I have never advocated for a tank job by the Flyers. I don't agree with it, but it has worked for other organizations.

To me, I am fine with the Flyers regressing from last year. Regressing is not tanking. I think it is to be expected. I think Torts will wear on the team as a whole, and we will start to see the team be affected by his ways in a bigger way. I don't think the Flyers are a very good team at all, and I think other teams in the Metro will be better next year. I think Keefe will have the NJD ( will have a healthy Hamilton and Hughes back) firing on all cylinders during the regular season, I expect the Islanders to be better under Roy after a full training camp and any changes he wants to see. I just think with the amount of dead cap the Flyers have on the payroll, the lack of a PP, teams playing closer to expectations....including the Flyers, I just think this is going to be a down year.

And that's not taking into account the signing mistakes, and needless buyouts that are heading are way shortly.
- TheFreak

It’s not a tank if you simply reset and trade some of your better vets, instead of resigning them…go young. They already have a decent young core and need to concentrate on that. So maybe you move a guy like Konecny….a guy like Farabee…Risto? If you can. The more draft capital you can attain the better chance you have to add young pieces for the future that could eventually build what they are trying to get. What we’ve seen DB do so far is weaponize the salary cap to help make these moves …they’ve exhausted that avenue. Time for the “tough” decisions they keep telling us about.

Is krebs a good prospect?
- bradster

He is a forward that was highly touted during this draft year, however he has played over 200 NHL games and has only 65 points. Sometimes junior and AHL skills just don't translate to the NHL.

I think the Flyers will regress in the standings next season for a number of reasons: 1. they will not be signing any significant free agents this offseason, 2. their goaltending will not be has good as it was last year, and 3. other metro teams will improve. What I do expect is the Flyers will improve their special teams. Keep the PK above 80% and get the PP up to 18-20%. This along with continued development of players like Foerster and York and some infusion of youth on the blue line should make it a positive season regardless of where they finish in the standings. And if Michkov comes over, all them ore positive.
- jd250

How? The PK will almost assuredly be worse due to goaltending and a lesser defense. The PP might be better but that's because it was historically bad this year. They added nothing thus far that will improve it and they might trade TK.

I agree the Flyers will be bad this year in terms of the standings.

Maybe, but to me these are professional athletes that are wired to win. I expect they are physically and mentally conditioned to play an 82 game season and finish with a strong desire to win. The team didn't look burned out in the last 3 games of the season. I think Jones hit it right on the head, the team collapsed because they underestimated their weaker opponents, which was something they did quite often last season (San Jose game early in the season as an example).
- jd250

One of the biggest flies in the ointment of Tortorella's methods is that he pushes his team to play with playoff level intensity from the opening game of the season. That is not sustainable over a full season. The final 3 games was just a temporary increase with emotion and adrenaline to push for the playoffs. Also not sustainable. Jones is full of crap and is missing the boat.

And that's not taking into account the signing mistakes, and needless buyouts that are heading are way shortly.
- TheFreak

Speaking of buyouts, if the Blues buyout Hayes it would keep him on the Flyers cap until June, 2028 and use up a retention slot for four more years.

https://www.capfriendly.c...ut-calculator/kevin-hayes

It’s not a tank if you simply reset and trade some of your better vets, instead of resigning them…go young. They already have a decent young core and need to concentrate on that. So maybe you move a guy like Konecny….a guy like Farabee…Risto? If you can. The more draft capital you can attain the better chance you have to add young pieces for the future that could eventually build what they are trying to get. What we’ve seen DB do so far is weaponize the salary cap to help make these moves …they’ve exhausted that avenue. Time for the “tough” decisions they keep telling us about.

- landros 2

What I took from Jones yesterday is there will not be much this offseason because of the cap situation, but next season when the cap clears up there is a potential for some bold moves. It feels to me that Flyers will be rolling back essentially the same team next year, with maybe some additional younger players.

Last September (2023) was not under Fletchers watch. The military camp aspect was, but not 8 months ago. Not disputing what could be done or who was to blame on that one, but the OP stated he had to deal with the Fedotov situation, which happened last fall, under Briere.
- TheFreak

after the military they had him play in the khl. there was nothing the flyers could do. yes that was under Danny's watch but a non-issue.

so that situation was nothing. not even worth worrying about on the flyers end.

I think the Flyers will regress in the standings next season for a number of reasons: 1. they will not be signing any significant free agents this offseason, 2. their goaltending will not be has good as it was last year, and 3. other metro teams will improve. What I do expect is the Flyers will improve their special teams. Keep the PK above 80% and get the PP up to 18-20%. This along with continued development of players like Foerster and York and some infusion of youth on the blue line should make it a positive season regardless of where they finish in the standings. And if Michkov comes over, all them ore positive.
- jd250

They really need better production from their centre’s (whom ever they may be in the future). To help guys like Foerster, Tippet….maybe Farabee? A signed Konecny? To produce.

One of the biggest flies in the ointment of Tortorella's methods is that he pushes his team to play with playoff level intensity from the opening game of the season. That is not sustainable over a full season. The final 3 games was just a temporary increase with emotion and adrenaline to push for the playoffs. Also not sustainable. Jones is full of crap and is missing the boat.
- MJL

Playing 9 forwards for 3/4 of the season will do that.

Speaking of buyouts, if the Blues buyout Hayes it would keep him on the Flyers cap until June, 2028 and use up a retention slot for four more years.

https://www.capfriendly.c...ut-calculator/kevin-hayes
- Feanor

Would it use a retention spot?

One of the biggest flies in the ointment of Tortorella's methods is that he pushes his team to play with playoff level intensity from the opening game of the season. That is not sustainable over a full season. The final 3 games was just a temporary increase with emotion and adrenaline to push for the playoffs. Also not sustainable. Jones is full of crap and is missing the boat.
- MJL

I don't agree that the Flyers played at playoff intensity all of last season. They certainly got up for the gauntlet of games against the best teams in the league and certainly after that had a let down which is to be expected. But expected for maybe 1 game, not several games. Certainly the benching of Couts had something to do with it, and that is on Torts, but I think several players also let the team down last year.

Playing 9 forwards for 3/4 of the season will do that.
- mickel25

For a good laugh check out the ice time Torts gave Coots and Frost in the first half of the season. Then he claims he couldn't have known Couturier would struggle in the second half because he didn't have a crystal ball.

Maybe, but to me these are professional athletes that are wired to win. I expect they are physically and mentally conditioned to play an 82 game season and finish with a strong desire to win. The team didn't look burned out in the last 3 games of the season. I think Jones hit it right on the head, the team collapsed because they underestimated their weaker opponents, which was something they did quite often last season (San Jose game early in the season as an example).
- jd250

they "collapsed" because they are just as "good" as those teams.

they just are not a good team. not sure why that is hard to digest for some.

A+ development from Lappy and the Phantoms coaching crew.
- Feanor

or maybe he just isnt that good a player. nah that cant be it.

What I took from Jones yesterday is there will not be much this offseason because of the cap situation, but next season when the cap clears up there is a potential for some bold moves. It feels to me that Flyers will be rolling back essentially the same team next year, with maybe some additional younger players.
- jd250

there are no younger players to add except maybe andrae and he is long shot.

Playing 9 forwards for 3/4 of the season will do that.
- mickel25

didnt he also dress 5 d for a bit?

Would it use a retention spot?
- mickel25

Yes. OEL is on Utah's cap till 2030 because Vancouver bought him out in 2023.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/utah

they "collapsed" because they are just as "good" as those teams.

they just are not a good team. not sure why that is hard to digest for some.
- hello it's me 2050

Beating and/or "hanging" against good teams is always overrated. Those teams think you stink and play the back up goalie. In the first 2/3 of the season you can win some of those games. The last 1/3 of the season the good teams get there s&^t together and talent deficient teams like the Flyers lose games.

What I took from Jones yesterday is there will not be much this offseason because of the cap situation, but next season when the cap clears up there is a potential for some bold moves. It feels to me that Flyers will be rolling back essentially the same team next year, with maybe some additional younger players.
- jd250

A poor cap situation…the self inflicted dead money that exists to help acquire future assets has run its course. There is no reason to stall the rebuild, like he kind of hinted at, unless it’s not a rebuild at all.
Here’s an idea ….maybe you don’t pay 27 yr old Konecny like a top 15 player in the NHL when he’s simply not that, never has been that and never will be that.
Again with the Flyers it’s not about what they say….far to often this team has not followed through on their words. I would think a team in a so called rebuild would have a busy 2nd summer ? No?

or maybe he just isnt that good a player. nah that cant be it.
- hello it's me 2050

His point total halved from his first season to his second. However "good" he is, he got much worse.

They really need better production from their centre’s (whom ever they may be in the future). To help guys like Foerster, Tippet….maybe Farabee? A signed Konecny? To produce.
- landros 2

That's the biggest hole in the organization IMO, the center position. I expect Couts will have a better season this year given he has a full off season to workout and feel more confident about this back, Frost showed he is a viable 2nd/3rd line center and Poehling is a very good 4th line center than can play 3rd line center when needed. There are two move I would like the Flyers to make: 1. trade Laughton for a younger center that has development and upside potential, maybe a player that needs a change of scenery, and let that player play 3rd line center, and 2. waive or trade Deslauriers and replace with a Brink that can play all season, so they don't have to play 11/7 again. These two things would help the forward group immensely.

Yes. OEL is on Utah's cap till 2030 because Vancouver bought him out in 2023.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/utah
- Feanor

On the cap as a buyout. Not as a retention spot. You only get three retention spots.

Honestly, it would be to the Flyers advantage (in my opinion) if the Blues bought out Hayes. It would open up a retention spot.

His point total halved from his first season to his second. However "good" he is, he got much worse.
- Feanor

could have easily been an outlier. cement head needs to go. to blame it all on him is misguided.

That's the biggest hole in the organization IMO, the center position. I expect Couts will have a better season this year given he has a full off season to workout and feel more confident about this back, Frost showed he is a viable 2nd/3rd line center and Poehling is a very good 4th line center than can play 3rd line center when needed. There are two move I would like the Flyers to make: 1. trade Laughton for a younger center that has development and upside potential, maybe a player that needs a change of scenery, and let that player play 3rd line center, and 2. waive or trade Deslauriers and replace with a Brink that can play all season, so they don't have to play 11/7 again. These two things would help the forward group immensely.
- jd250

Laughton is too important to the culture to trade. Frost and Couturier are malcontents and at least one of them are likely to be moved so Poehling can be one of the top two centers like he was in game 82 with the playoffs on the line.

didnt he also dress 5 d for a bit?
- hello it's me 2050

They 11 forwards-7 D-men format was Torts' jam. Then making 2 forwards ride the pine for most of the game.

I am sure he dressed 5 d-men for a bit too. I just don't recall it.