The Flyers were gifted that # 2 pick, weren't slotted to draft around 13th? Get a gift, and what do they do with it? Picking second and the pick literally turning into nothing is a joke. Don't want to hear about consensus of scouts/talking heads in the media etc. Patrick had an injury history pre-draft. Case closed. The fact the 3 players drafted right after him being studs is just an extra kick to the balls.
- PLindbergh31

So we really got lucky picking #2 and is was wasted. But if we stuck at #13 where we should have been we have had 1 top 5 pick in the last.....no idea....20 years?
So hextall did good saying he wanted to draft and develop, but that was only a portion of what needed to be done. He needed to get high picks. He failed to see that, hence the 15 year plan. Even of you get 20 1st round picks in 8 years, if they are not top 5 picks, you wont improve your team unless you get lucky.

https://twitter.com/jroc967/status/1468211293677051909?s=20

@AntSanPhilly
I think I remember you tweeting out at one point that the Flyers scouts didn’t want to draft Nolan Patrick but Hextall wanted Patrick. Was this you? And who did the Flyers scouts want to draft?

Yes. That was me. The scouts were recommending either Makar or Heiskanen. Hextall took Patrick.
- Robert's Plant

Bill Meltzer has posted on this multiple times. There was no consensus. Some wanted Patrick, some Makar and some Heiskanen. Hextall did not overrule any consensus.

I said that yesterday as a best case scenario, you draft high and get 3 good players in a deep draft. Sure its pie in the sky hope, but that what I believe has to happen in order for this team, and franchise, to move in the right direction. We have to make up for all the missed opportunities in the past and start hitting on some freak'n picks!
- jd250

You also said players Like Panarin and Fox are always out there and available. Just have to find them. More unicorns and pixie dust.

Well if you're right, in about 10 games we should see this current team winning at a consistent rate. I actually hope, and this is sad for me to admit this, this season blows up and Fletcher is forced to be a seller at the deadline, so we can reset this thing once and for all.
- jd250

After according to you last off season, Fletcher made all the right moves and changed the culture. Must of been a freak thing here.

But its not just about Ron Hextall here. Holmgren drafted some good players but not enough of them. Fletcher has had 3 drafts now and his1st and 2nd round picks include: York, Brink, Attard, Foerster, Andrea, Wisdom & Tuomaala. So far 3 NHL games from York and that is it. Now I understand players need time to develop but not one player he drafted was ready for the NHL. For the past two decades drafting has just not been good enough.
- jd250

He also brought in Risto…for a mid range 1rst…

Personally I didn't want Patrick from day one! A kid that young with an injury history like that is a major red flag!! Can only speak for myself, but that's how I felt. Makar is an absolute stud and game changer. I also wanted Fletcher to pick Caufield and he passed on him twice for what? A defender that's currently struggling in the AHL? I mean, Caufield isn't lighting up the NHL, but at least he's cutting his teeth at the NHL level. All the GMs are to blame for this failure. Meanwhile the dreaded Rags have built a legit Cup contender with lots of young talent. Thanks....no Thanks!

After according to you last off season, Fletcher made all the right moves and changed the culture. Must of been a freak thing here.
- MJL

Fletcher had a good off season. You cannot point to one move he made that has caused the situation this team is in currently. As you keep saying, its all because of bad coaching!

Personally I didn't want Patrick from day one! A kid that young with an injury history like that is a major red flag!! Can only speak for myself, but that's how I felt. Makar is an absolute stud and game changer. I also wanted Fletcher to pick Caufield and he passed on him twice for what? A defender that's currently struggling in the AHL? I mean, Caufield isn't lighting up the NHL, but at least he's cutting his teeth at the NHL level. All the GMs are to blame for this failure. Meanwhile the dreaded Rags have built a legit Cup contender with lots of young talent. Thanks....no Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

The Rags have basically the best record in the NHL, and Kakko and Lafreniere haven't even done anything yet.

You also said players Like Panarin and Fox are always out there and available. Just have to find them. More unicorns and pixie dust.
- MJL

Oh .. so all of sudden Adam Fox and Panarin are generational players in the same league as Connor MacDavid? Please ... go sniff some glue and get real!!

Bill Meltzer has posted on this multiple times. There was no consensus. Some wanted Patrick, some Makar and some Heiskanen. Hextall did not overrule any consensus.
- MJL

And the fact at the time they had Provorov, Sanheim and Myers and had no future #1 center played a role. They knew they needed center depth. Took Patrick, then Frost in the first round and the O'Brien the next year.

Personally I didn't want Patrick from day one! A kid that young with an injury history like that is a major red flag!! Can only speak for myself, but that's how I felt. Makar is an absolute stud and game changer. I also wanted Fletcher to pick Caufield and he passed on him twice for what? A defender that's currently struggling in the AHL? I mean, Caufield isn't lighting up the NHL, but at least he's cutting his teeth at the NHL level. All the GMs are to blame for this failure. Meanwhile the dreaded Rags have built a legit Cup contender with lots of young talent. Thanks....no Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

The Rangers are trending in the right direction but they still have a ways to go to become a legit contender. They also got extremely lucky to get both Panarin and Fox. Without that fortune, they are a significantly lesser team.

He also brought in Risto…for a mid range 1rst…
- landros 2

I still have no problem with this move. Right now Risto is the team's best defenseman, hands down!

The Rangers are trending in the right direction but they still have a ways to go to become a legit contender. They also got extremely lucky to get both Panarin and Fox. Without that fortune, they are a significantly lesser team.
- MJL

Yes, that's right .. it was luck.

The Flyers were gifted that # 2 pick, weren't slotted to draft around 13th? Get a gift, and what do they do with it? Picking second and the pick literally turning into nothing is a joke. Don't want to hear about consensus of scouts/talking heads in the media etc. Patrick had an injury history pre-draft. Case closed. The fact the 3 players drafted right after him being studs is just an extra kick to the balls.
- PLindbergh31

The consensus was a d man from the scouting staff…they were split on Makar or Heskanen. Some scouts had Patrick being the pick, but Hextall, being the GM had every right to pick the guy he wanted…that’s his job. We now know it didn’t work out. All the talk about Patrick’s injuries were talked about but in the Flyers minds they were not a reason to not pick him. They were chalked up to bad luck. They did not see him as injury prone.

And the fact at the time they had Provorov, Sanheim and Myers and had no future #1 center played a role. They knew they needed center depth. Took Patrick, then Frost in the first round and the O'Brien the next year.
- rayc16

Never draft for need, it's stupid.

Oh .. so all of sudden Adam Fox and Panarin are generational players in the same league as Connor MacDavid? Please ... go sniff some glue and get real!!
- jd250

LMAO. Yea, that's what I said. Here is the different between you and I. Instead of just living in candyland and the land of Christmas miracles. I actually looked at the future free agent lists. Unless you believe that a player like McKinnon won't be re-signed by Colorado, there is no player that will be a UFA that is at the level and age of Panarin available in the next few years. I also know that getting an undrafted UFA to only want to play for your team and have that player develop into a Norris trophy defenseman in two years, is a rarity. Just like drafting 3 players in the first round and having all 3 make the team in one off season, in not very likely. Hey, your master plan of a "best case" reset could work out. Just like when you gave the thumbs up to the culture change last off season and said the moves are going to make the Flyers a contender. You telling someone to go sniff some glue and get real is truly priceless.

Yes, that's right .. it was luck.
- jd250

Yeah it was luck. Panarin chose the Rangers in free agency, and they had the cap room to sign him. It's like they found in a needle in a haystack.

I still have no problem with this move. Right now Risto is the team's best defenseman, hands down!
- jd250

Not sure it’s hands down…but the guy is a legit top 4 d. You don’t get them for free. If we had maybe drafted better or developed better over the last 8 years we wouldn’t of had to spend that type of draft capital. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.

Fletcher had a good off season. You cannot point to one move he made that has caused the situation this team is in currently. As you keep saying, its all because of bad coaching!
- jd250

No he didn't. I'll repeat what I told you the entire off season last year after the moves were made. The moves were far more likely to hamper the Flyers future than to make them a contender. I can't point to one move that he has made that caused the situation? LMAO. Maybe not in Christmas wonderland.

I still have no problem with this move. Right now Risto is the team's best defenseman, hands down!
- jd250

I pray that Fletcher finds a moment of clarity and moves Ristolainen at the deadline for whatever he can recoup.

The Rangers are trending in the right direction but they still have a ways to go to become a legit contender. They also got extremely lucky to get both Panarin and Fox. Without that fortune, they are a significantly lesser team.
- MJL

I dunno, they have a young stud goalie(the Russian guy...not gonna try to spell his name) and a young stud defender in Fox. Have a good mix of veterans and young guys that are contributing too. They aren't far off if they aren't an actual contender yet. I will agree that they did kind of luck out with their rebuild when Panarin and Fox both wanted to play there though.

The Rags have basically the best record in the NHL, and Kakko and Lafreniere haven't even done anything yet.
- PLindbergh31

The Rangers are light years ahead of the Flyers in overall talent….they have done a good job drafting, trading and signing. That’s how you can avoid a BS full blown rebuild that has absolutely no guarantee of success.

No he didn't. I'll repeat what I told you the entire off season last year after the moves were made. The moves were far more likely to hamper the Flyers future than to make them a contender. I can't point to one move that he has made that caused the situation? LMAO. Maybe not in Christmas wonderland.
- MJL

Ok genius, which specific move has caused the Flyers current situation? Be specific now, don't just reply in some generalization!

Fletcher on 975 talking playoffs lmaooooo

Ok genius, which specific move has caused the Flyers current situation? Be specific now, don't just reply in some generalization!
- jd250

Ellis
Ristolainen
Atkinson
Yandle