It's really not a lot of money.... I mean can we play a kid with an entry level contract instead? Sure. I would just rather the defense look like this next season....

Morin-(Acquisition)
(Prospect/Acquisition)-Streit
Ghost-Schenn

I know... Its pretty grey but I dont particulary want MacDonald, Coburn and Grossmann any longer. Not that they are horrible but we need more skill on the backend for less money.
- GOA88

One guy I would want is Bogosian. 24, 5.142 cap hit, 6'3, 215lbs. I know the injury history is scary but he has the size and skill to anchor the top pairing. I would try and find a way to get Bogosian and the rights to Burmistrov.

Roughly 3.5 and ongoing no?

Hes a 3rd pairing d-man with speed issues. Whatever GM trades for that without sending back a poor contract himself is a fool.
- flyer_nutter

No one would trade for him. He is making 3x what he should for what he brings and your paying that or another year. There will be numerous different options available in UFA for teams. Your right any GM that gives any type of pick for him, should really be fired on the spot

All Zs will play together one day. It will be deemed Z-Day
- PhillySportsGuy

I hope all their last names are Chara

One guy I would want is Bogosian. 24, 5.142 cap hit, 6'3, 215lbs. I know the injury history is scary but he has the size and skill to anchor the top pairing. I would try and find a way to get Bogosian and the rights to Burmistrov.
- J35Bacher

Likely too risky for the cost of what it would take to acquire Bogosian.

What's the plan with Ryan White? Will he primarily play with LV, or will he take over Rinaldo or Vandevelde's spot?

One guy I would want is Bogosian. 24, 5.142 cap hit, 6'3, 215lbs. I know the injury history is scary but he has the size and skill to anchor the top pairing. I would try and find a way to get Bogosian and the rights to Burmistrov.
- J35Bacher

Likely too risky for the cost of what it would take to acquire Bogosian.
- MJL

Well he has the the ability to be a top pairing guy and is young enough. I would also check in on Voynov. I know this year might be a wash this year but maybe for next depending on the trial or if there is a deal.

What's the plan with Ryan White? Will he primarily play with LV, or will he take over Rinaldo or Vandevelde's spot?
- Streit2ThePoint

Your guess is as good as anyone's.

I'm not even proclaiming MDZ as a savior. I just think he's better than the guys they're using now, similar to the decision to continue to run out Meszaros or Gill ahead of Gustafsson last season.

No, Gus wasn't a stud, but he was better than those two.
- Jsaquella

how about playing him so that he generates interest from teams so he can be moved at the tdl?
that HAS to be the play here at this point, right? makes moves and acquire picks for the draft, right? i mean any time this team gets more than 2 consecutive days off they forget how to play

Well he has the the ability to be a top pairing guy and is young enough. I would also check in on Voynov. I know this year might be a wash this year but maybe for next depending on the trial or if there is a deal.
- J35Bacher

I would label it as potential, more then established ability. If he fails to reach that level, then the price we'd likely have to pay to acquire him, will probably wind up as a costly mistake. Flyers really need to exercise some patience. As always, what is the cost? Hard to fully evaluate without knowing it.

What's the plan with Ryan White? Will he primarily play with LV, or will he take over Rinaldo or Vandevelde's spot?
- Streit2ThePoint

Who knows. But coming off back to back losses you know Ba-Ba-Roobey is going to spin the wheel.

Well he has the the ability to be a top pairing guy and is young enough. I would also check in on Voynov. I know this year might be a wash this year but maybe for next depending on the trial or if there is a deal.
- J35Bacher

I'm going no where near Voynov. He can rot.

how about playing him so that he generates interest from teams so he can be moved at the tdl?
that HAS to be the play here at this point, right? makes moves and acquire picks for the draft, right? i mean any time this team gets more than 2 consecutive days off they forget how to play
- hogweed

I have no idea how he's been a healthy scratch for 11 of the last 13 games or whatever it is. Sure his level of play dipped, but I don't see the current guys dressing ahead of him playing so well that they should be playing above him without question.

I have no idea how he's been a healthy scratch for 11 of the last 13 games or whatever it is. Sure his level of play dipped, but I don't see the current guys dressing ahead of him playing so well that they should be playing above him without question.
- Jsaquella

Del Zotto absolutely should be playing. The only players I would be upset about them sitting for him would be Streit and Schultz because they can actually move the puck. The rest... pick and choose. Would'nt matter who you sit. IMO.

I have no idea how he's been a healthy scratch for 11 of the last 13 games or whatever it is. Sure his level of play dipped, but I don't see the current guys dressing ahead of him playing so well that they should be playing above him without question.
- Jsaquella

I don't get it at all. at one point he was playing as well or better than every other dman. And like you said, yes he had a bad stretch of games but to sit him out 11 of 13 is surprising. He did something to piss in Berube's wheaties.

Del Zotto absolutely should be playing. The only players I would be upset about them sitting for him would be Streit and Schultz because they can actually move the puck. The rest... pick and choose. Would'nt matter who you sit. IMO.
- GOA88

That's why I have no issue trading any of the current D for picks/other assets, because it really doesn't matter who sits. They're all playing mediocre, inconsistent hockey.

I don't get it at all. at one point he was playing as well or better than every other dman. And like you said, yes he had a bad stretch of games but to sit him out 11 of 13 is surprising. He did something to piss in Berube's wheaties.
- nastyflyergirl

If he did, it's at least understandable. If he didn't, then Berube really does need to go.

That's why I have no issue trading any of the current D for picks/other assets, because it really doesn't matter who sits. They're all playing mediocre, inconsistent hockey.
- Jsaquella

It's aggravating for sure. On paper, its doesnt look like a bad team but Holmgren just threw all these players together that dont mesh. Most of them would be valuable on the right team in the right situation.

The cap goes up due to the NHL taking in record revenue year after year. It will go up, it's just a question of how much.
- MJL

Revenue ≠ Profit. That's where a declining Canadian dollar could impact the NHL.

Yup. Also, if you have a bunch of 3rd rounders, you can package them to possibly get a 2nd rounder or as additional assets to maybe slide up in the 1st round.
- Jsaquella

That too. I see no downside to trading Schultz for a 3rd. You lose a 3rd pairing/7th dman who's on the wrong side of 30 and has been average at best for the last few years and in return you get a top 90 pick in the draft. Chances are that pick will be nothing but you never know and I think it's well worth a shot, especially when the team needs to be looking toward the future.

Edit: Ghost was actually a 3rd round pick acquired in the trade that sent Versteeg to Florida.

It's aggravating for sure. On paper, its doesnt look like a bad team but Holmgren just threw all these players together that dont mesh. Most of them would be valuable on the right team in the right situation.
- GOA88

It's not a good mix, but at the same time the usage isn't helping a lot. Couturier's on a hot streak, but his PDO is high(shooting % & on-ice save % combined). The way he's used it's going to be hard to pile up points if things aren't bouncing right for a guy, as we saw before his recent hot streak. Guys need to be put into positions where they can best succeed.

That's not to excuse the players. As I said before, there's a handful of guys who have lived up to expectations in terms of level of play over the season thus far. Simmonds, Brayden Schenn an Couturier need to get more consistent. Read needs to play much better. Umberger plays one good game and he's invisible for 4. Lecavalier has played better since the benching, both in effort level and production. The entire defense has been mediocre and prone to mistakes all season.

One step closer to Pavel Zacha or Mitch Marner
- ob18

The whole top 10 looks stacked. And Berube has us back down to 7th.

http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

That too. I see no downside to trading Schultz for a 3rd. You lose a 3rd pairing/7th dman who's on the wrong side of 30 and has been average at best for the last few years and in return you get a top 90 pick in the draft. Chances are that pick will be nothing but you never know and I think it's well worth a shot, especially when the team needs to be looking toward the future.

Edit: Ghost was actually a 3rd round pick acquired in the trade that sent Versteeg to Florida.
- NickTheKid87

Agree with all of that. Plus, if you really like Schultz that much, you tell him, "We're doing this, in part to give you a shot at a Stanley Cup. We really like how you've played for us and we're definitely interested in you if you opt to hit the free agent market"

Boom. You get an asset, and also grease the skids for a possible return, if you really like the guy that much.

The whole top 10 looks stacked. And Berube has us back down to 7th.

http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/
- Feanor

The fix is in. Eichel at number one. Or McDavid, whatever.

Lots of rumours about kids jumping to the CHL after the WJCs. Anyone think Eichel is one of them?