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I’m far from a scouting expert, but I think it is fair to point out Mike Richards at Kitchener in his first 2 seasons had significant more production then Brady Martin At Soo. Richards showed an ability to be a much more consistent play maker then Martin. I believe there is some debate whether Martin should stay at center with his playing style and ability to shoot. I just go back to this draft pick @ 6 will probably be the highest draft pick this regime will pick unless something really goes wrong. The more likely outcome is if the Flyers select again this high, another GM will be in place. Briere has to select a forward who he believes can be a first line player. Now in the end, he may believe that is the case for Martin. I would find it perplexing if Hagens or Marrtone on the board, Briere believes Martin has the higher chance to be a first line forward.
I do wonder if the Isles trade Dobson to try and get back into the top 5. I do believe the smoke they really like Hagens. Recently hired GM can make this type of move and be applauded for the aggressiveness of such a move.
Just have a feeling they are going to over pay to sign Jake Allen- probably a 2 year deal. Not sure what VAN is doing trying to extend Demko. Doubt Briere goes back to Verbeek for a third time to acquire another roster player from the Ducks. If it is supposedly “go time” next summer, this regime will have a hard sell with another team in the top 7. Goaltending was absolutely awful last season. Ersson still has not been able to have a complete season with a save % above .900.
My belief is if Briere adds to the blue line it will be thru a trade. I believe the only UFA Dman even worth pursuing is Aaron Ekblad. I do doubt Briere will spend that kind of money. Still think Byram makes some sense. Doubt Drury would do it, but try and trade for K’Andre Miller. Dobson for me is ideal, but I do realize unrealistic. At 25, signing him long-term will be expensive and the assets to acquire also. However, he would be the anchor for the blue line thru Michkov’s prime, which I am fine doing. Just do not believe the regime will want to do this right now. Probably more interested in Romanov if available.
They couldn’t keep an Ekblad signing under the cap. Same with Dobson if he truly is available. The Flyers should have about $4.5M in cap space to add a Top 4 Dman. I think that’s doable but not with the high profile names bandied about. In a trade, they’ll have to send salary back. Then you hopefully upgraded but haven’t filled an open spot.
I have no issue with moving salary out. The roster is in need of a major retool to be a real contender. Out of the current top 6 Dmen on the roster, I can see at most 2 remaining when the team becomes a true Cup contender. If a player like Dobson is available and can be a #1 Dman, start trading players on the roster. The chances of Briere being able to draft a #1 Dman and center is highly unlikely. Going to have to take a chance and trade significant assets to get one or the other.
Briere did a very good job trading for Zegras. However, if that was as far as he was willing to go to acquire a #1 Dman or center, he won’t be able to build a true contender, IMO.
I would be interested in signing Ryan Lindgren.
I still think they need to add a Top 4 Dman. Lindgren might cost more than they have to spend after getting their goalie. I’m guessing they’ll have about $9M after they re-up York. The Zegras trade added $3.85M to the cap.
My belief is if Briere adds to the blue line it will be thru a trade. I believe the only UFA Dman even worth pursuing is Aaron Ekblad. I do doubt Briere will spend that kind of money. Still think Byram makes some sense. Doubt Drury would do it, but try and trade for K’Andre Miller. Dobson for me is ideal, but I do realize unrealistic. At 25, signing him long-term will be expensive and the assets to acquire also. However, he would be the anchor for the blue line thru Michkov’s prime, which I am fine doing. Just do not believe the regime will want to do this right now. Probably more interested in Romanov if available.
They weren’t able to schedule something in Buffalo, apparently, so they met in Voorhees. I don’t think it’s quite the same as Michkov situation. Also, trust me, if it was vital that it not leak, it wouldn’t have. The Michkov visit was under tight control.
I appreciate the insight. Either way, I hope they get the pick @ 6 correct. I doubt the plan going forward is to pick this high again, unless something really goes sideways. My personal bias is I believe Hagens has the best chance to be a 1st line forward out of a trio- Martin, O’Brien, or Hagens. I would be surprised if the regime chooses Martin over those two, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised if it happens. My assumption is based upon the fact they have an abundance of scoring wingers, so I would assume Briere would covet a center with a track record of playmaking. Out of the three, it appears Martin is a better shooter then passer.
Hosting Hagens in Voorhees just for him to be a smokescreen kind of seems a little anti-New Era of Orange. They could have just as easily met up with Hagens just as easily in Buffalo at the combine for extra time. For an organization very interested on maintaining a particular standard with optics, letting it be known they brought in a teenage prospect to the team facility not to take him when available kind of seems bush league honestly. I would change my opinion if it comes out other prospects besides Hagens were hosted at Voorhees. The last prospect that was publically known to visit Voorhees was Michkov. Not sure any other prospects have been at Voorhees before their draft that the public knew about.
It is close for me over preference between Zegras and Rossi. A rumor recently was VAN offered #15 for Rossi and was rejected. I would assume it is safe to believe acquiring Rossi will require more valuable assets. Makes sense considering Zegras’ injury history. The team that acquires Rossi will be married to him for the long-term. He prefers signing a long-term deal over a bridge deal apparently. The Flyers can move on from Zegras as early as the trade deadline. I liked what Poehling brought to the team, but the reality was this was probably going to be his last season with the team. I do agree with Briere acquiring Zegras over Rossi with now knowing the package to acquire him.
Read on social media, Myrtetus on Sirius mentioned the Flyers had Hagens in to visit Voorhees. I’m all for drafting Hagens if he drops to #6, no doubt.
With Briere’s comments at the Zegras press conference, get the sense he wants to make 3 1st round picks. Just my hunch.
Rumors starting to fly that Frondell will be the pick @ 2 for SJ. Always surprises how the top 5 shakes out, which could be beneficial to the Flyers.
Why I believe Zegras can make Tippett expendable is due to cap allocation. If Zegras is re signed after this season, it will be for more then his current cap hit of 5.75 million. In 2 years, Michkov will be signing his second contract and potentially Foerster signing his third contract. Granted, Tippett at 6.2 million in a rising cap is not bad, but right now arguably the current top 9 forwards is- Michkov, TK, Zegras, Foerster, Couts, Brink, Tippett, Cates, and ???? Couts contract will be hard to move. TK and Michkov basically untouchable. Cates contract can be moved as well as Brink. However, not sure Tippett is a forward who really can play a 3rd line role. Also, forwards such as Bump, Grebenkin, and Luchanko will probably be ready for an NHL role within the next 2 seasons. Just a numbers game with Tippett. Interesting roster construction decisions are ahead.
Also interesting he’s played a total of 88 games the past two seasons… a big reason why Anaheim gave him up for what is (at the moment) perceived to be so little. Yes, he has lots of potential, but potential can’t be realized if he can’t stay on the ice.
Remember how many of us thought the Ryan Ellis deal was a steal?
Ellis had injuries before the trade, but that pretty much where the comparison to Zegras ends. Ellis was much more accomplished in the NHL then Zegras. You would hope so because Ellis was 30 years old at the time of the trade, Zegras is 24. More importantly, Ellis had 7 years left on his contract, Zegras will be an RFA at the end of the season. If it does not work out for any reason, they can walk away with no cap penalty.
Poehling is a good bottom 6 center in the league, so ANA got value back. However, I believe Verbeek over played his hand in what he go back for trading Zegras. He has been on the trade block for a couple years apparently. There was a rumor, the Drysdale-Gauthier trade had a chance to grow bigger including Zegras.
Getting a bottom 6 center and a 2nd and 4th round pick for a former top 10 pick could turn out to be awful value for the Ducks. No guarantee it works out for the Flyers. However, the really good GMs makes these trades and it works out exceptionally well for them. Zito acquiring Bennett from CLG and Reinhart from BUF. McCrimmon getting Eichel from BUF. Since the Flyers decided not to tank, these are the type of trades Briere must make and it has to work out.
If Briere is circling back to old trade rumors, looking forward to see the return for Bowen Byram. Got to think BUF would be looking to acquire players already on an NHL roster.
