The New New Unending Flyers thread

[Austinfan]

Win over Edmonton was impressive, win over Pens, not as much, Pens looked cooked.
But they've been trying to make plays around the net all season, now they're starting to click.

Last two seasons this has been a playoff team when they get average or better goaltending.
2023-24: xGF 52.34% (8), HDCF 53.23% (8)
2024-25: xGF 52.38% (9), HDCF 53.64% (6)
but since Nov 25, when the Cates line was put together:
xGF 56.23% (2), HDCF 58.03% (1)
xGF - expected goals (based on shot distance and location)
HDCF - high danger chances

Torts has established his system and they're playing at a high level 5x5.
PP needs work, PK has a bad couple months but is headed back to being top 10
Goaltending is Ersson, when he's on like he's been, he's a top goalie, but can he hold up under a #1 goalie workload?

Doesn't look like losing Frost and Farabee impacted this team at all.
Tippett - Couts -Michkov have more than picked up the slack.
However, Kuz - Laughton - TK are struggling a bit, if you trade Laughton you don't really have a center you can plug in this season,

[VoteForKalas]

just trading everyone and not accounting for how players develop is bad management.

Who ever argued for that? I never did.

The point is Laughton has zero future here and, if he is at peak or just past his peak value, then move him along in the best deal you can.

There is no reason to hang onto him for another cycle. They've dangled him for multiple seasons now. They are not going to get anything better by waiting. In fact, the value will most likely only go down by waiting.

We need to open roster spots, open up cap space, get more picks, get better talent and start building the winning culture we need.

[VoteForKalas]

...if you trade Laughton you don't really have a center you can plug in this season,

So what? This season does not mean anything. The future means everything. Get the highest pick you can this year and move the rebuild along. It should not take 5 years for a rebuild. The longer they delay and delay, the longer it will take and the chances it will fail increase.

[VoteForKalas]

PP needs work...

The PP has needed work for 3 years now.

They've tried different players, different player combinations, different schemes and none of it has worked.

The PP coach should have been fired last season, but definitely should be canned this season. I know he is Torts' guy, but the results are not even close to good enough.

[zambonir]

I'm not sure he is even Torts' guy, other than him being loyal to his assistants in general. His previous job was with the Sharks and then he got fired in 2021 for not getting vaccinated and the Flyers hired him. A well-regarded coach from his time in juniors and the AHL, and also apparently the "good cop" to Torts, but clearly the PP isn't working.

Replacing Laughton for this season won't be hard to do. You just pick up another Erik Johnson or Ryan Johansen type (but who isn't hurt) to fill the hole for six weeks, assuming you haven't acquired a younger better player in your moves.

Though I have to say that if you want the rebuild to move faster, you keep Laughton and Risto and use your freed-up cap space (and the league wide rise) to make a run at the playoffs next year. They shouldn't do that; I think the pace of the rebuild is actually just fine. Year 3 should be the pivot point, Year 4 should be where they actually do make the playoffs and are done stockpiling assets. Year 5, if you make the playoffs a second year, with a solid seed, you've completed the rebuild. That doesn't seem like a bad pace.

[zambonir]

Speaking of Johansen

NHL, NHLPA involved in Johansen's grievance hearing vs. Flyers this week | TSN

Now it doesn't really matter, Flyers have the cap room to lose the grievance. And of course the agent involved is the same as one as Gauthier and Buium.

[VoteForKalas]

Though I have to say that if you want the rebuild to move faster, you keep Laughton and Risto and use your freed-up cap space (and the league wide rise) to make a run at the playoffs next year. They shouldn't do that; I think the pace of the rebuild is actually just fine.

That is not a proper rebuild and It sounds like you agree. That would be a classic Flyers rehash that burns down within a few years after playoff teases.

[Austinfan]

I think that's exactly Briere's plan, 2027-28 is the target date (5 years), b/c 2025 draft won't arrive until then (2-3 years after being drafted).

There's a balance between accumulating assets and creating a good environment for young players to develop.
Really bad teams can make it hard for young players, lack of talent around them creates frustration, lack of veteran mentors means the blind are leading the blind. Playing for nothing makes it hard to focus and compete.

Seeler for example, is not only a solid defensive defenseman, but the perfect mentor and security blanket for Drysdale while he learns to play and maybe Bonk next season.

I think Briere will make some moves, either the TDL and/or before the draft. As he showed with Frost and Farabee, he knows who he wants and doesn't want on the team down the road. I think Briere, not Torts, dictates these moves - remember he was a smaller player in the hook, slash and grab era who excelled in the playoffs - he doesn't mind smaller players, but wants them to have the same "true grit" that he had as a player.

[zambonir]

Yeah I just don't know what you mean when you say it should not take five years. Especially since Michkov wasn't even supposed to play here until '26-'27. I agree there is no reason to keep Laughton. Keeping Risto for one more trade deadline can be justified now that shedding his salary is not crucial, though dumping him would also help them improve their draft position this year and that still seems like a concept the Flyers aren't willing to embrace out loud.

[bigegypt0417]

I think I'm in the minority but the pacing of this rebuild is just fine and the way they are going about it has given them to do it slowly or with the salary, make a bolder move if one presents itself.

They are sitting on 7 picks in the top 50 of a pretty decent draft. They also have the cap space going forward.

They will trade Risto and Laughton if the right trades present themselves and based on where they are points wise, they can easily move in to the top 5 in draft order if they move them.

Also...the tankathon mock has the flyers selecting this guy in the 2nd round.

2025 NHL Draft notebook: Wang emerging as intriguing prospect | NHL.com

[zambonir]

Rasmus Ristolainen staying? Flyers’ trade target not drawing high interest

Despite Ristolainen being high on various trade boards — including ours — the Flyers haven’t received many calls on the 30-year-old blueliner with two seasons left on his contract after this one at a $5.1 million AAV, according to a team source.

And, really, that shouldn’t be all that astonishing. General manager Daniel Briere said in his most recent media availability that Ristolainen was “not a rental.” That’s essentially code for, they’re not going to deal him if the asking price isn’t met. It seems likely the Flyers would prefer a first-round pick or a top prospect in exchange for Ristolainen.

Further, the Flyers almost certainly don’t want to retain any salary on Ristolainen in future seasons, either.

[LegoDoom]

I think I'm in the minority but the pacing of this rebuild is just fine and the way they are going about it has given them to do it slowly or with the salary, make a bolder move if one presents itself.

I think the rebuild should have started much sooner and Michkov has likely made the team accelerate it. So, in my eyes, it's very disjointed and I am not confident that those 7 picks mean much.

[VoteForKalas]

Yeah I just don't know what you mean when you say it should not take five years.

I admit I am losing patience. It has not helped that the organization has largely been lost at sea since 2014 with the exception of the 2020 bubble playoff round win.

The Flyers are my second most 2nd favorite team after the Phillies and were a big part of my childhood with Cup wins in 1974 & 75, Cup trip in 1976 and multiple trips during the 80s.

[Austinfan]

The rebuild didn't start until Torts said it out loud, Scott was adamant (with Barber advising him) that they were not rebuilding, and Fletcher went along with the boss. Torts pretty much set everything in motion, culminating in the firing of Fletcher and Scott, and Briere becoming GM.

So the rebuild didn't start until summer 2023.
Torts had said it would take longer than his contract (expires 2025-26).

[zambonir]

Heh, arguably they have been lost at sea since 2005 (first year of salary cap) if not longer. Lindros era was successful (with major obvious caveat). 2010 team was more or less a fluke, though that also shows how fine the line can be between first-round exist and Cup finalist. The team that lost to Torts in 2004 was probably the last great one, and the 2012 first-round win over Pittsburgh the last truly great memory (to me). We thought the new day was coming then with Hextall, but....

I'm with you, I did not even prioritize going to the Eagles parade this year (was out of town but could have tried to change that) but I would not miss it if the Flyers ever end what is now the city's longest drought.

[LegoDoom]

That's very convenient for Torts. IMO, he can ■■■■ off.

[flyers19rw]

I’ll be surprised if Ristolainen or Laughton are here after March 7. The rumors on them are getting stronger with, supposedly, several clubs sniffing around. So far I’ll give DB credit for holding firm on what he wants in return-help at center ice. It may be difficult to do but I think that he’ll pull it off even if it means a multi team transaction.

[bigegypt0417]

What aspect do you find to be disjointed?

[LegoDoom]

All of it. It should have started with G, but Tippett will be 30 to start the new timeline. Michkov should have accelerated it, but the team dumps Farabee and Frost. It's a ■■■■ show.

[zambonir]

Well, I don't think there's a single person that would disagree with the first part. The 2022 off-season was completely insane, including the hiring ot Torts in the first place (regardless of what has been good or bad about him now) and every move Fletcher made. But he's gone and so are his bosses.

The other thing doesn't change anything one way or another. They don't believe those two players can help the Flyers win, now or later. They might be wrong, but it's not a change in philosophy. If anything it is an acceleration, as they now have cap room to get a center and/or add another veteran around Michkov (that could even be Kuzmenko, which again, they might be wrong to not trade him, or wrong that he can be any good again, but keeping him with the possibility of re-signing him would also be an acceleration). They probably need to go get a veteran goalie next year too.

My guess is by July we'll be wondering if they are still moving a year too fast. And there are still some younger players here who won't be in the fall of the 2026. The bigger question is, who will be the coach?