Tim Panaccio: Hextall on Post Free Agency, Cap, Chances

These concepts of cap space and leaving room for the kids are foreign to my Flyers fan mind. What a difference it is having Hextall calling the shots.

I mean, we've already got 10 picks in next year's draft

looks like we only have 2 forward slots open for 5 possible candidates (Patrick, Lindbolm, Vecchione, Laughton and Rubetsvov)

Would the salaries for the 3 kids sent back to the Phantoms count against the cap?

Adding Haag, Morin, Lindblom, and Patrick still leaves the Flyers about 2.5M in cap space without removing a veteran. Plenty of room.

Im kind of confused by Tim's math here. Flyers have 6 mill in cap space right now. Flyers have 12 fwds, 5 D and 2 goalies. 3 players at 900k is only 2.7 mill leaving 3.3 mill on a 22 man roster.

Adding Haag, Morin, Lindblom, and Patrick still leaves the Flyers about 2.5M in cap space without removing a veteran. Plenty of room.
- MJL

Not so much for cap space but for sheer roster size, I think the Flyers are going to pare down by at least one veteran forward (most likely Read or Raffl) if Patrick and Lindblom make the team.

Not so much for cap space but for sheer roster size, I think the Flyers are going to pare down by at least one veteran forward (most likely Read or Raffl) if Patrick and Lindblom make the team.
- bmeltzer

Yup, send one player down to the minors, and it buys us a spot and about 950k in cap space.

Hexy should be in a good position come September.

Hexy does not know whether he is coming or going. I would have dumped Read and Raffl before Cousins. Trading Schenn still hurts me and he better give Konecny a legit chance to be #1 lw with 93 and 28. Still have to worry about how Hakstol can ruin all these talented kids.

Mason is going to have a career year in Winnipeg, book it. Happy for Mason to escape this gong show and Brayden as well, lucky for them.

To joegrief17:

I share some of your feelings about Schenn and Mason, but I have to question/challenge your opening comment about Hextall. He's been clear since Day 1 about his strategy towards building a contender: picks and prospects. Every year he adds more, and it seems like he never trades them away.

Sure, the Schenn move seems sudden and unexpected. Hextall himself admitted that it wasn't something he had really been planning, it's just that STL blew the doors down with an offer he (nor any other GM) could refuse.

Mason is going to have a career year in Winnipeg, book it. Happy for Mason to escape this gong show and Brayden as well, lucky for them.
- joegreif17

If he does good for him. I won't miss the weak goals he gave up or his inability to make the makeable saves. The sleepy hamlet of Winnipeg will be just what the doctor ordered for Mase.

Hexy does not know whether he is coming or going. I would have dumped Read and Raffl before Cousins. Trading Schenn still hurts me and he better give Konecny a legit chance to be #1 lw with 93 and 28. Still have to worry about how Hakstol can ruin all these talented kids.
- joegreif17

Another ridiculous conclusion unsupported by any evidence. It's taken him this long to shed the old GM's bad contracts. While I don't agree with the Wiese or Gordon signings he's demonstrated discipline in acquiring young talent and not squandering the talent on past-their-prime FA stiffs.

Hexy does not know whether he is coming or going. I would have dumped Read and Raffl before Cousins. Trading Schenn still hurts me and he better give Konecny a legit chance to be #1 lw with 93 and 28. Still have to worry about how Hakstol can ruin all these talented kids.
- joegreif17

Hextall is actually implementing the exact plan that he has laid out and has been building the team for the future exactly as he has said he would. So I don't see a basis for saying he doesn't know whether he is coming or going. Read and Raffl are better players that Cousins. Cousins is a decent player who lacks size and skating ability, and doesn't bring enough offense. Hakstol has proven in his long tenure as a college coach that he knows how to develop players. Konecny doesn't have to play on the top line to be successful.

Not so much for cap space but for sheer roster size, I think the Flyers are going to pare down by at least one veteran forward (most likely Read or Raffl) if Patrick and Lindblom make the team.
- bmeltzer

I can see that, don't need to carry 14 forwards.

Mason is going to have a career year in Winnipeg, book it. Happy for Mason to escape this gong show and Brayden as well, lucky for them.
- joegreif17

You obviously forgot about his rookie season. That will always be his career year. A change for him will be good, and I think Wpg is a great spot for him.

I didn't see the Schenn trade coming but think he will do great in St Louis. Having a Tarasenko on your wing helps your game

That being said... He never seemed to nail down the #2 C position here.

The trade doesn't help us this year

Hey Tim, you really need to show your math work, cause your numbers make no sense to me. Actually your entire post about the Flyers cap situation makes no sense.

xx

Hextall is actually implementing the exact plan that he has laid out and has been building the team for the future exactly as he has said he would. So I don't see a basis for saying he doesn't know whether he is coming or going. Read and Raffl are better players that Cousins. Cousins is a decent player who lacks size and skating ability, and doesn't bring enough offense. Hakstol has proven in his long tenure as a college coach that he knows how to develop players. Konecny doesn't have to play on the top line to be successful.
- MJL

and there was also a much better chance cousins would have been selected by Vegas over a Raffl or Read because of his salary so Hextall moved him. Not sure why anyone would think that is showing no plan. I think Hextall is very methodical in taking the team where he wants it to go. I feel very good about him running the ship

and there was also a much better chance cousins would have been selected by Vegas over a Raffl or Read because of his salary so Hextall moved him. Not sure why anyone would think that is showing no plan. I think Hextall is very methodical in taking the team where he wants it to go. I feel very good about him running the ship
- nastyflyergirl

I think part of the problem is his patience is so different to previous leadership here that it makes it seem he's got no plan.