Knapp is the better defensive catcher but Alfaro has a cannon behind the plate.

Either way one will be at 1st probably.
- J35Bacher

Pretty much. I just hope Alfaro stays healthy. He was killing double A until he hurt his oblique.

Good old Facebook.

In 2016 the value gap between Carter and Richards versus Schenn, Simmonds, Couturier, Cousins and Voracek isn't close.
- Feanor

Its maddening. Richards is a leader, Carter is lazy, but all he does is score...blah blah blah

Patrick Sharp.......sigh

Hard to call the trade a success. Hexy didn't just trade Hartnell for the cap relief. It may have been the primary motivation behind it, but there's no way he was "OK" with next to zero production at 4.6M a year for 2 years. And now having to deal with 1.6M (?) of dead weight for the next two years? I think if Hexy had a glimpse into the future and saw that this is how things would play out; he wouldn't do it again.
- steelydan

What two forwards out of Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Schenn, Simmonds, Raffl, Cousins and Laughton would you be OK losing because Hartnell's NMC will force him to be protected in an expansion draft?

If there's one expansion team added for 17-18 and another one for 18-19 CBJ will have to protect Hartnell in two expansion drafts. And Clarkson.

Having a spirited discussion on Bill's facebook page arguing that if the Flyers still had Carter and Richards instead of who they were traded for, the Flyers would be going deeper in to the playoffs.
- MBFlyerfan

Wow, you must be really, really, REALLY bored.

Wow, you must be really, really, REALLY bored.
- Scoob

I am, but it was on Bill post so I figured he would have followers who who had a clue.

Now apparently Voraceks hands are gone.

Just for poops and giggles.

What one player do you think they Flyers move this offseason that would be a surprise to everyone? Try to be reasonable. I know Giroux and Voracek would be surprises but not logical.

Just for poops and giggles.

What one player do you think they Flyers move this offseason that would be a surprise to everyone? Try to be reasonable. I know Giroux and Voracek would be surprises but not logical.
- J35Bacher

Matt Read

Having a spirited discussion on Bill's facebook page arguing that if the Flyers still had Carter and Richards instead of who they were traded for, the Flyers would be going deeper in to the playoffs.
- MBFlyerfan

You don't need facebook for that. Just talk to a certain person from San Jose who posts on here about former Flyers.

Just for poops and giggles.

What one player do you think they Flyers move this offseason that would be a surprise to everyone? Try to be reasonable. I know Giroux and Voracek would be surprises but not logical.
- J35Bacher

MacDonald for a forward with a similar contract.

Just for poops and giggles.

What one player do you think they Flyers move this offseason that would be a surprise to everyone? Try to be reasonable. I know Giroux and Voracek would be surprises but not logical.
- J35Bacher

I don't think Simmonds would be a surprise since a lot of people on here think he could/should be traded. So I'll say Michael Raffl.

Hard to call the trade a success. Hexy didn't just trade Hartnell for the cap relief. It may have been the primary motivation behind it, but there's no way he was "OK" with next to zero production at 4.6M a year for 2 years. And now having to deal with 1.6M (?) of dead weight for the next two years? I think if Hexy had a glimpse into the future and saw that this is how things would play out; he wouldn't do it again.

26 points in 106 games, or 109 points in 156 games? Also, is 3 more years of Hartnell such a terrible thing? He's essentially performing at the same clip as he has been for the bulk of his career. I understand that physical guys drop off, but I don't see how it's guaranteed to happen in the next 3 years. If Hartnell stays healthy and continues to put up 40-50 points a year; it's hard to call this trade anything other than a fleecing.

I get it. Cap flexibility. But at what cost? Could you imagine having Hartnell against the Caps this year? I dunno.....
- steelydan

Still, you're looking at this all wrong. First case in point, what would have happened against the caps with hartnell. do you think hartnell, even in his prime, was the type of player who singlehandedly bring a team into the playoffs. he was never that, put the team on his back, type player, ever. We may have had more goals, but would it have mattered in a 4-1 game or a 6-1 game. maybe in a 1-0 game but all those thigns are hypothetical. you never know what wouldve happened here.

and at what cost would it have meant for one of the younger players if hartsy was still here. does simmonds emerge as a perennial 30 goal scorer without the time on the first unit PP and first line? maybe, maybe not. i can almost guarantee schenn doesnt improve as he did this year if hartsy is on this team, and i ask, who is more important? How bout the money we free up in the next three years for players who need extensions. with that much money on the cap can we sign a schenn, gudas, MDZ, to the contracts we want, and would we have also the amount of space left we do? how hard it is to navigate around the cap with albatross contracts like that?

another point, which forward would you be willing to lose because you must protect a hartnell with a NMC from the expansion draft?

id be willing to bet with you that the next three years hartsy doesnt average 40-50 points. as he gets older, his production will decrease, he will be slower, and he will end up being a bad contract on your squad, just like umberger. except guess what, umberger is gone with a buyout this year, no more bad contract. 1.5 per year is nothing compared to almost 5 for the next 3. no chance

i think hexy does this trade if it was presented again, 100%

I am, but it was on Bill post so I figured he would have followers who who had a clue.

Now apparently Voraceks hands are gone.
- MBFlyerfan

Facebook - the land of illogical posters. It makes this place look like a Mensa meeting.

Just for poops and giggles.

What one player do you think they Flyers move this offseason that would be a surprise to everyone? Try to be reasonable. I know Giroux and Voracek would be surprises but not logical.
- J35Bacher

I would be shocked if one of the goalies moved.

rj was the only flyer who was rude/dismissive to me at a wives carnival thingy

What two forwards out of Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Schenn, Simmonds, Raffl, Cousins and Laughton would you be OK losing because Hartnell's NMC will force him to be protected in an expansion draft?

If there's one expansion team added for 17-18 and another one for 18-19 CBJ will have to protect Hartnell in two expansion drafts. And Clarkson.
- Feanor

Dealing in facts only, there's only a need to protect one forward if the Flyers still had Hartnell this upcoming off-season. I'd be willing to dangle Laughton or Raffl out there. Not optimal, but again; it's silly to argue that Hartnell has no worth to a team, even a young Flyers team.

"IF" there was another expansion draft the following year, you still have the following options:
1. Trade Hartnell
2. Buyout Hartnell

I wouldn't feel comfortable protecting Hartnell again if there was back-to-back expansion drafts.

Two cheap free agent forwards I'd be interested in if they would take one year deals at around $1.5m are Brodziak in St Louis and Stalberg in NY. They would add good size and depth to the bottom six, and hopefully allow Bellemare to move to the wing. And the Umberger buyout would cover their contracts.

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Raffl-Couturier-Schenn
Stalberg-Cousins-Read
Laughton-Brodziak-Bellemare
VdV, WHite

Dealing in facts only, there's only a need to protect one forward if the Flyers still had Hartnell this upcoming off-season.
- steelydan

You can only protect seven forwards: G, Jake, Simmer, Schenn, Coots is 5.

Hartnell would be 6.

Therefore two out of Raffl, Laughton and Cousins would have to be left unprotected.

Hard to call the trade a success. Hexy didn't just trade Hartnell for the cap relief. It may have been the primary motivation behind it, but there's no way he was "OK" with next to zero production at 4.6M a year for 2 years. And now having to deal with 1.6M (?) of dead weight for the next two years? I think if Hexy had a glimpse into the future and saw that this is how things would play out; he wouldn't do it again.

26 points in 106 games, or 109 points in 156 games? Also, is 3 more years of Hartnell such a terrible thing? He's essentially performing at the same clip as he has been for the bulk of his career. I understand that physical guys drop off, but I don't see how it's guaranteed to happen in the next 3 years. If Hartnell stays healthy and continues to put up 40-50 points a year; it's hard to call this trade anything other than a fleecing.

I get it. Cap flexibility. But at what cost? Could you imagine having Hartnell against the Caps this year? I dunno.....
- steelydan

Still, you're looking at this all wrong. First case in point, what would have happened against the caps with hartnell. do you think hartnell, even in his prime, was the type of player who singlehandedly bring a team into the playoffs. he was never that, put the team on his back, type player, ever. We may have had more goals, but would it have mattered in a 4-1 game or a 6-1 game. maybe in a 1-0 game but all those thigns are hypothetical. you never know what wouldve happened here.

and at what cost would it have meant for one of the younger players if hartsy was still here. does simmonds emerge as a perennial 30 goal scorer without the time on the first unit PP and first line? maybe, maybe not. i can almost guarantee schenn doesnt improve as he did this year if hartsy is on this team, and i ask, who is more important? How bout the money we free up in the next three years for players who need extensions. with that much money on the cap can we sign a schenn, gudas, MDZ, to the contracts we want, and would we have also the amount of space left we do? how hard it is to navigate around the cap with albatross contracts like that?

another point, which forward would you be willing to lose because you must protect a hartnell with a NMC from the expansion draft?

id be willing to bet with you that the next three years hartsy doesnt average 40-50 points. as he gets older, his production will decrease, he will be slower, and he will end up being a bad contract on your squad, just like umberger. except guess what, umberger is gone with a buyout this year, no more bad contract. 1.5 per year is nothing compared to almost 5 for the next 3. no chance

i think hexy does this trade if it was presented again, 100%
- sjk540

Do you think Hartnell will be traded by the Jackets? Supposedly that jackalope Torts wants him gone.

rj was the only flyer who was rude/dismissive to me at a wives carnival thingy
- -davies-

Joffrey Lupul was for me.

MacDonald for a forward with a similar contract.
- Feanor

Matt Moulson?

Dealing in facts only, there's only a need to protect one forward if the Flyers still had Hartnell this upcoming off-season. I'd be willing to dangle Laughton or Raffl out there. Not optimal, but again; it's silly to argue that Hartnell has no worth to a team, even a young Flyers team.

"IF" there was another expansion draft the following year, you still have the following options:
1. Trade Hartnell
2. Buyout Hartnell

I wouldn't feel comfortable protecting Hartnell again if there was back-to-back expansion drafts.
- steelydan

hartnell had a NMC so no he couldnt have been traded. buying him out would add on another 4 years of dead cap space if you bought him out the following year, which is not a good thing. also, with the expansion draft, in the end, you would be not protecting raffl, laughton, and cousins. so no, you do not have those options after all.

Joffrey Lupul was for me.
- aightwebang17

never met him, i could see that being true
richards and knuble were the nicest

Do you think Hartnell will be traded by the Jackets? Supposedly that jackalope Torts wants him gone.
- jak521

he has a NMC, if he doesnt wanna be traded he doesnt have to accept anything. and you cant send him down so he will only be in the NHL

Are you talking about the return he got for Cliff Lee v1 or gave for Cliff Lee v2? Because I refuse to berate anything involving Cliff Lee returning to the Phillies.
- jmatchett383

the return