Would love if they can figure out to resign our RFA in NAK, Myers (a must), and Hagg along with bring back Grant and Braun.

I get that Braun Is easy to let go but he was steady in that back end. So good at taking the hit to hold on to the puck then finding that first outlet pass. We do have cheaper options but he can play.

Grant’s game I like. At least in his limited time with Philly. I haven’t seen him before but as a Flyer he has been great (small sample size). If they can keep him cheap (he will get a raise) then sign him.

Don’t think they can do all that without freeing up some money. Don’t want to trade Ghost now when his value is low. I still think he is a decent D man but that would free up 4.5. Not sure that is what I want to see happen.
- peesinwind

I’m still on the trade Ghost train. He would bring back the best return and if he’s not putting up points, he’s useless. Provorov made huge steps on the PP this season. Sanheim and Myers could very much be next in line, even with Niskanen in the line up.

I'm a fan of Scott Laughton. I think he is an underrated player for the Flyers.
- MJL

Agreed on this. I think Laughton may be undervalued to the fan base, but for the guys on the team, he's definitely not. Laughton is the type of player championship teams need. Not the face of the franchise or the superstar, but make no mistake, he's part of the glue that makes the team much better than just the sum of its parts.

Agreed on this. I think Laughton may be undervalued to the fan base, but for the guys on the team, he's definitely not. Laughton is the type of player championship teams need. Not the face of the franchise or the superstar, but make no mistake, he's part of the glue that makes the team much better than just the sum of its parts.
- Letterkenney

It’s actually weird how Hayes has never fit in well in the top six but place Hayes with Laughton and suddenly Hayes’ offense goes up.

I'd want to know what happens with Niskanen after this one remaining year on his contract before wanting to trade Ghost

Laughts is a player I can identify with.
Effort, modicum of skill and flexibility are traits which inspire me to like him.
Now for him learning how to grin more, my mein is frequently taken to be dour which furthers my attachment to him. So we look like mass murders when we are toodling about, so what?
We bury all the bodies when we are done. What more can be asked?

I'm off to whip some alien butt and I never smile in the process. Damn aliens!!

Scott Laughton plays with heart and works hard every night. The problem with him for me is, I don’t know what he’s suppose to be, which reality isn’t his fault. Is he a center or is he winger? I’d like to finally see him settle into a role.
- SuperSchennBros

I'd describe him as a versatile player that every team would like to have. He can fill multiple roles adequately.

Laughts is double-fisting it on awards this week. Class guy and most improved—not too bad. Good stuff!

Laughton is the golden child of the new Flyers system of letting players blossom instead of trading away youth for vets
- VilleLeinoShow

Yeah, in years past they would have traded away Laughts years ago for not very much, then fill that same spot with a Dan Cleary on some god-awful contract.

Laughton winning all the awards

I'd want to know what happens with Niskanen after this one remaining year on his contract before wanting to trade Ghost
- Coburns_Nose

Honestly, if Niskanen can continue to produce like he is he maybe a guy that they try to hold on to.

The reality though is that if guys like Zamula and York continue to develop into NHL studs then the need to keep those guys (Ghost/Nisky) around lessen. Others would have to improve enough to slot up higher in the lineup also.

Laughton winning all the awards
- SuperSchennBros

Nice to see a guy like Laughton gain respect in the locker room like that. Sounds like the team has a grounded view on the kinds of things to value in teammates. The culture in that room sounds amazing compared to a year ago. That coaching staff and leaders in the room must be having a big impact. Winning helps.

Nice to see a guy like Laughton gain respect in the locker room like that. Sounds like the team has a grounded view on the kinds of things to value in teammates. The culture in that room sounds amazing compared to a year ago. That coaching staff and leaders in the room must be having a big impact. Winning helps.
- peesinwind

We’ve had a bad bottom six for along time in recent years.

Yeah, in years past they would have traded away Laughts years ago for not very much, then fill that same spot with a Dan Cleary on some god-awful contract.
- Tomahawk

Haha. So true. The value to draft and develop by Hexy was big. Gotta to give him that credit at least. I’m sure he wasn’t alone in this approach but he was the tip of the draft and develop spear.

Love what Fletcher as done with the ingredients he was left. He said when he was hired that the club was left in good shape by Hexy.

We’ve had a bad bottom six for along time in recent years.
- SuperSchennBros

Yeah. The depth has been huge this year. And in a situation where teams are sure to battle with injuries through this accelerated playoff formate it will come into play for sure. Having some defensive depth is going to payoff big time.

Haha. So true. The value to draft and develop by Hexy was big. Gotta to give him that credit at least. I’m sure he wasn’t alone in this approach but he was the tip of the draft and develop spear.

Love what Fletcher as done with the ingredients he was left. He said when he was hired that the club was left in good shape by Hexy.
- peesinwind

Fletch basically fell into a GM's dream scenario. Cap space, tons of picks and quality prospects, NHL-ready youth, franchise forward, franchise dman, potential franchise goalie.

To his credit, he hasn't done any crazy poop to 'put his stamp' on the team. He just did what was appropriate and needed to be done.

Fletch basically fell into a GM's dream scenario. Cap space, tons of picks and quality prospects, NHL-ready youth, franchise forward, franchise dman, potential franchise goalie.

To his credit, he hasn't done any crazy poop to 'put his stamp' on the team. He just did what was appropriate and needed to be done.
- Tomahawk

Something maxed out not a contender. Bad GMing.

Fletch basically fell into a GM's dream scenario. Cap space, tons of picks and quality prospects, NHL-ready youth, franchise forward, franchise dman, potential franchise goalie.

To his credit, he hasn't done any crazy poop to 'put his stamp' on the team. He just did what was appropriate and needed to be done.
- Tomahawk

He assembled a terrific staff. Signed the right fit center man by trading for his rights prior to FA. Smart move. Then pulled the trigger on the Gudas for Nisky trade. Win! Signed some cheap rentals at deadline. Not to mention the Pitlick via Hart trade. Signed both Provy and TK to good contracts. No mess ups.

Yeah. Like you said. Didn’t do a big poop move to blow up a good thing. Just a handful of smart tweaks.

He balanced that defense up also. And didn’t lose any prospects in the process (well until WK just now but he tried to sign him). He did it right with what he had.

He assembled a terrific staff. Signed the right fit center man by trading for his rights prior to FA. Smart move. Then pulled the trigger on the Gudas for Nisky trade. Win! Signed some cheap rentals at deadline. Not to mention the Pitlick via Hart trade. Signed both Provy and TK to good contracts. No mess ups.

Yeah. Like you said. Didn’t do a big poop move to blow up a good thing. Just a handful of smart tweaks.

He balanced that defense up also. And didn’t lose any prospects in the process (well until WK just now but he tried to sign him). He did it right with what he had.
- peesinwind

Yeah but it's like Niskanen is making 7M because of the salary the Flyers retained! And Hayes is overpaid! And Braun sucks!

Fletch basically fell into a GM's dream scenario. Cap space, tons of picks and quality prospects, NHL-ready youth, franchise forward, franchise dman, potential franchise goalie.

To his credit, he hasn't done any crazy poop to 'put his stamp' on the team. He just did what was appropriate and needed to be done.
- Tomahawk

He hasn't done anything crazy but he has out maxed out the team on the cap, as he was mandated to do. He's done that well and the ultimate grade will depend on how the team does when they start back up. If they make a legitimate run at it, it will be well worth it. If they don't, then it will be somewhat different. Having the MacDonald buyout number, which escalates for next season as well as the Schlemko buyout is going to hinder them. If you make a good run then you certainly want to continue on that and possibly add. With the cap staying flat and the Flyers cap situation, that will be tough. Many teams in that spot.

One thing though is that I can see it being a buyers market this off season, whenever that is. Many good deals out there for teams with cap space.

Yeah but it's like Niskanen is making 7M because of the salary the Flyers retained! And Hayes is overpaid! And Braun sucks!
- Ftown19125

Haha. Blah blah blah.

He hasn't done anything crazy but he has out maxed out the team on the cap, as he was mandated to do. He's done that well and the ultimate grade will depend on how the team does when they start back up. If they make a legitimate run at it, it will be well worth it. If they don't, then it will be somewhat different. Having the MacDonald buyout number, which escalates for next season as well as the Schlemko buyout is going to hinder them. If you make a good run then you certainly want to continue on that and possibly add. With the cap staying flat and the Flyers cap situation, that will be tough. Many teams in that spot.

One thing though is that I can see it being a buyers market this off season, whenever that is. Many good deals out there for teams with cap space.
- MJL

I don’t know if the ultimate grade will depend on how they finish when they get back and whether it is all worth it. Not to me anyways. Following Flyer hockey was exciting again. He put together a competitive team this year that got unpredictably stopped and then restarted several months later in hub cities. Something that no GM could have predicted and prepared a team for.

I get what your saying. To take it a step further is that they really need to win the Cup. But a tone of teams are at the Cap and in worse place then the Flyers.

They took a big leap this year. That is evident. The locker room believes and is feeling it. With most of this team coming back they will continue to compete. We are in a Cup hunt instead of just trying to get into the playoffs. If they drop an early series won’t take away the great season they gave us. I have little doubt that if the season didn’t get disrupted that they would have gone on a deep run. Just a very weird situation.

I don’t know if the ultimate grade will depend on how they finish when they get back and whether it is all worth it. Not to me anyways. Following Flyer hockey was exciting again. He put together a competitive team this year that got unpredictably stopped and then restarted several months later in hub cities. Something that no GM could have predicted and prepared a team for.

I get what your saying. To take it a step further is that they really need to win the Cup. But a tone of teams are at the Cap and in worse place then the Flyers.

They took a big leap this year. That is evident. The locker room believes and is feeling it. With most of this team coming back they will continue to compete. We are in a Cup hunt instead of just trying to get into the playoffs. If they drop an early series won’t take away the great season they gave us. I have little doubt that if the season didn’t get disrupted that they would have gone on a deep run. Just a very weird situation.
- peesinwind

I agree completely that no GM could've predicted or prepared for what happened and the subsequent flat cap. That doesn't change that they took on future cap liabilities to build this years team. That's going to hurt them even more now. That's my point. If they get close, aren't fans naturally going to want them to make a move or two? Retain key players? That's going to be more difficult now. The regular season was great but I'm not going to be happy with a short run.

I agree completely that no GM could've predicted or prepared for what happened and the subsequent flat cap. That doesn't change that they took on future cap liabilities to build this years team. That's going to hurt them even more now. That's my point. If they get close, aren't fans naturally going to want them to make a move or two? Retain key players? That's going to be more difficult now. The regular season was great but I'm not going to be happy with a short run.
- MJL

To each his own. It’s a fair opinion to weigh a deep run on a GM’s success for sure. Me? I think this situation is highly unusual and because of that I choose not to use how deep a playoff run the Flyers have to judge CF’s moves.

I’m hoping they win the Cup. I’m feeling great about where the team is at. I liked the moves CF made to get the team to where it was/is.

Flyers are tight to the cap but have many of their key players signed. Many teams up against the cap also have some pretty big contracts they are going to have to figure out or lose someone good.