There's a real possibility that nobody is willing to give him a contract.
- Jsaquella

Anyone who thinks the due diligence on that issue hasn't been done is naive.

I know.

None of the scenarios are great.

Anther idea would be to attach him to a player like Simmonds or Read.
- J35Bacher

Carry him this year, then buy him out next summer. The cap savings in each of the next two years will help and the final two years are not that severe.

Yes, they did make their own mess, and Vinny could accomodate them and help them clean it up, but if they're going to play hardball with him, what reason does he have to help them clean the mess up?
- Jsaquella

I'm sure the Flyers have been told they are free to trade him. That's all the accommodating he needs to do. And that's not playing hardball with them, imho. That's working with the contract that both parties signed.

Anyone who thinks the due diligence on that issue hasn't been done is naive.
- Scoob

I'm sure by now he's been privately looking for a new home.

Carry him this year, then buy him out next summer. The cap savings in each of the next two years will help and the final two years are not that severe.
- Jsaquella

if they buy him out next summer what is the cap hit?

Anyone who thinks the due diligence on that issue hasn't been done is naive.
- Scoob

I'm sure they have discussed every possible solution. I know Vinny wants to play, but even if he agrees to terminate, that's not necessarily a guaranteed thing.

If I was him, even with the Tampa money coming in, I wouldn't walk away unless I had a guaranteed deal waiting for me. If I'm going to be sitting around not playing, I might as well get a check while I'm doing it.

if they buy him out next summer what is the cap hit?
- JoeRussomanno

$2,916,666 in year one
$2,416,666 in year two
$916,666 in years three and four

Carry him this year, then buy him out next summer. The cap savings in each of the next two years will help and the final two years are not that severe.
- Jsaquella

I also wonder if the Del Zotto arbitration is holding up a decision. Just say Del Zotto gets a 4 million award. Maybe the Flyers decide that's too much and walk away and let someone on their ELC play. Then it allows them to buyout Vinny because they saved some space in not having to pay Del Zotto.

I don't know. I still feel there will be 1 or 2 more moves made before the start of the season.

I'm sure they have discussed every possible solution. I know Vinny wants to play, but even if he agrees to terminate, that's not necessarily a guaranteed thing.

If I was him, even with the Tampa money coming in, I wouldn't walk away unless I had a guaranteed deal waiting for me. If I'm going to be sitting around not playing, I might as well get a check while I'm doing it.
- Jsaquella

I agree with all of that. And even then I'd think the guaranteed deal would have to cover a significant portion of the money he's walking away from. I'm not sure a $1-$2m one year deal would get it done.

$2,916,666 in year one
$2,416,666 in year two
$916,666 in years three and four
- Jsaquella

should see if they can get him on the injured reserve then buy him out this summer.

When teams learn to stop throwing money at aging veterans expecting them to continue to play at the level when they were in their prime..that's when all this non-sense of ridiculous contracts will stop. Otherwise, suffer through it.

I'm sure the Flyers have been told they are free to trade him. That's all the accommodating he needs to do. And that's not playing hardball with them, imho. That's working with the contract that both parties signed.
- Scoob

I think I worded that badly.

What I'm saying is, Vinny would like the Flyers to buy him out or trade him and retain salary to make it work. The Flyers have refused to buy him out, and reportedly have refused to eat enough cash to make a deal work. In that regard, it could be said that the Flyers are playing hardball.

Now, if the Flyers want Vinny to help them out by agreeing to terminate, there's no incentive for Vinny to agree to do so, unless he has another deal waiting for him. So my comment was basically saying that if the Flyers want to play hardball, Vinny can turn around and do the same to them. He has no incentive to help them with their cap and take a financial hit.

When teams learn to stop throwing money at aging veterans expecting them to continue to play at the level when they were in their prime..that's when all this non-sense of ridiculous contracts will stop. Otherwise, suffer through it.
- mattstake

i promise you one thing: they will never learn.

I also wonder if the Del Zotto arbitration is holding up a decision. Just say Del Zotto gets a 4 million award. Maybe the Flyers decide that's too much and walk away and let someone on their ELC play. Then it allows them to buyout Vinny because they saved some space in not having to pay Del Zotto.

I don't know. I still feel there will be 1 or 2 more moves made before the start of the season.
- J35Bacher

They can't buy Vinny out until the next buy out window. And if Del Zotto does get a big enough award, they might decide to go that route, although I'd suspect it would lead to a trade of one of the D-men on a one way contract

Oh, and you could take that huge pay cut and maybe end up sitting around anyway.
- Scoob

That was what the "maybe" was for.

i promise you one thing: they will never learn.
- JoeRussomanno

Rangers have this with Boyle..albeit only 1 more year..but they have made many mistakes like this so i guess you're right.. IE: Wade Redden..

Rangers have this with Boyle..albeit only 1 more year..but they have made many mistakes like this so i guess you're right.. IE: Wade Redden..
- mattstake

Look at the deal Kessler just got.

When teams learn to stop throwing money at aging veterans expecting them to continue to play at the level when they were in their prime..that's when all this non-sense of ridiculous contracts will stop. Otherwise, suffer through it.
- mattstake

I don't think they expected the 50-goal scoring Vinny. They probably expected a 25-goal Vinny. That's why they didn't give him 50-goal money.

I also wonder if the Del Zotto arbitration is holding up a decision. Just say Del Zotto gets a 4 million award. Maybe the Flyers decide that's too much and walk away and let someone on their ELC play. Then it allows them to buyout Vinny because they saved some space in not having to pay Del Zotto.

I don't know. I still feel there will be 1 or 2 more moves made before the start of the season.
- J35Bacher

The buyout period is over. The next opportunity to buy out Lecavalier is next Summer for the Flyers.

When teams learn to stop throwing money at aging veterans expecting them to continue to play at the level when they were in their prime..that's when all this non-sense of ridiculous contracts will stop. Otherwise, suffer through it.
- mattstake

It works both ways. There have been plenty of situations where signing veteran older players has worked out. Nor do I think teams are always expecting players to play at a level they did in their prime when older.

Cap hits:
2,916,666
2,416,666
2 years of $916,666
- Jsaquella

If they would've bought him out in June the cap hits are roughly the same with an extra year at 888k

I just don't get what purpose it serves to keep him for another year. The downside of having him around with a new coach being tasked what to do with him etc. outweighs the cap implications IMO.

Just cut bait and you would've had about 1.7 mil more to play with this year if they chose to do so. Hell even if they dont use that space it's still valuable to have, it gives them more options in trades to acquire young assets. What the hell is 888k in 2021?

If they would've bought him out in June the cap hits are roughly the same with an extra year at 888k

I just don't get what purpose it serves to keep him for another year. The downside of having him around with a new coach being tasked what to do with him etc. outweighs the cap implications IMO.

Just cut bait and you would've had about 1.7 mil more to play with this year. What the hell is 888k in 2021?
- Just5

What would they do with that 1.7M? That's the question. If you don't see a need for it, or have something planned for that extra money, better to just keep him and see what happens. A trade possibility, however remote, could develop. That's a reach, but there's no possibiity of trading him if you buy him out. Hextall knows what he's doing.

What would they do with that 1.7M? That's the question. If you don't see a need for it, or have something planned for that extra money, better to just keep him and see what happens. A trade possibility, however remote, could develop. That's a reach, but there's no possibiity of trading him if you buy him out. Hextall knows what he's doing.
- MJL

It gives you options, cap space to eat salary in a trade for picks/prospects whether it be moving salary out or taking on salary in an effort to bring in young talent. Having cap space is advantageous right now. I think Hexy knows what he's doing too but in my opinion I'd rather go the buyout route in an effort to gain flexibility rather than think Vinny can bounce back and make himself an asset.

It gives you options, cap space to eat salary in a trade for picks/prospects whether it be moving salary out or taking on salary in an effort to bring in young talent. Having cap space is advantageous right now. I think Hexy knows what he's doing too but in my opinion I'd rather go the buyout route in an effort to gain flexibility rather than think Vinny can bounce back and make himself an asset.
- Just5

No, it would actually limit your options moving forward. Unless an unforseen move presents itself, the players that are going to compete for a spot on the team is set for this upcoming season. Once you buyout Lecavalier, other options are gone for good.

Think about it this way

If they free up 1.7 million in a Vinny buyout they could use that money to go out and sign a player like a Chris Stewart (apparently decent enough that Anaheim thinks he can help) or some other UFA that's still out there right now whose a much better player than Vinny.

Bring him in on a one year deal, you trade that player at the deadline or the player fits in and you have a piece for the team. Chris Stewart got a 2nd round pick for Buffalo last year.

I don't know, I take my chances in doing something like that than sit on Vinny and think his career can rebound under Hakstol. Not worth the 888k cap savings in 2021