The New Unending Flyers thread

[zambonir]

I don't think Sanheim or Risto are untradeable, but they don't want to trade Sanheim anymore and Risto will be easier to move (or cost-share) a little later in the deal. In the meantime they turned him into a better player than the version of him they acquired. And other GMs probably still like him.

[VoteForKalas]

I don't think Sanheim or Risto are untradeable, but they don't want to trade Sanheim anymore and Risto will be easier to move (or cost-share) a little later in the deal. In the meantime they turned him into a better player than the version of him they acquired. And other GMs probably still like him.

Both are overpaid, but I meant now. I generally agree later they may be more movable.

Plus the Flyers likely want some experience/stability now on the D corps to help the young guys grow.

The overall point is we already have 7 d-men that need to play and thus certainly Staal & Walker need to go and Seeler should be dangled. If they can move Risto and decide to keep Seeler, that is fine with me. Getting Risto's contract off the books and avoiding the real danger he ages into injury prone would help the rebuild a lot.

[bkeich]

The Flyers post All star collapse is in full swing, just like I said.

(reverse jinx is working so far, no reason not to double down on it, maybe I can force a 10 game winning streak)

[zambonir]

this is impressive

[bigegypt0417]

The Flyers are in 3rd and also fulling willing to sell...which is exactly where you would want them to be.

lol

[Aquapong]

Man every time I leave the room, AZ scores.

[Docs]

good job sitting still in the third!

[Austinfan]

Flyers are fun, but Seattle and Arizona exposed their talent limits, they couldn't put away two teams that they were clearly better. Some will be fixed by players growing up (Foerster, Brink, Drysdale, York, etc). Some by adding more talent (Michkov, Bonk, etc.).

But there's a reason Briere is looking to sell, they have no illusions that this team is ready to go deep into the playoffs.

[zambonir]

A win's a win, and you don't always have to be "ready" to actually win a playoff series that you shouldn't. But they also can't lose the focus on the longer-term. I think they're in a great position, they can sell off a few pieces and still won't miss the playoffs. Where it gets interesting is if they get a good offer on one of the bigger pieces. It's also possible they could take another young player instead of a pick in the right deal.

The important thing is that there's no Ed Snider or Dave Scott or Clarke/Holmgren etc. with their hand on the scale, or a philosophical objection to anything other than going for it. It's too bad that wasn't the case for either of the last two GMs (regardless of their own merits).

[phillychuck]

The measuring stick for the organization's mindset is Laughton. He's been scoring lately after a slow start and clearly has trade value (late first round pick?). But he's beloved on the team and trading him could really, really damage the chemistry and the 2024 on-ice product. They should get offers for him. Would you move him for a mid-to-late first rounder?

[zambonir]

And he's cheap and still signed for another two years. I think the issue is less disrupting this year's room - who cares, do it - than whether they imagine him being a useful part of a competitive team the next few seasons, versus still being in a slower build mode. But it's also possible his value is just really high this year because there's not a lot out there.

You could also make the "Abreu" argument. Laughton is this team's veteran leader and the only one with a letter; is that something you can't afford to lose? Or is it time to ship him out and name an actual new captain and alternates among the guys who will be here for years, to make this "their" team (though I assume Couturier would still get a letter).

[phillychuck]

The Athletic says Walker, who is on an expiring deal, is another measuring stick. Also maybe worth a pretty high pick and a player. The Flyers have seven or eight NHL level defensemen now, with more coming in the next couple of years.

[Austinfan]

Walker is almost certainly going to be traded, b/c Torts thinks Sanheim is better on the right side, Drysdale, Risto.

Laughton probably depends on the offer, a 1st would be hard to resist, anything less and they can wait until summer.
He's useful, but also demoted to 4th line with Cates - Poehling - Foerster your 3rd line.

Seeler depends on offer, he's a stabilizing influence on young D-men and shouldn't cost a lot on a short-term extension (buying time to develop young D-men). But if someone makes an offer you can't refuse . . .

Staal can be had for a late round pick.

Hathaway might have interest, the second year isn't that expensive and he's the kind of player PO teams love.

[Aquapong]

Laughton is also a key player for the PK.

[Aquapong]

A few years ago, many thought it was a foregone conclusion that Couturier would be the next captain. With the injuries, he was very much in the background. But in the end, he succeeded Giroux as captain.

[zambonir]

As it should be, thank goodness he has the health to do it. Been wearing his number since the 2012 playoffs (though to be fair it's also always been my number).

Kind of telegraphs Laughton being traded too though doesn't it?

[Austinfan]

The only player who has to be traded is Walker, pending FA looking for big contract, doesn't fit Flyer fans b/c Torts has said Sanheim plays better on the right side, Drysdale is a lock for another RHD, Risto three years left on his deal and Bonk tearing up the OHL at 19. Plus Attard and Grans in AHL.

Laughton has 3 years left at $3M, they can keep him for a stretch run and move him this summer (especially since Brink is a good bet to win a full-time job next season).

Seeler is low cost depth if they extend him.

[VoteForKalas]

Walker & Staal should be traded at the deadline. Walker's value will never be higher and we can always find another Staal type on a 1 yr deal to replace Staal. Trading Risto, which would be the homerun at the deadline, died with him now being injured.

The other guy we need to move along is Atkinson, but not at the deadline since he has not had a good season. That may need to be an off-season part of a larger trade or at next year's deadline after he hopefully performs better on the ice.

I do not believe Laughton is part of the future team here, but he is on a pretty cheap deal and fits here in the bottom six. Poehling makes him somewhat redundant, but Laughton does wear an A and is part of the leadership. If they want to keep him a little longer, I'm ok with that, but eventually he has to go because there should be no way they extend him.

[zambonir]

It's going to be interesting. They definitely don't have to trade Laughton now but the pressure other teams are feeling to get a center may up the price. But it's also possible that the injury to Risto means Walker isn't leaving. If Risto is still expected to recover in time for the postseason and there's a way to figure out the right return and salary pick up maybe they should get aggressive about unloading him to mitigate not trading Walker.

But I would still trade anybody. If it hurts the room this year they'll get over it. I seriously doubt they're going to miss playoffs if they make the trades, they'll just be younger and less deep and more likely to get bounced in the first round. But that could be likely anyway and making the playoffs is still a triumph.

[Aquapong]

Even with Risto being injured, we can still deal Walker or Seeler.