Unique? No, but it was unnecessary. If Buffalo was unwilling to retain cash on Risto, then walk away. They were already overpaying for him.
- BiggE

Hagg was the retention imo.

I haven't seen where very many posters have aid it invalidates the moves made in the off season. Most have identified the current hole at center. Can the Flyers trade JVR without taking salary back? What will Fletcher be set up to do? Trade more young assets and further cap strap the team to add another piece to win now? Is that what they should be doing if this season does not go well? More of the same.

What position would you rather the team be in? Having things not go well while being cap strapped and having added multiple older players who are aging with high cap hits. Or a team where it is not going well and has plenty of cap flexibility, propsects and draft picks?
- MJL

Ok, lets see if we can have a conversation about this without getting into you posted this and I posted that. Just my opinion, but the Flyers went through a 6 year period (from 2014-2020) where they hoarded draft picks and focused primarily (but not exclusively) on building up the farm system, so in 2020 and beyond they would have a solid stream of young players ready to break onto the big roster and make an impact. This was a good plan and one that is ideal for any sports franchise, but the reality is it has not come to fruition, at least not at a level that is needed to contend on a yearly basis. Now, I'm not going to go 12 rounds with you about blaming Hextall, and I think we agree that the Flyers have been very unlucky in terms of injuries to their younger players that have curtailed or in some cases, halted their development, but for whatever reason you can come up, the team is just not there and to be honest I'm not sure if and when they will get there. Our prospects just have not worked out enough for the Flyers to have that steady stream on players coming onto the team that you can augment with a solid veteran core. In hindsight, I agree with some on this forum that the hybrid approach Holmgren and Hextall took was the wrong approach, and the Flyers should have just bitten the bullet and started over in 2014, instead of signing players like Jake and JVR to long term deals for a team that was not ready to contend.

So what choice do we have? We can continue to draft and develop year after year until we develop a new young core of players, or we admit that the plan started in 2014 is behind and we need to catch up another way. I leaned towards the latter and thus was happy Fletcher went out and did what he did this off season. I was also hopeful players like Frost, Foerster, Allison, Attard and even O'Brien would be ready by now to come in and really give a jolt to this lineup, but alas they are not. Next year if you project what the cap space would be based on the team's makeup right now, Fletcher should have about the same amount of money to spend to continue to fill holes, but unlike this year, he should also have more prospects ready to play on the big team, including York, Frost, Zamula, Sandstrom and Foerster. This I hope means he will have less holes to fill, and can make more targeted FA signings or deals without giving up too much in return. Recall this off-season Fletcher did not give up one young prospect in his system, only a few draft picks and players that were either past their prime or had demonstrated they were not a fit moving forward.

Hagg was the retention imo.
- hello it's me 2050

Exactly, Hagg was thrown in to make the cap space work, in fact I think Fletcher insisted on this versus the Sabres wanting Hagg as part of the deal.

Anyone subscribing to ESPN+ for streaming NHL games as opposed to the strange $60 till Dec 31 NHL Center Ice on Evilcast? Trying to demystify the pricing as season gets closer.. lots of games on NHL Network/TNT + Flyers regular...enough non sports to watch on Prime/Tubi and Acorn/Masterpiece Theater
- RajaAmpat

Streaming live sports sucks, imho. Can't easily switch between/among games.

That said, I now believe the xfinity Center Ice deal is $60 for the whole season. If you subscribe after Jan 1 it'll probably cost less (as they usually do) because the season will be half over.

Streaming live sports sucks, imho. Can't easily switch between/among games.

That said, I now believe the xfinity Center Ice deal is $60 for the whole season. If you subscribe after Jan 1 it'll probably cost less (as they usually do) because the season will be half over.
- Scoob

They’ve really made it difficult to get the all
In one package. I bought the ESPN + monthly. Still have cable for the TNT and whatnot games. Folks have also given streaming sites but I’m not sure how to make it work on my TV through fire stick

who are the older players with high cap hits we acquired?
- bradster

Very true if you look at our players over 30 years old, we are actually in good shape:

Thompson - 37 - 1 year deal
Brassard - 34 - 1 year deal
Braun - 34 - 1 year left
Yandle - 35 - 1 year deal
Giroux - 33 - 1 year left
JVR - 32 - 2 years left, but I think this is his last year with Flyers
Atkinson - 32 - 4 years left but plenty in the tank
Ellis - 30 - 6 years left, but for a defenseman he is in his prime

There is plenty of room here for our younger players to step in next season as well as cap flexiblity!

Suzuki gets 8 years at 7.875 per.

These deals for these kids who haven't proven a damned thing sure make Coots deal look good.
- MBFlyerfan

Yea and is killing teams in the flat cap era. I blame Toronto.

But I like Suzuki does seem a little high though.

Lias is doing ok in la.
- Peter Richards

No medals thrown into the stands yet?

Very true if you look at our players over 30 years old, we are actually in good shape:

Thompson - 37 - 1 year deal
Brassard - 34 - 1 year deal
Braun - 34 - 1 year left
Yandle - 35 - 1 year deal
Giroux - 33 - 1 year left
JVR - 32 - 2 years left, but I think this is his last year with Flyers
Atkinson - 32 - 4 years left but plenty in the tank
Ellis - 30 - 6 years left, but for a defenseman he is in his prime

There is plenty of room here for our younger players to step in next season as well as cap flexiblity!
- jd250

I was reading that we are one of the older teams in the league, but like you say, it's only the younger core players that are on longer deals.

No medals thrown into the stands yet?
- Tomahawk

Haha that was him? I forgot about that one.. go Canada..

They’ve really made it difficult to get the all
In one package. I bought the ESPN + monthly. Still have cable for the TNT and whatnot games. Folks have also given streaming sites but I’m not sure how to make it work on my TV through fire stick
- ClaudeFather

Chromecast will change your life man. Like 30-something dollars last I checked. Makes streaming just about anything from any device to your TV a breeze.

Edit: nvm they bumped it to $50.

I was reading that we are one of the older teams in the league, but like you say, it's only the younger core players that are on longer deals.
- Hextall271

Yes, we are one of the oldest because our younger players are not ready yet. That is why Fletcher bought more time with the signings he made this off season. However if our younger players are not ready by next year, we are screwed! Well, maybe not screwed, but we will never get over the hump until we get that stream of younger players coming in.

So has anyone decrypted the Comcast cable snake price offerings for Center Ice vs the ESPN+ ? They are offering Oct 12-Dec 31 for $60 Center Ice but no visible pricing for the remainder of season. The Xfinity version of an Ikea store has no pricing. The Xfinity controller search says they will send new equipment free..but no word on subscription adder..
There is a lot on ESPN/TNT/NHL Network plus NBCSP.. trying to decide if its a waste or not..I do want the Jets-Leafs-Habs games but...
- RajaAmpat

I have espn+ you get a lot of other content which is pretty good plus select KHL games are on Most mornings. They will also have replay of NHL and KHL games.

Yes, we are one of the oldest because our younger players are not ready yet. That is why Fletcher bought more time with the signings he made this off season. However if our younger players are not ready by next year, we are screwed! Well, maybe not screwed, but we will never get over the hump until we get that stream of younger players coming in.
- jd250

What has been clear for a while is that the core young players need to continue to take steps forward for the franchise to move forward successfully. The idea of bringing in the vets is to supplement and support that core so that we put them in the best position we can for them to succeed and develop.

Rangers 9th-overall pick in 2018 suspended and granted permission to seek a trade. This follows on the heels of the Lias Andersson debacle.

Next up Kakko.
- Tomahawk

Same thing happened last year with the rangers and his khl team. Hes a child but thw rangers fuked this up also. Kakko btw looked insane in pre season. He due for a breakout.

Chromecast will change your life man. Like 30-something dollars last I checked. Makes streaming just about anything from any device to your TV a breeze.

Edit: nvm they bumped it to $50.
- Tomahawk

Not even needed. You can air play pretty much any video to your tv from an iPhone.

It's more than that. Retaining on Ristolainen just gives them some more flexibility this season. They paid a hefty price for a player that is not cost controlled and is going to have UFA leverage in his next contract negotiation. Unless Risolainen is a player that absolutely excels, which I doubt, it was really a risky deal. Yea they could recoup some of the loss if they decide to move on but really not a trade I'm comfortable with and haven't been. Keeping an open mind to see how he plays but I'm not optimistic.
- MJL

they could also sign and trade if need be. but as you've been saying lets wait to see what happens on the ice. There is risk to every trade, every signing period.

I was reading that we are one of the older teams in the league, but like you say, it's only the younger core players that are on longer deals.
- Hextall271

just a year or two agao we were one of the younger teams. but also think top to bottom doesn't have as much disparity as it seems. as jd250 pointed out a lot of our vet players are not signed long.

Same thing happened last year with the rangers and his khl team. Hes a child but thw rangers fuked this up also. Kakko btw looked insane in pre season. He due for a breakout.
- nyrangers2

Here is a bold prediction, but I think the Rangers are going to be a playoff team this year.

i thought we were at 50 contracts. capfriendly only has us at 49.

just a year or two agao we were one of the younger teams. but also think top to bottom doesn't have as much disparity as it seems. as jd250 pointed out a lot of our vet players are not signed long.
- Peter Richards

As I mentioned above, with a proper supporting cast, the idea is to get Provy, TK, Oskar, Sanheim Bee, Hart to take that Next step. When/if they do, you then don't need as many supporting vets and can supplement with younger players. Regardless, we still have to primarily build through the draft, and I expect that's the plan.

Chromecast will change your life man. Like 30-something dollars last I checked. Makes streaming just about anything from any device to your TV a breeze.

Edit: nvm they bumped it to $50.
- Tomahawk

Is there a good YouTube video out there for setting up this type of stuff? Are you using just the chrome cast platform to go onto the internet on your computer, or is that your app platform?

Fletcher still has around 40k left in cap space. The maximization of resources bonus only kicks in if Fletcher can get it below 10k.

Rangers 9th-overall pick in 2018 suspended and granted permission to seek a trade. This follows on the heels of the Lias Andersson debacle.

Next up Kakko.
- Tomahawk

Anderson debacle worked out very well for them they got a 2nd and made a good pick. Meanwhile Anderson cant even make the Kings and has done nothing. Kratsov has top 6 talent but this is the 2nd time he has refused to play anywhere but on the NHL team. If I were the Flyers I would give a call but dont think Rangers will let him go for anything but a mid 1st rounder and they can just let him go back to Russia where life is so much better if he wants.

How many NFL players should then be fired. Oh look what nice boys scheduled for the next super bowl halftime show.
Deshawn Watson gets to keep playing?

The problem is Gruden probably doesn’t believe in the whole agenda.
- bird_dog_pa

Gruden is a complete fraud piece of poop. You cant even step back, look at situation on its own credentials and merits and give a critically thought out response. Youre as bad as the far leftists pushing their ridiculous agenda