Not necessarily a fire sale, but they can move more than one d-man. Hell, they should.

If the d doesnt look marginally different next year, this team is gonna really struggle yet again.
- jak521

What they need is some veteran players to help shoulder some of the tough minutes so they don't have to throw any of the young defenseman into the fire then they have to. A player like Schultz can take some D zone starts, and play on the PK. While coming at a cheaper price to add some cap flexibility. If Grossmann and Schenn are considered 3rd pair defenseman on this team, then 7M combined for a 3rd pair is too much. Keeping Schultz as a 3rd pair defender, allows then to add some flexibility there without taking on much risk. That is the value that Schultz offers to this team going forward.

3 reasons the Flyers should be in no rush to re-sign Schultz

1. His play could significantly tail off in the 2nd half

2. He could get injured

3. He's a more valuable trade chip at the deadline on a 1 year low cost deal
- BiggE

I'm not even sure Schultz has been that good. If you couple how awful he was in pre-season (everyone thought he was shot) and add in how the rest of the Flyers d core has been a train wreck, it probably makes Schultz appear better than he is. The expectations for him were basically zero. So yes, he's performed better then anyone expected.
I agree with you, no rush to sign him. The Flyers already have the market cornered on third pairing dmen.

I'm not even sure Schultz has been that good. If you couple how awful he was in pre-season (everyone thought he was shot) and add in how the rest of the Flyers d core has been a train wreck, it probably makes Schultz appear better than he is. The expectations for him were basically zero. So yes, he's performed better then anyone expected.
I agree with you, no rush to sign him. The Flyers already have the market cornered on third pairing dmen.
- PLindbergh31

Yup

Only time you sign him is after the deadline
- nails

Yup, that would be the most prudent approach. Lay the groundwork now, consummate after the TDL.

It's not like the guy's gonna suddenly pot 20-goals between now and then and his asking price will bloat.

What they need is some veteran players to help shoulder some of the tough minutes so they don't have to throw any of the young defenseman into the fire then they have to. A player like Schultz can take some D zone starts, and play on the PK. While coming at a cheaper price to add some cap flexibility. If Grossmann and Schenn are considered 3rd pair defenseman on this team, then 7M combined for a 3rd pair is too much. Keeping Schultz as a 3rd pair defender, allows then to add some flexibility there without taking on much risk. That is the value that Schultz offers to this team going forward.
- MJL

Well in my opinion right now they have 4 guys who are bottom pair guys making nearly 12 million... its really scary.

Yup
- BiggE

Carolina is basically even money to beat the Flyers tonight. The Flyers have become an NHL bottom feeding doormat through half a season. I really hope they get one of the top two picks in the draft. Sitting through this type of season is sickening. Imagine where they would be in the standings if Giroux and Voracek hadn't been leading the NHL in scoring. Right in the thick of the McDavid mix.

Carolina is basically even money to beat the Flyers tonight. The Flyers have become an NHL bottom feeding doormat through half a season. I really hope they get one of the top two picks in the draft. Sitting through this type of season is sickening. Imagine where they would be in the standings if Giroux and Voracek hadn't been leading the NHL in scoring. Right in the thick of the McDavid mix.
- PLindbergh31

Take away Giroux and Jake and they might be looking up at Carolina and Edmonton right now

Take away Giroux and Jake and they might be looking up at Carolina and Edmonton right now
- BiggE

I don't think there is any question about it. Outside of the top line (really it's 2/3 of a line) everything else has been average at best. Mostly below average.
Mason prior to the injury has also played above average hockey. He hasn't looked the same since coming back.

Right now, I would say they have 5 players I want to keep. Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Simmonds and Mason. Pretty much the rest of the roster is expendable. Meaning if you replaced them with a league average player, there wouldn't be much drop off.

Yup, that would be the most prudent approach. Lay the groundwork now, consummate after the TDL.

It's not like the guy's gonna suddenly pot 20-goals between now and then and his asking price will bloat.
- Tomahawk

What would you do if Stars offered Nichushkin, Honka and 2016 first for Jake?

Take away Giroux and Jake and they might be looking up at Carolina and Edmonton right now
- BiggE

They'd be looking up at everyone. We'd be in the midst of the new season that would not be mentioned.

I don't think there is any question about it. Outside of the top line (really it's 2/3 of a line) everything else has been average at best. Mostly below average.
Mason prior to the injury has also played above average hockey. He hasn't looked the same since coming back.

Right now, I would say they have 5 players I want to keep. Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Simmonds and Mason. Pretty much the rest of the roster is expendable. Meaning if you replaced them with a league average player, there wouldn't be much drop off.
- PLindbergh31

I think in some instances a league average player might be better lol

Well in my opinion right now they have 4 guys who are bottom pair guys making nearly 12 million... its really scary.
- jak521

Coburn, Streit, and MacDonald are all solid top 4 NHL defenseman. Grossmann could be an adequate #4 with a really strong partner, but it's not ideal and a better fit for a 3rd pair role due to his limitations with the puck. And not a player a top team would want in their top 4 because of those limitations. Schenn just isn't consistent enough for a top 4 2nd pairing role right now. Schultz is a quality 3rd pair defenseman when all the factors are considered.

I think in some instances a league average player might be better lol
- PhillySportsGuy

Certainly. In most cases it would be. What D-man is currently playing at better than league average? Streit maybe?

There is a lot of dead wood on this team eating up a ton of cap space.

Coburn, Streit, and MacDonald are all solid top 4 NHL defenseman. Grossmann could be an adequate #4 with a really strong partner, but it not ideal and a better fit for a 3rd pair role due to his limitations with the puck. Schenn just isn't consistent enough for a top 4 2nd pairing role right now. Schultz is a quality 3rd pair defenseman when all the factors are considered.
- MJL

If I had to rank the d-men on the team MacDonald is 6th.

Id take Streit, Coburn, Grossmann, Schultz and MDZ all over him.

If there is anyway to move him I do it immediately.

If I had to rank the d-men on the team MacDonald is 6th.

Id take Streit, Coburn, Grossmann, Schultz and MDZ all over him.

If there is anyway to move him I do it immediately.
- jak521

Where is L. Schenn? Is he 7th? So Holmgren gave up JVR, a few draft picks and overpaid MacDonald and they are 6th and 7th on the depth chart for a team that has nothing resembling a top pairing guy??

Holy (frank). It would be hard for a bum on the street corner to turn things into a worse cluster(frank).

If I had to rank the d-men on the team MacDonald is 6th.

Id take Streit, Coburn, Grossmann, Schultz and MDZ all over him.

If there is anyway to move him I do it immediately.
- jak521

I see a completely different player then you do. I thought he had his first sub par game in awhile against Colorado, and made a bad decision on the OT goal to leave his feet. Otherwise , he has been playing solid hockey for the Flyers. Moving the puck quickly an efficiently, solid in his coverages, and adjusting his game to become more aggressive offensively in moving up on the play, and getting involved there. He's a player that strengthens the Flyers D core going forward and is a quality 2nd pair defenseman. A little overpaid, but that's the cost of doing business in free agency. The knocks I have against him are that he's not very physical, and he needs to improve his offensive production going forward.
I thought he had some inconsistency in his game in the beggining of the season, but overall I've been pretty happy with his play recently. I think he's only going to get better.

Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Talks set to get underway soon btwn #Flyers and Nick Schultz for extension. His rejuvenation & Hextall's tricky spot:

http://www.philly.com/phi...round_for_the_Flyers.html
- BulliesPhan87

So, it's not possible for the Flyers to trade Schultz, and then re-sign him this summer as a UFA. Guess I missed that rule, because last I checked there's nothing blocking that from happening.

If he decides to not re-sign in the above case, then look at the other UFA. One thing the market is flush with is solid, cheap veteran 6th defensemen.

Stockpiling picks in a deep draft trumps locking up an adequate veteran 6th defensemen in my book.

Overpaying mediocrity is the cost of doing business.

Niskanen, and Ehrhoff both dramatically got overpaid in FA.
MacDonald is the corn in their poop.

So, it's not possible for the Flyers to trade Schultz, and then re-sign him this summer as a UFA. Guess I missed that rule, because last I checked there's nothing blocking that from happening.

If he decides to not re-sign in the above case, then look at the other UFA. One thing the market is flush with is solid, cheap veteran 6th defensemen.
- Jsaquella

Personally, I don't see why Schultz matters in the grand scheme of things. If they keep him, fine, but he would merely be a transitional player for when the team actually plans to contend.

The ideal situation, IMO, if they want to keep him would be to deal him for a pick(s) and then re-sign him as a UFA. Otherwise I don't really care what they do with him. He's a very irrelevant player when push comes to shove.

What would you do if Stars offered Nichushkin, Honka and 2016 first for Jake?
- PhillySportsGuy

Eat a box of wheaties, put Jake on my back and walk him to Dallas

Edit. Just saw 2016......id drive him instead of carrying him

What would you do if Stars offered Nichushkin, Honka and 2016 first for Jake?
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd have to consider it... might ask for Klingberg instead of Honka.

So, it's not possible for the Flyers to trade Schultz, and then re-sign him this summer as a UFA. Guess I missed that rule, because last I checked there's nothing blocking that from happening.

If he decides to not re-sign in the above case, then look at the other UFA. One thing the market is flush with is solid, cheap veteran 6th defensemen.

Stockpiling picks in a deep draft trumps locking up an adequate veteran 6th defensemen in my book.
- Jsaquella

There's not a single defenseman on this team I wouldn't move for picks. Maybe Streit and coburn I'd expect more for. The rest can all be replaced in August and September.

I see a completely different player then you do. I thought he had his first sub par game in awhile against Colorado, and made a bad decision on the OT goal to leave his feet. Otherwise , he has been playing solid hockey for the Flyers. Moving the puck quickly an efficiently, solid in his coverages, and adjusting his game to become more aggressive offensively in moving up on the play, and getting involved there. He's a player that strengthens the Flyers D core going forward and is a quality 2nd pair defenseman. A little overpaid, but that's the cost of doing business in free agency. The knocks I have against him are that he's not very physical, and he needs to improve his offensive production going forward.
I thought he had some inconsistency in his game in the beggining of the season, but overall I've been pretty happy with his play recently. I think he's only going to get better.
- MJL

I know how you feel about him, and I disagree with your assessment. I see him as a guy who really only does a few things really well. He may be the softest blue line to blue line d-man I have ever seen in O&B. He isnt the best skater, and being a smaller d-man who isnt exactly offensively gifted, that is a huge need. He is a very good containment d-man. Thats only because its all he does. He never challenges the puck carrier. It is completely infuriating to me.

So he lacks any offensive punch (despite multiple stints on the PP) going 54 games with the Flyers and only recording 2 goals and 13 points at a -6. He has zero physicality to his game. And he is a strictly containment d-man.

Personally, I don't see why Schultz matters in the grand scheme of things. If they keep him, fine, but he would merely be a transitional player for when the team actually plans to contend.

The ideal situation, IMO, if they want to keep him would be to deal him for a pick(s) and then re-sign him as a UFA. Otherwise I don't really care what they do with him. He's a very irrelevant player when push comes to shove.
- NickTheKid87

Exactly my view. No need to make his re-signing any sort of priority. It's a minor move, but it's also kind of them being overly proactive, yet again. See what the market is, don't run out and set the market. Take advantage of the market.