Sean Couturier centering James van Riemsdyk and Joel Farabee.

Hayes centering Giroux and Patrick.

Connor Bunnaman centering Michael Raffl and Nic Aube-Kubel.

Andy Andreoff centering Carsen Twarynski and Maksim Sushsko.

Farabee.

Right now the Flyers have Couturier, Hayes, Laughton, Bunnaman with Frost, Laczynski and O’Brien in the pipeline. (I might be forgetting someone) The center depth is solid for the next 5 years minimum. With Patrick, I see his floor as an okay 3C and his ceiling, according to what has actually been shown, as a good 2C. Originally, I would have said 1C ceiling at draft time and the guy still has a shot, it just remains to be seen.

Farabee because the Flyers have Konecny along with the aging vets and Lindblom right now. It’s possible that another prospect develops quickly, but Farabee is already contributing a lot to the team offense. I see him as a scoring top 6 winger now and going forward.
- NC Flyers Fan

I agree with you, I would choose Farabee in a second, because he has shown me enough to make me believe he can develop into a top 6 forward. Patrick has shown me at best he will be a 3C and right now I wouldn't even say he is even a good 3C, which given his draft position makes him a bust. And we both made this determination of choosing Farabee in less than 2 seasons of observation. You know it when you see it!

Farabee reminds me a little of Guentzel
- wcorvette

That would be a great result for the Flyers.

while it can go either way, some you can see sooner and some not but the players in the last 2 years deserve a real chance, just crazy times. TK also came up when the Flyers were not a good team, easy for Pasta on a real good Bruins team.
- wcorvette

Well, Pastrnak is playing with Bergeron and Marchand, who are great players, so that's true. But TK is playing with Giroux, Jake, Couturier, JVR, which is not that bad either. I like TK and feel confident that he will turn it around, he is a really good player.

Well, Pastrnak is playing with Bergeron and Marchand, who are great players, so that's true. But TK is playing with Giroux, Jake, Couturier, JVR, which is not that bad either. I like TK and feel confident that he will turn it around, he is a really good player.
- jd250

this season so far you can't hold to much against TK, fast start but team was playing like crap, then he gets sat and the Covid thing, just not enough run way this season so far.

I agree with you, I would choose Farabee in a second, because he has shown me enough to make me believe he can develop into a top 6 forward. Patrick has shown me at best he will be a 3C and right now I wouldn't even say he is even a good 3C, which given his draft position makes him a bust. And we both made this determination of choosing Farabee in less than 2 seasons of observation. You know it when you see it!
- jd250

Yeah well, sometimes I see a whole lot more of “it” in players like Laughton and Bunnaman than a vocal group do. A Farabee type is usually easier to agree on which brings me back to that poorly worded “fence” post you made.

So, what’s the general feeling around here about Patrick being moved to wing?

So, what’s the general feeling about Patrick being moved to wing?
- Dkos

Time to try something else...sounded like AV mentioned him playing with Hayes could help. Also Patrick has done better playing with Giroux.

So...
Giroux - Hayes - Patrick

Has potential.

So, what’s the general feeling around here about Patrick being moved to wing?
- Dkos

I mentioned trying this several weeks ago to much criticism

What about Brandon Montour, Gus for Montour somehow
- ClaudeFather

For Hagg and pick/prospect yes. Cant stand hagg anymore. Only good thing is he is seeing the least minutes in the top 6.

So, what’s the general feeling around here about Patrick being moved to wing?
- Dkos

Desperation, Patrick is not working out.

Yeah well, sometimes I see a whole lot more of “it” in players like Laughton and Bunnaman than a vocal group do. A Farabee type is usually easier to agree on which brings me back to that poorly worded “fence” post you made.


- NC Flyers Fan

I appreciate that, however I am not sure being "on the fence" is really a bad thing. It simply means you are not sure and need more info before you can have a feeling one way or the other, and that is exactly where I was at the start of this season. Farabee's play this season has caused me to lean towards seeing his potential as a top 6 forward, but ... and there is always a but, this season has a long way to go. But so far, Farabee is one of the bright spots in an otherwise poor season.

I mentioned trying this several weeks ago to much criticism
- Bayareaflyer

Well if you suggested it while Couts was out, then IMO it wouldn't have made much sense at the time. They would've needed NoPa at C.

Given the current circumstances, I'm very interested to see these top 2 lines. NoPa on the wing is intriguing, as is playing our two hottest scoring wingers with Couts.

So, what’s the general feeling around here about Patrick being moved to wing?
- Dkos

With all the missing the missing players it is a good time to try it. Good chance for Patrick to play with top 6 and pick it up

Desperation, Patrick is not working out.
- jd250

this season so far you can't hold to much against TK, fast start but team was playing like crap, then he gets sat and the Covid thing, just not enough run way this season so far.
- wcorvette

Does that explain his playoff performance as well? The kid has sucked and needs to be a lot better, stop making excuses for him.

Does that explain his playoff performance as well? The kid has sucked and needs to be a lot better, stop making excuses for him.
- ClaudeFather

Settle down tough guy

Settle down tough guy
- wcorvette

LOL not sure how that came off as tough guy but ok

If that's all it will take, why is he not a Flyer by now? Oh wait, that cap thing ... darn!
- jd250

Flyers can easily make the cap space to acquire Ekholm. Have to understand the cap picture and why it is what it is currently versus once players come off the Covid list what it will be.

I'm curious what you think about that hypothetical cost. After all you were willing to give up York, two prospects and a roster player.

LOL not sure how that came off as tough guy but ok
- ClaudeFather

Pretty intimidating actually

Nathan MacKinnon was the number 1 pick overall in 2013 and his first year he was a 20G, 40A player. There was nothing classic about Nathan, you knew he had the potential to be an elite player from the get go, and he hasn't disappointed. And nothing has changed in my opinion of Farabee, in that I needed to see more before I could evaluate him, and so far this year at 20 years old he is showing me something. What I am looking for from him as this season goes along is consistency (no long stretches of games with no points) and his ability to stay healthy, something that has unfortunately eluded many Flyers prospects.
- jd250

You're right that nothing has changed about Farabee. You were wrong about him then and you still are. The overwhelming majority of non superstar players have ups and downs in their development curve as young players 20 years of age. Looking for overall consistency is misguided. It's expected that he is going to have scoring slumps.

I am ok losing a Patrick or a Lindblom if I knew I was going to sign Ekholm after. There is lies the rub. I guess they can address it upfront to some extent but both parties will have to have the want too. Who knows the Flyers could have Zamula and or York really take a step forward or there could be a better option out there.

Any trade has risk and this one has a lot but if the cost was 2 2nd's and Ghost, and the Flyers were firing on all cylinders, I would be hard pressed to pass.

Another piece of it is that I don't think this team make up gets you a cup in the next 2 years, for that reason Fletcher will make big move to change a core piece.
- wcorvette

I'm not okay with it. The cost is just too high when the expansion draft issue is included. Those that say they're tired of waiting don't realize that trading for Ekholm will not give them what they want.

You can never be 100% sure that any player you get is the right player, but Ekholm to me checks a lot of boxes. He is a solid defenseman that is in his prime, has good size, plays with an edge, can play the PP and PK, plays important minutes and is a plus player. He would fit well with either Provorov on the top pair or Sanheim on the 2nd pair, but I am leaning towards Provorov to give him some stability and hopefully lift his game.

York I believe is at least 2 years away from the NHL, and Zamula is a project player that may or may not pan out. If I trade for Ekholm, I would want to sign him after next year, since then I have 4 really solid Dman moving forward for years to come.
- jd250

York is not two years away. It's very possible that York could be in the NHL next season.

How do you know that Ekholm can play the right side?

- MBFlyerfan

Did you expect me to answer it any other way?

York is not two years away. It's very possible that York could be in the NHL next season.

How do you know that Ekholm can play the right side?
- MJL

I will hold you to that about York, he is not having a great season so far at Michigan, and I think he will need more time. I am still high on him though. And regarding Ekholm, the Flyers will figure it out.