In your view, when do you think the Flyers will be a top team, and ready to compete for the Cup, next season, or in future seasons in later years? When do you think it will be more beneficial to have that cap flexibility, next year, or in future years?

It's amazing how the patience that is needed for this team, and allowing Hextall to implement his plan, is running out on Nov. 3rd.
- MJL

I am patient. Do you know his plan? Do you think it is a good plan to not entertain any kind of buyout that leaves dead cap money on the books? I think all options can and should be explored, instead of using a broad brush to paint every situation

IMO. Where the cap ceiling is is irrelevant to the flyers. Strong or weak Canadian dollar doesn't matter. A lower cap ceiling has its advantages, as we saw it play out this summer where several established top 9 veteran forwards could be had for under a million dollars. It was new territory this year.

I want the team to start playing better. I want better options for hakstol so he can feel like he's building towards something. 2 mil in dead cap money 5 years down the road if this team is properly drafting and developing its players which were assuming it's doing, is going to be completely irrelevant.

That goal by Giroux was ridiculous.

The Flyers have little offensive depth really beyond Giroux and a struggling Voracek but man has Couturier going out really hurt them. They already didn't have ideal lines in the middle of the lineup but things are even more jumbled now.

Hopefully he fully recovers from the concussion and gets back soon.
- opeth_pa

Yup, from a matchup perspective, having Coots and Bellemare both out is a disaster. Other teams know that whenever Giroux is not on the ice they can basically dominate the Flyers up the middle. It's just ugly.

I am patient. Do you know his plan? Do you think it is a good plan to not entertain any kind of buyout that leaves dead cap money on the books? I think all options can and should be explored, instead of using a broad brush to paint every situation

IMO. Where the cap ceiling is is irrelevant to the flyers. Strong or weak Canadian dollar doesn't matter. A lower cap ceiling has its advantages, as we saw it play out this summer where several established top 9 veteran forwards could be had for under a million dollars. It was new territory this year.
- Just5

A low cap ceiling matters while the Flyers wait out the end of the Umberger and Vinny deals.

Yup, from a matchup perspective, having Coots and Bellemare both out is a disaster. Other teams know that whenever Giroux is not on the ice they can basically dominate the Flyers up the middle. It's just ugly.
- BiggE

I had read somewhere that Cooter might play tonight, is that true?

Two questions I would love to Hakstol:

1 - Why do you keep playing Manning?

2 - Why do you keep putting Raffl on the top PP unit?
- Feanor

These are also my 2 main questions.

I'm certainly happy to have Couturier back in the line up, we look a lot more balanced. With this said, I thought Schenn, Gagner and Lecavalier generated the most chances last night.

This team as whole is just bizarre.

These are also my 2 main questions.

I'm certainly happy to have Couturier back in the line up, we look a lot more balanced. With this said, I thoughy Schenn, Gagner and Lecavalier generated the most chances last night.

This team as whole is just bizarre.
- SuperSchennBros

Bellemare and bizarre both begin with a "B" and ends with the "are" sound.




Coincidence?

I am patient. Do you know his plan? Do you think it is a good plan to not entertain any kind of buyout that leaves dead cap money on the books? I think all options can and should be explored, instead of using a broad brush to paint every situation


- Just5

I think the gist of Hextall's plan is obvious. Yes, I think it's a very good idea to avoid dead cap money on the books. It's not about a broad brush being applied, it's actually about looking into the future and what is best for the team. It's very possible that next year's team is even weaker than this year's team, so the time to bite the cap bullet is now, not in the future.

IMO. Where the cap ceiling is is irrelevant to the flyers. Strong or weak Canadian dollar doesn't matter. A lower cap ceiling has its advantages, as we saw it play out this summer where several established top 9 veteran forwards could be had for under a million dollars. It was new territory this year.


- Just5

This makes zero sense. That is essentially sacrificing part of the future, in order to make the team better now, temporarily. Also saying the cap ceiling doesn't matter, also makes no sense, with the Flyers cap commitments, and who needs to be re-signed etc. It also is not new territory. It's been going on for a while.

I want the team to start playing better. I want better options for hakstol so he can feel like he's building towards something. 2 mil in dead cap money 5 years down the road if this team is properly drafting and developing its players which were assuming it's doing, is going to be completely irrelevant.
- Just5

No such thing as dead cap money being irrelevant. That also makes no sense. Those players that are drafted and developed need to get paid. We all want the team playing better, but it's likely to get worse before it get's better.

I had read somewhere that Cooter might play tonight, is that true?
- Hextall271

Bill's blog mentions that it is a possibility, but no confirmation as of yet.

Don't need capgeek my friend. I've looked at the numbers. I kept cap numbers long before capgeek came around.
- MJL

Of course. I mean, who didn't?

I'm assuming he was one of a handful of guys that Hexy was shopping all summer long.
- Tomahawk

Doesnt matter how long he was shopping him...last season was the worst in recent memory as far as a cap squeeze goes. Terrible time to trade someone, and I dont think Hextall had a reason to accept a trade then, when he didnt have to

I think the accepting team would be faced with the same problem the Flyers are facing right now -- he'll take spot in the lineup that probably would have gone toward a kid's development.
- Tomahawk

He could be a 13th forward just like he is here. I do not see his spot on the roster as a problem, its his cap hit that is preventing them from bringing someone up.

Bill's blog mentions that it is a possibility, but no confirmation as of yet.
- BiggE

Thanks. Hope he gets back in soon.

He could be a 13th forward just like he is here. I do not see his spot on the roster as a problem, its his cap hit that is preventing them from bringing someone up.
- YuenglingJagr

Preventing who from bringing someone up, the Flyers?

I disagree. There is a huge difference between obtaining a player that can go on IR, versus a player that has to be carried on the active roster, that can't play anymore. That severely limits the value in a trade, where the team is looking for cap dollars to reach the ceiling. A team can simply sign another player that can still play a little, and overpay them on a one year deal.
- MJL

If you overpay a player on a one year deal...the salary matches the cap hit. If you acquire a player whose cap hit is lower than his salary, you save money.

I have said there is really only 1 team that I can see right now that this is a possibility for and thats Arizona. Maybe Carolina or New Jersey. Devils are owned by the same group that owns the Sixers. You think they care about something other than making money? I really think some people (not necessarily you) forget there are budgets for these teams that cannot be exceeded. Having salary lower than cap hit is valuable in that regard.

Yes, it is easy to forget that as Flyers fans, but it may actually be happening to us too. There is no guarantee the suits are okay with another buyout as they still pay Briere and Bryz. It is a business

I'm assuming he was one of a handful of guys that Hexy was shopping all summer long.
- Tomahawk

Flyers should play him on the top pair 25 minutes each night then when his numbers are bad, Hexy can just tell other GMs he's miscast and would be fine on the 2nd pair

Preventing who from bringing someone up, the Flyers?
- MJL

Currently, yes. He was suggesting that if he was traded it would take a spot from a prospect on another team, even though teams have shown that's a non-issue

Flyers should play him on the top pair 25 minutes each night then when his numbers are bad, Hexy can just tell other GMs he's miscast and would be fine on the 2nd pair
- PhillySportsGuy

ZING #snowed

I think the gist of Hextall's plan is obvious. Yes, I think it's a very good idea to avoid dead cap money on the books. It's not about a broad brush being applied, it's actually about looking into the future and what is best for the team. It's very possible that next year's team is even weaker than this year's team, so the time to bite the cap bullet is now, not in the future.



This makes zero sense. That is essentially sacrificing part of the future, in order to make the team better now, temporarily. Also saying the cap ceiling doesn't matter, also makes no sense, with the Flyers cap commitments, and who needs to be re-signed etc. It also is not new territory. It's been going on for a while.




No such thing as dead cap money being irrelevant. That also makes no sense. Those players that are drafted and developed need to get paid. We all want the team playing better, but it's likely to get worse before it get's better.
- MJL

There are plenty of recent moves around the league that have been made and are being made with future cap consequences. Look no further than last night with the nucks keeping their 19 yoa players, or the canes buying out semin, buffalo and Torontos recent buyouts.

None of them are contenders now, do they make zero sense also?

Thought of another question for Hakstol:

3 - Why does Gagner have only 40% OZ starts? That's third lowest on the team.

http://www.naturalstattri...6&stype=2&team=PHI&sit=ev

If you overpay a player on a one year deal...the salary matches the cap hit. If you acquire a player whose cap hit is lower than his salary, you save money.

I have said there is really only 1 team that I can see right now that this is a possibility for and thats Arizona. Maybe Carolina or New Jersey. Devils are owned by the same group that owns the Sixers. You think they care about something other than making money? I really think some people (not necessarily you) forget there are budgets for these teams that cannot be exceeded. Having salary lower than cap hit is valuable in that regard.

Yes, it is easy to forget that as Flyers fans, but it may actually be happening to us too. There is no guarantee the suits are okay with another buyout as they still pay Briere and Bryz. It is a business
- YuenglingJagr

I understand that there is the added value of salary not matching the cap hit, but that is offset by having a player on the active roster, who cannot play. I don't see a team lining up for that. I certainly hope I'm wrong about that, and you're right.

I'm hoping Ghost can be a Torey Krug clone. Is that unreasonable? He already had a 40 point NHL season under his belt as Ghost's current age.
- PLindbergh31

I hope he becomes a little more than krug. Krug is good offensively, no denying it, but my hopes for ghost are more of a Ryan Ellis type player. Good offensively, moves the puck, but can also defend well on a regular basis, and despite his size, can hold his own against some of the leagues bigger forwards.

There are plenty of recent moves around the league that have been made and are being made with future cap consequences. Look no further than last night with the nucks keeping their 19 yoa players, or the canes buying out semin, buffalo and Torontos recent buyouts.

None of them are contenders now, do they make zero sense also?
- Just5

I'm not talking about what made sense for other teams, I'm talking about what makes sense for the Flyers. The Canes are a team that is already 8M under the cap this season, and with a bunch of UFA's. They have a lot more cap flexibility to be able to take on the buyout. Each team is different, and each has it's own set of needs, and how they should approach future seasons. Not buying out Lecavalier, is not going to stop the team from bringing up young players.

Currently, yes. He was suggesting that if he was traded it would take a spot from a prospect on another team, even though teams have shown that's a non-issue
- YuenglingJagr

The only player the Flyers are probably interested in bringing up right now full time would be MacDonald.

Tonight should be great for either of Edmonton's goalies to look like a Vezina winner shutting down this non finishing bunch!!!

I'm not talking about what made sense for other teams, I'm talking about what makes sense for the Flyers. The Canes are a team that is already 8M under the cap this season, and with a bunch of UFA's. They have a lot more cap flexibility to be able to take on the buyout. Each team is different, and each has it's own set of needs, and how they should approach future seasons. Not buying out Lecavalier, is not going to stop the team from bringing up young players.
- MJL

Their not bringing up young players now. So your last point is false