The Flyers will not be a contender until they acquire another defenseman, that's for sure. I was of the opinion when the season started that the Flyers forward group was not good enough, but I have to say my opinion in that regard is starting to change with the emergence of Farabee and the depth I am seeing from all 4 lines. I really think if the Flyers can actually stay healthy up front and they can acquire Ekholm to solidy their top 4 and Hart can regain his form, the Flyers will have a good chance to take another step forward this year, maybe even come out of the division.
- jd250

I like what I’ve seeN in the forwards since the came back. If they can get ek for say a pick, and low prospect as a rental. Go for it. He would def help. Don’t overpay though.

They have to prove to me that they can beat Boston. To have a real shot at a final four but we saw the roll they got on late last year. Could happen again. I’ll be interested to see what fletch does. My gut is that if Nash wants til flight prospects or one of our great young forwards he hangs up.

I promise you no team will give Nashville the equivalent of a player like TK or Farabee. Otherwise they would fill one hole by creating another hole someplace else. I would consider Patrick however to be honest.
- jd250

Your on the fence about Farabee and need to see more.

The Bruins are already better than the Flyers. That's a complete non-factor in the decision making.
- MJL

You really don't know what you are talking about ... you don't live here and follow the Bruins like I do. If the Bruins got a player like Ekholm, its over for the Flyers season. If the Flyers get him, I think he can be a difference maker in a 7 game series.

Few things-

I do think Covid and expansion change how you approach this season. Ghost is playing well and that is a factor, he is playing good D and pushing the pace, his skating is obviously better compared to last year. So do you protect 4 even if you don't have Ekholm? Do you trade Ghost? The next 2 weeks are heavy with Pens and Caps. If the Flyers maintain their position and play well, like they did the end of last season, I think you look at Ekholm. I get the whole it won't make them a contender but will waiting for York and Z make them one in 2 years? Where will the O talent be then? You might have an elite Hart and a really good D but your O will have aged and the upper end talent on the O is the older players.

One thing I keep coming back too, to be elite or a contender they will have to make a trade one way or the other

I believe the summer is where Fletch will go for it and I think he should. So far he has made solid moves, if he goes for it I would expect a similar approach. The only way he should pull the trigger this season is if this current squad makes it impossible for him not too.

Your on the fence about Farabee and need to see more.
- MJL

Yes, at the beginning of the season I wanted to see more from Farabee before I could determine what his ceiling was. Do you have anything else to offer us on this forum, other than a recap of every single thought I have posted over the past several weeks?

You really don't know what you are talking about ... you don't live here and follow the Bruins like I do. If the Bruins got a player like Ekholm, its over for the Flyers season. If the Flyers get him, I think he can be a difference maker in a 7 game series.
- jd250

LOL. You could live in the Fleet center in the locker room and it wouldn't matter. You drastically overrate Ekholm as a player.

Yes, at the beginning of the season I wanted to see more from Farabee before I could determine what his ceiling was. Do you have anything else to offer us on this forum, other than a recap of every single thought I have posted over the past several weeks?
- jd250

Actually it was in-season when you made the comment. So you've seen enough now after 18 games or whatever?

the more I watch Farabee the more I think he is similar to Guentzel, would be very happy with that...

I like what I’ve seeN in the forwards since the came back. If they can get ek for say a pick, and low prospect as a rental. Go for it. He would def help. Don’t overpay though.

They have to prove to me that they can beat Boston. To have a real shot at a final four but we saw the roll they got on late last year. Could happen again. I’ll be interested to see what fletch does. My gut is that if Nash wants til flight prospects or one of our great young forwards he hangs up.
- Hextall271

Of course Nashville is going to ask for the Moon, why shouldn't they. Ekholm is a solid top 4 defenseman and its Poile's job to maximize the return for this asset. At the end of the day, Fletcher should have the picks and prospects to put himself in the best position to get him, if Fletcher believes as I do that Ekholm can really help this team. I think how the Flyers do now that they have their full lineup in place will determine what Fletcher does. If the Flyers get hot and challenge for top seed in the division, Fletcher will have no choice but to go for it. If the Flyers falter, he will have an excuse to sit back and wait until after the ED.

Few things-

I do think Covid and expansion change how you approach this season. Ghost is playing well and that is a factor, he is playing good D and pushing the pace, his skating is obviously better compared to last year. So do you protect 4 even if you don't have Ekholm? Do you trade Ghost? The next 2 weeks are heavy with Pens and Caps. If the Flyers maintain their position and play well, like they did the end of last season, I think you look at Ekholm. I get the whole it won't make them a contender but will waiting for York and Z make them one in 2 years? Where will the O talent be then? You might have an elite Hart and a really good D but your O will have aged and the upper end talent on the O is the older players.

One thing I keep coming back too, to be elite or a contender they will have to make a trade one way or the other

I believe the summer is where Fletch will go for it and I think he should. So far he has made solid moves, if he goes for it I would expect a similar approach. The only way he should pull the trigger this season is if this current squad makes it impossible for him not too.
- wcorvette

The offensive core of the Flyers in the future is Couturier, Konecny, Farabee, Frost and other prospects.
Here is the disconnect in my view. It is very difficult to make a trade these days to make your team a contender. You draft and develop to become a contender. Once there, you then supplement and fill a weakness using trades if you have some excess or use free agency. Horse then cart.

We’ve had times when we’ve almost exclusively had lefties playing the right side and teams have exploited this. I remember Bill talking about this for I think it was the pitt series in 2018. I also think that’s why you saw fletch good out and get braun and nisky last year in order to balance that out. It’s not everything but it matters.
- Hextall271

Would you rather have a right handed guy even if he isn't as good as the left handed guy?

Is acquiring players the only way to build a defense? Are you saying that they can't get better on the back end without making a trade?

Does acquiring Ekholm put the Flyers on par with TB, Colorado, Vegas, and Boston?
- MJL

Is there any move or moves out there that would in your opinion? So are they not supposed to try to upgrade the team because said move "doesn't" put them on par, paper wise with those teams?

I am in no way advocating TK or Farabee for Ekholm to be clear.

Actually it was in-season when you made the comment. So you've seen enough now after 18 games or whatever?
- MJL

I can't deny that Farabee is looking better and better every single game. That pass he made to JVR was magic yesterday. Farabee put the puck in the only place it could be, with the proper speed, to produce that kind of tip in goal. I think playing with Couturier and a much improved JVR is certainly helping Farabee show what he can do. At this point, the results speak for themselves, the Flyers really got something here with Farabee.

And BTW, Jay O'Brien has 1 G and 4 assists in his last 3 games at BU, now has 15 points in 13 games. To me, O'Brien's season looks very much like Farabee's one season at BU, and wouldn't it be amazing if O'Brien steps in, in a year or two and has the same impact as Farabee has had?

LOL. You could live in the Fleet center in the locker room and it wouldn't matter. You drastically overrate Ekholm as a player.
- MJL

Ok, please tell all of us why we are overrating Ekholm. What do you not like about his game? Is he soft? Does he skate poorly? Does he have a weak shot? Is he bad in the locker room? Please tell us what you don't like about Ekholm?

I would like to see what Niklas Hjalmarsson would cost.

Is acquiring players the only way to build a defense? Are you saying that they can't get better on the back end without making a trade?

Does acquiring Ekholm put the Flyers on par with TB, Colorado, Vegas, and Boston?
- MJL

I don't believe the Flyers D can get better in the ways they need to in order to compete better against Boston. The Flyers D are mobile and can move the puck for sure, but they are not physical and strong in the slot area. Boston exposed them multiple times in this regard. So I do believe the Flyers need to trade for that type of Dman in order to fill this big hole. I believe Ekholm with his size and grittiness would fill that hole very well, plus he is very mobile and good offensively.

I would like to see what Niklas Hjalmarsson would cost.
- Deasr1

He won't cost a lot, but his problem is injuries, he is not the same player that he was in Chicago. I don't believe he helps the Flyers where they need it.

At this point the red wings should be relegated to the AHL, it’s ridiculous how bad they are for how many years now

We need to stay the course.

He won't cost a lot, but his problem is injuries, he is not the same player that he was in Chicago. I don't believe he helps the Flyers where they need it.
- jd250

I believe a hard hitting, smart, 3X time Cup winner with offensive abilities that will not cost a lot and expiring contract is exactly what we need.

He won't cost a lot, but his problem is injuries, he is not the same player that he was in Chicago. I don't believe he helps the Flyers where they need it.
- jd250

The story on chiclets of Patrick Kane getting off the ice anytime he stepped on the ice was hysterical, and for that reason, im out

I promise you no team will give Nashville the equivalent of a player like TK or Farabee. Otherwise they would fill one hole by creating another hole someplace else. I would consider Patrick however to be honest.
- jd250

I'm open to moving NP, too... I'd hope they'd get a piece that would be here longer than Ekholm, tho.

Something along the lines of a younger RH dman or even a reclamation like Jake Virtanen+.

I believe a hard hitting, smart, 3X time Cup winner with offensive abilities that will not cost a lot and expiring contract is exactly what we need.
- Deasr1

Offensive abilities??? You have the wrong guy

I'm open to moving NP, too... I'd hope they'd get a piece that would be here longer than Ekholm, tho.

Something along the lines of a younger RH dman or even a reclamation like Jake Virtanen+.
- Tomahawk

But why can't the Flyers resign Ekholm after his current deal expires in 2022? Especially if the Flyers trade Ghost to say Seattle as part of a deal to protect their other players in the ED.

Offensive abilities??? You have the wrong guy
- ClaudeFather

I didn't say he was a juggernaut. But he has a good outlet pass to lead to a rush and he gets the shot on net which leads to assists.

I know who he is.