Craig Smith had his hearing today, There's 12 or 13 more cases pending. Derek Steppan is one, Josh Jooris, Adam Larsson, Braden Holtby and Marcus Johansson are others.

Teams may decide to walk away if there's a significant gap in what they were offering and the award given.
- Jsaquella

Could be some interesting ones.

Craig Smith had his hearing today, There's 12 or 13 more cases pending. Derek Steppan is one, Josh Jooris, Adam Larsson, Braden Holtby and Marcus Johansson are others.

Teams may decide to walk away if there's a significant gap in what they were offering and the award given.
- Jsaquella

They're talking tough, but for the players who truly matter like Stepan and Holtby, teams will bite the bullet, not walk away

I sincerely doubt Johansson gets walked away from, either

The rest, who knows? But if you went this far only to walk away, it's a wasted asset -- trade them or play them. Everyone knows how arbitration works; you aren't going to always win

I actually like the way he played when he first arrived, so I guess the optimist suggests he has it in him....hopefully he puts last year behind him where from my view was very inconsistent. To me he is a guy that can be a top notch shot blocker like his last year on the island....a guy who is a quick decision maker in his own end ans a guy that can eat 20 minutes a night....I would argue any time a guy doesn't play to his pay cheque it's a cap issue, simply because that's the reality of today's NHL....a cap system.
- landros 2

I agree, and I said that in an earlier post. What determines if it's a good contract, is how he plays in the future. For some though, there has been a final determination made on the player. Like steelydan said, he was signed to a 6 year deal, not a one year deal.

Could be some interesting ones.
- J35Bacher

The two Washington cases are the ones I see as potentially troublesome for the team. Holtby played his ass off last year. I don;t know what each side is demanding or how far apart they are, but he's going to get a nice raise.

Johanssen might end up a victim of their spending spree last year and a significant award to Holtby.

Hextall may well have some blame there. He was in the front office when they traded for him and signed him. I wasn't a huge fan of the trade and disliked the contract. I think better players have signed as UFAs since then for slightly more or even less, and that aspect of it bothers me.
- Jsaquella

He might but I also have to think it would be hard to really voice an opinion against when you know you could be the future GM.

And maybe he was very against it and Holmgren decided to do it anyways.

We have no clue.

They're talking tough, but for the players who truly matter like Stepan and Holtby, teams will bite the bullet, not walk away

I sincerely doubt Johansson gets walked away from, either

The rest, who knows? But if you went this far only to walk away, it's a wasted asset -- trade them or play them. Everyone knows how arbitration works; you aren't going to always win
- AllInForFlyers

I could see the Caps possibly walk on Johanssen, if the award is big enough.

He might but I also have to think it would be hard to really voice an opinion against when you know you could be the future GM.

And maybe he was very against it and Holmgren decided to do it anyways.

We have no clue.
- J35Bacher

No we don't. Further I doubt that Hextall is actively trying to move MacDonald, so hopefully he does play better.

It's no fait accompli that he will.

I could see the Caps possibly walk on Johanssen, if the award is big enough.
- Jsaquella

I had read that, but that is just silly. I don't have their cap/roster in front of me, but there is no freaking way that whatever he gets in that hearing is the worst contract on the team, so much so that you lose the asset for nothing

I agree, and I said that in an earlier post. What determines if it's a good contract, is how he plays in the future. For some though, there has been a final determination made on the player. Like steelydan said, he was signed to a 6 year deal, not a one year deal.
- MJL

I wouldn't say there was a final determination.

I just think for what he signed he hasn't brought the value. Everyone will agree that if he plays up to his contract then no one will have a problem moving forward.

And no I am not asking him to be an all-star. but he needs to be a better two way player then he has.

I agree, and I said that in an earlier post. What determines if it's a good contract, is how he plays in the future. For some though, there has been a final determination made on the player. Like steelydan said, he was signed to a 6 year deal, not a one year deal.
- MJL

I'll give Macdonald a pass....however Kyle Dubas is a joke of a hire by the Leafs as was evident in their play last year.

I'll give Macdonald a pass....however Kyle Dubas is a joke of a hire by the Leafs as was evident in their play last year.
- Just5

Shots fired...shots fired

I could see the Caps possibly walk on Johanssen, if the award is big enough.
- Jsaquella

If a team walks from an award are they still permitted to pursue the player as if he were a regular UFA?

If a team walks from an award are they still permitted to pursue the player as if he were a regular UFA?
- Just5

You know what? That' a great question...I've never seen that one asked or answered before

No we don't. Further I doubt that Hextall is actively trying to move MacDonald, so hopefully he does play better.

It's no fait accompli that he will.
- Jsaquella

I think Hextall would move anyone if he got the right offer.

I think he understands this roster is not a complete puzzle yet. Of course guys like Grioux and Voracek are unlikely but I wouldn't put it past him to move someone we thought was safe.

I could see the Caps possibly walk on Johanssen, if the award is big enough.
- Jsaquella

I agree with you on that one.

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.
- PhillySportsGuy

Great point.

Even with all the ninja poop Hexy pulled off this summer, they still only barely had enough $ to keep the players they wanted to keep. Probably will be the same for the next couple of summers until some of these albatrii can get shed.

If they remain patient, they could end up w/ a ton of cap space when the window begins to open and they're finally in a position to buy.

Hextall may well have some blame there. He was in the front office when they traded for him and signed him. I wasn't a huge fan of the trade and disliked the contract. I think better players have signed as UFAs since then for slightly more or even less, and that aspect of it bothers me.
- Jsaquella

you may be one of the few who thinks hextal should shoulder some blame.

no doubt.

He might but I also have to think it would be hard to really voice an opinion against when you know you could be the future GM.

And maybe he was very against it and Holmgren decided to do it anyways.

We have no clue.
- J35Bacher

I think it would be easier to be honest. he knew he was going to inherit that contract. so if he was opposed to it he should have spoke up. though as you said maybe he did.

considering they are good friends and I truly believe homer wouldn't have went through with it if hextall was really that opposed to it.

I think it would be easier to be honest. he knew he was going to inherit that contract. so if he was opposed to it he should have spoke up. though as you said maybe he did.

considering they are good friends and I truly believe homer wouldn't have went through with it if hextall was really that opposed to it.
- rinaldo

I hope and pray that friendship is not the deciding factor in the on-and-off ice decisions for the Flyers management.

Yeah that bottle of Glenmorganie won't drink itself
- Jsaquella

Regular exercise and imbibing large quantities of single malt scotch are the secrets to a long and happy life.

I hope and pray that friendship is not the deciding factor in the on-and-off ice decisions for the Flyers management.
- jmatchett383

I don't think it is with Hextall.

He seems to be really moving this team in a new direction. I mean he gave Hackstol a 5 year deal. I know that might not seem like a big deal because coaches are fired all the time. to me it says that he has a plan and it's going to take a little time to have it fully implemented.

Marcus Johansson seems like a pretty good left winger. It would be nice if the Caps were forced to let him go and he went to the West. Or perhaps the Flyers could trade BSchenn for him and send Luke elsewhere for pick to make cap space.

He's waiting for Big E to get back with the scotch
- Jsaquella

I'm back, what did I miss.

No wait, lemme guess, someone has been endlessly defending his man crush, AMac because we all have the nerve to state that he is overpaid for what he brings to the team.

We are bad people, very bad people.

If we only could keep one of AMac or Schenn, who would you keep?
- 2Real

Schenn. 1 year left on the deal. case closed.

I agree that MacDonald is not great in any one area. I also don't think that he should be expected to be. You're not going to get defenseman who are great in anyone area, for 5M a year. What MacDonald can be, is a player who is pretty solid all around. I think he has that ability, and if he does, he'll be well worth his contract in my opinion. I don't look at 5M as this big number that many view it as. It's the market for under 30 top 4 defenseman in the UFA market. That number will continue to escalate moving forward.
- MJL

So Streit is not a great pp quarterback?

Sorry, I broke my rule, but I couldn't resist.