You know what? When we re-signed Bellemare, I was floored. I thought we could get a decent draft pick for Streit and just let every UFA outside of Mason walk. Instead we brought in Filppula (who might as well have the number zone and the name flop stitched to the back of his jersey) and resigned a fourth line center and a back up goalie. I wanted the cap space.

I was within the belief we could give fourth line duties and PK time, while replacing Neuvirth with Stolarz, Morin replacing Schultz and Hagg replacing Del Zotto. Only half of this might happen.

I think we should have lived and died with some youth on this roster heading into the 17-18 season.
- SuperSchennBros

You said a lot of how I feel -- I don't even hate the Flyers roster right now. I understand the words that people are saying when they explain to me why they agree with those moves

But if it was me, I'd have eaten Streit's deal for the rest of the season and let him walk before I helped Steve Yzerman out by taking Filippula's contract

That's just me -- not starting a fight. But that totally helped the Lightning, heading into an expansion draft. I simply wouldn't have done it

You said a lot of how I feel -- I don't even hate the Flyers roster right now. I understand the words that people are saying when they explain to me why they agree with those moves

But if it was me, I'd have eaten Streit's deal for the rest of the season and let him walk before I helped Steve Yzerman out by taking Filippula's contract

That's just me -- not starting a fight. But that totally helped the Lightning, heading into an expansion draft. I simply wouldn't have done it
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, I don't like it in an expansion year either.

I think the feeling was that Hextall saw that there was no market for Streit so he figured hell hold onto Filppula until this deadline then move him for something more useful.

You said a lot of how I feel -- I don't even hate the Flyers roster right now. I understand the words that people are saying when they explain to me why they agree with those moves

But if it was me, I'd have eaten Streit's deal for the rest of the season and let him walk before I helped Steve Yzerman out by taking Filippula's contract

That's just me -- not starting a fight. But that totally helped the Lightning, heading into an expansion draft. I simply wouldn't have done it
- AllInForFlyers

I still don't understand that trade. Does he expect to move a forward with a similar or greater cap hit at the draft?

Would be exciting times. It will be a fun time watching this team be fun again, I think we are truly heading that way. Its been a long time in purgatory.
- flyer_nutter

They're always fun for me. Some years more than others.

Filppula was traded because we needed center depth at the time. It was a win win for both teams. I highly doubt they would've got a one year deal from him on the open market. Not like Hexy knew we were getting the #2 pick.

You said a lot of how I feel -- I don't even hate the Flyers roster right now. I understand the words that people are saying when they explain to me why they agree with those moves

But if it was me, I'd have eaten Streit's deal for the rest of the season and let him walk before I helped Steve Yzerman out by taking Filippula's contract

That's just me -- not starting a fight. But that totally helped the Lightning, heading into an expansion draft. I simply wouldn't have done it
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers made that trade to help themselves. As a GM if you're not willing to make a deal that helps other teams out, you won't be making many trades.

I still don't understand that trade. Does he expect to move a forward with a similar or greater cap hit at the draft?
- Sinisalo4vr

Again, I get it: Filippula's a bit better at ES and he was an OK fit, skillwise and experience-wise, for the role he will play and for the term of one year, especially if he plays OK in a walk year and Giroux just can't stop sliding

But man. I'd just have held on to my cards until at least last Saturday, when they had to submit their protected lists, just to see what might have shaken free around the league if I had another $5 million to burn

Again, that's just me

Yeah, I don't like it in an expansion year either.

I think the feeling was that Hextall saw that there was no market for Streit so he figured hell hold onto Filppula until this deadline then move him for something more useful.
- hereticpride

I don't think that's true at all. Streit was traded twice at the deadline.

The Flyers made that trade to help themselves. As a GM if you're not willing to make a deal that helps other teams out, you won't be making many trades.
- MJL

We disagree on this, especially the timing of it. But that's OK. People can disagree on such things

I still don't understand that trade. Does he expect to move a forward with a similar or greater cap hit at the draft?
- Sinisalo4vr

They had a need for a center and Filppula filled that need without a long term contract commitment. Trade made perfect sense at the time.

Again, I get it: Filippula's a bit better at ES and he was an OK fit, skillwise and experience-wise, for the role he will play and for the term of one year, especially if he plays OK in a walk year and Giroux just can't stop sliding

But man. I'd just have held on to my cards until at least last Saturday, when they had to submit their protected lists, just to see what might have shaken free around the league if I had another $5 million to burn

Again, that's just me
- AllInForFlyers

Who are they going to get out of who shakes free for 5M and ONE year?

Who are they going to get out of who shakes free for 5M and ONE year?
- MJL

You don't know until you look -- you don't have to take the player for one year if the player could be a long-term fit

Columbus, for example, clearly has protection list issues. Who knows what they would give up if they could've moved a contract instead of giving Vegas a first-round pick, as has been reported. Same with the Isles -- these teams that are looking to Vegas to deal with, who knows what the Flyers could have done if they had chosen to wait?

We'll never know -- the deal's done. But to say that's the only way to do it isn't accurate, because they could've waited. There's no law saying the Flyers had to have Val Filippula for 2018

You don't know until you look -- you don't have to take the player for one year if the player could be a long-term fit

Columbus, for example, clearly has protection list issues. Who knows what they would give up if they could've moved a contract instead of giving Vegas a first-round pick, as has been reported. Same with the Isles -- these teams that are looking to Vegas to deal with, who knows what the Flyers could have done if they had chosen to wait?

We'll never know -- the deal's done. But to say that's the only way to do it isn't accurate, because they could've waited. There's no law saying the Flyers had to have Val Filippula for 2018
- AllInForFlyers

Team's protection lists are public. This is no longer a what if situation. Of course they could've waited. We can play what ifs forever. The Flyers aren't looking for a cast off player with a high cap hit for multiple years to take on now. The one year left was a big reason why Hextall agreed to take on Filppula. They want to build with youth through the draft.

Team's protection lists are public. This is no longer a what if situation. Of course they could've waited. We can play what ifs forever. The Flyers aren't looking for a cast off player with a high cap hit for multiple years to take on now. The one year left was a big reason why Hextall agreed to take on Filppula. They want to build with youth through the draft.
- MJL

We all know this, MJL. But that is why we are discussing it -- the unknown is why people ask questions.

Just because you don't like the question, or don't agree with the question, doesn't mean it isn't a question.

Val Filppula may very well have been available Saturday, before the expansion draft deadline. Hextall chose not to take that risk, which is his right. But other people would have, as evidenced by the fact that 30 other teams are gonna go without Val Filppula next year

They're always fun for me. Some years more than others.
- MJL

Well I tried.

We all know this, MJL. But that is why we are discussing it -- the unknown is why people ask questions.

Just because you don't like the question, or don't agree with the question, doesn't mean it isn't a question.

Val Filppula may very well have been available Saturday, before the expansion draft deadline. Hextall chose not to take that risk, which is his right. But other people would have, as evidenced by the fact that 30 other teams are gonna go without Val Filppula next year
- AllInForFlyers

You're calling things unknown that aren't unknown. This post doesn't make sense. Did the other 30 teams have Filppula available to them or even have interest? Hextall got a 4th round pick and a conditional 7th round pick for Streit. Filppula other than the salary they have to pay them cost them basically zilch in player assets.

You're calling things unknown that aren't unknown. This post doesn't make sense. Did the other 30 teams have Filppula available to them or even have interest? Hextall got a 4th round pick and a conditional 7th round pick for Streit. Filppula other than the salary they have to pay them cost them basically zilch in player assets.
- MJL

There's nothing that I wrote that is difficult to understand. Not a single thing

Multiple people understood exactly what I am saying about Val Filppula.

The fact that you don't is a "you" problem, my friend

There's nothing that I wrote that is difficult to understand. Not a single thing

Multiple people understood exactly what I am saying about Val Filppula.

The fact that you don't is a "you" problem, my friend
- AllInForFlyers

You're confusing my understanding what you wrote versus whether I think the points you make are logical or whether I agree with what you wrote.

You don't know until you look -- you don't have to take the player for one year if the player could be a long-term fit

Columbus, for example, clearly has protection list issues. Who knows what they would give up if they could've moved a contract instead of giving Vegas a first-round pick, as has been reported. Same with the Isles -- these teams that are looking to Vegas to deal with, who knows what the Flyers could have done if they had chosen to wait?

We'll never know -- the deal's done. But to say that's the only way to do it isn't accurate, because they could've waited. There's no law saying the Flyers had to have Val Filippula for 2018
- AllInForFlyers

I think Hextall really genuinely liked Filppula. I don't get it. I would've preferred not helping Yzerman out at the deadline too, but... Hextall made his deal.

Now, whether Hextall is still as enamored of Filp now that he's had him on the team for a bit, I can't say.

One thing I'm looking forward to is never seeing them in that goldmember jersey ever ever again

You're confusing my understanding what you wrote versus whether I think the points you make are logical or whether I agree with what you wrote.
- MJL

More importantly, nobody else cares

We've both stated our positions; some agree with you, some with me

Not turning this into a multi-pager; Filppula's here. Hope he plays well in his walk year, because it would help the team

I think Hextall really genuinely liked Filppula. I don't get it. I would've preferred not helping Yzerman out at the deadline too, but... Hextall made his deal.

Now, whether Hextall is still as enamored of Filp now that he's had him on the team for a bit, I can't say.
- Doc_Sarcasm

The alternative at center most of the season was Cousins and Schenn for the 5th time in his career. There has been a severe lack of young talent at center for a few years. Luckily, that's about to change on Friday. If Patrick is the pick, Filppula gets moved to LW, IMO.

Two most important things in black metal:

1) blast beats

2) nonsensical shrieking
- Mordecai

This is why a legendary BM band like Emperor still hold up for me.

More importantly, nobody else cares

We've both stated our positions; some agree with you, some with me

Not turning this into a multi-pager; Filppula's here. Hope he plays well in his walk year, because it would help the team
- AllInForFlyers

Hopefully he can be an asset in February.

I like him but I'm certainly not expecting a lot from him this season. If he can stimulate the 4th line into scoring a few goals that will be a big bonus. Normally his cap hit would bother me but I don't see it as an issue this coming season.

Looking like Patrick. Totally ok with this. Without the injuries he never wouldve lost the top ranking