I disagree. If a new coach doesn't want him, you can't keep him. You buy him out and you deal with the cap ramifications. Buyout umberger too if that's what the new coach wants. It's not the worst thing in the world of the flyers cap ceiling is essentially 66 million. Lots of young players on entry deals coming. They have to ice the best lineup and play the guys that are pieces for the future
- Just5

Coaches don't get that much say in the roster.

I'd much rather trade him while retaining ~$1.4m than buy him out. If that's not possible this summer, it may be in 2016 when his contract will only have two years and $5.5m in salary left.

I think he's pretty much shot as a player but it's not impossible that he rebounds into a half-decent guy with Berube gone. Stranger things have happened.
- Feanor

If the Flyers retain half of his salary ($2.25M per), do you think they can find a suitable replacement/upgrade (basically a bottom-6 winger) for less than his remaining 50%? If so, trading him makes a hell of a lot more sense than anything else, to me.

I think they can only retain about $1.4m, but his roster spot could be filled for one year by a much cheaper player. Probably VandeVelde (sorry Tomahwak).

Coaches don't get that much say in the roster.
- Feanor

No, but at the same time, you'd hope that the GM would value input from a coach, especially one that he selects. If the coach is dead-set against playing a player, you'd hope that the GM looks at all possible avenues to find a solution.

No, but at the same time, you'd hope that the GM would value input from a coach, especially one that he selects. If the coach is dead-set against playing a player, you'd hope that the GM looks at all possible avenues to find a solution.
- jmatchett383

i prefer it when there is absolutely no communication between management and the coach.

even better if there is none between the coach and the players.

if you can extend this lack of communication to player to player, then my are you onto something.

- funmaster18

I am not a drama queen

FA Winger - Giroux - Voracek
Schenn - Couturier - Simmonds
Raffl - White - Read
VDV - Bellmare - FA
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I don't like the looks of that lineup at all. In my opinion, Raffl would be the LW on the top line. I'd look to add a skilled player with speed for the 2nd line. Don't like the mix of that Couturier line at all. Laughton will also be in the mix next year. I don't see White as a full time 3rd line center in this league. I think he's a 4th line player moving forward.

Vancouver did it last year. They played terribly last year, now they're in the playoff hunt. They made 3 big moves. Moving kesler, adding vrbata, and a coaching change. Maybe that's all it takes for us this offseason? Maybe our Kesler move is getting rid of vinny? Maybe we add a solid winger (Beleskey, Stewart, Fehr, etc). I think at this point it's looking like they can berube. Obviously it doesn't have to go exactly by this template but who knows. Like I said, Vancouver did it last year, why can't we be next season's Vancouver?
- benjichronic

Things change very quickly in Hockey. There's a ton that this team can do to improve internally, without making any moves. Add a key move or two, and this team can be very competitive next year.

I disagree. If a new coach doesn't want him, you can't keep him. You buy him out and you deal with the cap ramifications. Buyout umberger too if that's what the new coach wants. It's not the worst thing in the world of the flyers cap ceiling is essentially 66 million. Lots of young players on entry deals coming. They have to ice the best lineup and play the guys that are pieces for the future
- Just5

Not to speak for him, but I think Feanor's point is don't buy out Lecavalier just to buy him out. The Flyers shouldn't have a problem with the cap next year. If they need the space to do something they want to do, then fine. Otherwise, the longer you keep him, the lower a potential buyout costs.

Not to speak for him, but I think Feanor's point is don't buy out Lecavalier just to buy him out. The Flyers shouldn't have a problem with the cap next year. If they need the space to do something they want to do, then fine. Otherwise, the longer you keep him, the lower a potential buyout costs.
- MJL

Is he able to play in the AHL, and if so what are the ramifications?

Things change very quickly in Hockey. There's a ton that this team can do to improve internally, without making any moves. Add a key move or two, and this team can be very competitive next year.
- MJL

I think it's safe to say that's what everyone is hoping for lol I have a good feeling though. I really do. Hextall has only one questionable move in my mind (hartnell trade), he really impressed my at the TDL by gutting Chicago and tampa, I think hexy will make some noise this summer, and hopefully he starts bringing up some of the youth. (assuming we have the roster spots)

No Raffl? If Raffl isn't in the lineup, but Rinaldo is, I am going to be very angry.
- funmaster18

That's a mess up from my end. Raffl replaces one of VDV/Straka/Rinaldo - absolutely.

I don't think it makes sense to do a buyout this summer when the Flyers will have no trouble getting under the ~$71m cap.
- Feanor

I disagree; having him on the NHL roster when he can't produce is worse than keeping him, because he is preventing a useful player from being on the team

At some point, the Flyers need to have 13 forwards who are capable of contributing in some fashion. Even a PK specialist at $1.5, or whatever is the difference between a salary and the buyout amounts on the cap hit, is better than having a player who simply has seen better days and likely won't see many more

The Flyers need better players. Keeping one who can't play when you can gain some relief and acquire a more useful player is not the best way to approach this

If the Flyers retain half of his salary ($2.25M per), do you think they can find a suitable replacement/upgrade (basically a bottom-6 winger) for less than his remaining 50%? If so, trading him makes a hell of a lot more sense than anything else, to me.
- jmatchett383

Damn it -- could've just quoted and agreed with you and saved myself some time, because that's the same logic with a buyout

You don't focus on what you lose, via retention or buyout. You focus on what you could use the savings on, and there's enough savings to net a better player for the 11-12-13 hole

That's a mess up from my end. Raffl replaces one of VDV/Straka/Rinaldo - absolutely.
- Pixote Andolini

I disagree; having him on the NHL roster when he can't produce is worse than keeping him, because he is preventing a useful player from being on the team

At some point, the Flyers need to have 13 forwards who are capable of contributing in some fashion. Even a PK specialist at $1.5, or whatever is the difference between a salary and the buyout amounts on the cap hit, is better than having a player who simply has seen better days and likely won't see many more

The Flyers need better players. Keeping one who can't play when you can gain some relief and acquire a more useful player is not the best way to approach this
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers need cap space in 16-17 to resign their big guys more than they need a better 12th forward in 15-16 which is going to be another transition year whether Vinny is here or not. Committing the team to three years of almost a $3m cap penalty is not something to do lightly.

Would you keep Lecavalier for 15-16 if he was going to retire, or be traded with ~$1.4m retained at the end of it?

Not to speak for him, but I think Feanor's point is don't buy out Lecavalier just to buy him out. The Flyers shouldn't have a problem with the cap next year. If they need the space to do something they want to do, then fine. Otherwise, the longer you keep him, the lower a potential buyout costs.
- MJL

I would definitely put off buying him out as long as possible.

I disagree; having him on the NHL roster when he can't produce is worse than keeping him, because he is preventing a useful player from being on the team

At some point, the Flyers need to have 13 forwards who are capable of contributing in some fashion. Even a PK specialist at $1.5, or whatever is the difference between a salary and the buyout amounts on the cap hit, is better than having a player who simply has seen better days and likely won't see many more

The Flyers need better players. Keeping one who can't play when you can gain some relief and acquire a more useful player is not the best way to approach this
- AllInForFlyers

I'll illustrate Feanor's points with buyout totals. Which buyout figures do you think looks better?

2015-16 2.889
2016-17 2.889
2017-18 2.389
2018-19 0.889
2019-20 0.889
2020-21 0.889

Or

2016-17 2.917
2017-18 2.417
2018-19 0.917
2019-20 0.917

Arizona has given permission for Sean Burke to speak to other teams about a position.

The Flyers need cap space in 16-17 to resign their big guys more than they need a better 12th forward in 15-16 which is going to be another transition year whether Vinny is here or not. Committing the team to three years of almost a $3m cap penalty is not something to do lightly.

Would you keep Lecavalier for 15-16 if he was going to retire, or be traded with ~$1.4m retained at the end of it?
- Feanor

Hoping he retires is a crap shoot. One point is , if he's a frequent scratch next year, the odds of trading him get even worse.
I'm personally hoping for the miracle of a mutual termination situation.

The Flyers need cap space in 16-17 to resign their big guys more than they need a better 12th forward in 15-16 which is going to be another transition year whether Vinny is here or not. Committing the team to three years of almost a $3m cap penalty is not something to do lightly.

Would you keep Lecavalier for 15-16 if he was going to retire, or be traded with ~$1.4m retained at the end of it?
- Feanor

Thats where I am.. He has been pretty damn bad for his cap hit. Brutal honestly, but he also hasnt been put in a desireable situation. He is not a grinding type of player. He isnt a good defensive player.

Put him with G and Jake for the rest of the year and see how he does. He still has skill. He still has a good shot. He just cant play the style that he is being asked.

Ideally, I would create a time-machine, transport back to the day he was going to be signed, slap homer and tell him to sober up, but I cant do that. So, put him in the best position to succeed. Not burying him on the 4th line where his job is to muck and grind..

I'll illustrate Feanor's points with buyout totals. Which buyout figures do you think looks better?

2015-16 2.889
2016-17 2.889
2017-18 2.389
2018-19 0.889
2019-20 0.889
2020-21 0.889

Or

2016-17 2.917
2017-18 2.417
2018-19 0.917
2019-20 0.917
- MJL

In all seriousness, they are pretty similar with the exception of the 800k for an extra year.

The Flyers need cap space in 16-17 to resign their big guys more than they need a better 12th forward in 15-16 which is going to be another transition year whether Vinny is here or not. Committing the team to three years of almost a $3m cap penalty is not something to do lightly.

Would you keep Lecavalier for 15-16 if he was going to retire, or be traded with ~$1.4m retained at the end of it?
- Feanor

Balancing the cap is important, but so is icing a team with a functional roster

Will next year be a transition year? Maybe. Probably, even

But in professional sports, you can't just waste seasons of people's careers, bring in coaches or fire coaches, and not even attempt to give them a functional roster

At the end of the day, transition year or not, people are held accountable for how these teams perform. It is patently unfair to saddle a coach with numerous players who can't contribute and then fire them when the results aren't there

The next coach of the Flyers deserves a little more help than the GMs gave Peter Laviolette and Craig Berube, and keeping a player who cannot contribute is not helpful

There are other moves that can be made for '16-17. Just because 15-16 likely won't be stellar is no reason to ensure that it's worse than it needs to be by keeping players who can't play

Arizona has given permission for Sean Burke to speak to other teams about a position.
- Jsaquella

Are you saying the flyers should go after him?