No it's not...but Roussel is drawing more penalties, which is a huge difference, because he's not putting his team down a guy very often...which Rinaldo is doing.

Roussel also has 11 points and is playing 5 minutes a night more than Rinaldo, because he's been a lot more effective.
- Jsaquella

Yes. Rinaldo is in a slump, just like Giroux, Voracek, Hartnell, Timonen, Streit, Schenn, and half the rest of the team. Why are we beating on Rinaldo?

salary cap projected to be between 70-71 million next year
- nastyflyergirl

Holmgren is maniacally rubbing his hands together. Like giving a peeping Tom a case of Visine.

salary cap projected to be between 70-71 million next year
- nastyflyergirl

The trouble is, the NHL wanted to help the "poor" teams, but the salary cap is still calculated the same way it was before the last lockout. That way of calculating had it up to $70mm a couple years ago. It wasn't going to dramatically drop unless they artificially lowered it, like they did coming out of this lockout.

James Mirtle predicted an $80mm cap within a few years, and that was prior to the massive revenues from the Canadian TV deal with Rogers

Yes. Rinaldo is in a slump, just like Giroux, Voracek, Hartnell, Timonen, Streit, Schenn, and half the rest of the team. Why are we beating on Rinaldo?
- youarewrong

Seven. Minute. Power play. Against.

Except that's not the case for teams like Chicago, Los Angeles or Pittsurgh.

They each have several 4th liners, averaging between 8-10 minutes a game, who don't play regularly on the PK. Yes they can slide up the line up, which supports the point I am making, that good teams have 4th lines that can play 8-10 minutes a night without hurting the team.

The only time Rosehill is playing 8 minutes is in a blowout. A guy liek Brandon Bollig does it most nights for the Hawks
- Jsaquella

I definitely support your call for better 4th-liners.

Except for a handful of games, the Flyers have struggled to score all year. With that being said, I would significantly shake up the lines and lineup:
Foward lines
McGinn-G-Voracek
Hartnell-Couturier-Read
Downie-Schenn-Simmonds
Cousins-Hall-Raffl
D (assumes Timonen plays)
Coburn-Timonen
Grossmann-Gus
Schenn-Mez

Healthy scratches: Streit, Gill, Rinaldo
waived to make roster space: Rosehill
- BiggE

I hope McGinn actually produces if he is put in that role. He hasn't exactly been lighting it up in the AHL. And aside from 2 games where he scored three goals, hasn't really been all that noticeable in the NHL either.

Seven. Minute. Power play. Against.
- Tomahawk

It makes me mad just thinking about that.

Yes. Rinaldo is in a slump, just like Giroux, Voracek, Hartnell, Timonen, Streit, Schenn, and half the rest of the team. Why are we beating on Rinaldo?
- youarewrong

Because Rinaldo has always been an out of control, hot headed guy who got into penalty trouble, from the CHL, to the AHL to the NHL. He showed signs of learning last season and was an effective player....this season he's regressed to what he was before.

If you have guys who are consistent point producers over a number of years and then see a decline, it's a slump. If you have a guy who was an idiot for years, then has a single, shortened season where he's not, then reverts it's not a slump....it's far more likely that the one season he kept his cool and stayed under control is an abberration or outlier.

Seven. Minute. Power play. Against.
- Tomahawk

Has anyone gotten a definitive answer as to why Rinaldo lost his mind? Was Roussel screaming "She's a LESBIAN! A LESBIAN!" at him in the moments leading up to the incident in question?

The trouble is, the NHL wanted to help the "poor" teams, but the salary cap is still calculated the same way it was before the last lockout. That way of calculating had it up to $70mm a couple years ago. It wasn't going to dramatically drop unless they artificially lowered it, like they did coming out of this lockout.

James Mirtle predicted an $80mm cap within a few years, and that was prior to the massive revenues from the Canadian TV deal with Rogers
- Jsaquella

But doesn't the NHL have revenue sharing? So if revenue goes up, so does the portion dolled out to the poor teams. And because of the Lockout-the teams are also getting a bigger split. I think both of those will help these teams. If after that, they can't keep up, then I'm sorry, you franchise cant support itself and needs to be moved to a market that can.

That means he's put us short 23 times... at the minimum...
Out of 29 games.
Not good...

- FlyersGrace

he has left them shorthanded 10 times.

I definitely support your call for better 4th-liners.
- Tomahawk

So do I, but these better 4th lines arent currently in the Flyers system. Which is why Rinaldo and Rosehill aren't being scratched when Schenn and Mez are.

he has left them shorthanded 10 times.
- nastyflyergirl

For how many minutes?
The seven minutes last night was oh so nice.

Lockout 2012-13: Problem Solved

Not that I'm complaining about the extra wiggle room
- BulliesPhan87

The cap going up like that is not a surprise at all. we all knew the revenues where there. The lockout really was just all about the owners getting a bigger cut/the players getting less of the revenue.

But doesn't the NHL have revenue sharing? So if revenue goes up, so does the portion dolled out to the poor teams. And because of the Lockout-the teams are also getting a bigger split. I think both of those will help these teams. If after that, they can't keep up, then I'm sorry, you franchise cant support itself and needs to be moved to a market that can.
- youarewrong

They do, but it's limited. It's not like the NFL, where every team gets a huge TV check every year. The Rogers money will help, sure, but the NHL remains a primarily gate driven league. In fact, under the old CBA, teams could only receive revenue sharing money for 3 years in a row at a time, so a teams would be screwed every 4th year if they relied on that sharing money.

Teams like Florida that can't draw fans will have trouble competing financially or even reaching the salary floor. Why do you think the Isles traded for a $5mm cap hit? They needed the dead space to hit the floor

For how many minutes?
The seven minutes last night was oh so nice.
- FlyersGrace

oh yeah, that was special. I enjoyed him playing 4 seconds and having 27 mins in penalties.. I am not a Zac hater like many on here but what he did was major dumb. I love the Zac from last year. its strange that he isn't drawing penalties either. I mean, there have been times stuff is done against him and its not called and him getting calls against that are marginal

I hope McGinn actually produces if he is put in that role. He hasn't exactly been lighting it up in the AHL. And aside from 2 games where he scored three goals, hasn't really been all that noticeable in the NHL either.
- MBFlyerfan

I hope so, too -- this is really his chance. He has the opportunity to play 10-plus games in a row, show he belongs, that he can contribute consistently.

I won't lie: I'm not entirely certain what he doesn't do that gets him sent back so easily, but other guys get to stay.

But hopefully he has worked on whatever it is the coaches have told him he needs to do, because we could really use a guy who can actually play the game a bit to do that, to help provide the scoring depth that Raffl, Rosehill and Rinaldo will not.

So do I, but these better 4th lines are currently in the Flyers system. Which is why Rinaldo and Rosehill aren't being scratched when Schenn and Mez are.
- youarewrong

Actually, yes, they could ice a better fourth line with pieces in the system. A 4th line of Raffl, Hall and Holmstrom would be better than the current unit, in terms of being better defensively and better able to slide up in the lineup in case of injury

Has anyone gotten a definitive answer as to why Rinaldo lost his mind? Was Roussel screaming "She's a LESBIAN! A LESBIAN!" at him in the moments leading up to the incident in question?

- MBFlyerfan

Long Island Ducks fans are still wondering, to this day, why Tommy Hanrahan attacked Reg Dunlop.

The cap going up like that is not a surprise at all. we all knew the revenues where there. The lockout really was just all about the owners getting a bigger cut/the players getting less of the revenue.
- nastyflyergirl

Bingo. I'm just being sour grapes over it. All that angst, public swaying of emotions, and a delay of my precious hockey television programming was just a cash grab.

The cap going up like that is not a surprise at all. we all knew the revenues where there. The lockout really was just all about the owners getting a bigger cut/the players getting less of the revenue.
- nastyflyergirl

This -- the Flyers could have had a $70 million payroll in 2005, if they had wanted.

I feel for teams who don't have the Flyers' resources...to a degree. But that's what relocation is for -- it's a competitive market. Teams have moved in every single sport for as long as leagues have been in existence.

The Florida Panthers have no more right to exist than the Quebec Nordiques did. At the end of the day, those franchises who are a drag on the financial system...well, this CBA isn't going to help them three years from now, when the salary floor is $60 million. They're going to have to figure out how to make it work, or move.

Flyers look to have caught another break. Crawford got injured last night. Looks like the Flyers will face Antti Raanta Wednesday night in Chicago.

Flyers look to have caught another break. Crawford got injured last night. Looks like the Flyers will face Antti Raanta Wednesday night in Chicago.
- PLindbergh31

That is good, even though recent history suggests that a backup goalie is no guarantee for us.

This -- the Flyers could have had a $70 million payroll in 2005, if they had wanted.

I feel for teams who don't have the Flyers' resources...to a degree. But that's what relocation is for -- it's a competitive market. Teams have moved in every single sport for as long as leagues have been in existence.

The Florida Panthers have no more right to exist than the Quebec Nordiques did. At the end of the day, those franchises who are a drag on the financial system...well, this CBA isn't going to help them three years from now, when the salary floor is $60 million. They're going to have to figure out how to make it work, or move.
- AllInForFlyers

The flip side to that argument is that there really aren't more than a dozen or so dependable, viable hockey markets in North America, and the majority of those are in Canada.

Even currently successful markets like Chicago, LA, and Pittsburgh could easily back-slide into troubled status without continued winning on the ice to fuel fan support.

And without a comprehensive national footprint, the league would have had a hard time getting that $2 billion from NBC for national TV rights.

The Flyers benefit from the smaller clubs just as much as the other way around.

They do, but it's limited. It's not like the NFL, where every team gets a huge TV check every year. The Rogers money will help, sure, but the NHL remains a primarily gate driven league. In fact, under the old CBA, teams could only receive revenue sharing money for 3 years in a row at a time, so a teams would be screwed every 4th year if they relied on that sharing money.

Teams like Florida that can't draw fans will have trouble competing financially or even reaching the salary floor. Why do you think the Isles traded for a $5mm cap hit? They needed the dead space to hit the floor
- Jsaquella

Isn't that the key? If you cant draw fans in, then why should you have a team?