Why would the Flyers ever do that?? Listen to yourself for a moment. The Flyers have a couple of solid players in key positions that are essential to building a good team. Why would the Flyers trade that away, its the only strength they have. The bottom line is this team just needs a top line and if they tank properly this season, they can get another piece of that top line. I think TK is part of a top line here. I think a healthy Farabee and Couturier will be part of a 2nd line here. I think Gauthier has the potential to be a top line winger in the NHL. Just need the top line center and there are 3 of them at the top of this year's draft. The Flyers just need to grab one of them and within a few years they will be contending. That is what makes this season so frustrating as a fan, the seemingly unwillingness of Flyers management to go this route. They would rather the quick fix which may fill one hole, but will create new holes. The Flyers have some good players on their team in key positions, they should just focus on filling the positions they don't have by drafting very high in a generational draft, and then within a few years they can clear cap space and they are contending again. I see the path so clearly, but then again, I care about the team, not myself. Can Fletcher truly say the same thing?
- jd250

Just needs a top line? Like that’s gonna just drop in their lap over the next year or 2, please.

By the way, they also need:
A top D pairing
A 2C, at least until Couturier shows he can still play
A coach who doesn’t think offensive creativity is a bad thing
A competent GM

Even if Fletcher was fired tomorrow and a top GM brought in, unless they get incredibly lucky in the lottery, they are probably 4-5 years from contending. Everyone except the kids should be on the trading block.

Torts himself has said that the team never had a problem w/ compete and attitude in the room since day 1. And the roster is mostly holdovers, so do the math.

The main difference is that the system they play is simplified to the point where they have no choice but to be on the same page. AV's situational puck pressure and man on man required a lot of read and react. Torts' sit back system is more about basic coverages and collapsing.

The problem is that a sit back system can only take you so far in 2023. Couple it with the relative lack of talent and you get what we're watching now. Good teams like Seattle, Toronto, Boston etc who have their poop together just dismantle the Flyers' defensive posture easily.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. This is the very same thing I've been stating since the beginning of the season. It is not winning hockey.

It's comical how you like to be critical of everyone's comments on here and yet you are the king of backtracking on your comments. It's called reality...they haven't been as competitive in the past few games. It has NOTHING to do with having a short memory. And I stand by my previous comments that Torts has gotten way more out of this team than should be possible. The Flyers should have hired Tocchet in hindsight cause that would have guaranteed a good tanking season!
- Phillywhiteout

Give me one example of how I backtracked on a comment. Just one.

The Flyers have lost 37 out of 60 games. They finished 15th in the eastern conference last season. They currently rank 14th in the eastern conference. Wow what a coaching performance. I didn't think it was possible.

Give me one example of how I backtracked on a comment. Just one.

The Flyers have lost 37 out of 60 games. They finished 15th in the eastern conference last season. They currently rank 14th in the eastern conference. Wow what a coaching performance. I didn't think it was possible.
- MJL

Looking at how the Habs played compared to the Flyers, i’m pretty sure Philly will be finishing 15th again.

Torts himself has said that the team never had a problem w/ compete and attitude in the room since day 1. And the roster is mostly holdovers, so do the math.

The main difference is that the system they play is simplified to the point where they have no choice but to be on the same page. AV's situational puck pressure and man on man required a lot of read and react. Torts' sit back system is more about basic coverages and collapsing.

The problem is that a sit back system can only take you so far in 2023. Couple it with the relative lack of talent and you get what we're watching now. Good teams like Seattle, Toronto, Boston etc who have their poop together just dismantle the Flyers' defensive posture easily.
- Tomahawk

the team this year has less talent than previous years. period.

Just needs a top line? Like that’s gonna just drop in their lap over the next year or 2, please.

By the way, they also need:
A top D pairing
A 2C, at least until Couturier shows he can still play
A coach who doesn’t think offensive creativity is a bad thing
A competent GM

Even if Fletcher was fired tomorrow and a top GM brought in, unless they get incredibly lucky in the lottery, they are probably 4-5 years from contending. Everyone except the kids should be on the trading block.
- BiggE

Don’t forget:
A medical staff that isn’t terrible.

Scouts that aren’t fixated on size and motor over skill and speed.

Player development that doesn’t overcook players ready to move up or reward effort of low ceiling prospects to the detriment of higher ceiling prospects.

Realizing that having a person at the helm of the ship who was the ceo of making sure they had enough cups and cans of nacho cheese for the big rush is crazy.

the team this year has less talent than previous years. period.
- Peter Richards

Not even a question lol

I guess the Flyers will look slow 🐌 vs Habs and the Devils
- THE EVIL WITHIN

😆 Yea the "journalists" was surprised of the lack of quickness!!! On the postgame presser. And Tortorella played the first homegame after a roadtrip card. 😔

Give me one example of how I backtracked on a comment. Just one.

The Flyers have lost 37 out of 60 games. They finished 15th in the eastern conference last season. They currently rank 14th in the eastern conference. Wow what a coaching performance. I didn't think it was possible.
- MJL

Hilarious that you just mention the eastern conference because league wide doesn’t fit your narrative

Hilarious that you just mention the eastern conference because league wide doesn’t fit your narrative
- ClaudeFather

Oh, it actually does fit my narrative. We can look at league wide also. Not much difference. Several other team have gotten worse.

This is your typical response. Rather than address the point and logically show why you disagree. You move right to attacking the poster. If this conversation continues between you and I on this subject, you will only escalate.

Oh, it actually does fit my narrative. We can look at league wide also. Not much difference. Several other team have gotten worse.

This is your typical response. Rather than address the point and logically show why you disagree. You move right to attacking the poster. If this conversation continues between you and I on this subject, you will only escalate.
- MJL

And the flyers have gotten worse, yet they are a team that is performing better than last year. Just the facts right?

the team this year has less talent than previous years. period.
- Peter Richards

Exactly. They simply don’t have the skate ability (on the whole) to play a pressure system. That is on the scouts and GM.

And the flyers have gotten worse, yet they are a team that is performing better than last year. Just the facts right?
- ClaudeFather

There is no content in your post. Just more rhetoric. Make a counter point and we can discuss that.

And the flyers have gotten worse, yet they are a team that is performing better than last year. Just the facts right?
- ClaudeFather

this is accurate

Exactly. They simply don’t have the skate ability (on the whole) to play a pressure system. That is on the scouts and GM.
- Sinisalo4vr

imo that is a different issue, but agree

There is no content in your post. Just more rhetoric. Make a counter point and we can discuss that.
- MJL

Just facts

Exactly. They simply don’t have the skate ability (on the whole) to play a pressure system. That is on the scouts and GM.
- Sinisalo4vr

What's missing from last year? Basically just Giroux. They have improved young talent. Skating ability does not prevent them from playing more of a puck pressure system.

Just facts
- ClaudeFather

What fact?

Give me one example of how I backtracked on a comment. Just one.

The Flyers have lost 37 out of 60 games. They finished 15th in the eastern conference last season. They currently rank 14th in the eastern conference. Wow what a coaching performance. I didn't think it was possible.
- MJL

Let me give you two. How's Myers doing in Tampa? How's that long term Coots contract looking these days? I'm sure I could come up with more, but I simply don't have the time right now.

What's missing from last year? Basically just Giroux. They have improved young talent. Skating ability does not prevent them from playing more of a puck pressure system.
- MJL

Basically just the best player on the team lol what? Do you see the crap you post? Braun had also take a considerable step back, TDA is terrible at defense. Coots, although a shell of himself also played 30 games, Farabee is coming off neck surgery this year. The team is considerably worse, are those facts for you Cliff?

Let me give you two. How's Myers doing in Tampa? How's that long term Coots contract looking these days? I'm sure I could come up with more, but I simply don't have the time right now.

- Phillywhiteout

Him and his followers tried to tell me I didn’t know about hockey when I called out Meyers hockey IQ while playing here 😂

What's missing from last year? Basically just Giroux. They have improved young talent. Skating ability does not prevent them from playing more of a puck pressure system.
- MJL

This team is a dumpster fire. They certainly have less talent than last year. They don't have a first or second line center for starters and Atkinson hasn't played a shift this year. They are way worse roster wise, but of course that would mean that you have to give Torts some credit which you will absolutely refuse to do at all cost.

Let me give you two. How's Myers doing in Tampa? How's that long term Coots contract looking these days? I'm sure I could come up with more, but I simply don't have the time right now.

- Phillywhiteout

When did I backtrack on any past comments I've made on Myers. When have I backtracked on my comments on the Couturier contract? I'll wait.

Him and his followers tried to tell me I didn’t know about hockey when I called out Meyers hockey IQ while playing here 😂
- ClaudeFather

Oh, but it's not about his hockey IQ according to some folks on here.

This team is a dumpster fire. They certainly have less talent than last year. They don't have a first or second line center for starters and Atkinson hasn't played a shift this year. They are way worse roster wise, but of course that would mean that you have to give Torts some credit which you will absolutely refuse to do at all cost.

- Phillywhiteout

Forgot about Atkinson haha, the team is 100% less talented than last year. It’s absurd to say otherwise