That'll be a consolation prize, but they'll get a good pick regardless.
- MJL

Sure, in theory every team gets a 'good' pick every draft, but this year, with the Flyers being what they are, a top 5 is likely best for the long term success of this organization.

Is it possible for a player benching to be non-selective?
- MJL

With Berube.. no.

I'm more than happy to miss the playoffs this year for a solid draft pick (hopefully more after trades) to make this team better.
- wolfhounds

This team just plays dumb hockey. And while it is the players on the ice making the dumb plays, at some point you have to place the onus on the coach.

Ek makes a good point in his blog:

The bigger issue is the fact that several Flyers players are currently moving backwards in their development under Berube. Players who progressed last year have hit walls and even regressed. .

Nothing seems to be getting fixed and too many players are taking noticeable steps backwards in their play.

I'm more than happy to miss the playoffs this year for a solid draft pick (hopefully more after trades) to make this team better.
- wolfhounds

If they are full on sellers at the deadline, Hextall should be able to get a good return on Coburn, MDZ, and Schultz. Call up Alt and Hagg (for 9 games) and go into a stacked draft with a bunch of picks.

Exactly, it's one thing to be at the bottom of the standings after 8 games or even 15, but when you are there after 24, you have to face the reality that you are a bad hockey team. Even if everything went right from here on in, the best I can see them doing is maybe picking up 65 points in there final 58 games which would leave them at 85 for the season.

All 85 points does is pretty much lock them into picking somewhere between 7-11. I'd much rather they finish with 65-70 and have a very good chance to be in the top 3.
- BiggE

I think the only reality that has to be faced right now is that they are playing poorly right now. It is early December, and there are 50+ games to be played. Even as poorly as they have played losing 9 out of 10 games, they are still only 6 points out of a playoff spot. That is not insurmountable in December.

With Berube.. no.
- jak521

Who the coach is doesn't matter. Any player scratched is a selective process.

If they are full on sellers at the deadline, Hextall should be able to get a good return on Coburn, MDZ, and Schultz. Call up Alt and Hagg (for 9 games) and go into a stacked draft with a bunch of picks.
- Feanor

I wouldn't trade Schultz. He's a good value as a 6/7 defenseman. I'd look to bring him back.

This team just plays dumb hockey. And while it is the players on the ice making the dumb plays, at some point you have to place the onus on the coach.

Ek makes a good point in his blog:




Nothing seems to be getting fixed and too many players are taking noticeable steps backwards in their play.
- MBFlyerfan

With you there. I'm ok with Berube finishing the season, but a change needs to be made at that point.

Sure, in theory every team gets a 'good' pick every draft, but this year, with the Flyers being what they are, a top 5 is likely best for the long term success of this organization.
- wolfhounds

It would be huge.

If they get one of the top-5 forwards, it would eliminate the short-term need to trade for a winger. It would also give them a very productive player at an ELC rate, within 0-2 seasons.

If they get Hanifin or Kylington, they just about have the best group of d-prospects in the league on lock.

If they are full on sellers at the deadline, Hextall should be able to get a good return on Coburn, MDZ, and Schultz. Call up Alt and Hagg (for 9 games) and go into a stacked draft with a bunch of picks.
- Feanor

Wont be surprised at all if this is what happens. We can dream and also include AMac in that group. And I say that due to his contract more so than his actual play.

This team just plays dumb hockey. And while it is the players on the ice making the dumb plays, at some point you have to place the onus on the coach.

Ek makes a good point in his blog:




Nothing seems to be getting fixed and too many players are taking noticeable steps backwards in their play.
- MBFlyerfan

No doubt, Berube's gotta take some of the heat here, but we all knew the D was likely going to be bad with Kimmo out, the Coburn and AMac hurt, so maybe things are collapsing around the average/below average blue line. And that can't really be laid at Chief's feet. Regardless, with each loss his return next season gets less and less likely, imo.

Seeing a player like Vatanen and how he has developed, gets me excited for Gostisbehere. Hopefully he can have the same kind of impact.

With you there. I'm ok with Berube finishing the season, but a change needs to be made at that point.
- BiggE

#fireberube

If they are full on sellers at the deadline, Hextall should be able to get a good return on Coburn, MDZ, and Schultz. Call up Alt and Hagg (for 9 games) and go into a stacked draft with a bunch of picks.
- Feanor

Agreed

Coburn would likely land them a #1 from a contender
Grossmann will get you a 2nd from a contender who needs to add some brawn to their D
MDZ, depending on how he plays the next couple months, could land them a 2nd or 3rd
and Schultz could probably get them a 3rd from a contender looking for D depth for their playoff run.

I would love to go into this draft with 2 firsts and 4 picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds!

It would be huge.

If they get one of the top-5 forwards, it would eliminate the short-term need to trade for a winger. It would also give them a very productive player at an ELC rate, within 0-2 seasons.

If they get Hanifin or Kylington, they just about have the best group of d-prospects in the league on lock.
- Tomahawk

take a spin for Hanifin

It would be huge.

If they get one of the top-5 forwards, it would eliminate the short-term need to trade for a winger. It would also give them a very productive player at an ELC rate, within 0-2 seasons.

If they get Hanifin or Kylington, they just about have the best group of d-prospects in the league on lock.
- Tomahawk

How odd of a feeling was it to type the bold above, and mean it?

Seeing a player like Vatanen and how he has developed, gets me excited for Gostisbehere. Hopefully he can have the same kind of impact.
- MJL

He looks like a smaller PK Subban to me. Dynamic.

Exactly, it's one thing to be at the bottom of the standings after 8 games or even 15, but when you are there after 24, you have to face the reality that you are a bad hockey team. Even if everything went right from here on in, the best I can see them doing is maybe picking up 65 points in there final 58 games which would leave them at 85 for the season.

All 85 points does is pretty much lock them into picking somewhere between 7-11. I'd much rather they finish with 65-70 and have a very good chance to be in the top 3.
- BiggE

Yeah -- I started (frank)ing around with the numbers yesterday, and that's why I got so mad. The math is starting to look really grim, because it's not that you can't make it.

It's that the level at which you have to play becomes something that your talent level dictates you just won't be able to hit -- for them to get 90 points now, which wouldn't have even qualified for the playoffs last year, means they would have to play at the level of a 99-point team the rest of the way.

That's a tough row to hoe, right there

No doubt, Berube's gotta take some of the heat here, but we all knew the D was likely going to be bad with Kimmo out, the Coburn and AMac hurt, so maybe things are collapsing around the average/below average blue line. And that can't really be laid at Chief's feet. Regardless, with each loss his return next season gets less and less likely, imo.
- wolfhounds

I find it hard to blame the coach, because I see a ton of fundamental errors made game after game by professional hockey players. But over time, it's up to the coach to get those errors corrected. I'm sure a coach would loathe over having to devote any practice time to pee wee level stop and start drills. But with the way this team stops, and stays stopped maybe it's neccessary.

Wont be surprised at all if this is what happens. We can dream and also include AMac in that group. And I say that due to his contract more so than his actual play.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, doubt they can move AMac due to the contract but it would be nice

tailspin for Hanifin
- vejim

fixed.

Agreed

Coburn would likely land them a #1 from a contender
Grossmann will get you a 2nd from a contender who needs to add some brawn to their D
MDZ, depending on how he plays the next couple months, could land them a 2nd or 3rd
and Schultz could probably get them a 3rd from a contender looking for D depth for their playoff run.

I would love to go into this draft with 2 firsts and 4 picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds!
- BiggE

Bigg E for GM

If they are full on sellers at the deadline, Hextall should be able to get a good return on Coburn, MDZ, and Schultz. Call up Alt and Hagg (for 9 games) and go into a stacked draft with a bunch of picks.
- Feanor

Send that to Hexy via Certified Mail asap, let him know the plan!

How odd of a feeling was it to type the bold above, and mean it?
- wolfhounds

No doubt, Berube's gotta take some of the heat here, but we all knew the D was likely going to be bad with Kimmo out, the Coburn and AMac hurt, so maybe things are collapsing around the average/below average blue line. And that can't really be laid at Chief's feet. Regardless, with each loss his return next season gets less and less likely, imo.
- wolfhounds

This same thing goes back to Lavy. When players keep repeating the same dumb decisions over and over again, it really points to one of two things just as it did with Lavy. Are they doing it because they are ignoring the coach, or are they doing it because the coach is telling them to do it?

If they are just dumb and ignoring what the coach says, they need to be scratched or have ice time reduced if scratching is not an option.

If the coach is telling them to pinch stupidly (using an example) the coach needs to go.