In a dose of pure optimism, only JVR out, and no outside acquisitions at forward:

Farabee-Couturier-Voracek
Giroux-Frost-Hayes
Lindblom-Patrick-TK
Laughton-Bunnaman-NAK
Raffl

Don’t bother telling me it will never happen, too much has to fall right, I already know. I just see value in at least looking.
- NC Flyers Fan

Raffl was one of the Flyers better players in the playoffs. Why on earth would you have Bunnamnan in the lineup and Raffl an extra?

I would tend to agree that he has Hart underrated. But the overall assessment of the rest of the Flyers farm seems right to me. A lot of players with good NHL potential but nobody that projects as a star or elite player.
If they want that sniper they are going to have to go a different route.
- Djapana

Agree it’s not a negative they just don’t have what appears to be top end elite level players.

Pronman released his farm system report today in the Athletic. Flyers rank #10 with no players in the “Special “ or “Elite “ Tiers. Hart an Farabee are “High end” with Patrick and Frost at the next level down. Zamula, York and Brink are considered “very good “. The most common criticism throughout the rankings is lack of speed. I’d like to see the Flyers make speed a priority in the upcoming draft.
- Djapana

Neither Patrick or Hart are part of our farm system, nor are they prospects.

Giroux is only going to build chemistry with a left handed shot. .
- SuperSchennBros

Very interesting point.

In a dose of pure optimism, only JVR out, and no outside acquisitions at forward:

Farabee-Couturier-Voracek
Giroux-Frost-Hayes
Lindblom-Patrick-TK
Laughton-Bunnaman-NAK
Raffl

Don’t bother telling me it will never happen, too much has to fall right, I already know. I just see value in at least looking.
- NC Flyers Fan

I don’t know how this team justifies going another season with G and Jake as the offensive focus on this team. Jake Voracek has been here nine seasons. He’s a mid 60’s, early 70’s point guarantee. 80 points is a huge maybe and in my opinion, this is a trend that’s becoming less and less impressive.

Neither Patrick or Hart are part of our farm system, nor are they prospects.
- Dave21Brown

Welcome to The Athletic’s look at the top young players in hockey and our 2020 ranking of the NHL organizations’ young talent.

This year’s organizational ranking will be different than previous years. First, it is occurring before the NHL Draft and not after, although I will make an updated version following the draft.

Second, this year’s version will have full evaluations with tool grades of all players in an organization who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2020, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, to go along with the rest of the players in the pipeline.

I don’t know how this team justifies going another season with G and Jake as the offensive focus on this team. Jake Voracek has been here nine seasons. He’s a mid 60’s, early 70’s point guarantee. 80 points is a huge maybe and in my opinion, this is a trend that’s becoming less and less impressive.
- SuperSchennBros

You can’t justify it in any way imo

Neither Patrick or Hart are part of our farm system, nor are they prospects.
- Dave21Brown

It’s players 22 and younger with some other exceptions thrown in. He has his own way of doing things.

Hart is elite, that guy has had his projection wrong for years, hasn’t changed it and is still wrong.
- NC Flyers Fan

The thing about experts is, people always focus on what they get wrong. But they could be wrong 25% of the time and still add value by being over a fan's own predictions, which are 50-50.

Raffl was one of the Flyers better players in the playoffs. Why on earth would you have Bunnamnan in the lineup and Raffl an extra?
- PLindbergh31

You can switch them if it suits you. I just want them to have cap space and a roster spot for 13 forwards. Someone will be injured, Raffl is the most versatile to slot in.

You can switch them if it suits you. I just want them to have cap space and a roster spot for 13 forwards. Someone will be injured, Raffl is the most versatile to slot in.
- NC Flyers Fan

They aren't going to be able to move JVR's contract. If they can get a decent return for Gostisbehere in a trade, maybe leaving JVR unprotected in the expansion draft Seattle would bite, but most likely not.

The thing about experts is, people always focus on what they get wrong. But they could be wrong 25% of the time and still add value by being over a fan's own predictions, which are 50-50.
- PT21

He, by his own admission, skeptical of young goalies. I have agreed with him on a lot, but never on Hart.

They aren't going to be able to move JVR's contract. If they can get a decent return for Gostisbehere in a trade, maybe leaving JVR unprotected in the expansion draft Seattle would bite, but most likely not.
- PLindbergh31

You might be right but 7 mil is too much to plug into the 13F spot. Fletcher has to put on the big boy pants this offseason and figure a way out.

They aren't going to be able to move JVR's contract. If they can get a decent return for Gostisbehere in a trade, maybe leaving JVR unprotected in the expansion draft Seattle would bite, but most likely not.
- PLindbergh31

you dont think jvr at say 50% retained can be moved? 40-50 point player for 3.5 million?

you dont think jvr at say 50% retained can be moved? 40-50 point player for 3.5 million?
- login

3.5 million dead money..... no thanks.

I don’t know how this team justifies going another season with G and Jake as the offensive focus on this team. Jake Voracek has been here nine seasons. He’s a mid 60’s, early 70’s point guarantee. 80 points is a huge maybe and in my opinion, this is a trend that’s becoming less and less impressive.
- SuperSchennBros

I would like G and Jake on separate lines and fuse in the youth like a Farabee and Frost. I think my ask for a trade of JVR and Ghost is already a huge ask in a cap world.

3.5 million dead money..... no thanks.
- PLindbergh31

so if the only other option is to keep him that is what you do?

It’s players 22 and younger with some other exceptions thrown in. He has his own way of doing things.
- Djapana

Ok, well you stated “our farm system”, which lead to my response.

Main issue I saw was that their unit cohesion would break too easily.

Defensively, they'd chase pucks a bit too aggressively, leaving huge open areas unmanned. Myers, in his youthful exuberance, was particularly prone to doing this in the PO's. While they were good at mostly keeping the play to the outside, they had a lot of trouble preventing cross-ice, cross-crease and backdoor plays. Any kind of movement would send them scrambling.

In the neutral zone, they were extremely prone to moving up the ice as individuals, and over-relying on the drop passes or sling shots. And wtf was up with all those aerial flips and dumps? I remember John Stevens joking about an "aerial attack" back in the day... maybe AV found his notes or something. They really have to figure out a better way to get from blueline to blueline, with tightened gaps and less reliance on stretch passing and individual plays.

There is enough talent on the team to succeed. They just need to get their team game on solid ground and exorcise some of their worst habits as a club.

I don’t know how this team justifies going another season with G and Jake as the offensive focus on this team. Jake Voracek has been here nine seasons. He’s a mid 60’s, early 70’s point guarantee. 80 points is a huge maybe and in my opinion, this is a trend that’s becoming less and less impressive.
- SuperSchennBros

I think the idea is that all these young guys pick up the slack and there is a bit of a transition from the old guard to the new. As well as the Coots/Hayes of the team. That’s not a bad 1-2 punch to go with. If a Frost/Patrick can step in and be a viable 3C we are not in bad shape.

What will you trade us for:

Nylander
Kerfoot
Johnsson
Dermott
Bracco

ffff

You might be right but 7 mil is too much to plug into the 13F spot. Fletcher has to put on the big boy pants this offseason and figure a way out.
- NC Flyers Fan

Fletch is going to have to eat some salary and add a pick and prospect to unload JVR.
If Fletch can free up around 5 million that’s a help.
The flyers also have Sandin who can compete for a roster spot this upcoming year. He’s 24 years old so he should be able to make a good case for himself as a third line player.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Frost doesn’t make the flyers opening day roster.
He has the tools I’m just not convinced he’s ready.
I can see Braun and Ghost gone. Friedman can step as an alternate to Haag.

What will you trade us for:

Nylander
Kerfoot
Johnsson
Dermott
Bracco
- mr.sir

How about Mitch Marner for MJL and a bag of pucks?

3.5 million dead money..... no thanks.
- PLindbergh31

If it makes us a better team, yes