step in right direction 100%.

They folded again because the lack of leadership. Clode is a complete passenger at his point imo.

Improvements need to come from within so we shall see how good the prior GM was
at drafting.

The powerplay must be fixed. It was inconsistent at best during the season and a train wreck in the playoffs. I don’t care how much AV likes him, Michel Therrien needs to go.

Were they outplay way too often by the Isles? Yes, absolutely. But, if they scored a few pp goals they still might have won that series.

Things that must be addressed going forward:

Building 3 lines that can score and a 4th that can at least generate O zone pressure. The Flyers don’t have a franchise forward who can singlehandedly make something happen, nor do they have any forwards that are top 10 at their positions when ranked strictly on offensive production. They need to build a group like the Devils had when they were winning Cups, DEEP.

Moving away from the 2 stay at home D on the 3rd pairing. You can get away with having one guy like Hagg or Braun, but not two. If they are moving on from Ghost and keeping Hagg then you need a skilled, mobile player to pair with him.

Fix the pp. Personally, while he scored a few goals, I don’t like Provy on the top unit. He doesn’t distribute the puck well and just doesn’t have good chemistry with G. If they are moving on from Ghost, I’d like to see Myers get a look on pp1. He has the skill set to make it work. Having Patrick back would be nice too, I’d much rather have him over TK on the top unit.

Frost, Farabee and especially Sanheim need to hit the weight room this fall. Watching Sanheim constantly lose battles along the boards is maddening.

Kevin Hayes is a solid player and great on the PK, but the guy has tunnel vision. When he’s playing center he needs a grinder that can win puck battles on one wing and a guy that can play well without the puck on the other. I’d like to see him between Farabee and NAK. I’d also like to see him move to RW at times with Frost in the middle and Farabee on the left.

I’d like to see them move JVR in the off season to open up cap room down the road. I’d they have to retain a million or so to get it done, so be it. Assuming Hall moves on, Arizona could be interested.
- BiggE

Are you the same Bigg E who post on HF boards?

Frost is a potential impact forward. He will improve from his rookie season and, by year 3 as a pro, I think he will be a regular point producer in the NHL.

If Patrick is healthy and gets back on track at least as a viable 3C, that'd be a lot youth injected up front.

Lindblom will re-add weight and be fine for next season . Joel Farabee is only 20 and will continue to improve.

Allison still has power forward potential. Laczynzki could be a valuable and versatile type to move around the lineup (as could Noah Cates).

So, all in all, I am not worried about youth up front. Depth is the key.
- bmeltzer

an awful lot of if's Bill. Yes they have youth, will it be productive youth is the question. Time will tell.

Bill do you look to resign laughton or would you sell high? if sign what type of deal do you see him securing?

They need to build a group like the Devils had when they were winning Cups, DEEP.


Kevin Hayes is a solid player and great on the PK, but the guy has tunnel vision. When he’s playing center he needs a grinder that can win puck battles on one wing and a guy that can play well without the puck on the other. I’d like to see him between Farabee and NAK. I’d also like to see him move to RW at times with Frost in the middle and Farabee on the left.

- BiggE

You said a lot of interesting things, but I wanted to comment on a couple.

First there seems to be some sort of amnesia regarding those Devils teams. Sure they had depth, but they also had elite talent. In goal Brodeur. Stevens never won the Norris but he was in that conversation for a long time. Niedermayer. Holik and Madden some of the best defensive forwards of that age. Elias always seemed to up his game in the playoffs, as did Lemiuex. Arnott, Sykora, Gomez, Mogilny, Brylin.

Where are our equivalent pantheon of emerging stars?

Second, I also strongly disagree that Hayes has tunnel vision. He was by far our best creator. The game winning goal in game 6 is an example. Numerous times, he kept the puck and anticipated plays and drew the D to him. I think the line you place him on strongly underestimates his skills.

i'm curious to see where Morin is at

i'm curious to see where Morin is at
- black_francis

Was never going to be an NHL player, even before the injuries. A complete waste of a first round pick. Seeing some of the players drafted after him tough to swallow.

i'm curious to see where Morin is at
- black_francis

hopefully in the ahl playing games.

step in right direction 100%.

They folded again because the lack of leadership. Clode is a complete passenger at his point imo.

Improvements need to come from within so we shall see how good the prior GM was
at drafting.
- login

I think if you look you’ll see a bunch of youth already in the lineup or on the doorstep. Sanheim, Aube-Kubel, Lindblom from 2014, TK & Provorov from 2015, Hart from 2016, Patrick from 2017, and then you have kids on the doorstep like Twarynski, Frost, Farabee and a bunch of nice prospects in the system.

hopefully in the ahl playing games.
- login

What AHL?

I think if you look you’ll see a bunch of youth already in the lineup or on the doorstep. Sanheim, Aube-Kubel, Lindblom from 2014, TK & Provorov from 2015, Hart from 2016, Patrick from 2017, and then you have kids on the doorstep like Twarynski, Frost, Farabee and a bunch of nice prospects in the system.
- Dave21Brown

correct, youth isnt the issue. It is having talented youth that can play in the nhl and contribute.

How unbelievable is it that prior to the 2017 draft, the Flyers had a 2.2% chance to get the top pick. It really is something that moving up all the way to 2 turns out to be a nut punch instead of divine intervention. If they pick anywhere else in the top 5 they come away with a stud. Only this franchise.

What AHL?
- Dkos

true, well hopefully somewhere to get reps

correct, youth isnt the issue. It is having talented youth that can play in the nhl and contribute.
- login

Point still stands, Hextall’s drafting was very good, other things like free agency, not so much.

How unbelievable is it that prior to the 2017 draft, the Flyers had a 2.2% chance to get the top pick. It really is something that moving up all the way to 2 turns out to be a nut punch instead of divine intervention. If they pick anywhere else in the top 5 they come away with a stud. Only this franchise.
- PLindbergh31

It’s a piss-off for sure, everyone else got a great young player in the top five, except us.

Point still stands, Hextall’s drafting was very good, other things like free agency, not so much.
- Dave21Brown

Van Riemsdyk's contract is rough. He's got quite the place in Flyers history.
First, the disappointment of not getting Kane after a 54 point season. Then it is complicated by JVR's first tenure full of injuries/underachieving. He's traded for the equivalent of a bag of pucks. Spends his prime years putting up career numbers in Toronto, only to return as an albatross contract. Unbelievable.

The Flyers were indeed the 2nd best team on the ice in the majority of the games they played in the playoffs. I didn't think the Flyer's coach had a good series either!

Point still stands, Hextall’s drafting was very good, other things like free agency, not so much.
- Dave21Brown

no it is not very good as the book is still open. He has many misses as well so far.

Van Riemsdyk's contract is rough. He's got quite the place in Flyers history.
First, the disappointment of not getting Kane after a 54 point season. Then it is complicated by JVR's first tenure full of injuries/underachieving. He's traded for the equivalent of a bag of pucks. Spends his prime years putting up career numbers in Toronto, only to return as an albatross contract. Unbelievable.
- PLindbergh31

I believe Dave Scott and Holmgren forced that signing on Hextall, they wanted to make some noise for the fans in free agency. Shows you he should keep his nose out of the hockey operations side of things. Corporate ownership sucks

It’s a piss-off for sure, everyone else got a great young player in the top five, except us.
- Dave21Brown

Even if they didn't move up at all and just drafted in the slot where they projected you are looking in the Necas/Suzuki range. Can't make it up.

Bill, thanks for your great work. Question: What's the latest on Cam York? Next Brian Leetch?

no it is not very good as the book is still open. He has many misses as well so far.
- login

That’s just an uneducated opinion, if you look at the facts, man-games played from Hextall’s drafting years, the Flyers are in the top percentile, it’s not like he was drafting top five every year. He did well from his draft positions.

It’s a piss-off for sure, everyone else got a great young player in the top five, except us.
- Dave21Brown

Edmonton didn’t hit on all I fab their high picks either. I know what you’re saying though. Second pick twice in last 20 years. Not with desired impact.

Morin without the injuries plays 3 rd line in the nhl. A couple years ago I thought many teams were still trying to pry him away. His skating and edge work have drastically suffered and reasonable so with the leg injuries. Not to mention 6-6 takes time to develop.

And I’ve been seen about sanhiem and Myers putting on weight. The will fill out a little more. Lee is one of the best power forwards in the game. Martin one of t he best hitters and the isles have good aize. They will be fine.

i'm curious to see where Morin is at
- black_francis

Probably a few months away from getting injured within 10 games again.

That’s just an uneducated opinion, if you look at the facts, man-games played from Hextall’s drafting years, the Flyers are in the top percentile, it’s not like he was drafting top five every year. He did well from his draft positions.
- Dave21Brown

every gm should do well with their 1st rd picks. me i look at after the 1st rd and that is where you earn your money. time will tell with many others after the 1st round. Didnt say he stinks just not ready to anoint him just yet.

every gm should do well with their 1st rd picks. me i look at after the 1st rd and that is where you earn your money. time will tell with many others after the 1st round. Didnt say he stinks just not ready to anoint him just yet.
- login

There is a very good chance that 2013 #11, 2017 #2 are both misses. Can't happen.