I think it will be a struggle to find a top 4 d man in that range. Where I would be on board is if they think one of these young guys can step up …ie York or Zamula and fill that role. How do you get guys like VDV, Brown, Thompson, Willman, mayhew from seeing the ice? Guys like Frost, Bunnaman, Ratcliffe, Allison, Brink and O’brien …the guys we spent draft capital on have to develop and actually play.
- landros 2

I agree, and I do believe O'Brien will be part of the Flyers next season, either in the AHL or on the big club. I have seen all I want to see from Bunnaman, and since he is a 1st round pick the Flyers need to remain patient with Frost in hopes he figures it out. I think Allison just has to stay healthy and we know he can play for the Flyers. With Brink I still question whether he skates well enough to play in the NHL, but in fairness I haven't seen him play recently. I know he has the heart.

One other FA besides Lindholm I would take a run at is Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado. I think there is more in there and he can be a 20 goal scorer for some team, and he would be reasonable cost wise to sign.

There is no sense of trying to have a rational conversation with you, I get it, you hate Fletcher, he replaced Hextall, so no matter what he does or does not do it won't matter. I think Fletcher this season has been very patient, letting things play out, and that is absolutely the right thing to do at this point.
- jd250

Are you happy with the team routinely dressing so many players who are AHL-level talent: Willman, Seeler, Yandle, Mayhew, MacEwen, Brown and Cates? With twelve forwards and six defenders, that is 1/3 of the team. Is that what you expect from an NHL franchise?

Are you happy with the team routinely dressing so many players who are AHL-level talent: Willman, Seeler, Yandle, Mayhew, MacEwen, Brown and Cates? With twelve forwards and six defenders, that is 1/3 of the team. Is that what you expect from an NHL franchise?
- iamscore2day

Do they have a choice?

There is no sense of trying to have a rational conversation with you, I get it, you hate Fletcher, he replaced Hextall, so no matter what he does or does not do it won't matter. I think Fletcher this season has been very patient, letting things play out, and that is absolutely the right thing to do at this point.
- jd250

You're the guy not having a rational conversation. What is the NHL trade market like now? As if there is a bunch of trades being made and opportunities in season to make changes. LOL You keep falling back on this absurd Hextall schtick as if that is an example of a rational conversation.

I agree, and I do believe O'Brien will be part of the Flyers next season, either in the AHL or on the big club. I have seen all I want to see from Bunnaman, and since he is a 1st round pick the Flyers need to remain patient with Frost in hopes he figures it out. I think Allison just has to stay healthy and we know he can play for the Flyers. With Brink I still question whether he skates well enough to play in the NHL, but in fairness I haven't seen him play recently. I know he has the heart.

One other FA besides Lindholm I would take a run at is Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado. I think there is more in there and he can be a 20 goal scorer for some team, and he would be reasonable cost wise to sign.
- jd250

O'Brien and Brink can both play out their college careers and sign somewhere else like Kalynuk. Maybe they look at how Flyers develop their talent and choose to stay in college. Seeing how Fletch prefers cast-offs from other teams versus his talent, why wouldn't you think hard about this option?

I know top picks matter, but it's what you do with those picks.

I know I'm not comparing apples to apples but the Sixers went that route and didn't do the swiftest of jobs. Sure they got got Embiid and Simmons ( I know I know) but the screwed the pooch and traded up to get Fultz when they could have stayed pat and got Tatum. Also Okafor over Porzingis.

Point being they need to draft the right guys and then hopefully develop them too.
- Pelle31Forever

That is the thing when you put all your eggs in the draft basket, its a crap shoot. You can draft a very good player and he gets hurt, and good-bye prospect. I do believe the best way to get impact players is to draft high, but there are no guarantees the player will develop the way you hope. All you can do is make the best decision you can at the time and hope for the best.

That is the thing when you put all your eggs in the draft basket, its a crap shoot. You can draft a very good player and he gets hurt, and good-bye prospect. I do believe the best way to get impact players is to draft high, but there are no guarantees the player will develop the way you hope. All you can do is make the best decision you can at the time and hope for the best.
- jd250

Do you not see that making trades and giving up picks in a rushed attempt to fast track your team is a crap shoot?

Do they have a choice?
- jd250

Gee, Zamula looked better than either of those defensemen. Honigberg may well be better than them too. What about Sandin and Sushko? They could be improvements too. Then we might also learn something about our young guys. If he had not blundered with NAK, he might still be here. So, yeah, he does have options and had more before he demoted NAK to keep another team's cast-off.

Interesting little tidbit from Pierre Lebrun….Flyers and G have not discussed a trade or his no movement clause. G has not even talked to his agent. The Flyers have not engaged with any team about a possible trade. Now as Lebrun points out, there’s lots of time as we are 9 more weeks of misery away from the trade deadline.

You're the guy not having a rational conversation. What is the NHL trade market like now? As if there is a bunch of trades being made and opportunities in season to make changes. LOL You keep falling back on this absurd Hextall schtick as if that is an example of a rational conversation.

- MJL

For example, Fletcher could have went out and got another experienced coach like Torts to appease the fan base. Or he could have made a stupid trade just to shake things up. He didn't, that is my point. We will see at the deadline what Fletcher does and then I am sure you will judge him fairly and impartially at that time!

Interesting little tidbit from Pierre Lebrun….Flyers and G have not discussed a trade or his no movement clause. G has not even talked to his agent. The Flyers have not engaged with any team about a possible trade. Now as Lebrun points out, there’s lots of time as we are 9 more weeks of misery away from the trade deadline.
- landros 2

That is interesting. I do feel that CG has a lot of loyalty to the organization. He may want to stay.

Gee, Zamula looked better than either of those defensemen. Honigberg may well be better than them too. What about Sandin and Sushko? They could be improvements too. Then we might also learn something about our young guys. If he had not blundered with NAK, he might still be here. So, yeah, he does have options and had more before he demoted NAK to keep another team's cast-off.
- iamscore2day

Zamula is what, 175lbs soaking wet. You want to get the guy killed and end any chance of a career, feed him to wolves. I think its better for Zamula to refine his game in the AHL at this point in his career.

I agree, and I do believe O'Brien will be part of the Flyers next season, either in the AHL or on the big club. I have seen all I want to see from Bunnaman, and since he is a 1st round pick the Flyers need to remain patient with Frost in hopes he figures it out. I think Allison just has to stay healthy and we know he can play for the Flyers. With Brink I still question whether he skates well enough to play in the NHL, but in fairness I haven't seen him play recently. I know he has the heart.

One other FA besides Lindholm I would take a run at is Valeri Nichushkin from Colorado. I think there is more in there and he can be a 20 goal scorer for some team, and he would be reasonable cost wise to sign.
- jd250

Hopefully Brink and others in college go the free agency route.

For example, Fletcher could have went out and got another experienced coach like Torts to appease the fan base. Or he could have made a stupid trade just to shake things up. He didn't, that is my point. We will see at the deadline what Fletcher does and then I am sure you will judge him fairly and impartially at that time!
- jd250

No, your point is a bad one. Fletcher has not been patient. The organization has not been patient. At all. That's the problem! I will judge Fletcher objectively. You just don't like that my judgements turn out to be correct.

For example, Fletcher could have went out and got another experienced coach like Torts to appease the fan base. Or he could have made a stupid trade just to shake things up. He didn't, that is my point. We will see at the deadline what Fletcher does and then I am sure you will judge him fairly and impartially at that time!
- jd250

That would be quite a marriage: "Favor-bank Cliff" and "call it like you see it" Torts. The team might not win all that much, but Tort's honesty, lack of patience or fear might provide a lot of detail about what goes on behind closed doors in our FO and make for must-see TV.

O'Brien and Brink can both play out their college careers and sign somewhere else like Kalynuk. Maybe they look at how Flyers develop their talent and choose to stay in college. Seeing how Fletch prefers cast-offs from other teams versus his talent, why wouldn't you think hard about this option?
- iamscore2day

This is the problem when you draft guys destined for the NCAA….and when your organization gives no semblance of direction or competence going on a decade….can you blame these guys if they don’t sign here?

No, your point is a bad one. Fletcher has not been patient. The organization has not been patient. At all. That's the problem! I will judge Fletcher objectively. You just don't like that my judgements turn out to be correct.
- MJL

Yes, of course I'm still waiting for one of your judgements to be correct, but don't worry, your luck will change eventually.

Hopefully Brink and others in college go the free agency route.
- hello it's me 2050

I just can't root against the Fmen yet in this way. Both of these guys could turn into something. Losing picks in this manner would be painful.

This is the problem when you draft guys destined for the NCAA….and when your organization gives no semblance of direction or competence going on a decade….can you blame these guys if they don’t sign here?
- landros 2

Nope, I would not blame them but I hope we get our sh** together before that happens.

This is the problem when you draft guys destined for the NCAA….and when your organization gives no semblance of direction or competence going on a decade….can you blame these guys if they don’t sign here?
- landros 2

This organization needs to hit the absolute rock bottom. Seeing guys you drafted walk is a step in that direction.

Yes, of course I'm still waiting for one of your judgements to be correct, but don't worry, your luck will change eventually.
- jd250

More fantasy. Pick any of the debates we've had. Any of them. Want to start with what went on last off season? Or do you want to go back further.

This is the problem when you draft guys destined for the NCAA….and when your organization gives no semblance of direction or competence going on a decade….can you blame these guys if they don’t sign here?
- landros 2

I don't know, if I were one of these two, I would be excited to know I have a real chance to crack the lineup next season give the state the team is in. Again, you can't overreact to a down season, the Flyers will figure this out. Right now I think both players will be here in some way next season.

More fantasy. Pick anyone of the debates we've had. Any of them. Want to start with what went on last off season? Or do you want to go back further.



- MJL

Fine, name the debate .. I won just about all of them .. so no worries from my side.

That is interesting. I do feel that CG has a lot of loyalty to the organization. He may want to stay.
- iamscore2day

I agree, but after watching yet another year of this I think the Flyers need to move on….hate saying it, but they are not within 2 years of being a contender and it’s fair to assume G is not going to get better as we move along. I don’t see a point in bringing him back at anywhere close to his cap hit.

Zamula is what, 175lbs soaking wet. You want to get the guy killed and end any chance of a career, feed him to wolves. I think its better for Zamula to refine his game in the AHL at this point in his career.
- jd250

He played 20+ minutes in the one game that he was up and looked good and definitely better than KY or NS. He does not look all that different than Petersen on the Pens to me. He certainly deserves a longer look.