But hey, we’re tougher to play against anyway!😛

I have never read one of Bill's columns that was so negative. Agree with him completely. I wonder how the Flyers are going to react?

Today is 14 July 2022 and chuck fletcher is the worst GM in the history of sports
- corduroy

Philadelphia sports for sure.

I want the building to be empty. In fact the fans should organize a game where no one goes into the arena. Make them play in an empty arena. That would send a very loud message that would necessitate action.
- PLindbergh31

You would think so but I have my doubts. They'll stay the course of incompetence.

I can live with everything yesterday except the ND contract. Braun is an inexpensive sound 3rd line Dman. Probably traded at the TDL for a 3rd rounder. If a younger player shows he can make the lineup, then Braun as a 7th is a serious upgrade over Seeler.

I'm also at a loss of the acquiring TDA when it happened. Probably could have spent less for a more sound Dman at the opening of FA.

I hope Torts and company can fix the PP and PK. That would add a bit of something back and inject some of the youth.

CF said they’re done in free agency. Apparently didn’t say done with roster changes. My worry is the trades he could make. The team is bad. We know and they know it. He is going to make a move to make it more “competitive”. That worries the (frank) out of me.

This should be a PR disaster for the front office. Somehow I think status quo will take place. OMG, the whole thing smells of incompetence at the highest level. Not sure where Danny B is in his probationary period of learning the GM duties, but it couldn’t be worse, could it? Maybe Bill could shed some light on his progress to this point.
I’m sorry but Chuck would not make it to 5pm today. Gotta save face somehow.

Philadelphia sports for sure.
- Pelle31Forever

The Phillies in the 80s were a train wreck of epic proportions. We squandered and gave away incredible talent (George Bell, Willie Hernandez, Ryne Sandberg, Julio Franco, to name a few) during that period for nothing in most cases and, in one case (Von Hayes), a true bum. Cliff's achievement is that he has made his incompetence into a real discussion point with that "leadership."

Anyone get the feeling that Braun was signed, not just for depth, but also if DeAngelo (who I assume they will force with Provorov) doesn't work out they will just throw Braun with him again?
- Glak18

I would imagine before Thanksgiving we'll see Braun with Provorov.

Torts must really like projects cause this will be a decade long one

This is true and is an achievement of sorts. Bias for action.
- iamscore2day

"worst day ever"

I would imagine before Thanksgiving we'll see Braun with Provorov.
- Pelle31Forever

Sadly he is probably the best option at this point.

I have never read one of Bill's columns that was so negative. Agree with him completely. I wonder how the Flyers are going to react?
- NYHippo

Sports writers in general have to have close relationships with players, coaches, managers and the team in general. Some are either paid directly or indirectly. There are limits on how negative writers can be without negatively affecting their access to the team.

I am in no way talking about Bill in this next comment. But, just notice how many Philly sports writers are being openly negative about the Flyers management at the moment. I am at the very least suspicious that they have been given a green light by someone higher up than the GM to write these sort of stories. I don't discount the possibility of something going on behind the scenes.

This should be a PR disaster for the front office. Somehow I think status quo will take place. OMG, the whole thing smells of incompetence at the highest level. Not sure where Danny B is in his probationary period of learning the GM duties, but it couldn’t be worse, could it? Maybe Bill could shed some light on his progress to this point.
I’m sorry but Chuck would not make it to 5pm today. Gotta save face somehow.
- Laceemup88

There is no such place as " worse" so I agree do it now.

I can live with everything yesterday except the ND contract. Braun is an inexpensive sound 3rd line Dman. Probably traded at the TDL for a 3rd rounder. If a younger player shows he can make the lineup, then Braun as a 7th is a serious upgrade over Seeler.

I'm also at a loss of the acquiring TDA when it happened. Probably could have spent less for a more sound Dman at the opening of FA.

I hope Torts and company can fix the PP and PK. That would add a bit of something back and inject some of the youth.
- RustyPipes

will not happen.

Only way JG would have made any sense is if he thought is was worth $2.5-$3.0m/yr to be here.

Right-handed defensemen: DeAngelo, Ristolainen, Braun and Ellis. Hmm....what are the odds that Ellis is expected to be healthy any time soon?

I am not a cap expert, but if, after re-signing Frost, Tippett, etc., and putting Ellis on LTIR, perhaps we should be the team looking to acquire a JVR-type (one year left, possibly tradeable at the deadline) plus a pick from a team in cap trouble. I suppose those dance partners are gone.
- GeorgeBailey

When you're a team in LTIR, you're not in position to take on cap dumps.

CF said they’re done in free agency. Apparently didn’t say done with roster changes. My worry is the trades he could make. The team is bad. We know and they know it. He is going to make a move to make it more “competitive”. That worries the (frank) out of me.
- Deasr1

Konecny and Provorov are my suspicions.
Hope they get a solid return.

And of course, Sanheim if they don't think he'll extend.

FLASH..NEWSBREAK CG press conference at 1pm. Flyers to announce they got their man. After days of negotiating CF signed Jaromir Jagr to a 5 yr 50M deal. Chuck said they didnt want to go 7 with JG and felt more comfortable with a 5yr deal to Jagr. According to CF the JG negotiations were just a smokescreen to get Jagr. Jagr fits our style of play so much more than JG who is fast and a sniper. Plan to play Jagr on wing with Hayes said CF and call it the snail line

Not how Torts works in my view. The guy wants to win.
- iamscore2day

Read paragraph 1 closely.

Torts is NOT stupid

FLASH..NEWSBREAK CG press conference at 1pm. Flyers to announce they got their man. After days of negotiating CF signed Jaromir Jagr to a 5 yr 50M deal. Chuck said they didnt want to go 7 with JG and felt more comfortable with a 5yr deal to Jagr. According to CF the JG negotiations were just a smokescreen to get Jagr. Jagr fits our style of play so much more than JG who is fast and a sniper. Plan to play Jagr on wing with Hayes said CF and call it the snail line
- hfc355

I read that he would not take Cliff's call and would rather stay in the CR.

If they just wanted to get tougher to play against in the meantime, I’d be OK with it I guess if they weren’t signing guys like that to 4 year deals at 2 million per. Crazy. He must be a real LRG (locker room guy)
- funmaster18

Do you know what good NHL players think when playing a team that employs players like Deslauriers, McEwen and Ristolainen? They hope they get heavy ice time against them so they can pad their stats. Yea, they might have to take a shot or two after playing in the Flyers end the entire shift and peppering the goalie with shots but it'll be worth it. The Flyers idea of becoming tougher to play against is pathetic.

Please don’t sign Kadri. Please don’t sign Kadri. Please don’t trade for Kane. Please don’t trade for Kane. I feel like CF is a jilted ex boyfriend who’s gonna hook up with ANYTHING to make himself stil feel like a man.

I read that he would not take Cliff's call and would rather stay in the CR.
- iamscore2day

I read he got a better offer from a team in Ukraine.

I have no problem with the Flyers not going after JG or any high priced free agent. As I mentioned the goal of this upcoming season should be to evaluate the current crop of younger players on the team and continue their development. This should also lead to picking high again in a deep 2023 draft. This is a good plan IMO.

But I am not confident that was the plan coming into this off-season, instead I believe this is how it ended up due to poor execution on Fletcher's part. First, the mere fact that Lindblom was immediately signed by San Jose tells me there was a market for him, and thus I feel Fletcher did not read that market properly. Likewise the fact that JG turned down Calgary's good contract offer and wanted to play for the Flyers should have been known by Fletcher so he could have prepared for it by having the cap space available. Instead he resigns Risto to a higher than needed AVV, and then trades what remaining cap space he has on DeAngelo, which is a very good defenseman but if you knew about JG you probably would not have traded for him. Then Fletcher gains back some cap space by buying out Lindblom and then spends that space on more bad players, meaning he has no space right now to extend Frost, Tippet and any other RFAs. This means Fletcher needs to make another move to clear more space just to do that!

It really comes across like there was no real plan here, and that has to be concerning to everyone. I have defended Fletcher and I am trying to be positive, but honestly I don't see a plan here and thus its hard to be positive!

I have no problem with the Flyers not going after JG or any high priced free agent. As I mentioned the goal of this upcoming season should be to evaluate the current crop of younger players on the team and continue their development. This should also lead to picking high again in a deep 2023 draft. This is a good plan IMO.

But I am not confident that was the plan coming into this off-season, instead I believe this is how it ended up due to poor execution on Fletcher's part. First, the mere fact that Lindblom was immediately signed by San Jose tells me there was a market for him, and thus I feel Fletcher did not read that market properly. Likewise the fact that JG turned down Calgary's good contract offer and wanted to play for the Flyers should have been known by Fletcher so he could have prepared for it by having the cap space available. Instead he resigns Risto to a higher than needed AVV, and then trades what remaining cap space he has on DeAngelo, which is a very good defenseman but if you knew about JG you probably would not have traded for him. Then Fletcher gains back some cap space by buying out Lindblom and then spends that space on more bad players, meaning he has no space right now to extend Frost, Tippet and any other RFAs. This means Fletcher needs to make another move to clear more space just to do that!

It really comes across like there was no real plan here, and that has to be concerning to everyone. I have defended Fletcher and I am trying to be positive, but honestly I don't see a plan here and thus its hard to be positive!
- jd250

No offense, but when Cliff has lost you .,..