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.
- Jsaquella

Good thing all 5 were assured to make it to UFA and will definitely be better for the forseeable future for similar or cheaper deals.

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

Hey Jsaq.. quick question. Had the Flyers not signed MacDonald up to this point... would they have been able to decide whether or not to sign him or go forward in a different direction? Or did they need to hastily sign him when they did to prevent him from leaving the team in March?

Geez it must be "Whine and be negative about EVERYTHING" day here today. Why can't people just be happy that the Flyers seem to be turing things in the right direction.

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
- jak521

I don't think you lose anything at all going with Chris Butler over AMac -- their numbers are virtually identical.

Good thing all 5 were assured to make it to UFA and will definitely be better for the forseeable future for similar or cheaper deals.
- jmatchett383

We didnt need to sign MacDonald when we did, did we?

So had they shown a bit of patience, and then saw what was available they could have made different decisions.. but instead the made the hasty 6 year 50 million dollar decision.

Good thing all 5 were assured to make it to UFA and will definitely be better for the forseeable future for similar or cheaper deals.
- jmatchett383

All 5 did make it to UFA, I provided a list that include 4 or 5 other names as well.

I don't think you lose anything at all going with Chris Butler over AMac -- their numbers are virtually identical.
- Tomahawk

Kinda why I picked him to be honest...

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.
- Jsaquella

Ok. And they all said they want to play in Philly? There is no garuantee that they would have signed. So yuo could have been hoping to get one but you might have been left with none. I think Macdonald signing is fine. His age and skill set will be fine as we transition once Kimmo is gone and we start to get our younger guys coming up on d.

Geez it must be "Whine and be negative about EVERYTHING" day here today. Why can't people just be happy that the Flyers seem to be turing things in the right direction.
- JonnyHammerstix

i'm thrilled. i love what's happening right now. slowly turning the aircraft carrier around. i also have a sneaking suspicion we're going to hit on at least one, if not 2 of our late rounders in this draft. especially this jesper character. man, would i love a little plug swedish dman to run around and level every single piece of poop in blue, red and white.

We didnt need to sign MacDonald when we did, did we?

So had they shown a bit of patience, and then saw what was available they could have made different decisions.. but instead the made the hasty 6 year 50 million dollar decision.
- jak521

I'm not saying it was a great signing. But it's what he would most likely have gotten as a FA. Yes, they could have gone with a different player, but they obviously felt he was worth keeping, as they weren't required to sign him. Better to go with the sure thing than to hope you get one of the FA's and possibly come up with nothing.

But I agree, every decision ever made by the team was horrible.

Hey Jsaq.. quick question. Had the Flyers not signed MacDonald up to this point... would they have been able to decide whether or not to sign him or go forward in a different direction? Or did they need to hastily sign him when they did to prevent him from leaving the team in March?
- jak521

Oh Gee that's right! They owned MacDonald's rights up until tomorrow!!Wow, they could have gone into free agency, especially with the last week being an open negotiation week and kicked the tires on several of the pending UFAs and if they decided MacDonald was the best fit, then they could have re-signed him!

Glad they didn't wait. Somebody could have swooped in after game 6 and stolen him away!

And bid against ourselves. For a player that we basically already have but who's younger and likely cheaper.
- jmatchett383

We bid against ourselves on MacDonald too. I just think the long term cap flexibility, the quality of player, and retaining of higher draft picks would make the situation better long term.

yeah....we all just need to get over it. if we haven't already.
- hammarby31

I'm over it, except when the kings win the cup... It stings like a mofo. That's just the way it is, I just won't get over it... One of these days the flyers will win the cup

Ok. And they all said they want to play in Philly? There is no garuantee that they would have signed. So yuo could have been hoping to get one but you might have been left with none. I think Macdonald signing is fine. His age and skill set will be fine as we transition once Kimmo is gone and we start to get our younger guys coming up on d.
- J35Bacher

Nope. There's no guarantee they would have signed. Guess what?

they still owned MacDonald's rights and could have kicked the tires and then come back around and signed him.

I'm not saying it was a great signing. But it's what he would most likely have gotten as a FA. Yes, they could have gone with a different player, but they obviously felt he was worth keeping, as they weren't required to sign him. Better to go with the sure thing than to hope you get one of the FA's and possibly come up with nothing.

But I agree, every decision ever made by the team was horrible.
- jmatchett383

Yep. Being critical of one decision automatically means that every decision they make is bad

We bid against ourselves on MacDonald too. I just think the long term cap flexibility, the quality of player, and retaining of higher draft picks would make the situation better long term.
- aflyerpower8

And after we gave up assets to acquire this 39-year-old defenseman who has to be sheltered for 5-on-5 matchups, and we pay him $6M for 3 years, we're supposed to applaud it?

I don't think you lose anything at all going with Chris Butler over AMac -- their numbers are virtually identical.
- Tomahawk

But....did Butler ever say that he's want to come to Philly?!?!?!

Yep. Being critical of one decision automatically means that every decision they make is bad
- Jsaquella

It's the vibe this board puts out on a daily basis. 2Real being the main culprit.

The guy the Flyers bought out to sign VL, has more value. Hilarious.
- PLindbergh31

The real problem here isn't vinnys contract

It's the fact that vinny told the flyers that when he gets his 2 mil bonus. He'll be filling up his basement with jet skis, quads, and dune buggies

There will be no room for Laughton to stay

That's what has the flyers irked

Geez it must be "Whine and be negative about EVERYTHING" day here today. Why can't people just be happy that the Flyers seem to be turing things in the right direction.
- JonnyHammerstix

today?

Oh Gee that's right! They owned MacDonald's rights up until tomorrow!!Wow, they could have gone into free agency, especially with the last week being an open negotiation week and kicked the tires on several of the pending UFAs and if they decided MacDonald was the best fit, then they could have re-signed him!

Glad they didn't wait. Somebody could have swooped in after game 6 and stolen him away!
- Jsaquella

lmfao

Nope. There's no guarantee they would have signed. Guess what?

they still owned MacDonald's rights and could have kicked the tires and then come back around and signed him.
- Jsaquella

Assuming he liked being strung along and didn't want more, yes.

The real problem here isn't vinnys contract

It's the fact that vinny told the flyers that when he gets his 2 mil bonus. He'll be filling up his basement with jet skis, quads, and dune buggies

There will be no room for Laughton to stay

That's what has the flyers irked
- Just5

It's the vibe this board puts out on a daily basis. 2Real being the main culprit.
- jmatchett383

Don't paint me with that one. I don't even dislike MacDonald. I just dislike his deal & wish they had waited to lock him up

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

Some of those players are better then MacDonald. But some aren't, or are different kinds of defenseman then MacDonald is.