Who on the flyers does ‘deserve’ 17 minutes. I agree Crosby and Malkin do…that wasn’t the question….but you know that.
- landros 2

The Flyers should be evaluating other players to see if they have a future on this team and if they do what role will they play on said team going forward. That group includes younger players and or rookies. Not hard to figure out.

Is it not about evaluation for the future? That should be the primary focus at this time.

And again….no one is saying that.
- landros 2

Someone did say it. Though I will refrain from including the silly laughing emoji.

ZM is a good bottom 6 player in this league and is playing probably the best he can possibly play on any team right now. If they were smart, the Flyers should be trading ZM at the deadline because I believe they will actually get something for him. Can't wait for the fire sale to happen this year, its the only thing the Flyers can realistically do. They must tank for Bedard!
- jd250

So what do you think ZM brings back in a trade? What team could you see being a good fit for him?

Do you think it was odd he passed thrugh waivers an ot one GM was willing to take a chance on him?

What fire sale? Braun and JVR sure. Who else do you see them moving in said fire sale.

Disagree that he should've been moved. He shouldn't have gotten an 8 year deal though.
- MJL

Teams years away from contending or even being relevant . There was no reason to keep him and Provy, one should have been moved

There is still somehow 8 teams worse than us currently
- ClaudeFather

I do not see a bottom 5 finish unfortunately. Look who is below them an dwho does anyone see realistically getting better as the year goes on? Buffalo and Ottawa are the only 2 I can see with certainty.

I do not see a bottom 5 finish unfortunately. Look who is below them an dwho does anyone see realistically getting better as the year goes on? Buffalo and Ottawa are the only 2 I can see with certainty.
- furio16

Vancouver should finish above them as well. Other than that, it’s a dog fight to the bottom

Disagree that he should've been moved. He shouldn't have gotten an 8 year deal though.
- MJL

Disagree all you want it was a bad deal. Over payment in term and money for solid dman.

Also he was never gonna sign unless it was 8 years. There was no need for him to take less term. Had he went free agency he would have 99% got a 7 year deal from someone .

Parity. The Flyers 1-6-3 in their last 10 games. Yet they are 3 points from Florida. 4 points from Colorado. 5 from the Rangers and 6 from Carolina. Which is 17th to 13th in the league. They are the same point range to the bottom of the league.
- MJL

Then I guess we will see which is more likely by Christmas. Flyers falling below BUF, AZ, VAN, and SJ. Or climbing above NASH, MN, STL, or DAL. I doubt an argument could be the Flyers have even equal talent on the roster from the teams above or below them. The Flyers have shown an ability to accumulate points when a goalie has a save % above .940 in a game. Not exactly a great recipe for sustained success. The smell of a new season is gone. The stench of another losing streak has returned from the same team that accomplished the same awful play last season. I expect a good Christmas for the pro tank crowd.

I keep saying this. Getting Bedard would be great but overall. At least in the short term, what is it going to change? Look at all the teams that drafted a player first overall and other high picks. Edmonton, Buffalo, Arizona and others. What have they done. Edmonton has arguably the two best offensive players in the league. Teams that have been successful, look at how long it took them to get to the top? There is no quick fix. Drafting Bedard in and of itself is not going to turn this team around. You have to build successfully around that player.
- MJL

Why don't you provide the examples of teams that did have success drafting early.

Whats it going to change. A laughable comment. Clearly it would change a lot on many different fronts. Flyers need to do everything in their power to put themselves in the best spot to draft in the top 3.

Then I guess we will see which is more likely by Christmas. Flyers falling below BUF, AZ, VAN, and SJ. Or climbing above NASH, MN, STL, or DAL. I doubt an argument could be the Flyers have even equal talent on the roster from the teans above or below them. The Flyers have shown an ability to accumulate points when a goalie has a save % above .940 in a game. Not exactly a great recipe for sustained success. The smell of a new season is gone. The stench of another losing streak has returned from the same team that accomplished the same awful play last season. I expect a good Christmas for the pro tank crowd.
- Trox88

Yep they are a losing group. Only a matter of time before they tune out tough guy Torts.

Need a new GM to pretty much purge this roster as best they can.

Yep they are a losing group. Only a matter of time before they tune out tough guy Torts.

Need a new GM to pretty much purge this roster as best they can.
- furio16

The next big talking point for the Flyers is when Hayes gets scratched by Torts or a very public shouting match between the two on the bench. Either scenerio seems inevitable at this point. The irony is without Hayes, the offense gets significantly worse then just bad at its current level

Teams years away from contending or even being relevant . There was no reason to keep him and Provy, one should have been moved
- ClaudeFather

Yes there is a reason. The players who shouldn't be here are Ellis and Ristolainen. You can't have a team completely barren of players who can take on the heavy lifting so young players aren't having to be elevated too high too soon. I'm not sure how a Flyers fan who has been following the team for some time, doesn't realize this.

Teams years away from contending or even being relevant . There was no reason to keep him and Provy, one should have been moved
- ClaudeFather

Trade both was the smart play. Whats next in 3 years (when his current deal is up) re-sign Ivan to an 8 year deal!

I keep saying this. Getting Bedard would be great but overall. At least in the short term, what is it going to change? Look at all the teams that drafted a player first overall and other high picks. Edmonton, Buffalo, Arizona and others. What have they done. Edmonton has arguably the two best offensive players in the league. Teams that have been successful, look at how long it took them to get to the top? There is no quick fix. Drafting Bedard in and of itself is not going to turn this team around. You have to build successfully around that player.
- MJL

but its a start and a reason to hope and invest time and emotion. The most important and imperative aspect is a change in the front office structure, no need to expand. Otherwise, this franchise will rot

Yes there is a reason. The players who shouldn't be here are Ellis and Ristolainen. You can't have a team completely barren of players who can take on the heavy lifting so young players aren't having to be elevated too high too soon. I'm not sure how a Flyers fan who has been following the team for some time, doesn't realize this.
- MJL

Can you not bring in vets on short term deals to cushion said young players? You don't need to sign guys to 8 year deal to accomplish this do you?

What purpose does Sanheim and Ivan serve on this team? They stink with or without them. They will continue to stink for the duration of Ivans contract. Bottom feeding teams do not need to have the money tied up on their dmn like the Flyers do with such poor results. Can accomplish that with short term vets.

but its a start and a reason to hope and invest time and emotion. The most important and imperative aspect is a change in the front office structure, no need to expand. Otherwise, this franchise will rot
- THE BLACK HAND

Putting the fron office on the side for a minute. Getting Bedard does an awful lot. Faces of the franchise they have lacked for a long time. Asses in the seats ( see #88). Marketing. Probably more tv time. Some sort of new relevancy. It will get people talking about the Flyer again on a national level. Yeah it wont help much some say.

but its a start and a reason to hope and invest time and emotion. The most important and imperative aspect is a change in the front office structure, no need to expand. Otherwise, this franchise will rot
- THE BLACK HAND

It's a start but that's all it is. Without the building around that player, it's not going to change much. Who here is confident that this front office can do that? I know that you and I aren't. We're looking at 7-10 years if we're lucky.

Yes there is a reason. The players who shouldn't be here are Ellis and Ristolainen. You can't have a team completely barren of players who can take on the heavy lifting so young players aren't having to be elevated too high too soon. I'm not sure how a Flyers fan who has been following the team for some time, doesn't realize this.
- MJL

Sanheim isn’t doing any heavy lifting and those other guys you mention aren’t moveable

It's a start but that's all it is. Without the building around that player, it's not going to change much. Who here is confident that this front office can do that? I know that you and I aren't. We're looking at 7-10 years if we're lucky.
- MJL

Soo getting Bedard would slow this process? What are you saying here man. No one thinks the kid is going to step in the door and change everything

Sanheim isn’t doing any heavy lifting and those other guys you mention aren’t moveable
- ClaudeFather

Sure, Sanheim is. He's playing the 3rd highest minutes on the team. I didn't think this had to be explained but my point in saying that they shouldn't be here is that Ellis and Ristolainen shouldn't have been acquired in the first place.

Sure, Sanheim is. He's playing the 3rd highest minutes on the team. I didn't think this had to be explained but my point in saying that they shouldn't be here is that Ellis and Ristolainen shouldn't have been acquired in the first place.
- MJL

But that’s the situation. Here we are. I know Risto was signed in summer but Frank, we didn’t need all these guys . Sanheim and Provy are only
Ones with value. We need draft capital

Soo getting Bedard would slow this process? What are you saying here man. No one thinks the kid is going to step in the door and change everything
- ClaudeFather

Yes, many do. Many think it is imperative that they get Bedard or Fantilli. It's not. Only that they get a top player. My real point which is painfully obvious is that even if they get Bedard. If they don't build around him, it won't matter. What evidence is that there that this regime can do that?

But that’s the situation. Here we are. I know Risto was signed in summer but Frank, we didn’t need all these guys . Sanheim and Provy are only
Ones with value. We need draft capital
- ClaudeFather

Can't ignore player development and the environment that players are put in. Provorov was hurt as a player developing by having to be this team's top defenseman since he was 19 years old.

Ron Hextall did leave the roster in good shape. But please don’t defend anyone who kept Dave Hakstol as coach that he could move to 3rd on the list of games at head coach for the Flyers.

Unfortunately, Chuck Fletcher is a worse GM than Dave Hakstol is a coach…. Between December 3rd 2018 and December 17th 2018, they were coach and gm at the same time. 15 days that we will never really recover from.

Ron Hextall did leave the roster in good shape. But please don’t defend anyone who kept Dave Hakstol as coach that he could move to 3rd on the list of games at head coach for the Flyers.

Unfortunately, Chuck Fletcher is a worse GM than Dave Hakstol is a coach…. Between December 3rd 2018 and December 17th 2018, they were coach and gm at the same time. 15 days that we will never really recover from.
- Shrike

I'm not sure why you have such a hard on for Hakstol. He did a decent job overall here.