I don’t know. What’s that have to do with a guy making funny poop up and posting it in twitter?
- Dkos

Gaudreau wanted to play for the Flyers. Was well documented everywhere. And the GM who has run the franchise into the ground couldn't make it happen. Bottom line.

Gaudreau wanted to play for the Flyers. Was well documented everywhere. And the GM who has run the franchise into the ground couldn't make it happen. Bottom line.
- PLindbergh31

Ended up being a good thing, guy could care less about winning hockey games

Isles extend Horvat, 8 years at 8.5 million per.

They never learn. Horvat is a good 2C having a career year, his career shooting % is 14.7 but he’s at 21+ this year. Yeah, that’s sustainable, lol.
- BiggE

Neither do the Flyers. This is by far a better contract than Couturier (and Hayes for that matter). Horvat will start his new contract at age 28, while Couturier will be 30/31. And Horvat has a good back.....

Neither do the Flyers. This is by far a better contract than Couturier (and Hayes for that matter). Horvat will start his new contract at age 28, while Couturier will be 30/31. And Horvat has a good back.....
- mr4tno

Actually, Couturier was still 29 when his new contract started.

Isles extend Horvat, 8 years at 8.5 million per.

They never learn. Horvat is a good 2C having a career year, his career shooting % is 14.7 but he’s at 21+ this year. Yeah, that’s sustainable, lol.
- BiggE

yea well the flyers never learn to tank and not to constantly miss out on draft picks

Gaudreau wanted to play for the Flyers. Was well documented everywhere. And the GM who has run the franchise into the ground couldn't make it happen. Bottom line.
- PLindbergh31

Ok, maybe, but the link you posted was not an actual quote from Gaudreau. Posting it doesn’t really do much to support your claim. It was a farcical tweet by a tweeter named Evil Gritty. It was a joke. He (she? they?) is pretty funny…one of my favorite follows.

Actually, Couturier was still 29 when his new contract started.
- MJL

And the back issues didn't happen until after the contract was signed. These things happen and it's nobody's fault. Coots is a solid signing, even if it's 3 years too many

I vehemently disagree. From that same Draft class, Robertson was panned for his skating. He's overcome it.

Go rewatch Ratcliffe's 10 NHL games last year. Was he able to keep up with the pace? Yes.
Ratcliffe has never figured out what he is or should be as a pro. He's lacked confidence/assertiveness for long stretches and lost a development year due to injury before seemingly breaking through in the second half of last season.

His skating per se is adequate.
- bmeltzer

Shouldn't this be part of the organizations plan? When I hear something like this I feel like once again it points to the rudderless approach this franchise seems to take with many players development.

If he is having confidence issues based on the fact he hasn't figured out what kind of player he needs to be, isn't it on the development team to give him a clear message in that regard?

This whole story seems to be the rule rather than the exception with MANY of their prospects.

the whole franchise needs to be revamped in their development strategy. They need to focus more on accentuating the strengths of players, further developing the aspects of their game that got them drafted to begin with. Building their confidence. Then gradually start to develop the deficiencies as they mature.

This franchise seems to have the mindset that they need to crush the strengths at the expense of developing their shortcomings, in the end harming both. Make the big scorer in to a checker, stifle his creativity and punish him every time he makes a mistake. Then he stops scoring and still cant be a checker. Rinse wash repeat.

I don't care what they do in the end, but when it comes to a lot of these kids, pick a path for them and stick to it. Set clear goals and allow them a realistic chance to meet them.

No matter how you slice it, scratching Ratcliffe makes no sense. They wasted too many assets and too high a pick to let him rot on the vine, and for what? Because he doesn't know what the team wants from him?

Give me a break. He should be out there every game.

Shouldn't this be part of the organizations plan? When I hear something like this I feel like once again it points to the rudderless approach this franchise seems to take with many players development.

If he is having confidence issues based on the fact he hasn't figured out what kind of player he needs to be, isn't it on the development team to give him a clear message in that regard?

This whole story seems to be the rule rather than the exception with MANY of their prospects.

the whole franchise needs to be revamped in their development strategy. They need to focus more on accentuating the strengths of players, further developing the aspects of their game that got them drafted to begin with. Building their confidence. Then gradually start to develop the deficiencies as they mature.

This franchise seems to have the mindset that they need to crush the strengths at the expense of developing their shortcomings, in the end harming both. Make the big scorer in to a checker, stifle his creativity and punish him every time he makes a mistake. Then he stops scoring and still cant be a checker. Rinse wash repeat.

I don't care what they do in the end, but when it comes to a lot of these kids, pick a path for them and stick to it. Set clear goals and allow them a realistic chance to meet them.

No matter how you slice it, scratching Ratcliffe makes no sense. They wasted too many assets and too high a pick to let him rot on the vine, and for what? Because he doesn't know what the team wants from him?

Give me a break. He should be out there every game.
- MBFlyerfan

You’re doing everything you can to take any responsibility from the player or dope GM who picked him. Scouts and GM should have done their homework

Actually, Couturier was still 29 when his new contract started.
- MJL

Cooters contact was still dumb af no matter how you slice it. Injury or not.

Cooters contact was still dumb af no matter how you slice it. Injury or not.
- Robert's Plant

I didn’t dislike the signing but there was a certain degree of risk to it, and that gamble was lost. I can live with giving a guy that earned the money the contract, it’s hard to stomach the Hayes / Risto / Sanheim / Deslauries

And the back issues didn't happen until after the contract was signed. These things happen and it's nobody's fault. Coots is a solid signing, even if it's 3 years too many
- Bob Habib

Its actually 8 years too many and $7.75MM too much

You’re doing everything you can to take any responsibility from the player or dope GM who picked him. Scouts and GM should have done their homework
- ClaudeFather

This implies that a team's development strategy can't fail a player with talent and skill. It's not always just a bad choice at the draft. With most teams, you'd say hey, the player just didn't cut it but not with this team and their archaic development processes that MBFlyerfan effectively described. There are steps for players that is just getting started at the draft. There is no doubt that the Flyers jerked Ratcliffe around just as they have many players.

Cooters contact was still dumb af no matter how you slice it. Injury or not.
- Robert's Plant

I guess that depends on who is doing the slicing. I disagree with you.

I didn’t dislike the signing but there was a certain degree of risk to it, and that gamble was lost. I can live with giving a guy that earned the money the contract, it’s hard to stomach the Hayes / Risto / Sanheim / Deslauries
- ClaudeFather

The "gamble" was lost? You know this. Sanheim does not belong in that group.

I didn’t dislike the signing but there was a certain degree of risk to it, and that gamble was lost. I can live with giving a guy that earned the money the contract, it’s hard to stomach the Hayes / Risto / Sanheim / Deslauries
- ClaudeFather

At least they play….the Ellis debacle is squarely on Fletcher.

This implies that a team's development strategy can't fail a player with talent and skill. It's not always just a bad choice at the draft. With most teams, you'd say hey, the player just didn't cut it but not with this team and their archaic development processes that MBFlyerfan effectively described. There are steps for players that is just getting started at the draft. There is no doubt that the Flyers jerked Ratcliffe around just as they have many players.
- MJL

No, it implies that the poster only stated reasons blaming the development team. Drafting the biggest kid in junior that scores doesn’t always mean his game will translate. I’m not totally taking blame from the development team here because they are clearly not the best, but totally ignoring the player and management team that selected him is ignorant

The "gamble" was lost? You know this. Sanheim does not belong in that group.
- MJL

Maybe gamble isn’t the best term, but as I said, significant risk signing a guy with hard miles on the cusp of 30 to a long term deal. Sanheim contract is a bad one, can’t argue that. Overpay and over term, he’s a better player of the bunch

At least they play….the Ellis debacle is squarely on Fletcher.
- landros 2

Traded a broken guy for a more expensive broken guy, can’t make it up

No, it implies that the poster only stated reasons blaming the development team. Drafting the biggest kid in junior that scores doesn’t always mean his game will translate. I’m not totally taking blame from the development team here because they are clearly not the best, but totally ignoring the player and management team that selected him is ignorant
- ClaudeFather

No, it's not ignorant. It's ignorant to not realize and consider the report that this far into his professional career, the player apparently doesn't know what kind of player he should be. What his role is. That is a clear failure of the development system. The player was clearly a talented player.

Maybe gamble isn’t the best term, but as I said, significant risk signing a guy with hard miles on the cusp of 30 to a long term deal. Sanheim contract is a bad one, can’t argue that. Overpay and over term, he’s a better player of the bunch
- ClaudeFather

Seems again, you have your crystal ball working and know in advance. I personally don't feel that Sanheim should be a max term player but I'm not going to anoint it a bad contract right off the bat.

No, it's not ignorant. It's ignorant to not realize and consider the report that this far into his professional career, the player apparently doesn't know what kind of player he should be. What his role is. That is a clear failure of the development system. The player was clearly a talented player.
- MJL

He’s literally never been able to produce in the AHL, he was given a shot. Do you know how many guys are tweeners of not being good enough on the offensive side in the pros? Every kid drafted in the first few rounds is a talented player, doesn’t mean they will amount to anything

Seems again, you have your crystal ball working and know in advance. I personally don't feel that Sanheim should be a max term player but I'm not going to anoint it a bad contract right off the bat.
- MJL

I believe you’re on record here saying it was a give on Fletchers part on term and money, what would that imply? That it’s a good contract?

He’s literally never been able to produce in the AHL, he was given a shot. Do you know how many guys are tweeners of not being good enough on the offensive side in the pros? Every kid drafted in the first few rounds is a talented player, doesn’t mean they will amount to anything
- ClaudeFather

What was Bill referring to when he said Ratcliffe showed signs of breaking out? Again, a player not making it to the NHL does not automatically signal that the talent evaluation at the time of the draft was a bad one. Things happen along the way in that journey.

What was Bill referring to when he said Ratcliffe showed signs of breaking out? Again, a player not making it to the NHL does not automatically signal that the talent evaluation at the time of the draft was a bad one. Things happen along the way in that journey.
- MJL

Signs of breaking out…a real talent there