Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Down Jets, 4-2

AV seems to have a real handle on this group.

Bill I know you don’t like to speculate too much on trade rumors and what not. With how well they have been playing and reading too much into comments, what do you think the chances of them bolstering the 3 rd or 4 th line center position is. Always comes down to partners and cost but I could see them trying to get a 4 th line center for more depth with some of the other injuries/ unknowns. Thanks.

AV seems to have a real handle on this group.
- Tomahawk

They’re fun to watch, too — I tried to remember the last time I enjoyed watching every line and d-pair and goaltender, knowing that you never have a perfect team, and it’s been at least 15 years

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Down Jets, 4-2
- bmeltzer

Notable difference this year has been getting on the board first, and playing with the lead. You think the win, and where the standings are now pushes fletch towards making deal.

I think doing a deal sends a message to the team/league/fans that we aren't messing around anymore (haven't been "buyers" per say in 5 plus year), and legitimatizes all the efforts and production so far this year.

On the other hand, stand pat and wait and see how much noise this group can make as is. Just hope it's all for naught and a early playoff exit be the outcome. I would not consider or recognize a first round playoff exit as a successful season.

Don’t see much happening trade wise today with the Flyers carnival today. Any depth moves most likely will be tonight.
I wouldn’t expect anything other than solidifying the 4th. Bunny isn’t terrible but an improvement can be made.
Getting a third line center is unlikely imo.
I don’t see Patrick playing this year. It would be tough to get back in the lineup during the playoff push after not playing all year.

AV seems to have a real handle on this group.
- Tomahawk

No question, AV has been pulling all the right strings. What happens when Ghost comes back? I think Hagg and Braun have been very good, he cant break them up.
Does Ghost sit in the press box , do they dress 7, or is he traded Monday.

No question, AV has been pulling all the right strings. What happens when Ghost comes back? I think Hagg and Braun have been very good, he cant break them up.
Does Ghost sit in the press box , do they dress 7, or is he traded Monday.
- 3flyerkids

No doubt that the team has bought in to the system! It goes to show how not having the right message and structure in place can lead to total dysfunction on the ice and in the standings.

That could also play a part in any move fletch does or doesn't do. Fit is always key.

Notable difference this year has been getting on the board first, and playing with the lead. You think the win, and where the standings are now pushes fletch towards making deal.

I think doing a deal sends a message to the team/league/fans that we aren't messing around anymore (haven't been "buyers" per say in 5 plus year), and legitimatizes all the efforts and production so far this year.

On the other hand, stand pat and wait and see how much noise this group can make as is. Just hope it's all for naught and a early playoff exit be the outcome. I would not consider or recognize a first round playoff exit as a successful season.
- Bryz's Buyout Fund

Flyers have had a lot of first period difficulties this year. Over all it has been the 2nd and 3rd periods that have been their best.

I think the mandate given by management and the moves made in the off season have already sent that message.

Don’t see much happening trade wise today with the Flyers carnival today. Any depth moves most likely will be tonight.
I wouldn’t expect anything other than solidifying the 4th. Bunny isn’t terrible but an improvement can be made.
Getting a third line center is unlikely imo.
I don’t see Patrick playing this year. It would be tough to get back in the lineup during the playoff push after not playing all year.
- bird_dog_pa

I don't think the carnival is going to hold off a deal if it's there.

AV seems to have a real handle on this group.
- Tomahawk

Buy in is everything. The team is confident and having fun.

Flyers have had a lot of first period difficulties this year. Over all it has been the 2nd and 3rd periods that have been their best.

I think the mandate given by management and the moves made in the off season have already sent that message.
- MJL

I was implying a notable difference vs. last year, which is true. But given that just about everything has improved over last year, that point can be moot.

No doubt the off season moves have yielded a better than expected return. Farabee is another notable bright spot, but you could argue he'd still be in the minors if it wasn't for Oskar and/or Patrick. He's filled in nicely, but Oskar was on his way 30 goals. Do you not try to find a deal out there to replace or fill in for that type of production?

I was implying a notable difference vs. last year, which is true. But given that just about everything has improved over last year, that point can be moot.

No doubt the off season moves have yielded a better than expected return. Farabee is another notable bright spot, but you could argue he'd still be in the minors if it wasn't for Oskar and/or Patrick. He's filled in nicely, but Oskar was on his way 30 goals. Do you not try to find a deal out there to replace or fill in for that type of production?
- Bryz's Buyout Fund

I don't want the Flyers adding an older player in a deal for now. The best way to replace that production is to develop a player in the system. Go with what you have. They're building something special here. Don't screw it up because of a lack of patience.

I don't want the Flyers adding an older player in a deal for now. The best way to replace that production is to develop a player in the system. Go with what you have. They're building something special here. Don't screw it up because of a lack of patience.
- MJL

A common sense approach is what the team should take, hopefully they do.

Bill I know you don’t like to speculate too much on trade rumors and what not. With how well they have been playing and reading too much into comments, what do you think the chances of them bolstering the 3 rd or 4 th line center position is. Always comes down to partners and cost but I could see them trying to get a 4 th line center for more depth with some of the other injuries/ unknowns. Thanks.
- Peter Richards

Plain and simple, they are very limited in what they add due to cap constraints (unless salary is moved out and I don't think they want to sell too low on Ghost solely for cap space). I do think they'll try to add something, but as I've said to everyone who has asked about Jeff Carter -- and I know you are talking strictly bottom-end depth -- "You can't reacquire Jeff Carter on a Nick Cousins budget." That's about what they can afford.

I don't want the Flyers adding an older player in a deal for now. The best way to replace that production is to develop a player in the system. Go with what you have. They're building something special here. Don't screw it up because of a lack of patience.
- MJL

The organization will always continue to develop players regardless of where they are at in the standings. That's a part of running a successful organization. You gotta think Frost will be full time next year, Farabee too obviously and those guys will have a window for the next handful of years to develop on the big stage. York, O'brien, Brink, even Ratcliffe, a few years away, but coming up the pipleine for sure.

I def don't want an older veteran rental.

Looks like Ustimenko just might be a top notch prospect, nice.

Plain and simple, they are very limited in what they add due to cap constraints (unless salary is moved out and I don't think they want to sell too low on Ghost solely for cap space). I do think they'll try to add something, but as I've said to everyone who has asked about Jeff Carter -- and I know you are talking strictly bottom-end depth -- "You can't reacquire Jeff Carter on a Nick Cousins budget." That's about what they can afford.
- bmeltzer

The salary cap is a joke. Always has been. I get creating more parity and evening the playing field for smaller market teams, but I’m sorry it’s a big no for me. If smaller markets don’t want to pay their players, that’s on them. The cap prevents players from being paid their fair market value, and gives billionaire owners a fixed payroll expense to work their earnings around. When the face of the NHL and best player in the world (#97), makes as much as: bench players in the NBA, the 104th highest paid player in MLB, the 105th highest paid player in NFL; there’s a real problem. Especially given the vigorous and grueling nature of an 82 game NHL regular season plus playoffs.

Plain and simple, they are very limited in what they add due to cap constraints (unless salary is moved out and I don't think they want to sell too low on Ghost solely for cap space). I do think they'll try to add something, but as I've said to everyone who has asked about Jeff Carter -- and I know you are talking strictly bottom-end depth -- "You can't reacquire Jeff Carter on a Nick Cousins budget." That's about what they can afford.
- bmeltzer

Thanks. Alright everyone. Any 4 th line targets out there.

Nate Thompson. Lewis. Cousins. Shore. Who else is feasible. Forgot Thornton (highly doubtful) and marleau. Grant.

I know I missed someone. Who should we target

The salary cap is a joke. Always has been. I get creating more parity and evening the playing field for smaller market teams, but I’m sorry it’s a big no for me. If smaller markets don’t want to pay their players, that’s on them. The cap prevents players from being paid their fair market value, and gives billionaire owners a fixed payroll expense to work their earnings around. When the face of the NHL and best player in the world (#97), makes as much as: bench players in the NBA, the 104th highest paid player in MLB, the 105th highest paid player in NFL; there’s a real problem. Especially given the vigorous and grueling nature of an 82 game NHL regular season plus playoffs.
- Bryz's Buyout Fund

Double edge sword. Bad teams not making the playoffs do not have deep pockets. Each league has its flaws as well. Surprised the rfa status is as long as it is. And agree it is flawed. Business.

The salary cap is a joke. Always has been. I get creating more parity and evening the playing field for smaller market teams, but I’m sorry it’s a big no for me. If smaller markets don’t want to pay their players, that’s on them. The cap prevents players from being paid their fair market value, and gives billionaire owners a fixed payroll expense to work their earnings around. When the face of the NHL and best player in the world (#97), makes as much as: bench players in the NBA, the 104th highest paid player in MLB, the 105th highest paid player in NFL; there’s a real problem. Especially given the vigorous and grueling nature of an 82 game NHL regular season plus playoffs.
- Bryz's Buyout Fund

There is so much that is wrong here it's hard to know where to start. Starting with comparing sports. The salaries of the players are different in sports based on the revenue generated by the sports. Hockey doesn't generate the revenue of other sports.
Although the league has said it helps to create parity, that was not the reason for the Cap. The reason for the cap is because the players were getting too big of a share of revenue. Now no doubt that was the fault of the teams but it was true nonetheless. Before the cap, the players were getting upwards of 70% of league revenue.

I don't think the carnival is going to hold off a deal if it's there.
- MJL

Yes, it will. If you read what I said we won’t hear about anything until after the carnival. I highly doubt a player gets traded as they are involved in carnival activities.
If anything happens today it will be this evening I would bet.

Double edge sword. Bad teams not making the playoffs do not have deep pockets. Each league has its flaws as well. Surprised the rfa status is as long as it is. And agree it is flawed. Business.
- Peter Richards

The RFA compensation (multiple first round draft picks potentially) is a joke. If a team is not willing to pay their player, that's on them. They should absolutely not be rewarded with draft pick compensation for not matching an offer sheet.

That's why if you notice, a player like Matthews in tor elected to go with a 5 year deal, instead of the 7 or 8 year term. Allows him to walk as a UFA at 27 year old still in the heart of his prime.

When a player like Mackinnon is suggesting himself to be willing to take a pay cut to help the Avs out, there's a problem. He shouldn't under any circumstances have to take a pay cut.

It appears that to beat Hart, you must use metal.

I wonder how many goals are 'ringers' across the league? What proportion? How many scuff the cage's pipes and don't go in?
Of course, I have a partial life and am unable to follow up on this. (Laziness is running interference too.)
However, I will read such an article.

Yes, it will. If you read what I said we won’t hear about anything until after the carnival. I highly doubt a player gets traded as they are involved in carnival activities.
If anything happens today it will be this evening I would bet.
- bird_dog_pa

So you're telling me if Fletcher gets on the phone and gets offered a deal during the carnival he likes, he's going to tell the other GM to call back after the carnival? They may wait to announce the deal but it's not going to stop a deal from happening.