The fact is the Flyers never wanted to play Gudas with Provorov under Hak or Gordo, and clearly AV wasn't going to come in and change that.

I think trading for Gudas for Niskanen to give Provy a RHD to play with is a much better use of resources than trading a lot more for for Trouba or Spurgeon, who would then need to be signed to huge extensions.
- Feanor

You feel this is the end of Prov/Sanheim pairing? I felt like Sanheim was doing really well there. Sanheim/Myers might be pretty nice too, I guess.

I am fine with this trade. It is actually encouraging to see that he is making the little moves to get incrementally better.

One thing I will point out. By my calculations he has now wasted/missed a chance for three draft picks. He should have gotten an additional pick in both the Talbot and Niskanen deals. Each time he did the other team a favor by taking the player. He is also on the hook for the fifth rounder for Hayes. None of those picks are number 1's but they add up over time.
- mickel25

I don't think you have a good idea of the value of Gudas and Niskanen around the league if you expected the Flyers to get a draft pick back.

You feel this is the end of Prov/Sanheim pairing? I felt like Sanheim was doing really well there. Sanheim/Myers might be pretty nice too, I guess.
- Tomahawk

I hope so because I think Sanheim's offense is better served by having him on the left.

Mr preferred D lineup is:

Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Ghost
Morin-Myers
Hagg

My first reaction to this was no reaction. If Gudas wasn't part of your long term plans, I get moving him. But for Niskanen? I don't know.

I'm sure this will wind up being a 30+ page debate, but it shouldn't.

I am fine with this trade. It is actually encouraging to see that he is making the little moves to get incrementally better.

One thing I will point out. By my calculations he has now wasted/missed a chance for three draft picks. He should have gotten an additional pick in both the Talbot and Niskanen deals. Each time he did the other team a favor by taking the player. He is also on the hook for the fifth rounder for Hayes. None of those picks are number 1's but they add up over time.
- mickel25

What calculations are are you using to determine that Fletch missed out on getting better deals?

I hope so because I think Sanheim's offense is better served by having him on the left.

Mr preferred D lineup is:

Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Ghost
Morin-Myers
Hagg
- Feanor

I could see that.

I hope so because I think Sanheim's offense is better served by having him on the left.

Mr preferred D lineup is:

Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Ghost
Morin-Myers
Hagg
- Feanor

With Hagg in the seven role we might have the softest team in the history of soft teams.

I don't consider re-signing RFAs a move.

Of course he's going to draft players don't be (frank)ing stupid.
- Streit2ThePoint

Right back at you.

I don't think you have a good idea of the value of Gudas and Niskanen around the league if you expected the Flyers to get a draft pick back.
- Feanor

They took on a player to help another team with cap space. They also retained salary on the player they sent in return and added a year from the player they received. Niskanen is an upgrade. However, I think Fletcher could have pushed for a pick and got one.

$10mil in additional salary has to be worth more than the difference in skill between Niskanen and Gudas.

You feel this is the end of Prov/Sanheim pairing? I felt like Sanheim was doing really well there. Sanheim/Myers might be pretty nice too, I guess.
- Tomahawk

I don't know if it's the end of it.... pairs often change over the course of a season, anyway, but I would think that, right now and barring other deals that alter things, the pairs are something like Provorov-Niskanen, Sanheim - Hägg/Myers, Ghost-Hägg/Myers with Morin as the 7th D.

You feel this is the end of Prov/Sanheim pairing? I felt like Sanheim was doing really well there. Sanheim/Myers might be pretty nice too, I guess.
- Tomahawk

what would the other pairs be? You can’t put nisk with ghost. What a train wreck they’d be in their own end

I’m not sure their done shuffling the D

With Hagg in the seven role we might have the softest team in the history of soft teams.
- opeth_pa

I didn't realize replacing Hagg with Morin made the team softer.

I also forgot Niskanen has never hit anyone in his career.

I hope so because I think Sanheim's offense is better served by having him on the left.

Mr preferred D lineup is:

Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Ghost
Morin-Myers
Hagg
- Feanor

Unless AV/Yeo see things differently than Hak/Gordo and Murphy/Wilson, I think Hägg is still viewed above Morin on the depth chart (albeit with a possibility for Morin, if healthy, to change that).

I don't know if it's the end of it.... pairs often change over the course of a season, anyway, but I would think that, right now and barring other deals that alter things, the pairs are something like Provorov-Niskanen, Sanheim - Hägg/Myers, Ghost-Hägg/Myers with Morin as the 7th D.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, I could see that too.

If Myers and Morin can play as well as they're capable of, Niskanen and Hagg will get supplanted sooner than later.

What calculations are are you using to determine that Fletch missed out on getting better deals?
- opeth_pa

I am using my own thought process. If you take on money to assist a team with cap issues you should be compensated. I feel Fletcher could have gotten an additional pick in both deals. Granted the pick may have been a later round pick. But still an additional pick none the less.

Unless AV/Yeo see things differently than Hak/Gordo and Murphy/Wilson, I think Hägg is still viewed above Morin on the depth chart (albeit with a possibility for Morin, if healthy, to change that).
- bmeltzer

Sure, I have no idea what the new coaches think. That's just my preferred lineup.

I don't know if it's the end of it.... pairs often change over the course of a season, anyway, but I would think that, right now and barring other deals that alter things, the pairs are something like Provorov-Niskanen, Sanheim - Hägg/Myers, Ghost-Hägg/Myers with Morin as the 7th D.
- bmeltzer

What do you think Morin will have to do to win a spot out of camp? I see the locks as:

Provorov
Sanheim
Ghost
Niskanen

That leaves 2 spots for Hagg, Myers, and Morin. Myers would have the inside track on one spot due to being a RHD and, well, because he's better than the other two (to date). So it comes down to Hagg vs. Morin. So really, what can Morin do to win a spot out of camp barring any other D moves?

I didn't realize replacing Hagg with Morin made the team softer.

I also forgot Niskanen has never hit anyone in his career.
- Feanor

Replacing Hagg with just about anyone would make the team better, and thats more important than whatever the vague notion of "toughness" is

I mean its not like Gudas has a reputation for being a saint
- bulet13

But not a whiner?

I hope so because I think Sanheim's offense is better served by having him on the left.

Mr preferred D lineup is:

Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Ghost
Morin-Myers
Hagg
- Feanor

I like this line up because there is a real balance here but the price and age of Niskanen, I’m not at all a fan of.

Don’t mind the players involved, it’s the money side of the deal. Retaining part of Gudas and adding Niskanen’s makes Niskanen a $7 million player this year. He is not a player of that calibre anymore. I believe he is the better player, but he is older and certainly not worth that kind of money. Dump Amac and I will be happy with anything that happens.

Unless AV/Yeo see things differently than Hak/Gordo and Murphy/Wilson, I think Hägg is still viewed above Morin on the depth chart (albeit with a possibility for Morin, if healthy, to change that).
- bmeltzer

Hägg was a lock to make the team before his rookie season, ahead of Sanheim and Morin.

I don't consider re-signing RFAs a move.

Of course he's going to draft players don't be (frank)ing stupid.
- Streit2ThePoint

The post was dripping in sarcasm.

Don’t mind the players involved, it’s the money side of the deal. Retaining part of Gudas and adding Niskanen’s makes Niskanen a $7 million player this year. He is not a player of that calibre anymore. I believe he is the better player, but he is older and certainly not worth that kind of money. Dump Amac and I will be happy with anything that happens.
- darkerens

I think you have to dump Mac now, don’t you?

That leaves 2 spots for Hagg, Myers, and Morin. Myers would have the inside track on one spot due to being a RHD and, well, because he's better than the other two (to date). So it comes down to Hagg vs. Morin. So really, what can Morin do to win a spot out of camp barring any other D moves?
- jmatchett383

Suspect he just needs to be able to out-Hagg Hagg. Hit, block shots, play adequate net-front defense. I think/hope Morin should be capable of that (and more).

Of course, Hagg could take the next step too and re-discover some of that puck-moving that got him considered as a 1st-round pick way back when.

It'll be a nice battle to watch.