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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.
After the Zegras acquisition, if Martone is available @ 6, I have a hard time justifying taking O’Brien over him because of organizational depth issues at center. Flyers are missing a power forward and Martone fits that bill.
It is interesting that Zegras has 2 60 point seasons and is almost 2 years younger then Tippett. Not meant a slight with Tippett, but his future is very much in doubt to be on the team long term if Zegras has a good season and the current organizational depth at wing.
I like this deal for Zegras. Still only 24. He is only under contract this year. If he flops walk away. My only concern does that make them hesitant to draft Hagens if available. I would assume they will not be trying to add Peterka now.
From what I read, Shabanov would be signing a 1 year deal. IMO, he will only play in the NHL. If he cannot make it in the NHL right away, I expect him to go back to the KHL. I do think Briere will try to move up from 22 if Aitcheson or Smith fall out of the top 15. Otherwise, would it make sense to move up for a winger with the organizational depth chart the way it currently stands. I do not know. Maybe Cootes if they believe he a legit 2C potential. Nesbitt has size, but lacks skating. Seems like another Berglund.
Going to be really hard to pass on Hagens or Martone at #6 if available. I like O’Brien just feel he is a notch below those two as a prospect. With all of these picks, would not be opposed to drafting 2 goalies in this draft. I do expect some trades before the draft. Let’s hope the Flyers are involved. If the Shabanov rumors are true, certainly a glut of wingers on the roster and at LV.
So Briere was in Miami to personally scout the Russian prospect hopefuls. Feel pretty good about my prediction on him using at least 5 of his first 7 picks. Very confident he will draft one of the Russian goalies. In the future, the player will only sign the ELC when he is NHL ready. Russian players just are not interested in playing in the AHL for long periods of time. Need to learn from the Kolosov experience and not make the same mistake twice.
Looks like goaltending will be addressed. Jake Alen will be 35 who played 31 games last season. I wonder if he is more willing to chase a Cup at this point of his career. No idea whet the answer is. Team goals for this season should include no longer being bottom 5 in save % and PP.
Read Dobson is looking for $11 million/yr on a multi year extension. Could be the reason Romanov is available for a trade.
I know we keep hearing the Flyers really want to extend York, but it sure looks like the “For Sale” is out there. Just have a feeling he could be traded for another RFA- ho ideal who that could be. With a rising cap happening, if the reported York @ 6 million/yr long-term is a pretty good dead for the Flyers. That will be the going rate for 2nd pair Dmen. Sure seems to me they really would like to trade him.
I do believe Briere will use at least 5 of those 7 picks in the first two rounds for prospects. Some of those picks can be stashed in Europe as they develop- KHL in particular. Two MHL goalies are ranked in this draft class- Andraeyanov and Frolov. Kurban Limatov is a LHD with good size in the MHL also.
Still think Briere should trade one of the later 2nd round picks to VAN for Thatcher Demko. Makes no sense for VAN to invest 9.5 million in goal with Demko being a UFA next summer. A low risk gamble for the Flyers, who can bury Fedotov in LV. If Demko regains his form, he could be a solid bridge to one of the young prospects and possibly get re signed next summer. If the plan is to wait to ’26 to go for it, I would think the regime would want some better answers in goal then currently available. Tocchet should have good intel on how he was progressing from his injury. Doubtful any decent free agents or players with a NTC would have much interest coming to a team with consistent bottom 5 goal tending.
If the Flyers want to now copy FLA by getting significantly bigger, then why focus on speed earlier in the Briere era? The Panthers are at best an average skating speed team. Briere traded one of his best assets in the organization (Gauthier) for a small Dman. Re signed a small forward long term in TK. Only 1st round pick he has selected over 6’0 ft tall Bonk. I like O’Brien over Desnoyers, it is close. There is a gap for me with Hagens above those two.
All that being written, it would be quite a moment if Briere goes with McQueen for the ultimate boom or bust pick.
