Okay, my bad, great point but firefighters aren’t working for billionaires to be well Compensated.With this said, who willingly wants surgery unless they’re feeling real discomfort? He’s not looking for plastic boobs or thicker lips. He’s looking to not get blindsided on the ice. I have zero problem with what Eichel is doing.
- SuperSchennBros

Don't really understand why anybody feels like they have to take a side on this. Both parties have clown shoes on. It's a public spectacle. Sit back and enjoy your popcorn.

i agree totally. both sides look bad. something rubs me the wrong way about a player publicly demanding a trade early into his new deal that's paying him 80M.
- Ftown19125

Because, like Hall, he doesn't want to play on a team that stinks. (Nobody does, I know that.) Instead of being a real leader he sulks and wants out.

Talent? yes
Leadership? nope
Team player? nope

I think the moves he made this off season, both the quality and quantity, should be highly praised, especially in the flat-cap world of the NHL these days. Fletcher has seriously shaken up the chemistry of this team, filled obvious gaps, brought accountability back to the locker room, and secured key players and RFAs. Sure, he hasn't won anything with the Flyers yet, so all I have to go by is the moves he's made and the team on paper, but I think any open minded person would be very impressed with Fletcher's off season and I believe this off season will be looked back on very fondly for many years to come.
- jd250

We have no idea at this point how well all of the moves will actually work. Do we give out A's for effort now? Fletcher's moves could go either way. There is potential of the moves in the long run being bad for the team.

Apparently it is. So what? He’s not playing without getting it fixed and he’s not willing to get the fusion. This is a very wealthy young man who’s probably in a lot of discomfort. Just go get it fixed.
- Dkos

According to the CBA the team has the final decision. To go off on his own anyway would have big legal and financial consequences. A resolution to avoid that must be found.

Never said he didn't have potential. And if you go by what it was before he was drafted, then I see Foerster as a swing for the fences type player. Either he is going to be a top six sniper because of his booming and accurate shot, or he wont be anything at all because he cant keep up.

I hope it is the former.
- MBFlyerfan

Some just can't understand. Many of Hextall's picks are already solid players. Carter Hart has the potential to be a top goaltender in the league. Provorov is already a #1 defenseman. There is the potential of Farabee. Konecny has already had a number of solid NHL seasons and scored in the 60 point range. Allison, if he can stay healthy has all the signs of being a player. It's not that Fletcher's picks don't have potential. It's why is their potential so much better than Hextall's picks?

My bar is the final 4 this coming season.
- jd250

So you have tunnel vision on one season? These moves that were made better yield quality results for more than that.

We have no idea at this point how well all of the moves will actually work. Do we give out A's for effort now? Fletcher's moves could go either way. There is potential of the moves in the long run being bad for the team.
- MJL

Sure, there is always a chance things go extremely south but I think that chance is also extremely small. CF has brought in quality and proven players, players that still have plenty in the tank and compete hard. I think its totally fair to judge the moves based on the performance of the team this season, and I believe its going to be an A+. If I'm wrong, so be it, but that would mean another lost season, and that is something I really can't stomach to even think about.

So you have tunnel vision on one season? These moves that were made better yield quality results for more than that.
- MJL

Of course, I agree. I was just commenting on what I expect this coming season. Ultimately I want a Cup, nothing less! Its more than the Flyers' turn at this point.

I can't argue they have more potential, but I will say they have different potential. I think Hextall valued 200 foot players which is a very good thing, but he was not able to draft and develop a pure scorer nor was he able to really address the speed in the system. I believe CF and his team have focused more on this area and thus we have players like Foerster and Tuomaala, and don't forget CF drafted York who looks good. I'm surprised you left out Frost as a Hexy pick, he's going to get the chance to win the 2nd line C role, I hope he succeeds.
- jd250

Was Konecny a 200 foot player when drafted? How about Frost? Farabee is not a pure scorer? I think he's going to be a 35 goal guy in this league?

Tuomaala can't possibly be a quality prospect. He came out of a weak draft that apparently lessened the value of a first round pick in the same draft that made is viable to trade that pick. (sarcasm)

And AV in one of his first interviews of camp mentioned the improvements in accountability in the locker room, that was a pretty revealing statement IMO.
- jd250

They haven't even played an exhibition game yet.

Apparently it is. So what? He’s not playing without getting it fixed and he’s not willing to get the fusion. This is a very wealthy young man who’s probably in a lot of discomfort. Just go get it fixed.
- Dkos

He'd have to be OK w/ being suspended indefinitely and losing a (frank) ton of $. Or having his contract terminated (if the Sabres go bat poop crazy).

Apparently it is. So what? He’s not playing without getting it fixed and he’s not willing to get the fusion. This is a very wealthy young man who’s probably in a lot of discomfort. Just go get it fixed.
- Dkos

So what? Seriously?

Breach of contract mean anything to you?

Hopefully Avon, unlike Mike Maneluk and my avatar, has more skillz than just speed......

i agree totally. both sides look bad. something rubs me the wrong way about a player publicly demanding a trade early into his new deal that's paying him 80M.
- Ftown19125

Same with me but we also have to consider that he plays on a team with dysfunctional management that shows no signs of being able to build a quality team. Combine that with how they're jerking him around with his medical condition and it's understandable that he wants out.

"goggle is your friend holmes"
- Ftown19125

Your mom

Apparently it is. So what? He’s not playing without getting it fixed and he’s not willing to get the fusion. This is a very wealthy young man who’s probably in a lot of discomfort. Just go get it fixed.
- Dkos

The team had final say on what surgery he can get. He doesn't want the surgery the team wants.

Was Konecny a 200 foot player when drafted? How about Frost? Farabee is not a pure scorer? I think he's going to be a 35 goal guy in this league?

Tuomaala can't possibly be a quality prospect. He came out of a weak draft that apparently lessened the value of a first round pick in the same draft that made is viable to trade that pick. (sarcasm)
- MJL

This is what Elite Prospects said about TK, which is the definition of the 200 foot player (though he was touted as much more than this):

Possesses dynamic skating ability that allows him to accelerate rapidly with each step, incredible hockey sense, electrifying puck handling skills, and a lightning release on his shot; when you put this skillset together with hard-nosed determination, proactiveness in all three zones, and a physical willingness to grind and persevere, you get a game-changer who can be extremely difficult to play against.

And for Morgan Frost, again an intelligent 200 foot player:

Morgan has good hockey sense and he reads plays quickly in all three zones and reacts accordingly,

Yes, I got the sarcasm. But going to the same source its all about speed and shot for Tuomaala:

He reloads to swing wide on his team’s breakout, collects the puck in stride, accelerates through knee-over-knee crossovers, and drives play across the offensive blue line. Blink, and you just might miss him. Tuomaala has a wicked wrist shot, and he can get it off in-stride from either foot.

Same with me but we also have to consider that he plays on a team with dysfunctional management that shows no signs of being able to build a quality team. Combine that with how they're jerking him around with his medical condition and it's understandable that he wants out.
- MJL

very true. at end of the day i have nothing invested in the situation, and don't really care how it plays out i guess. it's just entertainment at this point.

We have no idea at this point how well all of the moves will actually work. Do we give out A's for effort now? Fletcher's moves could go either way. There is potential of the moves in the long run being bad for the team.
- MJL

What about the potential of the moves being positive. As you said too early to tell. So why keep discussing it every day.

Sure, there is always a chance things go extremely south but I think that chance is also extremely small. CF has brought in quality and proven players, players that still have plenty in the tank and compete hard. I think its totally fair to judge the moves based on the performance of the team this season, and I believe its going to be an A+. If I'm wrong, so be it, but that would mean another lost season, and that is something I really can't stomach to even think about.
- jd250

I'd love to hear the explanation of why that chance is extremely small. When you bring in Ellis who has 6 years left on his contract. Atkinson 4 more years and Ristolainen needing to be re-signed, stating that it's totally fair to judge it on one season and ignore the rest, is absurd.

This is what Elite Prospects said about TK, which is the definition of the 200 foot player (though he was touted as much more than this):


And for Morgan Frost, again an intelligent 200 foot player:


Yes, I got the sarcasm.
- jd250

Wasn’t frost like plus 50 or something that year.

Tyson has the potential to be a 50 goal scorer.

What about the potential of the moves being positive. As you said too early to tell. So why keep discussing it every day.
- Peter Richards

Well it's just me discussing it every day. I've posted numerous times on the potential of the moves being positive. Why keep trolling every day?

So what? Seriously?

Breach of contract mean anything to you?
- MBFlyerfan

Not much, if we're talking about my health. Isn't he already refusing to have have surgery? Why isn't that a breach of contract?

This is what Elite Prospects said about TK, which is the definition of the 200 foot player (though he was touted as much more than this):


And for Morgan Frost, again an intelligent 200 foot player:


Yes, I got the sarcasm. But going to the same source its all about speed and shot for Tuomaala:
- jd250

Proactiveness is not the definition of a 200 foot player. We have better evidence than that. We have Konecny's play as a young player. Where he had issues with puck management and play away from the puck. Frost is a skilled offensive center drafted for that skill and not 200 foot play.

You can't get a good player from the recent weak draft.

I'd love to hear the explanation of why that chance is extremely small. When you bring in Ellis who has 6 years left on his contract. Atkinson 4 more years and Ristolainen needing to be re-signed, stating that it's totally fair to judge it on one season and ignore the rest, is absurd.
- MJL

So Ellis' career can't follow something similar to Kimmo Timonen's? Atkinson is a proven better scorer than Jake and is only signed for one more season but is the same age. Risto will sign here, I have little doubt of that (no proof, just my gut) and is only 26 but has all the tools to be an elite defenseman in this league. I think there is a good chance all these things turn out well, thus I am bullish on the move CF made this off season.