I never forgave him for that Petr Svoboda hit.
- johndewar

Had to look that hit up, beyond dirty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqNS_2ruccA

Only reason the cap isn't a problem is because this team won't really be in contention over the next couple years. Therefore, they don't really need the room to add talent. They just need the room to keep talent.

Would be smart to extend Couts now long term. He'll probably see easier usage and better linemates, which will result in more points. Flyers should buy low on him this offseason. Same with Raffl.
- PhillySportsGuy

Even if they were in contention, it still wouldn't be a problem. Just as Bill talked about, the Flyers have other options available to them, to the point that they could have a significant amount of cap space to use at the trade deadline, when salaries are prorated, to add to the team if they were in contention.

I would argue that Amac is also a problem contract but we'll just get into a 10 page debate on whether or not Amac is a quality defensemen and worth his cap hit. So disregard.
- GOA88

Too late, dammit.

Nope, but he did beat Richards up.

Man, for a guy who fought as frequently as Richards, dude couldn't fight. So, yes, Brayden Schenn is like Mike Richards in that way.
- jmatchett383

Dubinsky tuned him up a few times...yeh, Richie wasn't much for fighting.

Yeah, Richie destroyed Booth. Booth was never the same player after it
- Jsaquella

Neither was Richie.....

I would argue that Amac is also a problem contract but we'll just get into a 10 page debate on whether or not Amac is a quality defensemen and worth his cap hit. So disregard.
- GOA88

Absolute second pairing dman. Just look at his ice time on a dreadful Islanders team. Damn the fact they had zero other options. He played 20+ minutes a game. Makes him a top 4 dman! Case closed!

Absolute second pairing dman. Just look at his ice time on a dreadful Islanders team. Damn the fact they had zero other options. He played 20+ minutes a game. Makes him a top 4 dman! Case closed!
- PLindbergh31

Dubinsky tuned him up a few times...yeh, Richie wasn't much for fighting.
- Jsaquella

The first time they went (and apparently, again in LA), Richards got him. But yeah, Dubinsky took it to him a few times.

Too late, dammit.
- BiggE

Isn't it always?

Their cap situation isn't as bad as some have made out. But they are paying premium prices for some average to below average guys. Every team has a guy or two making too much, but in most of those cases the guy is at least a contributor.

I think MacDonald has a bad contract, but he does contribute. There's other, minor overpayments on the blue line, too. But how many teams have a $4.5 mm albatross? Combining the overpayments with the two big cap issues creates the issue.

Hextall recognizes it, at least and is trying to mitigate it.

Neither was Richie.....
- MBFlyerfan

You may be right. That may have been the turning point where he seemed to pull back a bit. And I can't really blame him, that's gotta be scary.

Nope, but he did beat Richards up.

Man, for a guy who fought as frequently as Richards, dude couldn't fight. So, yes, Brayden Schenn is like Mike Richards in that way.
- jmatchett383

I can remember Richards seeming to be better at fighting earlier in his career. But, it seemed later in his Flyers career, he took more than he dished out.

Isn't it always?

Their cap situation isn't as bad as some have made out. But they are paying premium prices for some average to below average guys. Every team has a guy or two making too much, but in most of those cases the guy is at least a contributor.

I think MacDonald has a bad contract, but he does contribute. There's other, minor overpayments on the blue line, too. But how many teams have a $4.5 mm albatross? Combining the overpayments with the two big cap issues creates the issue.

Hextall recognizes it, at least and is trying to mitigate it.
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. Having 9.1 million tied up in Vinny and Umberger sucks, there is no other way to put it. AMac, as you said, can at least contribute, but he is also overpaid and will be difficult to move for at least 2 more years.

I can remember Richards seeming to be better at fighting earlier in his career. But, it seemed later in his Flyers career, he took more than he dished out.
- johndewar

Well, at 5'11, 190 he's not the biggest guy in the world.

Well, at 5'11, 190 he's not the biggest guy in the world.
- BiggE

Well, at 5'11, 190 he's not the biggest guy in the world.
- BiggE

Yeah, but the only guy I remember him losing to out of his weight class was Bieksa. Other than that, he fought a lot of middleweights (I think he fought Asham once), and wasn't better than mediocre. But he was pretty willing.

I would argue that Amac is also a problem contract but we'll just get into a 10 page debate on whether or not Amac is a quality defensemen and worth his cap hit. So disregard.
- GOA88

Good choice

Silver linings

Well, at 5'11, 190 he's not the biggest guy in the world.
- BiggE

One of my all time favorite Richards clips was this fight with Corey Perry back in their junior days. Richie hung in there with him pretty good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCa5T9EsKE

One of my all time favorite Richards clips was this fight with Corey Perry back in their junior days. Richie hung in there with him pretty good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCa5T9EsKE
- johndewar

IIRC, he was a decent fighter during his first couple of seasons.

First seeing that blog title made me think of an MJL bat signal.

Or beacons of Minas Tirith being lit.

One of my all time favorite Richards clips was this fight with Corey Perry back in their junior days. Richie hung in there with him pretty good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCa5T9EsKE
- johndewar

Always loved that. It's a bit uncoordinated, but it's 2 guys just swinging haymakers, no covering up/tying up. And anyone who's willing to punch Corey Perry is good in my book.

IIRC, he was a decent fighter during his first couple of seasons.
- BiggE

Exactly....then, as time seemed to move on, for whatever reason, he just wasn't as good at it.

Silver linings: The Florida Panthers Story
- Panthers88

fixed that for ya

Absolutely. Having 9.1 million tied up in Vinny and Umberger sucks, there is no other way to put it. AMac, as you said, can at least contribute, but he is also overpaid and will be difficult to move for at least 2 more years.
- BiggE

Exactly.

Yes there are ways around it, but they're not always good options. That's why most people feel they have cap issues. Having the ability to get around the mistakes is one thing. Avoiding them in the first place is a much better option.

Absolute second pairing dman. Just look at his ice time on a dreadful Islanders team. Damn the fact they had zero other options. He played 20+ minutes a game. Makes him a top 4 dman! Case closed!
- PLindbergh31

He played 23:31 per game in 12-13 when they were a playoff team.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...IPerGame&viewName=summary