What does giving up Shayne Gostisbehere mean to the Flyers?

by



[ad_1]

Shayne Gostisbehere was waived by the Flyers on Tuesday, and the globe went off its axis.

At least that’s how it seemed.

Whether fans turn on the move or want Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher sent back to the sun, it has been a wild afternoon of speculation and rumor.

Everyone wants to know what this means. Even I maybe jumped the gun a bit:

And although I still believe this, it appeared as if the second step could be imminent, or the second step could be mind blowing, which I really don’t believe it is.

Instead, think of it as the opening bell rung for the New York Stock Exchange.

But before I explain what I mean by that, let’s go over the elements of the disclaimer thread 101 to clarify some things that have been posted that aren’t quite correct:

  • Ghost has not been released, as you may have heard a few times if you listen to a certain afternoon radio show that we have been accused of disrespecting. Instead, he was placed on waivers. This means the teams have until noon tomorrow to claim it. If not claimed, he is still a Flyer and could still be in the lineup as early as Wednesday night in Buffalo.
  • Ghost is still a member of the Flyers, which is why he was able to train with the team today, even after being waived.
  • He is unlikely to be claimed due to his salary cap ($ 4.5 million) and length (two more seasons beyond this year).
  • If claimed, the Flyers get cap relief, but if not, they don’t really get it.
  • If unclaimed, the Flyers have the flexibility of the roster in that they can now include it among the players who can commute between the roster, the taxi team and the AHL.
  • The Flyers wouldn’t have to resubmit it until Ghost plays 10 NHL games or is on the main roster for 30 days, whichever comes first. As such, the Flyers can get creative enough to move him around for most of the rest of the regular season without having to give him up a second time.

Some teams with a lot of ceiling space might be willing to take a Flyer on Ghost:

But the bet here is probably not.

So why would they give it up if it’s unlikely to be claimed? This brings me back to the opening bell analogy.

Essentially, it’s about starting conversations with other GMs about other potential deals. In other words, Fletcher is open for business.

But what kind of business? That’s what Chuck wants them to know. He is currently torn between being a buyer and a seller. The Flyers are just one point from last place in the playoffs, but the team they are chasing, the Boston Bruins, have three games in hand. The gap between the two can widen quickly.

If you’re wondering when Waterloo’s moment is for Chuck, it’ll likely be after back-to-back games with the Bruins next week. If the Flyers manage to do well enough over the next four games – Buffalo tomorrow, the Islanders Saturday and the home and home double dip with Boston next Monday and Tuesday, Chuck will buy. Otherwise, Chuck will sell.

And the possibility remains that he could still do a bit of both, whether he is buying for future help as well as selling, as I explained earlier.

One thing that hasn’t really been publicly discussed is that the Flyers are considering trading for a goalie to give Carter Hart a chance to really quit playing and just focus on the reset. But, the Flyers’ brass is torn over whether to go this route or not.

One target that might interest them is Jonathan Bernier in Detroit. Bernier has a cap of $ 3 million, is a UFA at the end of the season and is a veteran goalie who could share time with Brian Elliott the rest of the time.

Would the Flyers burn assets for this move if they don’t believe they can make the playoffs? Probably not. This is why there is some hesitation within the organization.

But, if they can stay in the chase, and either get ahead of the Bruins, or at least knock out their game advantage in hand and stay at a point or two, then it might be worth it.

The Flyers wouldn’t be the only ones chasing a guy like Bernier. Washington could use a veteran goaltender to have depth for the playoffs. Same as Colorado.

And there aren’t many other gatekeepers who might be available. There are a few guys that Chuck is very familiar with having had them both in Minnesota – Devan Dubnyk is a pending UFA who has had a poor season in San Jose and could be gotten for a pretty low price, and Darcy Kuemper, who is on the casualty reserve, could become available in Arizona, although he might not be as good a fit because he’s under contract for another year at $ 4.5 million, and he would likely cost a little more.

So, will there be a second shoe to ditch from Ghost today? Probably yes. But don’t expect that tomorrow.

Give Chuck a week to figure out whether his team is still in the playoff mix or not, then see which direction he goes.

It might seem odd or doesn’t make sense to give up Ghost every now and then, he’s still in the lineup tomorrow night, but that’s the way things are sometimes in the NHL. It’s very strange. But, if nothing else, it lets you know the Flyers are ready to leave Ghost just for the relief of the hat in return.

After two years of trying to trade him in without getting the value offered in return, the Flyers have come to a point where it’s just time to walk away from him.

And if this mentality is shaking up the locker room a bit, that’s not necessarily a bad thing either.

For more Flyers cover, fto follow Snow the keeper on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram. Also be sure to log in The Press Row Show like Anthony SanFilippo and Russ Joy provide pre-game and intermission coverage of every Flyers home game from the Wells Fargo Center press line via the Crossing Broad Facebook page, YouTube Live and Twitter, and their Twitter accounts

Subscribe to the podcast:



[ad_2]

Source link