Rubtsov will be that player. Having 3 centers signed for $8.25 mil, 4.25 mil, 6 mil to 6,6,7 year deals doesn't give you much flexibility, especially when two of those contracts last to the mid 30s. Where does Rubtsov fit in in perhaps 2-3 years time? I'm a huge Staal fan and think his contract concerns are entirely overblown, but on this team, it makes no sense and is a long term mess. If he was a free agent and we gave up no assets, we still don't do it.
- Mononoke

do you already think that highly of rubstov that its automatically written in pen like that though? its hard to project that. look at laughton. granted, i was one of those who was pretty taken with him in the beginning as well.

do you already think that highly of rubstov that its automatically written in pen like that though? its hard to project that. look at laughton. granted, i was one of those who was pretty taken with him in the beginning as well.
- stayinthefnnet

It's one thing to sign a center to a 3 year contract. A 7 year contract gives zero flexibility and no chance to be anything more than a 4th line center to age 25. Not to mention Giroux and Staal will be well into their 30s by then and not as productive. We also may have ohhh one or two d men to sign in that time span.

We simply don't need Staal with Coots here already. German may not be better than Staal, but then you will never know. The money is better spent elsewhere, and like I said, the Flyers would be constraining the team long term. This is ignoring trading requires significant assets.

It's one thing to sign a center to a 3 year contract. A 7 year contract gives zero flexibility and no chance to be anything more than a 4th line center to age 25. Not to mention Giroux and Staal will be well into their 30s by then and not as productive. We also may have ohhh one or two d men to sign in that time span.

We simply don't need Staal with Coots here already. German may not be better than Staal, but then you will never know. The money is better spent elsewhere, and like I said, the Flyers would be constraining the team long term. This is ignoring trading requires significant assets.
- Mononoke

Rather sign Erik Staal for a couple years than trade for Jordan.

It's one thing to sign a center to a 3 year contract. A 7 year contract gives zero flexibility and no chance to be anything more than a 4th line center to age 25. Not to mention Giroux and Staal will be well into their 30s by then and not as productive. We also may have ohhh one or two d men to sign in that time span.

We simply don't need Staal with Coots here already. German may not be better than Staal, but then you will never know. The money is better spent elsewhere, and like I said, the Flyers would be constraining the team long term. This is ignoring trading requires significant assets.
- Mononoke

they are all very good points, and ultimately im largely inclined to see it your way. i do think the better bet would be to see if you can swing frans neilsen for a few years at a reasonable hit. which may be hard given the market.

Rather sign Erik Staal for a couple years than trade for Jordan.
- Jsaquella

i dont know if it was mainly just ranger stench on him, but lord did he look fries this postseason.

i dont know if it was mainly just ranger stench on him, but lord did he look fries this postseason.
- stayinthefnnet

His production tanked, but his underlying numbers were decent. He did look like he was out of gas.

His production tanked, but his underlying numbers were decent. He did look like he was out of gas.
- Jsaquella

Curious how much system can make a guys underlying numbers look good

Curious how much system can make a guys underlying numbers look good
- PhillySportsGuy

That's the worry.

I doubt Erik would sign here for a few reasons:

1. Not a strong contender
2. Hextall isn't likely to give him long term
3. He'd have to play wing

Threw this together, to get an idea of what we're looking like after the likely FA's are re-signed and added in. I put a complete roster up, don't sweat line combos I just threw them together.

This is re-signing Schenn, Cousins, White and Manning & sending MacDonald to the AHL as a bury.

Curious how much system can make a guys underlying numbers look good
- PhillySportsGuy

There's an absolute case that a player can fit into one system better than another and have his stats improve or decrease. But Staal was a great relative possession player on Carolina -- so, everyone was aided by the system and he outperformed them. He didn't have a good, albeit short, postseason but funny enough, he was still a fairly high relative possession player in NY during the regular season. ~6% higher relative to team in Car vs. ~3% in NY.

He's basically a better Dustin Brown or Matt Read. His scoring has dipped, and yet his metrics remain strong. These are odd cases -- usually it's the opposite. We saw Read play some great 3-zone hockey with our eyes and in the stats, acting like a real glue guy to help his linemates, and yet he was ripped left and right because of his scoring, with many claiming he was a 4th liner or worse now. So long as you expect that from Staal and sign him accordingly as a middle 6 support scorer/line driver, you won't be disappointed. Will HE sign accordingly? Eh.

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BREAKING: The #Flyers have acquired a 2017 3rd-round draft pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for C Zac Rinaldo→

Happy anniversary. A year later this isn't even Don Sweeney's worst move as Bruins GM

Criag Berube reportedly will be head coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

Threw this together, to get an idea of what we're looking like after the likely FA's are re-signed and added in. I put a complete roster up, don't sweat line combos I just threw them together.

This is re-signing Schenn, Cousins, White and Manning & sending MacDonald to the AHL as a bury.
- Jsaquella

Just trade Streit now. Make MacDonald play. Provorov should be good enough to be Streit's replacement defensively and Ghost replaces Streit's offense.

Del Zotto-Gudas
Schultz-Provorov
MacDonald-Gostisbehere
Manning

By trading Streit you create opportunities for call ups and if Ghost cannot bring the same offense, Provorov can be tried on that first PP unit.

Criag Berube reportedly will be head coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
- Jsaquella

good for him

Just trade Streit now. Make MacDonald play. Provorov should be good enough to be Streit's replacement defensively and Ghost replaces Streit's offense.

Del Zotto-Gudas
Schultz-Provorov
MacDonald-Gostisbehere
Manning

By trading Streit you create opportunities for call ups and if Ghost cannot bring the same offense, Provorov can be tried on that first PP unit.
- roenick97

You would have to think Hextall is looking for a taker on Streit . He could help a couple teams .

You would have to think Hextall is looking for a taker on Streit . He could help a couple teams .
- 3flyerkids

Teams are trading/cutting loose good young-ish played for cap reasons... doubt a small, declining, twilight guy like Streit can get moved in this climate.

Teams are trading/cutting loose good young-ish played for cap reasons... doubt a small, declining, twilight guy like Streit can get moved in this climate.
- Tomahawk

A team like Dallas could use him. Have space and need some help. He only has one year on deal.

A team like Dallas could use him. Have space and need some help. He only has one year on deal.
- 3flyerkids

There's just too many similar/better players on the open market. They could probably get somebody like Gilbert, Boyle, Ehrhoff, Zidlicky, Liles on a smaller 1-year deal and not have to give anything up to sign them.

Brian Campbell is there, too, if they wanna chase a bigger fish.

Flyers can do what they want.

Personally the most I go for bSchenn right now is 5 million for 3 years.

No more money, no more term.

One true breakout year, with seasons before that may have had decent numbers but he had very long stretches where he was absolutely no more than a warm body.

I've grown to like him but if he wants better than that, go get it from someone else and hope you get to play with someone as skilled as G.
- flyer_nutter

Personally I am 100% with you with money and term. Even for me 5M is stretching it, I would hate to see more than 4.5M over 3 years. Then he can fly off to UFA at 27, win-win for everyone.

Threw this together, to get an idea of what we're looking like after the likely FA's are re-signed and added in. I put a complete roster up, don't sweat line combos I just threw them together.

This is re-signing Schenn, Cousins, White and Manning & sending MacDonald to the AHL as a bury.
- Jsaquella

Something seems off, like Umbergers buyout isn't counted or something. That cap space number is high with Schenn at 5M and the rest with no or little raises.

I do love the fact production per salary with Ghost and Provo...haven't had that since young Giroux.

Something seems off, like Umbergers buyout isn't counted or something. That cap space number is high with Schenn at 5M and the rest with no or little raises.

I do love the fact production per salary with Ghost and Provo...haven't had that since young Giroux.
- Glak18

The Flyers have 11.9M of available cap space before re-signing their RFA's such as Schenn, Manning, and Cousins. That includes the Umberger buyout.

Something seems off, like Umbergers buyout isn't counted or something. That cap space number is high with Schenn at 5M and the rest with no or little raises.

I do love the fact production per salary with Ghost and Provo...haven't had that since young Giroux.
- Glak18

Never mind, I have roughly 9.6M in cap space with MacDonald in, Provo out and all UFA/RFAs unsigned. So that's about right. For some reason I am not used to Flyers having this much space at this time of year

Never mind, I have roughly 9.6M in cap space with MacDonald in, Provo out and all UFA/RFAs unsigned. So that's about right. For some reason I am not used to Flyers having this much space at this time of year
- Glak18

In reality, they don't have that much space after rfas are re-signed. I'd say they're in a comfortable position and can probably take a chance on a guy or two like they did with MDZ.

In reality, they don't have that much space after rfas are re-signed. I'd say they're in a comfortable position and can probably take a chance on a guy or two like they did with MDZ.
- PhillySportsGuy

They have about 4M to play with.

In reality, they don't have that much space after rfas are re-signed. I'd say they're in a comfortable position and can probably take a chance on a guy or two like they did with MDZ.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well in comparison it's not a lot, but better than past summers. Like you said, they can easily resign everyone and a bargain buy here and there. As long as the Flyers don't go crazy with Schenn or UFAs they are in a great position next summer with more lost dead weight and hopefully a decent bridge for Ghost.