So you think it was a good move by LA? Yeah they won the cups, but they prob would have won without him too. They evaluated that they'd rather have Richards than both Schenn and Simmonds. You agree with that evaluation?
- wolphnuts12

Since they made the trade, yes, I believe they wanted Richards more than Schenn and Simmonds. Both teams got exactly what they wanted in those deals

I don't necessarily think a slump. But I'm also not banking him to be on par with EK or burns like most of the forum. Hoping mdz coming back strong can take some heat off him but every team they play will have him marked with G simmonds jake. It's a different world.
- Tfaehner

Definitely looking forward to MDZ coming back. Also interested to see what role he'll be in...whether it's the more offensive player he was 2 years ago or the more level role he played last year. He scored less, but was still doing some very good things when he was out there.

Since they made the trade, yes, I believe they wanted Richards more than Schenn and Simmonds. Both teams got exactly what they wanted in those deals
- YuenglingJagr

That's how it should be.

I think this is also the reason why AMac is either going to be traded or just live on the NHL roster.

You don't want AMac taking ice time away from someone like Sanheim or Morin down in LHV.
- johndewar

Yeah.

If Provorov makes the team, I see Manning and Amac being 7th and 8th defensemen on the roster. It's not like you're wasting development time on them.

He does play a cautious game, but he's not out of position too much. He's rarely out of position. That's one of his strengths. I think he had some confidence issues, and has struggled at times, but overall, he is definitely an NHL defenseman.
- MJL

he is very often out of position, always getting taken too low behind the net, not staying home, playing too far out in the circles. i remember watching him trying to defend a 2-1 in 2014-15, skating backwards he nearly fell, and took himself out of the play. it was basically a 2-0. i just cant get behind saying hes definitely an nhl dman, i think he's a slaney type. looks great in the ahl, but looks lost in the nhl

list them
- Streit2ThePoint

I lied

Yeah.

If Provorov makes the team, I see Manning and Amac being 7th and 8th defensemen on the roster. It's not like you're wasting development time on them.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think the Amac role down in LHV is not even there anymore, given the TJ Brennan signing.

He's fine as a third pairing defenseman with the right partner. When placed in the top 4, he struggles
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed.

Hakstol gave a "fringe NHL player" 22 minutes of ice time in a playoff elimination game.
- MJL

source?

I've never tried to make the argument that he was worth his cap hit. I won't try to make that argument because I don't believe it.

As a fan, I don't really care what he makes. He was given the contract and there's no mulligans. All I really care about is that he plays good hockey while not blocking prospects (or preventing the Flyers from making necessary moves). In my opinion, he's satisfying both requirements. So why move him? Just for the sake of it? You're allowed to have a bad contract. Hextall does not have to spend every waking minute looking to move AMac. It's clear that his value is low now. So you put him in, let him play, and hope that he builds his value back up.

I'm not looking to turn AMac into the next reclamation project so that we can steal a 2nd rounder from another team. I'd be fine trading him and a 7th for another team's 7th. At some point, that cap space (and roster spot) will be pivotal for us to have. It's just not this year. So again. Why the trade-with-retained-salary talk today?
- steelydan

Because we are commenting on a blog about it. Just because we are talkign about it doesnt mean the Flyers need to trade him. If they needed to he would be gone. It is obvious Hextall has not felt like he needed to be traded. I am just saying that the actual cap number might not be the #1 reason he should be moved and at this point any money retained was already gone, so retaining salary would not stop me from making a deal that came about

hakstol AND hexy also agreed he wasnt good enough to not be sent down. having injuries and being called to play doesnt mean hakstol agreed he's a bona fide dman, it means his options were limited and he played what he had. he's far from being a solid anything, much less a 4
- sjk540

They experimented with the KHL guy. It was a failure.

They experimented with the KHL guy. It was a failure.
- Feanor

rushkie

Since they made the trade, yes, I believe they wanted Richards more than Schenn and Simmonds. Both teams got exactly what they wanted in those deals
- YuenglingJagr

Right, but do you agree with the evaluation that Hextall's side was on? That Richards was better then a Schenn-Simmonds package? And either way, I just think Hextall gets too much credit here in Philly when most of his moves have been kind of underwhelming for me.

I think the Amac role down in LHV is not even there anymore, given the TJ Brennan signing.
- johndewar

I don't see how they can accommodate everyone in the AHL unless Manning and MacDonald are on the NHL roster

he is very often out of position, always getting taken too low behind the net, not staying home, playing too far out in the circles. i remember watching him trying to defend a 2-1 in 2014-15, skating backwards he nearly fell, and took himself out of the play. it was basically a 2-0. i just cant get behind saying hes definitely an nhl dman, i think he's a slaney type. looks great in the ahl, but looks lost in the nhl
- sjk540

I disagree. You can find one play or mistake in a game for any defenseman. MacDonald is very strong positionally, and rarely loses his coverage. Sometimes in fact, he plays too tight to his check. He has faults to his game, but positioning is not one of them.

Hakstol gave a "fringe NHL player" 22 minutes of ice time in a playoff elimination game.
- MJL

Sadly, I think that says more about how mediocre the rest of the group was rather than how good AMac is.

Right, but do you agree with the evaluation that Hextall's side was on? That Richards was better then a Schenn-Simmonds package? And either way, I just think Hextall gets too much credit here in Philly when most of his moves have been kind of underwhelming for me.
- wolphnuts12

Richards played a big part in the first cup, right? That alone makes it worth it. I'd trade our most highly coveted prospect tomorrow if it guaranteed me a cup at the end of the year.

Sadly, I think that says more about how mediocre the rest of the group was rather than how good AMac is.
- BiggE

It's pretty much the same rationale that got him paid in the first place... Cappy played him 27mins per game... that didn't mean he was a 27-min/night defender... it was out of necessity.

Sadly, I think that says more about how mediocre the rest of the group was rather than how good AMac is.
- BiggE

Also about how injured Ghost and Streit were

source?
- Streit2ThePoint

Seriously?

http://www.nhl.com/scores...rts/20152016/ES030136.HTM

list them
- Streit2ThePoint

™

Sadly, I think that says more about how mediocre the rest of the group was rather than how good AMac is.
- BiggE

I think it was about who the coach felt was playing the best in the game. Which may be essentially the same thing.

They experimented with the KHL guy. It was a failure.
- Feanor

doesnt mean he wasnt a good player. i think medvedev brought so much more than amac did. the problem was his discipline on the smaller rink didnt match up well with the NHL game or Haks system. i dont think u can argue tho on talent alone the russian was better

I don't see how they can accommodate everyone in the AHL unless Manning and MacDonald are on the NHL roster
- PhillySportsGuy

AMac's on the roster this season and Prov/Sanheim/et all getting sent down.

Right, but do you agree with the evaluation that Hextall's side was on? That Richards was better then a Schenn-Simmonds package? And either way, I just think Hextall gets too much credit here in Philly when most of his moves have been kind of underwhelming for me.
- wolphnuts12

My opinion, with the benefit of hindsight, I think the Kings knew they were getting the best player and had a team they thought could win a cup with some extra pieces. Richards without a doubt made them a better team. I think they knew Schenn had potential, but Richards now was worth the Schenn future. I think they didnt expect Simmonds to become what he is (and he may not have) and I think they didn't expect the career of Richards to play out how it has. All of that happened long after the trade was made.

I seriously think that even if Lombardi and Hextall knew exactly how the situation would end up today, they would still make the trades. Likewise, you would have to search long and hard to find someone that wouldnt give up Schenn and Simmonds for 2 cups. They were two different teams in two different situations and the trade has worked out as hoped for both teams