Maybe not better in terms of record, but better in the fact maybe they have have a promising future with good young players. And all it takes is a coach to guide them in the right direction.
- MatveiDmitrii

What do you think the Flyers are right now?

Honestly, if at all possible, I'd move AMac first. It's the five more years at 5 milliion per that do it for me. At least with Schenn, you are out from under the contract after next season.
- BiggE

Me too. This and the fact that both Grossmann and Schenn had better seasons then MacDonald. In fact MacDonald has never had another convincing season outside of last season one year ago.

Here's what I see as the Flyers most pressing needs and the most pressing impediments to getting there....

- BiggE

Good points. I agree with quite a few. IMO, more than anything, this team needs......speed.

It is without question the biggest issue facing this team next to lacking skill. We simply need a faster, more skilled line-up. These issues aren't specific to forward and defense. We lack serious skating ability and natural skill.

On offense? Giroux and Voracek. That's really it. There are guys with good skill like Schenn and Couturier who aren't great skaters. That doesn't mean trade them, of course. Just stating the obvious. On D, it's MDZ and Streit. Everyone else either lacks SERIOUS skill and/or can't skate. With the exception of AMac who isn't a bad skater at all, we have a very immobile back end.

My demands are very simple....

1) Trade Grossman and Matt Read. These players are overpriced luxuries and, in reality, dime a dozen players. I know everyone has a soft spot for Matt Read because he was our "diamond in the rough" college UFA signing. Neither of these guys are bad players. They simply make too much money for what we are trying to do with our current cap situation.

2) Trade or buy-out at least 1 of Lecavalier or Umberger. Not asking for a miracle, but both of these guys cant be back next year taking up a spot in the lineup and crucial cap space. Literally nothing more needs to be said.

3) Explore trading Mark Streit. I would almost certainly move him this summer because I think we could get a great return on him. He's our most talented Dman but his age and contract cant be ignored. I'd explore moving him now when someone may still want to bite. The return has to be worthwhile though. You don't trade him for the sake of doing so.

4) Resign Ryan White. This is an absolute no brainer, no?

5) Upgrade the goaltender position. This is throughout the organization. I dont mind Robb Zepp being with Stolarz in LHV I guess, as he's good enough to really push him for ice time. Definitely get Mason a guy who can play a solid 30-35 games. I like Emery, but we can find someone better who is still somewhat cost effective.

6) DO NOT TRADE EITHER OF OUR 1ST ROUND PICKS. Make the picks and move on.

......any new players brought in need to be faster and more skilled than the guy they are probably replacing. My vision for next year so far.

?-Giroux-Voracek
Raffl-Couturier-Schenn
VandeVelde-Laughton-Simmonds
Umberger-Bellemare-White
-Rinaldo, Akeson(RFA?)

MDZ-Schenn
Streit(?)-Schultz
AMac-Gudas
-Manning

Me too. This and the fact that both Grossmann and Schenn had better seasons then MacDonald. In fact MacDonald has never had another convincing season outside of last season one year ago.
- SuperSchennBros

The problem with MacDonald is that he is a perfectly acceptable #4 dman. However, the Flyers are paying him to be a 2/3. In a cap world, that is simply not acceptable. If the cap was guaranteed to go up 3 or 4 million each and every year, it wouldn't be so much of an issue, but it's not.

The other problem is, because we are hamstrung with the VLC and Umberger contracts, we need to move AMac without retaining any salary. That is not going to be easy. Grossmann is still a serviceable dman with only 1 year left at 3.5 and Schenn is only 25 years old and shoots right and has just one year left at 3.6. Both of those guys will be much easier to move than AMac.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Drop Season Finale, Phantoms, Prospects, A Special Thanks, Alumni
- bmeltzer

Just want to say thank you for sharing that story about your son's awesome experience, Bill. That absolutely made my morning.

The problem with MacDonald is that he is a perfectly acceptable #4 dman. However, the Flyers are paying him to be a 2/3. In a cap world, that is simply not acceptable. If the cap was guaranteed to go up 3 or 4 million each and every year, it wouldn't be so much of an issue, but it's not.

The other problem is, because we are hamstrung with the VLC and Umberger contracts, we need to move AMac without retaining any salary. That is not going to be easy. Grossmann is still a serviceable dman with only 1 year left at 3.5 and Schenn is only 25 years old and shoots right and has just one year left at 3.6. Both of those guys will be much easier to move than AMac.
- BiggE

I would move Grossmann then. Grossmann is the eldest of the three and has injury issues. I trust Luke Schenn if he's not paired next to Del Zotto and Streit who are also prone if not more prone to mistakes in their own end. To MacDonald's credit, he's good in his own end and is capable of carring the puck up ice. What I can't stand about him as a five million dollar player is he's not physical, he doesn't generate much offense at even strength and isn't even a PP regular. Admittedly I trust Schenn next to MacDonald more then I would anyone else.

Hawks/Preds in the 1st round?

Damn, for the turn around Lavi has done there they still could very well not make it out of the 1st round.

Toronto Maple Leafs Fire GM Dave Nonis and interim head coach Peter Horachek.

It really would surprise me if Brendan Shanahan became the Leafs next GM and reached out to Mike Babcock.

Toronto Maple Fire GM Dave Nonis and interim head coach Peter Horachek
- SuperSchennBros

Making room the Bcock no doubt.

Making room the Bcock no doubt.
- hereticpride

Babcock would have a lot to gain by becoming the Leafs next Head Coach. It's a Canadian market where he's already Team Canada's Head Coach. Babcock can be apart of the clean up and turn around. I'm sure Babcock loves a challenge.

What do you think the Flyers are right now?
- SuperSchennBros

Potential but still some questions. Future really does hinge on guys like Ghost, Morin, Haag, and Sanheim

Just want to say thank you for sharing that story about your son's awesome experience, Bill. That absolutely made my morning.
- mochoson

Thank you! He is still talking about it.

Great Benji story, Bill. I remember you showing me and t_ma'am your pictures of him at the first Buzzgate, and the little bugger's getting big.

Frank Seravalli ‏@frank_seravalli 7m7 minutes ago

Only 6 players finished the season w/ more defensive-zone starts (687) than S. Couturier. Average age of those 6 is 31. Couturier is 22.

Doing their best to turn the 8th overall pick in the 2011 draft into Steve Kasper
- Jsaquella

sigh

Thanks Bill. It sounds like your son wants to be a goalie. I wish him well.
Can you give us a report on all the players once you have had some recovery time? It would be interesting to hear what the players off season plans are, and which players actually want to stick with the team next season.
We almost had a playoffs without the Pens. That would have made up some of the pain from the Flyers missing the playoffs.
Oh, and please, would someone lock G up for the summer? This breaking hands, and slapping butts thing has to stop.

Toronto fires everyone but Shanahan, Hunter, Dubas and Staois.

Florida re-signs Jaromir Jagr. One year

Good points. I agree with quite a few. IMO, more than anything, this team needs......speed.

It is without question the biggest issue facing this team next to lacking skill. We simply need a faster, more skilled line-up. These issues aren't specific to forward and defense. We lack serious skating ability and natural skill.

On offense? Giroux and Voracek. That's really it. There are guys with good skill like Schenn and Couturier who aren't great skaters. That doesn't mean trade them, of course. Just stating the obvious. On D, it's MDZ and Streit. Everyone else either lacks SERIOUS skill and/or can't skate. With the exception of AMac who isn't a bad skater at all, we have a very immobile back end.

My demands are very simple....

1) Trade Grossman and Matt Read. These players are overpriced luxuries and, in reality, dime a dozen players. I know everyone has a soft spot for Matt Read because he was our "diamond in the rough" college UFA signing. Neither of these guys are bad players. They simply make too much money for what we are trying to do with our current cap situation.

2) Trade or buy-out at least 1 of Lecavalier or Umberger. Not asking for a miracle, but both of these guys cant be back next year taking up a spot in the lineup and crucial cap space. Literally nothing more needs to be said.

3) Explore trading Mark Streit. I would almost certainly move him this summer because I think we could get a great return on him. He's our most talented Dman but his age and contract cant be ignored. I'd explore moving him now when someone may still want to bite. The return has to be worthwhile though. You don't trade him for the sake of doing so.

4) Resign Ryan White. This is an absolute no brainer, no?

5) Upgrade the goaltender position. This is throughout the organization. I dont mind Robb Zepp being with Stolarz in LHV I guess, as he's good enough to really push him for ice time. Definitely get Mason a guy who can play a solid 30-35 games. I like Emery, but we can find someone better who is still somewhat cost effective.

6) DO NOT TRADE EITHER OF OUR 1ST ROUND PICKS. Make the picks and move on.

......any new players brought in need to be faster and more skilled than the guy they are probably replacing. My vision for next year so far.

?-Giroux-Voracek
Raffl-Couturier-Schenn
VandeVelde-Laughton-Simmonds
Umberger-Bellemare-White
-Rinaldo, Akeson(RFA?)

MDZ-Schenn
Streit(?)-Schultz
AMac-Gudas
-Manning
- mochoson

Keep VdV but trade Read and Streit? No thanks.

Florida re-signs Jaromir Jagr. One year
- Jsaquella

Iron Man. Good for Jagr. Florida will be contending for a playoff spot next season.

Regarding the lottery:

Fourteen balls, numbered 1 to 14, are placed in a lottery machine. The machine randomly selects four balls. The resulting four-number series (without regard to selection order) is matched against a chart that shows all possible combinations and the Clubs to which each is assigned.

Interesting. Is the actual lottery going to be broadcast, or just the results?

...will take place on Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m., ET.

The results of the Draft Lottery will be revealed live on CBC immediately preceding the start of Game 2 of the Penguins-Rangers First Round series.

Here's an interesting trade that just popped up in my head.

To Carolina: 7th overall and AMac

To Philadelphia: 5th overall and John Michael Liles

Amac> Liles. Liles has one year left on his deal at just under 4 million. Gets us a stop gap defender at a decent price and the Canes get top 4 defensive help that they desperately need and still get to pick at 7 where they can grab Werenski without giving up all that much.

At 5 we'd be guaranteed one of Hanifin, Provorov or Marner and be in a better cap situation.

Florida re-signs Jaromir Jagr. One year
- Jsaquella

When all is said and done it will be amazing to see all the assets that were given up for him in trades over the years. Probably a teams worth of players.

Regarding the lottery:



Interesting. Is the actual lottery going to be broadcast, or just the results?
- wolfhounds

Just the results. Billy Daly sitting at a desk, flipping over cards counts down from 14-1

Here's an interesting trade that just popped up in my head.

To Carolina: 7th overall and AMac

To Philadelphia: 5th overall and John Michael Likes

Amac> Liles. Liles has one year left on his deal at just under 4 million. Gets us a stop gap defender at a decent price and the Canes get top 4 defensive help that they desperately need and still get to pick at 7 where they can grab Werenski without giving up all that much.

At 5 we'd be guaranteed one of Hanifin, Provorov or Marner and be in a better cap situation.
- hereticpride

I'd do that faster than I'd tear off my pants if Kate Upton said, "Get naked, fatty!"

Move into the top 5, lose the last 5 years of MacDonald and get to keep TB's first? Done and done.

I'd do that faster than I'd tear off my pants if Kate Upton said, "Get naked, fatty!"

Move into the top 5, lose the last 5 years of MacDonald and get to keep TB's first? Done and done.
- Jsaquella