The league is going back to more clutching and grabbing. I agree with going the bigger center route
- Just5

Flyers scouts have been seen at various Michelin dealerships, hoping to find one guy who can play center.

I think Morins development kicked into overdrive. Even though he might not be as polished now as some of the others, thats not to say the kid cant learn faster. jumping up like 50 spots in ranking from midseasons shown me that this kid might develop more quickly than we thought. Im interested to see how he does in juniors next season. Lets not forget hes also 17.
- PhillaBully

He'll be on the Flyers roster out of camp. Bet your house.

So I've been MIA. Any word on Gagne? Bryz?
Who we are dumping for cap space?
- FlyersGrace

Bryz is lost in the woods with Eddie Snowden. APB's currently out on both of them.

Garret klotz makes the list for best hockey player turned janitor
- Just5

Mrs. Garrett from "Facts of Life" >>> Garret Klotz

LeClair doesn't look fat to me, and probably has always battled weight issues. He's just a big dude.
- bradleyc4

His chest is still keeping his shirt off of his belly. I'm long past that...

Yeesh. Just looking at Page 12, I wonder if I should even bother reading Pages 1-11.

Thoughts?
- Flyskippy

Don't bother.

Would you trade Neal, and Niskanen back to the Stars today to get Goligoski back?
- PLindbergh31

haha no way in hell. love nealer and goligoski was a detriment. that trade was awesome. one of the building blocks in the ray shero is a great GM argument

Don't bother.
- mayorofangrytown

MJL, I certainly respect your opinion, but I'm not sure the Flyers draft record suggests anything more than the Flyers scouting department, and GM, at being average in the 1st round and below average beyond round 2. I just looked at the majority of teams drafts from 2000 onwards on HockeyDB. A few observations:

1. Some teams really screw up the first round, but most end up with decent players with the exception of a miss hear and there.

2. First rounders generally get to the NHL within 2-3 years, and the highest drafted players within 1-2. Taking a flyer, pun intended, on a project with a 5 year projected development cycle in the 1st round is a highly suspect strategy.

3. Where the Flyers really come up short is in the "hidden gem" department. Since 2000, the Flyers have only drafted 3 players after round 2 that made a significant contribution - Sharp, Seidenberg and Cechmanek. All of those were in the 2000-2001 timeframe. Since then they have gotten a few role players that could easily have been acquired cheaply through free agency or even as undrafted FA.

4. Visually inspecting most of the other teams (I'm catching a plane shortly and don't have time for a detailed analysis), you find more steals per average than Philly, and of course some teams that really seem to unearth the real gems.

5. They have had many swings and misses by drafting players of the same mold - the Garrett Klotzes if you will. I personally am ok if they draft a Matsumoto or Lehtivuori and it doesn't work out. But drafting Derek Mathers over Clapperton or whoever it was is a general organizational mindset that leaves much to be desired.

Again, from a draft perspective they are average, nothing more, nothing less.
- TheGreat28

Flyers seems to find all-stars in the mid-late first round though. Most 1st rounders in that area make the NHL and are solid players. The Flyers found Gagne, Williams, Richards, Carter, Giroux in the mid to late first round.

Holmgren is still employed because he's a good GM.
- MJL

Let me clear it up for you MJL. I think Morin is 6-8 years away from being a top pairing guy IF he makes his potential. I have no faith the Flyers pick guys that reach that potential, so I said I would pencil him in as a likely 3-6 guy.. If he reaches his potential we wont know for a long time. About 6-8 years. Which leads me into why I think this was a bad move. We need someone that will be ready before that, and that is why I didn't like the pick. I don't think the 11th overall pick in such a deep draft is the right place to take a risk on a guy that is 4-5 years from making the NHL and another 3-4 years from making his potential. If your going to take a risk, you take a risk on someone that can play sooner, that has higher upside. Like Morrissey or Pullock. I like Morin, but I would rather have traded down to either pick him, or get someone more ready sooner.
- youarewrong

Most defenseman chosen in any draft are 4-5 years away. Players are drafted at 17 and 18 years old. So I disagree with you there. And I also disagree that is any more of a risk then taking any of the other players. And you're also confusing the draft, and needing a player right away. Two different things. I don't think the Flyers brass thinks that they've eliminated that need by drafting Morin. But regardless of who is still on the team, the Flyers will still need to feild a team in 5-8 years. And that is what the draft is for. For the future.

haha no way in hell. love nealer and goligoski was a detriment. that trade was awesome. one of the building blocks in the ray shero is a great GM argument
- stayinthefnnet

Conversely, one of the building blocks in Dallas' firing of Joe Nieuwendyk.

- Flyskippy

Conversation earlier was good. Then, all of the sudden, a discussion of whether LeClair is fat or not broke out

Yeesh. Just looking at Page 12, I wonder if I should even bother reading Pages 1-11.

Thoughts?
- Flyskippy

as noted...don't bother...
it's another post a comment and see a question in return
Hockeybuzz Law and Order

Bryz is lost in space
Gagne waiting to see if cap space is made

Flyers seems to find all-stars in the mid-late first round though. Most 1st rounders in that area make the NHL and are solid players. The Flyers found Gagne, Williams, Richards, Carter, Giroux in the mid to late first round.
- PhillySportsGuy

Take Carter out of that. He went just outside the top ten.

Fair. But he's got a Vezina under his belt already. Not sure anything the Flyers got back in that deal will approach anything close to that.
- PLindbergh31

Remember Bob's deal was more or less a salary dump. They decided to go with Bryz and didn't need a back up making 1.5 MM.

However, out of curiosity - we got... "Philadelphia Flyers traded Sergei Bobrovsky to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2nd and a 4th round selection in 2012 and a 4th round selection in 2013."

Round Pick Overall Team Player Pos Country Ht Wt
2 15 2012-45 OTT-PHX-CBJ-PHI
ANTHONY STOLARZ G USA 6' 5" 210
4 26 2012-117 VAN-CBJ-PHI
TAYLOR LEIER L CAN 5' 10" 174

The 4th for 2013 was used to grab Gagne..

So, we got Gagne, Leier, and Stolarz. Stolarz is our top goalie prospect. He may not win a Vezina - but who knows. He has higher potential than Bob did at the same age -based on Stolarz is a second rounder and Bob was undrafted. It's great to have Gagne back at a diminished role. And, Leier is second on our depth chart for LW prospect (but, that's not saying much).

Does anyone know if the last transaction Howson made was the Bobrovsky trade?

Most defenseman chosen in any draft are 4-5 years away. Players are drafted at 17 and 18 years old. So I disagree with you there. And I also disagree that is any more of a risk then taking any of the other players. And you're also confusing the draft, and needing a player right away. Two different things. I don't think the Flyers brass thinks that they've eliminated that need by drafting Morin. But regardless of who is still on the team, the Flyers will still need to feild a team in 5-8 years. And that is what the draft is for. For the future.
- MJL

Yes.

"Draft" does not mean "Drafting for the current roster." So simple a baby could understand it.

as noted...don't bother...
it's another post a comment and see a question in return
Hockeybuzz Law and Order

Bryz is lost in space
Gagne waiting to see if cap space is made
- phi1671

Poor Gagne - always the bridesmaid...
I knew it would stay quiet over the weekend. Hoping it livens up today though.

Sorry I haven't been around, works been insane, the dog hospice has been in full swing, and to top it off my fiancee's mom is in ICU... GREAT week for me!

Remember Bob's deal was more or less a salary dump. They decided to go with Bryz and didn't need a back up making 1.5 MM.

However, out of curiosity - we got... "Philadelphia Flyers traded Sergei Bobrovsky to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2nd and a 4th round selection in 2012 and a 4th round selection in 2013."

Round Pick Overall Team Player Pos Country Ht Wt
2 15 2012-45 OTT-PHX-CBJ-PHI
ANTHONY STOLARZ G USA 6' 5" 210
4 26 2012-117 VAN-CBJ-PHI
TAYLOR LEIER L CAN 5' 10" 174

The 4th for 2013 was used to grab Gagne..



So, we got Gagne, Leier, and Stolarz. Stolarz is our top goalie prospect. He may not win a Vezina - but who knows. He has higher potential than Bob did at the same age -based on Stolarz is a second rounder and Bob was undrafted. It's great to have Gagne back at a diminished role. And, Leier is second on our depth chart for LW prospect (but, that's not saying much).
- leon neon

I would agree the jury is still out.

Conversely, one of the building blocks in Dallas' firing of Joe Nieuwendyk.
- Flyskippy

To be fair, Neal is a perfect fit to play with centers like Crosby and Malkin. Jamie Benn was a winger at the time of the trade. I don't know if they thought he would develop into a top line center. Not saying it was a good trade on Dallas part. Just trying to say that Neal would not put up better numbers in ANY other situation than the one he's in now.

Take Carter out of that. He went just outside the top ten.
- mayorofangrytown

11-20 is the middle third of the first round, so technically he's still correct, even including Carter there.

Conversation earlier was good. Then, all of the sudden, a discussion of whether LeClair is fat or not broke out
- PhillySportsGuy

As long as his trucking company (co-owned with Chris Therien) gets my shipments delivered on time, that's all I care.

Does anyone know if the last transaction Howson made was the Bobrovsky trade?
- PLindbergh31

I believe it was cashing his last check before they put a stop on it.

Just curious... How long in term of years is everyone willing to be patient with young core progressing? Taking into account there are going to be major ups and downs. Look at l schenn and vorachek as example( multiple years of ups and downs before really beginning to hit there stride)