This is one of the best posts I've seen on here. Totally agree! We've hit rock bottom and nothing to look forward to. The only player in the system I was excited about was Allison and look how well that has worked out. So bummed about how injury prone he is.
- Don Nachbaur

I am excited about Attard, Foerster, Desnoyer, Wisdom had a couple of goals last night . Not saying they would be elite at all, but all are lining up to look like they could contribute above the 4th line

I am excited about Attard, Foerster, Desnoyer, Wisdom had a couple of goals last night . Not saying they would be elite at all, but all are lining up to look like they could contribute above the 4th line
- bradster

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.
- psuhockey

For sure, the flyers need to do whatever it takes to get a young sure thing 1st line player. Not even sure he needs to be elite, but pretty close. Trade, UFA, RFA, whatever. Have something to build around. Can't rely on winning the lottery, but it would be nice. We need to finish bottom 5 this year. Can't screw that up.

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.
- psuhockey

They stick with their plan here they’ll be drafting at or near the top like this year

The casual fan that just reads the headlines will be back and profits will improve but a winning cup contender they will not be until they change upper management. This group as with most corporations are usually only making superficial changes.
So I guess we agree on most things.
- Hosher12

A corporation is going to run a team like a corporation. Flyers have a budget. That budget is controlled by Dave Scott. This is why you have a hockey department. Apparently the GM has a blank check. The Flyers hockey department is not short on resources. Do we think that other teams have more resources and budget at their disposal than the Flyers do? Comcast is not the issue. The Flyers hockey department is.

For sure, the flyers need to do whatever it takes to get a young sure thing 1st line player. Not even sure he needs to be elite, but pretty close. Trade, UFA, RFA, whatever. Have something to build around. Can't rely on winning the lottery, but it would be nice. We need to finish bottom 5 this year. Can't screw that up.
- bradster

The thing to do is sell off the ufas this year and start moving out players in their prime now that can bring in assets. Let another team take advantage of their prime because we cannot. That will bolster our prospects/picks and while we will be a bad team over the next 2-3 years, it will give us the best chance at restocking, reloading and turning this thing around sooner.

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.
- psuhockey

In the last 7 drafts, the Flyers have had two picks inside the top ten and four picks total inside the top 15. Good chance they get a top ten pick this year. The Flyers have had their opportunities.

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.
- psuhockey

There's no doubt they need an infusion of top end talent, however tanking is not a guarantee of anything. For instance, every one talks about how quickly the Rangers have turned their team around, but the most significant reasons they were able to do so was because Panarin and Fox didn't want to sign anywhere else and via other trades they've made. Kakko and Lafreniere aren't exactly gamebreakers/elite talent, at least not now. It has worked for others teams, such as Chicago, Pittsburgh and Tampa, but hasn't worked for just as many others, like Edmonton, and Buffalo. Quite simply; they need to hit on their picks, wherever they may be! They haven't done that. Provorov isn't the all world defenseman many thought he would be. Sanheim isn't meeting expectations. We all know how well Nolan Patrick worked out here. Rubtsov seems like a bust. The jury's still out on Morgan Frost, but I'm not thrilled with what I've seen. I could continue to go on, but the point remains the same.

They stick with their plan here they’ll be drafting at or near the top like this year
- Just5

Injuries this year have kept the Flyers from being a bubble playoff team. Which would mean a middle of the pack 1st round pick. If the Flyers clear cap space, they'll attempt to use it in free agency. They're going to attempt to make some trades. The likely outcome is that the Flyers put themselves right back in hockey purgatory. Not good enough to contend, capped out and older. Leading to another middle of the pack pick.

Injuries this year have kept the Flyers from being a bubble playoff team. Which would mean a middle of the pack 1st round pick. If the Flyers clear cap space, they'll attempt to use it in free agency. They're going to attempt to make some trades. The likely outcome is that the Flyers put themselves right back in hockey purgatory. Not good enough to contend, capped out and older. Leading to another middle of the pack pick.
- MJL

It’s absolutely what I think they’ll do except if they keep on this path I think it gets worse. There’s no giroux entering the fold and injury problems are likely to linger when you’re relying on 30+ high mileage players to carry the mail

It’s absolutely what I think they’ll do except if they keep on this path I think it gets worse. There’s no giroux entering the fold and injury problems are likely to linger when you’re relying on 30+ high mileage players to carry the mail
- Just5

If they go out and sign a player like Gaudreau, does that replace Giroux?

Who do you think they're going to go after in free agency? A 4th liner?

I am excited about Attard, Foerster, Desnoyer, Wisdom had a couple of goals last night . Not saying they would be elite at all, but all are lining up to look like they could contribute above the 4th line
- bradster

Yes it is exciting. These were good draft picks and its important for them to get back to health and again be ready for next year, because I think these can be very good young depth players for the Flyers.

Dave Scott is Fletcher's boss. Being a boss in a corporation cannot consist of giving a blank check and then letting CF do what he likes. It just cannot. It defies common sense. It defies Dave Scott's background (division head of Comcast prior to this). It defies the way he talks about things: 'assuring us' there will be no 3 year rebuild. The praise of Camillo. It defies the way he does things: The millennial lounge.

So what are the boss's expectations of the division that is part of his portfolio. I am speculating here but I think am also reading between the lines: do what you want with your budget but the end result/expectations are to ice a competitive team.

Else, I just find it hard to believe that an entire group of professionals who do this for a living (analytics/mgmt), would not see the extremely marked correlation between full rebuild and championship. And would follow this strategy (that they have/are) out of free choice.

The Flyers have done a good job at recognizing middle of the roster talent. The problem is at the top. That’s why their refusal to tank is mind boggling. Drafting good middle of the roster players means the team will never be bad enough to get the top talent in the draft and never good enough to win the cup. So the Flyers end up being Columbus with money.
- psuhockey

I wouldn't be sure the Flyers will not tank this year. Fletcher talked about opportunities that he has to take advantage of to get this team better, and he also admitted that the best or easiest way to obtain top end talent is through the draft. Also Fletcher hinted that he is going to shutdown Ellis, Couts for this year so they are ready for next year, and that this was an opportunity for younger players to get some playing time to show him what they got. When you put this all together, it appears to me that Fletcher is going to try to get higher in the draft, by not winning games and by trades, to get a player that they might be targeting.

Dave Scott is Fletcher's boss. Being a boss in a corporation cannot consist of giving a blank check and then letting CF do what he likes. It just cannot. It defies common sense. It defies Dave Scott's background (division head of Comcast prior to this). It defies the way he talks about things: 'assuring us' there will be no 3 year rebuild. The praise of Camillo. It defies the way he does things: The millennial lounge.

So what are the boss's expectations of the division that is part of his portfolio. I am speculating here but I think am also reading between the lines: do what you want with your budget but the end result/expectations are to ice a competitive team.

Else, I just find it hard to believe that an entire group of professionals who do this for a living (analytics/mgmt), would not see the extremely marked correlation between full rebuild and championship. And would follow this strategy (that they have/are) out of free choice.
- PT21

When Dave said this I think it was a figure of speech. I took it as Dave will support Fletcher and get him all he needs to be successful.

Pork roll egg and cheese kind of morning. Jalapeno cheddar bagel.

When Dave said this I think it was a figure of speech. I took it as Dave will support Fletcher and get him all he needs to be successful.
- jd250

blank check = RR overpay

Ratcliffe has no shot at being an NHL player...if you have seen him at all he cant skate. Fits right in . He is a marginal AHL player who has done nothing with Phantoms
- hfc355

My prediction is he goes through Kopitar like poop through a tin horn, spins Doughty around like a top, and lights Quick up for 2 goals.

Injuries this year have kept the Flyers from being a bubble playoff team. Which would mean a middle of the pack 1st round pick. If the Flyers clear cap space, they'll attempt to use it in free agency. They're going to attempt to make some trades. The likely outcome is that the Flyers put themselves right back in hockey purgatory. Not good enough to contend, capped out and older. Leading to another middle of the pack pick.
- MJL

I really don't understand what you want the Flyers do to. Do you not want them to try to win games? Do you not want them to try to be a playoff team next year? Do you not want them to turn this ship around as fast as possible to contend for a Cup? I mean, look, they are going to use the daft, hockey trades and their cap space to try to ice the best team they can. Isn't that what you want ownership to do?

Now, this does not mean be stupid and sign old players that are not getting you over the hump. However, what if Fletcher has $14M in cap space next year, do you not want him to spend it? Wouldn't you like Fletcher to sign a good FA defenseman like Hampus Lindholm to give us more assurance in case Ellis gets hurt? I was watching the Avalanche Bruins game the other night and the Avalanche defenseman are sick good, not just Makar, all of them! They didn't draft every defenseman they have! They drafted, they traded and they signed there way to what I think is the best defensive group in the league. That is what the I want the Flyers to do. Use all the tools available to them to make smart decisions and get this team to true cup contender status.

I am excited about Attard, Foerster, Desnoyer, Wisdom had a couple of goals last night . Not saying they would be elite at all, but all are lining up to look like they could contribute above the 4th line
- bradster

Hope Attard walks.

# of eyeballs drives TV deals, team values and revenues, tho. So good luck getting Gary to not keep trying to stick a team in every goddamned top media market: Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Seattle, etc.
- Tomahawk

I agree, although I think hockey will work in Seattle if they build a winning team. Those other cities are just dumb for NHL hockey. Put a damn team back in Quebec City.

When Dave said this I think it was a figure of speech. I took it as Dave will support Fletcher and get him all he needs to be successful.
- jd250

This is the key. Define success. Short term bubble relevance? Long term championship powerhouse preceded by complete irrelevance? If it's one or the other, which one?

A corporation is going to run a team like a corporation. Flyers have a budget. That budget is controlled by Dave Scott. This is why you have a hockey department. Apparently the GM has a blank check. The Flyers hockey department is not short on resources. Do we think that other teams have more resources and budget at their disposal than the Flyers do? Comcast is not the issue. The Flyers hockey department is.
- MJL

Comcast controls and hires the hockey dept. So it fall so them to have the correct people.

blank check = RR overpay
- hello it's me 2050

That would be a stupid move and I would not support that. Now if RR wants to stay here and takes a team-friendly deal, sure. But if he wants what he is making now or even more, and why wouldn't he?, I would trade him at the deadline. My hope is RR is so sick of losing that his reps tell Fletcher he will not want to sign here, and then Fletcher will move him. Fingers crossed.

The thing to do is sell off the ufas this year and start moving out players in their prime now that can bring in assets. Let another team take advantage of their prime because we cannot. That will bolster our prospects/picks and while we will be a bad team over the next 2-3 years, it will give us the best chance at restocking, reloading and turning this thing around sooner.
- Just5

will not happen, they are 100% in denial. With the correct GM they could turn it around somewhat quickly.