Howie is a horrendous drafter. Just horrendous. But he has swung many very very decent trades/FA signings. Temperamentally, he is a big hitter. The signing of Chip was ballsy. The firing him before season ended was ballsy. The trading of Bradford was ballsy.

I would prefer him than the current Flyers management, which is largely one of based on the philosophy of keeping club "competitive" and praying.
- PT21

No doubt Howie has made some rather shrewd/smart trades and FA signings, but his draft record is abysmal! Last time I checked though, Howie "lost" his GM duties to Chip, so I don't believe he's the one that fired him. That would be Lurie, right?

Isn't the Flyers current philosophy, post Ed Snider/Paul Holmgren, to keep draft picks and only trade picks/prospects when the team is on the precipice? I'd like to know when the hell that will be!

I love you PT21, but I honestly stopped reading after point 1. Trading Couts IMO would be the absolutely wrong thing to do.
- jd250

I know. Conventionally wrong.

But I will make you agree in 5 minutes and 5 questions with me.

Ready?

hmm will the phillies be a dumpster fire this year

No doubt Howie has made some rather shrewd/smart trades and FA signings, but his draft record is abysmal! Last time I checked though, Howie "lost" his GM duties to Chip, so I don't believe he's the one that fired him. That would be Lurie, right?

Isn't the Flyers current philosophy, post Ed Snider/Paul Holmgren, to keep draft picks and only trade picks/prospects when the team is on the precipice? I'd like to know when the hell that will be!
- aantny88

Roseman is essentially Lurie's son.

I believe that the Flyers' current philosophy is best summarized by a couple of knowledgeable posters here, Tomahawk and Mickel25, who essentially believe that in the salary cap age, the best you can do is draft the best you can and develop the best you can and hope for luck. No short term reaction moves like Bryzgalov.

Its a passive strategy, essentially.

hmm will the phillies be a dumpster fire this year
- 2Real

Probably! Pitching will be their undoing, as usual.

hmm will the phillies be a dumpster fire this year
- 2Real

I don't think it will be that bad, but they won't get past the Braves. Mets have improved, also. Hey, it's the city of mediocre sports

I know. Conventionally wrong.

But I will make you agree in 5 minutes and 5 questions with me.

Ready?
- PT21

let's go, I'm willing ...

[https://apple.news/AMZX4_L9jSpGlFUtQCHLgPQ]

Man, this pretty much sums it up. Ed Snider would never have stood for what’s happened to this once proud franchise.

Roseman is essentially Lurie's son.

I believe that the Flyers' current philosophy is best summarized by a couple of knowledgeable posters here, Tomahawk and Mickel25, who essentially believe that in the salary cap age, the best you can do is draft the best you can and develop the best you can and hope for luck. No short term reaction moves like Bryzgalov.

Its a passive strategy, essentially.
- PT21

Don't I know it! Drives me crazy how Howie does no wrong in Lurie's eyes.

Drafting/developing is important, but sometimes hockey trades have to be made. Hope for luck? Doesn't give me much confidence for the future of this franchise. Just want to see one Flyer's Cup win before I die.

I don't think it will be that bad, but they won't get past the Braves. Mets have improved, also. Hey, it's the city of mediocre sports
- DaveofYork

maybe there's hope for the eagles

let's go, I'm willing ...
- jd250

Q1: Do you believe the Flyers, with the current constraints (mix of players, contracts, age, development etc.) are reasonable championship contenders in the next 4 years?

Please note: I underline reasonable. Don't say it could happen. Look at the team and past history of champions and tell if they are.

[https://apple.news/AMZX4_L9jSpGlFUtQCHLgPQ]

Man, this pretty much sums it up. Ed Snider would never have stood for what’s happened to this once proud franchise.
- BroadSTmayhem

Link did not work for me.

Don't I know it! Drives me crazy how Howie does no wrong in Lurie's eyes.

Drafting/developing is important, but sometimes hockey trades have to be made. Hope for luck? Doesn't give me much confidence for the future of this franchise. Just want to see one Flyer's Cup win before I die.
- aantny88

In defense of their argument, its sort of the variant of you can't beat the market in stockss trading. Don't try to time the market. Hold on for the ride. The John Bogle argument.

In defense of their argument, its sort of the variant of you can't beat the market in stockss trading. Don't try to time the market. Hold on for the ride. The John Bogle argument.
- PT21

Therefore akin to the difference between speculation and investment...

I respond to a couple of your couple.

My beef against Ekholm is that you need to give him a 5 year deal after next year, and also, he will cost prospects to trade for.

The thing about giving up on prospects, well you tell me, who do you get rid off? Everyone has shown flashes of huge promise and other than Bee, also deep valleys.

The exception is Nopa, and I would give him some time largely because he is really not costing you much at all to keep around. Low downside, high upside bet.
- PT21

Which prospects largely depends on what your trading for obviously. Do we have a totally untouchable prospect...I would say no. Is there some current young players I wouldn’t move ? Untouchable? Yes. Hart and Farabee. Now saying all this I would never advocate moving young players strictly for a short term fix. I don’t think Flyers are in a position to consider just about anything that would promote a better future.
When I say the mix is wrong I really do think the Flyers have the assets to address these shortfalls....I just see no need for a tear down.

Which prospects largely depends on what your trading for obviously. Do we have a totally untouchable prospect...I would say no. Is there some current young players I wouldn’t move ? Untouchable? Yes. Hart and Farabee. Now saying all this I would never advocate moving young players strictly for a short term fix. I don’t think Flyers are in a position to consider just about anything that would promote a better future.
When I say the mix is wrong I really do think the Flyers have the assets to address these shortfalls....I just see no need for a tear down.
- landros 2

In trades, you will get what you give. Keep prospects like Bee and Hart off the table and you will get non-blue chip returns for non-blue chip prospects.

I am not saying you are wrong. But lets be precise. Who exactly are you trading for and what are you giving up.

maybe there's hope for the eagles
- 2Real

not this year.


i think the phillies will be about .500


maybe the absence of Arrieta will push them up a bit higher.

still, they're not likely to be able to hang with the braves.

Trade NP for 2021's version of Luke Schenn and let's call it a day.

Honestly I’d be thrilled to get eichel even if we traded coots in package
- SMS4016

Yes...I would be on board...although Coots is only a year away from being a UFA....Buffalo wouldn’t do that with no guarantee for a long term Coots deal....why would the player ever agree to that? As well, You have to think Coots will want a NMC from the Flyers in the next deal if he does sign here.

Don't I know it! Drives me crazy how Howie does no wrong in Lurie's eyes.

Drafting/developing is important, but sometimes hockey trades have to be made. Hope for luck? Doesn't give me much confidence for the future of this franchise. Just want to see one Flyer's Cup win before I die.
- aantny88

For the record, I think drafting and developing players effectively is very important to a teams overall success. All good teams draft and develop well. I do not believe you have to be non competitive for multiple years to get the right players to win.

I believe in building from the middle out. Get the right players at center, defense and in goal and your team will be good. I value centers over wingers for the most part. Wingers like Ovechkin should get the big contracts with term. Wingers like Jake Voracek probably should not. I value patience with young players. Especially, those that have shown signs of being good/great NHL level players.

I am fine making trades and signing FA's. Just do not think you should make trades just to make them. I believe in maximizing assets.

The current Flyers roster needs more physicality at forward and defense. I think they could easily add a physical winger right now. Of course that will not correct all of the issues on this team, but it would be a start. Might get them engaged on a regular basis.

I am fine with waiting until the offseason to do something major. I do believe they should sell veterans like Raffl, Elliot, Braun and anyone else deemed necessary at the TDL.

Therefore akin to the difference between speculation and investment...
- aantny88

My only comment about the index passive strategy is that it is far less passive than people believe. The indices (S&P500, Dow) etc are re-balanced frequently to reflect company performance.

In just doing the best you can, spending to the max, and drafting and developing well, there is no active adjustment at all. The tie breaker across all teams becomes pure luck.

EDIT: Mickel25 corrected this in what he wrote above. Its less passive than I said, more like a passive+re-balancing approach.

not this year.


i think the phillies will be about .500


maybe the absence of Arrieta will push them up a bit higher.

still, they're not likely to be able to hang with the braves.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I’m hoping they are a surprise this year.

I’m hoping they are a surprise this year.
- landros 2

their pitching still blows.

their pitching still blows.
- login

That is more succinct than I would put it, but I can't argue with your point

In trades, you will get what you give. Keep prospects like Bee and Hart off the table and you will get non-blue chip returns for non-blue chip prospects.

I am not saying you are wrong. But lets be precise. Who exactly are you trading for and what are you giving up.
- PT21

Unless we can talk about an exact player it’s hard to suggest who ...for what....I just see no upside in trading Hart or Farabee. I can’t say that for any other player or prospect. That list might increase after I see these kids play and develop. I trust tried to set the parameters. I think as you can see, are fairly broad.