The New New Unending Flyers thread

[el-pietro]

At the current points per game rate the standings would end like this

1. San Jose - 54
2. Chicago - 60
3. Nashville - 72
4. Buffalo - 75
5. Seattle - 75
6. Philadelphia - 76
7. Pittsburgh - 78
8. Anaheim - 80
9. Boston - 82
10. Islanders - 84

A top 3 spot going into the lottery isn't out of the question, though equally they could slip lower in the top 10.

[Austinfan]

They're trying, played a good game last night on the road against a top team and an elite goalie who's hit his stride.

Briere tanked this season, traded 3 of his top 10 forwards with Hathaway out indefinitely. It's not that the players traded were so good, but if you don't have quality you have to have depth to compete.

I have no problem with that, and as far as a full tank, almost impossible given how bad San Jose and Chicago are.
If they pick #4-6, they should land a top prospect, and this also means #38, #70. And CGY and CBJ are starting to fade, so those picks will probably end up in the mid-40s.

Right now, #6, #22, #27, #38, #40, #44, #49, #70

[zambonir]

The highest possible pick plus more shots at 1 or 2 is an unalloyed good. So is seeing more of Andrae and Fedotov. And the awful power play only helps the tank as does TK being in a big funk. He can get over it (and if it's not 'til next year that's okay too).

First-round exit by the Avs still a very good possibility too.

[bigegypt0417]

Currently all 7 picks fall in the top 48.

Still believe they will either use some to trade up or trade for picks next season.

With a slight chance they use picks for current young NHL players.

[zambonir]

The Athletic today

The Flyers’ rebuild may have reached its low point, but none of it is surprising

Take the situation with Rasmus Ristolainen. The Flyers put a high price tag on the defenseman for any potential trade, not just because they feel he’s greatly improved under coach John Tortorella but because they didn’t want to lose him for the immediate future. That’s at least partly because they’re hoping to “take a run” at the playoffs in 2026, Briere said just after the deadline.

Briere also touched on the importance of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 drafts for the Flyers — notably stopping short of the 2026 draft.

“We’ve said there’s three groups of drafts, starting with (Matvei) Michkov’s draft (in 2023), (Jett) Luchanko (in 2024), and then this year’s draft. Those guys are going to be the bulk of our core players, we hope, in five years from now.”

Further, when asked when the Flyers might look to add players after two years of the opposite strategy, Briere said, “we’re looking into it now.”

“We started (looking at adding players) that this trade deadline. It wasn’t quite the right time,” Briere said. “But more importantly, it’s finding the right player. It’s not just the timing of it, it’s finding the right player. … That’s what we’re trying to be careful with.”

[Austinfan]

Don't really buy it.
Risto will be moved, but there was no rush, still 2 years left on his deal.
Hathaway, Poehling, Seeler (NMC expires next summer) all candidates once replacements are in place.

Given the lack of size on the defense, probably wait and see how Bonk progresses in LHV, if McDonald is NHL ready, if Grans is ready - all three have good size and mobility. Gill one more CHL season, then LHV.

Even a top pick in 2025 is unlikely to start before 2026, maybe 2027.
As Michkov shows, even a top player will need a couple years to have a real impact.

[zambonir]

Well, you have that same approach for nearly every team and sport. The Flyers are still not known for patience. Next year should still be transitional and they can't be handing out big contracts to older players, but like you say, even a top pick in 2025 isn't likely to make an impact for a while, which is why they are going to start trading picks for players sooner than later. Much more likely their 2026 pick is used to trade for a player than draft one, especially if it's not lottery (or at the very fringe of it).

[bigegypt0417]

I agree with you...at some point picks will be traded for players...the odds on draft pick success almost always point to making talent evaluation someone else's problem. The Flyers are still running a business and will need to put a better product on the ice.

Where they're drafting makes for good assets for blocked and change of scenery players.

[bigegypt0417]

Flyers step in to the 5th spot.

4 points from buffalo who still have played 3 less games.

[Austinfan]

It comes down to which players they trade for.

NJ screwed up, they traded for Meier (1st and 2nd) and gave him a big contract, signed Hamilton, Palat, etc.
Suddenly a rebuilding team with two #1s (luck) and some other young players turned old overnight.
They should have continued the rebuild for a couple more years, built up critical mass, then struck.

Flyers should be looking for a player like Reinhart or Tkachuk, 26 or so, who can contribute at a high level into his 30s. That's worth a couple late 1st rd picks and a prospect, but that's the move you make AFTER you're already a PO team and your 1st rd picks are in the 20s every year.

The stupidest move is to give a 29 year old FA, coming off his peak seasons, a 7 year big money deal.
If you want patches, sign 30+ year old veterans to 2-3 year deals that won't block all the prospects you drafted.

One reason I was OK with extending TK was I'd rather extend my own player, who I know is a good fit, than gamble on a mercenary. TK will be 28 when his deal starts, but $8.75M will be the same the first season, and far less by the end, in terms of a % of the cap, as the 5 year deal they gave JVR at 30 or the 7 year deal they gave Hayes at 27.

You need a few core players in a rebuild, Couts, TK and Sanheim are those players. Michkov will get his big 8 year deal in two seasons. So they don't need to overpay big money FAs. Even Couts deal, an overpay due to his injuries, will be reasonable for a top 6 LW in two years (the Cap will be $95M next season and over $100M in two years).

[zambonir]

Just as it's possible to have a mix of big bonus amateurs and small bonus amateurs and free agents and role players and your own prospects in MLB, it's possible for the Flyers to have a mix of controllable players they trade for, veteran "patch" free agents and home grown guys. Nobody thinks they are going to sign an older UFA to a big long-term deal this off-season and probably not the next one either, unless it's someone truly perfect and not too old. But they gotta get a center one way or another.

Seems a little optimistic to think Couts will be top six or worth his salary in two years. But nothing to be done about that.

[bigegypt0417]

It comes down to which players they trade for.

This feels pretty obvious.

You have to make trades for the right players.

[zambonir]

Gosh, I hope our GM knows that. Oh wait, he literally said it in the post AF originally was responding too!

[Austinfan]

I'm definitely for a "patch" veteran center, not so much to win games, but to help young wings develop.
Figure they'll draft at least 2 centers this summer, and they have Jett, but they need time to develop.

Torts already talked about, and I think it's inevitable, that Couts will move to LW once they add two young centers.
He's a bit slow for center, but there's less skating on the wing, and his size and IQ would play better there (think Mark Stone).

[zambonir]

Clearly they inquired about both Vancouver centers and correctly decided nothing about that was right. We know they've looked at Zegras too but his stock is way down. If they can't land a controllable guy a veteran short-term FA accomplishes both goals next year, to develop the wings and to actually make a real run at the playoffs.

[zambonir]

Literally a lose-lose result

Flyers fall to Dallas Stars in overtime, extend losing streak to four games

But it's not like the Sixers, if they drop to 7th it's not a disaster. Right now they are still 5th with the same number of points as Seattle.

[zambonir]

As Pat Maroon announces plans to retire from NHL, Blues fans bid farewell to...

Flyers trivia question answer

[Docs]

With 11 games remaining that include Chicago, Buffalo twice and Nashville, the Flyers seemingly have an easier schedule than Seattle and are more likely to pick up points closing out the season. Of course losing out would be especially helpful overtaking the Buffalo spot.

[zambonir]

I never figured they would pass Buffalo but the head-to-head sure would help.

They play hard and sometimes younger less talented players steal a few, but they are still pretty bad! Also sounds like Risto is out for the season which he maybe would't be if it was a playoff run (though it also makes me wonder if he was playing through the same injury as last year at any point this year).

[Austinfan]

Bump leads WMU over Denver in NCHC championship game with two goals, including game winner in double OT.
Having a real strong finish to a good season, 46 points in 38 games, next best on his team has 35 points.

Good size, plus shot, if he goes pro probably too late for Flyers, maybe AHL playoffs.
Second college season, but at 21, probably ready to make the jump.