What do you think the AAV will be on their top D, who still need to get inked. Prov and San????? Both look like studs, and Ghost's contract is a bargain. Should be a great top 4 going into this season with Nisk playing an easier role than he was used too.
- bikeguy99

6 and 3.5-4. I don't think Niskanen will get an easier role to play. Likely to be paired with Provorov on the top pair.

it's funny to think about this
- 2Real

Yeowzaa!!

No that's not what play driving refers to. Play driving is a lot more than just team shot share when a player is on the ice. The words are self descriptive. Being a play driver means that as a player you actually drive play. You create and are the main cog in positive play for your team. You're the reason why your team has a better shot share. Gudas is not that player. Never has been. By definition if you're not a puck mover as a defenseman, you couldn't possibly be a play driver.

Giroux and Voracek are play drivers on the Flyers.
- MJL

Hey, if that's your definition, then we can agree to disagree.

And for the record, I didn't even say he was a play-driver, I said he had strong play-driving #'s.

Love ya btw.

Hey, if that's your definition, then we can agree to disagree.

And for the record, I didn't even say he was a play-driver, I said he had strong play-driving #'s.

Love ya btw.
- Tomahawk

Well there you go. Play a player with 4 of the teams top players and he might have good "play driving" numbers also. It's pretty much common sense on what a play driver is.

Well there you go. Play a player with 4 of the teams top players and he might have good "play driving" numbers also. It's pretty much common sense on what a play driver is.
- MJL

This team just lost a lot of beard

How often in an NHL trade does the the team trading the lower cap hit retain salary?

How often in an NHL trade does the the team trading the lower cap hit retain salary?
- PLindbergh31

When the other team receives the superior player in return.

When the other team receives the superior player in return.
- Sinisalo4vr

Superior player? Niskanen had 5 points more than Gudas last year. He doesn't play on the PP, he's older, and makes more money. At this point in their careers saying he's "superior" just isn't true. Not even close.

I'm not proclaiming Gudas is some great defenseman, far from it. But Niskanen is on the back 9 of his career. He's in decline.

At this point Niskanen isn't an all-situations player, no, because he's not on PP2 anymore. But at his peak he was. Still kills penalties and will play a bit higher in 5-on-5 rotation. Fundamentally, though, I agree that he will take over Gudas' role with more puck moving, less (although not devoid) physicality.
- bmeltzer

Which is fine because the Flyers have Sanheim, Myers and Porovrov to play on PP2.

"Drives play" has always been the most hilarious term used by the advanced stats idiots.
- Aetherial

One of those idiots is the Leafs GM.

And a smart GM wouldn't accept that deal...it always amazes me when fans think that all other teams will willingly take their team's trash and are shocked when it doesnt happen
- bulet13

You’re kidding right? Did you not read my post? I just said take Mac who has a much closer salary to Niskanen (which the capitals won’t do because they’re trying to save cap space) or no deal. You just said what I just said....

There is no question that the Flyers got the better player in the deal. In order for the Flyers to get the player they wanted, they had to make the cap situation work for Washington. Otherwise Washington wouldn't have made the deal. If they're going to give up the better player, they had to get the cap flexibility they needed to do other things.

Superior player? Niskanen had 5 points more than Gudas last year. He doesn't play on the PP, he's older, and makes more money. At this point in their careers saying he's "superior" just isn't true. Not even close.

I'm not proclaiming Gudas is some great defenseman, far from it. But Niskanen is on the back 9 of his career. He's in decline.
- PLindbergh31

Hagg had as many points as Gudas. Is Hagg as good as Gudas?

Hagg had as many points as Gudas. Is Hagg as good as Gudas?
- Feanor

No. I'm not saying points are the all end be all. But isn't Niskanen viewed of somewhat of a puck moving offensive defenseman? I watched a lot of Caps games last year and Niskanen was pretty bad. Hoping for a bounce back year from a player on the wrong side of 30 seems like a gamble at best.

Superior player? Niskanen had 5 points more than Gudas last year. He doesn't play on the PP, he's older, and makes more money. At this point in their careers saying he's "superior" just isn't true. Not even close.

I'm not proclaiming Gudas is some great defenseman, far from it. But Niskanen is on the back 9 of his career. He's in decline.
- PLindbergh31

I love the Beard but it played minutes against inferior lines. But I believe this fact has been pointed out more than once today.

Too many clowns in this chat today it sickens me. Trade a 3rd pairing dman that had 1 year left and wasnt going to be resigned for a top 4 dman who has his name on the cup and is overall much better than Gudas yet people female dog like little kids whose parents refused to buy them a pack of yugioh cards.

How often in an NHL trade does the the team trading the lower cap hit retain salary?
- PLindbergh31

Their cap hits were basically the same, but Pittsburgh retained 33% on Rob Scuderi when they traded him for Trevor Daley because Daley was the better player.

No. I'm not saying points are the all end be all. But isn't Niskanen viewed of somewhat of a puck moving offensive defenseman? I watched a lot of Caps games last year and Niskanen was pretty bad. Hoping for a bounce back year from a player on the wrong side of 30 seems like a gamble at best.
- PLindbergh31

Everything's a gamble. What if Gudas wins the Conn Smythe next season? Egg all over Fletcher's face, and he'll be honor-bound to hang himself.

But I think it's a better risk to take than trading what it would cost to get Spurgeon or Trouba.

If the Caps win the cup I cant wait to hear all the "Wow we traded Gudas and he went on to win the cup see we should have kept him it was a terrible trade" takes

I think this trade works for both teams. I dont really think it was a necessary trade or will move the needle much, but I get why its done. If Niskanen bounces back, its a win. If he plays like last season, the trade is a wash and he is only signed for an additional year.

There goes Washington, taking all the cheap and effective Dmen again

Everything's a gamble. What if Gudas wins the Conn Smythe next season? Egg all over Fletcher's face, and he'll be honor-bound to hang himself.

But I think it's a better risk to take than trading what it would cost to get Spurgeon or Trouba.
- Feanor

It amuses me that a trade has to be made for a veteran second pairing D-man. Isn't that what MacDonald was supposed to be? So because he's a bum and a sunk cost the Flyers have to chase their tails.

You know what, I'll give Fletch some credit. He's done a good job of helping this board return to it's glory days. Clown, 2real, Jmatch, MJL... It's been a while since the whole crew was back together

*Now wishes Mordecai would come back*
- bulet13

i'm here. i just prefer to passively observe more often than not.

It amuses me that a trade has to be made for a veteran second pairing D-man. Isn't that what MacDonald was supposed to be? So because he's a bum and a sunk cost the Flyers have to chase their tails.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think anyone would disagree that the Flyers would have been better off ignoring MacDonald in 2014 and signing Niskanen instead.

Too many clowns in this chat today it sickens me. Trade a 3rd pairing dman that had 1 year left and wasnt going to be resigned for a top 4 dman who has his name on the cup and is overall much better than Gudas yet people female dog like little kids whose parents refused to buy them a pack of yugioh cards.
- Richieattack18

The issue is the other posters are guaranteeing this guy is gonna bounce back, he had an absolutely horrid year and people are saying great trade great trade! There is certainly some skepticism coming with this trade.