Bill Meltzer: Flyers Sign LaBarbera as Third Goaltender

Happy early 4th of July to you Southerners tomorrow. No cop grabbing ok?

I like the stock pile of goaltending depth Hexy has brought in only 5 days. This time last week, we had Mase, Stolarz, and Madsen. Now we have prospects, strong back up, and AHL depth.

Nothing wrong with adding a class act who has NHL experience to play goal for the Phantoms. And, if Stolarz can beat him out for the top spot in Lehigh, so much the better.

Bill...Nothing about Vinny one way or the other?

Bill...Nothing about Vinny one way or the other?
- edmac812

Status quo

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Sign LaBarbera as Third Goaltender
- bmeltzer

Hi Bill,
How does our LW situation look, (to you), at this point?
I know it's still very early in the summer, and I like the acquisition of Gagne, and interested to see how well he plays in a contract year.
But he looks more adept to the C, or RW position, and with Schenn's production increase coming from RW still leaves us short on that side.
Again, I know it's still only July, but with some nice affordable LW options gone, (Frolik, Belesky), does it make finding someone better suited for this position more difficult, especially with the VL contract still weighing us down?

Status quo
- bmeltzer

In that case, here's hoping with have the Redemption line clicking early in the year:

Gagner - VLC - Umberger

In that case, here's hoping with have the Redemption line clicking early in the year:

Gagner - VLC - Umberger
- PhiFaninEdm

If that's our third line we got problems.

In that case, here's hoping with have the Redemption line clicking early in the year:

Gagner - VLC - Umberger
- PhiFaninEdm

That would be a wonderful veteran 2nd scoring line


in Lehigh Valley

In that case, here's hoping with have the Redemption line clicking early in the year:

Gagner - VLC - Umberger
- PhiFaninEdm

I don't know if I would put his game in this category, especially with his age, & skill set.

Not Bill, but the LW situation looks like it's going to stay static. My guess is Raffl & Read would be the top two wingers, and the bottom six wingers will be a battle between Umberger, Bellemare, VandeVelde and kids, unless they see Gagner as a LW, which may well be possible.

Hextall said "I'm comfortable with our team right now," he said. "If we can upgrade it somehow, we'll look to do it, but we can't be going out and spending a whole bunch of money to upgrade it, otherwise we'll be back in the situation we're in." He's not going to add a contract of any size unless he's losing a deal that is worth the same amount. He's seriously trying to keep the Flyers out of their past cap snafus.

Not Bill, but the LW situation looks like it's going to stay static. My guess is Raffl & Read would be the top two wingers, and the bottom six wingers will be a battle between Umberger, Bellemare, VandeVelde and kids, unless they see Gagner as a LW, which may well be possible.

Hextall said "I'm comfortable with our team right now," he said. "If we can upgrade it somehow, we'll look to do it, but we can't be going out and spending a whole bunch of money to upgrade it, otherwise we'll be back in the situation we're in." He's not going to add a contract of any size unless he's losing a deal that is worth the same amount. He's seriously trying to keep the Flyers out of their past cap snafus.
- Jsaquella

Yup, this is pretty much it. I'm guessing the lines shake out as:

Raffl-G-Jake
Read-Couturier-Schenn or Simmonds
Gagner or Umberger-Laughton, Schenn or Gagner-Simmonds or Gagner
VDV-Bellemare-White

Not Bill, but the LW situation looks like it's going to stay static. My guess is Raffl & Read would be the top two wingers, and the bottom six wingers will be a battle between Umberger, Bellemare, VandeVelde and kids, unless they see Gagner as a LW, which may well be possible.

Hextall said "I'm comfortable with our team right now," he said. "If we can upgrade it somehow, we'll look to do it, but we can't be going out and spending a whole bunch of money to upgrade it, otherwise we'll be back in the situation we're in." He's not going to add a contract of any size unless he's losing a deal that is worth the same amount. He's seriously trying to keep the Flyers out of their past cap snafus.
- Jsaquella

I like the fact he is trying to keep the team from past cap disasters, but I still think he pull off a trade. He knows they need more scoring depth. Maybe a lot depends on what happens with the great VLC

Yup, this is pretty much it. I'm guessing the lines shake out as:

Raffl-G-Jake
Read-Couturier-Schenn or Simmonds
Gagner or Umberger-Laughton, Schenn or Gagner-Simmonds or Gagner
VDV-Bellemare-White
- BiggE

I haven't really thought about it much, but off the top of my head:

12-28-93
24-14-17
76/78/18-10-89
76/78/18-25-76/78/18

I like the fact he is trying to keep the team from past cap disasters, but I still think he pull off a trade. He knows they need more scoring depth. Maybe a lot depends on what happens with the great VLC
- 3flyerkids

Lecavalier isn't going anywhere. I don't think Hextall is calling this season a wash, but he's also not willing to mess up the future cap situation just to add a temporary scoring fix, like Sharp.

I haven't really thought about it much, but off the top of my head:

12-28-93
24-14-17
76/78/18-10-89
76/78/18-25-76/78/18
- Jsaquella

That'll work

Lecavalier isn't going anywhere. I don't think Hextall is calling this season a wash, but he's also not willing to mess up the future cap situation just to add a temporary scoring fix, like Sharp.
- Jsaquella

That's not exactly true, he's going to his reserved seat in the press box.

That'll work
- BiggE

I'd like more offense on that 3rd line LW, but unless they can move a contract out, Laughton, Cousins & other kids will start season in the AHL.

Lecavalier isn't going anywhere. I don't think Hextall is calling this season a wash, but he's also not willing to mess up the future cap situation just to add a temporary scoring fix, like Sharp.
- Jsaquella

It was wishful thinking to assume Vinny would terminate his deal. He'll be on the Flyers next season.

I like the fact he is trying to keep the team from past cap disasters, but I still think he pull off a trade. He knows they need more scoring depth. Maybe a lot depends on what happens with the great VLC
- 3flyerkids

It's not a stretch that both Provorov and Morin make the team this year. That would necessitate shipping out more dmen but that wouldn't happen until training camp.

If H&H think they are ready i would like to see Provorov replace AMac and Morin replace Luke Schenn and you live with the growing pains this year.

That would also be 2 steps closer to cleaning up the cap.

I'd like more offense on that 3rd line LW, but unless they can move a contract out, Laughton, Cousins & other kids will start season in the AHL.
- Jsaquella

Most likely, though if they clearly outplay veterans in camp, I think Hextall finds a way to keep them on the roster. If not, it really sends a bad message to your younger players.

Not Bill, but the LW situation looks like it's going to stay static. My guess is Raffl & Read would be the top two wingers, and the bottom six wingers will be a battle between Umberger, Bellemare, VandeVelde and kids, unless they see Gagner as a LW, which may well be possible.

Hextall said "I'm comfortable with our team right now," he said. "If we can upgrade it somehow, we'll look to do it, but we can't be going out and spending a whole bunch of money to upgrade it, otherwise we'll be back in the situation we're in." He's not going to add a contract of any size unless he's losing a deal that is worth the same amount. He's seriously trying to keep the Flyers out of their past cap snafus.
- Jsaquella

Yes, completely understandable from our Cap position that he was unable to bid for any UFA's, especially with the fiscal plan he has in place.
Just a bit of a shame he wasn't able to resolve the VL situation earlier, (to have the extra $ cushion available).
I'm sure he'll be able to deal another defenseman down the line, especially if/when, other teams start getting injuries to their D units.
I like Raffl, but just not sure if he can give us the production we need on that side.
Who knows, maybe they try Gagne on the left side, and takes off, the wat Schenn did on the right side?

1st and 4th lines are the only stable ones. Simmonds will be the mainstay on the 2nd. Everything else is a guessing game.

It's not a stretch that both Provorov and Morin make the team this year. That would necessitate shipping out more dmen but that wouldn't happen until training camp.

If H&H think they are ready i would like to see Provorov replace AMac and Morin replace Luke Schenn and you live with the growing pains this year.

That would also be 2 steps closer to cleaning up the cap.
- Flyers_01

I think for any of the young dmen to make the roster, they will have to significantly outplay the vets. However, looking at the vets we have, that may not be too tough a task.

1st and 4th lines are the only stable ones. Simmonds will be the mainstay on the 2nd. Everything else is a guessing game.
- MatveiDmitrii

I think it is a pretty safe bet that Couturier will be, when it comes to ice time, the #2 center.