After the poop that went down at the beginning of last year, if they don't sign a quality back that does not have a chronic injury history and can take over #1 duties if Hart struggles or get injured then they will never learn.
- FlyerFan16

It was likely the biggest mistake Hextall made and the one that ultimately led to his firing, going into the season with Elliot and Neuvirth as the goalies.

Fletcher, who has been pretty methodically filling the perceived holes on the team surely knows this, and hopefully has identified who they want and the best way to get it done.

He picked Hayes as the best fit to fill the middle six C, and was pretty aggressive getting it done.

Needed a vet RH D that could play top 4 minutes and traded for Niskanen, maybe not ideal at 32 and 2 yrs left at 5.7m but probably less painful in dollars and term then trying to trade and sign Trouba or another RH D.

Going after Braun I guess fills the need to upgrade the PK and gives a guy like Sanheim the ability to play the left side and some freedom to jump into the play. Not sure this was a necessary signing but it fits into a carefully thought out plan. Btw, I find it pretty unlikely that Braun is going to be the 7th D on this team this season, despite the needs for the young guys to get playing time.

Point is, the new GM has been quite measured in getting the needs filled and is not likely to have missed them using 8 goalies last year.

I think his comments about being patient on July 1 apply to filling the 2 G spot.

The trade proposals mentioned here on HB continue to astound me. We have a defenseman with elite offensive skills who already has a 60 point season under his belt. Although he did struggle last year and had a down season. So let's trade him for a decent 30 year old 3rd line winger and a 1st round pick who may not play for the team for 2-3 years. That's not even considering Byron's contract.
- MJL

He's had one 60 point season.

He's also had two meh years. So it's not like he is this pillar of consistency. I hope he recovers and bounces back but I also feel his role at 5 on 5 could be reduced with other guys now in the fold.

He has good skills but I don't think he is exactly elite.

Would I trade him for Pual Byron. No. But to think you can't make a good hockey trade to help your team I think is kind of overvaluing him.

The trade proposals mentioned here on HB continue to astound me. We have a defenseman with elite offensive skills who already has a 60 point season under his belt. Although he did struggle last year and had a down season. So let's trade him for a decent 30 year old 3rd line winger and a 1st round pick who may not play for the team for 2-3 years. That's not even considering Byron's contract.
- MJL

You saw the return Subban got? Now think less than that for Ghost.

Ghost for Nylander makes more sense.
- cdearth23

Player wise, yes but cap is an issue.

So Seravalli tweeted Talbot is likely to end up in Calgary. Could the best option signing Elliott to a 1 yr deal cheap? In theory, they have to cover 30 games outside of Hart. The medical staff should have the most info in the league pertaining to his health. Very curious to see where they go.
- ravishingone

I never want to see Moose in ney for the Flyers again. I hope he got a degree from Wisconsin because this goalie thing isn't working out for him anymore.

He's had one 60 point season.

He's also had two meh years. So it's not like he is this pillar of consistency. I hope he recovers and bounces back but I also feel his role at 5 on 5 could be reduced with other guys now in the fold.

He has good skills but I don't think he is exactly elite.

Would I trade him for Pual Byron. No. But to think you can't make a good hockey trade to help your team I think is kind of overvaluing him.
- J35Bacher

I don't recall posting that he has had more than one 60 point season.

Unless he plays poorly again, his role at 5 on 5 should not be reduced.

I posted he has elite offensive skills and that is true.

I didn't state that you couldn't make a good hockey trade by trading Gostisbehere to help the team. I posted that the Byron deal was not a good deal.

In summary, what are you talking about?

It was likely the biggest mistake Hextall made and the one that ultimately led to his firing, going into the season with Elliot and Neuvirth as the goalies.

Fletcher, who has been pretty methodically filling the perceived holes on the team surely knows this, and hopefully has identified who they want and the best way to get it done.

He picked Hayes as the best fit to fill the middle six C, and was pretty aggressive getting it done.

Needed a vet RH D that could play top 4 minutes and traded for Niskanen, maybe not ideal at 32 and 2 yrs left at 5.7m but probably less painful in dollars and term then trying to trade and sign Trouba or another RH D.

Going after Braun I guess fills the need to upgrade the PK and gives a guy like Sanheim the ability to play the left side and some freedom to jump into the play. Not sure this was a necessary signing but it fits into a carefully thought out plan.

Point is, the new GM has been quite measured in getting the needs filled and is not likely to have missed them using 8 goalies last year.

I think his comments about being patient in July 1 apply to filling the 2 G spot.
- Marc D

Fletcher is kind of doing what Hextall tried with obtaining short term stop gaps to help ease some pressure off the youngsters. It's just the ones Fletcher got have a proven track record. He didn't bring a Boyd Gordon or Vandevelde.

Would you take Byron for Hagg? Is it that Ghost is too much to give up or just no interest in Byron.

Absolutely a role player. 3rd line wing. Another small piece.
- cdearth23

Byron for Hagg, yes, and I'm no Hagg hater.

I think Byron is a good player. I think Ghost can be/has been an exceptional player. If they're going to trade him, I'd want an impact player coming back, and I don't think Byron is one.

I never want to see Moose in ney for the Flyers again. I hope he got a degree from Wisconsin because this goalie thing isn't working out for him anymore.
- Pelle31Forever

Talbot seems much more likely although he looked not very good here. I don’t have confidence in Talbot playing 35-40 games for the Flyers. Elliot was the better goalie over Talbot when healthy but I wouldn’t resign him given his health issues.

You saw the return Subban got? Now think less than that for Ghost.
- Pelle31Forever

Subban's 9M contract was a big factor in the return for Subban. Gostisbehere has a very team friendly contract at an AV of 4.5M

I don't recall posting that he has had more than one 60 point season.

Unless he plays poorly again, his role at 5 on 5 should not be reduced.

I posted he has elite offensive skills and that is true.

I didn't state that you couldn't make a good hockey trade by trading Gostisbehere to help the team. I posted that the Byron deal was not a good deal.

In summary, what are you talking about?
- MJL

The moves have already determined it will be reduced. As of right now you have a top 4 of Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim and Bruan.

If that holds up Gostisbehere is most likely playing with Myers and I am not sure that is a great pairing as i think that will limit Myers offensive game.

The Flyers seem to have a plan of a more stay at home guy with a guy that can get offensive.

I never want to see Moose in ney for the Flyers again. I hope he got a degree from Wisconsin because this goalie thing isn't working out for him anymore.
- Pelle31Forever

You re right it may be over for him because of all the injuries. He has had one hell of a career for being an undrafted FA.

I can see the merits of a trade if they are looking for a cost certainty with term RW option. I just don t know if there is one truly out there at this time. I never thought Voracek would finish his contract as a Flyer.
- ravishingone

I agree, I just don't think they do it now.

Fletcher is kind of doing what Hextall tried with obtaining short term stop gaps to help ease some pressure off the youngsters. It's just the ones Fletcher got have a proven track record. He didn't bring a Boyd Gordon or Vandevelde.
- J35Bacher

agree but Fletch used a lot of core cap space in getting Hayes and used some significant short term cap space in the 2 D deals. Without the Braun signing maybe they could have gotten Sanheim signed for 5 yrs at 5 something per season which would look great those last 3 seasons. He had no choice but short bridge deal. It’s not terrible the way Sanheim’s deal got done but I believe he’s a stud and going to be a core guy and would have preferred a longer deal. We’ll see.

The moves have already determined it will be reduced. As of right now you have a top 4 of Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim and Bruan.

If that holds up Gostisbehere is most likely playing with Myers and I am not sure that is a great pairing as i think that will limit Myers offensive game.

The Flyers seem to have a plan of a more stay at home guy with a guy that can get offensive.
- J35Bacher

I think Myers will be the 2 RD with Braun one the 3rd.

He also played 20+ minutes a night and was a reliable player. His stats probably dont look as good considering martin jones couldnt stop a beach ball. There is no mistake in playing a reliable veteran over hagg/morin
- Richieattack18

Morin was drafted 6 years ago and he's played 8 NHL games. When is he going to be a regular in the Flyers lineup? When he's 30?

The moves have already determined it will be reduced. As of right now you have a top 4 of Provorov, Niskanen, Sanheim and Bruan.

If that holds up Gostisbehere is most likely playing with Myers and I am not sure that is a great pairing as i think that will limit Myers offensive game.

The Flyers seem to have a plan of a more stay at home guy with a guy that can get offensive.
- J35Bacher

Ice time for players is not written in stone at the time a player is acquired. If Gostisbehere finds his form and plays like he is capable of then his ice time will be increased. Playing time for players is not decided in June. It is decided on the ice.

agree but Fletch used a lot of core cap space in getting Hayes and used some significant short term cap space in the 2 D deals. Without the Braun signing maybe they could have gotten Sanheim signed for 5 yrs at 5 something per season which would look great those last 3 seasons. He had no choice but short bridge deal. It’s not terrible the way Sanheim’s deal got done but I believe he’s a stud and going to be a core guy and would have preferred a longer deal. We’ll see.
- Marc D

Agree. I didn't mind the Niskanen trade, but the Braun trade seems unneccesary to me.

Morin was drafted 6 years ago and he's played 8 NHL games. When is he going to be a regular in the Flyers lineup? When he's 30?
- PLindbergh31

When he is healthy and proves he deserves the spot. Braun has proven his spot.

Subban's 9M contract was a big factor in the return for Subban. Gostisbehere has a very team friendly contract at an AV of 4.5M
- MJL

That's a good point. But you have to somewhere come down in between the high end player(s) you think you could get and the mid level role players suggested.

I'm sure picks and prospects are options and sweeteners.

Basically I don't think Ghosts' biggest fans would love the return and his haters might be a little surprised.

It was likely the biggest mistake Hextall made and the one that ultimately led to his firing, going into the season with Elliot and Neuvirth as the goalies.

Fletcher, who has been pretty methodically filling the perceived holes on the team surely knows this, and hopefully has identified who they want and the best way to get it done.

He picked Hayes as the best fit to fill the middle six C, and was pretty aggressive getting it done.

Needed a vet RH D that could play top 4 minutes and traded for Niskanen, maybe not ideal at 32 and 2 yrs left at 5.7m but probably less painful in dollars and term then trying to trade and sign Trouba or another RH D.

Going after Braun I guess fills the need to upgrade the PK and gives a guy like Sanheim the ability to play the left side and some freedom to jump into the play. Not sure this was a necessary signing but it fits into a carefully thought out plan. Btw, I find it pretty unlikely that Braun is going to be the 7th D on this team this season, despite the needs for the young guys to get playing time.

Point is, the new GM has been quite measured in getting the needs filled and is not likely to have missed them using 8 goalies last year.

I think his comments about being patient on July 1 apply to filling the 2 G spot.
- Marc D

All good points and I know they're not done yet. I just see them getting closer to the cap and still have an important spot not filled.

Ice time for players is not written in stone at the time a player is acquired. If Gostisbehere finds his form and plays like he is capable of then his ice time will be increased. Playing time for players is not decided in June. It is decided on the ice.
- MJL

I didn't say it was. And maybe he does.

But they are also putting it together with a idea of what they might like.

After the poop that went down at the beginning of last year, if they don't sign a quality back that does not have a chronic injury history and can take over #1 duties if Hart struggles or get injured then they will never learn.
- FlyerFan16

Exactly there are plenty of back ups that would do the trick for us without the health issues Elliott has.

Let's talk about the lineup. Assume TK, Provy and Laughton all sign the RFA deals. Forget about cap space, what is left to fill the roster? Another RW, a 13th forward and a back up goalie? Is Bailey or NAK the 13th forward?
- FlyerFan16

Like a lot of us I am really interested to see how that back up goalie plays out even more than the other remaining spots.

Would be a fan of Elliot but like MJL said that injury history is too much to risk there.

agree but Fletch used a lot of core cap space in getting Hayes and used some significant short term cap space in the 2 D deals. Without the Braun signing maybe they could have gotten Sanheim signed for 5 yrs at 5 something per season which would look great those last 3 seasons. He had no choice but short bridge deal. It’s not terrible the way Sanheim’s deal got done but I believe he’s a stud and going to be a core guy and would have preferred a longer deal. We’ll see.
- Marc D

I don't agree with those who state that Provorov won't be a big time defenseman when he fully develops but I agree with those that say that Sanheim has all the tools to be a star defenseman in this league.