Ok if RJ is going to make me a believer he can start by being a BEAST against CBJ and score 2 in a Flyers 2-1 victory! Hartnell with CBJ goal!

On a more serious note. I really don't see any chance of him being on this team next year
- 3flyerkids

If playing against Columbus can't motivate him, then there's a real problem.

I think their best option would be to throw him on the 4th line and give him limited minutes. Maybe buy him out for his final season or look for a cap floor team and entice them by throwing in a pick.
- PhillySportsGuy

Love the sound of the latter idea, but not sure how realistic that is. Would have to look at Umberger's contract structure, but I don't believe there are any salary savings there for a team. So the enticement part would have to be real strong.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/09/report-salary-cap-might-not-increase-in-2015-16/

What would our financials look like this summer with no cap increase and Holmgren still running the ship?
- Just5

They look pretty bad now for Hextall. The other issue is with the cap not going up, the likelihood of the Flyers moving out a bad contract like Umberger or Lecavalier or an overpriced one like Grossmann or L. Schenn just went way down.

Also add in that a giant cap jump the following year shouldn't be counted on when the Flyers have to resign Voracek, Couturier, B. Schenn, and Coburn plus 10 more players with only $23.8 mil to do it at the present cap ceiling.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/09/report-salary-cap-might-not-increase-in-2015-16/

What would our financials look like this summer with no cap increase and Holmgren still running the ship?
- Just5

Every season under Holmgren the Flyers put a good team on the ice, and had salary cap room to add players.

As far as the cap not rising, I think that's nonsense. Other then when the cap was artificially lowered, it has risen substantially every year. The league has been bringing in record revenue. Every year, cap panic articles are written.

I think their best option would be to throw him on the 4th line and give him limited minutes. Maybe buy him out for his final season or look for a cap floor team and entice them by throwing in a pick.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think the last thing Hexy wants to do is send a pick to trade umberger. I think it's more likely they buy him out or bury him on the phantoms with minimal cap savings. The flyers have already proven they can scout and obtain cheap top 9 euro players (raffl, Bellemare). Sending a pick in this scenario is not Hexys philosophy

Kid is in the process of breaking out. Or at least that's what I hope is happening.
- MJL

I'm not sold on baby schenn at all. Yea, he's been scoring a couple of goals lately, but they're not exactly skill type goals if you catch my drift. More along the lines of being in the right place at the right time kind of goals. Tell ya what, when he starts scoring goals like that kid Gallagher in MTL, then I will say that the kid is showing me something. Until then, I will continue to shake my head at Schenn's play.

If they decide to keep Umberger for another year, they NEED to get rid of VL. Both of them are possession killing players at even strength. It's impossible to hide both of them.

I think VL is the better player because he's good on the PP, but Umberger is more suited to 4th line duty and therefore won't be too upset when if the Flyers move him there.
- PhillySportsGuy

Lecavalier in the right situation, with the right linemates, won't be a "possession killing" player, at even strength.

They look pretty bad now for Hextall. The other issue is with the cap not going up, the likelihood of the Flyers moving out a bad contract like Umberger or Lecavalier or an overpriced one like Grossmann or L. Schenn just went way down.

Also add in that a giant cap jump the following year shouldn't be counted on when the Flyers have to resign Voracek, Couturier, B. Schenn, and Coburn plus 10 more players with only $23.8 mil to do it at the present cap ceiling.
- psuhockey

The problem is also that the dead weight like VL, Umberger and Pronger are still on the cap when Coburn, Schenn, Couts, Raffl and Voracek all hit FA. Thats why I wasn't thrilled with the Umberger trade. If he had 2 years left on his deal, I would have understood it.

The Flyers will really need to look to get creative this summer or even this season.

Love the sound of the latter idea, but not sure how realistic that is. Would have to look at Umberger's contract structure, but I don't believe there are any salary savings there for a team. So the enticement part would have to be real strong.
- MJL

Umberger would come with an enticing $100,000 in cash free cap dollars for any team taking him. So yeah, probably going to take more than a 4th rounder.

I'm not sold on baby schenn at all. Yea, he's been scoring a couple of goals lately, but they're not exactly skill type goals if you catch my drift. More along the lines of being in the right place at the right time kind of goals. Tell ya what, when he starts scoring goals like that kid Gallagher in MTL, then I will say that the kid is showing me something. Until then, I will continue to shake my head at Schenn's play.
- Fast_Eddie_1

The goals are not the only thing to look at with Schenn and his current level of play. He has been a demon on the puck, pressuring it all over the ice. On the one PP he retreived 3 pucks and won the battles to get it set up. They're not goals due to being in the right place at the right time, they're goals that happen because of how he is playing. It's his all round game that is encouraging along with the goals. Since he's been added to the Couturier line, they have become not only a good checking line, but a quality offensive line also.
And I find it curious that anyone could "shake their head" at B Schenn's level of play over the last 10 games or so.

I'm not sold on baby schenn at all. Yea, he's been scoring a couple of goals lately, but they're not exactly skill type goals if you catch my drift. More along the lines of being in the right place at the right time kind of goals. Tell ya what, when he starts scoring goals like that kid Gallagher in MTL, then I will say that the kid is showing me something. Until then, I will continue to shake my head at Schenn's play.
- Fast_Eddie_1

I've been as big of a critic of Brayden Schenn as anyone and I think he's got plenty of skill.

What you wrote about "being in the right place at the right time" shouldn't be underestimated, because when BSchenn is going poorly, he's not anywhere, because he doesn't skate awfully well.

But right now, he's winning puck battles, finding open guys, and getting to the net. Those are the things that are going to make him successful. He can't try to do Brendan Gallagher things to be successful. He's not that kind of player.

I think the last thing Hexy wants to do is send a pick to trade umberger. I think it's more likely they buy him out or bury him on the phantoms with minimal cap savings. The flyers have already proven they can scout and obtain cheap top 9 euro players (raffl, Bellemare). Sending a pick in this scenario is not Hexys philosophy
- Just5

It's more about the cap savings for re-signing guys than finding replacements. Flyers have Laughton, Leier, Alderson, Cousins and Straka in the AHL. I think 2 or 3 of those guys become NHL regulars (Laughton being the most likely).

I just worry about 2 years from now when some of the big guys are due for big raises.

On a positive note that Schenn - Couturier - Read line looks to be firing pretty well.
- J35Bacher

Let's hope they have finally found that elusive 2nd-line line they've been searching for since that 2010 run.

It's more about the cap savings for re-signing guys than finding replacements. Flyers have Laughton, Leier, Alderson, Cousins and Straka in the AHL. I think 2 or 3 of those guys become NHL regulars (Laughton being the most likely).

I just worry about 2 years from now when some of the big guys are due for big raises.
- PhillySportsGuy

I gotcha. I think coburn is a goner come UFA in almost any situation. There's a reason why we've drafted heavy on D

If they decide to keep Umberger for another year, they NEED to get rid of VL. Both of them are possession killing players at even strength. It's impossible to hide both of them.

I think VL is the better player because he's good on the PP, but Umberger is more suited to 4th line duty and therefore won't be too upset when if the Flyers move him there.
- PhillySportsGuy

I personally believe that getting rid of VL will have a positive domino effect on everybody at ES, including Umby. Here's hoping some GM is stupid enough to trade for him in summer 2015.

Did we talk about this yet?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ext-season-154942492.html

It's more about the cap savings for re-signing guys than finding replacements. Flyers have Laughton, Leier, Alderson, Cousins and Straka in the AHL. I think 2 or 3 of those guys become NHL regulars (Laughton being the most likely).

I just worry about 2 years from now when some of the big guys are due for big raises.
- PhillySportsGuy

1 or 2 of those guys probably won't, or can't, be resigned. Voracek will easily be getting 7+. Couturier and B. Schenn close to 4 each. Coburn on the open market would get $6+. There's just not enough space even with a lot of ELC's on the team. Even with buyouts of Umberger and Lecavalier, the Flyers would only get an extra $5 mil maybe plus tack on dead space for many seasons later.

If Hextall is smart, he plans this year for that offseason. If he isn't going to resign Coburn, now is when is value is at the highest.

I gotcha. I think coburn is a goner come UFA. There's a reason why we've drafted heavy on D
- Just5

If I had my way, I'd look to extend Coburn. He's a very effective player. They will need veterans who take big minutes in order to ease the kids in. Guys like Amac or Streit aren't really capable of taking those big minutes. Coburn has shown in the past that he can handle them.

Did we talk about this yet?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ext-season-154942492.html
- Tomahawk

Which part?

The part where Larry Brooks is the biggest hack in the history modern sportswriting?

Sami Kapanen inducted into Finnish Hockey HOF. Congrats to one of hockey's true warriors.
- Jsaquella

ville leino's forehead vein approves of this message.

I personally believe that getting rid of VL will have a positive domino effect on everybody at ES, including Umby. Here's hoping some GM is stupid enough to trade for him in summer 2015.
- Tomahawk

I agree. I think it's easier to put Umberger on the 4th line than VL. That opens up the entire top 9 without anyone who is a possession killer at 5v5.

Did we talk about this yet?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ext-season-154942492.html
- Tomahawk

Somewhat. They're going to need to find a way to shuffle some salary out or around.

If I had my way, I'd look to extend Coburn. He's a very effective player. They will need veterans who take big minutes in order to ease the kids in. Guys like Amac or Streit aren't really capable of taking those big minutes. Coburn has shown in the past that he can handle them.
- PhillySportsGuy

Coburn at $6+ plus million against the cap for at least 5 years, taking him into his late 30's. He's going to be 31 at the end of his current contract and brooks Orpik just got $5.5 for 5 years at 34 years old so those numbers are conservative.

I think the Flyers hoped he could rebound. He had a bad year last season in Columbus. So much so that the rumors were plentiful that the Jackets were going to buy him out.

I still think a primary factor in the Flyers viewpoint was to use Umberger to bridge the gap for a year or two, and then maybe see if they can dump him on a salary floor team or buy out the last year of his deal to clear room to re-sign Voracek, Couturier & Schenn

But the way he has played, they may need to adjust that plan. I'm still somewhat amazed he played 15 minutes against Colorado, as bad as he looked.
- Jsaquella

still plenty of time of left for him to turn it around, but there's a distinct possibility he will not get any better, or could even be worse.

how he got so much time against the avs amazes me. es, pk, and pp.

I agree. I think it's easier to put Umberger on the 4th line than VL. That opens up the entire top 9 without anyone who is a possession killer at 5v5.
- PhillySportsGuy

Simmonds-Giroux-Voracek
BSchenn-Couturier-Read
Raffl-Lecavalier-Umberger/Akeson
Rinaldo-Bellemare-Umberger/Akeson