Thoughts on the Flyers re free agency:

I really don't see a lot of big moves, nor do I see them adding a center like Bozak or Nash. Here is what I think they will do:

sign a good 4th line center who can kill penalties, my guess is Nick Shore. I think Vecchione and perhaps Laughton, if he's not playing wing, battle it out for the 3C spot and they can move Shore into that spot when trying to lock down a lead late in the game.

I think they go after one veteran scoring winger who they can get on a 2 year deal. Could be Vanek (age 34), or perhaps Rick Nash (age 34). Either would be a short term upgrade on LW and they may even be able to significantly overspend, as they are way below the cap, and get one of them on a high price one year deal which would be even better.

Finally, I think with Morin injured and out for at least half the upcoming season, they will sign a veteran journeyman D who can hold down the 7th spot if Myers is sent to LHV to start the season.

I also think, if all 5 pro goalies are healthy, either Lyon or Stolarz could be moved just prior to the start, or very early in the season.

That will likely be it and I think the opening night roster will be something like:

FORWARDS
Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
Vanek or Nash-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Vecchs or Laughton-Simmonds
Laughton, Raffl or Lehtera-Shore-Raffl or Aube-Kuble
if Vecchs isn't in the starting lineup he will be in LHV, same for Aube-Kubel
Weal will be a spare and at least one, if not both, of Leier and Weise will be waived

DEFENSE
Provy-Ghost
Sanheim-AMac
Hagg-Gudas or Myers
spare: Gudas or a journeyman signed via FA
Myers will be in LHV if not on the opening night starting roster

GOAL
Elliott
Neuvirth

Hart, unless he just completely blows away the other 4 in camp (which is possible, but unlikely), will be in LHV and will probably get at least 50 starts. Lyon and/or Stolarz will battle it out for the backup spot until one is moved or someone (probably Neuvy) gets injured.
- BiggE

If they could get Rick Nash for two years I honestly wouldn't hate it. I'm really just not fond of Weal. Run something like G, Nash, Weal/Allison, Raffl as your LWs over the next two years then eventually replace Nash with Farabee.

Mason's Flyers career save percentage was .918, while the league average was .915. He didn't have a stellar team D in front of him.
- bmeltzer

I'm not questioning that. I recall him flat out stating post game that he felt he should remain the starter even when he was struggling and Neuvy was on a prolonged good run. He just didn't struck me as a guy who had any interest in sharing the crease. Especially towards the end of his time here.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Free Agency Eve, Dev Camp,
- bmeltzer

Bill, Question... The Flyers had historically signed UFA that had some connection to the team; Related to someone, connection to the management, line mates on another team... I know that this is an in-depth question, but do you know if their any UFA that have obvious connections with the Flyers from some of the names thrown around; Stastny, Bozak, Vanek, Nash. Course, there is the JVR connection.

Hextall seems to work his previous contacts from the prior GM job. He may want people that he evaluated in the past.

Bill, Question... The Flyers had historically signed UFA that had some connection to the team; Related to someone, connection to the management, line mates on another team... I know that this is an in-depth question, but do you know if their any UFA that have obvious connections with the Flyers from some of the names thrown around; Stastny, Bozak, Vanek, Nash. Course, there is the JVR connection.

Hextall seems to work his previous contacts from the prior GM job. He may want people that he evaluated in the past.
- leon neon

This is one of the reasons I think a guy like Nick Shore may be someone Hextall is interested in.

That package asked for ROR by Beefalo leaves me to wonder if their GM hit his head.... a little too hard! What a maroon!

Happy Birthday indeed to Bod Froese who stood tall after one of the darkest days in Flyers history. Great goalie and better human being.

I can’t see in any way shape or form Vecchione is even being considered for it; only way of he is completely lights out and dominating in camp . Which is unlikely.

Mason is a whiner and seems to want it hands to him instead of earning it. Wonder whay his save % was vs good teams as compared to lesser teams.

I believe Ronald will trade for a center. As far as a dman just get a vet for. 1 year under 1.5 unless someon good falls into ur lap.

Which scrub will we get to overpay for this off season?

Just stay the (frank) away. Have to build internally.

I can’t see in any way shape or form Vecchione is even being considered for it; only way of he is completely lights out and dominating in camp . Which is unlikely.

Mason is a whiner and seems to want it hands to him instead of earning it. Wonder whay his save % was vs good teams as compared to lesser teams.

I believe Ronald will trade for a center. As far as a dman just get a vet for. 1 year under 1.5 unless someon good falls into ur lap.
- rinaldo

The discrepancy in Mason's SV% had very little to do with good teams/ bad teams (remember that the Flyers often had strong records vs. top teams but poor ones against non-playoff teams). It was much more home vs. road. At Wells Fargo Center, his stats put him in the top 6 of goalies leaguewide. On the road, his numbers were very ordinary.

Which scrub will we get to overpay for this off season?

Just stay the (frank) away. Have to build internally.
- flyer_nutter

Agree. I thought this might be the first summer Hextall would sign someone to make the team better but there doesn't seem to be much out there and wouldn't to drastically overpay.

The discrepancy in Mason's SV% had very little to do with good teams/ bad teams (remember that the Flyers often had strong records vs. top teams but poor ones against non-playoff teams). It was much more home vs. road. At Wells Fargo Center, his stats put him in the top 6 of goalies leaguewide. On the road, his numbers were very ordinary.
- bmeltzer

Still a whiner to me. Doesn’t seem to like competition.

Still would be very curious what that% breakdown shows.

1. Trade for Justin Faulk; alternatively sign de Hann (not a righty but best all around D on the market IMO. Option C is somebody cheap like Dylan deMelo (righty and cheaper than Pateryn).

2. Sign Letestu/Vermette. No thanks on overpaying Riley Nash or Tyler Bozak. Between Patrick, Coots, Laughton and, if necessary, Giroux, as well as guys like Vecchione, Vorobyov, Rubtsov and Frost not being far off, we don't need to sign a big FA center. The Statsny rumors were a nice lol. We need a bottom 6 center on a 1-2 year deal. Nothing more.

3. Possibly sign a winger like Rieder or Duclair (adding much-needed speed, but not imperative. Could just give more ice to Lindblom/Leir/NAK/etc).

4. Inquire about a possible Neuvirth trade. Probably the last position I upgrade if I can, but I'd give up an asset to convince Ottawa to swap Neuvirth for Craig Anderson. Neuvirth is just way to injury prone for a 1A/1B situation. Don't even want to think or scenario where Carter Hart is pressured/rushed into action.

It's fallen even further, rumor is the Habs are going to buy him out.
- BiggE

With just one year left on the deal?

Rick Nash isn't an option; he's considering retirement and isn't making himself available for signing on July 1

Personally, unless a Riley Nash comes in at 3x3 or maybe JVR at 6x5, I would think hard about sitting free agency out

I want the Flyers to improve. But overpaying the John Moores of the world isn't improvement and you might as well keep the cap space

Rick Nash isn't an option; he's considering retirement and isn't making himself available for signing on July 1

Personally, unless a Riley Nash comes in at 3x3 or maybe JVR at 6x5, I would think hard about sitting free agency out

I want the Flyers to improve. But overpaying the John Moores of the world isn't improvement and you might as well keep the cap space
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, there time to get someone useful for the bottom six was already wasted on Weise.

I don't like heading I to the season with Laughton as the 3C but the cost of FAs might be even worse.

Mason's issues were between the ears. He had skill, just mentally fragile.

As for free agency, I expect it to be ho hum. Hextall will build this team through the draft (as he should), then at some point when this team can contend, I'm confident he'll make some big splashes in FA. 2018 isn't the year.

I expect a bottom 6 forward who can kill penalties. Maybe a defenseman if isn't sure of some of the kids in the A.

Yeah, there time to get someone useful for the bottom six was already wasted on Weise.

I don't like heading I to the season with Laughton as the 3C but the cost of FAs might be even worse.
- hereticpride

That's where I am

Truthfully, this might be the worst crop of free agents I have seen since it was 31 years old to hit UFA

That rumored deal for RoR might be one of the most ridiculous scenarios I have ever read on on the Internet.

Not in anyway saying RoR isnt a good maybe someday great piece to a team but that is overkill IMO for him.

That rumored deal for RoR might be one of the most ridiculous scenarios I have ever read on on the Internet.

Not in anyway saying RoR isnt a good maybe someday great piece to a team but that is overkill IMO for him.
- opeth_pa

I think it indicates that if a team wants to pay a kings ransom for him, then they'll trade him. Not really that interested in trading him. #1 centers are hard to come by.

That rumored deal for RoR might be one of the most ridiculous scenarios I have ever read on on the Internet.

Not in anyway saying RoR isnt a good maybe someday great piece to a team but that is overkill IMO for him.
- opeth_pa

Depends on who the young player is for it to be ridiculous. If Patrick or tk then yes.

If Laughton or everyone’s favorite to include in a trade Vecchione then not so silly

That rumored deal for RoR might be one of the most ridiculous scenarios I have ever read on on the Internet.

Not in anyway saying RoR isnt a good maybe someday great piece to a team but that is overkill IMO for him.
- opeth_pa

Rumor for Mike Hoffman at the trade deadline was Sanheim and a first. Can't blame GMs for setting prices high. I wonder if the price goes down for RoR considering in about another week free agency will basically be over and most teams will be pretty set with their salary cap heading towards training camp.

The Sabres owe ROR a 7.5 million dollar payment on July 1st. Let’s see if the price drops a little.

The Sabres owe ROR a 7.5 million dollar payment on July 1st. Let’s see if the price drops a little.
- Sinisalo4vr

Pegula poops money so 7.5 won’t be an issue

Pegula poops money so 7.5 won’t be an issue
- YuenglingJagr

remember when people complained about G making 8.25? ROR cap hit is 7.5.

Pegula poops money so 7.5 won’t be an issue
- YuenglingJagr

I don't know -- not many rich people like setting money on fire. It's why they stay rich

If I pay a guy 7.5 large and he's under contract for the next four seasons and as productive as O'Reilly, not only would the price go up to get him, I wouldn't even think about trading him until next offseason