Personally I hope I don't hear jack from the Flyers today. Definitely "Just Say No" to rentals.
- Pelle31Forever

The Kovalchuk rental for Washington is going to cripple them for decades.

None of those moves scare me or make me think the Flyers can't hang with either team in a 7 game series (should they make the playoffs).
- Pelle31Forever

The Bruins have 3.4 in cap space going into today. Lets see what else they do.

Rumors of Simmonds to the Pens actually makes me feel physically ill.

So let's recap:

Boston- Kase, + cleared cap space for today moving 75% of a corpse contract
TB- Coleman + Bogo
Wash - Dillon + Kovalchuk
Pittsburgh - Zucker

Fletcher is on the clock.
- PLindbergh31

So basically they all made ancillary moves that don't move the needle much if at all. I would rather we stand pat with what we got if that is the case.

So let's recap:

Boston- Kase, + cleared cap space for today moving 75% of a corpse contract
TB- Coleman + Bogo
Wash - Dillon + Kovalchuk
Pittsburgh - Zucker

Fletcher is on the clock.
- PLindbergh31

Which ought to affect the Flyers... well, none. A club should approach the deadline to make the right moves for THEIR team, and not because Team A added so-and-so and Team B added so-and-so, so we'd better make a move to appease the fans.

How many deadline deals, especially for rentals, end up moving needle significantly that spring in and of themselves? A small percenetage. Even with non-rentals who make an impact, that impact often isn't evident until future season(s).

I have no issue with the Flyers making move(s) today, but I couldn't care less about who other teams added. Of the players you listed only Zucker (who came at a very expensive asset cost) and Dillon (a playoff warrior type on D) would be someone I'd say might be a difference maker in a playoff series, and both of those guys have some limitations.

I have no idea why the Caps felt they had a need for Kovalchuk. Reminds me of when the Rangers went out and got way-past-their-primes Kurri and McSorley (outbidding the Flyers, actually, to do it), except Kurri at least still was sound defensively and McSorley still brought toughness. Kovalchuk's main value at this point is that he's still got a heavy shot if someone feeds him the puck. If he's not scoring goals, he adds zero to a lineup anymore. And the Caps, I believe, may already have a player who likes to park himself in a favored spot and be fed pucks to shoot. Believe he wears No. 8.

Also, as JSaq pointed out on Twitter, Kovalchuk's production over the last 15 games or so has been equaled by Flyers fourth line rookie Nicolas Aube-Kubel. At this point, Kovalchuk is still a name in the way that Vinny Lecavalier was still a name near the end, but not an actual asset to a lineup for more than a game here and a game there when he's scoring.

So basically they all made ancillary moves that don't move the needle much if at all. I would rather we stand pat with what we got if that is the case.
- MBFlyerfan

Zucker's been in the top 6 mix with Guentzel down. 5 pts in 7 games

The other moves are more low key for sure.

So basically they all made ancillary moves that don't move the needle much if at all. I would rather we stand pat with what we got if that is the case.
- MBFlyerfan

TB adding a guy who has as many goals as any player on the Flyers this year is an ancillary move?

Which ought to affect the Flyers... well, none. A club should approach the deadline to make the right moves for THEIR team, and not because Team A added so-and-so and Team B added so-and-so, so we'd better make a move to appease the fans.

How many deadline deals, especially for rentals, end up moving needle significantly that spring in and of themselves? A small percenetage. Even with non-rentals who make an impact, that impact often isn't evident until future season(s).

I have no issue with the Flyers making move(s) today, but I couldn't care less about who other teams added. Of the players you listed only Zucker (who came at a very expensive asset cost) and Dillon (a playoff warrior type on D) would be someone I'd say might be a difference maker in a playoff series, and both of those guys have some limitations.

I have no idea why the Caps felt they had a need for Kovalchuk. Reminds me of when the Rangers went out and got way-past-their-primes Kurri and McSorley (outbidding the Flyers, actually, to do it), except Kurri at least still was sound defensively and McSorley still brought toughness. Kovalchuk's main value at this point is that he's still got a heavy shot if someone feeds him the puck. If he's not scoring goals, he adds zero to a lineup anymore. And the Caps, I believe, may already have a player who likes to park himself in a favored spot and be fed pucks to shoot. Believe he wears No. 8.

Also, as JSaq pointed out on Twitter, Kovalchuk's production over the last 15 games or so has been equaled by Flyers fourth line rookie Nicolas Aube-Kubel. At this point, Kovalchuk is still a name in the way that Vinny Lecavalier was still a name near the end, but not an actual asset to a lineup for more than a game here and a game there when he's scoring.
- bmeltzer

Blake Coleman adds zero to TB's lineup you forgot point that out.

Which ought to affect the Flyers... well, none. A club should approach the deadline to make the right moves for THEIR team, and not because Team A added so-and-so and Team B added so-and-so, so we'd better make a move to appease the fans.

How many deadline deals, especially for rentals, end up moving needle significantly that spring in and of themselves? A small percenetage. Even with non-rentals who make an impact, that impact often isn't evident until future season(s).

I have no issue with the Flyers making move(s) today, but I couldn't care less about who other teams added. Of the players you listed only Zucker (who came at a very expensive asset cost) and Dillon (a playoff warrior type on D) would be someone I'd say might be a difference maker in a playoff series, and both of those guys have some limitations.


I have no idea why the Caps felt they had a need for Kovalchuk. Reminds me of when the Rangers went out and got way-past-their-primes Kurri and McSorley (outbidding the Flyers, actually, to do it), except Kurri at least still was sound defensively and McSorley still brought toughness. Kovalchuk's main value at this point is that he's still got a heavy shot if someone feeds him the puck. If he's not scoring goals, he adds zero to a lineup anymore. And the Caps, I believe, may already have a player who likes to park himself in a favored spot and be fed pucks to shoot. Believe he wears No. 8.

Also, as JSaq pointed out on Twitter, Kovalchuk's production over the last 15 games or so has been equaled by Flyers fourth line rookie Nicolas Aube-Kubel. At this point, Kovalchuk is still a name in the way that Vinny Lecavalier was still a name near the end, but not an actual asset to a lineup for more than a game here and a game there when he's scoring.
- bmeltzer

Kovalchuk is a nice add if you need a powerplay specialist. Thing is, he likely slots in on PP2 and how often does the Caps 2nd unit get on the ice with how lethal unit 1 is?

TB adding a guy who has as many goals as any player on the Flyers this year is an ancillary move?
- PLindbergh31

Ehh, it's a cushy depth move. His production is good this year, and could be considered a breakout season. He was getting more top 6, and pp minutes with NJD and certainly won't be seeing as much with the lightning.

The Bruins have 3.4 in cap space going into today. Lets see what else they do.
- PLindbergh31

I agree teams can better buy I don't see enough fire power out there today to significantly make one leaps and bounds better than the rest.

The Bruins have 3.4 in cap space going into today. Lets see what else they do.
- PLindbergh31

It's mostly available LTIR allowance.... they have $261,779 worth of open cap space.

I didn't want to bring cap penalties for next year due to bonuses causing overages on this year's cap -- that becomes an off-season issue, and is better discussed then -- but teams need to be very careful about when they are/aren't willing to pay the price of losing space off the top for next year.

Toronto currently has $95,062,519 worth of payroll on the cap this season!!! They still have $9.88 million of LTIR allowance they can use today but it's going to be very interesting to see where they end up in terms of next year's cap ceiling. LTIR isn't "free cap space" and they've abused it and then some by stocking up on contracts for players they knew going in weren't going to play just so they could exceed the cap to get their own guys signed.

Kovalchuk is a nice add if you need a powerplay specialist. Thing is, he likely slots in on PP2 and how often does the Caps 2nd unit get on the ice with how lethal unit 1 is?
- arichardson22

And Ovechkin plays the full 2 minutes.... he is part of PP1 and PP2. They didn't need Kovalchuk at all. I get that the cap hit was minimal, but I don't the hockey need for him.

this is a weird TD for the Flyers....some of the young guys have played pretty well. I haven't seen many rentals that would be worth some of the prices being tossed around. I think the Flyers for the first time in a long time have the depth from with in to be able to stand pat. That's not to say there might not be an upgrade out there that makes sense, but unless it's a "hockey trade" that addresses both this year and the future then I won't get very excited. First time in10 years I didn't blow off work to watch all day....

Rumors of Simmonds to the Pens actually makes me feel physically ill.
- NC Flyers Fan

Please no.

So let's recap:

Boston- Kase, + cleared cap space for today moving 75% of a corpse contract
TB- Coleman + Bogo
Wash - Dillon + Kovalchuk
Pittsburgh - Zucker

Fletcher is on the clock.
- PLindbergh31

AS long as Fletcher makes a choice that isn't bad for the team then I will be happy.
That choice could be doing nothing or making a similar move to what you listed.
What Im not interested in is a deal involving one of Farabee or Frost for a 33 year old forward.

So let's recap:

Boston- Kase, + cleared cap space for today moving 75% of a corpse contract
TB- Coleman + Bogo
Wash - Dillon + Kovalchuk
Pittsburgh - Zucker

Fletcher is on the clock.
- PLindbergh31

Worrying this much about other teams' moves is what gets GMs in trouble with making knee jerk reactions and overpaying. Fletcher just needs to recognize if there is a place we can actually improve at without hurting what we have now and what we can have moving forward

The Bruins have 3.4 in cap space going into today. Lets see what else they do.
- PLindbergh31

I missed the Kase trade to Boston. Good pickup but paid quite a price.

I missed the Kase trade to Boston. Good pickup but paid quite a price.
- Hextall271

They attached 75% of Backus salary to the package that went back to the Ducks.

Blake Coleman adds zero to TB's lineup you forgot point that out.
- PLindbergh31

How much of a difference maker was Coleman in New Jersey? Good player. How much better did he make the Devils by his presence? Slightly. How much does he figure to help Tampa? He'll help. He makes an already very deep Tampa team a bit deeper in a slightly revised role and can benefit from favorable matchups. Nice fit for them at the cost of a conditional 2020 1st round pick plus a guy who was just drafted in the first round in 2019.

Are you buying at those store prices if you're Chuck? I'm not.

I missed the Kase trade to Boston. Good pickup but paid quite a price.
- Hextall271

Kase is also coming off a head-related injury and has a history of being rather injury prone. Like him quite a bit when he's able to stay in the lineup.

Worrying this much about other teams' moves is what gets GMs in trouble with making knee jerk reactions and overpaying. Fletcher just needs to recognize if there is a place we can actually improve at without hurting what we have now and what we can have moving forward
- arichardson22

It's a pre-cap example, but I'll go back to it. Neil Smith was so upset that the Flyers had landed Joel Otto as a UFA (his preferred target to go head-to-head with Lindros after Flyers swept Rangers the previous spring) and bothered by the rampant rumors that the Flyers were going to trade with LA for Jari Kurri and Marty McSorley that he got into a bidding war with Clarkie.

Well, Smith won the bidding war. He got Kurri, McSorley and Shane Churla. All it cost him was Ray Ferraro (with several 20+ goal seasons still left in him), Mattias Norström (who became a rock-solid fixture on the LA blueline for the next decade), a young Ian Laperriere (1,000+ NHL games, of which only 28 were with the Rangers), Nathan Lafayette (negligble loss there) and mid-round draft pick assets.

All of that to find out that the 36-year-old Kurri was an offensive shell of himself at that very late stage of his career and McSorley being matched against top lines often meant the red light going on behind the Rangers net.

Different era, different economic system. Same lesson: caveat emptor.

Blake Coleman adds zero to TB's lineup you forgot point that out.
- PLindbergh31

I'm sure you would have been thrilled if the Flyers gave up Bobby Brink and a 1st for a bottom 6 guy.

How much of a difference maker was Coleman in New Jersey? Good player. How much better did he make the Devils by his presence? Slightly. How much does he figure to help Tampa? He'll help. He makes an already very deep Tampa team a bit deeper in a slightly revised role and can benefit from favorable matchups. Nice fit for them at the cost of a conditional 2020 1st round pick plus a guy who was just drafted in the first round in 2019.

Are you buying at those store prices if you're Chuck? I'm not.
- bmeltzer

I'm not going to penalize players who produce for not making bad teams better. If that is the case how much of a difference maker was McDavid the last two years when the Oilers have missed the playoffs. Kind of foolish to debate.

I'm not going to penalize players who produce for not making bad teams better. If that is the case how much of a difference maker was McDavid the last two years when the Oilers have missed the playoffs. Kind of foolish to debate.
- PLindbergh31

You're comparing Blake Coleman to a guy who has 2 Art Ross Trophies and one Hart Trophy in his back pocket? I get what you're trying to say, but there's a world of difference between the impact either of those players would have on a team.

Coleman was getting top-line minutes in NJ because, well, there was no one better. Granted, he faced tougher matchups, but he played with the other best players. In TB, he won't get the same amount of ice time/quality of teammate.