In my time away, I've read a lot of suggestions on how this team should approach the future, especially with the defense. I totally agree that the Flyers should focus on drafting and player development, as the primary method of team building going forward. I don't disagree with that at all. But that's not to say that they should ignore other methods such as trades and Free agency. They should use all the tools and assets available to them. Just do it smartly.

Even in the recent thread I see suggestions such as trade Grossmann, re-sign Timonen for cheaper money, and bring up one of the kids. Reasonable thoughts. But really, it doesn't help all that much. And it's a short term solution, that just treads water.

.....(Removed to shorten post)

So this idea of waiting for these players to come along and save the day, is all well and good. But I think the Flyers can't sit and wait for them. They need to make a move. They can't afford not to make a move if the right move becomes available.
This is not even considering if none of them pan out. Then what, start all over?

Sorry for the long winded post, but this is how I see it.
- MJL

Except for Hagg Alt and Gost all had different career trajectories. Alt and Gost are both college players with 3 years of (junior/college) experience, and Alt already has a full season of AHL under his belt.

Hagg has a year of Swedish juniors and almost a full year of playing in the SHL, with a few games in the AHL.

These 3 players are realistically within a year or 2 of make significant jumps into the NHL and in NHL playing time.

Welcome young man. How goes it?
- mayorofangrytown

meh, had better times. but not bad.

Its very frustrating, but it seems that the only way to QUICKLY improve the Flyers D is to overpay in a deal or overpay for a UFA, and I don't like either.
- BiggE

I think it only becomes an either/or proposition if the focus remains fixed on making a splash through trade or UFA.

I feel very strongly that the Flyers could improve dramatically on the back-end just by adjusting the mix -- add a couple of not-as-sought-after talents on short-term, reasonable-$ contracts, part with a player or two from the current group that isn't an ideal fit, with a clear focus on puck-moving and evening out the L-R handed balance.

Establish a sensible plan of transition to the kids, while remaining competitive in the short-term. It can be done... it's not all or nothing.

Except for Hagg Alt and Gost all had different career trajectories. Alt and Gost are both college players with 3 years of experience, and Alt already has a full season of AHL under his belt.

Hagg has a year of Swedish juniors and almost a full year of playing in the SHL, with a few games in the AHL.

These 3 players are realistically within a year or 2 of make significant jumps into the NHL and in NHL playing time.
- FlyersSteve118

And I said that in my post. That players such as Alt and Hagg could contribute and make the team sooner. But at what role? They will still face the inevitable growing pains in the NHL that they will be faced with. Before they can play top minutes against top competition. And help solve the Flyers defense issues going forward. So the realistic timetable still stands.

meh, had better times. but not bad.
- ob18

Rough year? You could be living with a 16 yr old moose of a kid who eats everything you buy and I'm pretty sure is going through menopause.

And I said that in my post. That players such as Alt and Hagg could contribute and make the team sooner. But at what role? They will still face the inevitable growing pains in the NHL that they will be faced with. Before they can play top minutes against top competition. And help solve the Flyers defense issues going forward. So the realistic timetable still stands.
- MJL

I feel that if the flyers do not do all that much and stand pat this off season and just clear out a few salaries, they will be in a better position in about 2 years. And who knows if they suck enough we might be able to take a run at mcdavid ( )

Obviously you sign the UFA depth guys to fill up roster spots and stuff.

What would happen if every year Central Scouting's rankings, and all the other draft pundits rankings were reviewed in hindsight? Why don't teams just save a bunch of money and time, and just draft using Central Scouting rankings or read the periodicals and go by their rankings. Instead of scouting players themselves?

Bottom line is none of that means spit. Only thing that matters is how it turns out in the long run.
- MJL

I don't think people are upset with the player selected. They are upset about where he was selected. They could have, most likely, gotten him in the 4th round. There were still some decent skilled players available at that point.

The rankings aren't a guide to who will be good, they are an estimate of where players are likely to be drafted.

I think it only becomes an either/or proposition if the focus remains fixed on making a splash through trade or UFA.

I feel very strongly that the Flyers could improve dramatically on the back-end just by adjusting the mix -- add a couple of not-as-sought-after talents on short-term, reasonable-$ contracts, part with a player or two from the current group that isn't an ideal fit, with a clear focus on puck-moving and evening out the L-R handed balance.

Establish a sensible plan of transition to the kids, while remaining competitive in the short-term. It can be done... it's not all or nothing.
- Tomahawk

It can never be an either or proposition. The Flyers can't repeat the same mistake and abandon drafting and developing defenseman. There is a price to pay for that.
I think they can make improvement by changing the mix, but I would disagree with drastic. Drastic to me is elevating the team to top contender status. Versus just being a playoff team, which is what they are now.
That transition to the kids, where they are the back bone of the defense, is likely 5 years away, give or take. As long as you're happy with just being competitive, and wasting some prime years of Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, Read, and Mason. And with just making the playoffs and maybe winning a round or two.
It certainly can be done, but it's going to literally take years to do so.

I would rather they sit on their damn ass, and let poop develop organically for once instead of chasing the cup in some fools hope every year.

It will be unfortunate to 'waste' the good years of certain players, but overpaying for mediocrity, or through trades for players who rarely happen to be 'good enough' should be done. Unless some good deal comes along, which is in no way easy.

They are having it, and will have it shoved up their ass for waiting so long to develop from within.

Build it right, and the fans will stick. Keep the same old song and dance and trying so damn hard to just stay competitive while really not getting over that hump, and we will see where the fanbase goes.

Eric Cornel - RW - Peterborough - 2014 NHL Draft

Cornel is a big rangy centre who skates well with strong balance, a powerful stride and good overall mobility. He is not afraid to use his size to push his way into scoring areas as well as protect the puck. The two-way playmaking centre has strong hands and a rocket shot.

I don't think people are upset with the player selected. They are upset about where he was selected. They could have, most likely, gotten him in the 4th round. There were still some decent skilled players available at that point.

The rankings aren't a guide to who will be good, they are an estimate of where players are likely to be drafted.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think the flyers not having a 4th round pick lead to them taking him one round earlier than they thought because they felt he would not be there in the 5th round.

I don't think people are upset with the player selected. They are upset about where he was selected. They could have, most likely, gotten him in the 4th round. There were still some decent skilled players available at that point.

The rankings aren't a guide to who will be good, they are an estimate of where players are likely to be drafted.
- PhillySportsGuy

Doesn't change anything. If the Flyers feel differently about the player then any of the pundits did, and felt highly about the kid, then they were right to take him. Who knows if he still would've been around. I for one, aren't going to read some articles and watch some youtube videos, and state that the Flyers made a bad pick. I'm going to let it play out and see what happens. Time will tell.

Are you telling me that players aren't ranked in the draft by how good of a player they are? Or are perceived to be?

I would rather they sit on their damn ass, and let poop develop organically for once instead of chasing the cup in some fools hope every year.

It will be unfortunate to 'waste' the good years of certain players, but overpaying for mediocrity, or through trades for players who rarely happen to be 'good enough' should be done. Unless some good deal comes along, which is in no way easy.

They are having it, and will have it shoved up their ass for waiting so long to develop from within.

Build it right, and the fans will stick. Keep the same old song and dance and trying so damn hard to just stay competitive while really not getting over that hump, and we will see where the fanbase goes.
- flyer_nutter

I don't advocate making a move just to make a move. I advocate making the right move if it becomes available. And the fans will of course stick. But they will female dog and moan the whole way through that process. And we will read all the criticism on here through it.

His own mother was probably shocked he went that high.

Not to mention he was a 19-yo... all 30 teams had 7 cracks at him the previous summer and passed.
- Tomahawk

Yep. Even if he pans out and becomes a good solid 4th liner, you probably could have gotten him later. I mean you can fellate yourself all day long for getting a player in round 3, but I'd rather not reach myself

I think the flyers not having a 4th round pick lead to them taking him one round earlier than they thought because they felt he would not be there in the 5th round.
- FlyersSteve118

They could have traded back and collected another pick.

As long as you're happy with just being competitive, and wasting some prime years of Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, Read, and Mason. And with just making the playoffs and maybe winning a round or two.
- MJL

Making a splash doesn't guarantee that those intermediate years go any better... you can roll the dice and win big... or the dice can come up snake-eyes.

Just like taking a measured/patient approach doesn't preclude better than expected results... teams have made it deep into the PO's (won the Cup, even) with way less than an All-Star cast on the blueline before.

They could have traded back and collected another pick.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well yeah, obviously, there was probably another group of GM's talking loudly about how they were about to take Goul and Homer over heard and thought he was being sneaky.

Doesn't change anything. If the Flyers feel differently about the player then any of the pundits did, and felt highly about the kid, then they were right to take him. Who knows if he still would've been around. I for one, aren't going to read some articles and watch some youtube videos, and state that the Flyers made a bad pick. I'm going to let it play out and see what happens. Time will tell.

Are you telling me that players aren't ranked in the draft by how good of a player they are? Or are perceived to be?
- MJL

I think people were a little upset the Flyers took a guy who projects as a 4th line player in the 3rd round. Even the Flyers view him as a 4th line player. Thats why they compared him to Rinaldo.

I think it only becomes an either/or proposition if the focus remains fixed on making a splash through trade or UFA.

I feel very strongly that the Flyers could improve dramatically on the back-end just by adjusting the mix -- add a couple of not-as-sought-after talents on short-term, reasonable-$ contracts, part with a player or two from the current group that isn't an ideal fit, with a clear focus on puck-moving and evening out the L-R handed balance.

Establish a sensible plan of transition to the kids, while remaining competitive in the short-term. It can be done... it's not all or nothing.
- Tomahawk

The worrisome thing is, if you can get a similar player for less. This past summer Ron Hainsey & Tom Gilbert sat around and took significant pay cuts and both played well for their new teams.

Teams will be tossing a lot of cash at Matt Niskanen this summer, hoping he's a top pair guy. But is it better to give him 6 years $39mm or a lesser guy like Stralman or Nikitin, who didn't get the opportunity Niskanen did for 4 years, $18mm?

Yep. Even if he pans out and becomes a good solid 4th liner, you probably could have gotten him later. I mean you can fellate yourself all day long for getting a player in round 3, but I'd rather not reach myself
- Jsaquella

Did you mean to do that?

Making a splash doesn't guarantee that those intermediate years go any better... you can roll the dice and win big... or the dice can come up snake-eyes.

Just like taking a measured/patient approach doesn't preclude better than expected results... teams have made it deep into the PO's (won the Cup, even) with way less than an All-Star cast on the blueline before.
- Tomahawk

Absolutely. We've seen that with the Bryzgalov deal. Just putting it all out on the table, and what "waiting" for the young defenseman to develop really means. Any GM can make moves. It's all about making the right moves.

Teams have made it with way less than an All Star cast before. But the odds go way up with having a top defenseman, and a solid supporting cast for the rest of the D core.

Yep. Even if he pans out and becomes a good solid 4th liner, you probably could have gotten him later. I mean you can fellate yourself all day long for getting a player in round 3, but I'd rather not reach myself
- Jsaquella

Rinaldo 2.0

I think people were a little upset the Flyers took a guy who projects as a 4th line player in the 3rd round. Even the Flyers view him as a 4th line player. Thats why they compared him to Rinaldo.
- PhillySportsGuy

Any player selected in the 3rd round that makes it to the NHL , in any capacity as a player, and has a decent career, is a dam good pick.

I don't advocate making a move just to make a move. I advocate making the right move if it becomes available. And the fans will of course stick. But they will female dog and moan the whole way through that process. And we will read all the criticism on here through it.
- MJL

if people cant live through a proper rebuild, instead of trying to just stay 'in the hunt' at all costs, they deserve the BS that comes.

Rinaldo 2.0
- ob18

Aim low. Otherwise you piss all over the back of the seat