see cliff's response.
- hello it's me 2050

Do you seriously want Atkinson on the 4th line? wow!

I'm sorry but I'm coming in late to all that back and forth but mjl you talk down to anyone who doesn't agree with you. We had it before about Risto. Like one Laughton or Atkinson on the fourth line is completely asinine. Neither should be. Talk about ND all you want but serves his purpose. Same as signing Hathaway they aren't redundant players either. Hathaway good two way but also plays with an edge. ND hard worker. Sets a tone with playing with an edge has everyone on the teams back. I bet if you asked any player on the flyers if they wanted him in the line up 100% yes. GM Danny knows that he played. Honestly think you never played hockey in your life. Yeah just stink play all the kids and see what happens look at Detroit. Yeah they have some young guys still no system to make it work. You can luck into top picks if they don't work or there's no team and system behind it it doesn't matter. I don't like Torts but seems like he will play the kids or give them the chance. Shouldn't be handed to them. I'm not even fully in agreement with the other guy but I just find you distasteful because of your snobby attitude to everyone that doesn't agree with you. Love the Flyers. Love to read the blog. Bill is a great writer. Try to keep up on anything going on with the team. Played hockey for over 20 years travel, tournament, semi pro just seeing your takes you don't know sh*t about hockey but act like you're smarter than everyone which is worse.

Also in ND's favor Minnesota playoff team went out and got him, again they got Reeves too last season. Toronto goes out get Reeves. ND way better player and questionable fighter. But hey good teams don't get those players on their fourth line didn't you reference the Avs they had Kurt MacDermid bottom pairing D/4th liner. Keep spouting off you're snobby responses to people who call you out. You never did give the guy a response on calling him a CEO lol

I'm sorry but I'm coming in late to all that back and forth but mjl you talk down to anyone who doesn't agree with you. We had it before about Risto. Like one Laughton or Atkinson on the fourth line is completely asinine. Neither should be. Talk about ND all you want but serves his purpose. Same as signing Hathaway they aren't redundant players either. Hathaway good two way but also plays with an edge. ND hard worker. Sets a tone with playing with an edge has everyone on the teams back. I bet if you asked any player on the flyers if they wanted him in the line up 100% yes. GM Danny knows that he played. Honestly think you never played hockey in your life. Yeah just stink play all the kids and see what happens look at Detroit. Yeah they have some young guys still no system to make it work. You can luck into top picks if they don't work or there's no team and system behind it it doesn't matter. I don't like Torts but seems like he will play the kids or give them the chance. Shouldn't be handed to them. I'm not even fully in agreement with the other guy but I just find you distasteful because of your snobby attitude to everyone that doesn't agree with you. Love the Flyers. Love to read the blog. Bill is a great writer. Try to keep up on anything going on with the team. Played hockey for over 20 years travel, tournament, semi pro just seeing your takes you don't know sh*t about hockey but act like you're smarter than everyone which is worse.
- RaoulDuke88

Deslauriers serves his purpose. Hard worker with a physical edge? Sets a tone playing with an edge. Honestly, sounds to me like your the perfect Flyers fan that the Flyers can sell their nonsense to. That they can sell having a completely awful player like Deslauriers in the lineup to. Stuck in the past and old time hockey. Hit sumbuddy! No reason for me to read any further. Honestly, what's your normal screen name?

Let me know when you're ready to have an adult conversation.

You're completely full of crap as usual. There is an easy answer to who sits. Starting with the guy who can't play. That's Deslaurier. Waive him and send him to the AHL. Then while it's certainly not ideal and trust me, there is no way the Flyers will do it but there are two choices on who to move to the 4th line to make room for both Foerster and Brink to play in the top 9. That is Atkinson and Laughton. I personally would move 34 YEAR OLD Cam Atkinson to the 4th line. He didn't play at all last season and the Flyers are not going to be a good team. If one of Brink or Foerster shows after significant time that they aren't ready to play full time in the top 9. Then you have an immediate replacement. Start your brain and think out of the box and stop being a Tortorella lap dog and apologist.
You're spewing the same crap as always. Before it was " I can't believe the crap you all are spewing about Fletcher! "

- MJL

This is one of your most ridiculous posts yet. How do you think Laughton or Cam is going to feel about playing 8-10 minutes a night? Cam was one of the best forwards on the Flyers this preseason. Laughton is coming off a career year and should be showcased this season as a good deadline acquisition for a playoff bound team. You still have to think about the locker room and long term. I agree that ND is a bad player but he does serve a purpose for now on the 4th line. My point here is Foerster and Brink will play games and get good minutes this season, and that for this franchise is a step in the right direction. Gauthier coming next season so the Flyers still have work to do to clear another top 9 spot. My guess is Laughton traded at the deadline, Cam with a good season under good belt gets traded in the off season with the Flyers covering some salary. Now next season you have Foerster, Brink and Gauthier full time in the top 9 which is another step forward. You must think long term!

Also in ND's favor Minnesota playoff team went out and got him, again they got Reeves too last season. Toronto goes out get Reeves. ND way better player and questionable fighter. But hey good teams don't get those players on their fourth line didn't you reference the Avs they had Kurt MacDermid bottom pairing D/4th liner. Keep spouting off you're snobby responses to people who call you out. You never did give the guy a response on calling him a CEO lol
- RaoulDuke88

I'll never get a response about the CEO thing cause he knows he's wrong. And when he's wrong he quickly shoves it under the rug like it never happened, but when someone else is wrong he will NEVER let them forget about it. Dude must have insecurities galore. Eh what?

On another note, Dak is the most overrated QB in the entire NFL! Every year the Cowgirls get picked to go to the SB by the pundits and every year that dude falls on his face. Just pressure that guy and he crumbles like a stale cookie. Thanks!

I'll never get a response about the CEO thing cause he knows he's wrong. And when he's wrong he quickly shoves it under the rug like it never happened, but when someone else is wrong he will NEVER let them forget about it. Dude must have insecurities galore.

On another note, Dak is the most overrated QB in the entire NFL! Every year the Cowgirls get picked to go to the SB by the pundits and every year that dude falls on his face. Just pressure that guy and he crumbles like a stale cookie. Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

First bold is absolutely true. Second bold is absolutely not true.

First bold is absolutely true. Second bold is absolutely not true.
- MBFlyerfan

Not sure what you looked at in the preseason, but many more pundits were picking the Cowgirls to go to the SB than the Eagles and it wasn't even close. I'm not talking about the locals either. They are always biased to the local teams. I'm talking about the national media.

Not so fast.
- Dave21Brown

This did not age well

who makes it, tyson or brink? Hard to see both in the top 9 with the rest of the team, and both need top 9 mins. Or do they rotate the two as they work on their games trying to keep them fresh (but has that ever been done)?

ND isn't their competition. I don't want Foerster or Brink on the fourth line, playing eight minutes with Poehling and Hathaway.
- bmeltzer

This is such a phony argument. 20 year old Jeff Carter only averaged 9:10 at ES in his rookie season, and he still scored 23 goals and 19 assists (15 G and 12 A at ES) and developed into a guy who had the 2nd most goals in the league a few years later.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

There's absolutely no reason the Flyers HAVE to have a 4th line with zero skill on it. That's just a choice they are making because their coach is a clueless old dinosaur.

This is such a phony argument. 20 year old Jeff Carter only averaged 9:10 at ES in his rookie season, and he still scored 23 goals and 19 assists (15 G and 12 A at ES) and developed into a guy who had the 2nd most goals in the league a few years later.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

There's absolutely no reason the Flyers HAVE to have a 4th line with zero skill on it. That's just a choice they are making because their coach is a clueless old dinosaur.
- Feanor

agree but the 4th line has 2 appropriate players, it is just ND

This is such a phony argument. 20 year old Jeff Carter only averaged 9:10 at ES in his rookie season, and he still scored 23 goals and 19 assists (15 G and 12 A at ES) and developed into a guy who had the 2nd most goals in the league a few years later.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

There's absolutely no reason the Flyers HAVE to have a 4th line with zero skill on it. That's just a choice they are making because their coach is a clueless old dinosaur.
- Feanor

Carter maybe only played a few games on the 4th line that year. he was mostly 3rd line.

Torts will ice ND if he is there. DB is the one to waive him. and for their development, if the are not playing top 9 minutes, would rather them getting high minutes in the ahl, playing all situations.

Throwing the kids on the 4th line and saying “let them play” is not “player development”

I swear some of you here have now clue how to ice a team 😂

Man Dahlin got $11mil per. That's a lot of money.

Man Dahlin got $11mil per. That's a lot of money.
- mickel25

He’s really good, come into his own these past couple years

Throwing the kids on the 4th line and saying “let them play” is not “player development”

I swear some of you here have now clue how to ice a team 😂
- anti-lame

A young player playing with Hathaway and RP is not a bad way to get your feet wet. The problem is ND, you’re playing a goon that can’t play hockey and no young player should be paired with him

He’s really good, come into his own these past couple years
- ClaudeFather

He is and it seems like market value but that is still a lot of money. Not really stating anything earth shattering here I agree.

He is and it seems like market value but that is still a lot of money. Not really stating anything earth shattering here I agree.
- mickel25

Age 23 as well…great contract. Cap will only go up. It’s not like they are paying for projection either because he’s arrived.

A young player playing with Hathaway and RP is not a bad way to get your feet wet. The problem is ND, you’re playing a goon that can’t play hockey and no young player should be paired with him
- ClaudeFather

with the two in question idk. Maybe if they committed to playing the 4th line more often. I could more see it for an Elliott type prospect, but def not tyson imo. brink, maybe but not ideal.

This is such a phony argument. 20 year old Jeff Carter only averaged 9:10 at ES in his rookie season, and he still scored 23 goals and 19 assists (15 G and 12 A at ES) and developed into a guy who had the 2nd most goals in the league a few years later.

https://www.nhl.com/stats...ssists&page=0&pageSize=50

There's absolutely no reason the Flyers HAVE to have a 4th line with zero skill on it. That's just a choice they are making because their coach is a clueless old dinosaur.
- Feanor

Same narrative, different day...

Which teams have the skilled 4th lines in the NHL TODAY?

with the two in question idk. Maybe if they committed to playing the 4th line more often. I could more see it for an Elliott type prospect, but def not tyson imo. brink, maybe but not ideal.
- Peter Richards

It’s not top 9 or nothing, Tyson already played a year in the AHL. You can begin your career on the fourth line, there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s an issue with pairing that young player with a guy that can’t play hockey, because ND is there, it does because top 9 or bust. But it’s literally because of one player

Same narrative, different day...

Which teams have the skilled 4th lines in the NHL TODAY?
- Glak18

Just looking very quickly, Colorado Buffalo and Calgary all have some skilled with some grit players, and the grit players aren’t goons. There is no issue with that

The issue is that Nick Deslauriers can't play hockey. At all. He isn't a grit guy that has a little bit of skill to go with it.

He is completely devoid of talent.

Just looking very quickly, Colorado Buffalo and Calgary all have some skilled with some grit players, and the grit players aren’t goons. There is no issue with that
- ClaudeFather

I looked through every team in the league, the ones that can be used as example have one thing in common...they are West Coast teams. The others that have young players that have some skill tend to be teams competing with the Flyers for that lottery pick.
Now the contending teams all seem to have grit, toughness and versatility on their 4th line.

So weird.