Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Flyers Top Sens in SO, 3-2; Quick Hits

Go prospects!

Is Weal a UFA or RFA after this season? Has he played his way into becoming their 7th protected fwd for expansion?

Is Weal a UFA or RFA after this season? Has he played his way into becoming their 7th protected fwd for expansion?
- FlyerAdam30

UFA and probably not, but he is fun to watch so far. There is really only 1 forward spot and 1 defense spot available right now

UFA and probably not, but he is fun to watch so far. There is really only 1 forward spot and 1 defense spot available right now
- YuenglingJagr

I think I'd rather protect weal even with a super small sample size than the other candidates like Cousins, Raffl, Read, Weiss, Laughton. I wouldn't be worried about losing any of them but at least Weal has some potential as a scorer. I don't get how he's a UFA though, don't you need to have played a certain amount of years or be a certain age. He's barely played

I think I'd rather protect weal even with a super small sample size than the other candidates like Cousins, Raffl, Read, Weiss, Laughton. I wouldn't be worried about losing any of them but at least Weal has some potential as a scorer. I don't get how he's a UFA though, don't you need to have played a certain amount of years or be a certain age. He's barely played
- FlyerAdam30

Funny you mention that. It's actually because he hasn't played a certain number of games by a certain age. It's a group 6 UFA

Funny you mention that. It's actually because he hasn't played a certain number of games by a certain age. It's a group 6 UFA
- YuenglingJagr

Oh ok, thanks. Figures he's just starting to be useful and now he can walk.

I'm fairly certain Weal is an RFA again

I'm fairly certain Weal is an RFA again
- dra4477

He is a Group 6 UFA.

A player who's contract is expiring and meets all of the following conditions shall become an unrestricted free agent (UFA):

1) The player is 25 years or older (as of June 30th of the calendar year the contract is expiring).

Weal turns 25 in April.

2) The player has completed 3 or more professional seasons - qualified by 11 or more professional games (for an 18/19 year old player), or 1 or more professional games (for a player aged 20 or older). This can include NHL, minor league, and European professional league seasons played while under an SPC.

Weal has completed five pro seasons as of the end of his season.


3) The player has played less than 80 NHL games, or 28 NHL games of 30 minutes or greater for a goaltender.

Weal is currently at 32 NHL games and, at the end of this season, can only be at a maximum of 38.

He is a UFA.
- bmeltzer

Well that's unfortunate, would like to see them hold onto him

Well that's unfortunate, would like to see them hold onto him
- dra4477

I think he will be re-signed.

It's interesting when they'd even re-sign Weal, if they do want to (and they should). They can't really use a protection slot on him, with only 1 slot available. Given he's still under contract, the move to make is to protect Raffl, but I'm really getting vibes they'd protect Bellemare over him, which would be a horrendous mistake. You don't name a guy assistant captain and then not protect him a few months later. And the way they shower him with praise......

In that case, it probably wouldn't matter if they re-sign Weal before July 1st, because Vegas would take Raffl, if McPhee has a brain. But the move I'd prefer is to protect Raffl, handshake agree with Weal (it's not like a lot of teams will be banging at his door.....he's been part of the organization, has a relationship with Hextall, he finally has a role, it'd be odd to risk going somewhere else for no difference in $$), and then just risk losing Bellemare, Read, or Weise. But I'm sure Hextall will not be in the dark regarding McPhee's plans and will have an idea of who he plans to select, which of course could change his actions leading up to the draft. If McPhee has his eye on someone else, then re-signing Weal prior to expansion may not even matter.

Yea so, anyone else super excited about Carter Hart. I wonder how long I have to wait to see him in the NHL... I'm guessing 4 more years.

Huge win last night. That's it boys keep winning when it doesn't matter.

Huge win last night. That's it boys keep winning when it doesn't matter.

I think he will be re-signed.
- bmeltzer

With Hakstol's post game comments I think he's going to be protected and resigned. He really seems to have gotten their attention this year in Lehigh and with the Flyers.

They played well, they won. Good for them!

It's not like they are missing out on drafting a McDavid/Matthews type of franchise player in this draft, so I'd rather see them play well. Especially when it's young players like Weal, Ghost, Coots and Provorov that seem to driving the bus right now.

It's interesting when they'd even re-sign Weal, if they do want to (and they should). They can't really use a protection slot on him, with only 1 slot available. Given he's still under contract, the move to make is to protect Raffl, but I'm really getting vibes they'd protect Bellemare over him, which would be a horrendous mistake. You don't name a guy assistant captain and then not protect him a few months later. And the way they shower him with praise......

In that case, it probably wouldn't matter if they re-sign Weal before July 1st, because Vegas would take Raffl, if McPhee has a brain. But the move I'd prefer is to protect Raffl, handshake agree with Weal (it's not like a lot of teams will be banging at his door.....he's been part of the organization, has a relationship with Hextall, he finally has a role, it'd be odd to risk going somewhere else for no difference in $$), and then just risk losing Bellemare, Read, or Weise. But I'm sure Hextall will not be in the dark regarding McPhee's plans and will have an idea of who he plans to select, which of course could change his actions leading up to the draft. If McPhee has his eye on someone else, then re-signing Weal prior to expansion may not even matter.
- Mononoke

I struggle with trying to decide whether the contract for PEB was because they love him or because it was protection from expansion in a way. I don't know, but I really don't think they will protect him. Weal I wouldn't say I am worried about him getting picked, but I think they have enough options to prevent Vegas from taking him if they choose. Leaving him unsigned is probably the most prohibitive to having him get picked, but signing him to a short deal that may be high AAV could do it too.

Huge win last night. That's it boys keep winning when it doesn't matter.
- flyeredup85

The whole narrative that Hakstol can't motivate the Flyers is bogus, IMO. He has been motivating them for games that don't matter for a few weeks now.

Jordan Weal has been a man on a mission. He reminds me a ton of the good Matt Read from a few years ago

The whole narrative that Hakstol can't motivate the Flyers is bogus, IMO. He has been motivating them for games that don't matter for a few weeks now.
- YuenglingJagr

If professional hockey players cant motivate themselves then there is a much bigger problem than the coach.

Personal opinion is that PEB contract term and dollars was so that they could leave him unprotected but keep him. Also knowing that the extra 450k they added per year on salary wouldn't break our cap.

If professional hockey players cant motivate themselves then there is a much bigger problem than the coach.
- MBFlyerfan

No, no. Hakstol shows no emotion behind the bench. He doesn't care. That is why the Flyers are bad

No, no. Hakstol shows no emotion behind the bench. He doesn't care. That is why the Flyers are bad
- YuenglingJagr

This is true.

If professional hockey players cant motivate themselves then there is a much bigger problem than the coach.
- MBFlyerfan