Have fun drafting in the 10-16 range for the foreseeable future. I’m sure this core will figure it out in year 12. 7th coach is sure to be the charm.
- hereticpride

youre a gigantic puusy

who's your "new" team hahahahaah

you started watching in prime Lindros era (prob age)

youre fugazi and weak willed......bail now

It took Chicago a long time, a lot of patience (for example. Patrick Sharp didn't instantly blossom after the trade from the Flyers) and some sheer good fortune in hitting home runs on a few non-first round picks (Duncan Keith was a 2nd rounder, Sharp was a 3rd rounder for the Flyers, Byfuglien was an 8th rounder) to build the first of their Cup teams. After they tore down their previous contending nucleus as it aged -- Roenick, Amonte, Belfour, Chelios, etc. -- it took missing the playoffs in nine out of 10 seasons including several with Kane and Toews aboard to finally become a contender.

Pittsburgh gets an asterisk because their franchise, in its second bankruptcy, survived solely off a lockout, the salary cap implementation, a new arena that the taxpayers of Pennsylvania funded and the heavily weighted 2005 lottery (Crosby) as the capstone of several seasons of abject tanking plus very deep top ends of other drafts where they could hardly go wrong with their pick. I credit Ray Shero and Rutherford for adding the right pieces, and the org also hit on some non-first round picks (Letang most notably). But the Penguins model isn't exactly a replicable blueprint.

LA was another long process and one, actually, that Lombardi and Hextall modeled consciously on trying to create a Flyers-like culture because the Kings didn't have one at the point that Dean and Ron left the Flyers to go to LA. Since their two Stanley Cups, the Kings have returned from whence they came: haven't won a playoff series since their 2014 Cup and are heading for missing the playoffs this season for the fifth time in seven years.
- bmeltzer

This is now year 7 since Holmgren resigned as GM, year 8 with the Flyers in and out of the playoffs every other year. That’s almost a decade of fighting for the last playoff spot. How is that any different then those rebuilds you described? What move is out that is going to make the Flyers into Stanley Cup contenders next season or the season after?

we both know he will get more than that. So that is a silly example.

So you rather let him walk or take a 7th rd pick. What do you do?
- login

Rather re-sign him than take a 7th.

Those two players are basically contract castoffs. And the 1st will be mid-20's in a shallow, murky draft. This, despite holding full 50% salary. Yikes.
- Tomahawk

I dont think it is that bad. Getting a 1st and 4th for 2 guys who can walk is ok. I would take that for Laughton and raffle

Voracek has his pros and cons. Last game, he was the one who scored the goal that cut the gap to 2-1 and then, shortly thereafter, set up the one that Gostisbehere scored. In the last game against the Isles, it was Voracek who teed up a perfect pass to Giroux on the game-tying goal. There are times when Voracek gets into "no one's gonna take this puck away from me" mode where he is still very hard to separate from the puck. Other times, that's missing; a superstar like Peter Forsberg was in the aforementioned mode the majority of the time, whereas players the next tier down like Voracek do that periodically.

My biggest disappointment with Jake this season is that, last year, he had perhaps the best two-way season of his Flyers career. It didn't get mentioned much, but he really did find ways to contribute even when he wasn't creating offense. A season ago, he noticeably focused on the back check, staying on his checks and helping get pucks out. Infallible? No. Much better? Yes. Shortened his shifts significantly compared to 2018-19. This year, he's largely reverted.
- bmeltzer

Bill, for the all nice passes Jake makes, the bad IMO out weighs the good. For example last game against the Bruins during that 3rd Flyers PP, Jake who is supposed to be the point person is all the way down into the far corner, leaving Ghost to defend a 2 on 1. This just cannot happen at that point in the game. Add this to the many turnovers, missed opportunities to shoot the puck because he instead tries to make a pretty, his frequent lazy back checks, and I conclude Jake hurts this team way more than he helps it. Its time to move on from him!

Rather re-sign him than take a 7th.
- Tomahawk

If he tells you he is testing free agency. Then what do you do?

Unless they are 100% sure or he tells you he will resign there is no need to keep him around.

This is an overreaction. The worst thing this franchise could do now is overreact to this season. They need to make some changes. They need to bolster the defense. They need to tweak the forwards. They need to add some N/S players that can skate and get to the net. They need to improve special teams. However they don't need a complete breakdown. They have a lot of quality young talent that will get better.
- MJL

They need to move the veterans out so that so-called quality young talent can get an opportunity then, we cannot keep rolling out Gioux, Voracek, Patrick and Hayes on the PP and expect magically its going to work. It hasn't, it isn't and it never will!

LA was another long process and one, actually, that Lombardi and Hextall modeled consciously on trying to create a Flyers-like culture because the Kings didn't have one at the point that Dean and Ron left the Flyers to go to LA.
- bmeltzer

Flyers West.

If he tells you he is testing free agency. Then what do you do?

Unless they are 100% sure or he tells you he will resign there is no need to keep him around.
- login

Laughton seems like the type who would want to stick around and finish what he started.

With jake it’s not the skill I question. It’s the shifts or games off he takes. Wry easy to see when he is motivated and on his game.

Seems like a lot of money between him and a few others that are very streaky.

I dont think it is that bad. Getting a 1st and 4th for 2 guys who can walk is ok. I would take that for Laughton and raffle
- login

Palmieri Zajac >> Laughton Raffl

Judging by what meager returns the Devil's got, selling isn't looking too terribly meaningful.
- Tomahawk

It wasn't that bad, but it is a buyer's market.

Outside of Couturier and Provorov what players do the Flyers have that can be traded for a really good return?

youre a gigantic puusy

who's your "new" team hahahahaah

you started watching in prime Lindros era (prob age)

youre fugazi and weak willed......bail now
- KINGKENZO

Lol I’ve been here for over a decade rooting for this team through good and bad. This isn’t some rash decision after a bad loss.

Fwiw, I started rooting for the Flyers when I moved here in 95. Probably should’ve been rooting for the Red Wings based on your mature reaction.

I’ll root for Edmonton or Colorado. Maybe Seattle once I see a roster. I want to watch exciting players and exciting hockey instead of year 11 of the definition of insanity on ice. Sue me.

Laughton seems like the type who would want to stick around and finish what he started.
- Tomahawk

What has he started? He is part of the mediocrity that has plagued this team.

I personally hope they resign laughton, clode, raffle, and Couterier. I hope Ghost and Bobby are also back next season. Keep all the coaches. It will make for a much more entertaining year.

fugazi
- KINGKENZO

I am a patient boy
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
My time, water down a drain 🎵

What has he started? He is part of the mediocrity that has plagued this team.

I personally hope they resign laughton, clode, raffle, and Couterier. I hope Ghost and Bobby are also back next season. Keep all the coaches. It will make for a much more entertaining year.
- login

minus raffl, even though i like him, i'm with you.

Palmieri Zajac >> Laughton Raffl
- Tomahawk

Agree. Then a 1st and 6th!!!!

I think Laughton may have more value than both individually. Either way I move him.

Lets say I'll give you the Flyers have talent...why all the regression this season? Covid? Can't explain it all, other teams seem to be handling it ok.

Coaching certainly has to be looked at...I don't think you can fire AV after two weird seasons but clearly their is something missing in the delivery of the message or the receiving of the message. At the very least the assistants should be replaced similarly what Pittsburgh did last season...the ST's are a complete and utter train wreck and there is too much talent for them to execute so poorly.

I don't think a few tweaks get this fixed, I think some big and difficult decisions need to be attempted, because this perpetual mediocrity is far and away worse than a few years of tanking to start over. This current state can't continue.
- eabrenner

It's not just a few tweaks that gets this fixed. It's more than just tweaking the roster. This team needs to slot players better. They need a full training camp and significant practice time to sort out and fix the systems issues. The teams lack of attention to detail and team defensive play is the reason for the young players regression in my opinion. The catch 22 is that they're also part of it. It just hasn't been a strong environment this season for the young players as a whole to progress. The Flyers have too many danglers in the forward ranks. Guys that like to hold onto the puck and try and make plays. Need more guys who drive the net and jump into shooting lanes and then shooting the puck. They need a RH shot defenseman to play with Provorov. Really can't overreact to this season and approach it as needing wholesale changes. That would be a mistake.

They need to move the veterans out so that so-called quality young talent can get an opportunity then, we cannot keep rolling out Gioux, Voracek, Patrick and Hayes on the PP and expect magically its going to work. It hasn't, it isn't and it never will!
- jd250

Disagree. More than anything the Flyers need to add some player movement and quicker puck movement to the PP. They need to change angles of attack. Force the PKers to move. Those players if still along with more talent around them can still be effective on the PP.

I think Laughton may have more value than both individually. Either way I move him.
- login

So mediocre Laughts isn't worth re-signing, but he's worth more than Kyle Palmieri in a trade? Sorry, having a hard time following the contradictions.

Lol I’ve been here for over a decade rooting for this team through good and bad. This isn’t some rash decision after a bad loss.

Fwiw, I started rooting for the Flyers when I moved here in 95. Probably should’ve been rooting for the Red Wings based on your mature reaction.

I’ll root for Edmonton or Colorado. Maybe Seattle once I see a roster. I want to watch exciting players and exciting hockey instead of year 11 of the definition of insanity on ice. Sue me.
- hereticpride

That isn't how it works in sports. You root for the team in where you grew up or where you live. So if you live in Flyers country, that's your team. Through thick or thin. What are you going to do, root for the team who wears your favorite color? I will never stop being a Flyers fan.

So mediocre Laughts isn't worth re-signing, but he's worth more than Kyle Palmieri in a trade? Sorry, having a hard time following the contradictions.
- Tomahawk

what contradictions? I want to move on from laughton. Has nothing to do with him as a player. He is part of the core I want to see them move on from.

As a free agent he will get a contract imo that will be be overpayment.

He is the type of player teams may place a higher value on over guys like Palmieri. So yes I think he may be worth more. Is that really such an outlandish thought?

Flyers do not have a player in the top 45 in scoring. Just checking, is that good?

Biggest issue this year was too much reliance on young players, who regressed as many young players do. Also expecting great things from Patrick and Lindblom this season after missing most of last year. Especially in a year with games on top of one another with no time for practice to allow the coaches to try to fix issues as they come up. Hopefully our young players progress next year and the GM can bring in some reinforcements to plug the holes and strengthen the D