That's really the conundrum. The Flyers are a mediocre team. They're under .500 and they will need to play much better than they have shown to make the playoffs. Fans see the disparity between the team's NHL leading payroll and their spot in the standings (22nd overall right now, before the evening games) and it's hard to feel good about what the former GM did.

The new GM has a fairly shallow farm system, little cap space, a handful of bad or at least very questionable deals moving forward and no 2nd rounder in what is a very deep 2015 draft. We can look at the good deals and good players he added, but it's little solace right now.
- Jsaquella

This is a completely pessimistic viewpoint. Which is exactly what I'm talking about. I see a team that Holmgren largely built that has two superstars in Giroux and Voracek. It has strength down the middle with two very good young centers in Couturier and Laughton. They have a strong young power forward in Simmonds who is signed to an incredible deal. They have Brayden Schenn, who is finally emerging and breaking out. They have good solid forwards in Raffl and Bellemare. There are some solid forwards prospects, and some really strong defense prospects.
They have some hurdles to overcome such as what to do with Lecavalier and Umberger, but the reality is that the overall picture of the team is not nearly as bleak as some want to make it.

I see. Well, then I don't understand the idea of trading for players when they will be FAs in a few days.

I think the Flyers have overpaid in several instances because they miscalculated market value for a certain player. I doubt anyone comes close to the Flyers offer for Bryz. They could have had Vokoun for what, $2M?
- PhillySportsGuy

The new rules eliminate the need/option.

There were some pretty good bargains too this year in FA that could have helped this team as well.
- flyerfan28

The Flyers gave more years and money(both in total cash and AAV) than almost every other UFA defenseman to MacDonald.

There were some pretty good bargains too this year in FA that could have helped this team as well.
- flyerfan28

Always good bargains. There are guys like MDZ who can be had each year. GMs just need to be patient and see who falls through the cracks. I think a lot of them get anxious and feel they need to get a deal done. I think thats why they trade for player's rights.

I'd rather miss out on a decent player for $5M than overpay an average player.

I guess it's a good thing we only needed a couple of 6/7 defenseman
- PhillySportsGuy

They added a top 4 defenseman, resigned a backup goalie, added a solid depth defenseman in Schultz. And brought in Bellemare as an undrafted free agent. Also signed Ryan White who may contribute at some point this year.

no question. My response was intended for those that seem to ignore the good and constantly point out the bad
- Crimsoninja

Lottery pick

Because of selective perception. If one poster is making a point, it's easy to create cap space. If somebody else brings up a topic or he's in disagreement, there's dozens of roadblocks to consider.

It's kind of funny, really.
- Jsaquella

What it is, is incredibly ironic. Because your post above is a fine example of selective perception.

This is a completely pessimistic viewpoint. Which is exactly what I'm talking about. I see a team that Holmgren largely built that has two superstars in Giroux and Voracek. It has strength down the middle with two very good young centers in Couturier and Laughton. They have a strong young power forward in Simmonds who is signed to an incredible deal. They have Brayden Schenn, who is finally emerging and breaking out. They have good solid forwards in Raffl and Bellemare. There are some solid forwards prospects, and some really strong defense prospects.
They have some hurdles to overcome such as what to do with Lecavalier and Umberger, but the reality is that the overall picture of the team is not nearly as bleak as some want to make it.
- MJL

Those are 9 million worth of hurdles by the way....oh and NMC/NTC for both.

I just like seeing the response he comes up with when disputing the indisputable.
- PhillySportsGuy

Its like arguing with a religious fanatic, pointless

They added a top 4 defenseman, resigned a backup goalie, added a solid depth defenseman in Schultz. And brought in Bellemare as an undrafted free agent. Also signed Ryan White who may contribute at some point this year.
- MJL

Needs=met

Always good bargains. There are guys like MDZ who can be had each year. GMs just need to be patient and see who falls through the cracks. I think a lot of them get anxious and feel they need to get a deal done. I think thats why they trade for player's rights.

I'd rather miss out on a decent player for $5M than overpay an average player.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yep. Last year we saw guys like Hainsey and Gilbert provide solid play for less money. This year we're seeing it from Schultz and MDZ.

If you're going to be aggressive and do whatever it takes to land a guy, you have to be more judicious. You don't turn a guy like Andrew MacDonald into your make or break, gotta have him addition.

Which UFA defensemen signed for a higher AAV or longer term? Andrei Markov(who signed for 3 fewer years), Brooks Orpik & Matt Niskanen. Stralman got less years and a smaller AAV. Dan Boyle signed for two years and a smaller AAV. Ehrhoff signed a one year deal for less AAV.

The Flyers aggressiveness led them to give MacDonald a richer and longer deal than guys who are comparable or better for the short term. Long term, who knows if MacDonald is even here.

Needs=met
- PhillySportsGuy

Always good bargains. There are guys like MDZ who can be had each year. GMs just need to be patient and see who falls through the cracks. I think a lot of them get anxious and feel they need to get a deal done. I think thats why they trade for player's rights.

I'd rather miss out on a decent player for $5M than overpay an average player.
- PhillySportsGuy

For every successful bargain found at the end of Summer, there are how many duds? GM's make the moves they make because that's when the better players are available. Waiting until the end of summer to see who falls through the cracks is playing russian roulette. Certainly there is far less of a risk to signing a bargain on a one year deal, then signing a player to a long term deal, but there is also less to gain. Del Zotto right now is looking like a player who was still available in August. I hope that changes.

Lottery pick
- ob18

finally found the new blog i see

Yep. Last year we saw guys like Hainsey and Gilbert provide solid play for less money. This year we're seeing it from Schultz and MDZ.

If you're going to be aggressive and do whatever it takes to land a guy, you have to be more judicious. You don't turn a guy like Andrew MacDonald into your make or break, gotta have him addition.

Which UFA defensemen signed for a higher AAV or longer term? Andrei Markov(who signed for 3 fewer years), Brooks Orpik & Matt Niskanen. Stralman got less years and a smaller AAV. Dan Boyle signed for two years and a smaller AAV. Ehrhoff signed a one year deal for less AAV.

The Flyers aggressiveness led them to give MacDonald a richer and longer deal than guys who are comparable or better for the short term. Long term, who knows if MacDonald is even here.
- Jsaquella

I really liked Niskanen and Stralman. Stralman has turned into one of the best value signings.

I thought Niskanen would be a nice addition because he's RH and I thought he would blend well with Coburn on the top pair. He hasn't been that great this year, but he hasn't been horrible either. He's definitely better than Amac.

finally found the new blog i see
- Crimsoninja

finally found the new blog i see
- Crimsoninja

I saw it, wasn't ready to join it.

I really liked Niskanen and Stralman. Stralman has turned into one of the best value signings.

I thought Niskanen would be a nice addition because he's RH and I thought he would blend well with Coburn on the top pair. He hasn't been that great this year, but he hasn't been horrible either. He's definitely better than Amac.
- PhillySportsGuy

I wouldn't have been happy with that deal for Niskanen, either. Although I feel he's better than AMac.

But that's the thing, now they have $30mm and six years tied into MacDonald, who has struggled. Give me the struggling guy making $1.3mm on a one year deal.

I saw it, wasn't ready to join it.
- ob18

i just saw the tumbleweed. please end this charade.

I saw it, wasn't ready to join it.
- ob18

I blame your poopty internet connection

Seriously though, does it not bother any of you to have Luke Schenn and Nicolas Grossmann on the ice as a PK D pair? It's gone on for most of the season, I like both guys but their lack of mobility and lack of puck skill is glaring. It's an adjustment that needs to be made yesterday.

Yep. Last year we saw guys like Hainsey and Gilbert provide solid play for less money. This year we're seeing it from Schultz and MDZ.

If you're going to be aggressive and do whatever it takes to land a guy, you have to be more judicious. You don't turn a guy like Andrew MacDonald into your make or break, gotta have him addition.

Which UFA defensemen signed for a higher AAV or longer term? Andrei Markov(who signed for 3 fewer years), Brooks Orpik & Matt Niskanen. Stralman got less years and a smaller AAV. Dan Boyle signed for two years and a smaller AAV. Ehrhoff signed a one year deal for less AAV.

The Flyers aggressiveness led them to give MacDonald a richer and longer deal than guys who are comparable or better for the short term. Long term, who knows if MacDonald is even here.
- Jsaquella

This assumes that any of those players would've been willing to sign here. I seriously doubt that Ehrhoff would've signed here. He wanted to play for a contender. Didn't need another stay at home defender in Orpik. Did Markov ever hit the open market? I personally wouldn't want Dan Boyle, we already have an offensive PP specialist in Streit. So that leaves Niskanen and Stalman. I would've been fine with either instead of MacDonald.
Niskanen was not cheaper, nor was he signed to a shorter term. His deal is for 5.75M and for 7 years. Stralman was signed for 5 years at 4.5M. I liked him, but I remember bringing up adding him and a lot of people balked at it.
So really just blindly looking at players, and not looking at availability and fit, is really looking at it out of context. And for every bargain found there are how many duds. Anyone remember Kurtis Foster

Wayne Gretzky is apparently "unofficially" involved in the group that is interested in bringing an expansion team to Las Vegas. If he does officially become a member of that effort, it's a fait accompli that Vegas will get a NHL team

I blame your poopty internet connection
- Jsaquella

I blame you

i just saw the tumbleweed. please end this charade.
- Crimsoninja