Yeah that's one time past the second round in the last 16 years.
- mickel25

Unless he views the AHL as beneath him. Why ride buses for two months when he can get bought out in the offseason at 2/3 his contract and sign wherever he wants.
- psuhockey

He's at risk of not getting signed.

Well you have to have a team with the horses to achieve this, don't you.? We all agree that work vs. talent only gets a team so far. Torts has a track record of getting marginal teams to perform at their highest level. Everyone thinks Jared Bednar is a great coach and maybe he is, but how hard is it really to go on a deep run with a team that has MacKinnon, Rantanan and Makar? Torts had some good players in Columbus but no good player wants to play in Columbus and will get out of there as soon as they can. And here with the Flyers he took a laughing stock of a team and they are least giving us a real hockey season. The guy deserves a lot of credit.
- jd250

at the end of the day where does that get said team?

you do not think torts was part of the reason they wanted out?

Lycksell and Ginning recalled

Well you have to have a team with the horses to achieve this, don't you.? We all agree that work vs. talent only gets a team so far. Torts has a track record of getting marginal teams to perform at their highest level. Everyone thinks Jared Bednar is a great coach and maybe he is, but how hard is it really to go on a deep run with a team that has MacKinnon, Rantanan and Makar? Torts had some good players in Columbus but no good player wants to play in Columbus and will get out of there as soon as they can. And here with the Flyers he took a laughing stock of a team and they are least giving us a real hockey season. The guy deserves a lot of credit.
- jd250

He has had teams with talent. He is good at getting a team to play with defensive structure and getting buy in to his shot blocking mentality. It doesn't last and it is limiting. He is not the right coach for the modern day NHL. He is not the right coach to take advantage of talent like MacKinnon, Rantanen and Makar. He is about the worst coach to have for player development.

They're not doing a better job at it. Most of the players who are leading the team were drafted by Hextall or before Hextall. With even some from Fletcher.
- MJL

stfu with your defending of saint ronnie. he did a bad job here. accept it get over it and move on cliff.

most of those players are nothing special in any matter. players pretty much every nhl team has on their roster. so what did he really do as we sit here today.

how can you say they are not doing a better job? any proof? how can you compare 8 months vs saint Ronnie's wasted 4 year tenure. tell us how ronnie had a plan now...

He's at risk of not getting signed.
- MJL

any proof of that?

i see the flyers overpaying on a backup. that being said the direction they are going they do need a capable backup who can also possibly start.
- hello it's me 2050

That's exactly the reason why they didn't get a backup on the TDL. Other teams were in need of goalies, getting one meant competing with them. Given this context I totally get why Danny didn't do it. But it is showing up on the scoresheet. Tough trade-off. Perhaps they'll try to get someone short term in the off season at a cheaper price.

I'm fine with the current regime and am good to give them a chance (just like I did with Chuck). Conversely, I think too many people blame Hextall for the team's current state (Drafting of Patrick, not doing an aggressive teardown and rebuild, other aspects). It goes both ways from what I see and to me the big issue was that upper management wanted to shift to a win now strategy when we weren't ready to contend so they got rid of Hextall and we basically wasted 4 years in a futile attempt to go all in. Stay the course, even if it was without Hextall and we'd be in a lot better place.
- Hextall271

Here is the true reality. This organization will not let Briere tear it down just like they wouldn't let Hextall. They view this season as a stepping stone. Unless they get fortunate in the upcoming draft. They will find out that it's not.

Yep, stepping right back into a nice long lasting mediocrity. They can't help themselves.
- MJL

I haven't seen anything from DB that would say he'd ship out high draft picks in a trade or sign a high priced UFA to fill a hole on D. In fact, by sending out Walker, he's likely waved the red flag on this season with the future in mind. I can see them re signing Tk, but is that really that bad of a thing? The org simply is not looking at a 10-15 year rebuild in the way that model successful franchise Buffalo has done.

Here is the true reality. This organization will not let Briere tear it down just like they wouldn't let Hextall. They view this season as a stepping stone. Unless they get fortunate in the upcoming draft. They will find out that it's not.
- MJL

problem I see is that if we go for a true Chicago Buffalo Edmonton style rebuild, it's not a guarantee. Draft and develop well is the key along with cleaning up the cap. I've posted this before, but how is it that Boston is able to continue in contention for the last decade or more without a "true" proper 10 year teardown? Is it because they draft and develop well even when they're not a lottery team? I'd say so. They sign some as FA, but they've now lost Bergy, Krejci Rask and Chara in recent years and haven't skipped a beat.

I haven't seen anything from DB that would say he'd ship out high draft picks in a trade or sign a high priced UFA to fill a hole on D. In fact, by sending out Walker, he's likely waved the red flag on this season with the future in mind. I can see them re signing Tk, but is that really that bad of a thing? The org simply is not looking at a 10-15 year rebuild in the way that model successful franchise Buffalo has done.
- Hextall271

They wanted to re-sign Walker but his price was too high for their taste. That's why they moved him. They were talking to his agent about a new deal. I give them credit for standing firm on price. Do you really think that they're not going to err on the side of caution and bring some players in? Of course they are! There is no way they sit back and hope someone like Andrae can come in and play a big role. Yes, I see re-signing Konecny as a bad thing for a team that should be rebuilding. They've already been rebuilding for a decade or longer. Too late.

They're not doing a better job at it. Most of the players who are leading the team were drafted by Hextall or before Hextall. With even some from Fletcher.
- MJL

In Ron Hextalls first 3 drafts he had 4 first round picks and 6 seconds picks (used one to trade up in the first round for Konecny). Daniel Briere has 6 first round picks and 5 second picks in his first 3 drafts. Also Michkov projects to way better than any player Hextall ever drafted even better than his highest pick Nolan Patrick.

I would say that’s a better start.

problem I see is that if we go for a true Chicago Buffalo Edmonton style rebuild, it's not a guarantee. Draft and develop well is the key along with cleaning up the cap. I've posted this before, but how is it that Boston is able to continue in contention for the last decade or more without a "true" proper 10 year teardown? Is it because they draft and develop well even when they're not a lottery team? I'd say so. They sign some as FA, but they've now lost Bergy, Krejci Rask and Chara in recent years and haven't skipped a beat.
- Hextall271

Boston was very fortunate to get a superstar with a late #25 1st round pick. Made the right choice on McAvoy at #14. Have a 3rd round pick in Marchand turn into an all star. Bergeron and Krejci as 2nd rounders. The Flyers haven't done anything like that. Is that approach to follow that model a guarantee?

In Ron Hextalls first 3 drafts he had 4 first round picks and 6 seconds picks (used one to trade up in the first round for Konecny). Daniel Briere has 6 first round picks and 5 second picks in his first 3 drafts. Also Michkov projects to way better than any player Hextall ever drafted even better than his highest pick Nolan Patrick.

I would say that’s a better start.
- psuhockey

The results of those future draft picks are unknown at this time.

They wanted to re-sign Walker but his price was too high for their taste. That's why they moved him. They were talking to his agent about a new deal. I give them credit for standing firm on price. Do you really think that they're not going to err on the side of caution and bring some players in? Of course they are! There is no way they sit back and hope someone like Andrae can come in and play a big role. Yes, I see re-signing Konecny as a bad thing for a team that should be rebuilding. They've already been rebuilding for a decade or longer. Too late.
- MJL

Maybe some short term signings on low cap hit deals but I could see them integrating more of their young players and that's my hope. My point is that they could taken the Buffalo route but this is no guarantee. The biggest issue as I mention is that they bounced around in overall strategy and pissed away 4 years going for it when not ready. Had they stayed the course, they would have been in a better spot. Draft and develop. It's a risky business hoping to stink for ages to get the generational talent when it's a lottery. Buffalo lost the lottery, missed on McDavid and look where it got them.

Boston was very fortunate to get a superstar with a late #25 1st round pick. Made the right choice on McAvoy at #14. Have a 3rd round pick in Marchand turn into an all star. Bergeron and Krejci as 2nd rounders. The Flyers haven't done anything like that. Is that approach to follow that model a guarantee?
- MJL

It's not, but it shows that a 10 year teardown isn't the only path and just as fraught with potential disaster. The key is obviously to draft and develop well which the Bruins do.

In Ron Hextalls first 3 drafts he had 4 first round picks and 6 seconds picks (used one to trade up in the first round for Konecny). Daniel Briere has 6 first round picks and 5 second picks in his first 3 drafts. Also Michkov projects to way better than any player Hextall ever drafted even better than his highest pick Nolan Patrick.

I would say that’s a better start.
- psuhockey

Michkov won't be coming over so it won't matter. That's my prediction.

Maybe some short term signings on low cap hit deals but I could see them integrating more of their young players and that's my hope. My point is that they could taken the Buffalo route but this is no guarantee. The biggest issue as I mention is that they bounced around in overall strategy and pissed away 4 years going for it when not ready. Had they stayed the course, they would have been in a better spot. Draft and develop. It's a risky business hoping to stink for ages to get the generational talent when it's a lottery. Buffalo lost the lottery, missed on McDavid and look where it got them.
- Hextall271

The Flyers approach hasn't gotten them anywhere in the last decade. When a past GM wanted to adopt a patient approach, regardless of the execution, they lost patience relatively quickly. Unless they prove otherwise, I have no faith that they won't escalate, look at the teams competitiveness this season and think that they won't be aggressive in moving forward instead of just focusing on the drafting and developing. I would not be surprised to see them use some of that draft capital to make moves.

That's exactly the reason why they didn't get a backup on the TDL. Other teams were in need of goalies, getting one meant competing with them. Given this context I totally get why Danny didn't do it. But it is showing up on the scoresheet. Tough trade-off. Perhaps they'll try to get someone short term in the off season at a cheaper price.
- BluehorseShoe64

unless felix plays lights out in whatever games he gets into, they will have to add another solid goalie to the mix. No way torts allows anything otherwise!!!

there wasnt even any rumors with the flyers looking. Ned from pitt would have been a solid target and he still may be.

Here is the true reality. This organization will not let Briere tear it down just like they wouldn't let Hextall. They view this season as a stepping stone. Unless they get fortunate in the upcoming draft. They will find out that it's not.
- MJL

any proof they wouldn't let ronnie tear it down? he was always in charge and he chose the route he ended up taking on his own. So to say they wouldn't is just not true unless you can provide some facts.

It's not, but it shows that a 10 year teardown isn't the only path and just as fraught with potential disaster. The key is obviously to draft and develop well which the Bruins do.
- Hextall271

It's reality. It's not the only path but it is the best path. It can't be rushed. It's what it takes. You can be a playoff team and compete but if you try and escalate too soon. You will fail. The Flyers need 4-5 all star to elite level players. They have one with potential in their system. Konecny is an all star level player now but he is getting older.

The results of those future draft picks are unknown at this time.
- MJL

the results of saint ronnies are nothing special. Where are the elite level players?

how did ronnie do outside the 1st rd?

Maybe some short term signings on low cap hit deals but I could see them integrating more of their young players and that's my hope. My point is that they could taken the Buffalo route but this is no guarantee. The biggest issue as I mention is that they bounced around in overall strategy and pissed away 4 years going for it when not ready. Had they stayed the course, they would have been in a better spot. Draft and develop. It's a risky business hoping to stink for ages to get the generational talent when it's a lottery. Buffalo lost the lottery, missed on McDavid and look where it got them.
- Hextall271

base don what? other side is they really dont have any young players nhl ready.

every team drafts and develops. this isnt any new path

In Ron Hextalls first 3 drafts he had 4 first round picks and 6 seconds picks (used one to trade up in the first round for Konecny). Daniel Briere has 6 first round picks and 5 second picks in his first 3 drafts. Also Michkov projects to way better than any player Hextall ever drafted even better than his highest pick Nolan Patrick.

I would say that’s a better start.
- psuhockey

They haven't even got Michkov out of Russia and signed yet but he's already going to be "way better" than Konecny who's only scored at a point per game over the last two seasons on a talent deprived team.

You'd think after the Patrick and Gauthier debacles people wouldn't be so quick to assume everything will go great with a highly touted Flyers pick.