The problem right now is that the Flyers just don't have the depth to do what Pittsburgh can. Agree with it or not, Hextall's plan is to supplement those spots through the draft as opposed to the Clarke/Holmgren days when you supplemented by trading away futures. The Flyers were going to live and die by what theie top-6 could do, because they didn't have other options.

Ideally, Weal would be a useful 3rd line supplemental player, but he can't drive a line.
- jmatchett383

Maybe the young guys will form a productive bottom six.

Laughton Lindblom Raffl Weal Vorobiev NAK etc could form the basis for a decent bottom six.

Good read thanks Bill!

Kinda forgot we even had Weal.

The problem right now is that the Flyers just don't have the depth to do what Pittsburgh can. Agree with it or not, Hextall's plan is to supplement those spots through the draft as opposed to the Clarke/Holmgren days when you supplemented by trading away futures. The Flyers were going to live and die by what theie top-6 could do, because they didn't have other options.

Ideally, Weal would be a useful 3rd line supplemental player, but he can't drive a line.
- jmatchett383

I agree with how they are finding and adding the talent. Disagree with pigeon holing certain players and/or hesitance to let young guys take over roles

great work as always bill, keep the updates coming through the long hot summer. interesting that you mention carlson, i don't think you should get in a bidding war either but isn't it funny how they could have had him in his draft year by simply selecting him and having that right hand shot in their system all these years. rather, holmgren makes one of his worse trades with that draft pick for a bad defenseman (emminger?) and we're still looking for that right handed defender. that has bugged me since the moment it happened have a great off season, always enjoy your work, thanks

I'm fine with the building through the draft philosophy...But there is no excuse to not at least try and upgrade around the nucleus. I assume Hextall feels pretty comfortable now that he doesn't have an owner that really had a passion to try and win all the time. Yes, under Snider that sometimes led to moves that came back to bite them in the ass. But overall the team was always competitive. I still don't understand, because it really defies logic, why Hextall can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Your not going to grow as an organization by bring back either of the two finns....Dale Weise should play in Lehigh Valley. I have seen enough of Radko Gudas, our irreplaceable right hand shouting D man. Read and Manning should be automatics to leave as well.
It's apparent they are not good enough....it's also a (frank)ing joke to say, we are just going to have to be patient and roll out yet another sub par support group of players when you really no longer have too.
Vegas didn't have a player on their roster one calendar year ago and they are closer to winning a cup then the Flyers. That's what I think of the 5 year rebuild.

I'm fine with the building through the draft philosophy...But there is no excuse to not at least try and upgrade around the nucleus. I assume Hextall feels pretty comfortable now that he doesn't have an owner that really had a passion to try and win all the time. Yes, under Snider that sometimes led to moves that came back to bite them in the ass. But overall the team was always competitive. I still don't understand, because it really defies logic, why Hextall can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Your not going to grow as an organization by bring back either of the two finns....Dale Weise should play in Lehigh Valley. I have seen enough of Radko Gudas, our irreplaceable right hand shouting D man. Read and Manning should be automatics to leave as well.
It's apparent they are not good enough....it's also a (frank)ing joke to say, we are just going to have to be patient and roll out yet another sub par support group of players when you really no longer have too.
Vegas didn't have a player on their roster one calendar year ago and they are closer to winning a cup then the Flyers. That's what I think of the 5 year rebuild.
- landros 2

If the Vegas Golden Knights were a stock, I'd short the (frank) out of it.

No way will they repeat their success next season.

I dont think Weal is done yet. Certainly has to earn his ice time back though
- YuenglingJagr

no doubt...

Had to put Flip with G and Jake, that indicates that don't even have a top 6, let alone a bottom 6. If Weal has a good center and fast winger, I think he plays much better.


what about Letestu from Columbus, could he be a stop gap for 2 years

If the Vegas Golden Knights were a stock, I'd short the (frank) out of it.

No way will they repeat their success next season.
- johndewar

why won't they repeat? They play a very sound game and have 18 guys a night that buy into the program. They have a ton of talent. (frank) I heard they were only supposed to have 48 points this year...

why won't they repeat? They play a very sound game and have 18 guys a night that buy into the program. They have a ton of talent. (frank) I heard they were only supposed to have 48 points this year...
- landros 2

They took a bunch of castoffs and caught lightening in a bottle with a 109 point season.

I just don't think they can do that again.

They took a bunch of castoffs and caught lightening in a bottle with a 109 point season.

I just don't think they can do that again.
- johndewar

I guess we'll see.

The risk of Giroux, Voracek, and Simmonds being on the downside of their careers when this team is seriously ready to compete for a cup is far greater than the Flyers/Hextall realizes.

That is my feeling anyway. I surmise that Hextall’s actions this offseason will either confirm or deny this.
- StepfordSam

I think G offers more than points. He has the hardest work ethnic on the team in my opinion. Top three in faceoff ability in the league. He has the respect of the room. I agree with your feeling but I think he has say in his future. If I had it my way, Simmonds would be a Flyer for life but for the good of the team, I think you have to explore what returns a Wayne Simmonds and Jake Voracek could bring.

I personally am underwhelmed by the depth on this team. Up until this season I felt Radko Gudas was overrated by this team and it's fan base. I think Michael Raffl is expected to do more than his capabilities allow him to. Let's break out the old depth chart and use these players the way they're supposed to be used.

Awesome article Bill, being a Manning fan, like how you you gave him some respect.
Not his fault he was overused as a 6/7 guy. Believe a lot of the abuse was due to Hak playing him over up and coming D like Sanheim and Hagg who are definetly more skilled,reason for 1st and 2nd round vs undrafted. Said it the other day only Manning, Giroux,Simmons,Voracek and Cout left from 2011 Flyers, good changes are happening we just have to be patient.

If the Vegas Golden Knights were a stock, I'd short the (frank) out of it.

No way will they repeat their success next season.
- johndewar

That certainly could be the case. They have a ton of UFA/RFA contracts that expire this year. I doubt they resign everyone. Will be interesting to see which direction they go. Could be an entirely different team.

The problem right now is that the Flyers just don't have the depth to do what Pittsburgh can. Agree with it or not, Hextall's plan is to supplement those spots through the draft as opposed to the Clarke/Holmgren days when you supplemented by trading away futures. The Flyers were going to live and die by what theie top-6 could do, because they didn't have other options.

Ideally, Weal would be a useful 3rd line supplemental player, but he can't drive a line.
- jmatchett383

I think Jordan Weal is a very average scorer. If he isn't scoring, he's virtually useless. In my opinion, scorers belong in a top six role.

They took a bunch of castoffs and caught lightening in a bottle with a 109 point season.

I just don't think they can do that again.
- johndewar

good GM who could pick his team with no salary cap issues, no bad contracts and target players for today's NHL. Great job and really good timing...

Great blog as always Bill, thanks.

The only bone I'll pick with the GM would be if he came back with Elliott/Neuvirth as the goalie tandem next season. That, IMO, is simply unacceptable. One guy is coming off a serious injury and surgery and there is no guarantee that he will be the same player he was in the past next season. The other cannot seem to get through any season without an injury.

I don't know what the answer is, and if you have to buy out Neuvirth to create roster space so be it, but you need to do something. Finding a legit #1 this offseason is a must and will go a long way to fixing a lot of this teams problems.

Carter Hart is a great prospect, but he's just that, a prospect. Same with the rest of the young goalies to some degree or another. You cannot just sit back and wait for one of them because there are no guarantees. You have to improve now, it's the most important position on the team.
- BiggE

Brian Elliot was never a good signing in my opinion. Neuvirth was an even worse resigning, also in my opinion.

I don't think I've ever been happy with Hextall's signings.

They took a bunch of castoffs and caught lightening in a bottle with a 109 point season.

I just don't think they can do that again.
- johndewar

Gerard Gallant is also a hell of a coach. Players tend to play well above their talent level for him. He's gotta be a lock for the Jack Adams this year.

article on NHL about LA and Ducks needing to blow it up...

how would you like this core?

Their hefty salaries are also sticking points. Perry’s earning over $8.6 million per season through 2020-21, Getzlaf over $8.2 million annually through the same period and Kesler over $6.8 million per season through 2021-22.

Getzlaf and Perry both turn 33 in May while Kesler will be 34 in August. Given their ages, interested clubs could be reluctant to take on their full cap hit.

I think Jordan Weal is a very average scorer. If he isn't scoring, he's virtually useless. In my opinion, scorers belong in a top six role.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree in principle, but I don't think Weal scores enough to justify a top-6 role/ice time.

Ideally, you can do what Pittsburgh has with 3 scoring lines where your supplemental guys like Weal can fit on that 3rd line. The days of 2 scoring lines/1 checking line/1 spare parts line are gone.

If the Vegas Golden Knights were a stock, I'd short the (frank) out of it.

No way will they repeat their success next season.
- johndewar

Who knows what they'll be next season but regardless of how they came to be, they drafted sloppy seconds from top to bottom and made it work. They made moves last summer like they had a team last season. Trevor van Riemsdyk is a good player from an organization that wins. They traded him and turned him into something else. Marc Methot, same thing.

The circumstances of how they built their team isn't as different as some may think.

Will there be any Phantoms Playoff Games on NBCsports or NBCsportsplus?

I agree in principle, but I don't think Weal scores enough to justify a top-6 role/ice time.

Ideally, you can do what Pittsburgh has with 3 scoring lines where your supplemental guys like Weal can fit on that 3rd line. The days of 2 scoring lines/1 checking line/1 spare parts line are gone.
- jmatchett383

I don't think he scores enough to justify being an NHLer.

Kinda forgot we even had Weal.
- arichardson22

Weal disappointed me this year. Thought he might bring more to the table.

I don't think he scores enough to justify being an NHLer.
- SuperSchennBros

That's fair as well. But you do need SOME supplemental production from the bottom 6. I don't think that the Weise/Filppula/Lehtera/Leier types of the world are going to give it to you.