GDT: Free Agency 2014. 12:00 PM EST

[LegionOfDoom91]

I think he meant it as, we had an average team last season, and this season we will also. Current roster reminds me of a team that will fight for a playoff spot but will lose.

We'll see, camp didn't even start yet.

 

[beetee15]

We're 1.2 over the cap. We don't even have 12 forwards signed yet unless Hextall expects players from the Phantoms to step up.

We have no contracts expiring next season aside from Timonen. We have a ton of players with NTC's and multiple players on the decline in production with unmovable high contracts.

This team is in trouble.

yup.

 

[Curufinwe]

We're 1.2 over the cap. We don't even have 12 forwards signed yet unless Hextall expects players from the Phantoms to step up.

We have no contracts expiring next season aside from Timonen. We have a ton of players with NTC's and multiple players on the decline in production with unmovable high contracts.

This team is in trouble.

They are not in trouble. They have a better roster than last year and still have room to sign a player if they choose to start the season exceeding the cap.

 

[whitstifier]

yup.

Nice, I quote myself all the time too.

 

[beetee15]

who is going to score? theres no 1st line wing and has our old expensive defense gotten any better? no it hasn't

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Holmgren knew what he was doing tho putting this team together for Hextall.

right?

 

[Chinatown88]

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m

Brad Richards going to Chicago as per source.

Wonder how that's going to work.

 

[Unstable]

who is going to score? theres no 1st line wing and has our old expensive defense gotten any better? no it hasn't

Old expensive defense is going to play the string out until young talent develops. I expect Ghost to have a good camp and get sent to the minors, and then next year I think Ghost and Haag will both be ready.

Question on Vinny - what do people think about the odds of the Flyers dealing him and retaining salary vs. just keeping him?

 

[El Emperor]

I think we all need to get used to the fact that we now have a GM that is willing to not make moves to improve the team in the long run. No more of these ridiculous deals that do nothing to get us closer to a cup, but only guarantee a playoff appearance and a 1st or 2nd round loss, not to mention, no chance at a lottery pick.

While I am not one of those people that will commend teams like the Penguins and Blackhawks that sucked for years and built a team with high picks year after year, if it takes one (or MAYBE two) below average season to get this team back to being an annual contender, I'm okay with it.

 

[Curufinwe]

who is going to score? theres no 1st line wing and has our old expensive defense gotten any better? no it hasn't

You really think putting BSchenn in as 1LW and on the top PP unit is going to mean this team can't score?

He got 40 points playing with Vinny but he can't get 50 like Hartnell did playing with Giroux?

 

[Random Forest]

who is going to score? theres no 1st line wing and has our old expensive defense gotten any better? no it hasn't

There are six players on this roster that scored 20 goals last year. That is not an issue with this team.

Defense is not any worse than it was last year either.

Just natural growth from Couturier and Schenn will make this team better. I'm annoyed we didn't improve on Emery, but stop acting like this team is necessarily going to be worse than it was last year.

If we can improve upon Hall and Rinaldo, I will be quite optimistic. If we don't, I'll be very pissed.

 

[whitstifier]

I think we all need to get used to the fact that we now have a GM that is willing to not make moves to improve the team in the long run. No more of these ridiculous deals that do nothing to get us closer to a cup, but only guarantee a playoff appearance and a 1st or 2nd round loss, not to mention, no chance at a lottery pick.

While I am not one of those people that will commend teams like the Penguins and Blackhawks that sucked for years and built a team with high picks year after year, if it takes one (or MAYBE two) below average season to get this team back to being an annual contender, I'm okay with it.

Don't really see how the team's gotten worse.

 

[mja]

Wonder how that's going to work.

Don't care, but it takes another center off the market, Nashville's options are dwindling.

 

[Embiid]

Holmgren knew what he was doing tho putting this team together for Hextall.

right?

I know right....awesome GM according to some though....

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

who is going to score? theres no 1st line wing and has our old expensive defense gotten any better? no it hasn't

Hypothetically speaking here but assume we had the capspace who did you realistically want on the open market that was a huge upgrade over what we have currently?

 

[Curufinwe]

There are six players on this roster that scored 20 goals last year. That is not an issue with this team.

Defense is not any worse than it was last year either.

Defense is better. MacDonald is an upgrade over Gus and Mez.

 

[The Couturier Effect]

They are not in trouble. They have a better roster than last year and still have room to sign a player if they choose to start the season exceeding the cap.

How? Nothing's changed except Hartnell being "replaced" by Umberger. There's still plenty of time for things to change but as of right now it's basically the same thing as last year.

 

[Funf]

I think we all need to get used to the fact that we now have a GM that is willing to not make moves to improve the team in the long run. No more of these ridiculous deals that do nothing to get us closer to a cup, but only guarantee a playoff appearance and a 1st or 2nd round loss, not to mention, no chance at a lottery pick.

While I am not one of those people that will commend teams like the Penguins and Blackhawks that sucked for years and built a team with high picks year after year, if it takes one (or MAYBE two) below average season to get this team back to being an annual contender, I'm okay with it.

This isn't a lottery team, though. Our forward core is generally pretty solid. If Schenn can click with Giroux and Voracek, and Couts can take the next step offensively, we may even be better than we were last year. If Laughton can come up and contribute, and our bottom 6 starts shaping up at some point, there's even more of a chance to improve.

Then it's just about developing the defensive prospects we already have.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Defense is better. MacDonald is an upgrade over Gus and Mez.

better but still overpaid in money and term.

 

[Chinatown88]

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1m

1 year, $2 mil for Brad Richards to Chicago.

Welp that's another center gone.

 

[bennysflyers16]

Brad Richards signs, Englenad gets 3 mill, Mezz gets 4 mill, Orpik gets 5.5 mill, and we can't dump Gross or Vinny. They must be considered worthless around the league.

 

[beetee15]

You really think putting BSchenn in as 1LW and on the top PP unit is going to mean this team can't score?

He got 40 points playing with Vinny but he can't get 50 like Hartnell did playing with Giroux?

i understand that we had 7, 20 goal scorers, but I watched this team struggle with scoring from time to time last season. Puck possession and speed were also a HUGE issue for flyers, none of that has been resolved yet "I know I know Umberger is faster than Hartnell" still not an upgrade. Schenn may be able to score but he's not a pure goal scorer. We have too many grinding forwards. don't get too amped for this team the way it is right now

 

[Random Forest]

Bryan Murray just said they need a center that is "proven" even if isn't similar to Spezza. He said they're more inclined to fill this hole through trade rather than through free agency.

 

[Curufinwe]

How? Nothing's changed except Hartnell being "replaced" by Umberger.

You also have MacDonald replacing Gus and Mez, and Laughton, Raffl, Akeson & PEB available instead of having to ice the worst 4th line in the league of Rosehill-Hall-Rinaldo.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=684843

FORWARDS (12)
#10 - Brayden Schenn
#14 - Sean Couturier
#17 - Wayne Simmonds
#19 - Scott Hartnell
#21 - Scott Laughton
#24 - Matt Read
#25 - Max Talbot
#28 - Claude Giroux
#36 - Zac Rinaldo
#37 - Jay Rosehill
#40 - Vincent Lecavalier
#93 - Jakub Voracek

DEFENSE (7)
#5 - Braydon Coburn
#8 - Nicklas Grossmann
#22 - Luke Schenn
#26 - Erik Gustafsson
#32 - Mark Streit
#41 - Andrej Meszaros
#44 - Kimmo Timonen

GOALTENDERS (2)
#29 - Ray Emery
#35 - Steve Mason

 

[whitstifier]

Brad Richards signs, Englenad gets 3 mill, Mezz gets 4 mill, Orpik gets 5.5 mill, and we can't dump Gross or Vinny. They must be considered worthless around the league.

Englenad checks Coochurier!