I don't get why people think we have a shot at Stamkos when there are other teams with much more cap space and an open spot at 1C. Once the Flyers sign Schenn and Gudas there will be very little cap space left.

Why would Stamkos even leave an extra year on the table to come to Philly over staying in Tampa?
- Feanor

What teams? Toronto probably can offer most but does he waste prime years in a full rebuild?

Lots of top teams have worse cap issues then the Flyers and would need to move mountains to fit him.

Does he go to market like AZ?

When I look around the league I don't see tons of teams being able to purse him without making huge changes. The Flyers can do it without moving mountains and also present a closer chance to competing the other teams like Toronto. I don't think its very far fetched.

How do you plan on fitting him in next year?
- PhillySportsGuy

Right now the flyer have about 8 million in cap space next season. You can move guys like Streit, Schultz and Read in the offseason if needed. Buyout Umberger. Package a 2nd or 3rd with MacDonald to move him.

There are ways.

and I understand Hextall might not be interested. But I won't be surprised if he does. With the cap staying about the same it could be a good year to try and make a play for him as the market might not be as strong compared to if the cap were going up.

There are only so many times a player of his caliber and age hits FA.

I feel like you should look at Flyers page on a salary cap site, and the contracts Kane and Toews and Kopitar got. That's what Stamkos will be after.
- Feanor

Regardless, you kick the tires on him and see if you can get it done. Not sure what your beef is with elite talent.

Right now the flyer have about 8 million in cap space next season. You can move guys like Streit, Schultz and Read in the offseason if needed. Buyout Umberger. Package a 2nd or 3rd with MacDonald to move him.

There are ways.

and I understand Hextall might not be interested. But I won't be surprised if he does. With the cap staying about the same it could be a good year to try and make a play for him as the market might not be as strong compared to if the cap were going up.

There are only so many times a player of his caliber and age hits FA.
- J35Bacher

lets be honest, if taresenko hit the market now, people on here would be saying how we don't need another RW and that he would be asking for a huge deal and would say we shouldn't do it..

I prefer my beef medium-rare.

I prefer my beef medium-rare.
- flyer_nutter

Barbarian!

lets be honest, if taresenko hit the market now, people on here would be saying how we don't need another RW and that he would be asking for a huge deal and would say we shouldn't do it..
- orangekrush2010

If the Flyers didn't already have a top-line center making $8M, I'd be all over it. But paying a player either $8M or $10M to play second line center is not ideal to me.

That said, if Taransenko were a UFA, I'd pay him whatever he wanted.

If the Flyers didn't already have a top-line center making $8M, I'd be all over it. But paying a player either $8M or $10M to play second line center is not ideal to me.

That said, if Taransenko were a UFA, I'd pay him whatever he wanted.
- jmatchett383

Even if it meant we could roll out 3 lines that can score, coupled with our d coming in? I think that would make us a cup contender sooner rather than later.

If the Flyers didn't already have a top-line center making $8M, I'd be all over it. But paying a player either $8M or $10M to play second line center is not ideal to me.

That said, if Taransenko were a UFA, I'd pay him whatever he wanted.
- jmatchett383

So, you'd be paying 8-10 million for your 1RW and 2RW..Id rather have two centers make that money than 2 RWs

If the Flyers didn't already have a top-line center making $8M, I'd be all over it. But paying a player either $8M or $10M to play second line center is not ideal to me.

That said, if Taransenko were a UFA, I'd pay him whatever he wanted.
- jmatchett383

From Scott Cullen / TSN:

Shayne Gostisbehere – The Flyers rookie emerged from his biggest slump of the season, during which he had no goals and one assist in six games, to score two goals in a 4-2 win against Tampa Bay. Gostisbehere has 14 goals in 47 games. Since the 1990-1991 season, there is one defenceman to score more than 14 goals as a rookie (Dion Phaneuf, 20 in 2005-2006). And, a reminder, Gostisbehere has done this in 47 games!

Right now the flyer have about 8 million in cap space next season. You can move guys like Streit, Schultz and Read in the offseason if needed. Buyout Umberger. Package a 2nd or 3rd with MacDonald to move him.

There are ways.

and I understand Hextall might not be interested. But I won't be surprised if he does. With the cap staying about the same it could be a good year to try and make a play for him as the market might not be as strong compared to if the cap were going up.

There are only so many times a player of his caliber and age hits FA.
- J35Bacher

The cap is actually projected to go down.

MacDonald would require a first rounder to move. His contract is so bad I can't see anyone taking it on while the cap goes down without a significant asset.

Moving Streit, Schultz and Read and buying out Umberger clears about $12-13M, but they all need to be replaced. Gudas and Schenn need to be re-signed too. Konecny and Provorov can fill in for cheap, but they still cost about $1M or more depending on bonuses reached.

It's really just not realistic unless they want to gut the team.

The cap is actually projected to go down.

MacDonald would require a first rounder to move. His contract is so bad I can't see anyone taking it on while the cap goes down without a significant asset.

Moving Streit, Schultz and Read and buying out Umberger clears about $12-13M, but they all need to be replaced. Gudas and Schenn need to be re-signed too. Konecny and Provorov can fill in for cheap, but they still cost about $1M or more depending on bonuses reached.

It's really just not realistic unless they want to gut the team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Read, Schultz and Umberger are easy as hell to replace. We have guys in our system that can probably fill those holes and there is also free agency. Gudas won't be making much more than he is now and Schenn shouldn't cost much more either. It is absolutely realistic to do if we really wanted to.

McDonald will be hard to move yes..but his contract will be nearing an end or at an end by the time we'll need to start forking over big dollars to our top prospects.

So, you'd be paying 8-10 million for your 1RW and 2RW..Id rather have two centers make that money than 2 RWs
- orangekrush2010

I believe that the difference between Tarasenko and Voracek is a larger difference that that between Giroux and Stamkos. I also think Taransenko is a top-5 offensive player, which I don't think about Stamkos.

I believe that the difference between Tarasenko and Voracek is a larger difference that that between Giroux and Stamkos. I also think Taransenko is a top-5 offensive player, which I don't think about Stamkos.
- jmatchett383

you're talking about all guys that are pretty much top 10-15 in the league when it comes to offense. The difference isn't all that huge here

I also don't think Vlad is that much better than Voracek. In that scenario, give me the two centers.

Luckily Crins was in attendence on Saturday. What a spark for the team that was. Without him we'd be nothing.

you're talking about all guys that are pretty much top 10-15 in the league when it comes to offense. The difference isn't all that huge here
- orangekrush2010

Wow, all 4 of those players are in the top 10-15? Who are the other 2?

I just don't see the need to play either Stamkos or Giroux on the second line. I'd rather use the cap space to put together a very nice 3rd line and be able to hand out extensions to Schenn and Gudas, and to have space for players like Ghost, Morin, and Provorov when they're up as RFAs in 2-3 years.

From Scott Cullen / TSN:

Shayne Gostisbehere – The Flyers rookie emerged from his biggest slump of the season, during which he had no goals and one assist in six games, to score two goals in a 4-2 win against Tampa Bay. Gostisbehere has 14 goals in 47 games. Since the 1990-1991 season, there is one defenceman to score more than 14 goals as a rookie (Dion Phaneuf, 20 in 2005-2006). And, a reminder, Gostisbehere has done this in 47 games!
- Pixote Andolini

How many years has the narrative been the problem with the Flyers is their defense corps? It's great to hear press people talking up a Flyers D man and hopefully this is just the first one to get such praise.

Read, Schultz and Umberger are easy as hell to replace. We have guys in our system that can probably fill those holes and there is also free agency. Gudas won't be making much more than he is now and Schenn shouldn't cost much more either. It is absolutely realistic to do if we really wanted to.
- orangekrush2010

When I mean replace, I mean guys need to be signed. You can find cheap guys at $1M, but they are likely going to be a downgrade from Read. Gudas and Schenn are also going to get raises. Gudas will probably be in the ballpark of $2.25-2.5M and Schenn may come close to 60 points and 30 goals. Flyers will be lucky if he takes $4M.

This is exactly the type of thing Homer would do that drove everyone crazy. He'd clear as much space as possible then sign the biggest ticket item. It constantly left the team without room or flexibility to do other things when they needed to.

Wow, all 4 of those players are in the top 10-15? Who are the other 2?
- jmatchett383

huh?

huh?
- orangekrush2010

You said that Giroux, Stamkos, Voracek, and Taransenko are top 10-15 guys. That's 6 spots (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). So who are the other 2 in the top 10-15?

I won't pretend he's been perfect, but Hak's given me no reason to doubt he can do the job.
- BulliesPhan87

Yup

Read, Schultz and Umberger are easy as hell to replace. We have guys in our system that can probably fill those holes and there is also free agency. Gudas won't be making much more than he is now and Schenn shouldn't cost much more either. It is absolutely realistic to do if we really wanted to.

McDonald will be hard to move yes..but his contract will be nearing an end or at an end by the time we'll need to start forking over big dollars to our top prospects.
- orangekrush2010

You keep stating the Flyers should trade Read, Schultz and Umberger like its so easy. Why would other teams want them when the Flyers dont? Then you state how easy it is to replace...other teams can do that too, why trade for them if they are easy to replace?

BTW I keep seeing Stamkos signing as a guaranteed 10M a year, sure if he resigns with Tampa. If he hits the market, I would be utterly shocked to see him take less than 90M over 8 years. Remember Kane, Towes and Kopitar were resigned by their teams, a UFA will want more than that and has the options to do so.

I think the Manning thing is a recency bias. If you evaluate both based on the entirety of the season, it's not even close.

The Flyers just played their two best games of the season, so I think it's dangerous to look at any singular player and say he had a huge effect (except guys like Ghost and Giroux)
- PhillySportsGuy

what has Medvedev done? Wildly inconsistent.

You said that Giroux, Stamkos, Voracek, and Taransenko are top 10-15 guys. That's 6 spots (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). So who are the other 2 in the top 10-15?
- jmatchett383

Nooo, i meant that they are all within the top 10-15..(1-10/15)