I wouldn;t move Giroux, because i think he can still produce at superstar levels as he gets older, barring injury.

He's a little guy, but he doesn't really rely on out and out speed as much as vision and quickness. He's at his most dangerous on set plays where he can set up and find holes in the defense. Age shouldn't have a huge impact on that
- Jsaquella

Yeah, it was just interesting to hear the reasoning behind why people wouldn't do the trade. I agree with Tomahawk, it won't happen because the team that wins either one of those guys would want the cheap, controllable talent.

I do think they will need more scoring when the D Kids mature. But hopefully they can find a great forward or two in next year's draft.

Yeah, it was just interesting to hear the reasoning behind why people wouldn't do the trade. I agree with Tomahawk, it won't happen because the team that wins either one of those guys would want the cheap, controllable talent.

I do think they will need more scoring when the D Kids mature. But hopefully they can find a great forward or two in next year's draft.
- TheGreat28

They'll have a better shot if Hexy holds into picks. Aube Kubel looks like he could be a sneaky good player. Good speed, hands and he's a feisty little bastard, to boot

Yeah, it was just interesting to hear the reasoning behind why people wouldn't do the trade. I agree with Tomahawk, it won't happen because the team that wins either one of those guys would want the cheap, controllable talent.

I do think they will need more scoring when the D Kids mature. But hopefully they can find a great forward or two in next year's draft.
- TheGreat28

4-5 years from now, no reason why Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier, and Schenn can't all be quality point producers. You could even see a player like Raffl develop an offensive game. And who knows with the wild card of Akeson. And there's always free agency.

Build the team up the middle. Goaltending, defense, center.

That's the point where he is statistically more likely to decline. Think, Danny Briere. I think he'll still be good in that window. But given the young kids coming up over next 5 years, he may not be a top 10-15 forward.
- TheGreat28

joe thornton patrick marleau

Yeah, it was just interesting to hear the reasoning behind why people wouldn't do the trade. I agree with Tomahawk, it won't happen because the team that wins either one of those guys would want the cheap, controllable talent.

I do think they will need more scoring when the D Kids mature. But hopefully they can find a great forward or two in next year's draft.
- TheGreat28

Also, I really like this year's draft. No limited talent agitators(I'd say no talent, but sometimes people take every word typed here as being absolutely literal) like Rinaldo & Goulbourne. No goons like Klotz or Mathers. No big, but poor skating defensemen like Lauridsen.

If you need an agitator, they are always available, usually as a cheap FA pick up. A kid who scores 100 points in the OHL isn't a lock to do it in the NHL, but a guy without the skill to be a top six player at that level isn't likely to develop it in the NHL, either.

Most successful grinders managed to be decent producers at the CHL level.

They'll have a better shot if Hexy holds into picks. Aube Kubel looks like he could be a sneaky good player. Good speed, hands and he's a feisty little bastard, to boot
- Jsaquella

I like him too. The Flyers do well a lot of times when they go off type. They mostly seem to go for the big physical guys or the agitators. But some of their better picks - G, Gagne, maybe Ghost - would not be described as typical "Flyers".

Maybe they should just pick guys whose names start with G.

Then again, Goulbourne

Also, I really like this year's draft. No limited talent agitators(I'd say no talent, but sometimes people take every word typed here as being absolutely literal) like Rinaldo & Goulbourne. No goons like Klotz or Mathers. No big, but poor skating defensemen like Lauridsen.

If you need an agitator, they are always available, usually as a cheap FA pick up. A kid who scores 100 points in the OHL isn't a lock to do it in the NHL, but a guy without the skill to be a top six player at that level isn't likely to develop it in the NHL, either.

Most successful grinders managed to be decent producers at the CHL level.
- Jsaquella

Haha...I was writing my comment at the same time. Great minds and all that

But seriously, I 1000% agree with everything in this post. And more importantly, it seems Hextall does do.

Also, I really like this year's draft. No limited talent agitators(I'd say no talent, but sometimes people take every word typed here as being absolutely literal) like Rinaldo & Goulbourne. No goons like Klotz or Mathers. No big, but poor skating defensemen like Lauridsen.

If you need an agitator, they are always available, usually as a cheap FA pick up. A kid who scores 100 points in the OHL isn't a lock to do it in the NHL, but a guy without the skill to be a top six player at that level isn't likely to develop it in the NHL, either.

Most successful grinders managed to be decent producers at the CHL level.
- Jsaquella

So I was just looking at a list of all Flyers draft picks for another epic fail whose name started with G to make my last joke. I noticed the name Alexander Drozdetsky. Remember him? Wasn't he some highly gifted Russian forward that was supposed to be part of the next wave or something.

It never worked out. But I would much rather the team take a chance on a guy like that and have it bomb then Garrett Klotz, or any other the other rejects you named.

So I was just looking at a list of all Flyers draft picks for another epic fail whose name started with G to make my last joke. I noticed the name Alexander Drozdetsky. Remember him? Wasn't he some highly gifted Russian forward that was supposed to be part of the next wave or something.

It never worked out. But I would much rather the team take a chance on a guy like that and have it bomb then Garrett Klotz, or any other the other rejects you named.
- TheGreat28

Who was a better draft pick? Alexander Drozdetsky or Zac Rinaldo?

Drozdetsky was scouted and recommended by Inge Hammarstrom

So I was just looking at a list of all Flyers draft picks for another epic fail whose name started with G to make my last joke. I noticed the name Alexander Drozdetsky. Remember him? Wasn't he some highly gifted Russian forward that was supposed to be part of the next wave or something.

It never worked out. But I would much rather the team take a chance on a guy like that and have it bomb then Garrett Klotz, or any other the other rejects you named.
- TheGreat28

Exactly.

The Goulbourne one stings me. Anthony Duclair, who has scored in both Flyers-Rangers games, went 7 picks later. A slew of more talented kids were on the board, and the Flyers grabbed Zac 2.0, and a year later, they're offering him no more than an AHL deal.

Also, I really like this year's draft. No limited talent agitators(I'd say no talent, but sometimes people take every word typed here as being absolutely literal) like Rinaldo & Goulbourne. No goons like Klotz or Mathers. No big, but poor skating defensemen like Lauridsen.

If you need an agitator, they are always available, usually as a cheap FA pick up. A kid who scores 100 points in the OHL isn't a lock to do it in the NHL, but a guy without the skill to be a top six player at that level isn't likely to develop it in the NHL, either.

Most successful grinders managed to be decent producers at the CHL level.
- Jsaquella

Whatever player they take in the 1st-round next draft is going to be really, really good too. Maybe not McDavid/Eichel good, but probably Jeff Carter/Mike Richards good. That player, along with Giroux and our current kids, should make the team pretty fearsome in the not so distant future.

Instead of chasing the top-2 picks (unless they 'earn' it by merit, of course), I'd spend more energy trying to recoup that 2nd we gave up in the AMac trade.

Whatever player they take in the 1st-round next draft is going to be really, really good too. Maybe not McDavid/Eichel good, but probably Jeff Carter/Mike Richards good. That player, along with Giroux and our current kids, should make the team pretty fearsome in the not so distant future.

Instead of chasing the top-2 picks (unless they 'earn' it by merit, of course), I'd spend more energy trying to recoup that 2nd we gave up in the AMac trade.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, I'd be definitely looking more at adding more overall picks than trading up or trading for roster guys now, unless it's a 22 year old with a load of skill

Who was a better draft pick? Alexander Drozdetsky or Zac Rinaldo?

Drozdetsky was scouted and recommended by Inge Hammarstrom
- MJL

You know what is funny? After I submitted that post, I thought I should have used Rinaldo as an example instead of Klotz. Honestly, I'd rather them have picked Drozdetsky than Rinaldo.

Like JSaq said, you can get 3rd and 4th liners easily through college FAs (Harry Z) or FA vets for relatively cheap cap hits (Talbot). Even your own organizational fill-ins like Jones can come up and fill a role.

But a legit 1st or 2nd line forward? It's going to cost a lot more in FA, and even college FA are going to have a lot more teams knocking down those doors so they're harder to come by.

If drafting is a gamble anyway, then go big or go home.

Exactly.

The Goulbourne one stings me. Anthony Duclair, who has scored in both Flyers-Rangers games, went 7 picks later. A slew of more talented kids were on the board, and the Flyers grabbed Zac 2.0, and a year later, they're offering him no more than an AHL deal.
- Jsaquella

Duclair, Janmark, Yakimov and Bjorkstrand sting the most right now. Buchnevich is lighting up the KHL right now, too.

You know what is funny? After I submitted that post, I thought I should have used Rinaldo as an example instead of Klotz. Honestly, I'd rather them have picked Drozdetsky than Rinaldo.

Like JSaq said, you can get 3rd and 4th liners easily through college FAs (Harry Z) or FA vets for relatively cheap cap hits (Talbot). Even your own organizational fill-ins like Jones can come up and fill a role.

But a legit 1st or 2nd line forward? It's going to cost a lot more in FA, and even college FA are going to have a lot more teams knocking down those doors so they're harder to come by.

If drafting is a gamble anyway, then go big or go home.
- TheGreat28

Well although I realize that hindsight is not available at the time of any draft pick. Using obvious hindsight, I do find it funny that even knowing that Rinaldo turned out to be an actual NHL player, and Drozdetsky was a failed pick, you'd still rather they had picked Drosdetsky over Rinaldo. Even though he has no talent, and please don't take that literally. Rinaldo is a better player than Drozdetsky.

Bottom line a draft pick is judged on the success of the player, chosen with the pick. Even if the player that failed, was deemed to be more talented, then the player that actually was a successful pick.

The other day it was posted that the Flyers should do a better job with drafting to get more talented role players.

Duclair, Janmark, Yakimov and Bjorkstrand sting the most right now. Buchnevich is lighting up the KHL right now, too.


- Tomahawk

The Jackets love Bjorkstrand. OB18 loved him, too. He sounded crushed when Columbus took him

Well although I realize that hindsight is not available at the time of any draft pick. Using obvious hindsight, I do find it funny that even knowing that Rinaldo turned out to be an actual NHL player, and Drozdetsky was a failed pick, you'd still wish rather them pick Drosdetsky over Rinaldo. Even though he has no talent, and please don't take that literally. Rinaldo is a better player the Drozdetsky.

Bottom line a draft pick is judged on the success as a player, chose with a pick. Even if the player that failed, was deemed to be more talented, then the player that actually was a successful pick.
- MJL

I think you and I look at the draft a lot differently. I'll give you an analogy. It sounds like after a night of carousing, you'd consider it a successful night if you go home with the fat chick. To me, if you didn't score the pretty '10" who had guys buying her drinks all night, or even her 7 or 8 friend, than you might as well go home alone.

Would still like to see the Flyers add another sniper to this core of players in the future. Be it through draft, trade or FA signing. I think it's an element they sometimes lack. Maybe Aube Kubel is that guy?

And honestly, as long the the shoot out is a thing it can never hurt to have guys who can bury em top shelf.

I think you and I look at the draft a lot differently. I'll give you an analogy. It sounds like after a night of carousing, you'd consider it a successful night if you go home with the fat chick. To me, if you didn't score the pretty '10" who had guys buying her drinks all night, or even her 7 or 8 friend, than you might as well go home alone.
- TheGreat28

So you think it's better to draft a more talented player, who fails to develop into an NHL player, over a lesser talented player, who makes it to the NHL as a role player?

If you "go home alone" from the NHL draft, you go home a loser!

To put the analogy in perspective, the team you "draft" at the bar, needs both fat chicks as well as the pretty "10" and the 7 & 8's.

And sometimes what you thought was a "10" turns out to be a ZERO

So you think it's better to draft a more talented player, who fails to develop into an NHL player, over a lesser talented player, who makes it to the NHL as a role player?

If you "go home alone" from the NHL draft, you go home a loser!

To put the analogy in perspective, the team you "draft" at the bar, needs both fat chicks as well as the pretty "10" and the 7 & 8's.
- MJL

At the bar I trade all my middle and late round picks for future considerations.

At the bar I trade all my middle and late round picks for future considerations.
- hereticpride

I always went with GUE.

Exactly.

The Goulbourne one stings me. Anthony Duclair, who has scored in both Flyers-Rangers games, went 7 picks later. A slew of more talented kids were on the board, and the Flyers grabbed Zac 2.0, and a year later, they're offering him no more than an AHL deal.
- Jsaquella

well...because flyers.

So you think it's better to draft a more talented player, who fails to develop into an NHL player, over a lesser talented player, who makes it to the NHL as a role player?

If you "go home alone" from the NHL draft, you go home a loser!

To put the analogy in perspective, the team you "draft" at the bar, needs both fat chicks as well as the pretty "10" and the 7 & 8's.

And sometimes what you thought was a "10" turns out to be a ZERO
- MJL

- Tomahawk

love that video.

I think you and I look at the draft a lot differently. I'll give you an analogy. It sounds like after a night of carousing, you'd consider it a successful night if you go home with the fat chick. To me, if you didn't score the pretty '10" who had guys buying her drinks all night, or even her 7 or 8 friend, than you might as well go home alone.
- TheGreat28

The bottom line is, philosophy and what a person values. If you want a safe bet, bottom line NHLer with a low ceiling, draft Rinaldo. But understand, he'll never be a Zetterberg or even a Patric Hornqvist.

I'd rather draft a talented kid, like a Nick Cousins than a Tyrell Goulbourne. Even if Goulbourne reaches his potential, he's a 4th liner. If Cousins reaches his, he'll be a top 9 guy who can be a pest and solid two way player who can chip in 15 goals and help out on special teams.

In the case of Drozdetsky, he didn't fail to make the NHL for lack of talent, either. He had a solid career as a second line winger in Russia. Looks like he chose to stay in Russia more than lacking the talent to be a NHLer.