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A gpalie who can stop the puck and the top 4 on the blueline is the catalyst for success. I guess Risto is closing to coming back to help bolster the 3rd pair. Kind of hoping Kyrou would get a shot with Seeler on the 3rd pair. The blueline is not big, but constantly gets it out of the D zone with good outlet passes as opposed to chipping the puck up the boards every time. It would take real courage to embrace making the blueline smaller, but even more mobile and passing ability with inserting Kyrou. I do not expect it to happen any time soon, but with Drysdale and Andrae not getting caved in due to lack of size, it is something to think about.
I do believe Quinn Hughes does get traded and has no interest in extending in VAN. There has not been many top tier players who have been traded with more then a few months left on their current contract. The most recent example was Jack Eichel and he had a medical situation added to the equation. Whoever trades for Hughes the assets given up to get him might be surprising lower then expected.
I have posted before I would prefer to trade for Dahlin over Hughes. However, the current regime has to justify its plan back to relevancy. Hughes is the type of player they have to try and acquire because of their insistence of not gutting the roster to acquire multiple top 5 picks. I have been no fan of Tocchet, but we’ll see if he can help get a Hughes trade over the line. What we have seen so far with the cap rising is all the star players not waiting to sign in the summer of their free agency, but extending early. Will Hughes buck the trend to player with his brothers? Possible. However, I read a rumor that Hughes may sign an extension which ends when Jack’s current deal is up in 2030. Hughes current cap hit is 7.8 million. I have to figure his extension will probably be double that number. We’ll see who has an appetite for giving out that type of contract.
Team looks like its skating in mud thru much of the games. I know the HC does not want the forwards to cheat out of the defensive zone, but somehow the forwards need to get going quicker. They are just so slow thru the neutral zone.
Rather move heaven and earth for Dahlin, then Hughes. I believe once he gets out of BUF, he will be a perennial Norris top 3 candidate. Maybe Briere can start by offering the greatest 3rd line in hockey as the foundation of the trade. I just don’t see BUF being satisfied with prospects and picks. I would try to avoid including Michkov or Martone in a trade, but I would think about depending on what other assets are involved.
If you truly believe that then he is worth more than either Michkov or Martone. Norris caliber dmen are worth more than good/potentially good wingers. They could always try to draft one but that’s crazy talk. Everyone knows the only way to get your #1 center and #1 dman is to trade for them, nobody actually does a rebuild.
To acquire a potential #1 Dman below 30 is going to require significant assets, I agree. I certainly do not believe Briere should start with Michkov or Martone. Certainly, he might have to get there, we’ll see. Has there been a #1 Dman under 30 traded since Kimmo? I cannot remember. I do not consider Hanifin a #1 Dman. Pronger was well over 30. I would be curious if there are other examples to possibly review on trade compensation. I guess the question is for BUF, do they want picks and prospects as the primary assets. Or young players under term, who they believe can contribute today and in the future.
Rather move heaven and earth for Dahlin, then Hughes. I believe once he gets out of BUF, he will be a perennial Norris top 3 candidate. Maybe Briere can start by offering the greatest 3rd line in hockey as the foundation of the trade. I just don’t see BUF being satisfied with prospects and picks. I would try to avoid including Michkov or Martone in a trade, but I would think about depending on what other assets are involved.
The Flyers will never get it. Dvorak is a 2-3rd line center. Cates is at best a 3rd line center. Coots makes too much money for what he offers. You refuse to play Zegras at center. You will finish just outside of the playoffs this year. How will they improve at center? I haven’t even referenced the defense. They are A LONG WAY away.
When the Flyer signed Dvorak over the summer, I understood the move. Overpaid bottom 6 center for one year. Briere could retain salary at the deadline and get a good asset back. He could fill a spot if Luchanko was not ready. Let Zegras play center and have Dvorak take certain faceoffs when G Was paired with Couts. That plan lasted about 5 games apparently. If Briere does not move Dvorak at the deadline for an asset, it is a failure. Trying to make the playoffs with no shot at the Cup does not justify keeping Dvorak. It would only compound the mistake because I guess the Zegras at center experiment is over. If Tocchet could not allow Zegras to play center against Tampa in the 3rd period last after watching the first two periods, I doubt it happens at all this season with any regularity.
It is amazing to watch that Torts’ team was about transition offense and Tocchet is the complete opposite. Not sure during the hiring process why the regime thought it was a good idea to do a complete 180 on style of play. They could not break down a blueline missing their top 3 Dmen. If they make the playoffs, it will only happen if Vladar plays 50 games and has a top 10 save %. Tocchet does not have the offensive structure to win any other way. This has proven to be true in all of Tocchet’s previous jobs. Got to give the man credit, he got paid by the Flyers and he has shown no ability to adjust his offensive structure. Play safe and only shoot with traffic in front of the net. Leads to a lot of nights just like what has happened in Tampa.
from just a coaching standpoint, is tocchet worse than Torst?
I believe Torts was a better HC for how the team is currently constructed. They are not big upfront, so trying to come thru the neutral zone with limited speed and try to win board battles to then get forwards in front of the net to deflect shots is not this team. Torts downfall was his loyalty to Rocky running the PP. He just would not move Rocky off that responsibility. Tocchet is married to his offensive philosophy, no matter the talent level. He salivates having a winger like Tippett. A forward who can skate fast with size and hopefully dig out pucks in the corner. Does not matter if Tippett is not good at that job, Tocchet believes he will be able to mold him into that player.
The Flyers now have given up the 4th least amount of goals in the league, and have scored the 4th least goals. Unless the team gets on a hot streak of shooting %, this is Tocchet hockey. It is no different then his last head coaching jobs. It is generally very boring hockey. Quite frankly, when the team plays three 3rd line centers and one 4th line center, the boredom factor is magnified. Really cannot afford to trade Luchanko or Nesbitt because no matter what the belief is in their ceiling, they have to let those players develop and hope because the cupboard is so barren right now. Couts, Cates, and Dvorak are basically the same type of center, redundancy at its highest.
It sure looks like they are going to do everything possible to make it as a wildcard. This roster is not taking steps to ascend into a playoff contender. It has serious structural issues that place the team right back into purgatory. The HC has zero interest in seeing if Zegras can develop into a top 6 center, which is something they have absolutely nothing close to at the NHL or AHL level. Baffling decisions.
With pretty much every team in the playoff “picture now would be a good time to try to sell high on players. There will be plenty of buyers. Stop with this short term we need to make the playoff nonsense. Its about the future.
Now we know they will not sell. More than likely find the next Nate Thompson or Alex Grant. As you said they want the playoffs. They will view that as a successful season.
Not really when you see what the goal this season is about .
I agree. There is no doubt in my mind the HC would want Dvorak past this season. The GM cannot allow the team to stockpile bottom 6 centers. He already has 2 of them under contract for awhile. I’m sorry Noah Cates will not be a 2C in his career. That is not a slight, just reality. Couts is sunk cost. The rumor of them wanting another bottom 6 center to help the roster is frankly laughable. Acquiring more grinders is not going to make them overtake CAR and NJ for the division. Figuring out a way to supplement offensive talent besides Michkov and Zegras closes the gap.
Vladar for his career has only played 30 games in one season. He is already up to 13 games. We will see if he can maintain this level of play for an entire season. This HC has little evidence in his past to suggest he can win with offensive output.
It is amazing to watch that Torts’ team was about transition offense and Tocchet is the complete opposite. Not sure during the hiring process why the regime thought it was a good idea to do a complete 180 on style of play. They could not break down a blueline missing their top 3 Dmen. If they make the playoffs, it will only happen if Vladar plays 50 games and has a top 10 save %. Tocchet does not have the offensive structure to win any other way. This has proven to be true in all of Tocchet’s previous jobs. Got to give the man credit, he got paid by the Flyers and he has shown no ability to adjust his offensive structure. Play safe and only shoot with traffic in front of the net. Leads to a lot of nights just like what has happened in Tampa.
The Flyers now have given up the 4th least amount of goals in the league, and have scored the 4th least goals. Unless the team gets on a hot streak of shooting %, this is Tocchet hockey. It is no different then his last head coaching jobs. It is generally very boring hockey. Quite frankly, when the team plays three 3rd line centers and one 4th line center, the boredom factor is magnified. Really cannot afford to trade Luchanko or Nesbitt because no matter what the belief is in their ceiling, they have to let those players develop and hope because the cupboard is so barren right now. Couts, Cates, and Dvorak are basically the same type of center, redundancy at its highest.
It sure looks like they are going to do everything possible to make it as a wildcard. This roster is not taking steps to ascend into a playoff contender. It has serious structural issues that place the team right back into purgatory. The HC has zero interest in seeing if Zegras can develop into a top 6 center, which is something they have absolutely nothing close to at the NHL or AHL level. Baffling decisions.
So do they try and extend Brink? From an on ice performance standpoint makes sense. However, Zegras is adding to the glut of wingers because the HC seems determined not to allow him to be a full time center. The extensions of TK and Tippett were they the right move? TK’s has a NTC and Tippett has a limited no trade this summer. I guess they could make Martone “earn it” next season by starting him in the AHL or on the 4th line. Did I mention Grebenkin is a unique forward who wins board battles at a rate that only Foerster can match.
Full credit to the top 4 Dmen carrying the load. Would be nice to use some of these wingers and get a Dman who can move Seeler down to the 3rd pair. I am not hopeful they can solve the center problem other then continue to draft them and hope to develop. Players like Eichel only become available under extraordinary circumstances. That is not a viable plan.
no fn way to both.
flyers have no plan. their big free agency plan has been blown up. Who will they sign as the next hayes.
If Briere does not move Tippett before his modified NTC clause kicks in it will be a mistake. He will be 27 soon, and he might get 30 goals in a season. However, his playmaking ability or defensive awareness is not going to improve. TK is sunk cost at this point, who will only be moved if he asks to go. A new coaching staff playing him in all situations even at the expense of giving shifts to players who need to develop for the team to be a contender. He is not going anywhere anytime soon.
On a somewhat separate note, still wait and see what the regime does with Dvorak. Clearly, the HC values him this season, which makes me believe why would he not want him next season. A smart GM trades him for assets at the deadline because this team is not a serious contender this season or next season with Dvorak in a top 9 role. For me the choice is easy, see how it plays out.
So do they try and extend Brink? From an on ice performance standpoint makes sense. However, Zegras is adding to the glut of wingers because the HC seems determined not to allow him to be a full time center. The extensions of TK and Tippett were they the right move? TK’s has a NTC and Tippett has a limited no trade this summer. I guess they could make Martone “earn it” next season by starting him in the AHL or on the 4th line. Did I mention Grebenkin is a unique forward who wins board battles at a rate that only Foerster can match.
Full credit to the top 4 Dmen carrying the load. Would be nice to use some of these wingers and get a Dman who can move Seeler down to the 3rd pair. I am not hopeful they can solve the center problem other then continue to draft them and hope to develop. Players like Eichel only become available under extraordinary circumstances. That is not a viable plan.
So Michkov gonna start on LW apparently for this game. This organization seems to really enjoy tinkering, which has led to so very little over the last few seasons. Seems like the last HC that understood offensive hockey was Lavi. Good times.
https://www.thefourthperiod.com/nov-2025/kings-exploring-market-for-winger
Well, the Flyers are certainly a team LA needs to call. Considering this is Kopitar’s last season and if they want any chance to finally go thru EDM, I would expect the Kings would be looking for a scoring forward. Need to pull off another Zegras trade because the spending spree in the summer of ’26 in free agency is already a bust.
Tocchet deserves credit for improving the team defense. However, his teams shots per game has been lower top 5 over multiple seasons. This is not a coincidence. This was a major concern when the interview process was happening and Tochet was the front runner. I do not know exactly what the plan is for Michkov going forward. Supposedly, he is the foundation of the franchise going forward and on the second game of a back to back, it was a good idea to place him with Abols and Dvorak. I guess this is supposed to help him in his development. For the season, Michkov is playing under 15 minutes/game. He is being treated as a middle six forward on a team that has a clear abundance of middle six wingers. The organization seeks shelter for itself by stating they want to be better, but do not have to make the playoffs this year. Perfect mantra for an organization with an overwhelming amount of limited forwards to continue to play and hope to be an average team. Better to play safe players then give more minutes to players like Michkov, Grebenkin, and Andrae and see if they can lift the performance of the team.
Looking at the attendance numbers to start the season, the regime is losing the bet they are giving the fanbase an appealing product. After opening night, attendance has not broken above 18,009. Come see your future superstar play less then 15 minutes a game. Seems like a sketchy plan.
is it him or is it the goalie making it look better?
mind boggling.
focus is playoffs only. not anything long or medium term.
The PK has been really good so far. I don’t mind a PK not scoring goals. I thought the whole “Power Kill” mantra was silly. Allowing goalies to see the puck as opposed to expecting every player on the ice to act as a human shield seems like a better idea.
After that, yeah the offensive woes I place a lot of blame on the HC. I get the sense that he is implying not enough guys are going to the net, which he refers to as the “hard area”. Well, he inherited a roster with few net front guys to begin with, so somehow it is a shock because most of the top 6 guys with skill are below 200 lbs. Not sure it makes sense to expect most of these forwards to camp out and try to tip shots from the point. Couts and Cates, I expect could fit that bill. Grebenkin could, but Tocchet has shown an unwillingness to play him minutes. Foerster and Tippett have size, but have never really been a major part of their games. Zegras, Mickhkov, TK, and Brink will go and make plays in the center of the ice, but expecting them to camp at the crease constantly just is unrealistic. Much like the previous HC, is the current HC adjusting his style of play to his players, or do the players have to bend to his will.
The issue going forward is this brand of hockey is boring with the occasional elevated shooting % game. From the current list of top 9 forwards on the NHL roster and the AHL, the regime would have to severely reshape the forwards to play Tocchet’s style of hockey he seems intent on installing. So far at the gate, the fanbase does not seem overly enthused with this HC and brand of hockey. The supposed future star of the team has played like 1 shift in 4 OT games. Even watching the games at home, I want to see the potential star play as much as possible in another regular season that it is a fact this team is not a serious contender. He has already “earned” that right to play more from his rookie season last season. He deserves the chance to play out of his slump because if Michkov does not pan out as at least a PP/game player, this rebuild or retool is finished. Martone turning out to be a stud and the consummate scoring power forward will not be enough to carry the team to being a contender if Michkov does not work. The rest of the forward group is not talented enough to make up that gap if Michkov cannot elevate to near elite level. TK going into his 30s is not going to find enough consistency to be that guy. Foerster could be a really good two way forward, but his playmaking ability is not top tier. Brink doubtful becomes even a 60 pt guy. Zegras has shown 60 point ability in the past. Tippett will be 27 is this going to be year 1 of consistently being a 30 goal scorer- highly uncertain. Couts is an older fine 3C. Cates is a younger, but not exactly young anymore fine 3C.
