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No, they also need to acquire elite talent at center. They desperately need a #1 center.
You expect them to do all that this off season? Acquire a top center, Dman and goalie? They’re drafting their elite talent at center with the #6 overall draft pick. It’s unlikely whoever that is will be a #1 center this coming season. Somebody who knows hockey would know that.
If he signs there has to be a winger going out.
Makes Pelletier and Brink expendable. Yeah, I know Shabanov is one guy, but the Flyers need some size to offset the small forwards elsewhere.
Who do you suggest they pursue in free agency? What about via trade excluded Hague.
Hague is an RFA, but among UFAs, I’d have to give this some thought. There’s a few guys who I think would be upgrades on the Flyers even if the term is only a year or two. I don’t think they’ll go after Provorov. Hahahaha. But, they need a guy who can do what he does.
https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/d/type/ufa
Having taken a closer look, Gavrikov, Lindgren, Dumoulin, and maybe Klingberg (injuries) would be Top 4 guys here. That’s what they need. A defensive Dman who can play 20+ minutes. It’s doable.
Lunchenko will never fill that spot to me.
Then that’s what #6 is for and Luchanko helps you further down the depth chart. Maybe he flips to wing. Draft for offense, acquire defense. I know you think I’m nuts but I see opportunity for the Flyers if they do this the right way. Hahahaha! Did you know that while the Flyers had, by far, the worst save pct. of any team in the league, they were 8th in shots allowed? That’s extraordinary! They need simple doable fixes for THIS year.
Do you think other teams will improve or just the Flyers?
Some will and some will regress. That’s hockey. The Flyers were, by far, the worst team in the league in save percentage. It wasn’t even close. It’s imperative at least THAT gets a lot better this year. A goalie who can stop pucks and a Top 4 Dman will help that a lot. There are guys who can do that who are available and are plug and play, no waiting for development.
The path looks simple yet the Flyers still have these glaring needs at all 3 core positions.
Are the Flyers just incapable of the path is so simple?
The 1C spot will still take time. That’s what the draft is for. Luchanko and #6 won’t fill that spot this coming year. I’d prefer the Flyers not try to fill that spot with a trade or UFA. Go acquire a Top 4 Dman and a goalie. That is doable for opening night.
I don’t see it. This management team has shown me next to nothing to give them any leadway.
The top teams in the conference scooped up a lot of points this season. Two teams only needed 91 points to get to the playoffs. That may not hold this year, but if the Flyers can patch together another 10 wins over 82 games, they should make it. Of course, they need to fill the two main holes I’ve talked about endlessly here to do that. I do think that is possible.
I don’t expect that from Bonk at all. How manyD have they drafted in the last dozen years that is a good quality NHL defenseman? 3? 4?
Sanheim for sure and we’ll see how York responds to playing for a coach he doesn’t hate, but I’m OK with York in his slot. Look at the 4 Nations and Final 4/8 Dman rosters. A lot of those guys have moved and/or weren’t top picks. You can acquire those guys. You can draft them in the 2nd or 3rd round. The Flyers have 6 spots to keep filled and I’m happy with two of them mid-long term. I do shudder to think what would have happened if Krug had approved the Sanheim deal. I understand the pessimism but the path looks simple to me. We’ll see how it goes.
Forget the talent for a second. Look at the Flyers team/organizational philosophy. Do you or anyone believe that will lead to success?
All of sports is based on wishful thinking. I’m cynical enough to think “believe” should be a very high bar but with a couple shrewd moves, I think this team can improve noticeably this season. Noticeable enough to be pretty entertaining.
They have next to nothing in the system after Bonk. That is really fucking disgraceful.
I expect Bonk will be a Top 4 guy in 26-27. You can’t expect them to draft Dman who can step in and play immediately. That’s what shrewd trades and UFA signings are for. I’m not too concerned about the lack of Dman prospects for now. Keep drafting scorers. Sanheim and York are adequate in their Top 4 roles which gives you 4 spots to look to upgrade continually. Ristolainen is good for this year if he stays healthy. Seeler is adequate in his role. Flyers D needs help today.
