This is kind of where I am, at least in the present. Hayes, Niskanen, and...well, let's just stop there...aren't players who will put you over the top. But what they can do is be parts of the solution going forward either directly on indirectly, and they make the team better than they were last year. It doesn't have to always be the big fish, sometimes it's more the collection and mix, and I hope Hayes can be part of that.

I honestly think the move is a bit too long and/or high, but as a fan, I'm just going to have some hope that it works.
- jmatchett383

And Maybe it is. But then you find ways moving forward.

Maybe you move a van reismdyk after this year.

Maybe a Voracek is gone.

We know Braun is gone.

Maybe you supplant guys like Laughton and Raffl with really cheap youngsters.

Waive Raffl to Lehigh

There are things you can do to navigate this moving forward.

Yesterday people wanted to sign 34 year old Pavelski to 4 and 5 year deals.

Maybe now with the addition of some solid veterans, there is no 10 game losing streak.

Maybe Braun and Niskanen provide a solid presence on the back end a let guys like Provorov and Sanheim and Myers play to there strengths.

Things in sports are circular. Yes. There will be a time where they will need to reshape the roster again. But I think it is time to compete. Get in and make a run. It's funny how I didn't see Islander fans complaining about being in the playoffs even if they were "cup contenders"
- J35Bacher

That’s a lot of maybes. Last season was built on maybe the goaltenders staying healthy, maybe voyborov would excel at center, maybe Patrick breaks out...

With no NMC he'll get taken in the expansion draft in 2 years (even if we have to pay to get that done) and we'll have only paid for the rest of his prime

Bill, what wingers has Hayes played with in the past? Will the projected slot here put him with the best talent he has played with?

Not a fan of the term at all.
Maybe Fletch is thinking Hayes will be taken in expansion draft and Nopa will be the no doubt about it #2 Center.
This leaves me wondering what contract for Provy will look like.
I can’t see a long term deal being signed unless it’s a progressive deal starting around 5m a year and ending 7.5m or so at 7-8 years and a NMC.

That’s a lot of maybes. Last season was built on maybe the goaltenders staying healthy, maybe voyborov would excel at center, maybe Patrick breaks out...
- corduroy

I'd rather go with those maybes as opposed to:

- Maybe Patrick is a 2C.
- Maybe Laughton is a 3C.
- Maybe Vorobyov is a 4C.
- Maybe Elliott and Neuvirth will be healthy (HA!).
- Maybe we'll have a solid top-6 D

Every team, including St. Louis and Boston, has some "maybes" going into every season. But if you can eliminate the roster spot "maybes", it makes the rest of them much more manageable.

Waits for everyone to freak out

A year too long and half a million too much per year but he'll also be expansion draft bait. Also I bet after the next lockout we will have buyouts like last time so if it's truly a terrible contract we can get out from it
- bulet13

Sounds like a brilliant management strategy.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m betting there is a full NMC, thus requiring his protection at the expansion draft, so that’s out. Also counting on a buyout due to a resolution from a lockout that hasn’t even happened yet.

Is this the sequel to The Art of the Deal?? When can I buy this?

Sounds like a brilliant management strategy.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m betting there is a full NMC, thus requiring his protection at the expansion draft, so that’s out. Also counting on a buyout due to a resolution from a lockout that hasn’t even happened yet.

Is this the sequel to The Art of the Deal?? When can I buy this?
- StepfordSam

The exact structure of the deal -- signing bonus,real-dollar salary each season -- is not confirmed. It is not believed that the contract will contain a no-movement clause (which would force the Flyers to protect Hayes in the Expansion Draft in 2021).
- bmeltzer

But carry on.

Sounds like a brilliant management strategy.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m betting there is a full NMC, thus requiring his protection at the expansion draft, so that’s out. Also counting on a buyout due to a resolution from a lockout that hasn’t even happened yet.

Is this the sequel to The Art of the Deal?? When can I buy this?
- StepfordSam

Oh, you know something more than all the reporters that have talked about the deal?

You don't think that maybe we overpaid him because there is not a NMC? No that would make too much sense for someone like yourself to comprehend

Oh, you know something more than all the reporters that have talked about the deal?

You don't think that maybe we overpaid him because there is not a NMC? No that would make too much sense for someone like yourself to comprehend
- bulet13

Just speculation, as was implied by the sentence.

Keep drinking the kool aid though. Slurrrpp.

How we doing today flyers fans ?

Oh, you know something more than all the reporters that have talked about the deal?

You don't think that maybe we overpaid him because there is not a NMC? No that would make too much sense for someone like yourself to comprehend
- bulet13

If they were able to avoid a NMC as Bill speculated, that would be huge. And it would make this deal a little easier to swallow.

Just speculation, as was implied by the sentence.

Keep drinking the kool aid though. Slurrrpp.
- StepfordSam

Again, the reports coming from people like Bob McKenzie who have actual sources in the league are saying that a NTC/NMC is unlikely, so what exactly are you basing that is probably DOES have one off of?

If they were able to avoid a NMC as Bill speculated, that would be huge. And it would make this deal a little easier to swallow.
- MBFlyerfan

Honestly, that's what I'm looking at the 5th rounder getting is. If he hit UFA, he'd get a deal like this or similar from someone, and someone would likely use a NMC/NTC as leverage. Since we were able to negotiate early, we didn't have to get into a bidding war.

Again, it's longer/higher than I'd have liked, but it's not crippling either.

Again, the reports coming from people like Bob McKenzie who have actual sources in the league are saying that a NTC/NMC is unlikely, so what exactly are you basing that is probably DOES have one off of?
- jmatchett383

Again, it is simple speculation on my part. I would think that a player like Hayes would want something like that in his next contract. Not all the details are confirmed.

I’m not claiming to know this 100%. So why the interrogation?

The fact remains that it is a bad deal and counting on things like the expansion draft and buyouts from a CBA agreement from a lockout that hasn’t even happened yet is bad business and shouldn’t be used to justify a poor signing.

How we doing today flyers fans ?
- daryl stanley

More worried about the Braun trade than Hayes. I was prepared for that amount and term. Fletch was not going to let him get to UFA no matter what. We'll see how this works out going forward but hopefully the team is better today.

My preference would be to add a UFA forward and backup goalie if need be, and then make the rest of the picks, and then just shut it down until camp. I can live with these moves, but let's keep on the path of making the team a perennial contender, and not 3 years of playoffs then cap hell also rans.

I'd prefer not to trade Ghost, but I really expect him and a prospect or pick to be gone by early next week for a winger.

How we doing today flyers fans ?
- daryl stanley

I am fine.

I have a good perspective and excited to see good hockey next year.

How are you my friend?

Honestly, that's what I'm looking at the 5th rounder getting is. If he hit UFA, he'd get a deal like this or similar from someone, and someone would likely use a NMC/NTC as leverage. Since we were able to negotiate early, we didn't have to get into a bidding war.

Again, it's longer/higher than I'd have liked, but it's not crippling either.
- jmatchett383

Exactly. We knew this was coming, so I have moved on. He'd was going to get that money somewhere.

So the last week has been a fun ride to say the least...

I don't like the trade yesterday, but I know it did make the team better. Signing Hayes also made the team better...I think Fletcher is doing the things Hexy didn't last year and he is getting the pieces we HAD to have to go into next season.

Fletcher shed all the players that did not fit and that started last year...
Niskanen is an upgrade over Gudas
We needed a center and paying 9 or 10 million for Duschene was probably going to be a swing and miss. He GOT the second best option, and a good PK guy.
In Braun he got a solid D man that is also good on the PK and for one year with maybe a chance to extend him if needed...

He still needs a goalie and another top 9 winger...I think it will be Zucc, or at least that is what they will try for...again, another character guy.

All the rookies will stay in the AHL because Frost will need to learn how to play wing and it won't hurt to have them learn the ropes down there...

Not being part of team negative but the reason I think the trade for Braun was sub optimal is that they should have traded for him after they moved one of their young D-Men. Right now the league knows they are going to have to unload one of Ghost, Morin or Hagg and that move won't be from a position of strength...Hagg is 24 and probably a career third liner, Ghost can be a dynamic play maker and Morin is an unknown, but probably a strong 5/6 guy. None of these guys really have had the NHL coaching that is going to come in this year, so where their true ceiling is I am not sure we will know...timing may have sucked for Fletcher and Braun may have been shopped to other teams and Fletcher could not pass so he made the deal..if that was the case then I guess it is what it is...

All that being said, the team is better...we have upgraded several parts to the PK and got guys that overall stay out of the box so again, not needing to rely on the PK and all 3 play a smart 2 way game...all things Fletcher wanted to change...

Again, it is simple speculation on my part. I would think that a player like Hayes would want something like that in his next contract. Not all the details are confirmed.

I’m not claiming to know this 100%. So why the interrogation?

The fact remains that it is a bad deal and counting on things like the expansion draft and buyouts from a CBA agreement from a lockout that hasn’t even happened yet is bad business and shouldn’t be used to justify a poor signing.
- StepfordSam

Not being a jerk but why is it a bad deal?

Because you don't like it?

When you have signings like this is where it is important not to overpay for your 4th line guys. Hopefully you have them on entry level deals or vet at 1m per. Going to be interesting to see what Laughton and Hartman get. Maybe they are both moved ...

I would have preferred the trade route to get a center. Maybe the cost was too high who knows.

So the last week has been a fun ride to say the least...

I don't like the trade yesterday, but I know it did make the team better. Signing Hayes also made the team better...I think Fletcher is doing the things Hexy didn't last year and he is getting the pieces we HAD to have to go into next season.

Fletcher shed all the players that did not fit and that started last year...
Niskanen is an upgrade over Gudas
We needed a center and paying 9 or 10 million for Duschene was probably going to be a swing and miss. He GOT the second best option, and a good PK guy.
In Braun he got a solid D man that is also good on the PK and for one year with maybe a chance to extend him if needed...

He still needs a goalie and another top 9 winger...I think it will be Zucc, or at least that is what they will try for...again, another character guy.

All the rookies will stay in the AHL because Frost will need to learn how to play wing and it won't hurt to have them learn the ropes down there...

Not being part of team negative but the reason I think the trade for Braun was sub optimal is that they should have traded for him after they moved one of their young D-Men. Right now the league knows they are going to have to unload one of Ghost, Morin or Hagg and that move won't be from a position of strength...Hagg is 24 and probably a career third liner, Ghost can be a dynamic play maker and Morin is an unknown, but probably a strong 5/6 guy. None of these guys really have had the NHL coaching that is going to come in this year, so where their true ceiling is I am not sure we will know...timing may have sucked for Fletcher and Braun may have been shopped to other teams and Fletcher could not pass so he made the deal..if that was the case then I guess it is what it is...

All that being said, the team is better...we have upgraded several parts to the PK and got guys that overall stay out of the box so again, not needing to rely on the PK and all 3 play a smart 2 way game...all things Fletcher wanted to change...
- JW98FlyerFan

The only thing i will say is that with Karlsson off the board and Trouba in NY, Gostisbehere could be highest value. Do teams think they will move a young defender. probably. But now you will have mutiple teams bidding. Lots of teams are looking for defenders.

More worried about the Braun trade than Hayes. I was prepared for that amount and term. Fletch was not going to let him get to UFA no matter what. We'll see how this works out going forward but hopefully the team is better today.

My preference would be to add a UFA forward and backup goalie if need be, and then make the rest of the picks, and then just shut it down until camp. I can live with these moves, but let's keep on the path of making the team a perennial contender, and not 3 years of playoffs then cap hell also rans.

I'd prefer not to trade Ghost, but I really expect him and a prospect or pick to be gone by early next week for a winger.
- Hextall271

Not worried at all about Braun.

They def need a very good backup goalie. That is the key imo. If hart struggles they could be doomed again.

Get bigger! Get players that kill penalties! Get a 2C!

Fletch goes and does it and everyone goes apepoop.

I am fine.

I have a good perspective and excited to see good hockey next year.

How are you my friend?
- J35Bacher

The on ice product should be better and that’s what I like as well. The last decade has been brutal really