Agree with everything except for dumping Sanheim. He is still young, and with an overall better D group plus better forwards, he could go back to the days when he used to be allowed to pinch and take shots in high percentage areas and join the rush as the trailer. Right now, he has to "stay at home" because we can't afford to pinch as much. I don't know if CF has the guts to move on from Risto after paying such a high price, let's hope someone else is in that chair. Buyouts will be needed too, as it may be hard to "trade" some of these players as you've indicated. There has to be a market in order to move them.
- BluehorseShoe64

Don't buy anyone out. Eat it. This team is 5 years away now if they're lucky.

I thought he was just a little banged up?
- Dkos

AVATAR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO DKOS!

His family invented....post its or something? They were loaded, but RIP
- DrMidnite

whiteout correction fluid

I'm just looking forward to how the organization decides to proceed. To see if they have the fortitude to admit that they were wrong and correct.
- MJL

Probably just octuple down on G and Coots to get us through this lol

AVATAR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO DKOS!
- Robert's Plant

Damn Mike Nesmith died. As a little tyke in the early 70s I loved the Monkees.

Rest In Peace
- BiggE

Album sales only second to the Beatles one year in the '60s

You're more likely to get a haiku:

Practice more practice
Covid and AV to blame
Schedule too damn hard
- Tomahawk

lol! Fantastic!

I applaud your eternal optimism. I really do but I wonder what it's going to take for you to have an honest assessment of what the Flyers have done? The moves Fletcher has made and the direction the team has taken since firing Hextall, have not been good decisions. As a GM, that Nashville was willing to trade Ellis for the package that he gave them, should've given him pause. Taking on that contract with a player with a questionable injury history was a colossal blunder. As was trading what he did for Ristolainen for a mediocre player in the final year of his contract. While Atkinson has some good qualities as a player, the Flyers traded more skill and speed, which is what you want to add for Atkinson. They failed to adequately replace the qualities that they lost with Voracek.
I don't think you even realize it but what you're advocating for is the same thing that Hextall was trying to do. How you change with the wind as to what approach the team should take is really amazing. The bottom line is that upper management and Fletcher really screwed up. Fletcher should be fired but that won't happen. The question is what do they do moving forward? Do they smarten up or just continue down the same path? I told you repeatedly last off season that what the Flyers did was far more likely to damage their future than to help it.
What the Flyers need to do is move some players like Giroux and Ristolainen. Create cap space. Use that as a weapon to try and take advantage of teams that need cap space and acquire future assets. If they need to, bring in short term cheap vets as stop gaps and return to the approach that Hextall was taking. If they're smart but they're not.
- MJL

What I don't understand, is why don't you give your resume Powers To Be in Flyerland? You certainly know more that everyone else.

What about the depth of the team? You mentioned yesterday there was no one to back fill coots. Which which one is it? Depth or no depth?

I must be be stupid because I have no idea what he is talking about or referring to.
- MBFlyerfan

For what it is worth, I don't have any clue either.

I respect you because you defend Patrick as much as I defend O'Brien! :-)
- jd250

He doesnt defend patrick quite that much

His family invented....post its or something? They were loaded, but RIP
- DrMidnite

White-Out

Probably just octuple down on G and Coots to get us through this lol
- hereticpride

lol

whiteout correction fluid
- backfire

Liquid Paper

I applaud your eternal optimism. I really do but I wonder what it's going to take for you to have an honest assessment of what the Flyers have done? The moves Fletcher has made and the direction the team has taken since firing Hextall, have not been good decisions. As a GM, that Nashville was willing to trade Ellis for the package that he gave them, should've given him pause. Taking on that contract with a player with a questionable injury history was a colossal blunder. As was trading what he did for Ristolainen for a mediocre player in the final year of his contract. While Atkinson has some good qualities as a player, the Flyers traded more skill and speed, which is what you want to add for Atkinson. They failed to adequately replace the qualities that they lost with Voracek.
I don't think you even realize it but what you're advocating for is the same thing that Hextall was trying to do. How you change with the wind as to what approach the team should take is really amazing. The bottom line is that upper management and Fletcher really screwed up. Fletcher should be fired but that won't happen. The question is what do they do moving forward? Do they smarten up or just continue down the same path? I told you repeatedly last off season that what the Flyers did was far more likely to damage their future than to help it.
What the Flyers need to do is move some players like Giroux and Ristolainen. Create cap space. Use that as a weapon to try and take advantage of teams that need cap space and acquire future assets. If they need to, bring in short term cheap vets as stop gaps and return to the approach that Hextall was taking. If they're smart but they're not.
- MJL

I am not advocating the same approach as Hextall's because I am not trying to build through the draft while also trying to keep a playoff team on the ice. For example, Hextall had no business signing JVR when the team was not even close to contention. My approach is to say, lets completely commit to a rebuild, not a luke-warm attempt to rebuild. Lets go with youngsters for a few seasons and augment smartly as needed. That is not the way I felt coming into this season, but I have eyes and ears, and can plainly see what is going on and have determined its time for a more drastic course correction.

As far as Fletcher's moves since he has been GM, I think they have been measured and appropriate overall. His drafting and trades have been solid IMO; I know you don't like the Risto trade but I did and would do it again. Fletcher has also committed to the current and future core of the team, like Couts and Farabee. The only complaint I had at the time and still now is signing Hayes, but I think he was coerced to sign Hayes by AV. Even so, if Hayes were playing at his 2019 level, I would not be complaining. I still believe in Fletcher and think he is a good GM that will make the correct moves this season, until I see otherwise of course.

He doesnt defend patrick quite that much
- bradster

ya .. probably

I am not advocating the same approach as Hextall's because I am not trying to build through the draft while also trying to keep a playoff team on the ice. For example, Hextall had no business signing JVR when the team was not even close to contention. My approach is to say, lets completely commit to a rebuild, not a luke-warm attempt to rebuild. Lets go with youngsters for a few seasons and augment smartly as needed. That is not the way I felt coming into this season, but I have eyes and ears, and can plainly see what is going on and have determined its time for a more drastic course correction.

As far as Fletcher's moves since he has been GM, I think they have been measured and appropriate overall. His drafting and trades have ben solid IMO; I know you don't like the Risto trade but I did and would do it again. Fletcher has also committed to the current and future core of the team, like Couts and Farabee. The only complaint I had at the time and still now is signing Hayes, but I think he was coerced to sign Hayes by AV. Even so, if Hayes were playing at his 2019 level, I would not be complaining. I still believe in Fletcher and think he is a good GM that will make the correct moves this season, until I see otherwise of course.
- jd250

Drafting, we'll see

He's has come out on the short-end of every trade he's made

I am not advocating the same approach as Hextall's because I am not trying to build through the draft while also trying to keep a playoff team on the ice. For example, Hextall had no business signing JVR when the team was not even close to contention. My approach is to say, lets completely commit to a rebuild, not a luke-warm attempt to rebuild. Lets go with youngsters for a few seasons and augment smartly as needed. That is not the way I felt coming into this season, but I have eyes and ears, and can plainly see what is going on and have determined its time for a more drastic course correction.


- jd250

Hextall's goal was to remain competitive and compete for the playoffs with the emphasis on drafting and developing. The key was that he was not willing to give up any of the future to remain competitive. Look at the list of names you mentioned to build around. But you tell me you're not trying to remain competitive? Of course you are! You'll switch again when the wind switches direction.

As far as Fletcher's moves since he has been GM, I think they have been measured and appropriate overall. His drafting and trades have ben solid IMO; I know you don't like the Risto trade but I did and would do it again. Fletcher has also committed to the current and future core of the team, like Couts and Farabee. The only complaint I had at the time and still now is signing Hayes, but I think he was coerced to sign Hayes by AV. Even so, if Hayes were playing at his 2019 level, I would not be complaining. I still believe in Fletcher and think he is a good GM that will make the correct moves this season, until I see otherwise of course.
- jd250

Believe me, I wasn't expecting you to come the obvious conclusion that Fletchers moves were not the correct moves or the correct approach.
It's interesting that you think that Fletcher was coerced to sign Hayes by AV. Was Hextall coerced to sign JVR by upper management? JVR is on Hextall the same as Hayes is on Fletcher.

What information can you offer to think that Fletcher will make the right moves this season? He clearly hasn't done that since he's been here.

Album sales only second to the Beatles one year in the '60s
- RustyPipes

Only Mickey is left.

Only Mickey is left.
- Gogol

Yep, the same people that remember when the Monkees where on TV can also remember when the Flyers won the cup. That crowd is getting smaller and smaller each year sadly.

AVATAR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO DKOS!
- Robert's Plant

my proudest moment

Agree with everything except for dumping Sanheim. He is still young, and with an overall better D group plus better forwards, he could go back to the days when he used to be allowed to pinch and take shots in high percentage areas and join the rush as the trailer. Right now, he has to "stay at home" because we can't afford to pinch as much. I don't know if CF has the guts to move on from Risto after paying such a high price, let's hope someone else is in that chair. Buyouts will be needed too, as it may be hard to "trade" some of these players as you've indicated. There has to be a market in order to move them.
- BluehorseShoe64

Given Sanheim is playing with Risto, he really doesn't have an excuse not to drive the offense more. Given his defensive liabilities (look at the first Devils goal where Sanheim blows a tire, then swats the stick out of Hart's hands as an example) and his continued hesitancy on the offense to me makes it hard to watch at $4.6M per. He is still younger so hopefully that means he has trade value. The only potential buyout is JVR but I was corrected the other day to realize this would not get the Flyers much in cap space relief, because its not the cap hit that is considered but what is actually owed JVR which is only $4M. I think CF does have the guts to move on from Risto, unless he really wants to stay here and is willing to sign a team friendly deal.

Hextall's goal was to remain competitive and compete for the playoffs with the emphasis on drafting and developing. The key was that he was not willing to give up any of the future to remain competitive. Look at the list of names you mentioned to build around. But you tell me you're not trying to remain competitive? Of course you are! You'll switch again when the wind switches direction.
- MJL

I might change direction based on what I see, that is what smart people do after all. Smart people do not stay the course when all the evidence is hitting them in the face that they are heading over a cliff! Yes lets look at the names I put there, Coots Farabee, Hayes are not going anywhere. Hayes has no market at his cap hit and Coots and Farabee where just resigned to long deals! Same with Laughton. You don't give up on Hart, he has already shown how good he can be. Provorov I would keep because I think he and Ellis could be a solid pairing to build around. I would like to keep Frost but would be willing to trade him if the deal is right. So it was a well-thought out list and unlike you I don't believe this team is 5 years away. I think a good draft and some smart moves this team can be right back much sooner than that.

Believe me, I wasn't expecting you to come the obvious conclusion that Fletchers moves were not the correct moves or the correct approach.
It's interesting that you think that Fletcher was coerced to sign Hayes by AV. Was Hextall coerced to sign JVR by upper management? JVR is on Hextall the same as Hayes is on Fletcher.

What information can you offer to think that Fletcher will make the right moves this season? He clearly hasn't done that since he's been here.
- MJL

Look at the Minnesota Wild, that is Fletcher's team!

The only potential buyout is JVR but I was corrected the other day to realize this would not get the Flyers much in cap space relief, because its not the cap hit that is considered but what is actually owed JVR which is only $4M.
- jd250

You still don't have it right.

You still don't have it right.

- MJL

I dont understand why thats funny, or are you just being a D!ck

I might change direction based on what I see, that is what smart people do after all. Smart people do not stay the course when all the evidence is hitting them in the face that they are heading over a cliff! Yes lets look at the names I put there, Coots Farabee, Hayes are not going anywhere. Hayes has no market at his cap hit and Coots and Farabee where just resigned to long deals! Same with Laughton. You don't give up on Hart, he has already shown how good he can be. Provorov I would keep because I think he and Ellis could be a solid pairing to build around. I would like to keep Frost but would be willing to trade him if the deal is right. So it was a well-thought out list and unlike you I don't believe this team is 5 years away. I think a good draft and some smart moves this team can be right back much sooner than that.


- jd250

Know what the really smart people do? They make the right call before the results are in. Anyone can change their mind in hindsight. That doesn't make someone smart. What credibility do you have with your final statement? Should we review what you said about the moves in the past off season? You've labeled the moves that have set this team back further, smart moves.

Look at the Minnesota Wild, that is Fletcher's team!
- jd250

No it's not his team. This Flyers team is Fletcher's team. He was the GM of the Wild for 9 years. They didn't win anything when he was there. He has been gone from the Wild for almost 2 1/2 years.