The Flyers Should Trade Wayne Simmonds

[deadhead]

Once you reach a certain level of asset accumulation, you run into contract limits and cap constraints.

At that point you no longer want to add assets just to add assets, you want to balance winning today and winning tomorrow, identify the players who are core or affordable depth, and trade the rest to upgrade the current roster or add future draft picks (Cousins, Marody).

You don't want to be rebuilding forever, as some point you switch to "maintenance."

However, I'm always skeptical of trading top assets for "names," it's not only cheaper to develop your own names, it builds esprit de corps, and you know your own players far better than someone else's "name" player. Now if you can add a solid piece for your second tier assets and draft picks outside the top 20 or so in the 1st rd, depends on the player.

 

[Rebels57]

You will always need to be accumulating assets for the future....or you turn into Chicago /LA. Always

I have no problem turning into them if it means 3 or 2 Cups..or even 1.

 

[Curufinwe]

Toronto lost JVR for nothing, but I think they'll be OK.

 

[Garbage Goal]

I'm happy to be Chicago (especially) or LA as that means we win a Cup. Would also prefer to win a Cup and be smarter than them though by creating a long-term window and not win out then crumble.

 

[bauer]

If we’re in a playoff spot then it makes absolutely zero sense to trade Simmonds. He will be our playoff rental that we didn’t have to trade any assets for. I’m sure Hextall sees this too. It’s OK to lose him for nothing. It’s not like we don’t have enough prospects that can step into a 3RW role.

 

[BernieParent]

+1 to the sentiments that, while Simmonds can be considered the "playoff rental" and losing him for nothing is digestible, the accumulation of assets has to be an ongoing process. For the latter, I trust Hextall in not tossing draft picks – especially first rounders – into every deal from here on in. He definitely grasps the importance of picks, even late-rounds, and won't be 2nd-round phobic like his predecessor.

Being in a position of strength with the young depth means that Hextall can reach on younger talent who won't sniff the NHL for 3-5 years after being drafted, which is a win-win if his scouts are worth their paycheques. It spreads out the talent to avoid absolute blockades while allowing young players to fully develop their skills in the lower leagues.

 

[deadhead]

Toronto lost JVR for nothing, but I think they'll be OK.

That will be interesting to watch, they added Tavares, but lost JVR, Bozak, Polak and a couple veteran wingers.
Tavares may be less important than whether some young prospects can step up and provide depth.
Tyler Ennis was the only veteran depth addition, so players like Leivo, Gauthier, Kapanen, etc have to step up.
Marleau will be 39, if he falters they could have a very thin bottom six.

 

[Rebels57]

If Simmonds is traded, it means we are going to all going to be really unhappy this season because we will be nowhere near a playoff spot.

 

[Curufinwe]

I don't think Hak survives if they miss the playoffs by a wide margin.

 

[FLYguy3911]

That would be pretty tough to do. This roster has too much talent and the NY teams probably won’t be good and who knows what Carolina will be. And Hakstol will get enough games to OT to keep the team within shouting distance.

 

[Rebels57]

That would be pretty tough to do. This roster has too much talent and the NY teams probably won’t be good and who knows what Carolina will be. And Hakstol will get enough games to OT to keep the team within shouting distance.

Goaltending could end up a total shit show again though.

 

[Lotusflower]

I dont think they miss the playoffs period.
Not that I have some overhwhelming faith in Hak but our forward core is as good as any in the conference and if even ONE of Sanheim/Myers is a regular it'll be the best defense we've had since at least 2012 and maybe 2010.

 

[Lotusflower]

People overrate Carolina like a mfer. Theyre forward core is not impressive. Svech might step in and be their 2nd best forward as a rookie.

We're better than CBJ as well. Both NY teams will be in the basement.

 

[Magua]

Carolina will add Hamilton, Necas, Svech, for Hanifin, Lindholm, Skinner. That is an upgrade all the way around, at least in the near future. At the same time, we're dealing with 2 rookies. They have an elite defense that somehow improved. Teravainen-Aho-Williams/Ferland-Staal-Svech/McGinn-Rask-Necas could be an interesting top 9 with potential (and they have some nice depth prospects they can add this season or next). Aho and Teuvo are really underrated. Their offense this year hinges on two of the most coveted prospects in the league though. Hard to say.

As always, their goaltending looks like it could sink them. And we'll see the value of Bill Peters when Rod the Bod steps in. Sorry to say, but I have a bad feeling he'll be in way over his head. He's been their PP for an eternity to terrible results and worked his way up because of his playing career. I wouldn't bet on them being our competition for a playoff spot. Per usual the Flyers stiffest opponent will be themselves.

 

[deadhead]

Simmonds won't be traded, we don't have a 3RW to replace him unless we move Lindblom to RW and Raffl/Laughton to LW on the 3rd line. This would be pretty foolish unless someone offers us a king's ransom.

What is more likely is that Ron trades for a 3C after looking at Frost and Vorobyev in camp.
One candidate I've seen mentioned is Bill Nelson on the Islanders, one year left on his deal and they're desperate for defensemen.

"Newsday’s Andrew Gross thinks it’s strange that the team has not added to the blue line at all. The team re-signed Thomas Hickey and Ryan Pulock, but have added no one else while losing Calvin de Haan and opting not to bring back Brandon Davidson and Dennis Seidenberg. Gross notes that recently re-signed center Brock Nelson, an impending free agent, could be used as a trade chip to add to a blue line that struggled greatly last season. There are certainly teams out there with a plethora of defensemen who could use Nelson up front. The Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, and Winnipeg Jets are clubs that fit the bill, but Nelson would not be nearly enough to land a Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, or Jacob Trouba and an expendable piece that he might fetch, like a Trevor van Riemsdyk, Adam McQuaid, or Tucker Poolman might not be enough to fix the Islanders blue line. "

Wonder if a Hagg + package would be good enough?

 

[Magua]

On the one hand, I'm down with Hagg leaving and going to a rival. On the other hand, I don't want to see Lou get so heavy he sinks to the bottom to get Hughes-Barzal in the division for 15 years.

Brock Nelson is nothing special, probably isn't really a center, and Islanders fans don't care for him. But most importantly, he went to North Dakota under Dave Hakstol. That's a non-starter for me. Just give me a 2nd round pick for Hagg.

 

[deadhead]

We're not looking for "special," we're looking for a 1 year patch who is better than Filppula.

 

[Magua]

We're not looking for "special," we're looking for a 1 year patch who is better than Filppula.

 

[Garbage Goal]

Similarly to how I'd be happy to be a Chicago yet would prefer to accumulate assets while winning, I would also be happy to have a playoff rental yet would prefer to just own instead of rent by growing our own players. Ones that can be called up or sent down or traded after years of service for assets that can later be grown into said player or traded for literally anything, including playoff rentals.

In my opinion, Simmonds is completely redundant at this point. Van Riemsdyk seems to be a better version of him at this point in their careers and Patrick was a better version of him on the PP last year. Simmonds isn't really the type of player who is very useful at ES or the PK, so he kind of needs that PP spot to be the Simmonds everyone thinks of. Makes zero sense to me to keep him, but at this point I would be amazed if he gets traded unless we are way out of the playoffs by the deadline.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I don't think Hak survives if they miss the playoffs by a wide margin.

for my own sanity i have to beleive he doesnt survive another losing streak

 

[Garbage Goal]

for my own sanity i have to beleive he doesnt survive another losing streak

10 losses in a row he’s good, gonna take a cool 20 to fire his ass.

 

[Larry44]

Similarly to how I'd be happy to be a Chicago yet would prefer to accumulate assets while winning, I would also be happy to have a playoff rental yet would prefer to just own instead of rent by growing our own players. Ones that can be called up or sent down or traded after years of service for assets that can later be grown into said player or traded for literally anything, including playoff rentals.

In my opinion, Simmonds is completely redundant at this point. Van Riemsdyk seems to be a better version of him at this point in their careers and Patrick was a better version of him on the PP last year. Simmonds isn't really the type of player who is very useful at ES or the PK, so he kind of needs that PP spot to be the Simmonds everyone thinks of. Makes zero sense to me to keep him, but at this point I would be amazed if he gets traded unless we are way out of the playoffs by the deadline.

To me, JVR is the redundant one. We really didn't need his contract with so many promising young LWs in the system. He's not nearly as good as Voracek or Giroux and makes almost as much. Maybe Ottawa would take him in a Karlsson deal?

I remember watching the Leafs last year and thinking, I'm so glad we got rid of this no-backchecking, soft PP specialist (even if we got stiffed in the deal - he was/is not a foundation piece).

Now we're stuck with JVR, for a while at least - and certainly at the expense of keeping Simmonds. I guess it's possible he'll be tradeable eventually, but his was not a player the Flyers needed. At all. Could end up being a really bad signing by Hexy down the road. Simmonds can walk if they make the playoffs, if they don't, he'll be TDL bait.

 

[deadhead]

JVR is as good as Voracek, he's actually outscored him the last five years:
JVR 1.89 pp/60, 1.54 p1/60, Corsi 48.91, xGF 48.20, power play 4.78,p1/60 3.90
Voracek 1.82 pp/60, 1.36 p1/60, Corsi 52.51%, xGF 51.39%, power play 5.85 pp/60, 3.59 p1/60

JVR played on worse teams and a different role, he's primarily a scorer who plays close to the net and doesn't get secondary assists
Voracek is more of a possession playmaker who skates with the puck and sets up teammates but is a mediocre shooter

JVR is exactly what this team needs right now until they develop some young scorers.

"I'm so glad we got rid of this no-backchecking, soft PP specialist" - gee, that sounds a lot like Voracek!

 

[Magua]

Jake Voracek had more assists last season than JVR's career high in points.

Your ability to crap on Voracek is only limited by your fiber intake, sir.

 

[deadhead]

Assists aren't goals, this team needs goal scorers.
JVR is much better at scoring goals than Voracek.

And if we're just talking about last season:
JVR 1.86 pp/60, 1.61 p1/60, Corsi 54.34%, xGF 56.17%, power play 6.22 pp/60, 5.24 p1/60
Voracek 1.96 pp/60, 1.60 p1/60, Corsi 50.66%, xGF 52.07%, power play 6.93 pp/60, 4.22 p1/60

Both are 2nd line forwards who are primarily offensive players, complementary players but not building blocks for a championship team.