http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20140630_Salary_cap_not_friendly_to_Flyers.html

Interesting stuff

This is not an easy process for the Flyers, throwing away good money after bad, after spending many months auditing their recent hockey-operations spending. Yet, with a smaller-than-planned cap, eating a portion of a contract will be a necessity for the Flyers this summer. It's just a matter of who and when.
- Jsaquella

Servalli isn't aware that the Flyers can exceed the cap to start the season if they choose to.

Last summer, I honestly had no idea he would fit so poorly into what the had here. I also didn't think they were going to change coaches 3 games into the season. I "wish" all contracts were just 1 year, but that isn't how it works. Without that extra year or two extra, they don't get the player for the lower money. I guess they then have the option to just not do it, but if you think the player will help (which clearly they did), you have to do what it takes if you want him. While the Vinny signing has turned into a negative for the team, I thought it was a good idea last summer.
- eayost

Me, either. I liked the signing. The coach at the time pushed for him and felt he'd be a good fit. it seemed they had a plan.

Of course, after 3 games they fired the coach who was a huge backer of the plan to add Vinny, and hired a new coach, who had different ideas and couldn't seem to find a slot to fit him into.

Either way, they made a knee jerk reaction or two and now are trying to unload a guy 1 year into a 5 year contract.

As long as I spent what most others would have paid, I'm fine if it just doesn't work out. As long as I did some research prior to my decision and not rushing because the beer just became available
- funmaster18

And this is why I don't drink IPAs.....or sign 33 year old centers.

Last summer, I honestly had no idea he would fit so poorly into what the had here. I also didn't think they were going to change coaches 3 games into the season. I "wish" all contracts were just 1 year, but that isn't how it works. Without that extra year or two extra, they don't get the player for the lower money. I guess they then have the option to just not do it, but if you think the player will help (which clearly they did), you have to do what it takes if you want him. While the Vinny signing has turned into a negative for the team, I thought it was a good idea last summer.
- eayost

It went totally against what they discussed though. Homer flat out said that he was going to be patient and let the young kids grow, blah blah blah... then he goes out and signs a guy who really is a slower shell of his former self..... to a 5 year deal. How can anyone say that thats a smart move with the team they had? Was it a move projected to put them over the top? NOPE. Was adding another Center (for the next 5 years) a bigger need than allocating that money to a d-man?

Thats the problem.. when offering a contract to a player you need to decide those things.. then you need to design a contract that makes sense for now and the future... Honestly, having him here now doesnt make sense, and having him here in 2016-17 doesnt make sense... so why sign him at all. BAD use of your cap allotment.

And this is why I don't drink IPAs.....or sign 33 year old centers.
- johndewar

I have use for IPAs, I'll trade you your IPAs for my belgian whites!

But of course I'll overpay for my IPAs...

Me, either. I liked the signing. The coach at the time pushed for him and felt he'd be a good fit. it seemed they had a plan.

Of course, after 3 games they fired the coach who was a huge backer of the plan to add Vinny, and hired a new coach, who had different ideas and couldn't seem to find a slot to fit him into.

Either way, they made a knee jerk reaction or two and now are trying to unload a guy 1 year into a 5 year contract.
- Jsaquella

I wasnt nearly as excited as some people... I wanted the top 3 centers to be G-Schenn-Couts... and I wanted them to be patient. Instead they sign an aging center for 5 years.. Makes no sense.

Straka and Hagg demoted as soon as the season starts giving the Flyers $1.825 million in cap space to call up (for example) PEB and Lauridsen.

FORWARDS
Brayden Schenn ($2.500m) / Claude Giroux ($8.275m) / Jakub Voracek ($4.250m)
R.J. Umberger ($4.600m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($4.500m) / Wayne Simmonds ($3.975m)
Matt Read ($3.625m) / Sean Couturier ($1.750m) / Jason Akeson ($0.900m)
Michael Raffl ($1.100m) / Scott Laughton ($0.863m) / Zac Rinaldo ($0.750m)
Petr Straka ($0.925m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kimmo Timonen ($2.000m) / Braydon Coburn ($4.500m)
Nicklas Grossmann ($3.500m) / Mark Streit ($5.250m)
Andrew MacDonald ($5.000m) / Luke Schenn ($3.600m)
Chris Pronger ($4.941m) / Robert Hagg ($0.925m)
GOALTENDERS
Steve Mason ($4.100m)
Thomas Greiss ($1.750m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$345,000
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $73,924,762; BONUSES: $1,712,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): -$4,924,762

Me, either. I liked the signing. The coach at the time pushed for him and felt he'd be a good fit. it seemed they had a plan.

Of course, after 3 games they fired the coach who was a huge backer of the plan to add Vinny, and hired a new coach, who had different ideas and couldn't seem to find a slot to fit him into.

Either way, they made a knee jerk reaction or two and now are trying to unload a guy 1 year into a 5 year contract.
- Jsaquella

I loved the signing. I was hoping he could instill some of his knowledge into G and Coots and that Schenn would be good on the wing. They'd have a veteran #2C and be solid down the middle. Just didn't work that way....

I have use for IPAs, I'll trade you your IPAs for my belgian whites!

But of course I'll overpay for my IPAs...
- Streit2ThePoint

I'll give you my IPAs for some belgian whites and an irish whiskey to be named later.

I love Belgian whites. Haven't had the shock top but am a big fan of allagash white
- funmaster18

Allagash is pretty good. If you like Belgian whites then you probably like Duvel, Leffe and Hoegaarden. Have you tried La Fin Du Monde? It's a triple. Really nice.

They gave Bryz an absurd deal after trading to get his rights. The market for a starter that season was down to about two teams, and there were about 4 guys capable of filling that need. The Flyers signed a 30 year old goalie to a 9 year deal. IF that is a good signing.. whew.


- jak521

What made it a bad signing? How the player played! What many want to ignore is that the Flyers didn't want the other goalie. They wanted Bryzgalov, and thought that he would be the player to solve their goaltending issues that have plagued them for years. I have no problem with that. And why was the contract 9 years? To add on years on the back end to lower the cap hit so they could also do some other things. It didn't work out, and in the end yes, it was a bad signing. Fortunately they had the CBO to get out of it.

Vinny Lecavalier: With the Flyers seemingly looking to go with youth and patience (as described by their then GM) they go out and make a bang by signing fading 33 year old star Vinny Lecavalier to a 5 year deal.


- jak521

The Flyers are not a team that looks to totally rebuild. They always try to win. Most teams try to sorround a core of young player with veterans. That they signed Lecavalier doesn't mean that they weren't looking to stick with the core and look to the future.

They got lucky with Briere and Bryz, because they were able to buy them out. IF that clause was never added.. this franchise would be (frank)ed for the next decade.
- jak521

What I remember with Briere is all those playoff runs and great points he put up n the playoffs. Great signing by the Flyers.

I wasnt nearly as excited as some people... I wanted the top 3 centers to be G-Schenn-Couts... and I wanted them to be patient. Instead they sign an aging center for 5 years.. Makes no sense.
- jak521

I get that, too.

The only thing I can think of is they felt Schenn was better as a winger or that maybe he could be a trade chip down the road, with Vinny being in place as the 2C

Allagash is pretty good. If you like Belgian whites then you probably like Duvel, Leffe and Hoegaarden. Have you tried La Fin Du Monde? It's a triple. Really nice.
- TheGreat28

The first three I've had an enjoyed muchly, the 4th I have never had. I will need to try it.

then which is it? bad contract? or declining player? It appears that can't even give him away with out eating something.
- landros 2

If Lecavalier didn't have a back injury and had a strong season last year, think it would be easier to trade him now?

They gave Bryz an absurd deal after trading to get his rights. The market for a starter that season was down to about two teams, and there were about 4 guys capable of filling that need. The Flyers signed a 30 year old goalie to a 9 year deal. IF that is a good signing.. whew.

Vinny Lecavalier: With the Flyers seemingly looking to go with youth and patience (as described by their then GM) they go out and make a bang by signing fading 33 year old star Vinny Lecavalier to a 5 year deal.


Both of those are puzzling due to the length of the deal.

They got lucky with Briere and Bryz, because they were able to buy them out. IF that clause was never added.. this franchise would be (frank)ed for the next decade.
- jak521

I'm not even sure why we are discussing this. The Flyers have had a messed up cap for years (and yes, that includes signing Jody Shelly to be a "lockeroom guy"). Hextall has come straight out and said pretty much that the cap is strangling them

From CSNPhilly : With free agency less than two weeks away, Hextall is severely impeded from doing anything without cap relief.

In fact, Hextall admitted it doesn’t make any sense for the Flyers to interview prospective free agents during the grace period the new CBA allows -- which began Wednesday -- because they don’t have enough money to sign anyone.

..

“That is what I kind of put out there. We do need relief and if you have any ideas, give me a shout. It’s not an option, but there are teams out there that need help. We’ll see where it goes.”


Part of being a wellmanaged cap team is having cap space for a rainy day. Being able to kick the tires on FAs, or even being able to afford add salary midseason after injuries. The Flyers have been reduced to adding players on tryouts in the past because they've had no cap room to add anyone else.

The problem keeping your credit card maxed out is that when the car breaks down or your kid needs braces, how do you pay for it? All of a sudden those brand new shoes or big screen TV which seemed like must haves when you weren't maxed out become anchors around your neck.

The Flyers will make it work but it can't just be about the Flyers living the lifestyle and paycheck to paycheck to pay the bills.

Briere and Bryz are totally different situations. If the cap hadn't been artifically lowered many years into Danny's contract they could have held on to him for two more years, or they could have traded him.

Allagash is pretty good. If you like Belgian whites then you probably like Duvel, Leffe and Hoegaarden. Have you tried La Fin Du Monde? It's a triple. Really nice.
- TheGreat28

OMG. Someone who has heard of La Fin Du Monde. I might have a heart attack.

Servalli isn't aware that the Flyers can exceed the cap to start the season if they choose to.
- Feanor

Yep, as you previously brought up option 2. Good work there with that.

If Lecavalier didn't have a back injury and had a strong season last year, think it would be easier to trade him now?
- MJL

This could be like the Meszaros situation, where the player has to come back and show he can still move and play well before he is invariably dealt.

Me, either. I liked the signing. The coach at the time pushed for him and felt he'd be a good fit. it seemed they had a plan.

Of course, after 3 games they fired the coach who was a huge backer of the plan to add Vinny, and hired a new coach, who had different ideas and couldn't seem to find a slot to fit him into.

Either way, they made a knee jerk reaction or two and now are trying to unload a guy 1 year into a 5 year contract.
- Jsaquella

I think the problem is the linemates they played him with. Vinnie needs a fast winger who can carry the puck into the zone.

Now if I'm being a bit sarcastic, I might suggest that said winger also needs to hold the puck for 10 seconds to allow Vinnie time to make into the zone as well, but you get my point

He was good on the PP because it was a 60 foot game. With the right wingers he could be successful.

Me, either. I liked the signing. The coach at the time pushed for him and felt he'd be a good fit. it seemed they had a plan.

Of course, after 3 games they fired the coach who was a huge backer of the plan to add Vinny, and hired a new coach, who had different ideas and couldn't seem to find a slot to fit him into.

Either way, they made a knee jerk reaction or two and now are trying to unload a guy 1 year into a 5 year contract.
- Jsaquella

The big mistake there by Holmgren last year was not firing Laviolette during the off season.

I loved the signing. I was hoping he could instill some of his knowledge into G and Coots and that Schenn would be good on the wing. They'd have a veteran #2C and be solid down the middle. Just didn't work that way....

- Streit2ThePoint

That's the whole thing in a nutshell.

They rush out to sign Vinny, then 3 games in, they fire the coach who was one of the driving forces behind signing Vinny. They replace him with a guy with different ideas, who can't seem to find a home for Vinny.

It's a lot of impulse buying and then having to spend more to correct mistakes. I get that they're trying to win, but so are other teams. How many other teams have the Flyers track record of trading away(or getting rid of thru other means) such a large number of long term deals so soon after they are signed?

Sure there's other teams that have had buyer's remorse, but the Flyers have really suffered from it a lot

I'm not even sure why we are discussing this. The Flyers have had a messed up cap for years (and yes, that includes signing Jody Shelly to be a "lockeroom guy"). Hextall has come straight out and said pretty much that the cap is strangling them

From CSNPhilly : With free agency less than two weeks away, Hextall is severely impeded from doing anything without cap relief.

In fact, Hextall admitted it doesn’t make any sense for the Flyers to interview prospective free agents during the grace period the new CBA allows -- which began Wednesday -- because they don’t have enough money to sign anyone.

..

“That is what I kind of put out there. We do need relief and if you have any ideas, give me a shout. It’s not an option, but there are teams out there that need help. We’ll see where it goes.”


Part of being a wellmanaged cap team is having cap space for a rainy day. Being able to kick the tires on FAs, or even being able to afford add salary midseason after injuries. The Flyers have been reduced to adding players on tryouts in the past because they've had no cap room to add anyone else.

The problem keeping your credit card maxed out is that when the car breaks down or your kid needs braces, how do you pay for it? All of a sudden those brand new shoes or big screen TV which seemed like must haves when you weren't maxed out become anchors around your neck.

The Flyers will make it work but it can't just be about the Flyers living the lifestyle and paycheck to paycheck to pay the bills.
- Flyers_01

I feel like you are forgetting trades. That's where your real world analogy doesn't make sense to me. The Flyers will chase who they feel will make the team better. And if requires a trade, they'll do that. It's not ideal but it is possible.

I love this part of the offseason. I am on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how Hexy will get us out of this mess. I am dreading August. God I hate august

ohhh boy sanheim on schenn



http://www.broadstreethoc...no-talent-flyers-penguins
- PhillaBully

Sanheim a Penguins fan?