Well, look how all those "sink or swim" players turned out.... Not too shabby huh?
- GOA88

Yeah, lot of them turned out really good for other teams after the Flyers lost patience or decided they needed to bolster the roster for a playoff run that didn't end with a Stanley Cup.

Here they are:

Zubrus: Went on to have a solid, if unspectacular NHL career after being traded for Recchi.

Woywitka: Never played for Flyers, journeyman NHL career after being traded for Mike Comrie

Williams: Won Stanley Cups with Carolina and LA after being traded for Danny Markov...who ended up being a three month rental

Pitkanen; Solid, if unspectacular career. Did eventually become a legit first pair NHL defenseman who ate a ton of minutes. Traded for Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul, who spent a combined 3 seasons as Flyers. Lupul part of trade for Pronger, who played 145 games for the Flyers.

Carter and Richards: Outstanding careers with the Flyers, traded for youngsters that stayed in Philly and made an impact as Flyers.

Downie: Had a 20 goal season for Tampa after being traded for Matt Carle. Flyers managed to lose Carle, in part because of their haste to re-sign Grossmann and the ridiculous deal Calgary gave to Dennis Wideman

JvR: Flyers lost patience with him, traded him for Luke Schenn, watched JvR become 30 goal scoring, first line winger. Schenn still struggling badly with consistency.

Sbisa: Traded in Pronger deal, mired by injuries and inconsistency. Probably not helped in his development by sticking with Flyers out of camp and being shuffled around the line up, playing third pair, being benched and even shifted to LW because the Flyers had cap issues.

On the whole, they had one guy who stuck and had a lengthy career with the Flyers (Gagne), two others that had a ton of success and were traded in controversial moves(Richards & Carter) and a host of others that did good things in other organizations after the Flyers lost patience or got frustrated with them.

I'd rather see the Flyers let these kids have their growing pains in the relative obscurity of Allentown, than have them in the glare of the Philly spotlight.

Verge? He's already there.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't read to much into the differential, especially since a lot of these games were split squad, against other split squads, and G and Voracek dressed for a possible combined 2 out of 8 games.

What you can say is that tactically the PP is still awesome/unstoppable. It doesn't seem like they miss Hartsy at all a man up. And 2nd-unit personnel are producing consistently, which didn't happen last year. All great signs.
- Tomahawk

Or Giroux. Let's trade him.

Yes

At the time, a good number of people realized Voracek was better. I don't think there's even question now. Voracek isn't the natural shooter that Ryan is but Jake does pretty much everything else better and still scores plenty of goals.

Edit: Not even mentioning those other guys.
- NickTheKid87

I don't remember a time when people suggested trading Voracek, Read and Simmonds for Ryan, or any player not named Crosby. Even before reaching their current potential, that's way too much for Bobby Ryan. However, I still want Ryan. Why compare Voracek and Ryan, when there are three spot on one line. Voracek looks great but Ryan is also having a nice camp himself.

I wouldn't read to much into the differential, especially since a lot of these games were split squad, against other split squads, and G and Voracek dressed for a possible combined 2 out of 8 games.

What you can say is that tactically the PP is still awesome/unstoppable. It doesn't seem like they miss Hartsy at all a man up. And 2nd-unit personnel are producing consistently, which didn't happen last year. All great signs.
- Tomahawk

I don't think you can read anything into the preseason including the powerplay. Guys aren't selling out to block shots like they do in the regular season. The only thing that can really be taken from the preseason is that the Flyers have a nice group of prospects who have skill and can skate well which hasn't been the case for a long while. The future looks much brighter than the present and The phantoms will be interesting to watch this year.

Did Raffl get bigger? He looks really strong on his skates.

I wouldn't read to much into the differential, especially since a lot of these games were split squad, against other split squads, and G and Voracek dressed for a possible combined 2 out of 8 games.

What you can say is that tactically the PP is still awesome/unstoppable. It doesn't seem like they miss Hartsy at all a man up. And 2nd-unit personnel are producing consistently, which didn't happen last year. All great signs.
- Tomahawk

it might have actually gotten better without hartsy

I don't remember a time when people suggested trading Voracek, Read and Simmonds for Ryan, or any player not named Crosby. Even before reaching their current potential, that's way too much for Bobby Ryan. However, I still want Ryan. Why compare Voracek and Ryan, when there are three spot on one line. Voracek looks great but Ryan is also having a nice camp himself.
- SuperSchennBros

If Ryan makes it to UFA, I think he will be a flyer. Financially it will tough, but I think the call will be coming down from up top in Snider and Clarke to make it happen.

Or Giroux. Let's trade him.
- Jsaquella

Akeson > Giroux

Yeah, lot of them turned out really good for other teams after the Flyers lost patience or decided they needed to bolster the roster for a playoff run that didn't end with a Stanley Cup.

Here they are:

Zubrus: Went on to have a solid, if unspectacular NHL career after being traded for Recchi.

Woywitka: Never played for Flyers, journeyman NHL career after being traded for Mike Comrie

Williams: Won Stanley Cups with Carolina and LA after being traded for Danny Markov...who ended up being a three month rental

Pitkanen; Solid, if unspectacular career. Did eventually become a legit first pair NHL defenseman who ate a ton of minutes. Traded for Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul, who spent a combined 3 seasons as Flyers. Lupul part of trade for Pronger, who played 145 games for the Flyers.

Carter and Richards: Outstanding careers with the Flyers, traded for youngsters that stayed in Philly and made an impact as Flyers.

Downie: Had a 20 goal season for Tampa after being traded for Matt Carle. Flyers managed to lose Carle, in part because of their haste to re-sign Grossmann and the ridiculous deal Calgary gave to Dennis Wideman

JvR: Flyers lost patience with him, traded him for Luke Schenn, watched JvR become 30 goal scoring, first line winger. Schenn still struggling badly with consistency.

Sbisa: Traded in Pronger deal, mired by injuries and inconsistency. Probably not helped in his development by sticking with Flyers out of camp and being shuffled around the line up, playing third pair, being benched and even shifted to LW because the Flyers had cap issues.

On the whole, they had one guy who stuck and had a lengthy career with the Flyers (Gagne), two others that had a ton of success and were traded in controversial moves(Richards & Carter) and a host of others that did good things in other organizations after the Flyers lost patience or got frustrated with them.

I'd rather see the Flyers let these kids have their growing pains in the relative obscurity of Allentown, than have them in the glare of the Philly spotlight.
- Jsaquella

If we didn't jump at resigning Timonen and then replacing Timonen with Del Zotto, if Pitkanen was healthy, would you kick the tires on him?

Games played and minutes so far. Unfortunately, I don't think they tracked ice time in London.

BSchenn: WAS (17:56), NJ (14:59),
Raffl: tor, tor2 (18:29), NJ (13:29),
Couturier: tor, tor2 (18:52),
Simmonds: tor, tor2 (15:12),
Read: tor, tor2 (17:24),
Umberger: WAS (15:40),
Gordon: WAS (19:03), NJ (14:43),
Rinaldo: tor, tor2 (16:09), NJ (17:05),
Rosehill: tor2 (9:22), NJ (11:52),
Lecavalier: WAS ( 17:13), (11:46),
Jones: WAS (15:18), NJ (15:18),
Akeson: tor, tor2 (18:08), NJ (12:46),
Stortini: tor, tor2 (7:30),
Powe: tor, tor2 (11:11),
Laughton: tor, tor2 (18:41), NJ (16:54),
Straka: WAS (12:06).
Cousins: tor, tor2 (14:20).
Mathers: WAS (10:59).
Leier: WAS (12:36), NJ (14:51),
Hextall: WAS (13:06).
Alderson: tor, tor2 (12:30).
Aube-Kubel: WAS (15:38).
VandeVelde: WAS (14:03), NJ (15:21),
Bellemare: tor,
Voracek: WAS (18:54), NJ (14:02)

Coburn: WAS (18.14), NJ (20:56),
Grossmann: NJ (17:13),
Del Zotto: tor, tor2 (22:43),
Schenn: tor, tor2 (18:01),
Streit: WAS (24:09), NJ (18:43),
Lauridsen: tor2 (16:29).
Alt: tor, tor2 (20:05).
Manning: tor.
MacDonald: WAS (20:19), NJ (21:50)
Morin: tor, tor2 (21:13), NJ (21:37)
Gostisbehere: WAS (17:40), NJ (16:42),
Hagg: WAS (16:35).
Schultz: tor, tor 2(17:15),
Sanheim: WAS (18:08).

Emery: WAS (30:01),
Stolarz: tor (60:00),
Mason: tor2 (60:00), NJ (29:55)
Zepp: WAS (29:57) , NJ (29:58)

If Ryan makes it to UFA, I think he will be a flyer. Financially it will tough, but I think the call will be coming down from up top in Snider and Clarke to make it happen.
- psuhockey

To me it wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't get him but if we somehow move on from Lecavalier and Umberger, I think Ryan can help us.

If we didn't jump at resigning Timonen and then replacing Timonen with Del Zotto, if Pitkanen was healthy, would you kick the tires on him?
- SuperSchennBros

Yes. Pitkanen became a solid NHL defenseman. Still some of the same knocks, but he's had a very solid career and plays a ton of minutes. I atill would have considered Del Zotto, though. two years ago he was a 22 minute a night guy on a playoff team. People harp on giving Luke Schenn a break, MDZ actually deserves one a lot more.

Good thing Laughton read Panaccio's blog about it being now or never for him.
- Streit2ThePoint

Tomorrow

Brayden Schenn: Superstar or complete bust

Tomorrow

Brayden Schenn: Superstar or complete bust
- PhillySportsGuy

It's only preseason but Schenn looks ready for a break out season, Voracek looks determined for the next step in his career and Lecavalier looks like he's gonna bounce back. These are the locks I'm impressed with so far at forward. Streit looks like he was flat out held back last season playing behind Timonen in offensive situations.

Yes. Pitkanen became a solid NHL defenseman. Still some of the same knocks, but he's had a very solid career and plays a ton of minutes. I atill would have considered Del Zotto, though. two years ago he was a 22 minute a night guy on a playoff team. People harp on giving Luke Schenn a break, MDZ actually deserves one a lot more.
- Jsaquella

L. Schenn has been a very solid Flyer. Quiet, not very noticeable. Thats good for a stay at home defender. Could he be better? Yes. I like him though.

On the whole, they had one guy who stuck and had a lengthy career with the Flyers (Gagne), two others that had a ton of success and were traded in controversial moves(Richards & Carter) and a host of others that did good things in other organizations after the Flyers lost patience or got frustrated with them.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, definitely most of these kids were dealt at the first sign of trouble, or at least when it was time to make a splash.

I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that other teams have benefited more from Flyers drafting excellence than the Flyers themselves over the past 2 decades.

If Ryan makes it to UFA, I think he will be a flyer. Financially it will tough, but I think the call will be coming down from up top in Snider and Clarke to make it happen.
- psuhockey

Why do you think this? The whole Ryan/Clarke thing is so overblown its almost laughable.

There is no way they sign Ryan to what he will be asking for when he gets to FA. It will completely blow up their cap.

Why do you think this? The whole Ryan/Clarke thing is so overblown its almost laughable.

There is no way they sign Ryan to what he will be asking for when he gets to FA. It will completely blow up their cap.
- MBFlyerfan

We dont need him.....

L. Schenn has been a very solid Flyer. Quiet, not very noticeable. Thats good for a stay at home defender. Could he be better? Yes. I like him though.
- GOA88

No, he hasn't been very solid. He was very solid during the lockout shortened 2013 season. He was bad to start last season and was very up and down, before finally settling into decent play down the stretch.

He's still fairly young, but unfortunately he's been unable to string together a full season's worth of games being consistently good for the Flyers.

Why do you think this? The whole Ryan/Clarke thing is so overblown its almost laughable.

There is no way they sign Ryan to what he will be asking for when he gets to FA. It will completely blow up their cap.
- MBFlyerfan

but goals.

It's only preseason but Schenn looks ready for a break out season, Voracek looks determined for the next step in his career and Lecavalier looks like he's gonna bounce back. These are the locks I'm impressed with so far at forward. Streit looks like he was flat out held back last season playing behind Timonen in offensive situations.
- SuperSchennBros

Outside of last night, Vinny has looked good on the PP and mediocre at ES. I wouldn't say that's a bounce back.

We dont need him.....
- GOA88

Well, there is that too......

Why do you think this? The whole Ryan/Clarke thing is so overblown its almost laughable.

There is no way they sign Ryan to what he will be asking for when he gets to FA. It will completely blow up their cap.
- MBFlyerfan

They should go after Robert Stevenson, who grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, instead of Bobby Ryan, who grew up in California

Thanks Bill. I think that Hexy, and Chief deserve a lot of credit for where the team stands right now. I just hope that we can stay the course, and not start making stupid trades for rent a players. I remember how Clarke would always trade an injured up, and coming player for a player that was used just once in the playoffs. I also remember how our draft picks were treated in a similar fashion by Homer, and others. With the current player agreement, building your team from within is more important now, than before. I hope that this will put an end to the long term deals for crazy money. If we do another Bryz or Vinny mistake, I am not going to expect a cup in our near future. I don't mean to knock these players, however they just were not right for our team.
Salute Hexy, and Chief for now. We are watching, and waiting to change our minds if you go back to the big, and slow guys or the rent a deals.
Adios.