Besides Zamula, who should be playing on the flyers, who do they have that should be up prospect wise?

Sandstrum is the only one. Jones needs to be moved asap. There is a deal to be made with Saint Ronnie on that front.
- hello it's me 2050

Edmonton needs a goalie....I mean a reasonable facsimile of a goalie.

Just asking but would Flyer fan be ok with Torts for a couple years…?

It would def change the culture.
- dozerD10

nope and last thing they need is a win now coach. I doubt any good coach even wants this mess.

Dont you need to show something in the AHL? Have any of those guys done that?
- hello it's me 2050

All of those guys have shown enough to be worth a try. When you are skating Willman, Brown, MacEwen, Cates, Seeler and Yandle, it is time to give others opportunities.

How about some questions about broader trends, without getting into Internet outrage? Such as:

1. The signings after Hextall left clearly suggested the organization believed the team was ready to take the next step. Yet 3 years later, this seems very far from the truth. How do you explain such a huge 'mis-assessment'?

2. What changes are you thinking of to correct the mistakes in the above? Can you explain why you think your corrections would specifically avoid those mistakes?

3. We have an aging, injured roster, without any rising real stars. What is your long term plan to change this while simultaneously handling the burden of long contracts?

4. For a long time, we have not drafted or developed anyone who is a bona fide star. Most contending teams have not just 1, but several. Can you explain why this came about and how the organization plans to correct it?

5. Given the above, it seems like we do not have the scouting expertise to pick up really good players later in the draft, or, we are just not getting lucky. In other words, it seems our only chance to get really good young players is high in the draft. Yet, the organization keeps avoiding a total rebuild. Under the circumstances, what makes the organization think it will be successful doing something it has repeatedly failed with in the past?

Along those lines, Bill.



- PT21

Great questions, you should be invited to the presser tomorrow!

Zamula is a defenseman so lets leave him out since we are talking about forward prospects. Sandin has been given a shot, he is no where close. Sushko and Ratcliffe have had a hard enough time making an impact in the AHL, do you really think they are ready? Both played a lot in training camp and in exhibition games, they were completely non factors. You can't just take a player like Lycksell from Sweden and put him in the NHL, there is an adjustment period needed for players to get used to the smaller NHL rink. So I think you proved my point, there is simply not a lot of options for the Flyers in their system. The cupboards were not as stocked as we were lead to believe!
- jd250

Well, Im not sure many (if any) franchises have the cupboards to restock the lineup when you are missing 5 centers and a first pair dman. That is not an excuse, it is a FACT.

If I am wrong please point out these organizations who do.

Quality taken out of the equation, because that is a different debate, but the cupboards are bare because they are being used up.

All of those guys have shown enough to be worth a try. When you are skating Willman, Brown, MacEwen, Cates, Seeler and Yandle, it is time to give others opportunities.
- iamscore2day

What have they shown?

Just from a points perspective:

Isaac - 10 in 31 games. 106 total games played - 33 points

Sushko - 9 in 28 games. 90 total games played - 30 points

That would be a disaster and my hope is Yeo and Fletcher would field a lineup that would prohibit that from happening.
- jd250

Are you saying tank?.... hold on, what's the definition of tanking again

Those 2 were better AHL plyers than the ones you have mentioned. Let that sink in
- hello it's me 2050

Willman was not any more remarkable than several of the folks I mentinoed. As for Mayhew, he is a 29 year old guy. Hardly a prospect you could build around. I get that you hate our prospects but it is mostly in your head.

Time for both to schitt or get off the pot. It is a disgrace Sandsturm isn't up now. He has earned it. You move Jones to make room. Simple as that.
- hello it's me 2050

agreed

How about some questions about broader trends, without getting into Internet outrage? Such as:

1. The signings after Hextall left clearly suggested the organization believed the team was ready to take the next step. Yet 3 years later, this seems very far from the truth. How do you explain such a huge 'mis-assessment'?

2. What changes are you thinking of to correct the mistakes in the above? Can you explain why you think your corrections would specifically avoid those mistakes?

3. We have an aging, injured roster, without any rising real stars. What is your long term plan to change this while simultaneously handling the burden of long contracts?

4. For a long time, we have not drafted or developed anyone who is a bona fide star. Most contending teams have not just 1, but several. Can you explain why this came about and how the organization plans to correct it?

5. Given the above, it seems like we do not have the scouting expertise to pick up really good players later in the draft, or, we are just not getting lucky. In other words, it seems our only chance to get really good young players is high in the draft. Yet, the organization keeps avoiding a total rebuild. Under the circumstances, what makes the organization think it will be successful doing something it has repeatedly failed with in the past?

Along those lines, Bill.



- PT21

No press member is willing to risk their job to ask those valid questions of anybody in management who are unwilling to risk their job to answer those valid questions.

We all know that there will be a win streak at the end of the year and we will go from picking #4 to #9
- ClaudeFather

Previous years, yes. There is no chance of this team putting any kind of winning streak together

Sandin, Zamula, Honigberg, Sushko, and Ratcliffe have all been playing. Bring Lycksell back from Sweden (where he is playing quite well) or at least try. This narrative is wrong. We have the kids and should give them a chance. It worked with the Kiddie Corps.
- iamscore2day

Awesome the same group that got off to a great start in the A.
Ratcliffe was one I hoped would get it with his size.
Dude is stiff who should be a beast in the A then get called up.
As Dr "Fraankinsteen" I'd like to see a player with the mix of Ratcliffe and Macwen the sing puttin on the Ritz!.

Previous years, yes. There is no chance of this team putting any kind of winning streak together
- DaveofYork

We'd be lucky to put together a streak of winning periods let alone games.

We'd be lucky to put together a streak of winning periods let alone games.
- konalover711

exactly....we are down to celebrating a shot on goal. even during a pp

Willman was not any more remarkable than several of the folks I mentinoed. As for Mayhew, he is a 29 year old guy. Hardly a prospect you could build around. I get that you hate our prospects but it is mostly in your head.
- iamscore2day

yes he absolutely was and to say otherwise is wrong. Way wrong.

No one said Mayew was someone to build around did they? Nope they didn't.

More false narrative BS. Flyers prospects in the AHL are not legit NHL prospects less Zamula and Sandstrum. That isn't hate, that is reality.

Well, Im not sure many (if any) franchises have the cupboards to restock the lineup when you are missing 5 centers and a first pair dman. That is not an excuse, it is a FACT.

If I am wrong please point out these organizations who do.

Quality taken out of the equation, because that is a different debate, but the cupboards are bare because they are being used up.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, the Flyers NHL team has been hit hard with injuries, that is absolutely a fact! However, do the Flyers have younger players that can come in and compensate, clearly not! Look at Tampa this past off season, they lost their entire 3rd line but yet they have recovered nicely with a new and younger 3rd line made up entirely of internal prospects. Look at who the Flyers have to play in their lineup right now, those are the best players they have in their system to put in, players like Mayhew, Willman, Frost, Cates, not exactly the young studs were were hoping for! Would it be better if Allison and Laczynski were playing, sure it would. But right now the Flyers opted to play Seeler at 4th line winger instead of Sandin or Bunnaman, what does that tell you?

How about some questions about broader trends, without getting into Internet outrage? Such as:

1. The signings after Hextall left clearly suggested the organization believed the team was ready to take the next step. Yet 3 years later, this seems very far from the truth. How do you explain such a huge 'mis-assessment'?

2. What changes are you thinking of to correct the mistakes in the above? Can you explain why you think your corrections would specifically avoid those mistakes?

3. We have an aging, injured roster, without any rising real stars. What is your long term plan to change this while simultaneously handling the burden of long contracts?

4. For a long time, we have not drafted or developed anyone who is a bona fide star. Most contending teams have not just 1, but several. Can you explain why this came about and how the organization plans to correct it?

5. Given the above, it seems like we do not have the scouting expertise to pick up really good players later in the draft, or, we are just not getting lucky. In other words, it seems our only chance to get really good young players is high in the draft. Yet, the organization keeps avoiding a total rebuild. Under the circumstances, what makes the organization think it will be successful doing something it has repeatedly failed with in the past?

Along those lines, Bill.



- PT21

It’s a freaking Möbius strip of avoiding accountability. EVERYBODY MUST GO!!!!
- Shrike

Umlauting my ass off...



There are way to be blunt and make someone who is equivocating look like a fool. The reason it does not happen in our country is because we have so diminished the role of the intelligent and aggressive journalist.

I have posted this before - here is a conservative journalist interviewing the leader of the conservative party in Britain.

Performative internet tough guy grandstanding,
- bmeltzer

Pantloads on here.

Yes, the Flyers NHL team has been hit hard with injuries, that is absolutely a fact! However, do the Flyers have younger players that can come in and compensate, clearly not! Look at Tampa this past off season, they lost their entire 3rd line but yet they have recovered nicely with a new and younger 3rd line made up entirely of internal prospects. Look at who the Flyers have to play in their lineup right now, those are the best players they have in their system to put in, players like Mayhew, Willman, Frost, Cates, not exactly the young studs were were hoping for! Would it be better if Allison and Laczynski were playing, sure it would. But right now the Flyers opted to play Seeler at 4th line winger instead of Sandin or Bunnaman, what does that tell you?
- jd250

I get that. But if they were Missing their 1, 2nd, and 3rd line centers would they have been able to call up 1st 2nd and 3rd line center talents to replace them?

I was under the impression they didn't call up those two because they had just played 2 games in a row and the Dallas game would have been 3 games in 3 nights for them.

We traded up to get Ratcliffe, hopefully he has something that will turn out. But it isnt looking good. His points in the AHL are awful, wouldnt be surprised if he foes ECHL next year.
- bradster

Never going to make it. Never could skate and that hasnt changed..he makes Hayes look like Rocket Richard

Are you saying tank?.... hold on, what's the definition of tanking again
- bradster

Yes, I am saying at this point you sell G, JVR, Braun, Risto and Jones and the deadline, play whoever is left the rest of the way and try to get the highest draft pick you can. I call this retooling the core, speed and skill level on this team, but if this is also tanking then so be it.

No press member is willing to risk their job to ask those valid questions of anybody in management who are unwilling to risk their job to answer those valid questions.
- Shrike

Well put.

Here is the problem: I can understand Bill's delicate position in this regard. Why would a member of an outside publication like Inquirer etc lose their jobs for asking questions like this?

Because such legitimate, aggressive questions don't get asked, legitimate outrage gets pushed to loony fringes of talk radio.

Well, Im not sure many (if any) franchises have the cupboards to restock the lineup when you are missing 5 centers and a first pair dman. That is not an excuse, it is a FACT.

If I am wrong please point out these organizations who do.

Quality taken out of the equation, because that is a different debate, but the cupboards are bare because they are being used up.
- MBFlyerfan

They are missing 2 centers Hayes and Couts one of which was replaced by Giroux...so only really down 1 center....

Yes, I am saying at this point you sell G, JVR, Braun, Risto and Jones and the deadline, play whoever is left the rest of the way and try to get the highest draft pick you can. I call this retooling the core, speed and skill level on this team, but if this is also tanking then so be it.
- jd250

Move Jones (50% retained) now to pitt for Desmith and a pick/prospect. Maybe Flyers can add a pick to get something more valuable in return.