The Ended Flyers Thread

[zambonir]

but, the injuries!

If they were actually tanking/rebuilding it would be impressive.

Flyers haven't hit rock bottom yet because things could still get worse

[Before the Penguins game] They could hang their hat on the fact that they were at least competitive in defeat. It was why this losing streak felt different than the 10-gamer and the franchise-worst 13-gamer from 2021-22.

Still, take a second to digest that. Since November 18 of 2021, the Flyers have played 89 games — after Saturday’s battle with the Islanders, they’ll have played in 90. If they lose yet again — and let’s be honest, they probably will — that means that 33 of their last 90 games have been spent in double-digit losing streaks. That’s 36.6 percent of all of their games

Take a look at their looming schedule. On Saturday, they get the 13-8-0 Islanders in the second game of a back-to-back, a situation the Flyers have yet to turn into a victory this season. Then, they have a rematch with those same Islanders at home on Tuesday, and that’s their most winnable game for a week. Next, it’s the Tampa Bay Lightning (three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances and two titles), the New Jersey Devils (fresh off a 13-game winning streak), and the Colorado Avalanche (the defending champs). A home battle against the Capitals is winnable, but if they lose that one, then it’s off to Vegas to face the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.

It’s not a stretch to imagine that the Flyers could have 16 straight defeats when they face the Arizona Coyotes on December 11. Yikes.

[Aquapong]

This game is brutal. Hart is the only reason this game isn't 6-0 already.

Fletcher needs to trade anyone not nailed down. Cates, TK, Deangelo, and JVR could be useful to other teams in the right situation. Hart could be the biggest trade chip they have.

Tippett, Frost, and Zamula are just not good.

[Docs]

i would prefer the next GM trade anyone not nailed down, Fletcher likes to throw valuable draft picks into his trades.

[Aquapong]

Taryn Hatcher isn’t even there at intermission to ease the pain anymore. Unfortunately Fletcher has this team just mediocre enough to not have a high percentage in the lottery.

[zambonir]

Well, they are still cruising the unexpected hot start, still plenty of time to be one of the three worst teams.

Unfortunately there's really no good way to finish this season now. Keeping Fletcher is keeping Fletcher; firing him means an interim GM or rushed/obvious hire without any real change which is how they got here to begin with.

[bigegypt0417]

They are on a scorching trend to the bottom...already in the bottom 10 and plummeting quickly.

[Docs]

Its a deep draft so there will probably be some first round talent available at the top of the second round, so if this trend holds the Flyers should be getting a really valuable gift basket from Carolina as thanks for that second round pick Fletcher sent for DeAngelo. Oh wait that was next year's second round pick, this year's second round pick belongs to Buffalo for Ristolainen. Either way, it should be a really valuable gift basket.

[Aquapong]

We’ve got 3 first round picks in 2024. Maybe we use those to get someone we really like this year. Either way, this team is several years from contending. Unfortunately we’ve got a bunch of long deals on the books for decent but not good players that will take a while to unload or expire.

Ellis’ career is probably done. Allison can’t stay on the ice. Coots obviously is having trouble with his back that is making me wonder if he’ll play again.

[Docs]

I think the Flyers only have 2 first round picks in 2024, their own & a top ten protected Panthers pick. They have their own first rounder in 2023, and no second rounders in either draft.

[zambonir]

Which is truly remarkable. The media has started to put out the line that the Flyers are rebuilding without admitting to rebuilding, and while that is probably a path the team didn't actually embark on (admittedly or not) until Couturier's injury (plus the end to the fantasy of Ellis coming back), they have just not been making future-minded moves at all, not in the past few months and certainly not since last deadline. And of course if you fence-sit about the organizational direction and land on the wrong side, suddenly you are rebuilding whether you wanted to or not. A whole generation of players might get wasted here, though of course many of them also didn't pan out.

[bkeich]

They are not rebuilding with Fletcher. They are making shockingly stupid trades to ensure they stay terrible. To Rebuild you gather resources and develop them, you don't trade 2nd round picks (when your team is atrocious) for guys that no one wants on their team.

[zambonir]

Well yes, that's a whole other problem - not only have they been giving up assets for win-now moves, they've been giving them up for players who can't actually help you win!

[bigegypt0417]

Flyers are now in the bottom 7 so they are...progressing?

Anyway...who on this team can they trade for picks?

Hayes?

[zambonir]

Seems like all the obvious tradeable players are still signed for too long/too much money (Hayes more than any of them) and the ones who aren't won't be worth much. To really get into tanking and rebuilding you gotta start thinking about trading the players you didn't even really want to trade (until now).

[Aquapong]

Hmm. Some mock draft website I was looking at had us with 3 picks. Apparently he had us netting a late first round pick for Brassard from the Oilers.

[bkeich]

From what Z said, do you even think about moving Hart? Might get quite a haul for him.

It is going to be 5-8 years before we even start to compete. This isn't a rebuild, because there is no "re". This is a get rid of the bad core we have and build from NOTHING.

I questioned if this team would win 10 at the start of the season. They wil because they had a weird hot streak at the start of the season, but I could honestly see them not winning 10 more.

I am not sure there is one player I would want to see on the 2030 squad

[zambonir]

Aquapong brought it up (trading Hart) first!

[Aquapong]

Cam Atkinson now out for the season. Is there any team worse off on injuries?

[Docs]

How many more posts do we need before we can close out this jinxed thread and start a new one for the Flyers? Gotta be getting close to the limit, and that's what they Flyers desperately need before they will get better.

[zambonir]

I believe the answer is literally 101 (100 now). A good team would have hit it ages ago, even if this is a Phillies board.

Perhaps the new thread will be The Flyers: Post-Fletcher