So six years of a younger lesser player is better than 2 or 3 years of an older, better one? Especially when the Flyers have been stockpiling defensive prospects that should be ready to go in about 3 years?
- Jsaquella

And the odds that each prospect will be something? Plus you still need a healthy mix of young and old on the blue line. You can't say whether one is better than the other because it depends on the rest of your situation. But with Timonen to be retired and Grossmnan likely not being kept around (due to Schenn filling the role), yes; I'd opt for the 6 years of the younger player. This is all provided on the fact that he is a player with a good amount of tools and promise to grow further. I don't hate the MacDonald deal. I think it's a good deal for a good player.

FWIW, Hextall with respect to the Flyers talking to UFA's and cap space:

Have you talked to any potential free agents?

"We’ve reached out. We haven’t met with anybody. "

Boyle was a pending UFA. So were Stralman, Nikitn, Hainsey, Markov, Fayne, Robidas, Tallinder, Niskanen and Morris. All of those guys are capable of providing similar levels of play to MacDonald.
- Jsaquella

13.75 million for Streit, MacDonald, and Grossmann.

Boyle was a pending UFA. So were Stralman, Nikitn, Hainsey, Markov, Fayne, Robidas, Tallinder, Niskanen and Morris. All of those guys are capable of providing similar levels of play to MacDonald.
- Jsaquella

Robidas broke his leg twice last year and is 37. He's not anywhere near MacDonald right now. Talinder is old and slow. Nikitin, Hainsey and Markov didn't make it to FA.

Your list should really be Stralman, Fayne and Morris.

Robidas broke his leg twice last year and is 37. He's not anywhere near MacDonald right now.

Nikitin, Hainsey and Markov didn't make it to FA.
- Feanor

And NYI had acquired Boyle's rights with intent to sign.

no more than you can make up frick and frack ending up on the kings in the same season from 2 different trades and then winning 2 cups in 3 years, the latter of which being some key cogs.
- hammarby31

That still chaps my ass

And the odds that each prospect will be something? Plus you still need a healthy mix of young and old on the blue line. You can't say whether one is better than the other because it depends on the rest of your situation. But with Timonen to be retired and Grossmnan likely not being kept around (due to Schenn filling the role), yes; I'd opt for the 6 years of the younger player. This is all provided on the fact that he is a player with a good amount of tools and promise to grow further. I don't hate the MacDonald deal. I think it's a good deal for a good player.
- steelydan

I disagree. I'd rather have a better, older player or a cheaper, similar player than a long term commitment to a guy i feel is an average defenseman.

That's all I got. Rather avoid a long commitment to average.

And NYI had acquired Boyle's rights with intent to sign.
- jmatchett383

Which is something we could have done if we had the cap space to sign him.

I disagree. I'd rather have a better, older player or a cheaper, similar player than a long term commitment to a guy i feel is an average defenseman.

That's all I got. Rather avoid a long commitment to average.
- Jsaquella

FWIW, Hextall with respect to the Flyers talking to UFA's and cap space:

Have you talked to any potential free agents?

"We’ve reached out. We haven’t met with anybody. "
- jmatchett383

They prob laughed and hung the phone

Which is something we could have done if we had the cap space to sign him.
- aflyerpower8

But aren't people on here always giving the Flyers crap for giving up assets to bid against themselves?

Which is something we could have done if we had the cap space to sign him.
- aflyerpower8

But why would we? He's a 38 year old PP specialist who needs to be sheltered at ES, and we already have Streit (who is younger and needs less sheltering).

There are no direct quotes from Hextall there saying they can't sign any free agents with the cap picture as is. There is a clear disconnect here, on what my position is. For a team like the Flyers, the cap is always going to be an issue. as it is for a lot of teams. My position is the Flyers have some flexibility, with the ability to get more flexibility if they so desire. And there is no reason for the panic that the fan base gets into every off season about the cap. Especially when capgeek is looked at, and t's not understand what is there.
- MJL

--------------------------------------

The Flyers haven't met with a single free agent according to Hextall. Hextall says that dealing with the cap issues with the roster as currently constructed is his number one priority.

To me that sounds like a pretty strong indication that they will not meet with free agents with the cap picture as it is.

In the past you have said that the salary cap is not an issue for the Flyers and in this post you say it will always be an issue for teams like the Flyers. Would you please clarify which one is your current stance?

Can Hextall play a shell game with a few of the contracts to sign free agents? Yes. Should he? Probably not. Hextall, at least in his quotes so far, agrees with me.

--------------------------------------

The Flyers haven't met with a single free agent according to Hextall. Hextall says that dealing with the cap issues with the roster as currently constructed is his number one priority.

To me that sounds like a pretty strong indication that they will not meet with free agents with the cap picture as it is.

In the past you have said that the salary cap is not an issue for the Flyers and in this post you say it will always be an issue for teams like the Flyers. Would you please clarify which one is your current stance?

Can Hextall play a shell game with a few of the contracts to sign free agents? Yes. Should he? Probably not. Hextall, at least in his quotes so far, agrees with me.
- Flyers_01

Yes, you win the internet.

IAMRIGHT!

I disagree. I'd rather have a better, older player or a cheaper, similar player than a long term commitment to a guy i feel is an average defenseman.

That's all I got. Rather avoid a long commitment to average.
- Jsaquella

Id rather suffer with a guy like Chris Butler for a couple of seasons than pay out the ass to have a decent guy for 6 at 5 mill

But aren't people on here always giving the Flyers crap for giving up assets to bid against themselves?
- jmatchett383

They traded like fifth, right? So we keep our second and third, and lose a fifth for a shorter contract on a better player for a little bit more money.

FWIW, Hextall with respect to the Flyers talking to UFA's and cap space:

Have you talked to any potential free agents?

"We’ve reached out. We haven’t met with anybody. "
- jmatchett383

This is good news.

Boyle was a pending UFA. So were Stralman, Nikitn, Hainsey, Markov, Fayne, Robidas, Tallinder, Niskanen and Morris. All of those guys are capable of providing similar levels of play to MacDonald.
- Jsaquella

Didn't hainsey get resigned? Didn't Nikitn get traded and signed before FA? Didn't markov resign? So how were the Flyers supposed to sign them in FA?

They traded like fifth, right? So we keep our second and third, and lose a fifth for a shorter contract on a better player for a little bit more money.
- aflyerpower8

And bid against ourselves. For a player that we basically already have but who's younger and likely cheaper.

Robidas broke his leg twice last year and is 37. He's not anywhere near MacDonald right now. Talinder is old and slow. Nikitin, Hainsey and Markov didn't make it to FA.

Your list should really be Stralman, Fayne and Morris.
- Feanor

That's fine. Let's not forget Boyle, either. Let's add another name: Kyle Quincey, also a UFA. So that's 5 names on the list. Then later add more thru the CBO process, which had to be expected to some degree since this summer is use it or lose it time.

Also, last I checked, teams can exchange players with other teams in a process called "trading". If you have more cap space, it makes trading potentially easier. It's about leaving yourself an option or two.

But aren't people on here always giving the Flyers crap for giving up assets to bid against themselves?
- jmatchett383

Absolutely.. because in the end its stupid and doesnt give you any financial benefit.

Hell half the time it doesnt even work out.

That's fine. Let's not forget Boyle, either. Let's add another name: Kyle Quincey, also a UFA. So that's 5 names on the list. Then later add more thru the CBO process, which had to be expected to some degree since this summer is use it or lose it time.

Also, last I checked, teams can exchange players with other teams in a process called "trading". If you have more cap space, it makes trading potentially easier. It's about leaving yourself an option or two.
- Jsaquella

They can trade players. I think they recently did and most people on here were happy about it.

Didn't hainsey get resigned? Didn't Nikitn get traded and signed before FA? Didn't markov resign? So how were the Flyers supposed to sign them in FA?
- J35Bacher

They were all pending UFAs. How about Boyle, Stralman, Quincey, Fayne and Morris. There's 5 other legitimate options that they effectively ignored to keep MacDonald.

That still chaps my ass
- bigmookalookie

yeah....we all just need to get over it. if we haven't already.

Absolutely.. because in the end its stupid and doesnt give you any financial benefit.

Hell half the time it doesnt even work out.
- jak521

Right...but some people are saying we should have done it.