says who?? Tell me who on Buffalo could play defense? Don't you think the Flyers scouts and coaches know more about whether a player can play than you do? I mean, look at the players Fletcher has got rid of: Hagg, Ghost, Myers and Patrick. All of which Suck, Suck, Suck and Suck. Its not like he is trading away our best players. Fletcher is demonstrating, at least to me, that he knows what he is doing. I like Risto and like Ellis. I came into this offseason saying the Flyers needed 2 top 4 Dmen and Fletcher came through, traded some of our worst players for two very good players. That is what a good GM is supposed to do, and Fletcher has demonstrated to me he is a good GM!
- jd250

I agree with all this. With that said they also traded ALOT of draft capital.

Zamula was really good in his callup. Wouldn't be surprised if he beat York out in camp for the last roster spot.
- Tomahawk

Yeah but you want him playing at his age. 7th spot is going to be on popcorn duty most of the season.

Gotta be honest, these prospects losing such an important year to covid raises so many questions about this draft class. A kid that might normally be 3 years away from the NHL now may be 4.

At least they know exactly what they’re getting in Risto
- hereticpride

It’s also about cap flexibility. Ellis I get. Risto I can live with. But that’s a lot of draft capital to piss away. That capital also brings HUGE cap flexibility.

says who?? Tell me who on Buffalo could play defense? Don't you think the Flyers scouts and coaches know more about whether a player can play than you do? I mean, look at the players Fletcher has got rid of: Hagg, Ghost, Myers and Patrick. All of which Suck, Suck, Suck and Suck. Its not like he is trading away our best players. Fletcher is demonstrating, at least to me, that he knows what he is doing. I like Risto and like Ellis. I came into this offseason saying the Flyers needed 2 top 4 Dmen and Fletcher came through, traded some of our worst players for two very good players. That is what a good GM is supposed to do, and Fletcher has demonstrated to me he is a good GM!
- jd250

enough joking arround. Risto is a good pick up you overpaid but you are getting a physical dman who can put up the points. He reminds me of a younger justin faulk. Who by the way was the blues best dman last year. Risto will bounce back

provorov ellis
sanheim risto
??? braun

Hart
Sanheim
Risto
Back up goalie
That’s over half that 34 mil right there. Not accounting for coots and other ufa rfa I’m not even sure of who
- Stayin alive

More like $15 total for those 4 listed. G and Coots are $14. Still $5mil left over for Farabee and Frost.

Plenty of money to keep all the players they want to keep. Of course they probably won't keep all of them. They would also have one year of JVR at that point assuming he is not traded. So they will be fine moneywise.

Yeah but you want him playing at his age. 7th spot is going to be on popcorn duty most of the season.
- hereticpride

Sounded like CF wanted to keep Morin around. Whoever lost out between York and Zamula would play 20+ mins for the Phantoms. Morin #7.

Come on fletch gotta see what the trade value for coots is now. After what you gave up for Risto are you not making calls for coots? Gotta get 2 1st rounders for coots right?

Team is much better today, our D is legit. A bottom pairing of York and Braun would be nice. People wanted change, here you go. Message from management is loud and clear, we aren’t waiting around anymore.

I'm curious to see if York in fact can win the #6 and the Flyers have to sign or trade for some kind of cheap #7. I just don't see York making the roster and having Zamula as the #7.
- Glak18

Morin is the 7. I would be
Surprised if York didn’t make this team. He looked good in his short stint. I was really impressed. Came up a great college year and captained the US team. He did nothing all last year to put himself into position. Slotted right with limited minutes and a vet like Braun on his right will help. He is good.

Team is much better today, our D is legit. A bottom pairing of York and Braun would be nice. People wanted change, here you go. Message from management is loud and clear, we aren’t waiting around anymore.
- ClaudeFather

The message I’m getting is damn. The future

Come on fletch gotta see what the trade value for coots is now. After what you gave up for Risto are you not making calls for coots? Gotta get 2 1st rounders for coots right?
- Stayin alive

So you fill holes on the defense to open a hole up on the top line

Everybody with 2 eyeballs and half a brain.
- Tomahawk

https://twitter.com/based.../1418635827211608070?s=20

I agree with all this. With that said they also traded ALOT of draft capital.
- Stayin alive

The Flyers have plenty of picks and prospects, they needed to get aggressive and start getting players that can play. Risto can play, plain and simple. He was one a terrible team and was on the ice more than any other player on the team other than the goalie. I think his numbers will be much improved now that he is on a 2nd pairing playing about 20 minutes a game versus 25 minutes. The 1st round pick this year was going to get you another 2nd tier player. The Flyers have enough of these players, they needed more, and today they got it!

More like $15 total for those 4 listed. G and Coots are $14. Still $5mil left over for Farabee and Frost.

Plenty of money to keep all the players they want to keep. Of course they probably won't keep all of them. They would also have one year of JVR at that point assuming he is not traded. So they will be fine moneywise.
- mickel25

Is that all the rfa’s/ufa’s? I’m not sure

Flyers need...

-Bottom pairing dman; pref RH
-4th line center
-Back-up goalie

We need cap space

Since the Flyers are going all in and next year's first rounder will be a very late first rounder, Fletcher might as well trade that away too.

Make sure this team is loaded for bear.

Is that all the rfa’s/ufa’s? I’m not sure
- Stayin alive

Everyone of note. I am sure there might be a Phantom or two I am missing.

enough joking arround. Risto is a good pick up you overpaid but you are getting a physical dman who can put up the points. He reminds me of a younger justin faulk. Who by the way was the blues best dman last year. Risto will bounce back

provorov ellis
sanheim risto
??? braun
- BlueTaco

York will start.

Need a competent 7th D in FA, preferably RH to sub in for Braun.

https://twitter.com/based_shesty/status/1418635827211608070?s=20
- ImThatGuy

OK that was (frank)ing HILARIOUS

Is Morin still here? I assume he’s the 7 before Zamula
- hereticpride

Needs to be signed, but if he is the 7 its mostly out of pity and because he has been here a while and we don't want to give up and admit that it was a bust of a pick

Any point to watching the draft tonight?

Nationally: Flyers get F- for deal according to The Athletic.
- Sinisalo4vr

"Honestly, the best way I can sum up the deal: When I saw it first reported, I thought it was fake."

But hey, what do they know. They are just fancy stat guys. We all know stats are an irrelevant universe that has no bearing on our own.

I must have watched no more than 20 odd BUF games outside the Flyers the past 3-4 years, and it is always when some team I cursorily follow plays them. And in every single game there are highlight level bloopers of Risto that even the tv announcers point out.

The message I’m getting is damn. The future
- Stayin alive

Frank the future ... I want to win a cup now! I'm sick of waiting for players that may or may not develop. Fletcher is rebuilding this team, and its so nice to be a fan watching these types of transactions associated with the Flyers again! All the while Hextall doing what he does best ... Nothing .. for our arch rivals. Does it get any better??

You obviously know nothing about Brink or O'Brien. These are both legitimate prospects, though I have concerns over Brink's skating. The 13th overall pick is just that, a pick that will get you another 2nd tier player. The Flyers have plenty of those players right now. Risto is a proven NHL defenseman who can play on the PK and anchor the 2nd pair. This is a good trade for the Flyers!
- jd250

I think I would rather have 13th overall than either Brink or O'Brien. Get the huge 6'6 goalie prospect Cossa there or a center prospect.

Your by far the best hockey writer in Philly Bill, but don’t let his off-ice kindness and demeanor cloud your judgement. Even when he was at his best offensively he still lost 4 of 5 puck battles, and gave up 3 quality scoring chances for every one he created, which is why he had zero value.