They have shifted. My perspective is that using all of the tools at your disposal is what a team should do, each offseason. That doesn't mean you HAVE to do things. It means that my personal opinion is that Hextall was a bit too reliant on draft picks turning this organization around in a sustainable fashion

Again: I understand your point. I don't want to go too far the other way.

I said earlier that Fletcher should've leveraged McClellan and Wilson more, and Hextall should've leveraged Yzerman more before that.

But as of today, for pure asset management, the Flyers have traded a 2nd and 5th for this year, and a 3rd for next year, for Justin Braun on a one-year deal and an unsigned Kevin Hayes.

I guess I'm just not freaked out about this. Not yet. Not saying I loved the Braun deal -- I said earlier I don't LOVE it. But as of right now, I'm not freaked out about what they're doing
- AllInForFlyers

Stop making sense. Fletcher just blew up the team.

Seriously,MJLhas stood by his beliefs on developing from the draft and I agree to a point. But I think this team can make a jump and still keep good talent coming in. He hasn’t traded the first pick yet...YET.

Hey, folks. Again, we all have opinions -- this is a message board, and personalities play into responses.

I get that we don't want to return to the days of no assets, no cap space, dry farm system. I don't want to do that, either. We're gonna disagree on stuff the Flyers do.

But let's be honest about a couple of things, here:

The least 10 years of Flyers second-round picks:

2009: No pick made
2010: No pick made
2011: No pick made
2012: Anthony Stolarz
2013: Robert Hagg
2014: Nicolas Aube-Kubel
2015: No pick made
2016: Pascal Laberge, Carter Hart, Wade Allison
2017: Isaac Ratcliffe
2018: Adam Ginning

Obviously, the last three years should be taken out, as far as evaluating is concerned, though I certainly acknowledge the obvious: Hart could be very, very good, and Ratcliffe shows definite signs. But they're all too young to be critical of, no matter what anyone thinks of their upside or development thus far.

So when you look at Stolarz, Hagg, and NAK, what do you see? I see an NHL fringe goaltender with maybe a little upside, a bottom-pairing defensemen who some in this fanbase cannot stand, and a forward who hasn't been able to get out of the AHL.

If someone wants to state that you're better off not trading picks and taking every opportunity with a lottery ticket, hey, I won't say that you're wrong.

But I will say that the math says, leaguewide, that second-rounders aren't really guaranteed to do much. You hope to hit it big, and sometimes you will. But a lot of times you won't, often enough where trading one after making five picks in that round over the last three years shouldn't kill you
- AllInForFlyers

Part of the reason for the Carter and Richards trade was to reinvigorate more youth in the system because the franchise was devoid of quality youthful talent due the Holmgren tossing a 2nd or third into every deal.....Those recent second rounders sure look a hell of more promising

Half Empty Glass Crowd put this in your pipes and smoke it.....



Shouldn't the goal always be to win a Cup next season, if so I'm pretty sure the draft picks to acquire JB weren't going to be a better option.

Amazing the Flyers now have 3 balanced Lefty/Righty D Pairs, make that 4 during the preseason with Freidman and Hagg/Morin.

I'm a glass is Half Full kinda thinker ....

Justin Braun is in the last year of his contract, he will be busting his ass to prove he deserves getting paid on his next deal. He has been solid number 4 defensive defenseman for quite sometime with the Sharks with a ton of playoff experience, his style of play will allow our young offensive Dmen be it Ghost, Sanhiem or Provy to jump into the play knowing they have a responsible defensive partner behind them. He isn't blocking anyones future and should Phil Myers breakout as Provy's top pair partner this season Braun can eat up easier matchups than he's used to playing against in the 5/6 slot. This will also help shelter Ghosts defensive liabilities as they will stay fresher for special team mins with a little less use on 5 v 5. He is a very good PKer, a big hole the team needed to fix. Also read that JB is known for communicating really well with his goalies, another added bonus as it should help some guy named Hart.

The barman just filled my glass up a little more, just heard Tanguay share this on NHL network .... JB will help his partners a ton with all the tendencies players have in the Western Conference, this wil lactully help the whole team and coaching staff.

Now I'm going to listen to one of my favorite Hendrix jams PURPLE HAYES and hope that Fletchers plan is better than what the half empty crowd are crying about.

Its ok I still love you half empty cuppers that beed Orange and Black as you will never be like those cross state Crying Crosby Tankers.

LETS GO FLYERS!!!!

They have shifted. My perspective is that using all of the tools at your disposal is what a team should do, each offseason. That doesn't mean you HAVE to do things. It means that my personal opinion is that Hextall was a bit too reliant on draft picks turning this organization around in a sustainable fashion

- AllInForFlyers

I don't agree with that. Timing of when you make moves like signing a Hayes is very important. I think that thinking that Hextall is a bit too reliant on draft picks is not understanding his plan. He was very vocal and forthcoming on his plan. When this team got to a certain point, you would've seen Hextall become very aggressive in trying to fill those final needs to fill any remaining holes. You draft and develop to get your team there. Then you use free agency when the time is right to add that one player. If you can make a smart trade that helps now and in the future you make it. Hextall was on the right track. Fletcher is steering the team off the tracks. The needs of the team could very well be different later then they are now. Why do we want Hayes as a role player at 7M, 3-4 years from now?

The idea of you can't keep bringing the same players back just doesn't apply when you're talking about young developing players in their early 20's for the most part. Every team doesn't have to have 3 RH and 3 LH defenseman to make up their defense corps.
- MJL

And yet they didn’t trade any of their young developing players. So that point is moot. And no you don’t, but it’s a good problem to have.

That's simply not true. Braun is 32 and has far more experience over a player like Haag and certainly Morin. Stating that since Braun is better, he is not blocking a young player is simply false. Young players need to play to get better and develop. There is no doubt that it's an upgrade but how much of an upgrade? What does it do for the team. I think they're better off continuing to let the young players develop than any one season minor boost a player like Braun might give them.
- MJL

That’s fair.

It is also fair to say that some players might not be ready for that roll yet. Hägg not playing a big roll or Morin getting back in slowly without the pressure isn’t killing the big talent of Myers, Sandman, Provy. Those are the guys that seem ready for big rolls. Ghost. Didn’t mean to leave him out.

I like Morin. But one year to get it going again won’t kill his development.

And yet they didn’t trade any of their young developing players. So that point is moot. And no you don’t, but it’s a good problem to have.
- Flyers1218

No, it's not moot. You need to rethink it. Braun is going to take the spot of a young player. Whether that young player is traded or not, it's still taking the spot of a young player. How may defenseman do they now have?

That’s fair.

It is also fair to say that some players might not be ready for that roll yet. Hägg not playing a big roll or Morin getting back in slowly without the pressure isn’t killing the big talent of Myers, Sandman, Provy. Those are the guys that seem ready for big rolls. Ghost. Didn’t mean to leave him out.

I like Morin. But one year to get it going again won’t kill his development.
- peesinwind

I do know that they won't get better by not playing. After this season, what happens with Braun? Do they re-sign him? Was it worth it to put developing a young player with playing time on the back burner. I doubt it.

Yes. You must either think these moves make the team cup contenders or sets them back decades. Pick a side damn it.
- FlyerFan16

Well since I do agree with those who say something big is looming because of this, I'll lean towards cup contending

No, it's not moot. You need to rethink it. Braun is going to take the spot of a young player. Whether that young player is traded or not, it's still taking the spot of a young player. How may defenseman do they now have?
- MJL

Who’s spot is he taking?

He is an upgrade. Let me know how many dman they have in October

I do know that they won't get better by not playing. After this season, what happens with Braun? Do they re-sign him? Was it worth it to put developing a young player with playing time on the back burner. I doubt it.
- MJL

Another fair statement. Wish you would be more unreasonable MJL

I do think that Hägg is just okay. I’m not sold on him. I like the big Sam at 6’7’ and what he could bring. But also think he will get plenty of time. And chances to leap frog someone because of the attrition of a full NHL season and playoffs.

Does that sound reasonable?

I do know that they won't get better by not playing. After this season, what happens with Braun? Do they re-sign him? Was it worth it to put developing a young player with playing time on the back burner. I doubt it.
- MJL

So do you hand Morin a top 6 spot going into the season?

Well since I do agree with those who say something big is looming because of this, I'll lean towards cup contending
- Pelle31Forever

I do feel like something big is looming as well. My question is, is that in addition to signing Hayes to a contract that is too long and too overpaid?

This team now is better (on paper of course) than the team that ended the season. However, I agree with MJL, in 3 years the Hayes contract could be terrible and a strain.

But then again, maybe not. No one knows.

So do you hand Morin a top 6 spot going into the season?
- daryl stanley

I think he starts the year in LV.

I think he starts the year in LV.
- Jdrini56

That won’t happen. He would never clear waivers.

I think he starts the year in LV.
- Jdrini56

He won't clear waivers. That's not happening.

EDIT: Leight

Another fair statement. With you would be more unreasonable MJL

I do think that Hägg is just okay. I’m not sold on him. I like the big Sam at 6’7’ and what he could bring. But also think he will get plenty of time. And chances to leap frog someone because of the attrition of a full NHL season and playoffs.

Does that sound reasonable?
- peesinwind

I'm not sold on Haag either but I'd rather see if he can turn into that reliable veteran defensive 3rd pair defender for the next decade. Morin has physical skills that could lead to a monster on the back end. I don't see how both of them get the playing time they need now. They're essentially 7 and 8 on the depth chart as of now. I think someone is going to get traded. Maybe it's a bigger move with Gostisbehere going somewhere. I don't know.

I do know that they won't get better by not playing. After this season, what happens with Braun? Do they re-sign him? Was it worth it to put developing a young player with playing time on the back burner. I doubt it.
- MJL

If he has a positive effect on Ivan myers Sanheim and hart them yes it was worth it. If he can lighten their load then yes it was worth it as the long term gain will be better.

I do feel like something big is looming as well. My question is, is that in addition to signing Hayes to a contract that is too long and too overpaid?

This team now is better (on paper of course) than the team that ended the season. However, I agree with MJL, in 3 years the Hayes contract could be terrible and a strain.

But then again, maybe not. No one knows.
- FlyerFan16

I have to admit, I thought they were gonna do Ghost for Trouba. Since they didn't, I don't know that they're gonna do anything else IF they get Hayes signed.

Hayes doesn't sign, they're gonna do something else, and I have a feeling that it'll cut deep

I do feel like something big is looming as well. My question is, is that in addition to signing Hayes to a contract that is too long and too overpaid?

This team now is better (on paper of course) than the team that ended the season. However, I agree with MJL, in 3 years the Hayes contract could be terrible and a strain.

But then again, maybe not. No one knows.
- FlyerFan16

The guy can do a lot of things well. He is still young. He can play wing. And in three four years that 7mil ish contract won’t look as big. Just the price is going up.

Ah, the classic "insult myself to also insult someone else" strategy

You take this board way too seriously. Have a beer.
- bulet13

For everyone’s sake, do not recommend him having any alcohol.

The guy can do a lot of things well. He is still young. He can play wing. And in three four years that 7mil ish contract won’t look as big. Just the price is going up.
- peesinwind

Chances are that Hayes will be a 7M a year role player half way through the contract.

Chances are that Hayes will be a 7M a year role player half way through the contract.
- MJL

I'm having memories of Umberger just thinking of that.

Chances are that Hayes will be a 7M a year role player half way through the contract.
- MJL

He's only 27, kills penalties. I think he gives them five value years if he does sign

TBH, I don't know that he will sign. That's another reason I'm not worked up about it. He seems like one of those guys who likes deciding exactly where he wants to be

I think he starts the year in LV.
- Jdrini56

He would never clear. He is on the Flyers roster this season.

He is either going to waste away in the pressbox, or if he beats out Braun you then have 3.8 million sitting in the pressbox.