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Ranked 6th out of how many rebuilds? Either way, his grades seem overly generous for a team that finished last in their division, and here’s why I think that way…
Overall Rebuild Grade B What exactly has been rebuilt? I still don’t see a heck of a lot of high-end talent in the pipeline. You’d think finishing outside the playoffs each of the past 4 seasons would have netted a couple of exciting prospects, but alas, there’s only Porter Martone to show for their woes.
Overall Roster C+ This may be the only realistic grade on this list, though I’d drop it just based on the below-average defense and the abysmal goaltending.
Prospect Pool A- This one puzzles me. With the exception of Michkov (who’s already on the NHL roster) and Martone falling into their laps, where does such a high rating come from? There’s no top defenseman nor is there a top center in the system, and we all know the Flyers goaltending prospects have been mostly disappointing for 3 1/2 decades now.
Head Coach & General Manager B Really don’t get this one either. The trades Briere has made have pretty much been no-brainers. There are other trades he should have made, but like the two GMs before him, there just doesn’t seem to be any creativity in trying to improve the roster with the few assets that could fetch something of significance (more than late round draft picks) in return. And don’t get me started on continuing the tradition of making the “safe pick” (outside of Michkov & Martone, has there been any attempt to swing for the fences?). As for the HC, where’s the hot goaltender to bail him out? Tocchet’s record without one is more of what the Flyers have experienced over the past 4 seasons. A .448 career winning percentage is not overly inspiring to me (and don’t use the “bad teams” excuse because that’s what he’s inheriting in Philly).
I’ve watched this team for far too long to think they’re setting themselves up for success right now. All I’m seeing is an unwillingness to learn from the repeated mistakes of the past decade.
agree with solid points.
Don’t think they have taken the right approach at all
Can’t rebuild something that was never built. Flyers are so far away from cup contention it is sad.
Some of those grades are generous to me.
“but the difficult work is in the rearview mirror for Briere”
How the hell is the difficult work in the rear view mirror.
D corp is really bad. with no help really on the way.
Bonk will help there down the road. They can add a plug and play Dman via trade or UFA. Now do you see why I was banging the drum for them to sign a Top 4 Dman via UFA? They’ll start with what they’ve got and we’ll see how it goes. JD is a -50 in 94 games as a Flyer. Yes, +/- can be a limited stat, but in his case it’s telling. No one else is close on the Flyers. Big advantage here: You only need 6-7 Dmen and I would say four of those slots are well filled when Risto is healthy.
Bonk will help to what extent? 2nd pair? 3rd pair? Where they are at unless that top 4 dman can be part of the future in 3/4/5 years, signing one would be nothing but spinning their wheels. You should be using free agency to get you over the hump so to speak or address a small area. Trading for one means giving to get. Flyers may not want to give as they seem to love/overvalue their players.
They have nothing in the system who projects to be a top 4 guy outside of Bonk. That is a total disgrace. I have no faith in them developing anyone to play above their pay grade. What is the plan to address getting a top pair and another 2nd pair dman?
– Not sure who you are referring too when you say finally seeing the wisdom of keeping 2 of your nine best forwards in the top 9. That top nine has always been the most likely outcome and my prediction.
– Flipping Cates to wing would be dumb. You didn’t sign him for 4 years to be a winger; perfectly fine as the 3rd line center. Dvorak can still take faceoffs as a winger and has no long-term future with the flyers. Or does he?
– Your fascination with dumping brink is entertaining. Whoever “supplants” him will have to do much more than match him in camp.
– Playing ND would be typical flyers and hope it happens for pure entertainment value. He just kills 100% that 4th line. If they choose, which they will not, they could roll out a 4th with 2 younger guys and GH
– Up front is nothing but average at best. Not seeing how they are “fine”. Not much upside far down the road to me except martone.
– Totally forgot about JD. Insert him take out whoever.The Flyers have a few forwards who aren’t exactly stellar defensively. Your lines each do have a two-way anchor out there, which is good. I like Cates a lot. He can handle the flip to wing with a couple of high scoring forwards who will bump up his scoring numbers, play 3rd man high. That will ease any pain he might suffer from being moved away from his “position.”
Brink might hang in and make the opening night lineup but he’s not long for a spot here.
ND is a decent player for his role. If Florida can dress Gadjovich for every game in the conference finals and finals, the Flyers should be able to dress ND early in the regular season without negative, disproven cliches about their strategy getting tossed about. If you want young forwards filling out the 4th line, Luchanko is really your only 4C option.
Martone, Luchanko, Berglund, Nesbitt, Barkey, Murtagh and a few others, that’s an acceptable near future, without having had the benefit of seeing them play in the NHL. I’ve had the benefit of seeing JD play in the NHL and it hasn’t been pretty. The D corps is rickety. That’s something we seem to agree on.
brink is a stone-cold lock to be in the opening night lineup outside injury/trade. not even debatable.
no ND is not a decent player for his role. he hinders his linemates. he offers no value being in the lineup. you can try that dorwart kid unless he is flat out terrible for 4th line center. rather the jett not b ein the nhl this year. said before loan him out to Kimmo or Kapanens team in Europe!!!
outside of martone not much to really get excited about to me. couple solid depth pieces you hope. my own take is knuble and vansaghi will end up being solid bottom line depth guys.
D corp is really bad. with no help really on the way.
why cant they focus on what zegras can bring to the table and use his strengths? instead of focusing on his defense. this is where they end up just hurting players IMO.
kaplan has less than zero chance to even see time with the flyers this year. won’t be the least bit surprised if he is in the echl at some point. really liked that pick at the time.
with the forest looking like he won’t miss any time, how much of an effect does this have on bump or another prospect making the team. in no order:
tk – ex selke – mm
tippet – zegras – dvorak
forest – cates – brink
? – ? – GHjust don’t see Dvorak playing 4th line center. one hopes ND will not be playing though it won’t shock anyone. Would think Abols would have the inside track for the 4th line center pot. wonder if they invite any players on a PTO.
Defense is looking stellar
york – sanheim
seeler – Juulson ?
Andrae – Zamula
Gilbert?all quiet on the RR front not a peep.
It’s good you’re finally seeing the wisdom of keeping two of your nine best forwards in the Top 9, but flipping Cates to wing is the move as Dvorak is much better at the dot. That does leave 4C as an issue. It’s a spot that’s up for grabs. Any wing with decent size who matches Brink’s offense through camp supplants him. Bump seems to be the scuttlebutt front runner. Deslauriers plays. The Flyers are fine up front with upside not far down the road. Have you given up on Drysdale? I’m not optimistic but at least I have him penciled into the lineup.
Defense pairings right now are:
York – Sanheim
Seeler – Drysdale
??? – Zamula/Juulsen (until Ristolainen gets back)Possibilities are Andrae Gilbert, Bonk (unlikely out of camp).
BTW, for whatever reason, the ex-Selke thing pushes my buttons. Every Selke winner who is not the reigning winner (Barkov) is an ex-winner.
why such secrecy when it comes to RR on the flyers end?
Zamula can also play left side so won’t be shocked to see Zamula-Juulson pairing. Unless Juulson is total garbage he will get the benefit of the doubt from the coach in terms of starting in the top 6.
with the forest looking like he won’t miss any time, how much of an effect does this have on bump or another prospect making the team. in no order:
tk – ex selke – mm
tippet – zegras – dvorak
forest – cates – brink
? – ? – GHjust don’t see Dvorak playing 4th line center. one hopes ND will not be playing though it won’t shock anyone. Would think Abols would have the inside track for the 4th line center pot. wonder if they invite any players on a PTO.
Defense is looking stellar
york – sanheim
seeler – Juulson ?
Andrae – Zamula
Gilbert?all quiet on the RR front not a peep.
It’s good you’re finally seeing the wisdom of keeping two of your nine best forwards in the Top 9, but flipping Cates to wing is the move as Dvorak is much better at the dot. That does leave 4C as an issue. It’s a spot that’s up for grabs. Any wing with decent size who matches Brink’s offense through camp supplants him. Bump seems to be the scuttlebutt front runner. Deslauriers plays. The Flyers are fine up front with upside not far down the road. Have you given up on Drysdale? I’m not optimistic but at least I have him penciled into the lineup.
– Not sure who you are referring too when you say finally seeing the wisdom of keeping 2 of your nine best forwards in the top 9. That top nine has always been the most likely outcome and my prediction.
– Flipping Cates to wing would be dumb. You didn’t sign him for 4 years to be a winger; perfectly fine as the 3rd line center. Dvorak can still take faceoffs as a winger and has no long-term future with the flyers. Or does he?
– Your fascination with dumping brink is entertaining. Whoever “supplants” him will have to do much more than match him in camp.
– Playing ND would be typical flyers and hope it happens for pure entertainment value. He just kills 100% that 4th line. If they choose, which they will not, they could roll out a 4th with 2 younger guys and GH
– Up front is nothing but average at best. Not seeing how they are “fine”. Not much upside far down the road to me except martone.
– Totally forgot about JD. Insert him take out whoever.with the forest looking like he won’t miss any time, how much of an effect does this have on bump or another prospect making the team. in no order:
tk – ex selke – mm
tippet – zegras – dvorak
forest – cates – brink
? – ? – GHjust don’t see Dvorak playing 4th line center. one hopes ND will not be playing though it won’t shock anyone. Would think Abols would have the inside track for the 4th line center pot. wonder if they invite any players on a PTO.
Defense is looking stellar
york – sanheim
seeler – Juulson ?
Andrae – Zamula
Gilbert?all quiet on the RR front not a peep.
