The New Unending Flyers thread

[zambonir]

Oh, interesting. Can't imagine it will stay under wraps if multiple players have been called in for more questioning, and obviously won't stay under wraps at all if a final report and/or charges are finally coming.

If so, I reckon the media has probably known more than has been made public all along, just in terms of the repeated reminders that Hart's future value (as both a trade candidate and an extension candidate) was in limbo. You could also make the case the Flyers knew more, given they drafted two goalies, added Peterson and held onto Sandstrom (while still technically controlling Fedotov too). But we shall see I guess.

[Austinfan]

Brink has been horrible his last thirteen games, at least according to advanced metrics.
Hit the proverbial rookie wall. Needs to learn how to play off the puck, use a short man's leverage.
Probably will have to get stronger and keep working on his skating to win a full-time job next season.

[Aquapong]

I read up on that World Junior investigation…what a mess. It seems like the incident happened, but who was there and who actually took part in it may be what’s up in the air. I’m going to bet the investigation was originally closed as a result of low likelihood of successful prosecution. She supposedly showered after the incident and most forensic evidence would’ve been destroyed or contaminated. Unfortunately that likely tanked the case. If any other forensic evidence had been found, the perpetrator would have been charged by now.

[zambonir]

What is probably happening now is the appeal process of the independent report.

[Austinfan]

The league may feel they not only have to punish the perps, but also any player who lied or otherwise tried to cover up the incident.

[zambonir]

Well, that is likely to be covered in the investigation too. And any criminal charges for that matter (as that in and of itself would be a serious crime).

But if this is in fact the first step in the appeal process this could easily drag out until the end of the season. The report was completed in November of 2022. The ruling in response to the report only just happened in November, and was immediately appealed. And even after that is resolved the NHL might conduct its own investigation (though they could suspend anyone pending that).

[zambonir]

Report: Five members of Canada’s 2018 WJC team told to surrender to London...

[VoteForKalas]

Wow, that is not good if Hart is one of those five players.

[zambonir]

The five names have not been officially revealed but there are in fact five players who took leave of absences (three more today after the two yesterday): Hart, Dube, Alex Formenton in Switzerland and Michael McLeod and Cale Foote from the Devils.

Hockey Canada scandal, explained: Five members of 2018 World Juniors team facing...

I'm not sure the NHL actually has a policy a la MLB for off-ice conduct or sexual assault/domestic violence but one assumes Bettman would have a lot of leeway to suspend until it all plays out (once charges are filed).

Like I said above, I think the media and the Flyers always knew he was probably named in the report or it wouldn't have been mentioned every time the topic of trading or extending him came up (even as he has denied being involved), and the Flyers wouldn't have been stockpiling goalies (though the Fedotov situation was obviously a factor too). The trade offers that would have been good enough to make them do it in a vaccuum probably weren't there.

[zambonir]

Earlier in the day, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere opened his midseason state-of-the-organization news conference by saying: "We are aware of this morning's press reports on a very serious matter. We will respond appropriately when the outcomes of the investigations are made public.

"The NHL has been very clear that teams should refer all investigation-related questions to them. In the meantime, members of the organization, including Flyers players, will not be commenting any further."

NHL players on leave amid sexual assault inquiry

[Aquapong]

Where there’s smoke there's fire. I’m going to have to reevaluate my son’s Hart jersey.

[el-pietro]

Im gonna bury mine next to my Odubel Herrera one.

[Aquapong]

Hit a bit of a slide here. I believe that’s 4 losses in a row now. We’re definitely missing Tippett on offense. Thankfully no one behind us really made a run and we only had slide to 3rd.

[zambonir]

7-7-2 since they started the holiday road trip. Two four-game losing streaks in there sandwiched around a five-game winning streak. Can't imagine riding Ersson hard and starting to play Cal Peterson is going to go that great either (and last night was the first game since the news broke).

But, not necessarily a bad thing. Briere seemed pretty firm about not making any big win-now moves. He should be open for business in a few weeks even as they still try to make the playoffs.

[Docs]

Next 3 games are against top teams, 15 total games remaining until the trade deadline. Love how they have been playing this year, but this could be a reality check and help confirm sticking to the long term plan.

[Squire]

Flyers have signed Owen Tippett to an 8 year extension for 6.2M AAV

[zambonir]

That's cool. I can remember A) when people hated him as part of the trade and B) people thought he should be traded before this year if the rebuild was going to take 3-4 years.

They are in a win-win position here, if they want to extend one of the d-men they can but if they don't there are young guys waiting to get a look. And I don't think the locker room (or the coach) is going to be upset/disrupted, they understand one playoff run is not the goal, and most of them will be around to benefit from that approach.

[Aquapong]

Aggressive move. I may have to push the Tippett jersey instead of TK for my son. Of course I keep pushing for Briere since my son wears 48 as well.

[Austinfan]

Also signed Poehling to a 2yr deal, $1.9M AAV.

Flyers will have a lot of cap room the next four years or so, and you can't roll it over, so you want to use it.
By the time last year (Michkov, Bonk) and the next two drafts (3 1sts, 4 2nds, so far) have to be extended, these contracts will be in their back end with a much higher cap (will start to increase at $4M a year this summer).

Plus they probably won't have to give Hart an extension.

[Aquapong]

Hart’s done. He threw his life away on one stupid decision.

Nice to see Poehling locked in as a bottom 6 center.