U guys are offer sheeting PK I read.
- AGalchenyuk27

SOurce

Maybe there will be some explanation in the coming days. Maybe Hartnell asked to be traded.
- tangent_man

He deserves to be traded after that stupid Blackbeard thing in the playoffs. I'll give Voracek a pass because obvi hartnell forced him to participate.

I dont see how they couldn't have done better. Personally, I would have just walked away from this deal if this was the best available for Hartnell.
- PhillySportsGuy

I can see that. Pretty sure Meltzer feels the same way. Maybe they think they will get more out of Umberger. I am not hugely optimistic about RJ.

Personally I think they did not feel Hartnell was a good fit, and the 5 more years left were a huge obstacle to any return coming back.

No... his personality. He was a goof ball. It was great if he was playing well, but the minute he had a few bad games people hated him.

If you dont think being on the top offensive line year in and year out, while producing between 20-30 goals and 45-60 points consistent, then I got nothing for ya.
- jak521

What games are you watching? He's been demoted multiple times the past two seasons.

Not in love w/ Umberger, but I guess I'm in the minority that felt like this team couldn't move forward w/ Hartsy remaining at center-stage... and dat contract.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't have been mad about the trade. This just seems like they were hell bent on making a deal and just made one.

Once again, they went into negotiations saying they were going to trade him for the best available offer.

If I were him, I would have.

After all, he can look back and laugh now, I guess.
- johndewar

I hope he can laugh about it, 'cause no one in Flyerland is gonna forget it too soon.

The possibilities:

1.) Hextall knows something about Hartnell that we don't.
2.) This was a pure (long term) salary dump.
3.) Hextall believes that Hartnell was going to degrade faster than an cut open avocado on the counter and wanted to dump him, no matter what.
- johndewar

Fair points. Hopefully this moves Read up to the top line. I don't think losing Hartnell is all that big of a deal, just not happy with the return is all.

Comcast owns NBC.
Sheena Parveen works for NBC.

Sheena Parveen conveniently transferred to CBus in the middle of the night?
- hereticpride

Huh, does Columbus have a news station?

He deserves to be traded after that stupid Blackbeard thing in the playoffs. I'll give Voracek a pass because obvi hartnell forced him to participate.
- funmaster18

Yeah, time to get that 'bully' mentality outta here.

Per Berube,

"RJ is a versatile guy who can play all positions,” said Flyers coach Craig Berube. “He's a good penalty killer who skates well. He's a veteran who has been around a long time and knows how to play the game properly. He'll be used in a lot of different areas. I think with our team it is nice to have a real versatile guy like him."


I think the ability to play Umberger in multiple lines and multiple siutations is what they like compared to hartnell. And the bolded part seems to me like they want a different attitude on the team.
- J35Bacher

This really says it all. I dont take it as an insult to Hartsy but if that is how Berube wants to construct a team there is really no way Hartnell fits in here.

Worst Corsi on the Jackets of any player who played at least 30 games. He'll look great with VL on the 4th line.

"They may be a -36, but they each have 20 goals this year"
- PhillySportsGuy

put them together at that rate and youll get ovechkin.

people tell me he should win the hart.

I can see that. Pretty sure Meltzer feels the same way. Maybe they think they will get more out of Umberger. I am not hugely optimistic about RJ.

Personally I think they did not feel Hartnell was a good fit, and the 5 more years left were a huge obstacle to any return coming back.
- Marc D

It just seems like a huge step down in order to save yourself 3-5 years from now. I'm all about looking towards the future, but this move definitely makes the team worse now and likely for the next 3 seasons.

If I was another gm id be calling Hextall right now offering Kesler for Giroux

- Winning

exactly how many GMs have Kesler?

What games are you watching? He's been demoted multiple times the past two seasons.
- hereticpride

He was demoted? Or were lines changed up?

Guys were, and will be, played all over the lineup.

At the end of the day, Hartnell was a 20 goal, 52 point power forward. Only Hartnell, Simmonds, Lucic and Backes were in that realm...

put them together at that rate and youll get ovechkin.

people tell me he should win the hart.
- stayinthefnnet

Thats what it will be like. Hartnell has his problems, but he still produces points and gets poop done.

Umberger IS NOT a top 9 forward imo. If they don't move VL, they'll have a $10M 4th line.

Huh, does Columbus have a news station?
- funmaster18

I thought they just used the Ohio State student news station.

He was demoted? Or were lines changed up?

Guys were, and will be, played all over the lineup.

At the end of the day, Hartnell was a 20 goal, 52 point power forward. Only Hartnell, Simmonds and Backes were in that realm...
- jak521

He was demoted. How many games did you see G or Jake start on the 4th line?

exactly how many GMs have Kesler?
- LetsGoIsles

Don't ruin his comical routine. He's the best poster we have.

It just seems like a huge step down in order to save yourself 3-5 years from now. I'm all about looking towards the future, but this move definitely makes the team worse now and likely for the next 3 seasons.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think they're worse today than they were in game 7 against the Rangers. I don't think this will have a lasting, 3-year effect. Schenn and Coots will get better, younger defenseman will take the spots of Grossman, etc. And I have a feeling Hextall realizes that this move alone makes them a worse team and he'll likely make a subsequent move in the summer to make them a better team.

I wouldn't have been mad about the trade. This just seems like they were hell bent on making a deal and just made one.

Once again, they went into negotiations saying they were going to trade him for the best available offer.
- PhillySportsGuy

I guess I just don't feel the gap in performance between the two is really that wide... numbers are definitely in Hartsy's favor, no doubt.

He was demoted? Or were lines changed up?

Guys were, and will be, played all over the lineup.

At the end of the day, Hartnell was a 20 goal, 52 point power forward. Only Hartnell, Simmonds and Backes were in that realm...
- jak521

I think the term power forward cant be applied to a player who cant stay on his skates during scrums along the boards. I enjoyed a lot of Hartnells time here, but, perhaps he is better labelled something else

He's superior at having a name that's similar to cheeseburger
- funmaster18

You guys think this is bad
Wait till we trade Vinny for David Clarkson and 5th

I feel like both GMs are laughing a each other right now

He was demoted. How many games did you see G or Jake start on the 4th line?
- hereticpride

To be honest.. I dont remember seeing Hartnell start on the 4th line.

The emergence of Simmonds, paired with the length of his contract... writing on the walls.

Im not bitter about this. I see Hexy going with the younger guys and trying to be more responsible defensively... I just hope Umberger can still bring it. Crazy, considering he was one of the strongest candidates for a buy-out.