The New Unending Flyers thread

[zambonir]

Wheeler had already mocked Catton to the Flyers a couple of weeks ago.

Scott Wheeler's 2024 NHL Mock Draft 1.0: The first 23 picks

[xogfog]

It would be lucky if Catton falls to the Flyers, though he might fall because of his size, but I think he's the third best center in the draft.

[Austinfan]

Catton may fall simply b/c this draft is so deep at top.

'#36 will probably be taken by CBJ, they have the option of taking it and giving the Flyers their 2025 2nd, given next year is supposed to be a deeper draft, and CBJ will probably be in teh bottom 10, six of one . . . #36 this year v #40? next year>

[xogfog]

I would really like to see the Flyers, once they know 100% that Michkov is coming, make a trade for Trevor Zegras.

[zambonir]

That or someone similarly young would certainly be the move. They don't have to keep all these picks and likely never would have (just maybe not this quickly). They will also have options to add more picks to the quiver this summer and trade deadline. Would be great if they could repeat the Walker magic with someone, maybe a forward who needs a bounce-back season before going to a contender.

[Squire]

Has the Michkov coming over now stuff died down? Seemed like there was about 48 hours of rumors and now like 6 days of silence

[zambonir]

They (forget it was the Russian people the Flyers or both) said nothing would probably happen until the end of June. It's also possible it will just be kept quiet until the two deals (between Michkov and SKA and then the formality of his Flyers ELC) are complete. Or just until the Cup final is over.

I would think it's pretty much a fait accompli now if that's what all three sides wants but SKA is either gonna have to lower its financial demand or Michkov is going to have to find a way to meet it (since the Flyers can't provide any of that $ other than paying his modest NHL salary).

[phillychuck]

Can Michkov get NIL money?

[zambonir]

I mean all kidding aside you'd think that's exactly what he could do. No different from Ohtani or Bryce Harper. Just don't know if the non-hockey endorsement opportunities exist for him in Russia, nor if hockey equipment/sponsorship deals would be lucrative enough.

You would also think some kind of deferred payment would be possible. Not an actual share of future earnings per se, but they can safely assume he'll be a lot richer in 2027.

[Aquapong]

Zegras seems like a primadonna. Not a Torts guy imo.

[zambonir]

Tight with Drysdale though. Flyers have been linked to him already (had the Ducks moved him at deadline).

At the end of the day Torts' only job is to help the Flyers see who can survive his approach and who can't, but he might not even be the coach a year from now, I don't think they can make trades with that as a major factor (any more than they should trade away Brink or Frost because they still haven't completely clicked with him).

[xogfog]

In the news on Michkov, they said a decision would be made in June.

[Austinfan]

Torts is going nowhere, he loves this team, and Briere and Jones are on the same page with him.
Look at the playoffs, the teams that are winning out are for the most part skilled but also physical with good goaltending.

Torts is not a conservative HC, Flyers play an aggressive, high risk system, but to make it work, players have to be defensively responsible and back check hard to limit the time that odd man rushes have to make plays. So offense first types who won't work hard on defense (don't have to be Selke candidates, just don't be a black hole) are bad fits for this team.

[Docs]

Looking for other perspectives on this - i've seen people post that if Michkov shows up this year that the Flyers should accelerate their timeline. Why? I feel like he is still a developing player, and the timeline would still be two years from now when he's a more complete player and curious why his arrival changes the competitive window in other's minds.

[Austinfan]

Yeah, I don't see any reason for Briere to rush things, he'll hae 6 1st rd and 6 2nd rd picks between the 2023 and 2025 drafts before any other trades, figure this group will hit their stride between 2026 and 2028 or so, which means there's no rush with Michkov - don't ask him to be the savior as a rookie.

To me the next two years should be rebuilding seasons, then gauge how close the team is in deciding to make moves to accelerate the process in the summer of 2026. Teams that rush to be competitive blow through assets and often end up as "flashes in the pan."

[zambonir]

I'm not saying Torts is going to get fired, not at all, but he might well decide to pass the baton for what would be the fourth and final year of his contract if he thinks he's not the coach to take this team to the next level in 2026 and beyond (which would also require an extension). The consensus has always been that he'll eventually move upstairs (The Flyers Way, after all).

I don't think Michkov's arrival should accelerate the window in any way, but it would be a reason to find another player or two on the same timeline as him now, instead of in two years, so they can develop together, and more fully. Or it could be a reason to bring in a veteran center who's more skilled than Couts or Laughton at this point, and that could go a lot of different ways.

Nothing the Flyers could have done about it apparently, and maybe the guy isn't even a center, but had they known Michkov might be a Flyer in 2024 they might have found it a little harder to cut loose Gauthier. For that matter if Michkov had been able to play for the Flyers this year maybe Gauthier would have too.

[Aquapong]

Apparently the way for the Flyers to make a deep playoff run is to sign Corey Perry. The guy has now gone to the Finals 4 of the last 5 years. Dude has got to be tired.

[xogfog]

I'm rooting for the Oilers, a Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup in over 30 years, the last team was the Canadians in 1993. Oh Canada!

[zambonir]

Fifth year in the row a Florida team has played for it too. Too bad Giroux didn't get there the one year he was a Panther. Though you've got two ex-Flyers goalies.

[Docs]

and closer to home, it means the flyers first round pick from the panthers will be one of the last two picks in the first round. boooo.