Sick goal by G. Too bad we dont have 3 of him...thats what Hextall should be trying to figure out. Maybe everyone should dye their hair orange
- YuenglingJagr

I think we do have another one of him. He currently plays for the Ottawa 67s and is named Konecky.

What is best for the prospects is what determines where they play. If they're not ready yet for full NHL duty then they belong in the AHL. A 4 game losing streak for the Flyers does not change that, nor does it change Hextall's plan. It's early November, Hextall is not going to panic like some of the fans are.
- MJL

i agree with you 100% 4 games is not the end of the world but i do believe that some of those prospects are better than some of the players we have right now....that being said no harm will come by letting them develop for another year in the AHL

I would just not be so overly concerned with the cap ramifications. You know what? There are plenty of teams that have been consistently winning (Anaheim,Nashville) that consistently operate between 5-10 million under the ceiling. Buyout vinny this summer if he doesn't retire, buyout Amac, send RJ down next year. Just deal with it and get some bodies that can actually play. You know their usually available for less than you'd think.
- Just5

I absolutely would not buy out Lecavalier. That would be a mistake. I also would be hesitant to buyout MacDonald. A trade with retained salary is a better way to go. A buyout would be over twice the remaining years left. That would be another mistake.

If the impetus for making a trade now, is the 4 game losing streak, then it absolutely is panic. Even if the Flyers were currently winning, and a trade came along that Hextall thought made the team better for the future, he would make it. The needs of the team are the same whether they are currently losing or winning. There's a long term vision in place, and it's not going to change, due to a 4 game losing streak.
- MJL

He is right you know. While I do agree that the makeup of the team could and maybe even should change (besides incoming prospects), there is no change to what Hextall is doing based on the last four games. He still needs to get rid of a d-man, and are forwards are probably what they are until closer to the TDL.

Off the ledge everybody!

i agree with you 100% 4 games is not the end of the world but i do believe that some of those prospects are better than some of the players we have right now....that being said no harm will come by letting them develop for another year in the AHL
- flyer186

You may believe that, but there's a difference between current level of ability at the NHL level, and talent. If those players were better, and were NHL ready, they would've been on the team to start. That hasn't changed from training camp until now.

At this point it's not panic. These problems aren't limited to the first 10 games of the season.

The mix of players up front is just terrible. They badly need another playmaker/sniper and it also wouldn't hurt to have guy with size( and who uses it effectively) be able to lock down a role in this top 6.

We have that guy, he's just been injured.

Thankfully I fell asleep midway through the 2nd period. Looks like I didn't miss anything. So, without Couturier, they are 0-3-1, with him they are 4-2-1.

Yeah, he's not a valuable player.

He is right you know. While I do agree that the makeup of the team could and maybe even should change (besides incoming prospects), there is no change to what Hextall is doing based on the last four games. He still needs to get rid of a d-man, and are forwards are probably what they are until closer to the TDL.

Off the ledge everybody!
- YuenglingJagr

We've known that moves need to be made with the makeup of the team before the season even started.

If the impetus for making a trade now, is the 4 game losing streak, then it absolutely is panic. Even if the Flyers were currently winning, and a trade came along that Hextall thought made the team better for the future, he would make it. The needs of the team are the same whether they are currently losing or winning. There's a long term vision in place, and it's not going to change, due to a 4 game losing streak.
- MJL

My point being that these problems span much longer than a four game streak and making a move based on that much longer period of time really isn't panic in my eyes.

Now if I said "Medvedev sucks. I've seen enough. We need to make a move there." That would be panic.

I absolutely would not buy out Lecavalier. That would be a mistake.
- MJL

No it wouldn't. He's untradeable and a waste of a roster spot, and the Flyers can't afford to have his $4.5m cap hit on the books next season.

You can buyout Vinny, replace him with Konency or another young forward and still have gained cap space.

I absolutely would not buy out Lecavalier. That would be a mistake. I also would be hesitant to buyout MacDonald. A trade with retained salary is a better way to go. A buyout would over twice the remaining years left. That would be another mistake.
- MJL

I dont think Vinny is very tradeable. Maybe in the offseason to a floor team, but there kind of arent any of those anymore. Would depend who leaves the coyotes in the offseason I guess.

My point being that these problems span much longer than a four game streak and making a move based on that much longer period of time really isn't panic in my eyes.

Now if I said "Medvedev sucks. I've seen enough. We need to make a move there." That would be panic.
- hereticpride

How do you think Hextall picking up the phone now, canvassing the league for deals would look now, to other teams?

I dont think Vinny is very tradeable. Maybe in the offseason to a floor team, but there kind of arent any of those anymore. Would depend who leaves the coyotes in the offseason I guess.
- YuenglingJagr

He isn't tradeable in my opinion.

I'd say anyone outside of Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Simmonds, and Mason are on the trading block.

This isn't a good mix of players. The leadership is okay, but not great. The team needs a sniper, and a lot more speed.

I would love to see Chris Conner in the lineup tonight.

I'm all for a complete tear down and rebuild. Apathy has taken hold. If they manage to somehow recover, which is possible, and string together some wins, get on a roll, great. But it's too much with these slow starts, getting beat to the puck, easily pushed off the puck and in what world does a 5 day break translate into going from taking on the best teams in your game before said break, to being dominated by the mediocre teams happen? Usually a break like that translates to fresh legs and sharper play. I'm not calling the nucks mediocre but certainly nj and buff are locks for the final four this season.
- JoeRussomanno

Honestly, the only forwards that I see worth keeping until they become a contender again are Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier, Raffl and Laughton. All can play effective roles on a good team. On D, the only guys I'd want to keep are MDZ and, if you can re-sign him cheaply for a 3rd pair role, Gudas. I'm also fine with the goaltenders. Everyone else should be shopped. As far as the 4th liners go, they are fine, but trying to predict who the 4th line will be 2 or 3 years down the road is pointless.

How do you think Hextall picking up the phone now, canvassing the league for deals would look now, to other teams?
- MJL

It can't hurt to try. We're not the only struggling team in the league.

No it wouldn't. He's untradeable and a waste of a roster spot, and the Flyers can't afford to have his $4.5m cap hit on the books next season.

You can buyout Vinny, replace him with Konency or another young forward and still have gained cap space.
- Feanor

Yes, they absolutely can afford to have his money on the books next year, same as this year. He has long said he is not going to play the final year of his deal. I'd rather bite the bullet for one more year, than to have a cap penalty on the books for 4 more years. It's a mistake to buy him out next off season.

This team is what it is, basically the same bunch of guys who weren't very good last year with a significant portion of the Flyers cap tied up in dead weight they can't move.

It really is frightening how bad the team has been since Couturier went down and not much will change until the roster is turned over.

The Flyers have been a mediocre team for so long now with such a bad mix of players, it looks as though the Flyers are just going through the motions.

The focus should be on who can help this team next year rather than making a playoff push.

The Flyers will most likely go on a run late in the season that will be just enough to take the Fllyers out of a top 10 pick and everyone will declare they've turned the corner, just like the previous years.
- Flyers_01

I don't think so. I think Hexy moves at least 2, and perhaps as many as 4 or 5 vets by or at the deadline and while he'll probably bring up Ghost and maybe Morin and/or Cousins, the rest of the spots will be filled with minor league journeyman like Connors. They won't be making any kind of run.

Honestly, the only forwards that I see worth keeping until they become a contender again are Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier, Raffl and Laughton. All can play effective roles on a good team. On D, the only guys I'd want to keep are MDZ and, if you can re-sign him cheaply for a 3rd pair role, Gudas. I'm also fine with the goaltenders. Everyone else should be shopped. As far as the 4th liners go, they are fine, but trying to predict who the 4th line will be 2 or 3 years down the road is pointless.
- BiggE

I thought simmonds was a good trade candidate, but then they signed him to a pretty great deal.

Yes, they absolutely can afford to have his money on the books next year, same as this year.
- MJL

You're wrong. Voracek's and Couturier's combined cap hit jumps from $6m this season to $12.58m next season. BSchenn, Gudas, and maybe Medvedev and Raffl need new contracts.

Vinny will not be on the Flyers next season.

I absolutely would not buy out Lecavalier. That would be a mistake. I also would be hesitant to buyout MacDonald. A trade with retained salary is a better way to go. A buyout would be over twice the remaining years left. That would be another mistake.
- MJL

Man do I miss capgeek. I'd show you the light.

I don't think Hextall's plan is to just sit back and wait for these young dmen to develop. That would be fools gold.

1. They are years away from making a significant impact
2. Who says they develop into legit NHL regulars

This team has a miserable time scoring at ES. That is nearly as big an issue as the dumpster fire defense core.

Vinny is no longer NHL caliber. Sad but true. Embarrassing for him and team...the whole situation.
- landros 2

He just looks so bad. I don't understand why he doesn't move his feet... he knows he doesn't have much left, he knows he's in the hot seat as far as his play, so if I were Vinny I'd go out there, and I wouldn't stop churning my feet till the next whistle. If at the very least, it looks like he's giving an effort and not just gliding around.

I would just not be so overly concerned with the cap ramifications. You know what? There are plenty of teams that have been consistently winning (Anaheim,Nashville) that consistently operate between 5-10 million under the ceiling. Buyout vinny this summer if he doesn't retire, buyout Amac, send RJ down next year. Just deal with it and get some bodies that can actually play. You know their usually available for less than you'd think.
- Just5

If he doesn't wake up and retire they will certainly buy out Vinny and I could also see them waiving RJ. However, I very much doubt they buy out AMac. That would leave them with 8 years of dead space on their cap. Assuming they move Streit and one other veteran Dman at the deadline and they don't re-sign Medvedev and Manning, they will only have 3 or 4 vet Dmen under contract next year.

My guess is that AMac returns to his 4/5 role next year. Then, when he only has 3 years left, perhaps they can deal him somewhere. Even if they have to retain 1.5 million or so to get the deal done, it's the better move in relation to the cap.

I absolutely would not buy out Lecavalier. That would be a mistake. I also would be hesitant to buyout MacDonald. A trade with retained salary is a better way to go. A buyout would be over twice the remaining years left. That would be another mistake.
- MJL

in amacs case I agree. there is no way anyone is taking vinny even if the flyers keep the maximum allowed. at this point they would have to include a big time sweetner is my guess.