I hope they dig down deep and get a win today.
The next four are brutal.
Ducks at home then Dallas, Chicago and Pens on the road.

They could be 0-7 here.

I think the line changes are fine.
VLC with Simmer could be a key line for them tonight, I think those two have been their better forwards at even strength.

The D is what it is. Goalie will have to be great.
- Marc D

I wouldn't be surprised at all if 0-7 is how they end up. This team is in transition and lacking anything to be excited about on the blue line. The future on the other hand, is bright. I just hope they don't let this 0-2 start snowball. Nothing worse than a mediocre team. At least if they were terrible we could accept it. This season has the makings of a major headache of they can't put it all together.

They gotta find a way to win two of these games -- no, I can explain how, but they gotta find a way

0-7 just cannot happen
- AllInForFlyers

It's only 2 games in and they have too much talent on offense to be a complete poop-show.

I think they can find a way, but honestly? If they tank, so be it. Management has built the tracks the team is on, and they can to reap the rewards.

Know what the interesting thing is? By the time all of these d prospects pan out (hopefully), you have an aged Giroux.

Having a couple of hard years to bring in some more elite level talent isn't exactly the worst thing that could happen.

Of course that would have to mean that Hextall also gets to run this team his way. With Snider and Holmgren still very much in the fold I doubt that will be the case. All the on ice stuff at the end of the day doesn't matter to me. This team's Achilles heel has been its management for a while now.

Weird days in Philadelphia, from my view anyway.
- flyer_nutter

I think G will be a productive player in his 30s.

But you are right about these being strange days in Flyerland.

Does Chairman Ed have the patience to stay the course and build a team through the draft? They may miss the playoffs several times in the next 3-5 seasons if they go this route.

In 4 years time:
Simmonds: 30 years old
Voracek: 29
Couturier: 25
bSchenn: 27
Coburn: 33
Mason: 30
Giroux: 30

Assuming it takes roughly about 4 years for that back end's prospects to be contributing regulars.

In 4 years time:
Simmonds: 30 years old
Voracek: 29
Couturier: 25
bSchenn: 27
Coburn: 33
Mason: 30
Giroux: 30

Assuming it takes roughly about 4 years for that back end's prospects to be contributing regulars.
- flyer_nutter

You have to hope Laughton, Aubel-Kubel, Leier and some of the others work out.

Likely they will draft a good forward this year too.

I'm not so pessimistic about the future as I am about the next 3 years.

we lose 4-1 tonight

I think G will be a productive player in his 30s.

But you are right about these being strange days in Flyerland.

Does Chairman Ed have the patience to stay the course and build a team through the draft? They may miss the playoffs several times in the next 3-5 seasons if they go this route.
- Marc D

The thing for me is they will have a disconnect between the age of the young D-men prospects and the current forward corps. This team is not growing together, you are having one aspect age and praying the defense prospect pool catches up to it.

As for Ed, I have my own thoughts about that but they may be too dark for this board. The only thing I will say, is the country boy motto has to end. Recycled members of the team's past continuously put into management and coaching positions is foolish imo. I am not bashing Hextall, but the theme is general.

The fact that Holmgren dismantled a competitive team, overpaid for mediocrity to try and keep the product in the playoffs at all cost while making bonehead moves... Switching from a D first mantra with Stevens, to aggressive with Laviolette and back to D first with Berube. Then being promoted to president?

Again, I have my own thoughts on what needs to happen for this club to turn a corner long term. They have nothing to do with the players on the ice, because over the last 5+years, the turn over has been continuous.

You have to hope Laughton, Aubel-Kubel, Leier and some of the others work out.

Likely they will draft a good forward this year too.

I'm not so pessimistic about the future as I am about the next 3 years.
- Marc D

Ya know, say things go bad and we get a top 10 pick. I'd draft another dman. Young solid d are worth their weight in gold in today's nhl. If too many of our current prospects pan out, you can flip the dman for a forward plus but not the other way around.

You have to hope Laughton, Aubel-Kubel, Leier and some of the others work out.

Likely they will draft a good forward this year too.

I'm not so pessimistic about the future as I am about the next 3 years.
- Marc D

We know my pessimistic side. Honestly, I think the best case for this team is to crawl among the basement for the next few years until the idiotic contracts of Macdonald, Umberger, Streit and LeCavalier are off the table.

I just hope Hextall sticks to his theme, and is allowed to first and foremost. Even if the big club struggles, let it. Leave the young prospects to develop and keep them away from this trash fire.

In 4 years time:
Simmonds: 30 years old
Voracek: 29
Couturier: 25
bSchenn: 27
Coburn: 33
Mason: 30
Giroux: 30

Assuming it takes roughly about 4 years for that back end's prospects to be contributing regulars.
- flyer_nutter

can't see coburn and schenn here in 4 years

Ya know, say things go bad and we get a top 10 pick. I'd draft another dman. Young solid d are worth their weight in gold in today's nhl. If too many of our current prospects pan out, you can flip the dman for a forward plus but not the other way around.
- Hextall271

you'd pass up on a stamkos like player for a dman?

can't see coburn and schenn here in 4 years
- 2Real

Luke Schenn's days are numbered as is imo. Unless he is willing to take a pay-cut why the hell would you pay a 3rd pairing one dimensional d-man 3.6 million dollars.

That's his current salary, without taking into account that he may want a raise.

For Brayden, I don't think there is anyone around to really unseat him and his "potential" yet. I also think you would get pretty poor value trading him so they might as well ride it out with him and see what happens. Personally I don't expect much but it is what it is.

The Flyers are doing now what they should have started doing the second they lost Pronger and looked at the birth certificate of Timonen. They are doing it now involuntarily and having it shoved down their throats.

Ya know, say things go bad and we get a top 10 pick. I'd draft another dman. Young solid d are worth their weight in gold in today's nhl. If too many of our current prospects pan out, you can flip the dman for a forward plus but not the other way around.
- Hextall271

Always go best player available.
But boy they could really use another playmaker or big scoring winger in the prospect pool, in the worst way.

Giroux -5

Always go best player available.
But boy they could really use another playmaker or big scoring winger in the prospect pool, in the worst way.
- Marc D

I think they need that too personally. Cant count on FA and other than Giroux/Voracek there doesn't seem to be that dynamic offensive force. Simmonds is a wonderful player but plays the game a different way.

If Couturier can develop into that, then great but I wouldn't hold my breath. They will need one more elite guy on that top 6 imo.

you'd pass up on a stamkos like player for a dman?
- 2Real

Unless we are drafting mcdavid, Then I'd take a dman. Like I said. If we're drafting say 5 to 10 and the players are pretty evenly rated. Take a dman.

I like that Simmonds received the assistant captainship this season and value his leadership and role with the club, but doesn't anyone else wonder why Coburn didn't get it? Coburn is the longest tenured Flyer, logging the most minutes and playing in nearly all situations. In playoffs past, Coburn has been one of the key players to step up, elevating his game and showing leadership with his play on the ice.

Luke Schenn's days are numbered as is imo. Unless he is willing to take a pay-cut why the hell would you pay a 3rd pairing one dimensional d-man 3.6 million dollars.

That's his current salary, without taking into account that he may want a raise.

For Brayden, I don't think there is anyone around to really unseat him and his "potential" yet. I also think you would get pretty poor value trading him so they might as well ride it out with him and see what happens. Personally I don't expect much but it is what it is.

The Flyers are doing now what they should have started doing the second they lost Pronger and looked at the birth certificate of Timonen. They are doing it now involuntarily and having it shoved down their throats.
- flyer_nutter

they're doing it now because hextall knows how the (frank) to build a team

I think they need that too personally. Cant count on FA and other than Giroux/Voracek there doesn't seem to be that dynamic offensive force. Simmonds is a wonderful player but plays the game a different way.

If Couturier can develop into that, then great but I wouldn't hold my breath. They will need one more elite guy on that top 6 imo.
- flyer_nutter

The worry I have is what happens if only 1 of the current dman work out and become a legit 1 2 guy?

Unless we are drafting mcdavid, Then I'd take a dman. Like I said. If we're drafting say 5 to 10 and the players are pretty evenly rated. Take a dman.
- Hextall271

there's only so much room in the A though i think we're in desperate need of a elite forward it'd be great if we could draft a guy that can put up 30 in his rookie season

they're doing it now because hextall knows how the (frank) to build a team
- 2Real

All this Hextall talk I buy to an extent.

The Flyers still have Ed Snider, and Holmgren as president. The same scouting department is still intact.

I personally don't buy that things are all that different in the big office but Hextall does seem to be more patient.

We know my pessimistic side. Honestly, I think the best case for this team is to crawl among the basement for the next few years until the idiotic contracts of Macdonald, Umberger, Streit and LeCavalier are off the table.

I just hope Hextall sticks to his theme, and is allowed to first and foremost. Even if the big club struggles, let it. Leave the young prospects to develop and keep them away from this trash fire.
- flyer_nutter

The Umberger trade was to get rid of 2 years off the Hartnell deal.
I wish they could of gotten picks/prospects back for Hartnell too, but we will never know what else was available.

Will you be disappointed if Gostisbehere comes up later this year and handles it?

For me if he shows he is ready this would be great.

Hopefully Morin is not going to be rushed though.

The worry I have is what happens if only 1 of the current dman work out and become a legit 1 2 guy?
- Hextall271

Or none?

Sanheim, Hagg, Morin and Ghost have more pressure on their shoulders than I think they know. Its why I want the away from the big club for as long as possible. Until the mess is as cleaned up as can be.

FA will always be there and I do think the Flyers will have to use it to an extent. That's fine, and sometimes you have to. Just really have to hope a few of those kids pull through in a big way. We know first hand what its like having a defense core filled with secondary pieces.

I think they need that too personally. Cant count on FA and other than Giroux/Voracek there doesn't seem to be that dynamic offensive force. Simmonds is a wonderful player but plays the game a different way.

If Couturier can develop into that, then great but I wouldn't hold my breath. They will need one more elite guy on that top 6 imo.
- flyer_nutter

They need to split Jake and G up - especially considering most teams are Bergeron'ing that line. In playing them together, the Flyers are wasting both of their top tier offensive talents one shift at a time. If you split them up and reshuffle the lines a little bit it forces opposing coaches to be a little bit more selective in their line matching.

Schenn – Giroux – Simmonds
Read – Lecavalier – Voracek
Raffl – Couturier – Umberger
Rinaldo – Bellemare – Akeson

there's only so much room in the A though i think we're in desperate need of a elite forward it'd be great if we could draft a guy that can put up 30 in his rookie season
- 2Real

Well. Outside mcdavid would you see anyone else being able to do that?