Not sure Seattle takes JVR or Voracek for less than a 2nd. Probably more.

Why not pay the extra 500k-1m and get Dougie instead of Barrie? He's way better than Barrie and you're almost in that territory.

Not a chance. Only realistic options for SEA is Jake, JVR, Ghost or Hagg/Braun.

What better choice do they have?

I am doing that option in part 2. I think Dougie needs 9mil, and I didn't have the cap space on this thread.

You’re paying to dump their salary. I think they’d rather Ghost, Hagg, or Braun rather than being saddled with those other 2 contracts unless PHI gives them a reason to take them.

If they were terrible players, then yes, it would be a cap dump. They are both top-6 forwards. Regardless of cost, they are a much better pick than Ghost (still has 4.5M cap hit and made it thru waivers last season) and two NHL/AHL fringers in Braun/Hagg. I get that we're in the flat cap era, but not selecting either Jake or JVR would be foolish.

Who would pick up Jake or JVR on waivers? How many teams have 7 mil in cap space for 2-3 years. I get your point and agree they are top 6 material but Seattle has cap space and they aren’t going to give it away for free.

Well Seattle has exactly $81.5M to work with, so they certainly have room for players in the $7-8M range. Do you think they're just going to use every single pick for scrubs making $1-2M a year? They have to get to the cap floor, and there aren't many better options within the Flyers exposed list OR the rest of the league's exposed list.

Comparing expansion draft to waivers is apples to oranges. You aren't forced to pick a player on waivers, whereas Seattle obviously has to make 30 different choices.

Not saying it's out of the realm of possibility for SEA to take someone cheap from PHI, but I am saying PHI should take the chance and make SEA make a tough decision. In the end, I don't see how Francis could justify a 7D over a top-6 forward.

They only need to hit 49 mil out of the expansion draft. I’m either using that extra 30 mil in FA or somebody is paying quite a bit to take their cap. It has nothing to do with the player and everything to do with cap flexibility.

Again, I think JVR and Jake can still play. But Seattle has leverage and they are going to use it.

If SEA only spends to the floor on expansion draft, no big-name FA is going to sign with them. They will be terrible. Plus there are quite a few other teams that can compete with SEA in signing big name guys.