I know I'm in favor of Hextall's approach. I hope Toronto throws gigantic wads of cash at Stamkos, and a huge term too.

In fact, for me that is going to be one of the interesting little dramas of the off-season. Does Stamkos go for the money? Does Toronto stick with the sensible rebuild or do they commit an exorbitant sum of money for the shiny new toy?

Also, if this year's NHL draft is as thin as some are saying (USA Today had a column the other day on the subject) I wouldnt mind Hextall adding picks from the subsequent draft.
- Doc_Sarcasm

That USA today article made it seems it's horrendous after mid 20s. Id like to think this increases the chances of finding a "steal" I guess you could say. It's odd tho, could have sworn I read an article stating this draft class is deeper than originally expected

I know I'm in favor of Hextall's approach. I hope Toronto throws gigantic wads of cash at Stamkos, and a huge term too.

In fact, for me that is going to be one of the interesting little dramas of the off-season. Does Stamkos go for the money? Does Toronto stick with the sensible rebuild or do they commit an exorbitant sum of money for the shiny new toy?

Also, if this year's NHL draft is as thin as some are saying (USA Today had a column the other day on the subject) I wouldnt mind Hextall adding picks from the subsequent draft.
- Doc_Sarcasm

How many teams are even going to have the cap space to sign Stamkos?

I know I'm in favor of Hextall's approach. I hope Toronto throws gigantic wads of cash at Stamkos, and a huge term too.

In fact, for me that is going to be one of the interesting little dramas of the off-season. Does Stamkos go for the money? Does Toronto stick with the sensible rebuild or do they commit an exorbitant sum of money for the shiny new toy?

Also, if this year's NHL draft is as thin as some are saying (USA Today had a column the other day on the subject) I wouldnt mind Hextall adding picks from the subsequent draft.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Trader Hexy, I have full confidence getting maximum trade value. He already has the 3rd rounder in the Rinaldo pick in '17 and a good chance the Yotes picks gets pushed to '17. Wouldn't be shocked to see a Kimmo type trade by Monday. High draft pick this year, pick in '17 based upon advancement of trading club in playoffs.

How many teams are even going to have the cap space to sign Stamkos?
- PhillySportsGuy

Depends on how much he wants.

Thought this was funny. From Pens blog. For people that think Hartnell will get this great return. Seems other teams have same view on Hartnell as hextall did.

*Pittsburgh and Scott Hartnell? Seems weird to even type that, but there have been some people linking the two together this trade deadline season.

I’ll keep this one simple. That contract. He makes 4.75M for three more years after the 2015-16 season. He will turn 34 years young in April. Scott Hartnell is still a good hockey player and the Blue Jackets would probably give him away but you can’t invest in physical players at that age who have that much term left on their contracts.

The other reason to not acquire Scott Hartnell? They already have him.

Kunitz only has one more year left on his deal and it is 1M cheaper than Hartnell.

No need to help a divisional rival get a bad contract off their books.

Depends on how much he wants.
- jmatchett383

I understand Hextalls plan but I think he would be worth it for the Flyers. He is still young to be part of rebuild.

I have come down from Boedker. I really looked into him and he is more of a high priced Read.

I understand Hextalls plan but I think he would be worth it for the Flyers. He is still young to be part of rebuild.

I have come down from Boedker. I really looked into him and he is more of a high priced Read.
- J35Bacher

He's also 2 inches and 15 pounds heavier.

They've got 4. Not exactly a lot, but a fair amount.
- jmatchett383

They have the equivalent of 8 if you consider it winning the conference and going to the Cup.

Wonder if any other team has lost 6 straight SCF appearances. Scared to look it up.

Thought this was funny. From Pens blog. For people that think Hartnell will get this great return. Seems other teams have same view on Hartnell as hextall did.

*Pittsburgh and Scott Hartnell? Seems weird to even type that, but there have been some people linking the two together this trade deadline season.

I’ll keep this one simple. That contract. He makes 4.75M for three more years after the 2015-16 season. He will turn 34 years young in April. Scott Hartnell is still a good hockey player and the Blue Jackets would probably give him away but you can’t invest in physical players at that age who have that much term left on their contracts.

The other reason to not acquire Scott Hartnell? They already have him.

Kunitz only has one more year left on his deal and it is 1M cheaper than Hartnell.

No need to help a divisional rival get a bad contract off their books.
- J35Bacher

The reason that I liked the Hartnell/Umberger trade at the time (and I still do) is precisely because of the length of that contract and the age that Hartnell will be at the end of it. That, and I really didnt expect the Flyers to make the playoffs the last couple of seasons. So, my thinking went... why not clear space for the time when you will need it most?

Having said that, watching Umberger be a shadow of the player he once was has been absolutely brutal.

They have the equivalent of 8 if you consider it winning the conference and going to the Cup.

Wonder if any other team has lost 6 straight SCF appearances. Scared to look it up.
- mayorofangrytown

No. Considering only 8 teams have that many appearances is impressive.

Next highest are St. Louis and Vancouver, who are both 0-3 all time.

The reason that I liked the Hartnell/Umberger trade at the time (and I still do) is precisely because of the length of that contract and the age that Hartnell will be at the end of it. That, and I really didnt expect the Flyers to make the playoffs the last couple of seasons. So, my thinking went... why not clear space for the time when you will need it most?

Having said that, watching Umberger be a shadow of the player he once was has been absolutely brutal.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Agree on that part.

I thought Umberger would be better. I just think it's funny that a Pens blogger thinks the same thing as hextall did. People always assume hextall could have gotten better value. I am not sure Hartnell had a ton of value at that contract and NTC and age.

No. Considering only 8 teams have that many appearances is impressive.

Next highest are St. Louis and Vancouver, who are both 0-3 all time.
- jmatchett383

okay... I'm sad today.

When the hell is the draft?

That USA today article made it seems it's horrendous after mid 20s. Id like to think this increases the chances of finding a "steal" I guess you could say. It's odd tho, could have sworn I read an article stating this draft class is deeper than originally expected
- arichardson22

I know that as far back as early fall, this draft was thought by some to be every bit as deep as the previous two. In any event, you probably can't tell how deep a draft is until 3-5 years after it has come and gone. Anyone remember the 1999 draft? That was supposed to be such a great draft. It wasnt.

okay... I'm sad today.

When the hell is the draft?
- mayorofangrytown

My fantasy draft is April 2nd

I know that as far back as early fall, this draft was thought by some to be every bit as deep as the previous two. In any event, you probably can't tell how deep a draft is until 3-5 years after it has come and gone. Anyone remember the 1999 draft? That was supposed to be such a great draft. It wasnt.
- Doc_Sarcasm

just confirmed: Article late Decemeber written by USA today as well saying deeper than expected. Wonder what happened over a span of 1-2 months.

Thought this was funny. From Pens blog. For people that think Hartnell will get this great return. Seems other teams have same view on Hartnell as hextall did.

*Pittsburgh and Scott Hartnell? Seems weird to even type that, but there have been some people linking the two together this trade deadline season.

I’ll keep this one simple. That contract. He makes 4.75M for three more years after the 2015-16 season. He will turn 34 years young in April. Scott Hartnell is still a good hockey player and the Blue Jackets would probably give him away but you can’t invest in physical players at that age who have that much term left on their contracts.

The other reason to not acquire Scott Hartnell? They already have him.

Kunitz only has one more year left on his deal and it is 1M cheaper than Hartnell.

No need to help a divisional rival get a bad contract off their books.
- J35Bacher

His age/contract makes him very divisive. CBJ might be better off keeping him since he hasn't slowed down yet and trying to trade him when he has two years and change left, or one year and change left.

GMs don't get a note from god saying Player X will fall off a cliff on Y date, so it's all educated guesses and risk management.

His age/contract makes him very divisive. CBJ might be better off keeping him since he hasn't slowed down yet and trying to trade him when he has two years and change left, or one year and change left.

GMs don't get a note from god saying Player X will fall off a cliff on Y date, so it's all educated guesses and risk management.
- Feanor

What is the point of keeping him though? The risk isnt worth the reward considering they should be rebuilding a bit anyway

What is the point of keeping him though? The risk isnt worth the reward considering they should be rebuilding a bit anyway
- YuenglingJagr

They might get better offers when he has less term left, assuming he doesn't slow down.

Agree on that part.

I thought Umberger would be better. I just think it's funny that a Pens blogger thinks the same thing as hextall did. People always assume hextall could have gotten better value. I am not sure Hartnell had a ton of value at that contract and NTC and age.
- J35Bacher

I suspect most hockey insiders and Paul Holmgren specifically thought that the cap was going to go up 9-10% every year as a rule. It has turned out that that is not going to be the case, and it has changed the perspective on long-term high value contracts.

In a world where the cap goes up 9-10% every year, Hartnell's expected decline probably becomes bearable for most teams. In a world where the cap stagnates or actually decreases from one year to the next, a Hartnellesque cap hit becomes painful.

Thought this was funny. From Pens blog. For people that think Hartnell will get this great return. Seems other teams have same view on Hartnell as hextall did.

*Pittsburgh and Scott Hartnell? Seems weird to even type that, but there have been some people linking the two together this trade deadline season.

I’ll keep this one simple. That contract. He makes 4.75M for three more years after the 2015-16 season. He will turn 34 years young in April. Scott Hartnell is still a good hockey player and the Blue Jackets would probably give him away but you can’t invest in physical players at that age who have that much term left on their contracts.

The other reason to not acquire Scott Hartnell? They already have him.

Kunitz only has one more year left on his deal and it is 1M cheaper than Hartnell.

No need to help a divisional rival get a bad contract off their books.
- J35Bacher

A lot of that has to do with the Pens cap situation. They don't have the space to take on Hartnell and they already have a ton tied up long term.

A lot of that has to do with the Pens cap situation. They don't have the space to take on Hartnell and they already have a ton tied up long term.
- PhillySportsGuy

How long before they're in the situation (or worse.. probably worse) that the Flyers are just coming out of? Where they have so much money tied up in unproductive contracts and so little room to make moves that they have to blow it up and start over?

I know I'm in favor of Hextall's approach. I hope Toronto throws gigantic wads of cash at Stamkos, and a huge term too.

In fact, for me that is going to be one of the interesting little dramas of the off-season. Does Stamkos go for the money? Does Toronto stick with the sensible rebuild or do they commit an exorbitant sum of money for the shiny new toy?

Also, if this year's NHL draft is as thin as some are saying (USA Today had a column the other day on the subject) I wouldnt mind Hextall adding picks from the subsequent draft.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I haven't heard anything out of Toronto indicating that they're looking at banking on a superstar. Their actions speak otherwise. They're doing exactly what Hexy's doing, just cutting deeper.

How long before they're in the situation (or worse.. probably worse) that the Flyers are just coming out of? Where they have so much money tied up in unproductive contracts and so little room to make moves that they have to blow it up and start over?
- Doc_Sarcasm

I think they have a better escape plan once this situation does happen: They could always trade one of their big 3 (Letang, Malkin, Sid) and the return would be great. Flyers were more capped strap bc players didn't / aren't living up to contract expectations.

I haven't heard anything out of Toronto indicating that they're looking at banking on a superstar. Their actions speak otherwise. They're doing exactly what Hexy's doing, just cutting deeper.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, given the way that front office has been going with Dubas and Shanahan in the fold, I wouldn't be surprised to see them pass on Stamkos if he makes it to free agency.

I think they have a better escape plan once this situation does happen: They could always trade one of their big 3 (Letang, Malkin, Sid) and the return would be great. Flyers were more capped strap bc players didn't / aren't living up to contract expectations.
- arichardson22

Would it?

I mean, I'm sure they'll do well trading one of those 3, but the Pens would probably need to take some garbage in return to even out a trade, cap wise. That is, of course, unless it's a team with absolutely no cap issues. But I think most of those teams meddling with the cap floor don't want to spend the money anyway.