definitely a luck component that a lot of people overlook.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. Had the Leafs picked 3rd and gotten Puljujarvi (who I still think will be a good player), I doubt they'd be thrilled.

Point is, just being bad isn't a recipe for success, especially with the new lottery system. You have to be bad and get a star player with that pick. The Flyers were bad for arguably the worst draft since 2002. Had they been bad in 08 instead of 07, they'd have gotten one of Stamkos or Doughty. The 07 draft class was basically Kane and then everyone else.
- jmatchett383

My point was that I was agreeing with you. And then trading a pretty good forward for a tire fire made it even worse.

Exactly. Had the Leafs picked 3rd and gotten Puljujarvi (who I still think will be a good player), I doubt they'd be thrilled.
- jmatchett383

picking high does increase your chances though. but the luck component definitely dictates who is coming out when you're bad.

sucking in the yakupov/ryan murray draft just is awful timing.

Point is, just being bad isn't a recipe for success, especially with the new lottery system. You have to be bad and get a star player with that pick. The Flyers were bad for arguably the worst draft since 2002. Had they been bad in 08 instead of 07, they'd have gotten one of Stamkos or Doughty. The 07 draft class was basically Kane and then everyone else.
- jmatchett383

That was basically MacKenzie's point. Blowing it up and tanking and even getting a top 2 pick doesn't guarantee a Cup, or even becoming a playoff team as Buffalo are finding out.

That was basically MacKenzie's point. Blowing it up and tanking and even getting a top 2 pick doesn't guarantee a Cup, or even becoming a playoff team as Buffalo are finding out.
- Feanor

True, though I would trade any player on the roster for Eichel. Except maybe Provorov, and even then I would think about it.

Duchene has one year left, so Sakic better get to working the phones or doing his best sales job to Matt...should be interesting to see what happens next season with him.
- Sublime55

Thats Sakic's problem. Trading for Duchene now is not the right move for the Flyers in my opinion

True, though I would trade any player on the roster for Eichel. Except maybe Provorov, and even then I would think about it.
- MBFlyerfan

gotta tell you I wouldn't trade Provorov for Eichel. for as hard as it has been for the Flyers to find a franchise dman and from what I have seen from Provorov as a 19/20 year old, wouldn't do it

gotta tell you I wouldn't trade Provorov for Eichel. for as hard as it has been for the Flyers to find a franchise dman and from what I have seen from Provorov as a 19/20 year old, wouldn't do it
- nastyflyergirl

I absolutely would

Ultimately a disappointing year as a whole. In the end, the Flyers best players were not nearly good enough, especially 5 on 5.

Can Giroux and to a lesser extent Voracek bounce back next season? It's certainly possible. However, after every season that passes the probability of these two carrying play like they did 2 to 3 years ago declines.

This is the biggest question facing the Flyers next season and I believe Hextall knows that. No doubt some new faces will be on the roster next year and that will be exciting. But what do you do with a core that has shown the same inconsistency across three different coaches? I'm hoping something can be done to change the mix.
- StepfordSam

Disappointing but not surprising

I absolutely would
- Just5

so much harder to find that stud dman. I wouldn't do it for Eichel.

I absolutely would
- Just5

No way. A #1 defenseman is difficult to acquire more so than a forward of Eichel's ability. Provorov is our best chance. Provorov is as close to an untouchable player as you can get.

No way. A #1 defenseman is difficult to acquire more so than a forward of Eichel's ability. Provorov is our best chance. Provorov is as close to an untouchable player as you can get.
- MJL

Here is the complete list of players where I would make a trade including Provorov:

Connor McDavid

gotta tell you I wouldn't trade Provorov for Eichel. for as hard as it has been for the Flyers to find a franchise dman and from what I have seen from Provorov as a 19/20 year old, wouldn't do it
- nastyflyergirl

I think I agree with you. Though I would give it some serious thought. And only because we have Sandheim, Morin, Myers, Hagg etc waiting in the wings.

But MJL is correct, a franchise d-man like Provorov is the rarest of rarities. And yes, I believe he is a franchise dman,

Here is the complete list of players where I would make a trade including Provorov:

Connor McDavid
- jmatchett383

On the same night the Flyers were officially eliminated from playoff contention, Hart again reaffirmed why the future remains bright in Philadelphia with an astonishing performance in net for Everett, which dispatched Victoria, 3-2, in five overtimes -- the longest game in CHL playoff history -- to win its playoff series, 4-2. Hart stopped 64 shots in 151:36 against the Royals, allowing both goals in the second period. Think about that. From 3:56 left in the second period until the end of the game, Hart didn't allow another goal. That's over another full game's worth of minutes -- almost two full games. That's incredible. Hart was excellent -- as he's been all season long -- in the entire series. In six games, Hart has a 1.58 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Philippe Myers added two assists in Rouyn-Noranda's 6-5 triple-overtime win over Halifax in Game 5 on Friday night. Myers has six points in five games.

That was basically MacKenzie's point. Blowing it up and tanking and even getting a top 2 pick doesn't guarantee a Cup, or even becoming a playoff team as Buffalo are finding out.
- Feanor

Correct but picking from the middle also doesn't guarantee a cup and as the Flyers prove doesn't even portend to being a regular playoff team.

There are no guarantees either way. One can only look at recent cup teams and see how they are built. Out of the last 8 years, 7 cups went to teams that tanked purposely or by poor ownership, and one that maintained competitiveness. Luck played a part for all of them.

On the same night the Flyers were officially eliminated from playoff contention, Hart again reaffirmed why the future remains bright in Philadelphia with an astonishing performance in net for Everett, which dispatched Victoria, 3-2, in five overtimes -- the longest game in CHL playoff history -- to win its playoff series, 4-2. Hart stopped 64 shots in 151:36 against the Royals, allowing both goals in the second period. Think about that. From 3:56 left in the second period until the end of the game, Hart didn't allow another goal. That's over another full game's worth of minutes -- almost two full games. That's incredible. Hart was excellent -- as he's been all season long -- in the entire series. In six games, Hart has a 1.58 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Philippe Myers added two assists in Rouyn-Noranda's 6-5 triple-overtime win over Halifax in Game 5 on Friday night. Myers has six points in five games.
- jmatchett383

Carter Hart will end up being the guy. I am very hopeful of this.

No way. A #1 defenseman is difficult to acquire more so than a forward of Eichel's ability. Provorov is our best chance. Provorov is as close to an untouchable player as you can get.
- MJL

To me eichel is a bit more special of a player. A bit rarer of a talent and harder to acquire. He is a ppg player at 20

When a fan asked Pronman on Twitter if Sanheim reminds him of Chris Pronger, ESPN's Corey Pronman said, "I think Sanheim is a mix between the next Chris Pronger and Shea Weber."

Can't wait until Sanheim steps on a player with his skate or smashes a player's head into the glass.

I think he has Sanheim confused with some odd Morin/Sanheim hybrid.

Carter Hart will end up being the guy. I am very hopeful of this.
- MBFlyerfan

My money's on Sandstrom, but as long as one of the 47 goalie prospects we have (it seems like that many, thankfully) works out, I'll be happy.

When a fan asked Pronman on Twitter if Sanheim reminds him of Chris Pronger, ESPN's Corey Pronman said, "I think Sanheim is a mix between next Chris Pronger and Shea Weber."

Can't wait until Sanheim steps on a player with his skate or smashes a player's head into the glass.

I think he has Sanheim confused with some odd Morin/Sanheim hybrid.
- jmatchett383

Pronger in his 20's was a terrific puck carrying dman. He was really something to watch. Think Coburn skating, but only bigger, meaner, and whole lot more offensive ability

When a fan asked Pronman on Twitter if Sanheim reminds him of Chris Pronger, ESPN's Corey Pronman said, "I think Sanheim is a mix between the next Chris Pronger and Shea Weber."

Can't wait until Sanheim steps on a player with his skate or smashes a player's head into the glass.

I think he has Sanheim confused with some odd Morin/Sanheim hybrid.
- jmatchett383

I think Pronman trolls people who ask stupid questions.

Here is the complete list of players where I would make a trade including Provorov:

Connor McDavid
- jmatchett383

Pretty much on par with what I was thinking.

To me eichel is a bit more special of a player. A bit rarer of a talent and harder to acquire. He is a ppg player at 20
- Just5

I would disagree, although not a big difference but with this team's history and it's needs, I would not trade Provorov for Eichel.

Pronger in his 20's was a terrific puck carrying dman. He was really something to watch. Think Coburn skating, but only bigger, meaner, and whole lot more offensive ability
- ravishingone

"Chris Pronger? Wasn't he drafted 2nd? Pfffft."

- Alexandre Daigle