That is why I said in some ways....
- MBFlyerfan

I wish the AHL would drop the CHL age requirement. Either that, or more top prospects should jump the pond like Matthews did. Players shouldn't have to be in college to avoid having to compete against 16-17 yos.

Well, I'm not in the camp that G will not waive his NMC clause or a good trade is never going to happen for the Flyers. I believe the Flyers will get a good return for G, but I want that return to give the Flyers a good chance to get top end talent. Getting a 1st round pick in the high 20s or even low 30s is not going to get it done. I would prefer the Flyers get a young prospect that is ready to play and has a big up side. Newhook fits that type of player the Flyers should be getting for G. The bottom line is, how much would hypothetically Colorado want G and how much do they believe G pushes them over the top and gets them the cup? If they believe G is the piece they need, its in the Flyers best interest to ask for Newhook, and if Colorado doesn't hang up the phone when asked, work out a deal even if it means sweetening it a bit.
- jd250

Avs need a goalie. If they're trading Newhook for anybody, it'll be for a turnkey, cost-controlled young goalie. (Aka Carter Hart)

Another scoring forward is a luxury add for them. And for Newhook they could probably get somebody even better than Claude (Hertl).

Well, I'm not in the camp that G will not waive his NMC clause or a good trade is never going to happen for the Flyers. I believe the Flyers will get a good return for G, but I want that return to give the Flyers a good chance to get top end talent. Getting a 1st round pick in the high 20s or even low 30s is not going to get it done. I would prefer the Flyers get a young prospect that is ready to play and has a big up side. Newhook fits that type of player the Flyers should be getting for G. The bottom line is, how much would hypothetically Colorado want G and how much do they believe G pushes them over the top and gets them the cup? If they believe G is the piece they need, its in the Flyers best interest to ask for Newhook, and if Colorado doesn't hang up the phone when asked, work out a deal even if it means sweetening it a bit.
- jd250

Remove Newhook and add CC. How much does that improve them? Is that worth it to them now and in the future knowing they are losing Kadri.

Is offense the main area they should be looking to improve?

Avs need a goalie. If they're trading Newhook for anybody, it'll be for a turnkey, cost-controlled young goalie. (Aka Carter Hart)

Another scoring forward is a luxury add for them. And for Newhook they could probably get somebody even better than Claude (Hertl).
- Tomahawk

I disagree. I think Kuemper is fine for that team. IMO the goalie issue is overblown.

He’s no doubt intending to seek out a certain large ponytailed professor while on campus.
- Dkos

That dude, after reading Bill blog, and checking student records, can only express puzzlement and not be able to say anything more.

He can go to the new team after the season. Little motivation to waive it now except a 1 in 16 shot at the cup.
- hfc355

Little motivation? Giroux wants a Stanley cup. He has every motivation to leave this sh*t show. You dont think he is salivating at the thought of going somewhere like COL for a chance to win?

NMC is not an issue. Its widely said around the league that he will waive. The only real bubble teams out there this year are EDM and Dallas. Pretty much any team landing him is going for it. I dont think Dallas will make a play for Giroux. I could see EDM. Holland isnt exactly the best GM. The rest of the teams are all guaranteed playoff teams.

The teams to watch for are COL, CGY, BOS, MIN, NYR, NSH and LA.

STL, TOR, CAR and FLA could make room but are less likely. If TOR makes an offer, some speculate one was made, Kerfoot WILL be a cap dump

Only teams out of it IMO are ANH, I dont know that he'd view them as a contender, TBL which I dont think can make it work, PIT because we wont deal with PIT.

I disagree. I think Kuemper is fine for that team. IMO the goalie issue is overblown.
- hello it's me 2050

Both of their goalies are UFA after the season. They may lose one or both. If you're trading Newhook it would be for a permanent solution to that issue, not just a rental. Bonus points if that player can help them this spring.

I wish the AHL would drop the CHL age requirement. Either that, or more top prospects should jump the pond like Matthews did. Players shouldn't have to be in college to avoid having to compete against 16-17 yos.
- Tomahawk

I agree. I understand why because the CHL is a business and they need as many top tier players as possible to put people in the seats, but it does seem silly that an 18-19 kid can play in the NHL but not the AHL if he comes in via the CHL but CAN play in the AHL if he comes from a Euro league.

Seems arbitrary and detrimental to some players.

Little motivation? Giroux wants a Stanley cup. He has every motivation to leave this sh*t show. You dont think he is salivating at the thought of going somewhere like COL for a chance to win?

NMC is not an issue. Its widely said around the league that he will waive. The only real bubble teams out there this year are EDM and Dallas. Pretty much any team landing him is going for it. I dont think Dallas will make a play for Giroux. I could see EDM. Holland isnt exactly the best GM. The rest of the teams are all guaranteed playoff teams.

The teams to watch for are COL, CGY, BOS, MIN, NYR, NSH and LA.

STL, TOR, CAR and FLA could make room but are less likely. If TOR makes an offer, some speculate one was made, Kerfoot WILL be a cap dump

Only teams out of it IMO are ANH, I dont know that he'd view them as a contender, TBL which I dont think can make it work, PIT because we wont deal with PIT.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

yet he has never asked out. So how motivated is he?

Both of their goalies are UFA after the season. They may lose one or both. If you're trading Newhook it would be for a permanent solution to that issue, not just a rental. Bonus points if that player can help them this spring.
- Tomahawk

From that angle yes agree. I was just talking about the playoff run with Darcy.

Little motivation? Giroux wants a Stanley cup. He has every motivation to leave this sh*t show. You dont think he is salivating at the thought of going somewhere like COL for a chance to win?

NMC is not an issue. Its widely said around the league that he will waive. The only real bubble teams out there this year are EDM and Dallas. Pretty much any team landing him is going for it. I dont think Dallas will make a play for Giroux. I could see EDM. Holland isnt exactly the best GM. The rest of the teams are all guaranteed playoff teams.

The teams to watch for are COL, CGY, BOS, MIN, NYR, NSH and LA.

STL, TOR, CAR and FLA could make room but are less likely. If TOR makes an offer, some speculate one was made, Kerfoot WILL be a cap dump

Only teams out of it IMO are ANH, I dont know that he'd view them as a contender, TBL which I dont think can make it work, PIT because we wont deal with PIT.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Boston is an interesting case. Claude could center Pasta on the second. He also could lead the 2nd PP unit. Boston is brutally thin at center so it could make sense for both sides. Maybe a prospect like Beecher and a draft pick would work

Boston is an interesting case. Claude could center Pasta on the second. He also could lead the 2nd PP unit. Boston is brutally thin at center so it could make sense for both sides. Maybe a prospect like Beecher and a draft pick would work
- juiced

expect deBrusk. Would be typical.

yet he has never asked out. So how motivated is he?

- hello it's me 2050

Says who? Just because it never leaked doesnt mean he has never walked to Homer, Hextall or Fletcher during his career.

Giroux has always put the Flyers first. He answers questions in interviews the way the organization expects him to. There is also a huge difference between wanting out and being patient. Giroux was patient with the team, he allowed them to try and win around him. He accepted the challenge to elevate himself and try to lead his team to a cup. At 34 years old he knows its not happening anymore here. He is no longer the kind of player that is going to carry the team. He knows he is just a missing piece to a contender at this point not the core.

Boston is an interesting case. Claude could center Pasta on the second. He also could lead the 2nd PP unit. Boston is brutally thin at center so it could make sense for both sides. Maybe a prospect like Beecher and a draft pick would work
- juiced

BOS will go hard for either Giroux or Pavelski. FA pool is not great for C. Most UFAs are on playoff teams. You are looking at Giroux, Pavelski, Hertl Stastny as best options on the market.

Coyle and Nosek arent a #2 C. The cant go into playoffs with him there

That dude, after reading Bill blog, and checking student records, can only express puzzlement and not be able to say anything more.
- PT21

lol

Little motivation? Giroux wants a Stanley cup. He has every motivation to leave this sh*t show. You dont think he is salivating at the thought of going somewhere like COL for a chance to win?

NMC is not an issue. Its widely said around the league that he will waive. The only real bubble teams out there this year are EDM and Dallas. Pretty much any team landing him is going for it. I dont think Dallas will make a play for Giroux. I could see EDM. Holland isnt exactly the best GM. The rest of the teams are all guaranteed playoff teams.

The teams to watch for are COL, CGY, BOS, MIN, NYR, NSH and LA.

STL, TOR, CAR and FLA could make room but are less likely. If TOR makes an offer, some speculate one was made, Kerfoot WILL be a cap dump

Only teams out of it IMO are ANH, I dont know that he'd view them as a contender, TBL which I dont think can make it work, PIT because we wont deal with PIT.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Still say little motivation for him to waive. A 1 in 16 shot . He can chose the contender he wants to play his last 3-4 yrs with over the summer

yet he has never asked out. So how motivated is he?
- hello it's me 2050

I’d say that up until this point, he was trying his absolute best to help this team win for a decade, and now has come to the end of that time with nothing to show for it. Maybe he has never asked before because this organization hasn’t truly hit rock bottom until this season…

Still say little motivation for him to waive. A 1 in 16 shot . He can chose the contender he wants to play his last 3-4 yrs with over the summer
- hfc355

LOL Do you know how dumb hat sounds? He would rather not waive and go to a guaranteed playoff team so he can sign and hope the team he signs for makes the playoffs....... You do realize Cap is also more a factor next season than it is as a UFA right?

A team like Colorado is more likely to be able to add Giroux as a rental than a FA. Cap hits are going to be considerably different.

Still say little motivation for him to waive. A 1 in 16 shot . He can chose the contender he wants to play his last 3-4 yrs with over the summer
- hfc355

With that NMC he could make any trade contingent on a contract extension, so he gets his cake and can eat it too.

He's under no obligation to make life easy for Chuck.

With that NMC he could make any trade contingent on a contract extension, so he gets his cake and can eat it too.

He's under no obligation to make life easy for Chuck.
- Tomahawk

True, nor is the organization obligated to move him should he say he'll waive the NMC.

Its not that much. Twenty games means we have him for approx 62 games. Thats a huge a difference to the team rather than 4 games. Despite the small sample size the team was a lot better with him in the line up than without. It doesnt change the forward injury issues but it adds more stability on D. Ellis is a better skater and better puck mover than Braun and Braun could help out with Yandle's deficiencies. Yandle didnt work out but it is a league minimum deal that ends this season.

Ghost might be better buit his cap hit is much higher and it is clear as day he couldnt hack it in a city like Philly with the pressure. Its no surprise a change in scenery helped him going to a team thats going to struggle selling out in a 5k seat arena
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Ghost's menatal fortitude here was fine. AV's system didnt suit his optimal game and thats on AV for not utilizing him in a way to take advantage of his best attributes

Usage was fine. He was on the top PP at times and failed to do anything with it. He was also used on the 3rd pair with weaker assignments. His slapshot regressed, he didnt move the puck as well as he did. I can agree with confidence but fans can affect confidence too. Lets not act like he wasnt treated like Matt Carle.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

There ere multiple times he said he has to his game his way and to forget about what hes being told to do...conflict with the coach is one of the reasons he was benched....not saying his play, at times, didnt warrant it, as well

Ghost's menatal fortitude here was fine. AV's system didnt suit his optimal game and thats on AV for not utilizing him in a way to take advantage of his best attributes
- THE BLACK HAND

To add he was always benched whenever he made an error. Rarely got a pass like the others.

Giroux will bring back nothing!

No Giroux will bring back a boat load!

Zach MacEwan has 3 points on the fourth line!

I’m just glad we’re not talking about Hextall anymore. Oh and by the way Feanor, nobody can kill penalties on this team.

Did he really give up much for the gamble though? I understand people want a healthy Ellis, me too, but the 2 players we traded aren't exactly lighting up their new teams. I'd call it a wash.
- Flyerz74

It's not a wash when you add in the Cap hit and term. That's the main reason Nashville traded him