This league is funky right now. MacDonald is a test case for a lot of things about the NHL of the 2010s.

Because both sides are right. A 27-year-old MacDonald who has the skating ability he does, with the level of hockey sense that he does, was going to score a long-term contract, for those dollars, with someone.

That doesn't mean it's a good contract. It means that someone was going to pay it.

I'm...uneasy about it, as I've said before. Because MacDonald gets exposed as a top pairing defenseman. I'd need to see a bit more to know if he can totally handle second-pairing minutes without being exposed.

To me, it's a poor deal if he plays on the third-pairing, at that salary, because of exposure concerns. But as uneasy as I am right now...I guess I still need to see a few more games.
- AllInForFlyers

It will be real interesting if Hexy decides to move MacDonald to one of those teams will to pay. Something I could see happening.

For the most part, I don't think the traditional media cares -- nor should they, because it is not something their target audience focuses on -- about whether a team uses analytics and to what extent.

The Howard Eskin and Michael Barkanns out there care about "Was Paul Holmgren pressured to kick himself upstairs to team president so Hextall could become GM". They don't care (nor should they) on how much weight, if any, Hextall will give to things like Corsi or Fenwick when he's assessing his roster and whether that differs greatly from Holmgren's methods.
- bmeltzer

Who did ask the question about analytics? Was it one of the beats or somebody from the blog contingent?

It will be real interesting if Hexy decides to move MacDonald to one of those teams will to pay. Something I could see happening.
- JFlyers00

Are there rules against signing a guy then trading him immediately?

Who did ask the question about analytics? Was it one of the beats or somebody from the blog contingent?
- Tomahawk

Probably Gargano

Are there rules against signing a guy then trading him immediately?
- PhillySportsGuy

Nein.

Are there rules against signing a guy then trading him immediately?
- PhillySportsGuy

None that I'm aware of; it's probably considered to be poor form, wouldn't help you in the court of public opinion, but Hextall could argue to concerned agents that he didn't negotiate the deal and would prefer another path, to whatever degree of accuracy a statement like that contains.

None that I'm aware of; it's probably considered to be poor form, wouldn't help you in the court of public opinion, but Hextall could argue to concerned agents that he didn't negotiate the deal and would prefer another path, to whatever degree of accuracy a statement like that contains.
- AllInForFlyers

All old allegiances go out the the door (or upstairs) with the old GM... I don't think anybody around the league would bat an eye if Hexy undid some of Homer's recent work.

hextall is handcuffed by the awful contracts to hartnell, lecavalier, streit and grossmann
- 13kdub13

The Hartnell deal was for too many years, given the tendency of many power forwards to decline rapidly after age 30. The excessively length of deal, however, was the trade-off for extending him coming off his career year at a very modest increase in cap hit (4.2M in the previous deal to 4.75M).

The other deals were all ones in which the Flyers paid UFA-type market value for veterans they projected to play starting roles: that always means "overpayment" compared to what a team would ideally pay a younger player who is capable of performing the same role comparably.

BTW, the Grossmann contract does not "handcuff" the Flyers with the way D salaries league wide have exploded. He is actually the lowest paid of the Flyers' starting six D and his salary is right in line with what veteran Dmen who play his minutes and role are making around the league.

All old allegiances go out the the door (or upstairs) with the old GM... I don't think anybody around the league would bat an eye if Hexy undid some of Homer's recent work.
- Tomahawk

So what you're saying is he's bringing Mike Richards home?

Who did ask the question about analytics? Was it one of the beats or somebody from the blog contingent?
- Tomahawk

Sielski, I believe. That question was asked of Hextall while I was still with Paul Holmgren and before I got over to Hextall.

I asked the question to Holmgren about whether he'll stay involved in draft preparation and asked Hextall about balancing winning with drafting and development.

Future is looking bright May The 8th be with you

Sielski, I believe. That question was asked of Hextall while I was still with Paul Holmgren and before I got over to Hextall.

I asked the question to Holmgren about whether he'll stay involved in draft preparation and asked Hextall about balancing winning with drafting and development.
- bmeltzer

Thanks.

The Hartnell deal was for too many years, given the tendency of many power forwards to decline rapidly after age 30. The excessively length of deal, however, was the trade-off for extending him coming off his career year at a very modest increase in cap hit (4.2M in the previous deal to 4.75M).

The other deals were all ones in which the Flyers paid UFA-type market value for veterans they projected to play starting roles: that always means "overpayment" compared to what a team would ideally pay a younger player who is capable of performing the same role comparably.

BTW, the Grossmann contract does not "handcuff" the Flyers with the way D salaries league wide have exploded. He is actually the lowest paid of the Flyers' starting six D and his salary is right in line with what veteran Dmen who play his minutes and role are making around the league.
- bmeltzer

I still think they could move Hartnell. Might not get much back because he has the leverage to either waive or not the NTC but he could help a younger team or team that lacks the grit and net front presense and scoring he does bring.

So what you're saying is he's bringing Mike Richards home?
- BulliesPhan87

All old allegiances go out the the door (or upstairs) with the old GM... I don't think anybody around the league would bat an eye if Hexy undid some of Homer's recent work.
- Tomahawk

As much as I like some of the players on a personal level...hey. What Hextall said was true. He's gotta assess the fit, and some pieces on the roster might not fit.

Since it's his head on the chopping block, he should absolutely get to make those calls. Because one thing we all know for sure: That job isn't promised to him one second longer than team performance dictates.

He should at least sink or swim with a roster he prefers, and I have no problems with that concept.

As much as I like some of the players on a personal level...hey. What Hextall said was true. He's gotta assess the fit, and some pieces on the roster might not fit.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm sure there will be some awkward moments in the hallway, but probably nothing that Homer and Clarke didn't experience during the last transition. Team hasn't been very good the past couple of seasons... some change should be expected.

I still think they could move Hartnell. Might not get much back because he has the leverage to either waive or not the NTC but he could help a younger team or team that lacks the grit and net front presense and scoring he does bring.
- J35Bacher

The problem with moving Hartnell is that you would need to replace him. If you want Moulson or Vanek, those guys are going to cost a lot and aren't exactly the youngest guys.

The only reason for moving Hartnell would be to avoid dealing with his salary a few years from now. I just don't think its worth it unless they have a contingency plan laid out.

grossmann is making the same money as hjalmarsson in chicago. he's nowhere near the player hjarlmarsson is. grossmann is an ok player. never understood the need to re-sign him for the term that they did. streit is making almost as much as duncan keith. ugh!

Dumb comparison. Keith is signed to a 13 year cap circumventing deal that has possible recapture penalties down the line. He will be almost 40 when it finally expires.

hextall is handcuffed by the awful contracts to hartnell, lecavalier, streit and grossmann
- 13kdub13

What make the Streit contract awful? He had a solid season overall and actually looked better the longer it went on. If he was a FA right now I would happily five him a three year deal at $5.25 million per year.

The problem with moving Hartnell is that you would need to replace him. If you want Moulson or Vanek, those guys are going to cost a lot and aren't exactly the youngest guys.

The only reason for moving Hartnell would be to avoid dealing with his salary a few years from now. I just don't think its worth it unless they have a contingency plan laid out.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think they would be fine. Simmonds is there new power forward. I think they will look to get a new winger for giroux. He just doesn't seem to fit. And if, big if, they can move Vinny and Hartnell it would allow them a little more room to manipulate the roster better.

grossmann is making the same money as hjalmarsson in chicago. he's nowhere near the player hjarlmarsson is. grossmann is an ok player. never understood the need to re-sign him for the term that they did. streit is making almost as much as duncan keith. ugh!
- 13kdub13

Hjalmarsson is also 26 and his moneys will only go up (next season he's making 4.1mill).

~$30M committed this season to a defense that's not very good. sounds like a winning formula to me.

I think they would be fine. Simmonds is there new power forward. I think they will look to get a new winger for giroux. He just doesn't seem to fit. And if, big if, they can move Vinny and Hartnell it would allow them a little more room to manipulate the roster better.
- J35Bacher

Simmonds is a RW. It would force the team to move Simmer or Jake to LW.

Trading Hartnell would open up a hole and force the team to use the money saved to fill the same hole. It may be beneficial in the long run, but I don't think the team is going to get a great deal on a top line LW. They are going to overpay on years and dollars like they did with Hartnell.

I'm sure there will be some awkward moments in the hallway, but probably nothing that Homer and Clarke didn't experience during the last transition. Team hasn't been very good the past couple of seasons... some change should be expected.
- Tomahawk

That must have been a lot more awkward considering the complete mess the team was in when Clarke left.

For the most part, I don't think the traditional media cares -- nor should they, because it is not something their target audience focuses on -- about whether a team uses analytics and to what extent.

The Howard Eskin and Michael Barkanns out there care about "Was Paul Holmgren pressured to kick himself upstairs to team president so Hextall could become GM". They don't care (nor should they) on how much weight, if any, Hextall will give to things like Corsi or Fenwick when he's assessing his roster and whether that differs greatly from Holmgren's methods.
- bmeltzer

All of this. I know we all love to banter about this stuff, but the fact is, the average hockey fan really doesn't care about Fenwick or Corsi. Writing about this stuff for a wide, diverse audience would put most readers to sleep. Doesn't make them lesser fans or whatever. They just don't derive enjoyment from that stuff.

Basically, Sielski probably asked the analytics question because he hasn't been able to draw attention to himself in awhile, so he found a topic that he probably doesn't grasp in the first place and likely couldn't explain to poke the Flyers organization with.