If no further moves are made, the Flyers won't be going into the season with 3-4M in cap space. Depending on if they decide to carry 12 or 13 forwards, we're looking at less than 2M in cap space and likely closer to 1M.

Yea, really it's a bunch of guys who have no expertise or knowledge about it. I'm in the group with no knowledge so I default to the experts on that. I think for sure he is going to give it a shot but I still think there is a lot of unknown at this point. If he can hold up under an NHL season. I honestly believe if there is one player that benefitted from the season pause and the time off currently, it's Patrick.
- MJL

He certainly did. And I think that time gave his young body a real good period of time to fully recover from all the other ailments he's had with his abdominal issues and whatnot.

By most accounts, if not for the pause, he may have been back and playing before the season ended. I think the team made the right decisions to shut him down instead of throwing him right in to playoff hockey after not having been on the ice for so long.

Like I said, I have a hard time believing that a young kid cant have a long career because of migraines.

If he were 30-35 I would feel differently, but a young kid in good shape? Comon.

Frankly its been nuts some of the negativity surrounding Patrick from some of the people in here.

As a migraine sufferer since my teenage years (with 7 concussions between age 13 to 19 being a contributing factor) I was able to get it under control at a relatively young age (22-23) and have been getting by with minor migraines and maybe one or two major debilitating ones a year. I do this with diet, medication and also (and this is a big deal) recognizing the signs that one is on the horizon and "heading" it off before it becomes a major problem.

I did this as a regular guy with a general practitioner doc who didn't have the benefit of a billion dollar sports franchise watching my every step day after day. I've been able to play as a relatively successful musician for going on 30 years with all the lights and noise associated with that.

So the talk from some about Patrick, (a 22 year old kid with the best medical care in the world) having his career being over is ridiculous.
- MBFlyerfan

I took them at their word when they said it was best for Patrick to sit for the playoffs. The extra time off on a crazy season was a good call but I do believe it was with an eye on returning better for the next season.

A healthy (and consistently productive) Patrick would be a big difference maker, especially given favorable matchups behind Couturier and Hayes. But I am pretty skittish about RELYING on that to happen. I'd feel more comfortable with a one-year insurance policy, such as Haula. If Patrick is fine, then Haula is also a viable top 9 option at wing.
- bmeltzer

Have to consider the cap implications of signing Haula. Unless they are only going to sign Myers to a 1 year deal, things will tight if they bring in Haula at 2 million or so.

Very few teams go into the season without any question marks on their roster. I think the smarter move is to pencil in NoPa at 3C and know that you have the fall back positions of Frost, Laughton, Giroux or a mid season deal if he goes down.

Have to consider the cap implications of signing Haula. Unless they are only going to sign Myers to a 1 year deal, things will tight if they bring in Haula at 2 million or so.

Very few teams go into the season without any question marks on their roster. I think the smarter move is to pencil in NoPa at 3C and know that you have the fall back positions of Frost, Laughton, Giroux or a mid season deal if he goes down.
- BiggE

only way around it is to move Ghost and back fill with someone around 3.5 on the cap, then you might have enough to sign Haula. I get the feeling if they could move Ghost they would have but when you have Vatanen still sitting out there and some other D, you know the market is weak.

Leaves me with, they have enough to start the season. They have options, lets roll with it, give Ghost a chance to raise his value, give the kids a chance. I think they can stay in playoff position till the trade deadline. If not, maybe that forces your hand.

Have to consider the cap implications of signing Haula. Unless they are only going to sign Myers to a 1 year deal, things will tight if they bring in Haula at 2 million or so.

Very few teams go into the season without any question marks on their roster. I think the smarter move is to pencil in NoPa at 3C and know that you have the fall back positions of Frost, Laughton, Giroux or a mid season deal if he goes down.
- BiggE

Frost should be that guy; unless the coaches mismanage him again.

Frost should be that guy; unless the coaches mismanage him again.
- Striiker

I am an optimist, so I agree. As long as he comes into camp ready, physically and mentally let him learn on the job. Frost brings high end O, something the Flyers lack, let him learn on the job

Have to consider the cap implications of signing Haula. Unless they are only going to sign Myers to a 1 year deal, things will tight if they bring in Haula at 2 million or so.

Very few teams go into the season without any question marks on their roster. I think the smarter move is to pencil in NoPa at 3C and know that you have the fall back positions of Frost, Laughton, Giroux or a mid season deal if he goes down.
- BiggE

I agree. They have internal options.

Frost should be that guy; unless the coaches mismanage him again.
- Striiker

In order for the coaches to mismanage Frost again, the coaches would've had to mismanage him. They haven't. Any suggestion that they have is absurd.

In order for the coaches to mismanage Frost again, the coaches would've had to mismanage him. They haven't. Any suggestion that they have is absurd.
- MJL

I agree they have not mismanaged him but as long as he has put the work in during the offseason, I also think it is time to give him some rope, a longer look. Unless of course he is beat out by a better prospect. This is the year the Flyers get a good influx of talent from their past drafting. That along with last season, they really have some options.

I agree they have not mismanaged him but as long as he has put the work in during the offseason, I also think it is time to give him some rope, a longer look. Unless of course he is beat out by a better prospect. This is the year the Flyers get a good influx of talent from their past drafting. That along with last season, they really have some options.
- wcorvette

Frost has to earn the spot not have it handed to him. If he comes into camp and earns the spot, then he plays. It's really that simple.

Frost has to earn the spot not have it handed to him. If he comes into camp and earns the spot, then he plays. It's really that simple.
- MJL

they have options, especially at wing and my guess is that is where Frost will break in. I agree he has to earn it but I don't want the Flyers going with the safe option. We all know that Frost is going to make mistakes, more than a Thompson or a Grant type but his upside is so much better. All players (G, Coots, Jake) give up a little to make a play, all miss assignments. If he is prepared and he is the one, give him some rope.

I’m fine with the current options at forward. There is a lot to work with even if not everything plays out perfectly. On defense, I really don’t see anything more than re-signing Myers happening now unless a trade occurs to swap defenseman or clear cap space to sign an UFA. I don’t want 9 NHL defensemen plus they really don’t have the space to do that and have a decent cap cushion.

Right now they have 16 defenseman between the Flyers and Phantoms:

Provorov - Myers
Sanheim - Braun
Hagg - Gustafsson
Gostisbehere - Friedman

Zamula - Prosser
Pouliot - Wylie
Morin - Bigras
Hogberg - Wotherspoon

Tell you what, it would be a shame to pay a 3rd line center that much money (even though the guy brings it), but if Frost earns that slot, we’ll all be very happy Philly fans
- Hesh_

Kevin has seen the third line many times last season while Morgan Frost was called up playing on the top line with Giroux. Hayes played well with Scott Laughton. Mike Richards has seen the third line as Captain behind Briere and Carter. Primeau has seen the third line behind Roenick/Zhamnov and Handzus. It’s about spreading talent. It’s not that crazy of an idea.

Just from my own experience, I just find it unfathomable that he doesn't have a long productive career. Of course this can hinge on whether he gets a bad knee injury or something like that. But I just cant see it being because of migraines.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree.

Giroux and Voracek on first line , especially G can’t happen . G is not a first liner niw
- wbroudy

Disagree.

In order for the coaches to mismanage Frost again, the coaches would've had to mismanage him. They haven't. Any suggestion that they have is absurd.
- MJL

Playing Grant and Thompson over him is mismanagement.

Frost has to earn the spot not have it handed to him. If he comes into camp and earns the spot, then he plays. It's really that simple.
- MJL

The coaching staff didn't even give him a chance in the bubble. So how can he "earn" it when not given the chance? Meanwhile 2 slugs got every opportunity despite not producing.

Playing Grant and Thompson over him is mismanagement.
- Striiker

This would assume that you would be using Frost as a 4th line defensive forward. THAT would be mismanagement.

Playing Grant and Thompson over him is mismanagement.
- Striiker

from a talent and O standpoint I agree. If they came back to mid season I would have said it was a mistake but brining Frost into the playoffs, I get why they chose heavier vet players. In hindsight they added very little value, especially vs Isles.

This would assume that you would be using Frost as a 4th line defensive forward. THAT would be mismanagement.
- MBFlyerfan

Your 4th line doesn't have to be a defensive line. Archaic way of thinking. They could have incorporated Frost in had they choose to.

Playing Grant and Thompson over him is mismanagement.
- Striiker

This again? Derek Grant and Nate Thompson are bottom sizes forwards. They’re roles are limited minutes, defensive situations and killing penalties. Morgan is being developed as a top six skilled player. In a perfect world, Grant would have been on the fourth line and Thompson scratched if Patrick were healthy. He wasn’t. The point, Frost was exactly where he needed to be during the playoffs and so were Grant and Thompson.

Playing Grant and Thompson over him is mismanagement.
- Striiker

Thats simply wrong.

The coaching staff didn't even give him a chance in the bubble. So how can he "earn" it when not given the chance? Meanwhile 2 slugs got every opportunity despite not producing.
- Striiker

The same Morgan Frost who was overmatched physically and got sent back down to the Phantoms because he could not handle the game in and game out of the NHL on his first callup?

That Morgan Frost?

If we are talking about the same player, you wanted to put that kid it that Islander meatgrinder? To do what exactly? Get his ass handed to him physically over and over again after having not played even an AHL game for months?

Just making sure we are talking about the same player.

Ill hang up and listen.

Your 4th line doesn't have to be a defensive line. Archaic way of thinking. They could have incorporated Frost in had they choose to.
- Striiker

Oh, ok.

Ill hang up and listen.