left loopholes in player contract structure, and NHL teams used it to their advantage. They got mad about it, and decided to punish a team, and take away a high draft pick. Well that hurts a team, and could potentially weaken the product. Why would you bite off your nose to spite your face?
- MJL

I think we know why.

Morin sent back to juniors.
- wilsonecho91

Tim really had a beat on that one

Apparently not some.
- ob18

Yeah, well it is what it is. Maybe if they knew he could get in games again next year they'd have held him up.

I still think using the AAV as the cap hit was asking for frontloaded circumvention from the start. I understand it offers flexibility to GMs, but did they really not anticipate GMs literally bending it beyond the breaking point?

Tim really had a beat on that one
- PhillySportsGuy

"bead"

He technically didn't break any rules... he just pushed the back-diving deal to a level it's never gone before, and league arbitrarily decided to draw a line in the sand there.

It could just have easily been the Pronger deal, or Lecavalier deal, or Luongo deal that could have served as the proverbial straw.
- Tomahawk

Right or wrong, they got punished. Very harshly.

The arbitrary nature of the punishment goes to show that not everyone has the same read on the CBA.

Nothing that Holmgren has done has come even close to the penalty that the Devils franchise has incurred as a result of misinterpreting the CBA.

You're right to point out where Homer has eff'd up, but I think you're dying on the wrong hills in order to point out flaws in how his knowledge of the CBA has hurt his stewardship of the franchise.

I mean, you can't possibly compare what went down with Tomas Hyka with losing the amount of money and draft picks the Devils lost on the Kovalchuk contract.

I still think using the AAV as the cap hit was asking for frontloaded circumvention from the start. I understand it offers flexibility to GMs, but did they really not anticipate GMs literally bending it beyond the breaking point?
- BulliesPhan87

Yes, they really did not anticipate it. And seemed insulted when the GM's did use the loopholes.

I still think using the AAV as the cap hit was asking for frontloaded circumvention from the start. I understand it offers flexibility to GMs, but did they really not anticipate GMs literally bending it beyond the breaking point?
- BulliesPhan87

Technically, there was no rule against it. Heck, Shea Weber only got paid $1M to actually play hockey last year.

That will mostly be because of Streit's contract, which, pays him about as much as Carle is getting this year.

Imagine how good Carle would be if he could fire the puck like Mark Streit.
- johndewar

I think he will get killed with the fans mainly because of the contract, but I am worried about his play in the D zone.

He is going to help them move the puck and on the PP for sure. Although he looks a bit awkward at times when the puck comes to his off side?

I think his D side skills will effect the pairings to a degree.

Last year IIRC Coburn was relied upon for big minutes, maybe leading all the defenseman on the team. If Coburn is paired with Streit this year, I'm not sure I want Streit out there against the other team's top lines all that much. I guess we will see.

Yeah, well it is what it is. Maybe if they knew he could get in games again next year they'd have held him up.
- mayorofangrytown

He's better off going back to get stronger and work on his game and make a push next year

I still think using the AAV as the cap hit was asking for frontloaded circumvention from the start. I understand it offers flexibility to GMs, but did they really not anticipate GMs literally bending it beyond the breaking point?
- BulliesPhan87

Yes, they didn't anticipate that and it's not at all surprising.

He's better off going back to get stronger and work on his game and make a push next year
- ob18

Couldn't agree more.

So I haven't read through all the pages yet, but I thought Hall looked good out there last night. He was up on his skates and in position.
Talbot, Coots, and Lecavelier looked good.
I thought Alt looked as good as Coburn... Of course I have no clue how hard his match ups were. And it was cool to see Morin.
Those 2 guys alone have me feeling better about our D prospects.

He's better off going back to get stronger and work on his game and make a push next year
- ob18

I agree.

At the same time I was quite pleased watching him so far.

Lot of talk about a blown draft pick back on draft day, I think he is going to be a pretty solid NHLer in the future.

He's better off going back to get stronger and work on his game and make a push next year
- ob18

I couldn't agree more, but sending him back now or in two weeks couldn't make that much of a difference. I'd have liked to see him against a full NHL squad whether in the final preseason games or the first couple of the season.

Meh, doesn't matter that much but I thought they'd give him a bit longer of a look, not to keep him for the season but as a front office they aren't going to get this kind of opportunity again until next summer.

Agreed. As a Flyers fan I was really happy they got screwed, but they definitely got screwed.
- jmatchett383

I don't think they got screwed. The last six years of the original Kovalchuk deal deserved to be punished.

2021-22: $750,000
2022-23: $550,000
2023-24: $550,000
2024-25: $550,000
2025-26: $550,000
2026-27: $550,000

Kovalchuk will be 44 years old on April 15, 2027 when the original contract would have ended.

I mean, you can't possibly compare what went down with Tomas Hyka with losing the amount of money and draft picks the Devils lost on the Kovalchuk contract.
- johndewar

That's because I didn't.

On a micro level, Lou technically was without fault, but his misstep was on the macro level, breaking the spirit of the CBA, and he had the book thrown at him.

Homer's had a history of getting the micro stuff wrong, and so far he hasn't suffered any severe consequences as a result... but from what we saw w/ Feaster, even a small technical oversight can lead to huge consequences.

My point is, I hope is that the Flyers learn to tread more carefully, paying greater attention to the details, so as to fully mitigate the possibility of a ROR type of scare. Somehow, that's been construed as a thorough damning of Homer's entire tenure as GM.

Much ado about nothing. None of it hurt them, and they've dealt with hundreds of player moves and contracts since 2005. It's nitpicking over things that really don't matter much.
- MJL

Prongers contract hurts them.

I couldn't agree more, but sending him back now or in two weeks couldn't make that much of a difference. I'd have liked to see him against a full NHL squad whether in the final preseason games or the first couple of the season.

Meh, doesn't matter that much but I thought they'd give him a bit longer of a look, not to keep him for the season but as a front office they aren't going to get this kind of opportunity again until next summer.
- mayorofangrytown

They are off for a week.

Is there anything preventing him from going down to play this week with his jr club and then coming back to finish the preseason with the Flyers?

I honestly don't know, maybe that is what they are going to do.