And here children if you look to your right you'll see some real WIP level nonsense.
- hereticpride

Resume: Attended 15 consecutive Wing Bowls.

Yeah, he's not particularly physical, but he's well-rounded enough that he can play the body when called for.

Honestly, I personally don't care if a guy hits everything that moves, or doesn't hit at all... as long as they can get the job done.

Supposedly Niskanen shines at zone-entries and defending his own blue-line. That matters a lot more than hits to me.
- Tomahawk

Personally I think both Gudas and Haag deliver hits that are unnecessary and take themselves out of position at times. I'd much rather have a player that hits within the flow of play and maintains better positioning. Defending in the neutral zone and at the bluelines is far more important. So is transitioning the puck. Anyone who doesn't know that Niskanen plays with a physical edge to his game, hasn't watched him play much.

Lots of good intangibles about Niskanen. The Flyers don’t need him to be a number 1; they need him to carry #2-3 minutes on 5 on 5 and play a little PK. He is touted as a team guy, glue guy, vocal leader and he is excited to have the added role of mentor to the Flyers talented young d-men.

As for doing it now...they have a plan...and obviously they aren’t done exploring options. No guarantees any pan out.

Cap...budget what you need. We needed this veteran upgrade. I am fine with the cost.

I’m happy about this move.
- NC Flyers Fan

I like it better than what I thought they might do.

Paying 30% of Gudas salary on top picking up another 2.5 million the Flyers are basically paying Niskanen 7 million. Is he a 7 million dollar defenseman now at 32 while breaking down? My fear is this is all Fletcher will do on defense.
- killercam

He shouldn't do anything else on defense.

Yes and its exactly the same mistake Caps GM made. Gudas has had one good year just like AMac did. Niskanen is a proven commodity. We traded a guy with a CAREER high of 6 goals and 23 points for a guy whos CAREER high is 10 goals and 46 points. Clearly one is superior to the other.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Both MacDonald and Gudas had more than just one good year. Let's be real here. Many factors go into why a GM makes a deal. The Caps have other things they want to do and from their perspective, moving Niskanen and clearing cap works for them.

I still think ghost is gone
- Just5

Could be. I can't see them sending Myers or Morin back to the Phantoms so I think someone is going to end up as the odd man out.

Could be. I can't see them sending Myers or Morin back to the Phantoms so I think someone is going to end up as the odd man out.
- hereticpride

MacDonald is going to be the odd man out. They don't have to move anyone else or trade Gostisbehere to not have to send Myers or Morin to the Phantoms.

MacDonald is going to be the odd man out. They don't have to move anyone else or trade Gostisbehere to now have to send Myers or Morin to the Phantoms.
- MJL

Am I wrong or doesn't that put them at 7? I don't think they're going to keep a kid in the press box so who sits? Hagg?

Am I wrong or doesn't that put them at 7? I don't think they're going to keep a kid in the press box so who sits?
- hereticpride

Morin will likely start the season as the 7th defenseman unless he outplays someone like Haag.

Provorov
Niskanen
Sanheim
Gostisbehere
Haag
Myers
Morin

Both MacDonald and Gudas had more than just one good year. Let's be real here. Many factors go into why a GM makes a deal. The Caps have other things they want to do and from their perspective, moving Niskanen and clearing cap works for them.
- MJL

Thats Hilarious considering you basically said he wasnt a NHL defensman a couple blogs ago when I said the Flyers had a surplus of Dmen You serious just look to start arguments. That is what gets you off

He shouldn't do anything else.
- MJL

so he shouldn't look to improve the team?

Thats Hilarious considering you basically said he wasnt a NHL defensman a couple blogs ago when I said the Flyers had a surplus of Dmen You serious just look to start arguments. That is what gets you off
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Feel free to post a link to what you claim I said. Your post here is ridiculous. There is no argument.

waiving andy mac really saves no money on the cap; either way he has to go. Just cut the damn cord. Many are against it i try to attach a pick and get someone to take him at 50%

I guess the Flyers are thinking (wishful thinking?) that Morin will be good to go this season...otherwise, yes, the D is not going to intimidate anyone.

Have to believe Fletch has more up his sleeve...

This is how he stacks up to Flyers dmen on hits per 60mins:

Hagg 11.14
Gudas 11.12
Folin 8.91
Morin 8.73
Myers 7.81
Niskanan 5.71
Friedman 4.78
Provorov 3.59
MacDonald 2.34
Gostisbehere 1.8
Sanheim 1.68

(he was ranked 4th on the Caps' blueline)
- Tomahawk

Sanheim is lower than Ghost? 😩😭

I guess the Flyers are thinking (wishful thinking?) that Morin will be good to go this season...otherwise, yes, the D is not going to intimidate anyone.

Have to believe Fletch has more up his sleeve...
- BroadSTmayhem

anyone counting on morin for anything is baffling to me. Should be the total opposite. Anything you get from him going forward is a bonus.

I like it better than what I thought they might do.
- MJL

A simple question: does Niskanen on the whole, make the defense better. Right now, yes. I like the trade, taking into account the salary cap.

For me the bottom line is the Flyers acquired a R handed D that they will play top 4 minutes and Gudas was never trusted to do that.

Would have liked a younger Niskanen sure,
but it’s 2 years and he’s a good fit for those 2.

Hopefully Myers in 2 years will be at the point where he can be an all situation top 4 guy, he seems close now but I like what Fletcher is doing.

Getting depth and getting their current players into roles they can excel at is what Hayes and Niskanen deals say to me.

Btw you could do a lot worse then having Amac as a #6-7-8-guy, which is why I think they waive him to LHV and call up in case of injury. He can cut it for 14-15 minutes of sheltered minutes a game and maybe even be better than decent in that role. No more 2nd pair and regular PK minutes and he’s be ok.

Now get Hayes signed (for no more than 5 years hopefully) or trade for a middle six C.

Let Ghost play under AV.

If Hart keeps improving they should be very good this season. If he has sophomore slump well...hello lottery team.

A simple question: does Niskanen on the whole, make the defense better. Right now, yes. I like the trade, taking into account the salary cap.
- Sublime55

I agree, he does make the defense better.

Bad trade for the Flyers I don't care who says otherwise. Gudas played well and added MUCH NEEDED grit to this soft team. Once Simmonds was traded you had guy's like Konecny doing the protecting, that's just idiocy on the gm's part for leaving that situation like that.
- twpguy

But we got the best player lol

We’re essentially playing niskanen 7 mil a year

Sanheim is lower than Ghost? 😩😭
- SuperSchennBros

Believe it or not, yeah.

I was shocked to see John Carlson is even lower than Sanheim

Was Orlov Niskanen’s most frequent D partner last year in WA?

Was Orlov Niskanen’s most frequent D partner last year in WA?
- Marc D

Yeah, spent 1100 minutes together.

Yeah, spent 1100 minutes together.
- Tomahawk

the Detroit player they got at or near the TDL likely getting Niskanen’s minutes now

He was a good pick up

The TDL wasn’t a total disaster this year for some teams, Charlie Coyle was another good one