Not thrilled with this pick as I feel the Flyers needed to add more, not less, speed. Also comparisons to Kerr in regards to his skating are ludicrous. Kerr was a massive 6’3 230 and freakishly strong, possessed unbelievably soft hands and powerful wrists and played in era where speed wasn’t as much of a factor.

Foerster’s skating is a legit issue and this pick has a chance to be a flat out bust. IMO, Perrault or Grieg would have been better choices.
- BiggE

Kerr went through the 1979 Draft unselected (Flyers signed him as a free agent) first and foremost because of his skating. Even by the standards of the times, he was panned for being an awful skater. He improved enough to where he was able to work around it in the NHL.

Kerr at age 19 was 204 pounds when signed by the Flyers -- this per Flyers archival records -- and then filled out to 225-230. Apart from being deemed a guy who couldn't skate and being below-average defensively, the other knock on him (laughably in retrospect)was that he was soft.

So, yes, there is a comparative here. In a 126-pick draft, no team took him. Their loss was soon the Flyers' gain; yet Timmy was never more than a strictly average skater, was never more than average defensively. What he was: bigger and stronger than most everyone he played against, had incredibly quick hands and, lo and behold, it turned out he was pretty quietly tough, too.

Unless Ghost has a big bounce back or Myers takes a huge step forward it’s hard to see the D as better. I’m also not thrilled with Therrien still running the pp. However having a healthy Lindblom and hopefully a healthy Patrick along with the addition of Frost and a more experienced and likely stronger Farabee means the forward group should be better. Hart now has playoff experience and that is a plus as well. Overall, I think they are slightly better with potential for more.
- BiggE

I like that.

Still very dubious about Patrick, but if he feels ok, he feels ok.

Round 2 starts at 11?

Unless Ghost has a big bounce back or Myers takes a huge step forward it’s hard to see the D as better. I’m also not thrilled with Therrien still running the pp. However having a healthy Lindblom and hopefully a healthy Patrick along with the addition of Frost and a more experienced and likely stronger Farabee means the forward group should be better. Hart now has playoff experience and that is a plus as well. Overall, I think they are slightly better with potential for more.
- BiggE

agreed and maybe a surprise from the pool of prospects (Allison etc)

agreed and maybe a surprise from the pool of prospects (Allison etc)
- wcorvette

I would bet on Lacyzinski or Sandin over Allison for 20-21. Allison needs to play, he’s missed a ton of time the last few years. It would be asking a lot of him to step right into an NHL lineup without at least 20-25 games at the AHL level.

I'm going with 3-4 years but you never know. If he progresses well next season, that shot and PP ability could be awfully tempting.
- dubc55

Thanks to you and Tomahawk.

I confess I know utterly nothing about these guys.

Looking at some of the prospect rankings, I see he rose from 41 midterm to 20ish in central scouting final rankings. McKenzie 29, Button 16. Sportnet 30.

But not a first round pick in ISS, Elite Prospects and McKeens.

So, here is my question: if he has such a tremendous shot, and if skating can be fixed, why does he fall to lower third of 1st or worse? What else is a negative?

I would bet on Lacyzinski or Sandin over Allison for 20-21. Allison needs to play, he’s missed a ton of time the last few years. It would be asking a lot of him to step right into an NHL lineup without at least 20-25 games at the AHL level.
- BiggE

I agree, just first name that popped in my head

Round 2 starts at 11?
- arichardson22

1130 I think

So, here is my question: if he has such a tremendous shot, and if skating can be fixed, why does he fall to lower third of 1st or worse? What else is a negative?
- PT21

A few teams right before the Flyers went off the board.

At the end of the day, teams are just drafting based on their own biases and preferences. Where a player is taken =/= quality of said player.

Kerr went through the 1979 Draft unselected (Flyers signed him as a free agent) first and foremost because of his skating. Even by the standards of the times, he was panned for being an awful skater. He improved enough to where he was able to work around it in the NHL.

Kerr at age 19 was 204 pounds when signed by the Flyers -- this per Flyers archival records -- and then filled out to 225-230. Apart from being deemed a guy who couldn't skate and being below-average defensively, the other knock on him (laughably in retrospect)was that he was soft.

So, yes, there is a comparative here. In a 126-pick draft, no team took him. Their loss was soon the Flyers' gain; yet Timmy was never more than a strictly average skater, was never more than average defensively. What he was: bigger and stronger than most everyone he played against, had incredibly quick hands and, lo and behold, it turned out he was pretty quietly tough, too.
- bmeltzer

He could flat out fight a well

Unless Ghost has a big bounce back or Myers takes a huge step forward it’s hard to see the D as better. I’m also not thrilled with Therrien still running the pp. However having a healthy Lindblom and hopefully a healthy Patrick along with the addition of Frost and a more experienced and likely stronger Farabee means the forward group should be better. Hart now has playoff experience and that is a plus as well. Overall, I think they are slightly better with potential for more.
- BiggE

Way to many if's in that post.

Didn't people say that Strome's skating could be fixed as well?
- corduroy

yes, and how stupid do those people look now?

yes, and how stupid do those people look now?
- PLindbergh31

so stupid. what a waste of a 4th rounder.

Nope, already a bust. Won't ever be able to be a passable skater based on where he's at when he's 18 years old. Might as well just forget all about him and move on.
- jmatchett383

Oskar Lindblom says hi...

If we could get a 2nd or even a 3rd for ghost with zero salary retained as people suggest you run away with that. See if you can get shattenkirk on a 3 year 4 per deal. Hes shown what he can do with a high end defender on a top pairing. Him and provy would be damn good.

Your pipeline is now stronger with 2 high upside prospects in the 2nd round and shatty is a better replacement for niskanen.

Skating is fixable. And yes, this team has a speed issue but it also had goal scoring issues in the playoffs. Nice to see this team take a player where his shooting is his strongest suit.
- Pelle31Forever

further what made me crazy at time and especially in the playoffs was the flyers reluctance to go to the net and as they say "pay the price". too much perimeter play. he seems like a kid that will do those things

so stupid. what a waste of a 4th rounder.
- Ftown19125

Not really...the hit rate for guys in the fourth round and above is not great so generally you are looking for high risk and potentially high reward guys in that range. Strome's other attributes like his hands, playmaking ability and goal scoring around the net were too good to pass up in the fourth round. I remember the reports on him were if it not for his skating, he could've gone in the second round. They also have had some success with guys fixing their skating ability (Oskar) so it not unrealistic for them to take a guy like him there.

so stupid. what a waste of a 4th rounder.
- Ftown19125

I know right? They should have picked that sure fire Hall of Famer with that 4th round pick.

so stupid. what a waste of a 4th rounder.
- Ftown19125

what are the odds of any given 4th rounder playing significant minutes in the NHL?

asking for a friend.

Not really...the hit rate for guys in the fourth round and above is not great so generally you are looking for high risk and potentially high reward guys in that range. Strome's other attributes like his hands, playmaking ability and goal scoring around the net were too good to pass up in the fourth round. They also have had some success with guys fixing their skating ability (Oskar) so it not unrealistic for them to take a guy like him there.
- Sublime55

Pretty sure he was being snarky at the obviously idiotic post he was responding too....

yes, and how stupid do those people look now?
- PLindbergh31

Dylan and Ryan weren't good skaters either.

And Matt isn't struggling only because he can't skate well.

If Foerster can iron out his defensive issues and keeps scoring goals, his skating becomes a non-issue.

Pretty sure he was being snarky at the obviously idiotic post he was responding too....
- MBFlyerfan

Thanks to you and Tomahawk.

I confess I know utterly nothing about these guys.

Looking at some of the prospect rankings, I see he rose from 41 midterm to 20ish in central scouting final rankings. McKenzie 29, Button 16. Sportnet 30.

But not a first round pick in ISS, Elite Prospects and McKeens.

So, here is my question: if he has such a tremendous shot, and if skating can be fixed, why does he fall to lower third of 1st or worse? What else is a negative?
- PT21

A lot of rankings skewed this season. Lots of tournaments scouts attend were cancelled so the degree of evaluation should be more vast than normal. Anyone that says skating isn’t a major issue with ANY player is just delusional. There is NO comparison to past generations or players that can be able to be made. (Sorry bill) skill hockey iq hands hitting passing blah blah blah. In today’s nhl you have to be able to skate first and foremost. Can you get away with average skating? Sure ... for short periods of time. Can you have a few players on roster that excel in other areas but average skating? Sure. But overall if you don’t have a lot of team speed you can’t compete with the top teams in playoffs. The scary thing is they’re getting quicker and faster. Average skaters going way of doodoo bird just like fighters and heavy checkers. In regards to trees he’s part of the next wave So if skating is average it can work. Unless most of next wave is just average skaters. Time will tell with picks over next few years. I do love the speed picks of bee York O’Brien add that to Myers provy sanheim tk not bad start. Can throw brinks trees in there and be fine.

Just getting faster for getting fasters sake doesnt make any sense to me.

Hell Rinaldo could actually skate pretty damn fast but that doesnt mean he would improve the team.

Currently I view this pick with cautious optimism.

Didn't people say that Strome's skating could be fixed as well?
- corduroy

I'm sure they did but I see no reason to believe an 18 year old can't become a better skater. Or at the very least tweak the mechanics behind whatever the issue(s) are.