Like I've said many times. In my opinion there is no wrong way to build a team, as long as you get there. You can try and draft and develop for years and never get there. Happens with a lot of teams. There is no bad method of acquiring players. Only bad moves or good moves, regardless of the method used. You need a little bit of everything. If a top defenseman at the right age became available, I'd include some of the Flyers top prospects in a heartbeat in the deal.
- MJL

Yes & this isn't the normal path for the Flyers so I'd like to see how this one goes for them before they go back to big trades, giving up their prospects in bad trades, & signing players to long bad contracts.

It's drafting & developing period......they lack forward & goalie depth in the system & to be honest could even still use more defense to develop.

I like the approach to go this way, yes it does suck that G & Jake may miss out when this talent is ready or able to contribute meaningful minutes at the NHL but that's the cost of not doing this sooner.
- ob18

It's gonna be close -- I don't like thinking about it, but it's possible we've already seen Giroux's peak years and Voracek just might have fired the biggest gun he's ever gonna shoot last season

But they could offset that if Couturier takes a step forward and becomes a rock-solid 55-60 point guy, who plays a lot like Toews does. He doesn't have to get the points of an In-Prime Giroux, just be able to anchor a line that can score against top pairings so Giroux doesn't have to see that stuff every night as inevitable decline begins.

The Flyers have to do everything possible to get that out of Couturier. They have to give him everything they possibly can for him to be that player.

They absolutely have to do this

Yes & this isn't the normal path for the Flyers so I'd like to see how this one goes for them before they go back to big trades, giving up their prospects in bad trades, & signing players to long bad contracts.
- ob18

It isn't. What's ideal is that you have a continuing cycle of adding youth to the team, as the core gets older. So you have a good blend of youth and veterans, where hopefully you can sustain a team for a while without having to totally rebuild. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they have a gap in development, especially defensively. They have enough young forwards already on the team to where they can take some time to draft and develop more forwards. Unfortunately the gap at defense is wide, and there is a blank in the middle. That's where they have been paying the price. Need to have some luck, such as drafting a hall of fame defenseman such as Duncan Keith in the 2nd round. Problem is the more picks you have the better chance you have to get lucky. The Flyers haven't had a ton of picks in the past, which I understand. If you don't win when trying to, it can affect you down the line.

The Flyers have to do everything possible to get that out of Couturier. They have to give him everything they possibly can for him to be that player.
They absolutely have to do this
- AllInForFlyers

He also needs to deliver on the chances he gets..

The best thing for the Flyers is that he does do that and becomes a legit offensive threat because as you said that would help alleviate the pressure from Giroux and Voracek.

It would be even better though if Couturier, Read and Schenn all bounce back really strong over the next few seasons.

That would be fine if Giroux or Voracek were 30. But they aren't. Neither plays a style that is likely to see the kind of decline that a guy like Richards experienced, either. In Chicago, Marian Hossa is 36. Patrick Sharp is 33. Both still productive and valuable players.

The Ducks made the final four with Sami Vatanen age 24, Cam Fowler age 23, Simon Despres 23 and Hampus Lindholm, 21 playing huge roles and the offense keyed by the 30 year old Getzlaff & Perry.

In the Flyers case, perhaps when guys like Sanheim and Morin are 23 or 24 year old rising defensemen, the 31 Giroux and 30 year old Voracek can be moved for huge returns that set the table for a talented young team.
- Jsaquella

He also needs to deliver on the chances he gets..

The best thing for the Flyers is that he does do that and becomes a legit offensive threat because as you said that would help alleviate the pressure from Giroux and Voracek.

It would be even better though if Couturier, Read and Schenn all bounce back really strong over the next few seasons.
- opeth_pa

I still think they need to move on from Schenn if the two other guys on the line are Coots and Simmonds. That line would would look SO much better with some legit skill coming down the left side.

I still think they need to move on from Schenn if the two other guys on the line are Coots and Simmonds. That line would would look SO much better with some legit skill coming down the left side.
- hereticpride

yeah. a cooter simmonds line would really need someone with playmaking ability that is comfortable carrying the puck.

simmonds is awesome, but he typically needs a facilitator.

Like I've said many times. In my opinion there is no wrong way to build a team, as long as you get there. You can try and draft and develop for years and never get there. Happens with a lot of teams. There is no bad method of acquiring players. Only bad moves or good moves, regardless of the method used. You need a little bit of everything. If a top defenseman at the right age became available, I'd include some of the Flyers top prospects in a heartbeat in the deal.
- MJL

I think you can build a good team now at the expense of the future if you aren't a savvy GM who knows how and when to cut his losses.

I still think they need to move on from Schenn if the two other guys on the line are Coots and Simmonds. That line would would look SO much better with some legit skill coming down the left side.
- hereticpride

Maybe keep the Read, Couturier & Schenn line together, and drop Simmonds to a line with Laughton and Cousins? I like the way that Read and Couts played with Schenn, but I also liked how they looked with Simmonds. Maybe re-visit splitting Giroux and Voracek.

I'd like to see Laughton get a full time shot. See if he can take some of the load off Couturier.

- stayinthefnnet

- Jsaquella

the pens get their rocks off to "experience" the way the flyers have gotten theirs to "NRG"

...if Couturier takes a step forward and becomes a rock-solid 55-60 point guy, who plays a lot like Toews does. He doesn't have to get the points of an In-Prime Giroux, just be able to anchor a line that can score against top pairings so Giroux doesn't have to see that stuff every night as inevitable decline begins.
- AllInForFlyers

'Tis the season for us to find out if Coots is gonna end up being a Ricci or if he will blossom into a Brind'Amour.

I don't have an issue with anyone who thinks that Giroux and Voracek can still carry a team in their 30's. I think that is possible. My problem is the gap and wait time that this team will likely have to endure, wasting prime years of some players on the team. It's the biggest issue facing this team. The drafted prospects becoming top defenseman, is not a guarantee. Although I think they're going to be really good players. A number of years can go by before we even know if they will be the top defenseman we need them to be. If they don't work out then what? How more years will be needed to draft and develop? A team needs to use all avenues of player development to build a team, just as Chicago and LA has done.
- MJL

This is a great post!

I like Ron Hextall, I really do. I actually thought he was going to become our GM when Bobby Clarke decided to resign on his own terms as GM. I never thought in my wildest dreams Bobby Clarke would resign the way that he did. With this said, I'm on the fence when it comes to Ron Hextall. I'm not sure now is the time for Hextall's vision after trading away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter the way that we did. What I mean by this is Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Steve Mason are all prime talents at prime ages who could be wasting their prime years here because we stopped chasing the dream. This is why trading Scott Hartnell for RJ Umberger breaks my heart because Umberger was already bad and Hartnell was still good. I understand we've had some set backs by losing Chris Pronger to career ending injury, not signing Matt Carle like we should have and by Kimmo Timonen simply getting old. That's not just hockey, that's sports. With this said, if your on a team with a butt load of money, should you stop chasing the dream for a better future? I give Holmgren all the credit in the world mistakes and all for trying to win every year. Truth is, nothing is guaranteed in sports.

This is a great post!

I like Ron Hextall, I really do. I actually thought he was going to become our GM when Bobby Clarke decided to resign on his own terms as GM. I never thought in my wildest dreams Bobby Clarke would resign the way that he did. With this said, I'm on the fence when it comes to Ron Hextall. I'm not sure now is the time for Hextall's vision after trading away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter the way that we did. What I mean by this is Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Steve Mason are all prime talents at prime ages who could be wasting their prime years here because we stopped chasing the dream. This is why trading Scott Hartnell for RJ Umberger breaks my heart because Umberger was already bad and Hartnell was still good. I understand we've had some set backs by losing Chris Pronger to career ending injury, not signing Matt Carle like we should have and by Kimmo Timonen simply getting old. That's not just hockey, that's sports. With this said, if your on a team with a butt load of money, should you stop chasing the dream for a better future? I give Holmgren all the credit in the world mistakes and all for trying to win every year. Truth is, nothing is guaranteed in sports.
- SuperSchennBros

Clarke continued to "chase the dream" into the late 80s , it led to the mess that was 89-92. Knowing when to recycle players for prospects is what made Keith Allen so successful in the 70s. The Flyers have a few pieces of a contending team, but are nowhere near where they need to be to be operating in a win at all cost mode.

Hextall is using the right approach, IMO

'Tis the season for us to find out if Coots is gonna end up being a Ricci or if he will blossom into a Brind'Amour.
- Tomahawk

Neither player comparison is bad, by the way. They are just different.

Clarke continued to "chase the dream" into the late 80s , it led to the mess that was 89-92. Knowing when to recycle players for prospects is what made Keith Allen so successful in the 70s. The Flyers have a few pieces of a contending team, but are nowhere near where they need to be to be operating in a win at all cost mode.

Hextall is using the right approach, IMO
- BiggE

He absolutely is. Sure the Flyers could trade away a bunch of kids & picks and be an instant playoff team, but how sustainable is that going to be? Further strip mining of the system will lead to a short time of being successful, but eventually, will result in a hard and painful crash.

Taking the lumps now gives them the best chance of becoming a very good team for a long time. Going whole hog after a big trade niw for short term success makes them a quasi- contender that will likely end up being a team lacking depth that has few prospects able to step in.

No team since the lockout has won the cup with a number 1 center 30 years or older. Call it a coincidence but that is ten straight. The oldest were 29 in Andy McDonald and Pavel Datsyuk. Yes Getzlaf made it to the final four but was completely outplayed in game 6 and 7 by Toews, just like the year before by Kopitar. Both those guys were in their 20's.

Only the Kings 2012 have won the cup in the last 5 years without winning a game 7. In three of those years the eventual Stanley cup winner won that game 7 in overtime. The's how close the margin is so having a top center right n his prime versus at the end could very well be the difference.

That being said, Hextall has no other choice but to build thru the draft. He will just have to draft a replacement at top center for Giroux.

He absolutely is. Sure the Flyers could trade away a bunch of kids & picks and be an instant playoff team, but how sustainable is that going to be? Further strip mining of the system will lead to a short time of being successful, but eventually, will result in a hard and painful crash.

Taking the lumps now gives them the best chance of becoming a very good team for a long time. Going whole hog after a big trade niw for short term success makes them a quasi- contender that will likely end up being a team lacking depth that has few prospects able to step in.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. In the pre cap era you could try and spend your way out of trouble. These days though, player development is more critical than ever.

I think you can build a good team now at the expense of the future if you aren't a savvy GM who knows how and when to cut his losses.
- wolfhounds

Good moves or bad moves. Whether the method is drafting, trading, free agency, etc.

so how good do you guys think medvedev will be?

He absolutely is. Sure the Flyers could trade away a bunch of kids & picks and be an instant playoff team, but how sustainable is that going to be? Further strip mining of the system will lead to a short time of being successful, but eventually, will result in a hard and painful crash.

Taking the lumps now gives them the best chance of becoming a very good team for a long time. Going whole hog after a big trade niw for short term success makes them a quasi- contender that will likely end up being a team lacking depth that has few prospects able to step in.
- Jsaquella

i just think if you're gonna go youth movement then do it right. trade your big guns that are going to be in decline when these kids are ready to play. if you're gonna do something do it right. think of the return you could get for giroux etc.

Clarke continued to "chase the dream" into the late 80s , it led to the mess that was 89-92. Knowing when to recycle players for prospects is what made Keith Allen so successful in the 70s. The Flyers have a few pieces of a contending team, but are nowhere near where they need to be to be operating in a win at all cost mode.

Hextall is using the right approach, IMO
- BiggE

Yeah, not anymore. The Flyers had a good team a year ago, prior to this season. If things don't workout within our favor the next couple seasons, it's only a matter of time until Giroux is traded.

Yeah, not anymore. The Flyers had a good team a year ago, prior to this season. If things don't workout within our favor the next couple seasons, it's only a matter of time until Giroux is traded.
- SuperSchennBros

Giroux to his hometown could bring a nice return

Giroux to his hometown could bring a nice return
- vejim

Giroux anywhere would bring a nice return, right?

Any interest in Grigorenko or Hodson if they come on the cheap?

i just think if you're gonna go youth movement then do it right. trade your big guns that are going to be in decline when these kids are ready to play. if you're gonna do something do it right. think of the return you could get for giroux etc.
- JoeRussomanno

I believe it's only worked with 2 teams consistently the last 6 years. Prior to that, the Red Wings were lucky to find a Nik Lidstrom in the draft, decent depth player but for the most part, their Cups both pre and after cap area were built on trades and signings (Shanhan, Chelios, Rafalski, Hossa, Hull, Robitaille Hasek). Red Wings have done nothing since signing and losing Hossa.