FWIW, my thoughts on the draft/trade

The draft
Nothing really stands out to me as particularly good or bad though I do like the Finnish winger they took with their 2nd round pick. Most scouts and sites that I follow weren’t that impressed with this draft class and, once you factor in the Covid effect, it’s more of a crapshoot than usual.

The Ghost trade
I get why they had to do it, but it still frustrates me that Fletcher put himself in the position that forced him to make this deal.

The Risto trade
Yeah, it’s not a great draft but I stil don’t like moving first round picks in deals for useful, but not game changing, players. Personally, I don’t hate Risto as much as the analytic junkies but I don’t like him as much as Bill seems to. One codicil, if he does end up walking than this deal will go down as a disaster and that makes me afraid that he will use that leverage to get a deal that costs too much over too many years.

The Voracek deal
Don’t love it, don’t hate it. Freeing up a little cap space is nice and, due to the lack of bonuses, Atkinson would be relatively easy buyout in comparison to Jake. I can’t really judge this until I see how Atkinson plays this year. One thing about Jake though, love him or hate him, he rarely misses a game and he puts up points. That kind of durability and consistency isn’t easy to find.

Goalie
Please Chuck, stay far away from Holtby. A lot of teams seem to be looking for a goaltender so this might be tricky. Hopefully we can lead a decent one without too much of an overpay.

Overall, I’m not thrilled with the off-season so far, but I don’t hate it. I will say this though. If this team craps the bed in 21-22, it’s time for a new GM, new coaching staff and a complete rebuild.
- BiggE

Interesting since you are ripping the Flyers on another board you post on. yet here you have a slightly diff take. Also ripping on Bill at the same time. What is it you call him? Have a blessed day.

Wrong. The answer is we are not a destination. What a shame.
- Ftown19125

Wrong. The answer is we are not a destination. What a shame.
- Ftown19125

Why didn't he want to play here? Surely you have an opinion no?

I have no doubt they sign a vet 4th line center. Paying over 3 million for a 4th line center wouldnt be smart imo.
- hello it's me 2050

Chuck said he was interested in finding a depth forward and also mention a veteran center. Was quoted saying that he didn’t have enough cap room to spend to much basically. All that leads me to believe he will sign a 4c veteran that can kill penalties and win face offs.

One thing I can say with ABSOLUTE certainty concerning Risto:

If he drills Crosby, I mean lays him out flat with a legal but devastating bone-crushing hit, no one will be thinking or saying CF gave up too much for him 😂 (Malkin or Letang work just as well)

When I say Jake was a bad locker room presence I don’t mean he didn’t get along with other players or caused drama. I just saw his flippant attitude to not be a good influence on the youngsters. he always came across as the “don’t tell me how to play hockey” type and he certainly doesn’t come across as the type of leader that would get younger players to “buy in” to anything. All speculation and whether that was the case or not is moot - management saw a subtraction that could help

Chuck said he was interested in finding a depth forward and also mention a veteran center. Was quoted saying that he didn’t have enough cap room to spend to much basically. All that leads me to believe he will sign a 4c veteran that can kill penalties and win face offs.
- peesinwind

nate thompson........

moving the goal post? thats funny. What he said upset your hero as well. Poor Clode. Move on
- hello it's me 2050

I thought it was very well played by Roo...

You are pulling multiple duties sir. No worries. We all appreciate you and what you provide.

I thought it was very well played by Roo...
- PT21

there is no stoppin the cretins from hopping

Chuck said he was interested in finding a depth forward and also mention a veteran center. Was quoted saying that he didn’t have enough cap room to spend to much basically. All that leads me to believe he will sign a 4c veteran that can kill penalties and win face offs.
- peesinwind

Cizikas
Glendening
Brassard
Pierre


If we have a little more money. Said before would look at wennberg.

Said Morin will be signed. Still wonder if suter gets a one year deal and even parise. But no need for a wing.

Well at this point I’m fairly happy about Chuck’s moves. Unlike some, I thought this was the year he would have to do something. At least I’m not left disappointed. Some suggested a while back that the fans that wanted some very meaningful moves would be left disappointed….how wrong they were.
I like the additions, and honestly am not worked up by any of the departures. Some of those leaving simply never played very well last year. Although I agree it’s tough to move a #13 in the draft I also realize you can’t just keep kicking the can down the road. As Fletcher so eloquently suggested to bring back the same players and expect different results was not a plan…it would have been stupid and incompetent.
…..well done Chuck…and please don’t stop there.

Does anyone have the stats to support this?
- Dkos

thats funny, im sure he'll come up with something.
Really dont even need to watch games to see if anyone is any good. Just pull up stat sheets after the games and judge

Well at this point I’m fairly happy about Chuck’s moves. Unlike some, I thought this was the year he would have to do something. At least I’m not left disappointed. Some suggested a while back that the fans that wanted some very meaningful moves would be left disappointed….how wrong they were.
I like the additions, and honestly am not worked up by any of the departures. Some of those leaving simply never played very well last year. Although I agree it’s tough to move a #13 in the draft I also realize you can’t just keep kicking the can down the road. As Fletcher so eloquently suggested to bring back the same players and expect different results was not a plan…it would have been stupid and incompetent.
…..well done Chuck…and please don’t stop there.
- landros 2

I’m at peace with losing the first in such a unpredictable draft where players’ development could be stunted from COVID. That’s how I’m spinning it.

When I say Jake was a bad locker room presence I don’t mean he didn’t get along with other players or caused drama. I just saw his flippant attitude to not be a good influence on the youngsters. he always came across as the “don’t tell me how to play hockey” type and he certainly doesn’t come across as the type of leader that would get younger players to “buy in” to anything. All speculation and whether that was the case or not is moot - management saw a subtraction that could help
- black_francis

100%, culture.

Bill,
Great stuff as always, and as others have said, you never need apologize.

In your opinion, will Chuck try to sign legit (4th line) muscle/deterrent?

So I’ll add this. In my view there are a lot of intangible chemistry issues in hockey. That’s why you’ll sometimes see teams overachieve like Montreal that outplay Vegas. Clearly many teams think that RR can be valuable if properly deployed if there were several offers for him. The stats don’t tell the whole story.
- Hextall271

I believe they said 7 teams were interested with multiple of them offering 1 st rounders. But those were later first rounders. Glad he didn’t go to Boston wash Pitt Toronto you get it.

I’m at peace with losing the first in such a unpredictable draft where players’ development could be stunted from COVID. That’s how I’m spinning it.
- black_francis

Yes. And also I consider how we haven’t really traded any picks for years now. We’ve accrued more. Have to give to get. Works in all directions. How many times has Pitt drafted on the first round over the last 15 years. They flip players quick looking for that chemistry.

Thanks Bill for the excellent “feel good” off ice story, as well as your analysis of all the moves over the past few days. Obviously moving out so many players will be met with criticism. After last season’s debacle, significant changes had to come. I’m surrounded by Leafs Nation who once again choked in the first round (another feel good moment) and had everyone saying that major changes had to come. So far for Leafs, crickets. To date, I think CF has done an excellent job of moving out some parts who were given ample opportunity but simply failed to consistently improve. It’s been frustrating being a Flyers fan surrounded by this overwhelming Leafs nation, but really appreciate all the updates and hoping and looking forward of seeing some positive change in Flyers game, making them a harder to to play against.

That's what I find interesting about re-signing Morin. He seems like a genuinely good person and will look at what needs to help the team before himself. Having someone who is versatile that can fill a wing spot or LD could be very helpful. Plus his attitude could be just as helpful. I don't think he will be a star, but after seeing how he handled everything last year I would bring him back for his intangibles alone.
- Glak18

Agreed. Except I never want to see him play wing again. 😆

When I say Jake was a bad locker room presence I don’t mean he didn’t get along with other players or caused drama. I just saw his flippant attitude to not be a good influence on the youngsters. he always came across as the “don’t tell me how to play hockey” type and he certainly doesn’t come across as the type of leader that would get younger players to “buy in” to anything. All speculation and whether that was the case or not is moot - management saw a subtraction that could help
- black_francis

The biggest thing that bothered me about Voracek was the way he would mention how many points HE had in his career whenever he had any criticism toward himself...that tells me all I need to know about his character.

Be fun to see a game with RR and Morin in, little old time hockey is always fun

Interesting since you are ripping the Flyers on another board you post on. yet here you have a slightly diff take. Also ripping on Bill at the same time. What is it you call him? Have a blessed day.
- hello it's me 2050

Oh oh, dems be fighting words. 😏🍿

Fletcher trades a 1st, 2nd and Claude Giroux for Sam Carchidi?

Cizikas
Glendening
Brassard
Pierre


If we have a little more money. Said before would look at wennberg.

Said Morin will be signed. Still wonder if suter gets a one year deal and even parise. But no need for a wing.
- Peter Richards

Yeah. Those make sense to me. I think it will be a hockey trade though. We will give a cheap player from a wing and get a cheap player in the middle or something like that. Maybe a FA. Fletcher said he wants to do something there and by what he has done so far I would say he is a man of action right now.