Feel free to quantify and provide the evidence that every expert says Eichel is a top 5 NHL center. What do those experts say about his neck injury?
- MJL

That it’s an unknown.

Your inference here is incorrect.
- MJL

Classic mjl. 😂 says “don’t support tank” “absolutely resign coots” where’s the top picks gonna come from? Please by all means do tell

Classic mjl. 😂 says “don’t support tank” “absolutely resign coots” where’s the top picks gonna come from? Please by all means do tell
- Stayin alive

Classic MJL? Nah, you simply got my stance wrong. It's in black and white on the previous page.

We’ve needed a sniper since Tim Kerr had to hang em up

I really find it hard to believe that people think that the Flyers should go after Eichel. Are you being sarcastic? He already has an injury history and would cost way too much. Please stop chasing names. Look at the teams remaining in the playoffs and just look at the playoffs the last few years. The teams contending have lots of depth. You pay Eichel 10 million a year and where are you going to get your depth from. Get a good goalie to back up Hart just in case(most teams seems to have 1A/1B anyway these days) and get a defender to play with Provorov, and then start trying to build depth up front. You need to get rid of the big contracts.....not take on another one!

And then? Would the 1b goalie help them advance once there?

Or is that the extent of our aspirations? Or is this the old chestnut of "anything can happen once you get in the playoffs?"
- PT21

No that’s not then extent. Every addition to the roster should come with an expected game’s improvement. The biggest +Wins replacement is the second goalie imo. If the goaltending is the same caliber as last year it doesn’t matter who you add.

You’ll still need to add to be a cup contender but improving in the net is critical.

Funny. Doesn’t matter team you are if your started goes down or craps the bed your season is over. A backup doesn’t do much in that case.
- Stayin alive

That’s why I want a 1b. Someone who can step down in and play 50 games of above average goal. As much aa I want Hart to succeed he was a huge let down last season.

When has he ever been healthy? He just finished his 6th season and has missed 91 games.
- MBFlyerfan

And on top of it there is the neck issue. I want no part of Eichel. The Flyers do need a center, I have no confidence in Patrick at this point, and Frost is still just a prospect. But they don’t need to try and bring in a 1C, it won’t be worth the cost. Instead, focus on deal for a good solid middle 6 center who can push Hayes for the 2C spot.

And on top of it there is the neck issue. I want no part of Eichel. The Flyers do need a center, I have no confidence in Patrick at this point, and Frost is still just a prospect. But they don’t need to try and bring in a 1C, it won’t be worth the cost. Instead, focus on deal for a good solid middle 6 center who can push Hayes for the 2C spot.
- BiggE

Rinehart could actually be the better fit for the Flyers from Buffalo. The issue is though that there is only so much cap space. They need at least one defenseman and they need a backup goalie.

Rinehart could actually be the better fit for the Flyers from Buffalo.
- MJL

Agreed

We’ve needed a sniper since Tim Kerr had to hang em up
- Shrike

John LeClair - the guy scored 235 goals in a five year period for the Flyers from 1996 to 2000.

John LeClair - the guy scored 235 goals in a five year period for the Flyers from 1996 to 2000.
- DraftandDestroy

Simon Gagne had seasons of 33, 34, 47 and 41 goals scored. Jeff Carter had seasons of 46, 36 and 33 goals scored.

That’s why I want a 1b. Someone who can step down in and play 50 games of above average goal. As much aa I want Hart to succeed he was a huge let down last season.
- mayorofangrytown

The teams play in front of the goaltending was the cause of the subpar goaltending in my opinion. Especially with Carter Hart.

Rinehart could actually be the better fit for the Flyers from Buffalo. The issue is though that there is only so much cap space. They need at least one defenseman and they need a backup goalie.
- MJL

What about Krejci for a very short term fix? I don’t know if Boston brings him back and he can still play. I can’t see him getting a big pay day with his age and flat cap.

The teams play in front of the goaltending was the cause of the subpar goaltending in my opinion. Especially with Carter Hart.
- MJL

I can’t blame it all on the team. Hart just wasn’t good for much of the season. Didn’t Hart start off the season playing well? As I recall the team didn’t play that well but they were winning games they didn’t deserve to win partly because of Hart’s strong play.

I can’t blame it all on the team. Hart just wasn’t good for much of the season. Didn’t Hart start off the season playing well? As I recall the team didn’t play that well but they were winning games they didn’t deserve to win partly because of Hart’s strong play.
- Dkos

Yes, I would say you’re remembering correctly. It was weird, very unusual circumstances and our really young goalie struggled behind poor team defense.

For me, my number #1 priority, hands down, is getting that top RHD.

From yesterday’s thread:

Allow me to refresh your memory. In the 1990's into the early 2000's, the NJ Devils won 3 Stanley Cups. One of their top defenseman was a guy named Scott Stevens. He is in the Hall of Fame and he was drafted by the Caps and played his first 6 or 7 seasons or so in Washington and then a season in St. Louis before being acquired by trade by the Devils
The Detroit Red Wings won a number of Cups with at least one with 3 defenseman named Chris Chelios, Brian Rafalski and Larry Murphy. Murphy and Chelios are in the Hall of Fame. Rafalski was a top scoring defenseman and finished in the top 10 in Norris trophy voting numerous times. None were drafted or developed by Detroit
Anaheim won a Stanley Cup with a couple of defenseman named Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger. They finished 2 and 3 in the Norris Trophy voting that season and both are in the Hall of Fame.
This is just a few off the top of my head. There are more, I'm quite sure. If we want to expand to the forward or goalie position, there are many, many more.
- MJL

As someone who only began watching hockey in the last two decades, I appreciate the recollections of others in these cases. Even when I started watching, I didn’t know the draft/trade history of most players. Anyway, thanks!

John LeClair - the guy scored 235 goals in a five year period for the Flyers from 1996 to 2000.
- DraftandDestroy

LeClair was a beast, but his production often came from the help of Big E. When Lindros wasn’t there, he could struggle at times.

And that kinda goes without saying. When a man that dominant is on your line, it’s gonna help.

Hey Bill. Here’s our Dallas Warriors team with some camaraderie with the Duluth Warriors.

https://youtu.be/GE-aOyR48nA

I can’t blame it all on the team. Hart just wasn’t good for much of the season. Didn’t Hart start off the season playing well? As I recall the team didn’t play that well but they were winning games they didn’t deserve to win partly because of Hart’s strong play.
- Dkos

It was more than Hart just being that good. He completely lost his game to the point where they felt he had be separated from the team environment to work separately with the goaltender coach. He completely lost his technique and his confidence. What caused that? We saw the same thing happen to many young players on the team. Having to be the best player and the savior having to stand on your head every single game just to have a chance to win becomes cumulative after a while.

What about Krejci for a very short term fix? I don’t know if Boston brings him back and he can still play. I can’t see him getting a big pay day with his age and flat cap.
- arichardson22

I would think at his age if he is going to take a short term low cap hit deal it's with a team he feels has a chance to win now.

From an article I read this morning:

Again, both Montreal and New York have demonstrated a strong 20-man effort can overcome the odds. It’s possible that with a few changes here and there, the Flyers can make some noise with the aforementioned approach when the next postseason arrives.

I agree with the premise that you do not need a generational player to win in the playoffs, but what you do need clearly is speed, skill and tenacity. All 4 teams left in the playoffs this year have oodles of these 3 characteristics, the Flyers have very little of all 3. All things being equal I might agree that the Flyers can make some noise with only a few changes, but things are not equal. These Flyers are slow, lacking skill and have ZERO tenacity, thus I believe its going to take a lot more than just a few changes. As a result I didn't answer the poll, because it has to be more than just getting a RD1 or a scoring winger, it has to be a complete philosophical change within the organization to compete in the modern NHL era.

I would think at his age if he is going to take a short term low cap hit deal it's with a team he feels has a chance to win now.
- MJL

Welcome back!!! I sincerely missed your commentary!

I agree with this. But here is the problem imo

1. Whichever way they plan to play, they don't have the right horses for it. They have a large mishmash, especially up front. Building a cohesive team like Vegas, or Isles, or Tampa or even the defeated Avs will require a large turnover of personnel of veterans.

2. The only way they get the horses, in light of existing cap and contract and situation is either
a. Blow it up and keep the young guys and restart
b. Ride it out and let existing big money contracts come off naturally and then use cap space to make judicious, targeted FA signings/trades.

What I am saying is this: your position, and your reasoning, are contradictory.
- PT21

I don't think Glak18's reasoning is contradictory at all. You still seem to believe that the only way to get the right horses is by getting top picks, but I don't believe that is true. What Fletcher should be doing is figuring out how to clear cap space first and foremost, which he should be able to do this off season. Then use that cap space to sign the right players for today's game, players with speed, skill and most of all tenacity. I don't believe the Flyers should put all the cap space into Hamilton or trade the farm for Jones, and I'm not saying the Flyers need to get 1970's tough. Instead I would sign mid level players like Saad and Larsson, and try to become Islander or Montreal tough, skating circles around your opponents, finishing checks hard and winning tons of puck battles. So freeing cap space, spending it wisely and drafting and developing these types of players is the fastest way for this Flyers team to get back into contention.

Rinehart could actually be the better fit for the Flyers from Buffalo. The issue is though that there is only so much cap space. They need at least one defenseman and they need a backup goalie.
- MJL

TK + 2nd for Rinehart. Get it done