Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Eye on July, Draft Wrapup

First. Still having faith in Hexy. Hoping for the best.

Flyers don't have a 2nd or a 3rd in 2015, but they do have an extra 4th round pick now. Ideally they would be able to get a 2nd or 3rd back for Vinny from Florida, Nashville, Dallas or maybe Arizona.

No 'WTF?' picks, no 'costly to the lineup' trades...not a bad draft.

Now let's see how Hexy maneuvers around this cap situation.

Evander please come home

No 'WTF?' picks, no 'costly to the lineup' trades...not a bad draft.

Now let's see how Hexy maneuvers around this cap situation.
- tangent_man

I'm happy with the way the draft went overall. Hexy has some real work to do to get us out of the cap problem here. I'd think he'll have to dump lecav at a cost of picks and then make another move.

I also wonder if getting upshall as our LW solution will really help? As I remember, he's injury prone.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Eye on July, Draft Wrapup
- bmeltzer

If they do a deal with Dallas, would Matej Stransky be an option? I know he had a solid playoff with the Texas Stars, and even though the Flyers may try to get more cap relief by dealing some of their veteran defense, and Nemeth might be able to step right in, I see more of a need for skilled forwards in the system.

From what I know of Nemeth & Jokipakka, both skate pretty well for bigger guys. I wouldn't be adverse to them, just see a bigger need at the AHL level for some forward skill.

No 'WTF?' picks, no 'costly to the lineup' trades...not a bad draft.

Now let's see how Hexy maneuvers around this cap situation.
- tangent_man

That might be, outside of NHL security letting me & OB get next to Bill Daly, the big stunner of the weekend. No WTF picks.

Even more, there were not a ton of reaches by any teams. There were maybe a handful of guys picked that weren't in our draft book, and that was almost exclusively in the third round and beyond.

I'm happy with the way the draft went overall. Hexy has some real work to do to get us out of the cap problem here. I'd think he'll have to dump lecav at a cost of picks and then make another move.

I also wonder if getting upshall as our LW solution will really help? As I remember, he's injury prone.
- Hextall271

Upshall could play wing with Umberger and Couturier and allow Read to slide up.


No, I'm not giving up on Matt Read, top six winger.

That might be, outside of NHL security letting me & OB get next to Bill Daly, the big stunner of the weekend. No WTF picks.

Even more, there were not a ton of reaches by any teams. There were maybe a handful of guys picked that weren't in our draft book, and that was almost exclusively in the third round and beyond.
- Jsaquella

Personally, I question Daly's own disregard for his 'personal space'. The warning bells should have been going off in his head. The man's got no 'Spidey Sense'.

I'm happy with the way the draft went overall. Hexy has some real work to do to get us out of the cap problem here. I'd think he'll have to dump lecav at a cost of picks and then make another move.

I also wonder if getting upshall as our LW solution will really help? As I remember, he's injury prone.
- Hextall271

If it got rid of Vinny, I'd take the chance on Upshall for a year.

Personally, I question Daly's own disregard for his 'personal space'. The warning bells should have been going off in his head. The man's got no 'Spidey Sense'.
- tangent_man

He was actually pretty good about it. I didn't stop and get pictures with a lot of the people I said hi to, but when I saw him I was like, yeah, gotta do this one.

The only way it would have been better is if it was Bettman

He was actually pretty good about it. I didn't stop and get pictures with a lot of the people I said hi to, but when I saw him I was like, yeah, gotta do this one.

The only way it would have been better is if it was Bettman
- Jsaquella

That was a cool pic. I really thought you'd have more.

If they do a deal with Dallas, would Matej Stransky be an option? I know he had a solid playoff with the Texas Stars, and even though the Flyers may try to get more cap relief by dealing some of their veteran defense, and Nemeth might be able to step right in, I see more of a need for skilled forwards in the system.

From what I know of Nemeth & Jokipakka, both skate pretty well for bigger guys. I wouldn't be adverse to them, just see a bigger need at the AHL level for some forward skill.
- Jsaquella

I would target Nemeth (and alternately Jokipakka) because my eye is on the big club and not the Phantoms. I would want a young player whom I think might be at the NHL level this season.

I think Nemeth is ready to step into the Grossmann role at a cap-friendly cost with the benefit of youth and without the injury history -- which is also why I don't think the Dallas Stars (who have yet to successfully replace what Grossmann used to bring to their blueline mix) are eager to deal him. I don't think he can take all of Grossmann's current workload right away but I do think he might be ready to by the end of next season.

Jokipakka would be a sixth or seventh NHL defenseman right now if he makes an NHL roster, but I like him and think he'll be a perfectly serviceable third-pairing NHL defenseman as he continues to gain experience. Even if he's not quite NHL-ready for October, he might be by the end of 2014-15.

Hexy has some cap crunching to do. I figure if Vinny is to be traded it wil have to be after his bonus pay out. I could see teams like NSH and and FL getting into the mix. Esp after Spezza declined to head to NSH, I could see them going after Vinny to get a center that could feed Neal the puck. This UFA period should be interesting no doubt

I would target Nemeth (and alternately Jokipakka) because my eye is on the big club and not the Phantoms. I would want a young player whom I think might be at the NHL level this season.

I think Nemeth is ready to step into the Grossmann role at a cap-friendly cost with the benefit of youth and without the injury history -- which is also why I don't think the Dallas Stars (who have yet to successfully replace what Grossmann used to bring to their blueline mix) are eager to deal him. I don't think he can take all of Grossmann's current workload right away but I do think he might be ready to by the end of next season.

Jokipakka would be a sixth or seventh NHL defenseman right now if he makes an NHL roster, but I like him and think he'll be a perfectly serviceable third-pairing NHL defenseman as he continues to gain experience. Even if he's not quite NHL-ready for October, he might be by the end of 2014-15.
- bmeltzer

Does make sense. I do think they could try one of their own prospects, but there's not really a banger type guy, despite some guys with good size(Alt, Lauridsen, Morin) and honestly, I'm not sold that those guys are as NHL ready.

My bigger concern would be getting Lecavalier's deal off the books. Not only does it seem that the Flyers don't want him, it seems as if he's more than willing to move on.

Does make sense. I do think they could try one of their own prospects, but there's not really a banger type guy, despite some guys with good size(Alt, Lauridsen, Morin) and honestly, I'm not sold that those guys are as NHL ready.

My bigger concern would be getting Lecavalier's deal off the books. Not only does it seem that the Flyers don't want him, it seems as if he's more than willing to move on.
- Jsaquella

It seems like the Flyers are having buyers remorse. Unfortunately Homer was free wheeling and dealing last year, with the contracts and it sucks that it has handcuffed the Flyers thus far.

It seems like the Flyers are having buyers remorse. Unfortunately Homer was free wheeling and dealing last year, with the contracts and it sucks that it has handcuffed the Flyers thus far.
- bigmookalookie

Big part of the reason they like Lecavalier, according to reports, is that Laviolette was pushing for him. Also, Lecavalier mentioned he wanted to play for Laviolette. When Laviolette got toasted, Berube struggled to find an effective role for Vinny. That's why Nashville gets mentioned as a possible destination.

Does make sense. I do think they could try one of their own prospects, but there's not really a banger type guy, despite some guys with good size(Alt, Lauridsen, Morin) and honestly, I'm not sold that those guys are as NHL ready.

My bigger concern would be getting Lecavalier's deal off the books. Not only does it seem that the Flyers don't want him, it seems as if he's more than willing to move on.
- Jsaquella

That's just it: I don't think any of the aforementioned players are NHL-ready, and I am dead set against rushing Morin in particular. Nemeth and Jokipakka seem more NHL-ready than Alt and I don't think Lauridsen is an NHL prospect.

But if Flyers packaged VL, NG and a 2016 second-round pick and got Nemeth in return, I think it would strengthen Dallas as a playoff-worthy team for the second straight year and would give the Flyers both the cap relief they need and also potentially solve the issue of replacing the Grossmann role.

I would also be just as happy to keep NG out of the deal and accept Jokipakka in lieu of Nemeth.

Big part of the reason they like Lecavalier, according to reports, is that Laviolette was pushing for him. Also, Lecavalier mentioned he wanted to play for Laviolette. When Laviolette got toasted, Berube struggled to find an effective role for Vinny. That's why Nashville gets mentioned as a possible destination.
- Jsaquella

It wouldn't surprise me if he went there. Esp since NSH has cap space for days

They need to bring down the salary cap for their team... that is what made the trade for Umberger so strange.

Should have just traded Hartnell for a draft pick???

That's just it: I don't think any of the aforementioned players are NHL-ready, and I am dead set against rushing Morin in particular. Nemeth and Jokipakka seem more NHL-ready than Alt and I don't think Lauridsen is an NHL prospect.

But if Flyers packaged VL, NG and a 2016 second-round pick and got Nemeth in return, I think it would strengthen Dallas as a playoff-worthy team for the second straight year and would give the Flyers both the cap relief they need and also potentially solve the issue of replacing the Grossmann role.

I would also be just as happy to keep NG out of the deal and accept Jokipakka in lieu of Nemeth.
- bmeltzer

This sounds like a good deal to me. Just I thought that Vinny was quoted on saying he wanted to stay in the east next season?

That's just it: I don't think any of the aforementioned players are NHL-ready, and I am dead set against rushing Morin in particular. Nemeth and Jokipakka seem more NHL-ready than Alt and I don't think Lauridsen is an NHL prospect.

But if Flyers packaged VL, NG and a 2016 second-round pick and got Nemeth in return, I think it would strengthen Dallas as a playoff-worthy team for the second straight year and would give the Flyers both the cap relief they need and also potentially solve the issue of replacing the Grossmann role.

I would also be just as happy to keep NG out of the deal and accept Jokipakka in lieu of Nemeth.
- bmeltzer

1000% agree with you. The last thing I want to see is one of these young defensemen rushed to the NHL. Let them grow in the CHL or AHL until they're ready.

I also agree on Laurdisen being a fringe guy. I think he was OK as an emergency fill in, but he's not a guy you can write in the top six and say "We're good to go"

I'd be good with the VL, NG trade you suggest, especially if Dallas takes on all of the money on VL & NG. That'd be ideal, actually.

Does the bonus part of Timonen's salary count against the flyer's 10% summer overage?

Upshall could play wing with Umberger and Couturier and allow Read to slide up.


No, I'm not giving up on Matt Read, top six winger.
- Jsaquella

I've watched your crusade for read and I actually agree with you. I know he's undersized but good hands and wheels. I think you are right and he can be used as a top 6 forward. I think that the issue were going to face now is depth because Hexy has to pare the roster down. If Vinny and another player are gone for cap relief, then we might have to use akeson and Laughton this year just because they are cheap.