Torts is going to absolutely hate Michkov, I just know it.
- MBFlyerfan

Who cares what a TV analyst thinks of the Flyers players in 2026?

I think all of your numbers are low.
- MJL

everyone guesses when it comes to possible salaries. remember when you were saying risto was definitely getting a raise due to his previous contract?

If I’m Briere I’m telling every team that wants TK there price starts with taking Sanheim also.
- jd250

That's dumb, even for you. The teams who would want TK with two years left are contenders with limited cap space. The best way for Briere to get max value for Konecny might be to retain salary.

I have nothing personal against Frost and I would want nothing more than for him to succeed, but I'm very skeptical. He played against a bunch of teams that didn't bring their A game against the Flyers. You keep saying that he does well in puck battles and I have yet to see that. I think he would get mauled by the more physical teams in games that really count. Hope I'm wrong.
- Phillywhiteout

He played an entire season. Why doesn't this A game crap apply to Cates or Tippett or any other Flyer who also played the whole season?

I can just see the Flyers arbitration case against Cates now: Well you see he only had 9 points after the first 29 games, and then other teams took it easy on the Flyers for the next four months. So really, he's just a 25 point player who deserves $1,000,000 at most.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

You said the flyers should not think of the team first and instead think of player first....hmmmmm thats a different outlook . Cates is 24, its not like he is a 19yr old rookie.
- bradster

wonder how many team won or will win a cup by putting the players needs first.

I fail to see why he even bothers to drum up these rumors. No one comes here for rumors. The place is s collection of blogs, which are used as a launching pad for chit-chat. Why pretend otherwise?
- PT21

peeps get all bitter on his rumors. who cares drums up conversation.

Do you have any factual information to support that a bunch of teams didn't bring their A game against the Flyers? Do you realize how silly of a argument that is?
I know that you've failed to see that. I've read your posts. Doesn't change the reality.

What do you think of Noah Cates?
- MJL

yes. Do you have any proof they did? Or perhaps a link?

wonder how many team won or will win a cup by putting the players needs first.
- hello it's me 2050

Putting a player in the best position to succeed? Wow, what a novel concept.

How will the RFA's playout?

York - 3 x $3.33M
Frost - 3 x $2.33M
Cates - 2 x 1.8M
- Bayareaflyer

Here’s a crazy thought. If you have a player you strongly believe is part of the future like york and you see him as fitting into timeline later when expected team good say 3-5 years why not lock him in longer term now while salary will be lower than 3rd contract. Why bridge deal? Say 6 years at 4mil per. Or something like that. Or for like cates looking at those numbers 6 years 2.5-3 mil per year. If you are sure they fit a certain floor on team. Like say they get good and cates is 3c or 3 winger. Something that doesn’t break the bank and with cap rising will look good in future years. Like laughts contract now for example looks good. The player gets security and paid well even if a little under payed toward end.

Doesn’t this help avoid the over pay later.

yes. Do you have any proof they did? Or perhaps a link?
- hello it's me 2050

yes. Do you have any proof they did? Or perhaps a link?
- hello it's me 2050

But they only brought their B game when Frost was on the ice. And only when defending against him, not Konecny, Tippett or Cates. Those teams played their A game against them, even when they were on the ice together.

Got it.

York - 3 x $3.33M
Frost - 3 x $2.33M
Cates - 2 x 1.8M

Frost and Cates are both 24, so if they are bridged it should be two year deals. Three years takes them straight to UFA.

Cates should get more than Frost because he has arb rights.

Putting a player in the best position to succeed? Wow, what a novel concept.
- MBFlyerfan

will you give it rest please. for (frank)s sake.

putting the player in a position to succeed and the teams needs first do not have to be mutually exclusive do they?

But they only brought their B game when Frost was on the ice. And only when defending against him, not Konecny, Tippett or Cates. Those teams played their A game against them, even when they were on the ice together.

Got it.
- MBFlyerfan

was that what I said? so you dont got it. Keep pushing. Not the Reo sped wagon song.

You want to apply that to the others then go ahead and have that conversation.

Throws his body around, but does he come away with the puck?
- Phillywhiteout

The guy who lays the hit isn't usually the one who comes away with the puck. That's what defensive puck support is for.

Here’s a crazy thought. If you have a player you strongly believe is part of the future like york and you see him as fitting into timeline later when expected team good say 3-5 years why not lock him in longer term now while salary will be lower than 3rd contract. Why bridge deal? Say 6 years at 4mil per. Or something like that. Or for like cates looking at those numbers 6 years 2.5-3 mil per year. If you are sure they fit a certain floor on team. Like say they get good and cates is 3c or 3 winger. Something that doesn’t break the bank and with cap rising will look good in future years. Like laughts contract now for example looks good. The player gets security and paid well even if a little under payed toward end.

Doesn’t this help avoid the over pay later.
- SMS4016

looking forward to see if those Wharton classes help danny in his negotiations.

Frost and Cates are both 24, so if they are bridged it should be two year deals. Three years takes them straight to UFA.

Cates should get more than Frost because he has arb rights.
- Feanor

Bridging any of these guys opens up the possibility of repeating the Sanheim situation.

If they really believe the guy is a core piece, they should just give them the long-term deal now and lock in a lower AAV.

I don't know that. You asked me what I thought of Cates. That's what I think. He acquitted himself well all year and I think he will succeed in that role at the NHL level. I could be wrong on both of them, but then again I could be right on both of them.
- Phillywhiteout

What makes you think that? Why are you not applying the same standard to Cates that you did to Frost. That he was playing against teams not playing their A game and that playing on a bad team does not establish anything?

I think it's perfectly clear what I have established.

everyone guesses when it comes to possible salaries. remember when you were saying risto was definitely getting a raise due to his previous contract?
- Peter Richards

Where did I say that he wasn't guessing?

Bridging any of these guys opens up the possibility of repeating the Sanheim situation.

If they really believe the guy is a core piece, they should just give them the long-term deal now and lock in a lower AAV.
- Tomahawk

Conversely, not bridging them opens up the Konecny situation where he needs a big extension at age 28.

Putting a player in the best position to succeed? Wow, what a novel concept.
- MBFlyerfan

Not to mention the difference in how a team that is in a development phase should operate versus a team in a contending phase.

Not to mention the difference in how a team that is in a development phase should operate versus a team in a contending phase.
- MJL

flyers were not in a "development" phase. They were trying to still contend.

Did Cates have a successful year? Yes or no.

Conversely, not bridging them opens up the Konecny situation where he needs a big extension at age 28.
- Feanor

Probably not much of a difference in AAV between extending a TK-like player at the age of 26 or 28. At least in TK's case they got the bulk of his most productive years at a bargain price.

Probably not much of a difference in AAV between extending a TK-like player at the age of 26 or 28. At least in TK's case they got the bulk of his most productive years at a bargain price.
- Tomahawk

The issue is that there has to be some give and take. The team has to get something if they're going to go long term. Unlike the Sanheim deal where he got everything. I don't see Frost, Cates or York being players that should get a long term deal. Not yet anyway. There's risk to both sides.

Where did I say that he wasn't guessing?
- MJL

i didn't. reread that