While there is no doubt that adding a player like Carter would make the Flyers a better team right now, I think you're misreading the Flyers market position. The Flyers are still 2-3 years away from seriously contending. It is not the right time to add a player like Carter in my opinion and they have no business making a deal like that. When the Flyers are ready, Carter is 2-3 years older.
- MJL

That'a a legit timetable but I dont think Carter stops adding value 2 years from now. You might get less value, but your still looking at a significant player, and you need veteran leaders, and ones that have been with the team for a while. And while Giroux and Voracek are those guys, Carter has won, and an additional voice will help.

And IMO with Carter on the team this team becomes a deep 3 line team that could win. Elliot isn't as bad as people think when healthy, and the defense is improving.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Carter-Voracek.... This could be a 1st line on half the teams in the league
Lindblom-Patrick-Simmonds.... With favorable match-ups.... wow.
Raffl-Laughton-Weise/Lehtera/Weal

Next year your looking at

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Carter-Voracek.... This could be a 1st line on half the teams in the league
Lindblom-Patrick-(Frost, Rubtsov, Kase)
Laughton-Voroboyov-Weise or Weise-Laughton-Aube-Kubel

Quick is under contract til 2023. This is where the "wait and see what Hart is" angle becomes tricky.

If Hart is legit you don't want to be tied to Quick for that long. But if Hart doesn't pan out that's the kind of trade I'd be looking to right now to solve the continuous issues in net.
- hereticpride

Dont forget Sandstrom... if Hart doesnt pan out we still have a chance with Sandstrom.

Lavy also had a roster with Stanley Cup aspirations Hakstol has had a team that is retooling.
- dragonoffrost

I guess it all comes down on how people want to judge coaches.

Hak has a couple leader scorers in the league, a couple high scoring defensemen and a plethora of young prospects to work with.

If you look at Nashville's players individually compared to the Flyers, are they really better...honestly? Not as a team, but the cast Nashville has to work with.

What has Lavy done with Nashville? Took a young team that was retooling and brought them to the Cup.

His Islanders, Hurricanes, and Predators teams were all low budget teams that he made the most out of what he had. And correct me if I’m wrong, we’re the Flyers in 2010 a Stanley Cup contender?
- Flyers1218

So we just gloss over the fact that 2013-2015 years we were expected to be cup contenders and didn't do that which is what got Berube also fired? Then they brought in Hakstol with Hextall to rebuild this roster since it wasn't getting the job done.

Dont forget Sandstrom... if Hart doesnt pan out we still have a chance with Sandstrom.
- youarewrong

Ersson may be the dart horse.

I guess it all comes down on how people want to judge coaches.

Hak has a couple leader scorers in the league, a couple high scoring defensemen and a plethora of young prospects to work with.

If you look at Nashville's players individually compared to the Flyers, are they really better...honestly? Not as a team, but the cast Nashville has to work with.
- Glak18

Bingo.

Peter Laviolette is one of the best coaches in hockey. He’s won a Cup and been to two others. He gets the most out of his players and plays a very uptempo exciting brand of hockey. He is a better coach than Dave Hakstol. He’s proven he can win with less and guide teams through rebuilds.

Perhaps MJL is right, he was fired at the right time. And as I said hindsight is 20/20. But not one person can sit here now and tell me they wouldn’t have preferred to ride Lavy through these times instead of Berube and Hakstol.

I guess it all comes down on how people want to judge coaches.

Hak has a couple leader scorers in the league, a couple high scoring defensemen and a plethora of young prospects to work with.

If you look at Nashville's players individually compared to the Flyers, are they really better...honestly? Not as a team, but the cast Nashville has to work with.
- Glak18

Nashville has probably the best D corp in the league, a Vezina goalie, a hole at second line wing instead of third line center (Which they have). So I guess it depends on what you value more in the roster.

So we just gloss over the fact that 2013-2015 years we were expected to be cup contenders and didn't do that which is what got Berube also fired? Then they brought in Hakstol with Hextall to rebuild this roster since it wasn't getting the job done.
- dragonoffrost

Did I miss it when the Flyers were supposed to be Cup contenders this decade? Because the only time was 2011-2012 after the finals run. And for the most part they played that way that year until they ran out of steam.

Other than that? They were Cup contenders? No chance. Playoff team? Sure.

I disagree. Hindsight is 20/20 though. He is the perfect coach for what the Flyers have been going through the last few years.
- Flyers1218

You don't know Laviolette very well then. The Flyers situation is the exact situation you don't want Laviolette in as a coach.

That'a a legit timetable but I dont think Carter stops adding value 2 years from now. You might get less value, but your still looking at a significant player, and you need veteran leaders, and ones that have been with the team for a while. And while Giroux and Voracek are those guys, Carter has won, and an additional voice will help.

And IMO with Carter on the team this team becomes a deep 3 line team that could win. Elliot isn't as bad as people think when healthy, and the defense is improving.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Carter-Voracek.... This could be a 1st line on half the teams in the league
Lindblom-Patrick-Simmonds.... With favorable match-ups.... wow.
Raffl-Laughton-Weise/Lehtera/Weal

Next year your looking at

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Carter-Voracek.... This could be a 1st line on half the teams in the league
Lindblom-Patrick-(Frost, Rubtsov, Kase)
Laughton-Voroboyov-Weise or Weise-Laughton-Aube-Kubel
- youarewrong

In 2-3 years the hope is that some of the younger players are better and are taking on a bigger bite. You add a player like Carter if you're ready to win now. The Flyers aren't.

You don't know Laviolette very well then. The Flyers situation is the exact situation you don't want Laviolette in as a coach.
- MJL

He didn’t play his youth when he coached the Islanders? He didn’t play his youth under the Flyers? Did he not start Bob as a rookie? Did he not play him in the playoffs? Does he not roll his youth in Nashville?

He had a veteran team in Carolina, but he had a young Cam Ward that he rode.

You don't know Laviolette very well then. The Flyers situation is the exact situation you don't want Laviolette in as a coach.
- MJL

You would be thinking of Ken Hitchcock. That would be the guy I wouldn’t want for this situation.

This team is dying for a coach that plays an aggressive systems. They have guys that can “go” (play extremely uptempo). They play a crap brand of hockey now.

He didn’t play his youth when he coached the Islanders? He didn’t play his youth under the Flyers? Did he not start Bob as a rookie? Did he not play him in the playoffs? Does he not roll his youth in Nashville?

He had a veteran team in Carolina, but he had a young Cam Ward that he rode.
- Flyers1218

The Islanders were a long time ago. Laviolette is a front running coach. He plays a high tempo aggressive style of play predicated on high pressure attack systems. The Flyers don't have the players to play that way now and they didn't have them when he got fired. That's why he was fired. He only knows one way. It's fantastic when it works with the right players but it's a disaster when he doesn't have the right players.

You would be thinking of Ken Hitchcock. That would be the guy I wouldn’t want for this situation.

This team is dying for a coach that plays an aggressive systems. They have guys that can “go” (play extremely uptempo). They play a crap brand of hockey now.
- Flyers1218

Hitchcock would be a better coach for the Flyers situation than Laviolette in my opinion. Hakstol likes to play aggressively.

Did I miss it when the Flyers were supposed to be Cup contenders this decade? Because the only time was 2011-2012 after the finals run. And for the most part they played that way that year until they ran out of steam.

Other than that? They were Cup contenders? No chance. Playoff team? Sure.
- Flyers1218

What was the reason for ousting Holmgren as GM and Berube as Coach and bringing in Hextall/Hakstol? I believe it was stated to start a rebuild since the previous group failed to win a cup by doing things the old way. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like ownership expected a cup run out of that roster.

The Islanders were a long time ago. Laviolette is a front running coach. He plays a high tempo aggressive style of play predicated on high pressure attack systems. The Flyers don't have the players to play that way now and they didn't have them when he got fired. That's why he was fired. He only knows one way. It's fantastic when it works with the right players but it's a disaster when he doesn't have the right players.
- MJL

I know the system he employs. The Flyers absolutely have players that could play that way. In fact, they have players that like to play that way. Nearly all of their defenseman are aggressive and get in on the rush, but ghost, provy, and Sanheim can all do that and do it well. And as for their forwards, they absolutely have the forwards that can play that way. It’s not strictly predicated on speed. It’s predicated on controlled tempo and aggressiveness.

Nashville has probably the best D corp in the league, a Vezina goalie, a hole at second line wing instead of third line center (Which they have). So I guess it depends on what you value more in the roster.
- dragonoffrost

And that's my point...Vezina goalie...best defense in the league. When the team wins then players look great. No one said Vezina winner when Nashville was losing and Rinne looked like hot garbage.

This is a team that plays Zac RINALDO, Salomaki, Hartman...could you imagine these players on the Flyers? Fans would be rioting why Hextall has these players on the team.

Explain Vegas last year...did these players picked in the expansion draft magically become superstars over night? Of course they have talent, but how they are used is more important.

What about football? How the hell does New England win super bowls picking up players other teams don't want? How did Demarco Murray lead the league in rushing then magically suck on the Eagles only to be good again in Tennessee? How are the players used?

What was the reason for ousting Holmgren as GM and Berube as Coach and bringing in Hextall/Hakstol? I believe it was stated to start a rebuild since the previous group failed to win a cup by doing things the old way. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like ownership expected a cup run out of that roster.
- dragonoffrost

They expected a Cup in 2006. Doesn’t mean they were Cup contenders. They thought they were in it every year.

Hitchcock would be a better coach for the Flyers situation than Laviolette in my opinion. Hakstol likes to play aggressively.
- MJL

Oh he does? They are one of the most passive teams in the NHL. Especially defensively.

And that's my point...Vezina goalie...best defense in the league. When the team wins then players look great. No one said Vezina winner when Nashville was losing and Rinne looked like hot garbage.

This is a team that plays Zac RINALDO, Salomaki, Hartman...could you imagine these players on the Flyers? Fans would be rioting why Hextall has these players on the team.

Explain Vegas last year...did these players picked in the expansion draft magically become superstars over night? Of course they have talent, but how they are used is more important.

What about football? How the hell does New England win super bowls picking up players other teams don't want? How did Demarco Murray lead the league in rushing then magically suck on the Eagles only to be good again in Tennessee? How are the players used?
- Glak18

Don’t bother. I’m not anymore. Don’t bother with logic. People are entitled to their opinions.

I know the system he employs. The Flyers absolutely have players that could play that way. In fact, they have players that like to play that way. Nearly all of their defenseman are aggressive and get in on the rush, but ghost, provy, and Sanheim can all do that and do it well. And as for their forwards, they absolutely have the forwards that can play that way. It’s not strictly predicated on speed. It’s predicated on controlled tempo and aggressiveness.
- Flyers1218

They have some for sure but not enough. There is nothing that is controlled in his system. It's full scale attack. 3 man press forecheck. The Flyers can't play that style in my opinion.

And that's my point...Vezina goalie...best defense in the league. When the team wins then players look great. No one said Vezina winner when Nashville was losing and Rinne looked like hot garbage.

This is a team that plays Zac RINALDO, Salomaki, Hartman...could you imagine these players on the Flyers? Fans would be rioting why Hextall has these players on the team.

Explain Vegas last year...did these players picked in the expansion draft magically become superstars over night? Of course they have talent, but how they are used is more important.

What about football? How the hell does New England win super bowls picking up players other teams don't want? How did Demarco Murray lead the league in rushing then magically suck on the Eagles only to be good again in Tennessee? How are the players used?
- Glak18

Vegas players were also motivated by their old teams letting them be selected during expansion draft and they fully bought into Gallant's system.

Has this team fully bought into Hakstol's system? I can't say they have.

Oh he does? They are one of the most passive teams in the NHL. Especially defensively.
- Flyers1218

All coaches have a preference of how they like to play. The best indicator is the systems and style of play that a coach installs when he first takes over a team. Over time coaches will adapt and change how a team will play to give it the best chance of winning. The Flyers aren't a passive team with the exception of times on the PK. That's not by design. They're a team that most of all is lacking attention to detail within their game.

All coaches have a preference of how they like to play. The best indicator is the systems and style of play that a coach installs when he first takes over a team. Over time coaches will adapt and change how a team will play to give it the best chance of winning. The Flyers aren't a passive team with the exception of times on the PK. That's not by design. They're a team that most of all is lacking attention to detail within their game.
- MJL

This is the biggest reason I can't say the players have bought into Hakstol's system.

Ersson may be the dart horse.
- Djapana

I'll see that Ersson and raise you a Ustimenko