No suspension after that "legal" check on 200 feet player Cindy.

Defending such moves would have more merit, had the Flyers not just clearly overpaid to acquire but also extend Rasmus Ristolainen. Coveting such a player, which are Fletcher’s own words I believe is a very easy recent example of the continued antiquated views this team holds.

I loved the days where this team built its identity on rough hockey. That is not the game today, and the team continues to show its failure in progression toward a modern, successful NHL team time after time.

They fully believe they can use FA, or trades to build a contender in 2022. Retool after retool. Who buys this poop anymore?
- FlyerFan3260

I hear ya holmes.

You can still have rough and tough hockey. Though those players need to offer much more than just that. They also need be drafted and developed so you don't overpay for such in free agency.

Until proven otherwise the Flyers will never ever get it. They are just stuck in neutral at best.

My point being they put all these people in positions based on diversity, not merit. If she was doing an excellent job in in Majotlr Junior hockey, then moved up the line due to her skills, she’d be welcomed with open arms, but I’ll bet the farm she didn’t, and the decision was based on her being female.
All decisions should be based on merit and ability, nothing more.

That’s the point, nothing more.
- Hokeeguy9

So................... you're saying guys like Hartsy, Jonesy, Bundy and Coatsey got their first gigs based on merit? They worked their way up?

There's always some kind of bias/agenda involved with every hire.

So................... you're saying guys like Hartsy, Jonesy, Bundy and Coatsey got their first gigs based on merit? They worked their way up?

There's always some kind of bias/agenda involved with every hire.
- Tomahawk

I find Hartnell really struggles in his role. Cohen was annoying as hell but somehow at least seemed to have more of a charisma.


Hartnell just throws out cliche after cliche, and I figured we would see more of his personality that was talked about when he played.

Maybe with time of course. Taryn is really great at what she does. Smart, knows the game, and well spoken. Adds in some humor from time to time. I hope they find a way to keep her long term.

Rinaldo was a 6th round pick; near the end of the 6th at that. He played the most games in the NHL out of all but one of the final 24 picks (only Jason Demers played more). Also he played 374 career games in a draft were the average NHL career draft-wide was 308 games. Whether you like Rinaldo or not, it wasn't bad pick for that range of the daft.

Mathers was pick 207 in a 211 pick draft. Yes, it would have nice in hindsight to take Ondrej Palat (pick 208) instead but you could say that for every other team in the NHL and even for Tampa passing on him until the tail end of the draft.


Klotz was a bad pick. Taken too early and had a low ceiling. Ditto Goulbourne. Although they figured he had a 50-50 chance of making it to the NHL as a 4th liner, it was too early to take him where he was taken and it was kind of a last-second decision at the table. No argument from me. Both were mistake picks where they were taken.

Trison Grant.... are we really going to go all the way to the 9th round (pick 286) of 2004 for examples? It was hardly unusual in those days for teams to grab a big-framed tough guy type late in the draft. And, yes, it was another Palat kind of hindsight situation because Detroit drafted Jannik Hansen out the Danish league with pick 287 and he ended up having a long-term NHL career. But I have hard time saying woulda-coulda-shoulda that late in a draft.

Beaulieu and Clackson.... again going way back here, 17 years ago. Beaulieu wasn't really an enforcer type as a pro, but Ryan Reaves went in the same round as he did. With Clackson, the genetics probably played into it a bit, because his dad was a terror to fight in the WHA and NHL. He had a couple fights with Stewy that were legendary.
- bmeltzer

I'm not gonna second guess draft picks based on who was taken after them... that's always a pointless exercise.

But it's 100% fair to criticize the Flyers penchant for continually drafting low-ceiling players throughout the years. To take a guy who's ceiling is 4th-line when there's literally dozens of veteran tough/character guys available every summer for pennies is just so misguided.

My point being they put all these people in positions based on diversity, not merit. If she was doing an excellent job in in Majotlr Junior hockey, then moved up the line due to her skills, she’d be welcomed with open arms, but I’ll bet the farm she didn’t, and the decision was based on her being female.
All decisions should be based on merit and ability, nothing more.

That’s the point, nothing more.
- Hokeeguy9

Merit is hard to judge without being put in the position where it can be measured. The first time a female referee officiates a men's hockey game it's going to be different for her: bigger players faster speed nothing in her own past experience that would prepare her for the current experience etc. After some time though, that person is going to turn out to be either a good referee or a bad one. Gender has little to do with it.

You are conflating giving someone that break with keeping someone there because of diversity reasons. Former good, latter bad is what I am saying.

If Gianna Han and Olivia Reiner continue to write their vapid, insipid, insecure columns couple of years from now, then they're just incompetent beat journalist for the Inky. They had their chance and they turned out to not measure up. Their gender would have little to do with it. At that point if there is evidence they are being kept there because of their gender then you and I would agree.

But I'm reluctant to call out the effort of diversity at the very beginning when someone is being given a chance to do something which they have not done before.

🙏

My point being they put all these people in positions based on diversity, not merit. If she was doing an excellent job in in Majotlr Junior hockey, then moved up the line due to her skills, she’d be welcomed with open arms, but I’ll bet the farm she didn’t, and the decision was based on her being female.
All decisions should be based on merit and ability, nothing more.

That’s the point, nothing more.
- Hokeeguy9

He didn’t read your last post. Qualified, and merit based are the only thing that matters.

I'm not gonna second guess draft picks based on who was taken after them... that's always a pointless exercise.

But it's 100% fair to criticize the Flyers penchant for continually drafting low-ceiling players throughout the years. To take a guy who's ceiling is 4th-line when there's literally dozens of veteran tough/character guys available every summer for pennies is just so misguided.
- Tomahawk

That's my issue with the Goulbourne pick as well. Not only would he have been available in the later rounds, after they picked him I remember them saying he had 4th liner written all over him. Shouldn't you take a guy you think would have a higher ceiling, especially in the third round?

I'll say this. After watching TNT the past weeks, and listening to Tochett, he has moved to the bottom of my retread list.
- Robert's Plant

He should not be on that list at all, to be honest. The few times I've heard him on there, he was talking about how to spear somebody, or talking gambling to Bissonette....and I'm like, this is the same guy that caught federal charges for conspiracy to promote illegal gambling correct? Good job TNT and NHL

Why don't you take your political BS back to Parler?
- Rliable

Or, you could just chill out.

The fact ESPN hasn't put a call in to Gary Thorne is embarrassing. I have to mute some of these games. Stars/Flames last night sounded like a High School game.
- PLindbergh31

The regular Calgary Flames Sportsnet broadcast - the color analyst — Cassie Campbell-Pascall is great IMO.

I'm not gonna second guess draft picks based on who was taken after them... that's always a pointless exercise.

But it's 100% fair to criticize the Flyers penchant for continually drafting low-ceiling players throughout the years. To take a guy who's ceiling is 4th-line when there's literally dozens of veteran tough/character guys available every summer for pennies is just so misguided.
- Tomahawk

Absolutely. Why draft one dimensional blockheads when you can sign 34 year old Jody Shelley to a 3 year contract.

I think Jim Jackson is really good. I got a better appreciation of him listening to him do those games.
- MBFlyerfan

jack edwards saying last night that carolina can't get over the civil war was pretty funny

The regular Calgary Flames Sportsnet broadcast - the color analyst — Cassie Campbell-Pascall is great IMO.
- Pixote Andolini

I don't believe I've heard her. I'm not making this about the gender of the broadcaster, Leah Hextall shouldn't be doing PBP of NHL playoff games.

Today @ 8:10 AM ET
Great first round of the playoffs, every single series is 3-2 at the moment. I don't recall when that has ever happened, but I'm sure it must have. Should be a fun night of hockey.


Explains a lot.
Avs sweep preds.
Mainly focused on flyers


Explains a lot

Absolutely. Why draft one dimensional blockheads when you can sign 34 year old Jody Shelley to a 3 year contract.

- PLindbergh31

These days our blockheads don't even fight... they just suck.

These days our blockheads don't even fight... they just suck.
- Tomahawk

come on man Zac Mac skates hard and brings energy. Perfect 4th liner.....

Rinaldo was a 6th round pick; near the end of the 6th at that. He played the most games in the NHL out of all but one of the final 24 picks (only Jason Demers played more). Also he played 374 career games in a draft were the average NHL career draft-wide was 308 games. Whether you like Rinaldo or not, it wasn't bad pick for that range of the daft.

Mathers was pick 207 in a 211 pick draft. Yes, it would have nice in hindsight to take Ondrej Palat (pick 208) instead but you could say that for every other team in the NHL and even for Tampa passing on him until the tail end of the draft.


Klotz was a bad pick. Taken too early and had a low ceiling. Ditto Goulbourne. Although they figured he had a 50-50 chance of making it to the NHL as a 4th liner, it was too early to take him where he was taken and it was kind of a last-second decision at the table. No argument from me. Both were mistake picks where they were taken.

Trison Grant.... are we really going to go all the way to the 9th round (pick 286) of 2004 for examples? It was hardly unusual in those days for teams to grab a big-framed tough guy type late in the draft. And, yes, it was another Palat kind of hindsight situation because Detroit drafted Jannik Hansen out the Danish league with pick 287 and he ended up having a long-term NHL career. But I have hard time saying woulda-coulda-shoulda that late in a draft.

Beaulieu and Clackson.... again going way back here, 17 years ago. Beaulieu wasn't really an enforcer type as a pro, but Ryan Reaves went in the same round as he did. With Clackson, the genetics probably played into it a bit, because his dad was a terror to fight in the WHA and NHL. He had a couple fights with Stewy that were legendary.
- bmeltzer

Do we see a trend with the flyers picks you mentioned? Maybe that’s the problem. Organizational philosophy to take a certain (flyers type) player over and over in an old nhl style instead of current style. That’s why while yes many teams passed on a palat but point is flyers haven’t even looked in that direction. As per your player mentions.

It has to be said the chances are already extremely small of hitting on anything to note beyond first couple rounds but philly philosophy makes it even harder. To point of almost zero chance.

Also has to be said that does it really matter? The development has been absolutely trash for a long time. Probably doesn’t matter in the least.

#statusquo
#keepprofitscoming
#pushthenarrative
#noaccountability
#laughingstock
#itrelevant

I hear ya holmes.

You can still have rough and tough hockey. Though those players need to offer much more than just that. They also need be drafted and developed so you don't overpay for such in free agency.

Until proven otherwise the Flyers will never ever get it. They are just stuck in neutral at best.
- hello it's me 2050

“Stuck in neutral?”

That’s being very very generous.

They look to be in reverse and hitting the pedal to me

So................... you're saying guys like Hartsy, Jonesy, Bundy and Coatsey got their first gigs based on merit? They worked their way up?

There's always some kind of bias/agenda involved with every hire.
- Tomahawk

I just did a little Google search on Leah Hextall. Sounds like she’s worked her way up to doing play by play in the NHL. She’s been calling games since 2018. Been involved in sports broadcasting for over 10 years.

So................... you're saying guys like Hartsy, Jonesy, Bundy and Coatsey got their first gigs based on merit? They worked their way up?

There's always some kind of bias/agenda involved with every hire.
- Tomahawk

Lukko "Don't draft my son"

The Gang goes and drafts his son.

Lukko "Don't draft my son"

The Gang goes and drafts his son.
- 2Real

Don’t forget Brett Hextall

Merit is hard to judge without being put in the position where it can be measured. The first time a female referee officiates a men's hockey game it's going to be different for her: bigger players faster speed nothing in her own past experience that would prepare her for the current experience etc. After some time though, that person is going to turn out to be either a good referee or a bad one. Gender has little to do with it.

You are conflating giving someone that break with keeping someone there because of diversity reasons. Former good, latter bad is what I am saying.

If Gianna Han and Olivia Reiner continue to write their vapid, insipid, insecure columns couple of years from now, then they're just incompetent beat journalist for the Inky. They had their chance and they turned out to not measure up. Their gender would have little to do with it. At that point if there is evidence they are being kept there because of their gender then you and I would agree.

But I'm reluctant to call out the effort of diversity at the very beginning when someone is being given a chance to do something which they have not done before.

🙏
- PT21

I really don’t see a difference between what Carchidi used to write for the inquirer and what Han and Reiner do now. I think you just don’t like them because they are young.

Don’t forget Brett Hextall
- hereticpride

Didn't he follow Ron to Pittsburgh?

I'm just glad they didn't draft Tyler Boucher, not that they would've had a chance anyway.

He didn’t read your last post. Qualified, and merit based are the only thing that matters.
- Angus4444

I read the dang post. All I was saying is that qualifications and merit often can only be determined after gaining some experience. To get that experience, someone has to break the status quo. And live with the learning costs.

The rap on black qbs used to be that they had happy feet, scrambled too quick out of the pocket, and couldn't read defences. I was with my dad at the LA Coliseum when Houston Oilers with Warren Moon visited and stunk it up. I think this was 84 or 85. it was a Raiders game, and a lot of the biker types were chanting seriously racist stuff to that effect. I was 15 and I couldn't believe what they were shouting.

For decades, the stereotype persisted. In the early 2000s I was at a protest here in Philly when Rush came here shortly after saying McNabb was overrated and that people don't dare criticize black qbs. Lot of the guys (not so much Moon, but Randall, Stewart, even early Donovan) did have a tendency to leave the pocket too quickly.

Now, we have guys like Mahomes and Wilson who have revolutionized the position. The gap is not quite eliminated but it is much closer to being gone and that stereotype is much lessened (though still there).

These female announcers are not going to remind you of Gene Hart from day 1. Just like you need to endure some bad years to have a decent chance to ice a good team, you have to take the long view.

Now, I have said the exact same thing 3 times, so y'all will have to excuse me.