Vanflyer

You are out of your mind.

Me too re: Ritchie- seems cut from the Flyers cloth. Agree on the #2 and thus why I bait it with Read, our #1 and our #3. The best would be if Ritchie fell to #8 (toronto's pick). Toronto needs speed, not a power forward. So our bait could be very enticing to them. The get some very nice speed in Read and still get a #17 pick to add more speed, plust a 3rd.

If he goes there, do the wings retain his rights? Still an RFA, right?

How about L. Schenn. :-)

Interesting you should mention him. Aside from hits and shots taken, Kanes and JVRs totals are nearly identical with JVR edging out the +/- and Kane edging out points slightly over the same number of seasons and exact same number of games. 2 years separate the players. Just an interesting note. I guess for me, the number one question would be what is the back story with the issues in Winnipeg? I don't want a primadonna. Also, though it would not be immediate (just because looking way from the outside with the Winnipeg situation and it looks like there is some smoke there), I really wouldn't mind getting Ritchie. Problem is doubtful he would be an impact player immediately (but you never know because physically he is ready).

So, do you think Read + 17th + a 3rd (I think we are getting one for Mesaros, right??) is enough to get us to number 6- or would it take a 2nd and is that too much??

Why?? I honestly have not watched much of him. But what has he done in his career thus far. One great year in Juniors and one great year in the NHL from what it looks like on paper. What makes you "love to have kane" (in all seriousness)? Two things that stand out at me: He hits allot (usually leads the forwards in hits on his team); he shots a ton AND misses / doesn't score. His shooting % is 8.5% the last three seasons and he is third in the league in shots taken over that span. His assist totals suggest that his shots are either covered and play stops, or of the jeff carter variety of high and wide and play killers. You tell me. What the things that are appealing about him for you?

Disagree 1000%. The player is under contract. If the player wants out, sure, he tells his agent (or if he has cajones), he tells his employer directly. Either way, the next move is in the teams court. Under no circumstance should an agent be able to contact other teams regarding a player under contract. That clearly seems to be a clear violation of the term "contract". If a team wants to "grant" permission for an agent to speak to other teams, ok. But I would think that 9 times out of 10 the team that holds the contract would want to be the one to either say: 1) Shut eff up and go play. or 2) ok player xxxxxx, we will see what we (team) can do, but there are no guarantees. Just look at the Evander Kanes situation for case in point. Its ENTIRELY up to Winnipeg to determine when, if, how Kane gets moved, not kanes agent. That is, with all due respect, just absurd to me.

I sort of get that. So what you are saying is the agent makes calls to GM and says "Are you interested in Vinny?? Ok, what can you tell me about your team that I can tell Vinny that will convince him its a good fit for him?" Is that what you are saying?? If so, I think again this is the exception because the Flyers are merely (I assume) trying to jettison Vinny. In any other trade where assets are coming back, it should be the team initiating those conversations and then approaching the player and saying here is a list of suitable sutors (ie the assets in return are digestable). I can't really see an agent just going out and contacting teams gms otherwise. It would make no sense to me- just starting with confidentiality.

How old is he? Can he develop the mass needed for the NHL. Isn't the KHL kind of like an intermediary between the AHL and NHL (so actually might do him some good)?

Read on another board by several different swedes (Bellamare played SHL last year): 1) "Great player. Twice the player that Raffl was in Sweden." 2) "Bellemare should be an addition with the ability to fill a spot on the 3rd. As Robin noted he has a good shot as well as good speed." 3) Good signing. Maybe the best two-way forward in SHL and never has a day off. A funny thing is that he did an interview in Swedish and said " I have 100% focus every second day", instead of everyday. The reason why he said like that is because the words is are pretty similar in Swedish (varannan, varje) 4) From a French devils fan: "Congrats for signing one of the best player from France Bellemare is great defensively, nice speed, nice shot. Is a warrior on the ice, hard worker. Should be a nice 3rd liner, useful on the PK." 5) From another French Hockey fan: "He's such a hard worker, no problem for him. I have a lot of photos of him hitting Coburn during the Worlds... " 6) French Devils Fan again: "Steady progression.Started in Rouen (one of the best french team), rookie of the year in 2005, all-star in 2006 and already played for France senior team as a U20. Left for Leksand in 2006-07, for 2 years in Sweden 2nd level. Joined Skellefteå in 2009-10. Wore the "A" in his 3rd year, had a jaw injury in 2012-13 (without that, would have left for the NHL sooner). He has 87 GP in international play for France, scoring 69 pts (26 goals). In world championship, 56 GP, 13G and 32 pts (9th all-time for France). He started as a 4th liner with limited minutes in NT and quietly became one of the best all-time. I'm not worried, he'll be fine." Sounds promising and with the addition of Umberger, makes Read expendable (part of my plan to move up in the draft is to use him as bait)- or preferably makes Umberger expendable, but I doubt you'll get any takers in the draft to "move up" for an Umberger.

I am going to assume its his weight and not his stature that prevents him from being able to compete at the next level. St Louis> 5' 8 Recchi> 5' 9 Timonen> 5'10 Giroux> 5' 11 Briere> 5'9 (174 lbs) If he is that good, why not move him to forward?? Yet he will need to skate. The one thing all the guys I listed is they are excellent skaters.

While its a crap shoot, I do think there is a separation between the top 4 and the rest of the top 10-15. If your the oilers, you have to take the best available or trade down (which could be a gamble as they still might not get their guy). I think taking Fleury at #3 would not be prudent. Either Sam or Draisatl are the smarter picks. They could always trade who they pick to another team for a d-man. Lord knows they certainly have other forward assets they could throw in.

Really? 10.5M in salary when we are at the wall on salary cap???? I just can't see it (and truthfully, not sure I am really interested in either player). I also thought speed was one of our priorities. Byf is not going to bring that.

He's got great north south skating and lateral skating on the point doesn't he. Combine that with a lethal wrister from the point (when was the last time we had something like that??), and man makes you salivate. The only thing with Fleury is we won't see him for a bit. He will need more development. Someone like Ritchie I think you could see very soon. Physically he is already there. Its just the game speed adjustment.

I was discussing with @flyercannuck the costs (mostly of trying to get ritchie- who can go anywhere from 4-9). I think he will go 6. Based on 6th, I was proposing out 17th + Read + 3rd. I like Ritchie that much. For Fleury- I have seem him between #9 - 13th. I would probably take the 3rd off the table to make that jump. The other guy I like (a LW as well is Virtanen (LW). I have seen him similar to Ritchie (6th-9th). If hextal is true to his word about building d on out, then I would think Fleury would be our target. If we are looking to fill a glaring need with a guy that could be a monster LW power forward in the NHL, then Ritchie is the guy we go for (but also could be Virtanen). I am just spit balling and really know very little.

I thought he was a LW- and thus why I wanted to move up to get him because we desperately need a leftwinger of his attributes (not to mention his power forward)?? Based on that, I think Calgary would take best available, which (arguably) Dasaeti at #4. They obviously could not go wrong with Ritchie either. I think after the top 3, the next 6 could be interchangeable.

If he falls to 6, what do you think it would take to land him? Our pick, read and maybe a 3rd? (enough or too much)?

But how does that really work- I mean in VLC case, ok because the flyers don't want anything back. What I mean is how can an agent solicit a trade when he has zero skin in the game other than his player. In vinny's case, I can see hextall saying, ok- see what you can do and I'll keep trying on my end. But that is the exception. For any other player, wouldnt there have to be a Flyer / NHL team rep involved even in a preliminary "fishing" dialogue?

Not busting his chops, just saying where I have seen him slotted (and lamenting a bit because I was keeping my fingers crossed that Hexy could move up to the 6th slot and nab him). 4th spot is going to cost a bit more.

You have Rictchie at #4. Most mocks I have seen have him at 6. Also most mocks I have seen have Fleury in the top 10. I know its a crap shoot, but just saying. :-)

Where did you get that impression from that article. The only impression I got was he was a good influence at pulling the team together and was a best friend to the best two players on the team. MANY hockey players eat pasta / protein before a game because of the slow burning carbs.

Nashville is actually where I think he would fit best. They are starving for any offense and in Lavy's run an gun and Riene in net the blue line pretty solid, VLC does not need to worry about defense (per usual).

How does that really work? I mean I get that both want a divorce, but shouldnt it be Hextall the one that is dialing the phone and searching for sutors?

Cant we conjure up our old friend Poile in Nashville. I think Vinny would do well there under Lavy and god knows they need an offensive minded center that doesn't play much d!