Two years of term left at $7 million. That would be a very hard sell unless you are taking back someone else's cap/term another team would love to unload or adding significant sweeteners in draft picks plus eating a significant chunk of the contract for the remaining term.
- bmeltzer

Bill - does it have to be plus?

I think JVR could be picked up easily if say his salary was 4.5 m? That would mean biting $2.5 million for 3 years should do it?

Yes and no. I think we all recognize the core is flawed. It could be just what the doctor ordered. Theres a ton of teams who seem to want to potentially change their core this off season. I keep hearing fletcher say "right mix" over and over again.
- Tfaehner

It’s been this way for how long ? There are holes. Hopefully Fletcher at least tries to make this team better. He was hired to get this team to the next level.....that has not happened. Two years on the clock is enough time to assess....now as Dave Scott has said “it’s time for action”.

Bruins starting their 4th goalie means they aren't taking the Flyers seriously. I get their top two goalies are unavailable. But how do they not go back to Vladar? He was really good last night. I guess maybe he's hurt too.
- PLindbergh31

Not sure. There’s also every chance he dominates us because flyers.

Jeremy Swayman in between the pipes for the Bruins tonight

Bruins a -142 favorite on the road, with a goaltender that has never played an NHL game.
- PLindbergh31

ummmmm....he won like 8 of 9 of his first 9 AHL starts. Kid is hot right now

Continued from last thread....



From what I was told, the only way HC Sochi wanted Rubtsov this season was on a full-season deal. Although the Flyers had the right not to agree -- since he is still on contract this season -- they gave an OK. He was better off playing than waiting out the then-uncertain status of if/when they're be an AHL season.

Reading tea leaves here, but I didn't get much of a sense of optimism from Brent's tone in discussing the prospects of Rubtsov returning to North America. Flahr said the org would like him to come back to play for the Phantoms/Flyers but the player will be an RFA and can sign to play in the KHL -- as Vorobyev did -- at his own choosing. If that's how it goes down, the Flyers will still give a qualifying offer to hold Rubtsov's NHL rights.

In 2018-19, before Hexy/Sarge were fired and replaced by Chuck/Brent, Rubtsov got off to a great all-around start for the Phantoms. There were raves about his two-way play, he was seeing time in all game situations and posted 10 points in his first 13 games. In the first period of Game 14, he suffered a season ending shoulder injury similar to the one Morgan Frost had this year. But Scott Gordon was very happy with what he saw from Rubtsov overall before the injury; with an expectation of just a tad more shift-to-shift impact as he gained experience.

Rubtsov had a just OK training camp last year for Vigneault. Fine defensively, not much offensive pish. Played just OK for the Phantoms and four games with the Flyers. Back with the Phantoms, he suffered a second shoulder injury on a nothing looking contact play on the boards. Missed a month this time, as the injury was not nearly as serious.

When he returned, Rubtsov played ultra-conservative hockey. He was encouraged to get back to making plays and getting more involved, but it never happened to an appreciable degree. He also struggled on faceoffs and board battles; not good for someone whose role (if any) was looking more and more like a 4C.

Went to the KHL this season. Had some injury issues. Showed hints of offensive upside but not very often. Seemed content to be very conservative in his play and avoid contact. Pretty much a big rink version of his Phantoms season last year.

That said, he's still only 22 years old and he'd hardly be the first late bloomer after injury setbacks. He very well could sign in the KHL, the Flyers QO him to hold the rights, and it stays that way unless he has a big breakthrough.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill, you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. Barring some miraculous turn around, he’s history.

Bruins starting their 4th goalie means they aren't taking the Flyers seriously. I get their top two goalies are unavailable. But how do they not go back to Vladar? He was really good last night. I guess maybe he's hurt too.
- PLindbergh31

I don’t think many coaches would start a goalie in back to back nights with this schedule

If you can get him extended before he goes UFA, sure. He's solid and RH. But I think the Flyers are looking at trying to do something a little bigger impact, even if it has to wait until the offseason.
- bmeltzer

Seth Jones?

How many teams will have the, what, 8 mill per year, for him? 9?

What salary is offloadable, truly? Obviously not Ghost. As you're saying, not JvR or Jake. How about Koneckny? Could you trade him to Columbus for post season negotiating rights with Jones? Or somewhere earlier?

Or do you see something else happening, like a salary deal with Seattle... take Jake and you get Koneckny or NLP? Something like that?

I don’t think many coaches would start a goalie in back to back nights with this schedule
- black_francis

Why the hell not? Vladar is 23 years old and he’s played like 3 games this year

Not sure. There’s also every chance he dominates us because flyers.
- Hextall271

Flyers are fighting for their playoff lives. Ok, here is a similar scenario, would you be confident with the Flyers going on the road and starting Sandstrom Thursday night at the Islanders?

Thanks Bill, you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. Barring some miraculous turn around, he’s history.
- Djapana

I never got the Rubtsov pick... 1st round because "all around above average and responsible defensively" ?

I think JvR is playing very well, even with the pointless streak. He looks dangerous every time he’s on the ice.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree. example... I think he was the one screening the goalie last night on Coots goal. Didn't get credit, but would not have gone in without him.

Jeremy Swayman in between the pipes for the Bruins tonight

Bruins a -142 favorite on the road, with a goaltender that has never played an NHL game.
- PLindbergh31

I’m sure we’ll make him look great. I expect is to take this to OT again or get Slaughter in regulation.

Bill - does it have to be plus?

I think JVR could be picked up easily if say his salary was 4.5 m? That would mean biting $2.5 million for 3 years should do it?
- PT21

Why would we do this?

Seth Jones?

How many teams will have the, what, 8 mill per year, for him? 9?

What salary is offloadable, truly? Obviously not Ghost. As you're saying, not JvR or Jake. How about Koneckny? Could you trade him to Columbus for post season negotiating rights with Jones? Or somewhere earlier?

Or do you see something else happening, like a salary deal with Seattle... take Jake and you get Koneckny or NLP? Something like that?
- therabbi

Pretty sure it was David savard...

Seth Jones?

How many teams will have the, what, 8 mill per year, for him? 9?

What salary is offloadable, truly? Obviously not Ghost. As you're saying, not JvR or Jake. How about Koneckny? Could you trade him to Columbus for post season negotiating rights with Jones? Or somewhere earlier?

Or do you see something else happening, like a salary deal with Seattle... take Jake and you get Koneckny or NLP? Something like that?
- therabbi

I’ve seen Seth Jones play many times and he always looks impressive but by the numbers, how good is he really?

I never got the Rubtsov pick... 1st round because "all around above average and responsible defensively" ?
- therabbi

The whole Russian controversy that year. Didn’t work out the way they intended. But injuries and stagnant development. Kid do so well after coming over to juniors and that start for the phantoms. Both ended in injury I think.

Who knows. Maybe he was too close to misha.

People will deny but since Morin has been in the others teams don’t take as many liberties and seem a little quieter.

Thanks Morin good job big man.

I never got the Rubtsov pick... 1st round because "all around above average and responsible defensively" ?
- therabbi

I agree. He never was significant offensively at any level. Usually you can spot something in a players game to understand what they were thinking to draft him #1. I never figured that out with Rubtsov. Win some lose some.

People will deny but since Morin has been in the others teams don’t take as many liberties and seem a little quieter.

Thanks Morin good job big man.
- Peter Richards

He’s played sheltered minutes, but he’s played fairly well. If he uses his size and plays positionally maybe he can carve his way into being a third pairing guy. At this point you’d have to sign on for that.

That was some right hand he hit Johnston with. I believe he may have broke his jaw.

Flyers are fighting for their playoff lives. Ok, here is a similar scenario, would you be confident with the Flyers going on the road and starting Sandstrom Thursday night at the Islanders?
- PLindbergh31

He'd get shelled. Whereas we struggle with backups/recent callups etc. Hopefully these comments get to the hockey gods and we are able to win..

He’s played sheltered minutes, but he’s played fairly well. If he uses his size and plays positionally maybe he can carve his way into being a third pairing guy. At this point you’d have to sign on for that.

That was some right hand he hit Johnston with. I believe he may have broke his jaw.
- PLindbergh31

i hope so. it's hard not to root for the kid. i definitely thought he was done after his last injury and then trying to turn him into a winger at the beginning of the season.

He’s played sheltered minutes, but he’s played fairly well. If he uses his size and plays positionally maybe he can carve his way into being a third pairing guy. At this point you’d have to sign on for that.

That was some right hand he hit Johnston with. I believe he may have broke his jaw.
- PLindbergh31

Hopefully he can be that person and not the person running around getting dumb penalties. He does seem like he's learned. It also seems like teams know he's out there.

i hope so. it's hard not to root for the kid. i definitely thought he was done after his last injury and then trying to turn him into a winger at the beginning of the season.
- Ftown19125

Everyone is rooting for him. Including me. Like I’ve always said, my issue was never with Morin the player/person. It was with Holmgren drafting him with the #11th pick.

With all Morin has been through with two major knee injuries, he deserves it. He’s worked his ass off to make it back to the NHL

Jeremy Swayman to make NHL debut tonight in Philadelphia and I sincerely hope the Flyers get tons of pucks on this kid with plenty of screens in front. The last thing I want to see is the Flyers making this kid look like Patrick Roy. They have to play like sharks in chummed water tonight!

Everyone is rooting for him. Including me. Like I’ve always said, my issue was never with Morin the player/person. It was with Holmgren picking him.

With all Morin has been through with two major knee injuries, he deserves it. He’s worked his ass of to make it back to the NHL.
- PLindbergh31

I right now I really like what he has brought to this team, solid defense and a physical edge.