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?
- PT21

Dave said what success means to him at the beginning of the presser, contending for the Stanley Cup. It was the right answer.

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.
- MJL

You get good players draft 10-15, but if you want top-end elite talent, you need to get into the top 5 for the best chance.

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?
- MJL

They signed a 4th liner on the first day of free agency last summer. So yes i expect another Nate.

Hope Attard walks.
- hello it's me 2050

Why? From everything I hear he is a good prospect. Do you not want the Flyers to hit on their picks?

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.
- jd250

I do not see RR getting a raise or same money if he goes the free agent route. I do not see 6 or 7 year deal either. 4 years 4.5 max.


Now if he stays here I think would get more than in free agency. We shall see what is important to him. A few million more or a winning environment.

Sadly the GM will not cut his loses.

Dave said what success means to him at the beginning of the presser, contending for the Stanley Cup. It was the right answer.
- jd250

Then Scott has been a complete failure.

Dave said what success means to him at the beginning of the presser, contending for the Stanley Cup. It was the right answer.
- jd250

Then let us see the team take the approach that statistically leads to the greatest chance of success.

Don't hold your breath on that. Everything single thing I heard/read in that presser said they will double down on the Risto/Hayes strategy. 2-3 pieces away was as bad pandering as you will hear the most cynical politician utter.

Btw, Gaudreau is having a career 2 way year. In a contract year. Just like Danny Briere did before he came here. 😂

I do not see RR getting a raise or same money if he goes the free agent route. I do not see 6 or 7 year deal either. 4 years 4.5 max.


Now if he stays here I think would get more than in free agency. We shall see what is important to him. A few million more or a winning environment.

Sadly the GM will not cut his loses.
- hello it's me 2050

The GM will cut his loses if RR does not want to sign here which is a distinct possibility. I really hope Fletcher would not sign RR to a deal before the season ends. I think its important to see just what the market is for Risto before making any decisions. I know Risto is a big, physical RHS defenseman, but he has demonstrated little else this season beyond the physical and I just think the Flyers can do better things with that money.

Why? From everything I hear he is a good prospect. Do you not want the Flyers to hit on their picks?
- jd250

Because it would be pure entertainment. This team needs to hit rock bottom before they wake up. Or at least hope they wake up.

So if your Attard and see how good the flyers have been in developing Dman. Can you blame him if he walks?

Then let us see the team take the approach that statistically leads to the greatest chance of success.

Don't hold your breath on that. Everything single thing I heard/read in that presser said they will double down on the Risto/Hayes strategy. 2-3 pieces away was as bad pandering as you will hear the most cynical politician utter.

Btw, Gaudreau is having a career 2 way year. In a contract year. Just like Danny Briere did before he came here. 😂
- PT21

Dave Scott said 2 or 3 pieces, then looked at Fletcher and said, or maybe more. I think Dave was talking out of his rear there and quickly corrected himself. I think Fletcher knows this team is more than 3 pieces away from contending.

Because it would be pure entertainment. This team needs to hit rock bottom before they wake up. Or at least hope they wake up.

So if your Attard and see how good the flyers have been in developing Dman. Can you blame him if he walks?
- hello it's me 2050

Again, I think the team has woken up. The fact that Fletcher and Scott talked about all the changes they have made to the front office and staff, adding significantly to the scouting and player development departments, overhauling their strength and fitness coaches and approaches and modifying their draft strategy told me they understand they needed to change and they have been doing it. The fruits of these changes will not appear over night, it takes time. I don't know, I really think Fletcher is on top of this and if given time will do a great job. Maybe I'm just stupid.

Again, I think the team has woken up. The fact that Fletcher and Scott talked about all the changes they have made to the front office and staff, adding significantly to the scouting and player development departments, overhauling their strength and fitness coaches and approaches and modifying their draft strategy told me they understand they needed to change and they have been doing it. The fruits of these changes will not appear over night, it takes time. I don't know, I really think Fletcher is on top of this and if given time will do a great job. Maybe I'm just stupid.
- jd250

When you say 2 or 3 pieces way and the GM has a blank check that is the same ole same ole.

How an you be this blind?

Again, I think the team has woken up. The fact that Fletcher and Scott talked about all the changes they have made to the front office and staff, adding significantly to the scouting and player development departments, overhauling their strength and fitness coaches and approaches and modifying their draft strategy told me they understand they needed to change and they have been doing it. The fruits of these changes will not appear over night, it takes time. I don't know, I really think Fletcher is on top of this and if given time will do a great job. Maybe I'm just stupid.
- jd250

I am not dismissing what you have been saying. Maybe those utterances were intended to mollify. And they will take the harsh steps needed. Hope springs eternal in the human heart. But my mind would be surprised.

Pork roll egg and cheese kind of morning. Jalapeno cheddar bagel.
- hello it's me 2050

Btw, the Asian New Year is coming.

Suggestions for a culinary change of pace...

https://philly.eater.com/...hilly-chinatown-northeast

Btw, the Asian New Year is coming.

Suggestions for a culinary change of pace...

https://philly.eater.com/...hilly-chinatown-northeast
- PT21

for breakfast? Wouldn't mind some duck for dinner. Any suggestions for take out?

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

The key comments to consider when judging this were the comments about the Flyers winning culture. Which doesn't exist anymore. Scott's comments about the hockey people and the 4 advisors that he is surrounded by. Scott's hockey "IQ" and the Flyers philosophy has been formed by these people and that past. They're going to double down on what they've been doing and they are convinced that it is the correct approach. That only injuries, covid, etc. has stopped them from succeeding.

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?


- jd250

I want them to focus on the future and drafting and developing players in order to build the team into a contender with an open window for a significant time.
What I don't want Management to do is get into high priced long term FA, trade youth and draft picks for older players to try and win now. Pretty simple.

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.
- jd250

Will this be just like last season where they added older players who didn't get them over the hump? Are you not paying attention to that?
Yes, I don't want Fletcher to spend the cap space that they get on UFA's in an attempt to win now.

Let me ask you a question. How did the Avalanche get Devin Toews? After you answer that question. Then we'll proceed with my next point

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.
- MJL

Need top 5 picks, tell me a cup winner that hasn't had a top 5 pick, most have had multiple. Top 10 picks don't move the needle.

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.
- jd250

So in your eyes, Ristolainen has gone from a defenseman that checks all the boxes, bring the element that the team needed to now a player you have your fingers crossed in hopes that the GM trades him

You get good players draft 10-15, but if you want top-end elite talent, you need to get into the top 5 for the best chance.
- jd250

The best chance, yes. However you can get high end players in that range and later in the draft. The NHL is full of them.

The GM will cut his loses if RR does not want to sign here which is a distinct possibility. I really hope Fletcher would not sign RR to a deal before the season ends. I think its important to see just what the market is for Risto before making any decisions. I know Risto is a big, physical RHS defenseman, but he has demonstrated little else this season beyond the physical and I just think the Flyers can do better things with that money.
- jd250

So he only checks one box now? He isn't even very effective with that.

So in your eyes, Ristolainen has gone from a defenseman that checks all the boxes, bring the element that the team needed to now a player you have your fingers crossed in hopes that the GM trades him
- MJL

Is one not allowed to change his stance Cliff? He was wrong and seems to be saying as much. Why you keep harping on him for it?

The best chance, yes. However you can get high end players in that range and later in the draft. The NHL is full of them.
- MJL

all luck according to you...

The best chance, yes. However you can get high end players in that range and later in the draft. The NHL is full of them.
- MJL

We have been drafting later in the draft and how has that worked out. You need top 5 picks. Name a cup winner that hasn't had a top 5 pick. They are rare. Almost every cup winner has had top 5 pick, some of them had multiple top 5 picks.

will not happen, they are 100% in denial. With the correct GM they could turn it around somewhat quickly.
- hello it's me 2050

They have a goalie in place. They can do things this summer that may give them a chance at the playoffs however I doubt it. It’s not hard to lift a team into bubble status