Gustafson is Niskanen replacement

Gustafson is Niskanen replacement
- mydoglicks

that's depressing

Apparently, in 18-19 (his best season), he played across from Keith in the first pairing, on pp1, not on PK, and Provorov is similar to Keith in the style they play.

1 year experiment?
- PT21

Keith started 58% of his shifts in the o-zone, which made him a good partner for Gus. Conversely, Provorov even this past season was a 45% o-zone guy who normally drew the toughest D-matchups on his pair (although sometimes they had 6-5 do that).

I don't see a fit. Provorov's pair carries too much D-zone burden.

Erik Ghostafsson
- 2Real

Well done

Gustafson is Niskanen replacement
- mydoglicks

He is not, unless you want the Flyers GAA to soar when he's on the ice. He's an O-zone start guy. Niskanen (and Provorov) were comfortable with more than half their starts in D-zone, and it tougher matchups.

Well done
- Big_E_88

that's why they pay me the big bucks

As bruceflyers predicted, this signing has another Stanley Cup written all over it.

AV doesn’t like ghost; why will he like new Gus

3 million for a bottom paring guy? Wow

AV doesn’t like ghost; why will he like new Gus

3 million for a bottom paring guy? Wow
- login

cause he's only on the team for a year

This is really a lateral move at best albeit it is cheaper. What it really says is that there is something else in the works.
- MJL

Agreed. I don’t see them going into the season with both Erik Gustafsson and Ghost on the roster. They just seem so similar in what they bring and don’t bring. Is that correct?

Keith started 58% of his shifts in the o-zone, which made him a good partner for Gus. Conversely, Provorov even this past season was a 45% o-zone guy who normally drew the toughest D-matchups on his pair (although sometimes they had 6-5 do that).

I don't see a fit. Provorov's pair carries too much D-zone burden.
- bmeltzer

Very valid point, Bill.

Here is the guilty culprit who led me down that chain of thought (no clue who he is)

https://twitter.com/B_Som...tatus/1315770855927013376

As bruceflyers predicted, this signing has another Stanley Cup written all over it.
- Heywood Jablome

For what team I wonder.

cause he's only on the team for a year
- 2Real

ANd? Just don’t see the fit

AV doesn’t like ghost; why will he like new Gus

3 million for a bottom paring guy? Wow
- login

When they get rid of Ghost he’ll be a cheaper more reliable version of Ghost?

When they get rid of Ghost he’ll be a cheaper more reliable version of Ghost?
- hereticpride

Will he be more reliable? Either way he is a bottom pairing guy, do you disagree ?

Apparently, in 18-19 (his best season), he played across from Keith in the first pairing, on pp1, not on PK, and Provorov is similar to Keith in the style they play.

1 year experiment?
- PT21

Um ...maybe? A one year experiment . Definitely help the pp....might be a prelude to something else. Kinda tells me that Ghost is on his way out, which I kinda thought they might Give him another chance.

"not an ideal first-pair defenseman"


now thats an understatement.

I'm not going full PBrendl55, but I'm... less than enthusiastic about Gus 2.0.

AV doesn’t like ghost; why will he like new Gus

3 million for a bottom paring guy? Wow
- login

3 million for a D-man who is a year removed from a 17 goal, 60 point season and will save the team $1.5M in cap if/when they can deal Ghost. Also buys York and Zamula a year of development, and he doesn't have to be Expansion Draft protected. Also equally comfortable at LD or RD.

Gustafsson has been a 2nd pairing, 20-min guy, but you need your 3rd pair to be able to split the bulk of the D-zone minutes with the top pair. If the Flyers can trade Gostisbehere, they'll actually have more cap space than they did before this move and also replace the offensive pop.

I don't think this, by itself, was more than a lateral move. But it's far from a terrible one.

Very valid point, Bill.

Here is the guilty culprit who led me down that chain of thought (no clue who he is)

https://twitter.com/B_Som...tatus/1315770855927013376
- PT21

Ah, OK.

Will he be more reliable? Either way he is a bottom pairing guy, do you disagree ?
- login

Probably. I can’t see swapping him and Hagg around depending what end of the ice theyre at.

Well as people pointed out guessing something else will occur.

And from what I’ve seen yeah. Ghost is a little more elusive when healthy. Erik has more physicality.

Can’t wait to see what’s next.

3 million for a D-man who is a year removed from a 17 goal, 60 point season and will save the team $1.5M in cap if/when they can deal Ghost. Also buys York and Zamula a year of development, and he doesn't have to be Expansion Draft protected. Also equally comfortable at LD or RD.

Gustafsson has been a 2nd pairing, 20-min guy, but you need your 3rd pair to be able to split the bulk of the D-zone minutes with the top pair. If the Flyers can trade Gostisbehere, they'll actually have more cap space than they did before this move and also replace the offensive pop.

I don't think this, by itself, was more than a lateral move. But it's far from a terrible one.
- bmeltzer

His 60 point season was likely an outlier. Playing him in your top 4 is not what a cup contending team will do. No matter who they sign gives the young guys another tear of development so that’s a moot point. Expansion draft protection again is overrated; if you have 4 d you need to protect that is a good thing no? Didn’t seem like there was any demand for his services.

So at the end Of the day if he ends up on your 3rd pair is that good cap management? what happens if they don’t move ghost? No given at all they do.

So ghost will probably be waived? It seems he won’t be traded if the same guy was available for free and less money

Waive ghost
Sign Ap
Trade sanheim for Laine
Move g to third line center

Cup

3 million for a D-man who is a year removed from a 17 goal, 60 point season and will save the team $1.5M in cap if/when they can deal Ghost. Also buys York and Zamula a year of development, and he doesn't have to be Expansion Draft protected. Also equally comfortable at LD or RD.

Gustafsson has been a 2nd pairing, 20-min guy, but you need your 3rd pair to be able to split the bulk of the D-zone minutes with the top pair. If the Flyers can trade Gostisbehere, they'll actually have more cap space than they did before this move and also replace the offensive pop.

I don't think this, by itself, was more than a lateral move. But it's far from a terrible one.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill for the reasonable analysis of this signing.

3 million for a D-man who is a year removed from a 17 goal, 60 point season and will save the team $1.5M in cap if/when they can deal Ghost. Also buys York and Zamula a year of development, and he doesn't have to be Expansion Draft protected. Also equally comfortable at LD or RD.

Gustafsson has been a 2nd pairing, 20-min guy, but you need your 3rd pair to be able to split the bulk of the D-zone minutes with the top pair. If the Flyers can trade Gostisbehere, they'll actually have more cap space than they did before this move and also replace the offensive pop.

I don't think this, by itself, was more than a lateral move. But it's far from a terrible one.
- bmeltzer

He was -6 with his 17 goal, 60 point season