I do agree this no longer a destination franchise. Having players waive NMC to come here is going to be unlikely. The few times an elite talent becomes available without a NMC (ie Quinn Hughes), the organization cannot just say “oh well, we got outbid”. Since free agency is not an option and the current regime has no interest in team stripping to get close to top 5 for the next couple of drafts, the only way forward is more Zegras and Jiricek trades. Players who have not lived up to their pre draft hype. That’s why the team has to be willing to move Tippett and/or Foerster this summer. See if they can get Berniers out of SEA. Another organization going no where with a high draft pick who has not lived up to his hype on a long-term contract. Notice he does not have a NMC clause. The regime will need some luck and a HC to maximize the skill of Michkov and Martone. I’m not sure which is more likely- getting the luck needed to win big in Zegras type trades or the current HC who can maximize his players’ performance.
how can any person have any faith in tocchet is baffling. returning players have regressed.
agree with pretty much the rest.
zegras has a nice bounce back season no doubt. that being said he has cooled off a lot since the new year. will be interesting to see what type of contract he wants/ends up signing. Is he a guy you commit 8 years to? I am sure the flyers think so.
with the way the flyers draft their best bet is a trade. though danny refuses to move off is “guys”. severely overrates them and places way too high a value.
It’s actually been since Christmas (nitpicking i know). Since then he’s scored 17 pts in 29 games or a pace of 48 pts over a season. He got the majority of his points early in the season at winger. I still can’t believe it took them 50+ games to try him at center. They did themselves no favors in evaluating him. Is he a center or winger? 2nd line or 3rd line on a contending team? He hasn’t been healthy 2 out of the last 3 years and he’s currently making 5.75 mill/yr. He’s 1 year from UFA coming off a bridge deal with the Flyers already talking up how much cap room they have and want to spend. He’s going to want some of that UFA money.
The Flyers do overrate their own players as we see time and time again. Dvorak, despite getting 1st line minutes has been 17 pts in 29 games since Christmas or a 39 point pace over a season.
This is why you start with the elite core players and build around them. If the Flyers had a McDavid or Celebrini for example allowing both Dvorak and Zegras slot lower in the lineup with less pressure which also helps the lower lines have better line mates and everyone’s situation improves. How can you evaluate them for the job they should have if you can’t/don’t slot them properly? The Flyers would rather have a 3rd line player average 20 min/game over the last 10 games because Flyers media will rubber stamp anything they do and it’s easier than doing what is necessary.
Who is the core of this team and where should those player actually be slotted? What is the timeline? Konecny and Sanheim will both be in their 30s next year, signing them long term was a huge mistake if they the Flyers aren’t competing for a cup now. Listening to Jonesy it sounded like their go time was NOW before all the elite UFA talent dried up.