Hayes may get the dollars but not the term. Or maybe he gets the term but not the dollars. In any event he’s not getting both.
- Sinisalo4vr

Cmon don’t be a Hayeter

All about fit and style they want to play. That’s why this deal was made.

My only gripe is he didn’t get a pick back in this or the tap it deal; even a 7th. He did them both a favor and got zip back

I don’t get this trade we need to get tougher and we trade our toughest dman and get older. I hope there’s a much bigger game being played here
- 2Real

They need a defenseman who doesn’t have to rely on a wraparound clearing attempt every time he’s pinned in his defensive zone.

Nah. Waive him to Lehigh.
- Just5

Also, with the extra salary we have taken on in this deal (additional and retained), it makes the AMac buyout that much more scrutinized. We would still have a $1mil+ cap hit for AMac's buyout (correct?).

Rather just have him play in LHV or add him as part of a package in a larger deal. Can't imagine any teams have been inquiring about him as he would have been gone (traded) by now.

Eberle signed 5 x 5.5

I expect Gudas to do pretty well in WSH. Kind of a perfect fit for him, really, getting to play alongside Kempny or Orlov. I think he will end up earning a pretty handsome contract if he stays healthy.

He was always underrated as a Flyer. Came in as a guy most people didn't even think would crack the top-6, put up consistently great play-driving numbers for a guy with limited puck skill, and yeah, last season he was flat-out good.

Hope Niskanen can stabilize his career trajectory. The Flyers can afford the lopsided cap hit for now. Here's hoping this means Ghost/Myers are safe.
- Tomahawk

This is where numbers have to be taken into context. I'm not sure how you can watch Gudas play and state that he drives play. He doesn't. Never has. What he does is take a lot of shots. That combined with the situations he plays in, elevates the numbers when he is on the ice. I don't see Washington re-signing him to a handsome contract, depending on what the definition of that is. He's a solid 4/5 defenseman in this league. Nothing more. Saying he drives play is the very definition of over-rating Gudas.

So...Freddy Meyers (undrafted free agent) and third round pick (later traded to NYI)become
Zhitnik who becomes
Coburn who becomes
TK, Gudas, Matej Tomek
gudas becomes
Niskanen

So your Vet Dman and a forward of the future cost you a throw away 3rd rounder in the 2007 draft and an undrafted free agent in 2003.

They traded high on Gudas and low on Niskanen (that is the hope), and did not expect to resign Gudas and only 2 years left on Niskanen's deal. They add the extra cash because for the next 2 years they can afford it, and it makes it an easier pill to swallow if Gudas and wilson end up hurting the team more than they help...

They get a guy that ACTUALLY has his name on the cup...has played with Crosby and Ovi and is overall better skill wise than Gudas...Oh, and this is the exact opposite of the trade that would ship Ghost out of here after his down year...

I think Fletch checked another block off the to do list and has not upset the apple cart at all and still has a lot of flexibility ahead of the draft.

Also for all we know the salary retained could be for another move...

I liked Gudas play this past year and thought he was a good pick up in the Coburn trade, but he wasn't going to be here long term so a good move by the GM.

Niskanen has a modified ntc. Any of our resident capoligists know if there are expansion draft implications with this?

What a piece of horse poop deal!

I don’t get this trade we need to get tougher and we trade our toughest dman and get older. I hope there’s a much bigger game being played here
- 2Real

Doesn’t Niskanen play tough/physical? The times I’ve watched him he’s delivered some big open ice hits. He may not have that “edge” Gudas has. But that edge gets Gudas suspended at times.

Also, with the extra salary we have taken on in this deal (additional and retained), it makes the AMac buyout that much more scrutinized. We would still have a $1mil+ cap hit for AMac's buyout (correct?).

Rather just have him play in LHV or add him as part of a package in a larger deal. Can't imagine any teams have been inquiring about him as he would have been gone (traded) by now.
- cdearth23

It would be a mistake to buyout MacDonald. I have no idea what 1mil+ cap hit means. Check out Bill's 411 posts.

Doesn’t Niskanen play tough/physical? The times I’ve watched him he’s delivered some big open ice hits. He may not have that “edge” Gudas has. But that edge gets Gudas suspended at times.
- arichardson22

Niskanen was 3rd on the Caps in hits in the regular season. He plays with an edge to his game.

It would be a mistake to buyout MacDonald. I have no idea what 1mil+ cap hit means. Check out Bill's 411 posts.
- MJL

They are so close to the end. Waive him. Assign him to Phantoms. Call Phantoms in the event of emergency. That is all.

Niskanen has a modified ntc. Any of our resident capoligists know if there are expansion draft implications with this?
- Just5

Only a NMC means you have to be protected

They are so close to the end. Waive him. Assign him to Phantoms. Call Phantoms in the event of emergency. That is all.
- Sinisalo4vr

Injuries happen. Gives you depth. Clean and free after this season. The only caveat is if you need the cap space to make a big move that you can't pass up.

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

That is true. Despite being the same age as Morin, Hägg had 3 AHL seasons (one slide year, two ELC years) plus 3 years of WJC, plus one full and one half season in SHL by that point. Sanheim was entering ELC year 2.

I think the issue I kind of have is the move is underwhelming....you hear names Like Trouba, Kadri and Nylander, maybe trading the 11th pick for much needed NHL help…...and we get a 32 year old (5.75 + 1 retained) 7 million dollar dman coming off a down year....Its an upgrade....but not something that gets the dial moved. (for me)
- landros 2

You must never know how the chemistry will work out. I remember Chicago added oduya and then went on a tear and oduya was far from an all star or even a game changer.
Plus niskanen wont be here long... he is a nice buffer for our young D to continue to grow and develop.
I like this trade a lot and think it's a move in the right direction.
Nobody wants to sign the big 7 year deal and we all want stop gaps while our kids develop and we get a stop gap player and team negative loses it.

With that said Gudas will have a career year this upcoming year and get overpaid. Let it be somewhere else.
I will always remember gods for his 2 turnovers that cost us game 6 against Pitt. That's how I will always remember him - The guy who helped Pitt beat us

It would be a mistake to buyout MacDonald. I have no idea what 1mil+ cap hit means. Check out Bill's 411 posts.
- MJL

I meant that Amac would still count against our salary cap if he is bought out. Add that cost to the Niskanen salary (increase) and Radko's retained salary and the optics don't look great.

Why do Teams Buy Out Players?
A team may choose to buy out a player if it means that they can spread their cap hit out over a period of time, thereby reducing the cap hit in the short-term. A player's age, when the team buys them out, as well as their structure are all used in calculating the buyout ratio.

Cost Of Buyout
For players who are 26 or older, a buyout is 2/3 of the remaining salary owed on the contract.
For players who are under 26, a buyout is 1/3 of the remaining salary owed on the contract.

All buyouts are spread out over twice the remaining years of the contract.

How Does a Buyout Affect Signing Bonuses?
Players receive signing bonuses regardless of the buyout. This means that when calculating the buyout amount and cap hit, signing bonuses are excluded.

Cap Hit
The actual annual cap hit of the buyout is calculated, year by year, as follows:

>Add together the Original Cap Hit and the Contract Signing Bonus for that year.
Subtract the Contract Total Salary for that year (base salary + signing bonus).
>Finally, add the Annual Buyout Cost as calculated above (2/3 of the remaining contract divided by twice the remaining years of the contract).

Niskanen has a modified ntc. Any of our resident capoligists know if there are expansion draft implications with this?
- Just5

The ED isn't till 2021.

This is where numbers have to be taken into context. I'm not sure how you can watch Gudas play and state that he drives play. He doesn't. Never has. What he does is take a lot of shots.
- MJL

Shots are part of the play. A fairly important part, because goals only happen when shots are taken.

Niskanen was 3rd on the Caps in hits in the regular season. He plays with an edge to his game.
- MJL

That’s what I thought/figured. I don’t get why it’s being said we’ve become much softer.

Good trade. I’m happy about it. Not going to read much today because the whiners are raining on my parade. Way to go Fletch! Smart.
- NC Flyers Fan

Looks like a good move to me. We aren’t in cap hell and can afford this contract. It will expire when he is 34. He is a solid player. Think he will pair good on this team. A better RHD man then Gudas. I didn’t hate Gudas either. But this is an upgrade. Stanley Cup presence. Experienced puck mover. Composed player over all. His bad year last year was at par or better then Gudas’ best season. Both teams win.

I meant that Amac would still count against our salary cap if he is bought out. Add that cost to the Niskanen salary (increase) and Radko's retained salary and the optics don't look great.

- cdearth23

Of course there would be a charge for a buyout. Right now, I don't see any reason to buy him out.

Shots are part of the play. A fairly important part, because goals only happen when shots are taken.
- Feanor

Yes they are but that's not the point. Shots alone are not an indicator of a player who drives play.

That’s what I thought/figured. I don’t get why it’s being said we’ve become much softer.
- arichardson22

There were only 19 defenseman in the entire NHL who were credited with more hits than Niskanen was last season. Niskanen is anything but soft.