The New New Unending Flyers thread

[LegoDoom]

Further to @KKurzNHL report, sources clarify there was no physical altercation btwn Cam York and John Tortorella - but a heated verbal exchange that led to York’s discipline last night. #Flyers couldn’t scratch York because #NHL rules don’t allow teams to voluntarily play short.

— Frank Seravalli ( @frank_seravalli ) March 28, 2025

[zambonir]

And I believe they also burned all four of their AHL call-up slots already.

Luchanko assigned to Phantoms yesterday incidentally.

[Docs]

I saw that assignment, i thought there was an age restriction and he’s still 18

edit: did my own research. must be 18 by sept 15th of that season, major juniors are not eligible until they are 20 years old, an exception is made for players on an active NHL roster.

[zambonir]

I assumed the restriction ended when the junior team season ended. In any case, he could still get another look this year right? They'd just have to swap him for somebody. (But I guess then his contract would also have to start.)

[Austinfan]

Jett can play for LHV on an ATO without tolling his contract.
He can also play 5 more games for the Flyers (allowed 9 games).
But I think they want him in LHV, both b/c lower level and b/c they're fighting for a PO spot, better environment than playing out the string.

They also added Ciernak (4th rd pick who played in Allsvenskan) on an ATO (decide whether to sign him or send him back to Sweden for another season).

They're close to signing Karsen Dowart, center from Michigan State, as a college free agent.

[zambonir]

My TLDR on these lists:

Tocchet - proven coach, obviously Flyers Way choice, expected to be available but who knows
Shaw - just don't think he's a HC
Lappy - The Flyers Way if you want the younger guy who's worked with a lot of the roster

David Carle - the guy everyone wants.

Jay Woodcroft - proven coach that's not just a retread
Quenneville - retread, bad optics, no thanks
Sullivan - technically not available but maybe he will be, seems less likely with Torts out but maybe not
Lavvy - the ultimate retread, not that he is bad

Todd Nelson - top AHL choice
Pat Ferschweiler - Western Michigan coach was Jones' linemate when they played there. Assistant?

Eight potential candidates for the Philadelphia Flyers’ coaching vacancy

12 coaching candidates the Flyers could target to replace John Tortorella

[Austinfan]

Carle is the flavor of the month, but he has zero professional experience.
He's developed players for the college game, but as Brink showed, there's a big gap between Denver and the NHL.

Briere was explicit about wanting a "teaching" HC, so no to Tochett, Lavi, Q.
That suggests to me he wants AHL experience, a HC who's used to doing a lot of teaching fundamentals to kids, not motivating veterans.

Woodcroft, Nelson to me is what he's looking for with a wave of prospects arriving the next few years.
Nelson has coached two teams to 3 Calder Championships.

[zambonir]

Carle probably wouldn't want the job anyway, especially given his lack of experience. He might not be right to take over a team that wants to win the Cup immediately, but he needs to take over either a better one or a worse one (not as far along in rebuild) than the Flyers.

Briere says he wants someone who can teach but he didn't explicitly say that's all that matters. And it's silly to think those veteran coaches can't teach. Both things (teaching/motivating) are part of the job. They are good coaches because they (and their staff) have taught. I just think some of them are past their prime or not right for the Flyers at this moment.

But, I won't believe they are actually going to hire someone who hasn't worked for the Flyers before or hasn't coached multiple NHL teams until they actually do it.

“I’m not sure exactly what we’re going to be looking for as a coach,” Brière said. “One thing I can tell you is we have a young team. A coach who can teach is going to be important to start with. But as far as all the traits, I think it’s a little too early to really dive deep into that.”

[Austinfan]

AHL coaches are used to working with a lot of prospects on the verge of the NHL.
Veteran HCs want to win now, you could see it with Torts, 3 years of rebuilding wore him down.

I won't be surprised if Briere not only hires a "teaching HC" but makes changes in LHV as well.
Lappy was sheltered in the past due to his Flyers connection, but Briere and Jones aren't Flyer lifers, they don't have the same attachment to ex-players. They've had two years to evaluate the organization from top to bottom.

The next five years LHV is going to be loaded with young prospects, you're getting a hint of it right now with Grebenkin, Jett, Dorwart and Ciernak added to Gendron (21), Tuomaala (21), Avon (21), Rizzo (23), Wisdom (22), Desnoyers (22), McDonald (22), Grans (22), Samson (21).

[zambonir]

3 years of rebuilding wore him down

He didn't even get through 2!

[Philsmania]

"The Flyers Way" is long dead.

[Squire]

I hate this team

[zambonir]

You mean it long ago stopped working or you don't see the hiring of Jones and Briere as being more of the same?;

[Docs]

Flyers up 6-3 over the sabres, they couldn’t stink long enough to hold onto that 4th spot

[Squire]

Fire Brad Shaw immediately

[Austinfan]

No surprise, the bad 14 game stretch included 8 top 10 teams.
Shaw has opened up the offense, which is fine against Montreal and Buffalo, not sure it works against good teams.

This team has been borderline PO quality the last two years if they had average or better goaltending.
They're just not that bad.

Now the 4th line isn't NHL quality (DeLo no, Abols maybe at LW, not at center, Lycksell?).
But the Poehling line with Pelletier and Tippett has really taken off, given them 3 solid lines even if they don't have one you'd consider top 30.

The defense is solid but limited, and undersized with Risto out.

it's not a good team, but it's not a terrible team. Mediocre team with terrible goaltending.
They miss Frost and Laughton to the extent that they can't field a 4th line, but Poehling is playing as well as the 3C.
They don't miss Farabee at all, Pelletier outplayed him in Calgary and is outplaying him in Philly.

[zambonir]

Gotta rehire Torts

[flyers19rw]

The team is a mess in ways that I didn’t anticipate after the coaching change. They’re really a mess in the defensive zone. It’s interesting that a team that is so weak at center can generate as much offense as they have the last two games. Obviously Couturier isn’t a speed demon at center but when put on a line with two quick players, it doesn’t matter that much. Still there has to be better cohesion between the forwards and defensemen. The weak defense also changes the way that the goalies play to their detriment.
On the Farabee/Frost trade, it seems that Farabee had no place on the roster going forward. TK, MM, Tippett, and Foerster, made him a third liner at best. If Cates were to be moved back to wing and if Bump plays like he could, next year Farabee wouldn’t make the club. Frost was the price to get his contract off of the roster. It looks like his neck injury wrecked his career.

[Austinfan]

I think one problem on defense is lack of size, less of an issue against teams like Buffalo, but vulnerable to a physical forecheck - I don't think it's a coincidence that defense went downhill when Risto got injured. I think they keep Risto around for another year while McDonald, Grans and Bonk mature, they have the size, but it takes time for a young player to handle NHL play in the corners and along the board - which is how you stop the other team's cycle in your O-zone.

They're playing more wide open under Shaw, wonder if this is something Briere wants, to give the offensive players some confidence to end the season and test the defensive players (evaluation is the priority right now).

They're adding Dorwart to the NHL roster, he'll bring speed and probably bench DeLo with Abols moving to LW.

Watching Bump, I think he needs a year in the AHL, very good shot, good size but gets knocked down too much. A summer of skating coaching and weight room work, followed by an AHL season could take his game up a notch.

[zambonir]

Lots of interesting college hockey tonight.