I’ve been fair to Fletcher. This is a terrible trade and screams Holmgren. I thought he said they wouldn’t trade unnecessary assets for aging players? A 2nd rounder? Damn.
- Flyers1218

At least SJ is absorbing most of the money.

This trade for Braun is along the lines of Homer giving up a second for Pavel Kubina
- corduroy

How so??? Kubina was almsot 36 at the time he got traded to the Flyers. Braun is only 32 and is a good shutdown dman. Kubina was not

Yeah...and?

The cost to the cap is mostly gone after one season and completely after two. That is what stop gaps are.

If you want veteran help and balanced pairings, it comes at a cost, right? I thought the idea was not to block the young players with long term aging player deals. These two are both 32, but are only here long enough for the young d to transition to bigger roles or become more confident and consistent.
- NC Flyers Fan

why is this so hard to understand? well said.

It's easy for fans to say look to the future. Fletcher is in a tough place - Management saying win now and others have different opinions. In my opinion he is not doing anything stupid. Minor trades and deals that will help the team short term yet won't hurt them long term. A second and third rounded spread over two years will not make or break the club. Especially the third rounder. Fletcher is simply doing the things that Homer wanted Hexy to do (what he got fired for)...

Young players are inconsistent. It doesn't hurt, actually helps to play them with an experienced player. This "spot" was not the young guys spot, it's up for grabs at camp. In my opinion, Myers, Morin are not ready for the spot. Braun will out play them in camp. I'm not saying dump Myers and Morin, but buy them time until they're ready.

Braun is better than Gudas, Hagg, AMAC... Fletcher is improving the team (Hagg, Gudas) and cutting the dead weight (AMAC)
- leon neon

Who cares if he will outplay them. At some point this team has to move into the phase where we're going to let the young kids play. The Niskanen deal was enough. Improving the team to what level? I'm quite aware that Fletcher is doing what Holmgren wants him to do. Fletcher is a man of action.

why is this so hard to understand? well said.
- sjk540

Because people enjoy being negative. simple as that. they also usually arent very bright (SSB)

You missed It again. My point is in my opinion, looking at the big picture, they have more forward depth than on defense. They shouldn't be trading young defense for forward help.
- MJL

As you’ve said many times they are prospects and you can’t count on frost, farabee, or ratcliffe for anything right now. You have to plan for what you have and let the future determine itself. If those guys turn into good nhl players then great we can trade from a position of strength ina few years. Move JVR or Jake when they begin aging without losing much productivity.

Who cares if he will outplay them. At some point this team has to move into the phase where we're going to let the young kids play. The Niskanen deal was enough. Improving the team to what level? I'm quite aware that Fletcher is doing wh as t Holmgren wants him to do. Fletcher is a man of action.
- MJL

What are you talking about the kids will play. Fletcher isnt even done making moves so calm yourself down little wise guy

Who cares if he will outplay them. At some point this team has to move into the phase where we're going to let the young kids play. The Niskanen deal was enough. Improving the team to what level? I'm quite aware that Fletcher is doing wh as t Holmgren wants him to do. Fletcher is a man of action.
- MJL

I would hope the goal is to win a cup. That is what everyone should be trying to improve their team to be.

Who cares if he will outplay them. At some point this team has to move into the phase where we're going to let the young kids play. The Niskanen deal was enough. Improving the team to what level? I'm quite aware that Fletcher is doing wh as t Holmgren wants him to do. Fletcher is a man of action.
- MJL

When you say the team has to move into a phase where we're going to let the young kids play I feel like that has been the last 3-4 years TBH..

TK, Ghost, Patrick, Hagg, Sanheim, Provorov and Lindblom have all played major roles over that time frame.

Hart and Meyers last year...

As you’ve said many times they are prospects and you can’t count on frost, farabee, or ratcliffe for anything right now. You have to plan for what you have and let the future determine itself. If those guys turn into good nhl players then great we can trade from a position of strength ina few years. Move JVR or Jake when they begin aging without losing much productivity.
- youarewrong

That is completely opposite of how a team should operate in the Flyers position.

I think we’re the same team as last season, with or with out Hayes and Niskanen. I agree that a big move could be coming but we don’t know if it is or what it is.
- SuperSchennBros

How are we the same as last year though? just on defense alone, you go from:

Provy-Sanheim
Ghost-Gudas
Hagg-Myers

to

Provy-Niskanen
Sanheim-Braun
Ghost-Myers

If provy and ghost go back to what they were two years ago, you have one of the best d corps in the metro. offense stays status quo, technically, you're better.

That is completely opposite of how a team should operate in the Flyers position.
- MJL

cool opinion. noted

Isn’t a second and a third what the Sharks offered for Gudas two years ago? I’m not crazy about adding salary for players at the age of 32 and throwing away draft picks for them.
- SuperSchennBros

and a UFA at that

I would hope the goal is to win a cup. That is what everyone should be trying to improve their team to be.
- youarewrong

They way the Flyers are operating currently is not the best way to reach that goal in my opinion.

When you say the team has to move into a phase where we're going to let the young kids play I feel like that has been the last 3-4 years TBH..

TK, Ghost, Patrick, Hagg, Sanheim, Provorov and Lindblom have all played major roles over that time frame.

Hart and Meyers last year...
- opeth_pa

There is a new regime in charge with a new mandate. They abandoned the plan for this.

When you say the team has to move into a phase where we're going to let the young kids play I feel like that has been the last 3-4 years TBH..

TK, Ghost, Patrick, Hagg, Sanheim, Provorov and Lindblom have all played major roles over that time frame.

Hart and Meyers last year...
- opeth_pa

And when Frost and Farabee are ready to really make an impact where will Giroux and Voracek be in their careers? Then there will be another crop of young players and people will say that we have to wait for them to come up.

Poker terms. Devils and rangers are getting some quality players. The Blinds are being raised. It’s time to push in the chips and either double our chip stack or lose.

If you're a contending team and you need a RH 3rd pair defenseman who can play on the PK, then you did well trading a 2nd and a 3rd for a guy like Braun. If you're a team like the Flyers, this is not a move you should be making. He will take away ice time from younger players.
- MJL

I feared Fletcher and while its early to feel dread, I really don't like where this is going. even Hayes. like the player but for where the flyers are and the term and salary he is going to command, even at 27, I just don't know.

It's actually a really solid group of 6
- bulet13

it really is. look around the metro, we would be arguably near the top of it. what collective four in the metro is better than this group of 6? Carolina and Washington would be better IMO, even with Trouba, the group of 6 would still be weaker than Philly's.

That is completely opposite of how a team should operate in the Flyers position.
- MJL

You keep saying the Flyers position. What is the flyers position? Is it the same position St. Louis was in midway through last season?

This trade for Braun is along the lines of Homer giving up a second for Pavel Kubina
- corduroy

Braun at this stage is much better than Kubina was when we acquired him, not even close.

They way the Flyers are operating currently is not the best way to reach that goal in my opinion.
- MJL

Cool opinion noted.

There is a new regime in charge with a new mandate. They abandoned the plan for this.
- MJL

While I respect your opinion I'm not sure how you can speak in absolutes on this..

Unless you are Sith lord.

Horrible trade

it really is. look around the metro, we would be arguably near the top of it. what collective four in the metro is better than this group of 6? Carolina and Washington would be better IMO, even with Trouba, the group of 6 would still be weaker than Philly's.
- sjk540

Imagine a competent d core in front of hart. Players that have the abilitty to do more than wrap the puck around the boards and hope it clears. I love it

You keep saying the Flyers position. What is the flyers position? Is it the same position St. Louis was in midway through last season?
- youarewrong

Flyers are a team that is realistically 2-3 years away.