Speculation: Part VIII: Post-Draft, Rumors, Speculation, Free Agency Opens Friday (July 5)

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Number 8....

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Toronto Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...od-highlights-nhlfree-agency/article12944573/

Something similar has been introduced in the NHL as part of its new collective agreement, although in this lockout-condensed season, the period will be just two days (Wednesday and Thursday).

While free agency won’t officially open until Friday at noon, many teams, players and agents are treating that date as a mere formality.

Just as the NBA had teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans showing up in person late at night to shove a pile of money at 2010 rookie of the year Tyreke Evans on Monday, the same could well happen two days later in hockey.

“For all intents and purposes, free agency starts tomorrow,” was the chorus from multiple NHL executives and agents Tuesday.

To what extent deals will get done before Friday is difficult to say, but it’s expected at least a few players will be off the market quickly.

Teams are allowed to make verbal agreements Wednesday and Thursday, and in the NBA, those are often leaked long before ink meets paper on an actual contract.

All that NHL general managers would admit last weekend is they will use the period to get a head start.

“We’re going to talk to people,” new Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said. “We’ll wait until after the draft, wait until the dust settles, and we’ll sit down and address that.”

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[Patrick Division]

first

 

[SchennSational1022*]

Yeah... stay away from Lacavalier...

 

[Random Forest]

I could see Benoit Pouliot being a realistic option. Goes along with the "size on the wings" mantra, and we do have a hole in our bottom six. Pouliot would be a nice fill.

Talbot-Laughton-Pouliot would be a great and extremely effective fourth line.

 

[NHLAlert]

I wonder why no one took a shot on Sergei tolchinsky. He's tiny but has a ton of skill

 

[Hockeypete49]

Number 8....

Thanks MSE. Brad is one of my all time Flyers. All heart.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thanks MSE. Brad is one of my all time Flyers. All heart.

I thought you'd like that, Pete. But I am awaiting your comments about Eriksson in the Morin sticky.

 

[sg12lw]

I could see Benoit Pouliot being a realistic option. Goes along with the "size on the wings" mantra, and we do have a hole in our bottom six. Pouliot would be a nice fill.

Talbot-Laughton-Pouliot would be a great and extremely effective fourth line.

pouliot is a skill player, and thats all he is...but hes not good enough to be top 6 in the nhl

he is a waste of a 4th line spot

keep him in the ahl where he belongs

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

From hockey standpoint, I have no question Tim Thomas could come back to NHL and do well after a year off. Hasek did same at similar age.

Source: Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer

 

[LI Fly Guy]

Source: Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer

I want us to sign him. That would be amazing. Perfect goalie for this team. Guy stands on his head and makes incredible save over and over. The way this team plays we need that.

 

[Prongo]

I wonder why no one took a shot on Sergei tolchinsky. He's tiny but has a ton of skill

I'm fairly certain he is heading to Rangers camp IIRC

 

[healthyscratch]

Yeah... stay away from Lacavalier...

You do realize Couturier is 20 years old, right? To put him in a second line center role and expect 25+ goals is pretty irrational and youre going to be sadly disappointed then screaming to trade him next summer because he stinks. Why are you rushing him? he's playing in the NHL and learning, he's not buried on the Phantoms. You get a chance to sign Lecavalier and his 54% face offs to play your second line you do it, and in two years you swap him out for Couturier when ready.

 

[sobrien]

Wouldn't mind Vinny for cheap. Wouldn't mind Morrow for cheap. Stalberg cheap. Keep Gagne. Still would love LaRose and Lombardi. Or Mason Raymond. A healthy Raymond and Lombardi? Immediately the fastest team in the NHL.


edit: then again I wouldn't mind just staying put and bringing guys like Raffl, Noebels, Cousins, Akeson, McGinn and Straka in for a shot for the final spot or two.

 

[rockinghockey]

Oiler fan here, what do you think would be fair for Coburn.

 

[Random Forest]

Oiler fan here, what do you think would be fair for Coburn.

I want Klefbom+MPS for Coburn+Cousins.

Understandable if you guys don't like that.

Otherwise, MPS+Marancin would get it done for me. That's as low as I'd go on the Flyers end, though.

 

[Krishna]

I'm fairly certain he is heading to Rangers camp IIRC

Can't get signed as far as I know. Similar situation to hyka

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Can't get signed as far as I know. Similar situation to hyka

Nope, he played in the CHL this year. Hyka was playing Europe prior to his draft year that's why we couldn't sign him. That rule doesn't apply to CHL players only Euro's.

 

[PALE PWNR]

I want Klefbom+MPS for Coburn+Cousins.

Understandable if you guys don't like that.

Otherwise, MPS+Marancin would get it done for me. That's as low as I'd go on the Flyers end, though.

Can probably toss in a 3rd or 4th with the top deal

 

[JayB]

I would like add some gritt and size to our middle six from UFA(Clowe/Clarkson/Morrow). Real need is goalscorer(Ryan), 4thline center (Henricks), better defender for replace Coburm(Myers) or trade for cheaper (Sbisa). After that if possible go for Ufa to bring more guys.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

I believe the Flyers will round out their top-9 with a UFA signing and it doesn't matter if they can get on track with Gagne or not. Gagne is related to McGinn and that's about it.

Matt Read will probably be used as a RW on Couts line, because of his not so bad 2-way-play and scoring touch.

I'd say

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
UFA-Schenn-Simmonds
Gagne(or McGinn)-Couts-Read

is a given.

Question is, who could be the signing?

Homer said he wants to get bigger on the wings, so my guess

1. Morrow
2. Penner
3. Clowe

4. MacArthur

Out of them, I'd prefer Morrow on a max. 2-year deal.

Unfortunately, Homer will probably deal for Clowe's rights and sign him before Friday.

Forget about Horton or Iginla. One is to pricey and the other wants to play for a clear cut contender.

In case of our "top" prospects.

Personally, I want Laughton to start the season with the Phantoms with top line minutes, PP and PK time.

The quality time should benefit him (and Cousins btw).

Something like

Cousins-Laughton-Alderson
Noebels-Flanagan-Akeson
Wellwood/McGinn (if Gagne signed)-Holmstrom-Bourdson

Of course, if we get Lecavalier then

 

[JayB]

1.Ryan

2.Clowe
3.Clarkson
4.Morrow
5.Iginla
6. Hendricks

So

Hartnel G Voracek
Ufa Schenn Simmonds
Ufa/Mginn Couts Read
Rinaldo Ufa Talbot

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

1.Ryan

2.Clowe
3.Clarkson
4.Morrow
5.Iginla
6. Hendricks

So

Hartnel G Voracek
Ufa Schenn Simmonds
Ufa/Mginn Couts Read
Rinaldo Ufa Talbot

Pretty much what I've written but I focused solely on UFA's.

If he makes another push for B. Ryan how can you expect the same forward line-up? I am curious, what do you think the Flyers give up when the Ducks,reportedly, look for a kings ransom?

 

[flyershockey]

There are some organizations that just get phenomenally lucky with certain positions on the ice. The Nashville Predators are the perfect example of that with defensemen. It's crazy how many hits they've taken, yet they still continue to produce top end defensive talent. "Oh you lost Kimmo Timonen? Here's Weber and Suter, they're ready to step up and become elite players." " Oh, you lost Hamhuis to free agency? Here's Josi and Ellis. They're ready to take the next step." "What's that? You lost Suter? Here's Seth Jones at number 4 in the draft. Enjoy."

It's like the defensive hockey gods just declared Nashville as their breeding grounds. How he fell to number 4, I'll never know. If that franchise could ever find one dynamic offensive player that isn't a flake like Radulov, they'll launch into one of the premier organizations.

 

[BrimFullofAsham45]

There are some organizations that just get phenomenally lucky with certain positions on the ice. The Nashville Predators are the perfect example of that with defensemen. It's crazy how many hits they've taken, yet they still continue to produce top end defensive talent. "Oh you lost Kimmo Timonen? Here's Weber and Suter, they're ready to step up and become elite players." " Oh, you lost Hamhuis to free agency? Here's Josi and Ellis. They're ready to take the next step." "What's that? You lost Suter? Here's Seth Jones at number 4 in the draft. Enjoy."

It's like the defensive hockey gods just declared Nashville as their breeding grounds. How he fell to number 4, I'll never know. If that franchise could ever find one dynamic offensive player that isn't a flake like Radulov, they'll launch into one of the premier organizations.

Or of they ever decide to pay for more than an AHL forward lineup.

 

[Psuhockey]

There are some organizations that just get phenomenally lucky with certain positions on the ice. The Nashville Predators are the perfect example of that with defensemen. It's crazy how many hits they've taken, yet they still continue to produce top end defensive talent. "Oh you lost Kimmo Timonen? Here's Weber and Suter, they're ready to step up and become elite players." " Oh, you lost Hamhuis to free agency? Here's Josi and Ellis. They're ready to take the next step." "What's that? You lost Suter? Here's Seth Jones at number 4 in the draft. Enjoy."

It's like the defensive hockey gods just declared Nashville as their breeding grounds. How he fell to number 4, I'll never know. If that franchise could ever find one dynamic offensive player that isn't a flake like Radulov, they'll launch into one of the premier organizations.

Nashville invests a lot of high picks on defensemen. Conversely, they don't invest as many on forwards which is why their offense stinks. A lot of pundits are raving about how lucky they were to get Seth Jones but in reality that was the worst possible outcome for them at four. They still have nobody who can score.