I think they always planned to buy out the last year. Where they screwed up was in thinking that Umberger could at least be a solid 3rd/4th line guy. At this point, he couldn't be an effective AHL 3rd liner.
- BiggE

I believe it was you who had said earlier that upon arrival in Philly the team doctors should have examined him for a pulse. It is quite clear he doesn't have one

Devils beat guys saying that they may have signed Scott Gomez.

They could have bought out Hartnell too if they really wanted. If Hartnell ends up being productive for the rest of his deal, I will be hand delivering crow to Flyers management
- PhillySportsGuy

Hartnell's 2016 buyout cap hit has a nasty spike in it and goes on for way longer compared to Umberger's.

Scott Hartnell buyout from CapGeek.com

2016-17: $1,138,889
2017-18: $1,638,889
2018-19: $3,138,889
2019-20: $1,388,889
2020-21: $1,388,889
2021-22: $1,388,889

R.J. Umberger buyout from CapGeek.com

2016-17: $1,600,000
2017-18: $1,500,000

We would have been screaming at the return at the time of the trade, but just taking the 4th round pick without RJ would have been way smarter.
- Marc D

They could have packaged him and received a much better return
A team like Edmonton, Winnipeg, or maybe a west coast American team.
Hartnell and Coburn to Edmonton..May have got a good return. A hell of a lot better than The Corpse

I really see Umberger as a standard buy-out candidate after this year. It's not an awful pill to swallow.
- jmatchett383

I agree. Especially since they can replace his production and role with a player making significantly less cap hit and still save money.

so who are we getting from San Jose for Cooty?

Devils beat guys saying that they may have signed Scott Gomez.
- Jsaquella

Confirmed, per a Bob McKenzie retweet

Devils sign Scott Gomez.

I agree. Especially since they can replace his production and role with a player making significantly less cap hit and still save money.
- MBFlyerfan

Pretty much. You should be able to get a responsible 2-way player who can chip in in the bottom-6 for around $1.5M - $2M.

so who are we getting from San Jose for Cooty?
- vejim

Make LA and SJ outbid each other for Coburn, not Couturier..

Pretty much. You should be able to get a responsible 2-way player who can chip in in the bottom-6 for around $1.5M - $2M.
- jmatchett383

Could have kept Adam Hall for around $700K or less.

so who are we getting from San Jose for Cooty?
- vejim

Your choice of Tomas Hertl or Jon Scott.

so who are we getting from San Jose for Cooty?
- vejim

Could have kept Adam Hall for around $700K or less.
- Jsaquella

who can chip in in the bottom-6

Could have kept Adam Hall for around $700K or less.
- Jsaquella

Adam Hall's legs had gone and he could not keep up at ES anymore.

Someone like Vern Fiddler would have been good.

That's called a hangover, sir
- Jsaquella

We would have been screaming at the return at the time of the trade, but just taking the 4th round pick without RJ would have been way smarter.
- Marc D

I would have been fine with just the pick. They could have found a third liner in FA on a much more team friendly deal

Adam Hall's legs had gone and he could not keep up at ES anymore.

Someone like Vern Fiddler would have been good.
- Feanor

Much like RJ Umberger, but for $4mm a year less

Your right.

(You forgot to toss that one in there too. That post alone gave me the shakes.)
- tangent_man

Man, what are they teaching kids in school these days?

I believe it was you who had said earlier that upon arrival in Philly the team doctors should have examined him for a pulse. It is quite clear he doesn't have one
- 3flyerkids

I know this is just humor and I'm not singleing you out cause everyone calls him Corpseburger here, but I think the guy is struggling to play with an injury or a herniated disc in his back.

It takes heart to try and play through pain.

I expect the outcome at some point is he will go on LTIR.

He was a very competitive player for the Flyers in his last stint with the team.
I honestly feel bad for the guy. I think he is trying but just can't play well anymore.

I do not in anyway absolve the team for trading for him, but that isn't his doing.

Devils beat guys saying that they may have signed Scott Gomez.
- Jsaquella

Can we now send Umberger to them for Gomez?

Anisimov out 2-3 months w/ torn triceps... guess that Perron deal ain't happening after all.

Thanks Bill. Philly.com also had some good comments on the Flyers woes. G had better start playing more of a leadership role, or he might just be out of here. His numbers aren't bad, but his play of late has been in question; nothing like diving to try to motivate his team the other night. I think that part of the reason Richards, and Carter were traded was that the team just couldn't take it to the next level with them in leadership roles. They were great players in the own right, but those darn long term deals, and having all that money thrown at them went to their heads. If I were GM, I would only sign players to performance laced deals, with a maximum of 4 years. I don't care if the player might leave after that term for more money, because the loyalty days of the past are over. Most players, like coaches have a team life span, and are only money driven. Besides, four years is enough time for the younger players to start taking over. To summarize, this will allow time for your draft picks to develop, and this will keep your cap costs down. In this new age of free agency created by, and forced by the players, this will have to be the new norm. You see it in the other major sports, and now in the NHL. I would love to have certain players on a team for life, but it's just not going to happen if you wish your team to succeed.
Thanks for listening.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Holy Ish

Umberger-Giroux-Read
Schenn-Couturier-Voracek
Raffl-Laughton-Simmonds
Bellmare-Lecavalier-Rinaldo

See if Giroux can kick start both Read and Umby and if Voracek can kick start Coots. I dont want Lecavalier anywhere near the top 3 lines.

Anisimov out 2-3 months w/ torn triceps... guess that Perron deal ain't happening after all.
- Tomahawk

Wow, what the hell did Columbus do to piss off the hockey gods?