The New Unending Flyers thread

[bigegypt0417]

They cleared a substantial amount of money and received a top 50 pick to add to their stash. You aren't going to dump salaries and get the same return.

[flyers19rw]

Sadly, I believe that AF is correct about Frost; he’s a 3C. No shame in that but he probably wants to be paid above that grade level. In that case, he had to be moved. If the Flyers had kept him and he received an offer sheet from another club it probably wouldn’t have been for more than 4.5M per so the compensation would have been a second rounder which is what they got from the Flames.
Farabee lost his game with his neck injury. He hasn’t been the same since. He too isn’t playing up to his contract. Perhaps he can find his game again. I hope so. These guys seem like good people.

[zambonir]

Risto has actually wound up being worth his contract. I think they both have good value. The question is does this mean they are recommitting to what was always going to be at least a four-year rebuild that is still only in Year 2, or do they think they can actually take a real step forward in Year 3 with the right trades and use freed-up money. What they decide to do with Laughton and Risto will answer that question to some extent.

Either way, as people keep saying, the Flyers still don't have a core of great young players. They have decided Frost and Farabee weren't going to be that. In the end they are going to probably have to go the same route as the Phillies, if they free up enough cap room - along with the rising # - to do it. Other than Michkov, there aren't any stars coming up internally over the next three seasons (I doubt Luchanko is one and it will take that long for anyone they pick this June) and their highest-pedigree young d-man and goalie are still not clearly future cornerstones either.

This whole brain trust - Hilbert, Jones, Briere, Torts - own this thing now. Torts still shouldn't really be the coach when his contract is up but he is still being trusted to shape the '26-'27 roster.

[Austinfan]

I don't think Briere is finished. If he thought the Flyers could compete for a PO spot he would have waited until at least the TDL to move these two. Word is that Farabee's value dropped from a few months ago, which suggests other teams see the same thing I did. Basically it was a salary dump of Farabee and Frost for a 2nd and a "B" prospect. With the cap going up, Farabee was less about money and more about a bad fit going forward (and maybe worry that his neck issue may limit him going forward).

If Briere has decided to raise the white flag, good chance he'll listen to offers for Laughton, Risto, Poehling, Hathaway and Seeler (who'd have to waive his NTC). If the rebuild is going to take 3 more years (2027-28), none will be on the team at that point.

If they continue to struggle and pick in the top 10, they'll have 5 picks in the top 40 and 7 in the top 50.
That means they can target anyone they want outside the top ten, for example, trade (2) 2nd rd picks to move in the back of the 1st rd or combine a 2nd rd pick and Edmonton's pick to move up into the early 20s.

[zambonir]

oh they are not trying to make the playoffs this year but that doesn't mean they might not see Laughton and Risto as useful and stabilizing pieces next season, with one more chance to still trade them next deadline if they do try to make more of a run next year but fail. I am not convinced this is a full white flag/embrace of the rebuild (versus using some of these assets and cap space to get a center and a goalie speed things up) but we'll know soon enough.

[bigegypt0417]

I would bet if he can work out a deal for a top shelf talent in exchange for those two and picks he'd make a deal.

[zambonir]

I just don't think any NHL team looking to add those two for a playoff run this year will also want to subtract a top shelf talent (let alone a younger/controllable/semi-affordable one). Risto's value is probably about the same as Walker's was. Laughton might get you a 2nd and a flawed player (just as all the players in this last deal were flawed on both sides) though I'm sure the Flyers want a first for him.

And, a deal with the Canucks is also off the table.

Rangers land Miller in blockbuster with Canucks

[Austinfan]

Risto will have more value than Walker, big physical RHDs garner a premium from PO contenders, see the return to Savard, Chariot, Risto (other teams were offering a 1st plus). With the cap going up dramatically, his two out years may make him more valuable b/c given the cost of a FA D-man (30 year old of that caliber will get 4x5+ this summer).

Laughton is more like Walker or Frost, basically a 2nd plus "B" asset (3rd rd pick or second tier prospect), to get a 1st you'll have to eat a contract or send something back.

[zambonir]

After trade with Flames, Flyers’ best path might be bottoming out this season

General manager Daniel Briere spoke on a video conference call Saturday for the first time since that deal two days ago. He denied it should be viewed as a proverbial punt on 2024-25.

There are still 29 games to go in the season, and the Flyers are just 5 points out of the second wild-card spot ahead of Saturday’s action, so the response was predictable. It was even understandable, as 16 of those remaining 29 are at Wells Fargo Center. Tickets are still on sale.

There’s something else Briere and those in charge might know at this point, too, but would never say on the first day of February: This could be the final year they truly have a chance to snag a top-five draft pick, and they might have to take advantage of it. Remember, the Flyers were reportedly aggressively trying to trade up at last year’s draft in Las Vegas when they had the 12th pick but were unable to complete anything. Perhaps that was a lesson that getting into the top five is virtually impossible unless you bottom out.

That seems entirely possible now, considering the roster.

[LegoDoom]

Sadly, I believe that AF is correct about Frost; he’s a 3C. No shame in that but he probably wants to be paid above that grade level.

I think he's wrong. I am betting that Frost wouldn't resign with the Flyers.

[bkeich]

3 straight games they are shut out.

[zambonir]

Right or wrong clearly the Flyers were going to let him leave/wouldn't have matched if he got an offer. Wouldn't otherwise be up to him

[flyers19rw]

As we’ve seen by the last three games and most of the time since he’s been here, Tortorella does not do offense. He has readily admitted that. Do what the offensive capabilities are of the players on the roster are is up in the air. Farabee has shown that he can score in the past. Actually Frost’s numbers aren’t poor. Poor Michkov can’t show what he has since he’s been glued to the bench

[phillychuck]

Flyers are now in full tank mode.

[LegoDoom]

If this is a salary dump, then why is Frost even included. The Flyers don't get a 1st rounder without him.

Torts is the problem.

Briere can talk up Tippett, Foerster, and Cates all he wants, but only Tippett has 5 more points than Frost while being on a top line, and without being a healthy scratch for a few games. What was Tippett extension?

Frost has been treated terribly and was never going to stay here.

[LegoDoom]

Flyers are now in full tank mode.

They weren't a good team all season and should have tanked much earlier.

[Austinfan]

Farabee basically had no value without retention, and unless someone was offering a first, Briere would be crazy to tie up a 2nd retention slot for three years for a late 2nd. I think if he was a rental, teams would have been all over him, but the 3 years was an issue b/c of the neck surgery. Calgary has oddles of cap room and struggles to sign FAs, so they're were willing to gamble.

Frost got a 2nd and a "B" prospect. He's a 3C with some offensive chops, but doesn't PK and hasn't shown much on the PP. Also struggles against close checking teams (like in the playoffs). Flyer fans exaggerate his talent, this is his 4th season starting, playing with TK, Tippett and Michkov. Now he's playing with Sharangovich and Pospisil. Good luck, Morgan.

Today, they were outclassed, on the road, at 5000 ft, playing 11 forwards, 3 of which were AHL players.
Not a real shocker.

[LegoDoom]

What did Frost get? It was the same trade.

What would have Farabee gotten without Frost?

You pay to dump salary.

Also, Frost doesn't need to play C. Does no one remember that Giroux wasn't always one?

You can say that Frost doesn't play as fast as he is, but Tippett doesn't produce for as fast as he skates.

[LegoDoom]

Frost with his first goal for the the Flames.

[flyers19rw]

Tortorella is not a coach that develops players. He was here to increase his legacy through wins. That was/is not going to happen with this roster. He’s done nothing to improve the club’s performance since he’s shown up. His record in town is below .500. He specifically has stated that he’ll never go into the last year of a contract w/o an extension. He’s not done enough to deserve that. It would be best for all concerned if he were to walk away.