No fans, though. People in Miami don't care much about hockey. They don't care much about any sports really. Most hockey fans in Florida are migrants of the Northeast and cheer for their original team.
- PhillySportsGuy

I go to some panther games....great arena and most of the fans go to see their favorite hockey team playing the panthers. more than half the arena is usually out of town fans and the panthers make their money on hockey fans from other cities

I go to some panther games....great arena and most of the fans go to see their favorite hockey team playing the panthers. more than half the arena is usually out of town fans and the panthers make their money on hockey fans from other cities
- vejim

Yeah. It's the same thing with the Tampa Bay Rays games

Unless his objective is to play for a potential playoff team -- possibly even with a path to play on a line with a Hart Trophy finalist and play for an org where he could make a more favorable bridge contract after his ELC
- bmeltzer

A very fair point. I would say the opportunity to play with Giroux, if indeed Hexy would make this a part of the pitch (which is debatable), would be the real selling point.

I bet you Florida could make as good of a pitch about their potential to make the playoffs this year as Hexy can, given their young core. Playing with Huberdeau or Barkov is a step down from Giroux, but would be enticing to a young forward nevertheless.

I'm not really a big fan of trading picks to acquiring rights, but in this case Bill you have made a very compelling argument to do so.

Yeah. It's the same thing with the Tampa Bay Rays games
- PhillySportsGuy

its almost like the team is playing all road games as far as fan support

A very fair point. I would say the opportunity to play with Giroux, if indeed Hexy would make this a part of the pitch (which is debatable), would be the real selling point.

I bet you Florida could make as good of a pitch about their potential to make the playoffs this year as Hexy can, given their young core. Playing with Huberdeau or Barkov is a step down from Giroux, but would be enticing to a young forward nevertheless.

I'm not really a big fan of trading picks to acquiring rights, but in this case Bill you have made a very compelling argument to do so.
- TheGreat28

the Panthers are going to be the next blackhawks

Am I wrong for not being overly excited about Raffl returning and the possiblity of Akenson and Bellmares making the team? Am I wrong for not viewing these guys as apart of the long term future of this team, if any future at all? Am I wrong for viewing these guys as non NHLers who are just filling in space? Am I wrong for believing non of them will pan out like Matt Read and might simply may be a waste of time?
- SuperSchennBros

Raffl is already a solid NHL player.

And yes, you are wrong. As usual.

its almost like the team is playing all road games as far as fan support
- vejim

Not to mention the Trop is a piece of poop field. I bet the astroturf cuts years off of players' careers.

And look what happened with the stable of defense prospects in that couple of years? Makes my point.
- MJL

Actually, you were arguing back then that they were fine and they could easily overcome a system with no real defensive prospects. They could acquire defensemen through trades or FA. I (along with a number of others) argued that this was not the right way to build a team, that you significantly overpay in dollars or assets to acquire a player who is a legitimate franchise defenseman, or even a 2/3 defenseman.

This discussion took place after the Laughton draft pick, which I argued they would much better have been served by taking Maata or Thrower (with the 2nd round pick). I believe it was revisited during the Weber negotiations as well.

Overall, I'm obviously thrilled that they also recognized the same point and have moved to address it. The Sanheim pick seems solid. At first I thought it was a little bit of a reach, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

However, I think a better play would have been to trade up slightly and get one of the more highly-skilled wingers. They need more balance in the system.

It's highly unlikely that all of the players will blossom into long-term NHL players. The odds have increased that a couple will someday become regulars for the Flyers. The majority will not...

...If three of the aforementioned players -- i.e., half of an NHL starting blueline corps -- blossom into Flyers regulars in the years to come, the organization will have done a fine job. Even two would be quite acceptable. Four would be spectacular. Five would be the hockey equivalent of winning the powerball jackpot (don't ever expect it but it's a beautiful dream).
- bmeltzer

Our current D crop reminds me a lot of late-2000's LA (w/ Hexy) and early-2000's NSH... deep as hell, potential out the wazoo, and varied in player type:

LA: Forbort (15), Doughty (2), Teubert (13), Voynov (32), Hickey (4), Martinez (95), Muzzin (trade), Drewiske (U), Harrold (U)

NSH: Parent (18), Franson (79), Niskala (147), Suter (7), Weber (49), Klein (37), Stehlik (76), Sulzer (92), Hamhuis (12), Slovak (42)


As you said, we'll be exceptionally lucky to hit 50%... LA luckily had one lottery pick guy and the emergence of Martinez/Muzzin to offset their 1st-round busts. NSH hit the mother lode by getting 2 franchise dmen in the same draft year, but the luck they had with their rest of their kids was uneven.

I go to some panther games....great arena and most of the fans go to see their favorite hockey team playing the panthers. more than half the arena is usually out of town fans and the panthers make their money on hockey fans from other cities
- vejim

My cousin, a huge flyers fan, lives within 10 miles of the arena. I've seen several Flyers games there, and went to the all-star game where Heatley scored 4 goals. I had him in our pool for best player honors. It won me 50 bucks, three lap dances and the other guys picked up the tab for the entire evening! So Florida's arena always has a fondness in my heart!

Edit above

My cousin, a huge flyers fan, lives within 10 miles of the arena. I've seen several Flyers games there, and went to the all-star game where Heatley scored 4 goals. It won me 50 bucks, three lap dances and the other guys picked up the tab for the entire evening! So Florida's arena always has a fondness in my heart!
- TheGreat28

you are always welcome to come

you are always welcome to come
- vejim

Yeah, it's been a couple of years now. I might have to put a road trip on the docket this year

Actually, you were arguing back then that they were fine and they could easily overcome a system with no real defensive prospects. They could acquire defensemen through trades or FA. I (along with a number of others) argued that this was not the right way to build a team, that you significantly overpay in dollars or assets to acquire a player who is a legitimate franchise defenseman, or even a 2/3 defenseman.

This discussion took place after the Laughton draft pick, which I argued they would much better have been served by taking Maata or Thrower (with the 2nd round pick). I believe it was revisited during the Weber negotiations as well.

Overall, I'm obviously thrilled that they also recognized the same point and have moved to address it. The Sanheim pick seems solid. At first I thought it was a little bit of a reach, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

However, I think a better play would have been to trade up slightly and get one of the more highly-skilled wingers. They need more balance in the system.
- TheGreat28

You can put any words in my mouth that you want, but I assure you that you are incorrect about what I said! Can I do the same? Make statements about what you said?
And again you make my point. They didn't take Maata or Thrower, and yet here they are with a fine stable of defense prospects! A short time later!
Balance in the system can be take care of in a number of ways. And if Sanheim turns out to be a top defenseman at some point, then trading up for a forward wouldn't have been the better play. And let's not ignore that would also take other assets to do so.
The Flyers don't seem to have a problem drafting and developing forwards. I'm glad they've made efforts to boost the defense prospect pool.

1) The Flyers can absolutely take on another entry level salary. You are forgetting that they can make a paper move to send the contract to the AHL and then immediately we call him as soon as pronger goes on LTIR.

2) A second round pick in 2016 plus another asset is something north of the compensation Chicago will receive if he walks. The only difference is the 2nd round pick is one year further removed.
- bmeltzer

It would require the Flyers to make additional trades though. In fact they cannot hide any of the current roster players down in the AHL as all of the contracts on the current roster are one-way. They have to shed salary before the start of the season. Am I wrong in this assumption?

Raffl is already a solid NHL player.

And yes, you are wrong. As usual.
- Feanor

Raffl has one season under his belt. There are counless NHL players who have stepped in, had a solid season, didn't follow up well and then fell off the face off the earth in a short time. So what am I wrong about exactly? Things have to play out first. Every fan in here would say the young forward prospects are thin. Raffl, Akenson and Bellemare are still prospects. Developing players. They may or may not workout and do not have a high expectation.

My cousin, a huge flyers fan, lives within 10 miles of the arena. I've seen several Flyers games there, and went to the all-star game where Heatley scored 4 goals. I had him in our pool for best player honors. It won me 50 bucks, three lap dances and the other guys picked up the tab for the entire evening! So Florida's arena always has a fondness in my heart!

Edit above
- TheGreat28

I was at one game when the Flyers were in town and I swear 3/4 of the arena was flyer fans and I felt like I was home

Am I wrong for not being overly excited about Raffl returning and the possiblity of Akenson and Bellmares making the team? Am I wrong for not viewing these guys as apart of the long term future of this team, if any future at all? Am I wrong for viewing these guys as non NHLers who are just filling in space? Am I wrong for believing non of them will pan out like Matt Read and might simply may be a waste of time?
- SuperSchennBros

I get it, this is a riddle.

You are youarewrong

Unless his objective is to play for a potential playoff team -- possibly even with a path to play on a line with a Hart Trophy finalist and play for an org where he could make a more favorable bridge contract after his ELC
- bmeltzer

keep on Bill, sell the haters....im on board with you, i think he would fill a hole and will be cheap, hes got size and ready to go, it would fill jvrs hole that was left also.

Raffl has one season under his belt. There are counless NHL players who have stepped in, had a solid season, didn't follow up well and then fell off the face off the earth in a short time. So what am I wrong about exactly? Things have to play out first. Every fan in here would say the young forward prospects are thin. Raffl, Akenson and Bellemare are still prospects. Developing players. They may or may not workout and do not have a high expectation.
- SuperSchennBros

The guys who fizzle out are usually one-dimensional, offensive players. Raffl is a strong two-way forward. Even if he scores 5 goals next year, he's still a valuable 4th liner and PKer.

I think Raffl could get 15-20 goals playing in the top 9 all season.

keep on Bill, sell the haters....im on board with you, i think he would fill a hole and will be cheap, hes got size and ready to go, it would fill jvrs hole that was left also.
- mydoglicks

still cant believe Homer traded JVR

The guys who fizzle out are usually one-dimensional, offensive players. Raffl is a strong two-way forward. Even if he scores 5 goals next year, he's still a valuable 4th liner and PKer.

I think Raffl could get 15-20 goals playing in the top 9 all season.
- PhillySportsGuy

Andreas Nodl fizzled out.

keep on Bill, sell the haters....im on board with you, i think he would fill a hole and will be cheap, hes got size and ready to go, it would fill jvrs hole that was left also.
- mydoglicks

I haven't heard anybody really hating on the kid or the logic behind chasing after him... seems most are just wondering about the risks of expending multiple draft picks for his rights versus just waiting for him to hit UFA on Aug 15. Either way, he's just going to sign wherever he wants, and there seem to be some more obvious destinations for him to go to (FLA, CGY, BOS).

Unless I'm in the dark here and he always wanted to be a Flyer.

Am I wrong for not being overly excited about Raffl returning and the possiblity of Akenson and Bellmares making the team? Am I wrong for not viewing these guys as apart of the long term future of this team, if any future at all? Am I wrong for viewing these guys as non NHLers who are just filling in space? Am I wrong for believing non of them will pan out like Matt Read and might simply may be a waste of time?
- SuperSchennBros

I think you have some legitimate points. Realistically, on a top team (Bruins, Hawks, Kings, etc) none of these guys would have a shot to crack the top 9. Akeson is more likely a career AHLer and NHL fill-in. Raffl's upside is really a 3rd liner who could fill in occasionally on the 1st or 2nd line. Obviously we'll see on Bellemare.

My biggest complaint about Holmgren's drafting has always been that after the 1st round he tends to take players with a higher probability of reaching the NHL but with a lower ceiling. Rinaldo is a great example. Cousins and Leier might be more recent examples.

I don't know if any of the players from this year's draft will make the NHL, but I like the premise behind the picks. I think they might be longer shots to make it in some cases, but the ceilings are higher for this crop than in the past.

To me, you can always find a Raffl or Akeson or Bellemare to round out the 3rd or 4th lines. Or you can sign a Talbot or Hall, etc. So you pick players with the highest ceiling in the draft, and even if you have a lower hit rate for them to make it to the NHL, that one home-run and a triple or two is what you build the organization off of.

So much of the team's success next year will depend on Couts and Schenn.

If they continue to gradually get better, the Flyers will probably be in a similar spot.

If they stagnate, the Flyers will probably be fighting for a playoff spot up until the last week.

If one or both of them make a big jump, this team could be pretty damn good.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree with this. As a whole, the pattern for developing forwards is that their biggest jump in points occurs between their 3rd and 4th year. You can usually have a pretty good feel on what kind of points a player will put up by the end of their 4th season. There are exceptions of coarse, power forwards can have a slower development. I hope to see jumps in production from both players. Coots may have a longer development offensively because his offense come out of his defense. To me this is Schenn's prove-it season. The Flyers really need to help out by picking a position and keeping him there.

I haven't heard anybody really hating on the kid or the logic behind chasing after him... seems most are just wondering about the risks of expending multiple draft picks for his rights versus just waiting for him to hit UFA on Aug 15. Either way, he's just going to sign wherever he wants, and there seem to be some more obvious destinations for him to go to (FLA, CGY, BOS).

Unless I'm in the dark here and he always wanted to be a Flyer.
- Tomahawk

no offense because I was born and raised in Philly and spent most of my life there but why would any player who has no ties to the city or area and no money considerations chose to pick Philly? I do love the Philly suburbs and New Jersey though