It’s been two years and it’s been incremental improvement for Buffalo. Sufficient to say it won’t be enough in two more years for Buffalo anyway.

However the Flyers improvements from growth have been dramatic.

It was a questionable move for Buffalo trading O’Reilly, but trading Coots would slide us backwards significantly. That would ensure that the Flyers would be unable to make the cup final in the next 4 years. Why on earth do you think that is a good idea?

- NC Flyers Fan

What? They get picks and prospects and you want them to show discernible improvement in 2 years? To which team? The Americans?

It’s been two years and it’s been incremental improvement for Buffalo. Sufficient to say it won’t be enough in two more years for Buffalo anyway.

However the Flyers improvements from growth have been dramatic.

It was a questionable move for Buffalo trading O’Reilly, but trading Coots would slide us backwards significantly. That would ensure that the Flyers would be unable to make the cup final in the next 4 years. Why on earth do you think that is a good idea?

- NC Flyers Fan

not so sure i agree with that as the return would set you up nicely and there are other moves you make; with the assets you acquire, free agency, and internal growth.

What? They get picks and prospects and you want them to show discernible improvement in 2 years? To which team? The Americans?
- PT21

EDIT: I looked up that trade. It looks like a horrendous return for Sabres. I am assuming a competent trade, of course.

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

If you're going to trade the MVP (most valuable poster) than you need to get a better return.

If the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of your own profession is not one of them, then they should go get a job as a dog-walker.

How far we have come. Just over a decade ago, our captain played through the playoffs with TWO badly separated shoulders without a single complaint.

I am old enough to remember when Ronnie Lott had a broken finger amputated so that he could play in the NFL playoffs.

Michael Jordan delivered a famous performance against Utah when he had the flu. I remember Howie Long mocking Bruce Smith because he had 103 fever and could not play in the playoffs.

Jeez.
- PT21

Huge difference between playing through injury and or illness versus the emotions of life. How do you not know that?

There is one clear thing the club can do which would significantly alter their long term fortunes. To do that, it would first take a clear eyed acceptance of the fairly obvious fact that this is not a contending team in the near future.

Once that is recognized, try to avoid the Giroux situation in 13-14. Yes, great player at the time his contract was going to be up, but was he really a part of a future contending team? He would have bought a king's ransom for a rebuild, but they chose to sign him and Voracek the next year to meaningless long-term contracts.

I am speaking, of course, of Couturier. He will win the Selke this year, and is at the prime of his career. He too would bring back a ton in terms of young talent. There are however some danger signs regarding him.

First, dude has played tough minutes since 18. Second, multiple injuries which could start taking a toll. Third, poor playoff performer save for 2 games against Pens (4 goals in 37 games over 8 years). Four, he will ask for 8-9 million in 2 years time and 7-8 years. 5. What I said before: is his peaking really at the correct time for us to consider keeping him?

Look for teams who could have a realistic run ahead in the next 2-3 years and need a Selke type. I am thinking of Canucks, AVs, Capitals....

EDIT: I also know that the club would never consider that. Too radical, and neither would the fanbase, which likely means we will be having this same conversation 5 years from now, just like we have had for the past 25 years.
- PT21

Unless given a drastic overpay, you don't trade one of the top two way centers in the league.

And who is our Pietrangelo? Please don't say Provorov. He may get there one day, but he is not in the ballpark yet. His grade for this playoffs is a solid B.

And our Tarasenko, who scored 30 goals a year 4 years in a row for a lower end offensive club before they won the cup?
- PT21

Do you actually understand what team and player development is?

Unless given a drastic overpay, you don't trade one of the top two way centers in the league.
- MJL

If you want to keep couturier fine no issue. Then the gm needs to devise a plan to go for it in the next 2 years while he and clode are under contract. So he will then have to move picks prospects and young nhl players is how I see it.

Don’t make the the mistake Hextall made by keeping both clode and jake wasting their prime while doing a half ass rebuild.

Try 70 point forward. He is a kid. Still coming into his prime.

Have you seen him play? He gets overshadowed in that crew.

I am not saying he is Marner level, but he is a legit 1st line winger on most clubs.

Problem is, I am not sure we have the right center for him.
- PT21

Try getting your fact straight. Nylander has never hit 70 points in a season. How come the he is a kid, still coming into his prime doesn't apply to any Flyers players when posting your rhetoric?

He has 31 goals in 68 games. Projecting to 37 goals.

Take away the Tavares factor, here he gets 28 goals say, and 32 A. Thats well before he hits his prime.

That's not too bad, is it? What exactly has Sanheim done again? Repeatedly make mental errors and play soft?

I am not saying its a steal, but I always wonder why Nylander trades are so immediately dismissed. There is only 1 rational answer - the overvaluing of own players by the fan base.
- PT21

+

No, smart and informed fans know that Sanheim is still a very young player and defense is a position that takes time to develop in. They also know that Nylander is a good player but is overrated. You simply don't trade a defenseman with that talent and skill for a winger of Nylander's capability. You often like to look back in time. Try looking back how it cost the Flyers in years past due to the failure to draft and develop defenseman. I always wonder why posters make statements like you did here. There is only 1 rational answer. You don't know what you're talking about.

Up until two years ago people were probably saying the same thing about Barry Trotz. Now he's viewed as a genius and the top coach in the NHL.

Regarding Trotz, how does one explain all his first round exits? Let me guess, the Preds were a small market team that didn't spend money. Idk I'd like to have a prime Weber and Suter to build around. 15 years in Nashville, 8 times missed the playoffs, 5 first round exits.

Vigneault didn't have a great playoff, but you've got to give him a few years minimum.
- PLindbergh31

Nail on the head. Didn’t have the team. Two stud d men and a suppoetif cast only get you so far. See present day Montreal. San Jose.

Nail on the head. Didn’t have the team. Two stud d men and a suppoetif cast only get you so far. See present day Montreal. San Jose.
- Peter Richards

This "juggernaut" Islanders team he's coaching this year wasn't in a playoff spot at the time of the pause. So either they underachieved during the regular season, or they just aren't that good.

Btw, before I leave HockeyBuzz in a few, I will throw-down a gentleman's gauntlet to the optimists here.

I propose an even money $200 bet each to any two of you if the following happens:

Flyers will NOT win 11 games in any single playoff season from 2021-2025. (If they do, I pay $200 each to the bettors, if they don't, the bettors each pay me that amount).

(Less than 11 games means they lose ECF or earlier. Yeah, I am that sure they won't go further).

We will exchange email info over PM if interested, and make token cash exchanges over Paypal/Venmo/Cashapp of $5 to show seriousness and cement bet (I will go first, sure).

Now, which one of you eternal optimists is gonna man up?



EDIT: If any post-season gets cancelled by pandemic, willing to cancel bet if requested.
- PT21

A poster wrote to me a few mins ago, pointing out potential discomfort about deliberate or inadvertent revelation of real life identity via such bets.

No personal information need ever be divulged nor should there ever be any spillover from real life to here from this kind of wager. No real life meeting is needed.

One can adjust privacy settings in most apps to cloak identity, including Venmo and Cashapp. You can do it with Paypal too, but I am not revealing that here.

And finally, this is a friendly wager, not some kind of antagonistic gesture or money making scheme. If you want to bet less, PM me. If you want to bet 0, but let me know, as one poster has, that's fine too.

This Djokovic thing: madness, at multiple levels.

Btw, before I leave HockeyBuzz in a few, I will throw-down a gentleman's gauntlet to the optimists here.

I propose an even money $200 bet each to any two of you if the following happens:

Flyers will NOT win 11 games in any single playoff season from 2021-2025. (If they do, I pay $200 each to the bettors, if they don't, the bettors each pay me that amount).

(Less than 11 games means they lose ECF or earlier. Yeah, I am that sure they won't go further).

We will exchange email info over PM if interested, and make token cash exchanges over Paypal/Venmo/Cashapp of $5 to show seriousness and cement bet (I will go first, sure).

Now, which one of you eternal optimists is gonna man up?



EDIT: If any post-season gets cancelled by pandemic, willing to cancel bet if requested.
- PT21

You couldn't be more disingenuous. If a team makes it to the Conference finals, they are a contender in that season. In order to win the bet, the team either has to lose in 7 games in the CF or make it to the finals. Just making it to the conference finals is very difficult in hockey. You're stacking the deck. You're full of poop and have no balls.

A poster wrote to me a few mins ago, pointing out potential discomfort about deliberate or inadvertent revelation of real life identity via such bets.

No personal information need ever be divulged nor should there ever be any spillover from real life to here from this kind of wager. No real life meeting is needed.

One can adjust privacy settings in most apps to cloak identity, including Venmo and Cashapp. You can do it with Paypal too, but I am not revealing that here.

And finally, this is a friendly wager, not some kind of antagonistic gesture or money making scheme. If you want to bet less, PM me. If you want to bet 0, but let me know, as one poster has, that's fine too.


- PT21

Is this claim that you'll be leaving hockeybuzz similar to your claim that you'll be ignoring me?

This Djokovic thing: madness, at multiple levels.
- PT21

Agreed.

This Djokovic thing: madness, at multiple levels.
- PT21

Guarantee he wouldn't have been DQ'd had their been a crowd of 20k paying customers in the stadium.

Guarantee he wouldn't have been DQ'd had their been a crowd of 20k paying customers in the stadium.
- PLindbergh31

Well, they will lose more than the revenue of spectators from the fall in tv viewership probably.


Its also happened before in front of a large crowd.

https://www.independent.c...d-in-doubles-1588962.html

Nylander has been rumored to be traded for the last two years. It seems the leafs fans can’t wait for him to be gone saying he is not engaged in the game enough.
From what I’ve read I want zero part of him.
The Leafs want to much.
I might do Ghost for Nylander straight up.
Thats without looking at salary cap implications.

He has 31 goals in 68 games. Projecting to 37 goals.

Take away the Tavares factor, here he gets 28 goals say, and 32 A. Thats well before he hits his prime.

That's not too bad, is it? What exactly has Sanheim done again? Repeatedly make mental errors and play soft?

I am not saying its a steal, but I always wonder why Nylander trades are so immediately dismissed. There is only 1 rational answer - the overvaluing of own players by the fan base.
- PT21

Ask yourself what is harder to acquire in order. Top pairing winger, top line Center, or top pairing D? Hint, if you don’t have winger third, you are wrong.

I’m a Jets fan and don’t think the Flyers need Nylander. Girioux, Farabee, TK, Voracek are all capable top 6 wingers with more possibles on the team now and in the system.

Nylander doesn’t improve this team enough to warrant giving up a big piece on D. Stop arguing Nylanders worth when he’s not needed in Philly

Nylander has been rumored to be traded for the last two years. It seems the leafs fans can’t wait for him to be gone saying he is not engaged in the game enough.
From what I’ve read I want zero part of him.
The Leafs want to much.
I might do Ghost for Nylander straight up.
Thats without looking at salary cap implications.
- bird_dog_pa

U might do ghost straight up? That would never be offered imo as that would be a steal for
The flyers

Ask yourself what is the harder to acquire in order. Top pairing winger, top line Center, or top pairing D? Hint, if you don’t have winger third, you are wrong.
I’m a Jets fan and don’t think the Flyers need Nylander. Girioux, Farabee, TK, Voracek are all capable top 6 wingers with more possibles one the team now and in the system. Nylander doesn’t improve this team enough to warrant giving up a big piece in D. Stop arguing Nylanders worth when he’s not needed in Philly
- Ross77

He doesn't get it and he won't. You build up the middle of the ice. Goalie, defense, center. Wing is the least important position in hockey. Flyers have also traditionally done well with drafting forwards. You don't trade a defenseman with strong top 4 two way ability for a 60 point winger.

He doesn't get it and he won't. You build up the middle of the ice. Goalie, defense, center. Wing is the least important position in hockey. Flyers have also traditionally done well with drafting forwards. You don't trade a defenseman with strong top 4 two way ability for a 60 point winger.
- MJL

This is what I was saying, I agree with you

Anyone have an update on Patrick. Though it has been reported as a migraine disorder my guess it is post concussion related. I hope he is able to recover.