What in the actual (frank) is Fletch doing? Why 2 good picks in a good draft for a declining defenseman?! Awful trade, vast overpayment
- iroc4me2

Since when are most 5th round picks "good" picks?

I disagree that they are lateral moves. They don't get any younger, but they get pretty decent defensemen..don't get that much older, and lose the dumb penalties from Gudas and the turnover proneness of MacDonald. Niskanen and Braun are upgrades.
- CupOnBroadSt.

they are not and they add experience to the D group, plus they add playoff and cup experience, players who assume they will be playing in may every year

Whats gunna happen if this cap ceiling falls to 81 million? they are were expecting 83 now its gunna fall below 82 they are saying oh oh

Since when are most 5th round picks "good" picks?
- jmatchett383

I thought it was a second and a third?

Fletcher so far this month...

Acquired:
F Kevin Hayes (UFA Signing Rights)
D Matt Niskanen
D Justin Braun

Traded:
D Radko Gudas (30% Retained Salary)
2019 2nd round pick
2019 5th round pick
2020 3rd round pick

Something else is definitely coming (and I hope it's not an overpay for Hayes)
- lindros's lung

I agree, LL. Can’t understand the attraction Fletch and company have for Hayes. There’s plenty of other forwards (if you’re going to overpay) that would be a much better fit on this team. Still hold to my assertion that this team needs more size and sandpaper.

Whats gunna happen if this cap ceiling falls to 81 million? they are were expecting 83 now its gunna fall below 82 they are saying oh oh
- jmdodgeser4

Flyers are hovering around the cap floor. Not the max.

AV told Fletch he wanted to add some brawn to the line up and this is what he got.

AV told Fletch he wanted to add some brawn to the line up and this is what he got.
- Muskwa

The Vlasic and Braun tandem was one of the best Shut Down pairs in the NHL..Sorry to see him leave but with Seattle Draft coming and cap space needed you could see the writing on the wall. Good Luck Justin and Flyer fans will love his honest play. He will make your team better
- hockeygm

Thank you for talking me off the ledge

Holy stupidity. 2nd and 3rd for another 30 something year old?

I agree, LL. Can’t understand the attraction Fletch and company have for Hayes. There’s plenty of other forwards (if you’re going to overpay) that would be a much better fit on this team. Still hold to my assertion that this team needs more size and sandpaper.
- BroadSTmayhem

From what I've read, it's not Fletcher who wanted Hayes as much as it is Vigneault. He was one of the coach's favorites when they were together on the Rangers. BTW, you're right, they need more size and sandpaper.

Braun is solid. I think it's a good trade for both teams. Braun is worth the 2nd and 3rd, even given his age and time left on contract. I'd take Braun over the picks, but given the Sharks cap situation, the move makes sense.

Flyers are hovering around the cap floor. Not the max.
- Hckygoalie31

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flyers

lol, I forgot about David Schlemko.

Anywho, Flyers still need to sign (in order of importance, IMO):
Provorov
Sanheim
Konecny
Laughton
Hartman

Right now we're sort of looking at...

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
JvR - ??? - Voracek
Lindblom - Patrick - ???
Raffl - Laughton - Hartman

Provorov? - Niskanen?
Sanheim? - Braun?
Ghost? - Myers?

Hart
???

Still have a: Schlemko, Hagg, Morin, Bailey, Varone, Talbot, Elliott kicking around... can't wait to see what 30+ year-old "veteran presence" we go for next!

Since when are most 5th round picks "good" picks?
- jmatchett383

I thought it was a second and a third?
- iroc4me2

2 + 3 = 5

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flyers

lol, I forgot about David Schlemko.

Anywho, Flyers still need to sign (in order of importance, IMO):
Provorov
Sanheim
Konecny
Laughton
Hartman

Right now we're sort of looking at...

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
JvR - ??? - Voracek
Lindblom - Patrick - ???
Raffl - Laughton - Hartman

Provorov? - Niskanen?
Sanheim? - Braun?
Ghost? - Myers?

Hart
???

Still have a: Schlemko, Hagg, Morin, Bailey, Varone, Talbot, Elliott kicking around... can't wait to see what 30+ year-old "veteran presence" we go for next!
- lindros's lung

Varone, Talbot, and Elliott are FA's, Bailey is an RFA.

2 + 3 = 5



- ThatDarnCat

Flyers fans:

It's June 18th. There's so much time left, including the draft and free agency. First off, I get the skepticism with the older players coming in. I'll take Bruan and Niskanen over 6 years of Tyler Myers any day of the week.

I also think we need to stop overrating Gudas. I liked him, but (if this past career best season is truly who he is now) he's a high-end third pairing guy, probably average third-pairing guy if he regresses to career norms. He's not moving the puck and I'm sure they didn't see an extension and/or a good enough influence on the younger defensemen.

And as for MacDonald.... yep.

This group wasn't going to win as constructed. Two draft picks (we have a ton of draft picks) and an expiring third-pairing D contract for Niskanen and Braun has added mobility, leadership, left/right balance, and in all likelihood a better D corps at the end of the day.

30s or not, we have them for two years or less. I will reserve judgement for how this roster looks in September.

But I do ask, if you were the GM, what specific moves would you be making instead?

Varone, Talbot, and Elliott are FA's, Bailey is an RFA.
- iroc4me2

Yeah but we still have negotiation rights for a couple weeks

Flyers fans:

It's June 18th. There's so much time left, including the draft and free agency. First off, I get the skepticism with the older players coming in. I'll take Bruan and Niskanen over 6 years of Tyler Myers any day of the week.

I also think we need to stop overrating Gudas. I liked him, but (if this past career best season is truly who he is now) he's a high-end third pairing guy, probably average third-pairing guy if he regresses to career norms. He's not moving the puck and I'm sure they didn't see an extension and/or a good enough influence on the younger defensemen.

And as for MacDonald.... yep.

This group wasn't going to win as constructed. Two draft picks (we have a ton of draft picks) and an expiring third-pairing D contract for Niskanen and Braun has added mobility, leadership, left/right balance, and in all likelihood a better D corps at the end of the day.

30s or not, we have them for two years or less. I will reserve judgement for how this roster looks in September.

But I do ask, if you were the GM, what specific moves would you be making instead?
- cmr.266

Giving up those kinds of assets for a 32 year old defenseman, seems like an overpayment to me. I'm not saying the d corps isn't better, to me its better. Maybe not leaps and bounds better definitely better. The job the GM has done thus far has been questionable. Still plenty of time to make a splash, and hopefully he does.

Yeah but we still have negotiation rights for a couple weeks
- lindros's lung

I wouldn't brag about that or anything

Have a feeling the Flyers are going to make a larger move on a dman with adding another one on top and building things up.

Philly may actually have improved their defense so far.
- Rinosaur

now they need to sign Provorov.

Now if only the Leaf can start to rebuild their own blue line would awesome.

Since when are most 5th round picks "good" picks?
- jmatchett383

When Dubas takes those picks and turns them into two 6th round picks and a 7th rounder.

apparently im missing something. Hes 32, horrible season, last year of a contract. minimal points.

Oh..I thought I had heard that he was a good defender. Either way, have you seen our defense? I'd bet money he'd be an upgrade.

If this is the case, can you guys really afford not to trade for Zaitsev?
- Atomic Wedgie

I think what they're saying is that they need Zaitsev. He's the missing link.