of course you can...detroit does it and does it well. the question is how do they do it? the answer is they have a better handle on player selection, development and use than almost every other team and WAAAY better than the flyers
- hogweed

Not sure about that. I think if you compare the Flyers and Red Wings draft records, it's probably pretty equal, but I could be wrong.

Every team has it's warts. They draft Kyle Quincey. Expose and lose him on waivers. Then spend a first round pick to reacquire Kyle Quincey.

Life is made much easier when you draft a defenseman in the 2nd round and he plays close to 20 years, and he turns out to be one of the all time best defenseman, or draft two forwards in the 6th round that turn out to be studs. There's some absolute luck there.

Tanking is just a loaded term.

Selling off pieces that you wouldn't have wanted to keep anyway, a little bit earlier than usual, is what most of us are hinting at.

Nobody wants to see them do a Pens For Mario and shamefully trade off good players for a pittance, completely forsake the on-ice product, and stuff like that.
- Tomahawk

Tanking is purposely trying to lose. Selling off assets for future assets ins't necessarily tanking, although it could be part of it.

Rinaldo should be working at Blockbuster.
- PLindbergh31

To me, if you choose to employ him, which imo is a mistake.. Then take the (frank)ing reigns off and let him run wild. Keeping him on a leash essentially takes away his only good attribute.

He is going to get penalties based on reputation either way. Set him loose.

i think jussi jokinen could have been decent in that role.

not a superstar, but fit wise, that is about as good as i think you would need.
- stayinthefnnet

In my view he's a 3rd line type, I think they need a better player then that.

For a team full of grinder type forwards this is probably one of the softest crews I've seen in a while.

Unless the coaching staff is holding the leash tight to prevent penalties, which I could see, they are soft as (frank) in the physicality department. In the games I've seen anyway. Which has been a lot less this season.
- flyer_nutter

They can certainly play soft at times, but they're also capable of playing a physical game. Jekyll and Hyde.

Tanking is purposely trying to lose. Selling off assets for future assets ins't necessarily tanking, although it could be part of it.
- MJL

I don't consider tanking purposely trying to lose; that is gutless. I consider tanking makes trades for future assets knowing full well that it will hinder the team's ability to compete in the present. So in the Flyers case, trading Streit and Coburn this season would be tanking because it would make the current product really bad. Both players probably won't be on the Flyers in 2 years anyway but would hurt not only this season but next season. But since the Flyers probably won't be able to compete for a cup for a few seasons even with them, what's the difference. A lot of fans wouldn't want to do that, and I get it that starting a season with zero chance as opposed to 20% chance of making the playoffs sucks but the payoff could be huge down the line.

not the best choice of words.

- FlyerGuy

I'm sure some Perpetually Offended Citizen of Victimistan will be offended by the comment even though no offense was meant nor implied.

Zepp will probably be made to get behind the podium and apologize for something he didn't do, when what he, (and we) should be telling them is to sit down and STFU.

IF that happens.

not the best choice of words.

- FlyerGuy

seriously.

Don't NAK and Fazleev have to play in Junior one more year?.
- Feanor

Ah good call there

In my view he's a 3rd line type, I think they need a better player then that.
- MJL

his age isnt the most ideal, and his salary is high by about .75 million.

but realistically, he still strikes me as the most realistically obtainable type guy out there.

i think any higher would cost either too much salary that wouldnt be able to fit, or would require assets that people wouldnt want to pay.

he would be the type of guy i would go after that would still enable most of the attention/assets to be funneled into retooling the defense, which is the real issue.

very versatile, can play special teams, decent defensively, comfortable with the puck on his stick from the wing. (and hed probably steal you a few points via shootout )

but yeah, i wouldnt sell him as a top flight guy. do you have anyone in mind? i do agree that the mold of player you suggested is what they would need.

Today is gonna be a sad day.
Kimmo will get his blood test back today
Flyers will announce future shortly

Today is gonna be a sad day.
Kimmo will get his blood test back today
Flyers will announce future shortly
- Winning

To be honest I don't want him to take the chance. Its too late for him to make an impact as it is.

I don't consider tanking purposely trying to lose; that is gutless. I consider tanking makes trades for future assets knowing full well that it will hinder the team's ability to compete in the present. So in the Flyers case, trading Streit and Coburn this season would be tanking because it would make the current product really bad. Both players probably won't be on the Flyers in 2 years anyway but would hurt not only this season but next season. But since the Flyers probably won't be able to compete for a cup for a few seasons even with them, what's the difference. A lot of fans wouldn't want to do that, and I get it that starting a season with zero chance as opposed to 20% chance of making the playoffs sucks but the payoff could be huge down the line.
- psuhockey

I personally wouldn't consider that tanking.

Haven't been around today. Did we trade away 3/4 of the roster for picks and Evander Kane yet?

I personally wouldn't consider that tanking.
- MJL

So what would you call the Sixers plan this year? The players aren't intentionally trying to lose, but they put together a roster full of players that are horrible at basketball with the express purpose of finishing dead last. That was the plan, anyway.

It turns out tanking (or whatever you'd call it) is just one more thing they're terrible at.

Ah good call there
- Tomahawk

Fazleev would have been able to play for the Phantoms next season if he had been born slightly earlier. His DOB is 1996-01-07 and if you're a CHL player who turns 20 before the end of a calendar year that makes you AHL eligible, like Ryan Pulock was this season.

http://prospectsannex.blo...y-juniors-have-to-be.html

For a team full of grinder type forwards this is probably one of the softest crews I've seen in a while.

Unless the coaching staff is holding the leash tight to prevent penalties, which I could see, they are soft as (frank) in the physicality department. In the games I've seen anyway. Which has been a lot less this season.
- flyer_nutter

they are small and slow, and handle the puck like a grenade

great combination

So what would you call the Sixers plan this year? The players aren't intentionally trying to lose, but they put together a roster full of players that are horrible at basketball with the express purpose of finishing dead last. That was the plan, anyway.

It turns out tanking (or whatever you'd call it) is just one more thing they're terrible at.
- jmatchett383

Tanking isn't done by the players, it's done by management in my opinion.

Not necessarily wanting to do "The Homer Dance" today, but I think it's harsh to say he destroyed the organization. At what point do you lay the blame on the players?

When Matt Read signed that extension, pretty much everyone was happy. No one told him to play like ass for 90 percent of this season. Nobody told Andrew MacDonald to turn himself into a healthy scratch. Same with Luke Schenn -- nobody told him not to improve.

Were there some red flags on some of the players Homer got? Sure. But nobody was asking some of these underachievers to become superstars, like Voracek. It would have been nice if some of these guys had just found ways to do their jobs at somewhere even (frank)ing close to their draft status and salary level.
- AllInForFlyers

Speaking of read, I was on my way to my game last night listening to the third period in the car and they said Read has been playing with a high ankle sprain most of the season

Speaking of read, I was on my way to my game last night listening to the third period in the car and they said Read has been playing with a high ankle sprain most of the season
- nastyflyergirl

Yes, which is remarkable in my opinion.

Tanking isn't done by the players, it's done by management in my opinion.
- MJL

But that's what he said: trading players to make the on-ice product bad to lose more.

Yes, which is remarkable in my opinion.
- MBFlyerfan

Would have shut him down for months if he was captain of the Penguins.

Yes, which is remarkable in my opinion.
- MBFlyerfan

it would explain a lot i guess. It is remarkable. Can't imagine skating in the NHL with a high ankle sprain.

So what would you call the Sixers plan this year? The players aren't intentionally trying to lose, but they put together a roster full of players that are horrible at basketball with the express purpose of finishing dead last. That was the plan, anyway.

It turns out tanking (or whatever you'd call it) is just one more thing they're terrible at.
- jmatchett383

Sixers are 28th in the NBA
Flyers are 24th in the NHL

They really aren't that far apart.

Sixers are 28th in the NBA
Flyers are 24th in the NHL

They really aren't that far apart.
- PhillySportsGuy

No. The problem is that Flyers management was actually trying to ice a competitive team. Sixers' management knew what it was doing, and they're just not doing it enough.