The New New Unending Flyers thread

[phillychuck]

Offer sheet-wise he'd cost a first and a third.

No thanks. Not good enough to merit the cost, and, as others have noted, he’s not a good fit.

[zambonir]

We shall see if this is smoke or fire. I think if they like and want him and believe he's the right fit, that's not a high price at all for his age and production, and you can also force the Wild to take less than the offer sheet compensation. You just don't want them to be wrong. But since we don't really know if they are interested, can't really say if they would be right or wrong yet.

[Austinfan]

'#6 is way too high for Rossi, next year's first rd pick will probably be #10-15. That's still pretty dear unless you think he's a long-term top 6 center who doesn't have to be sheltered.

Flyers will probably see who they draft, if it's Marone, they might think he or Foerster could be paired with a smaller center.

[zambonir]

For an offer sheet it would be the 2026 pick, and of course the Flyers are hoping their 2026 pick will be more like 17-24, you're the only one who is sure it won't be (even as you say the team is much better than we give it credit for).

If it's a trade maybe the Edmonton pick is in play but a player is probably the bigger piece. Also the pick would already have been made (unless they trade it into 2026 as well).

[Austinfan]

To make the playoffs, they'll need average goaltending.
Not sure they'll have that in 2025-26.
I do expect some improvement to probably 85-90 points.

[zambonir]

Finding the right goalie is one of the more challenging things on Briere's plate, but he's certainly going to try to do it. Just improving what they got from the back-ups and the effect of a reduced workload on Ersson could be worth 15 points by itself (but even eight or ten is plenty if other aspects of the team are also better).

[Austinfan]

It'll get interesting after #6, if they take Martone, they're still looking for a center.
If they take Hagens, a year away, O'Brien, two years away.

Also, see how the negotiations with Cates go.

I'm also pretty confident that at some point at least one of York, Andrae, Zamula will be traded, along with Drysdale, that's a really small defense, especially if they trade Risto at some point.

After watching Bonk in the CHL playoffs/memorial Cup, he's going to be a top 4 D-man, probably by the end of next season. He's not flashy, but he's the backbone of the London defense, a PK monster, and has the skill to pot 10-15 goals off sneaking down the right side (he played the bumper position on the London PP, thus "bumper Bonk" b/c he's that good of a shooter) and firing from the point. There was a great sequence where he shut McKenna (consensus no.1 pick in 2016) down and didn't fall for any of his moves.

[flyers19rw]

If the Flyers are going to trade some assets for a center, I’d rather see them kick the tires on Shane Pinto than Rossi. Pinto is third center in Ottawa with little hope of moving up the ladder there. He has had issues with management there over contract terms and a suspension for gambling. The Flyers were known to have inquired about him last off season. Might as well see if he’s available now.

[bigegypt0417]

What is the standard to say he's not a good fit?

I'm curious as to how we have a clue what is a fit for a Tocchet run team?

I'm not advocating for Rossi but he's a 23 year old who plays every game and seems to be on an upward trajectory in terms of production.

He's a small center but other than that...he's offensive instincts and skill are needed on ANY team.

Which is why almost half the NHL is interested.

[bigegypt0417]

I Don't think AF thinks there will be that type of team...he wants Briere to build towards being that team because the plan in his mind is 2 years of bad hockey and then turn the switch and win a cup.

[zambonir]

I think the standard is just what's been discussed here so far, that he's too small, which would either mean he can't be an actual top C and/or he moves to wing. But that doesn't mean it's true.

And the Wild have already decided he's not a true top C, in terms of both his post-season playing time and their apparent unwillingness to re-sign him. So the team that gets him has to prove them wrong.

[Docs]

The Wild haven't decided that he is not a true top center, they have depth at center, salary cap issues where they can't pay him and everyone else that they want to extend in the near future. They also have other center prospects like Yurov whose contract they can stretch out longer than Rossi. The Wild haven't managed their cap well and have other prospects at the same position is a more fair assessment than he isn't a top center, in my view at least.

[zambonir]

Well, that perception is based on the fact that he was on the 4th line (with 4th line minutes) in the playoffs. And also he was unhappy about it so now people think he won't give the Wild any kind of break (even on a short-term bridge deal) either. Perhaps that is also out there because the teams interested in trading for him are using that fact to low-ball their offers.

[bigegypt0417]

And that's fair...

There are two things here that I guess stick in my head...the Flyers have a talent issue...at center and wing.

The Flyers will not have these assets again in the foreseeable future and adding talent using those assets seems like at least a prudent thing to pursue.

The idea whole "he doesn't fit" narrative is odd to me since we have no real idea if that's true. He's a small center who has played 82 games the last two seasons so durability isn't an issue.

Tocchet isn't here for a 5 year project and Briere won't last through one.

It's not win now but the steps have to start occurring.

[VoteForKalas]

Rossi or any other expensive FA does not fit IMO because the Flyers are just about to finally get out of cap space hell.

They need to be careful with spending as they bring in younger talent and shape the roster over the next year.

Once the books clear, they can be more aggressive, but this season I'd focus on improving the goaltending with Ersson as the #2, trade Risto and develop the younger talent.

[bigegypt0417]

I'm sorry...he's 23...even if the timeline for contending is 3 years he's still only in his mid 20's.

Why is there this magical string in time where you don't acquire talent with the hopes you can quicken your rebuild by making the correct moves?

Again...put Rossi to the side but it feels like a terrible way to manage a roster and also a great way to tell your fanbase you have to watch a bad product for a couple of years.

[zambonir]

Now you sound like AF.

But Rossi is an RFA not a UFA, so you could sign him for 2-3 years (or even one year). He might not be the guy. But the Flyers have already cleared a ton of cap space, pus the cap has gone up and will continue to do so, and they aren't really carrying that much dead money anymore (and what little they are is gone after just one more year).

The other thing is, if they did go after a Rossi or a Knies or anyone where an offer sheet or decent trade is involved, they would also be shedding salary with one or more of the players going out (or just being replaced).

Cam York seems like the most likely guy to get moved, for the reason AF noted. He's probably due to get $5-6 million himself, so if he's gone that's money you could spend on a C (since it would just be the inexpensive Andrae replacing him).

[VoteForKalas]

Rossi is wanted by many teams as BE stated above, Flyers would need to overpay to get him even as a RFA and now is not the right time nor is he the right player to make an exception for IMO.

We need to make smart decisions so we do not repeat the mistakes of past regimes. Risto needs to be traded to offload that contract mistake and goal tending and player development should be the focus this year. Make good draft picks, continue to find out who on the current roster is a keeper and allow Tocchet to settle in and implement his systems.

Next year is when we should be more aggressive and can spend more money, but it needs to be for players that fit Tocchet's systems and Briere needs to be smart with the contracts and cap. We cannot put ourselves back into decade long cap hell again and expect to compete for anything.

[flyers19rw]

Rossi has had nice production during two regular seasons-185/46/56/101 but Minny didn't see him as capable of being a force in the POs. According to AFP Analytics, a two year extension for Rossi would be in the area of $4,546,482 per; a seven year extension would cost $7,389,790 per. That seven year contract is getting close to what a 1C should be getting. Frankly I don't see Rossi as being that player. The Wild probably have him evaluated properly and are willing to let him go rather than over pay him.

[zambonir]

Risto, while not healthy enough, wound up being a good player who was worth that contract, at least under Torts and Shaw. Supposedly the Flyers already turned down a big offer for him this past March. I can easily imagine him finishing the deal here while playing on two playoff teams, at least if the new coaching staff feels the same way about him. I suppose it's possible Briere was following Torts' lead by keeping him and now regrets it. Of course if they aren't in the playoff hunt he's gone next March.

This is just like any other debate, if Rossi is available at a decent price (whether trade or money or both) he's worth considering, if he's not, he's not. As far as the "rumor" that they are interested, that goes in the column of, the Flyers should be asking about and considering any young available player.

Young and controllable is still the key, it's only older UFAs that put you in cap hell. Rossi on a bridge deal would not be anymore overpaid than some of the Flyers' own pending RFAs.

Can multiple teams sign players to offers sheets, or is it a one-at-a-time thing? They usually aren't offered unless you know the player is going to sign it, of course.

Flyers would not sign Rossi to a $7 million+ offer sheet, that would increase the compensation they'd have to surrender (first, second and third).