I can't do the 60s/70s/80s because I didn't start watching until the early 90s

1987-1997
G-Ron Hextall/Garth Snow
D-Eric Desjardins/Petr Svoboda
D-Mark Howe/Garry Galley
C-Eric Lindros/Rod Brind'amour
LW-John Leclair/Shjon Podein
RW-Mark Recchi/Mikael Renberg

Again, since I wasn't watching the in 80s, this is more of a 1992-1997 list (exception being Howe). Goalies were easy for me, and I think Svoboda was a huge part is finally solidifying the defense. I put Podein in there because the dude's motor never stopped, and I didn't get to see Eklund's best days. Rest is pretty self-explanatory.

1997-2007
G-Roman Cechmanek/Brian Boucher
D-Eric Desjardins/Chris Therien
D-Kim Johnsson/Dan McGillis
C-Jeremy Roenick/Peter Forsberg
LW-Simon Gagne/John Leclair
RW-Mark Recchi/Justin Williams

Agree on the goalies, although Esche and Cechmanek were opposites (regular season vs. playoff play). I took McGillis as the #4 because, despite not being Swedish, dude was fun to watch. Although he was only here for less than 2 years and injured, Forsberg was just too good to leave off. I'm gonna go with Williams at the 2nd RW spot for his hair, I mean, for being JvR lite.

2007-2017
G-Steve Mason/Marty Biron
D-Kimmo Timonen/Chris Pronger
D-Braydon Coburn/Andrej Meszaros
C-Claude Giroux/Mike Richards
LW-Scott Hartnell/Simon Gagne
RW-Jake Voracek/Wayne Simmonds

I actually considered Leighton as the 2nd goalie, but the Kane goal... I put Meszaros in because, after Pronger went down, it was a tire fire past Timonen/Coburn and Meszaros was a good 2-way defender before he was held together with scotch tape and elmer's glue. Richards gets the nod here based partially on person bias, but from 2007-2010, was what you wanted from a Flyers captain.
- jmatchett383

Good picks. I considered both Richards and Carter for 2nd C spot in 2007-2017, but Briere's playoff performances won him the spot for me.

Don't really understand the folks on here writing off Hagg, not saying he is going to be a top Dman or big point getter but to say that this is his ceiling is ridiculous. He's played one full NHL season, one. He will improve, might always be a third pairing, maybe second pairing guy but to say he's reached his ceiling is absurd. As far as his deal goes, this was what to be expected.

See horizon line of summer,
Summer sucks!
- Konalover

Bad things about summer:

1. no NHL hockey
/list

One of the biggest issues I see with rating players is looking at them through the same microscope. To the same standard of a strong puck moving 2 way play. I think the best term you used was he makes the simple play. He makes a decent first pass and defends well. Plays a strong physical game in the corners and around the net. He is limited but team's need players like that. As he gains more experience he'll get better in his anticipation and reads and will make a solid 3rd pair defenseman down the line
- MJL

I agree with all of this except the part about making a decent first pass. He really doesn't. He's serviceable at best if the gap is really short, but, for the most part, his passes are rarely right on the tape and are often way off. It's one of the weaker parts of his game.

I agree with all of this except the part about making a decent first pass. He really doesn't. He's serviceable at best if the gap is really short, but, for the most part, his passes are rarely right on the tape and are often way off. It's one of the weaker parts of his game.
- BiggE

I don't see that. Again I'm looking at from the context of judging him not as a puck mover but as a stay at home defender type. I think the best description is he makes the simple play. He's not a guy that is going to under heavy forecheck pressure spring himself out and make a tape to tape pass to spring a forward on a breakout. He is capable of making the routine plays that a defenseman needs to make on the breakout.

In my mind there is no question that I feel Morin's skillset is above Hagg and you seem to agree, but having a the better skillset doesn't necessarily equivalate to success in the NHL. There is a reason teams, not just the Flyers, have players fans just hate on their team because they feel they suck in the NHL aka VDV. The fact is most of those players do a better job at the role they are assigned than the more skilled player, at least in the eyes of their coaches.

- Glak18

Bad example with VDV. He was not offered a contract from any NHL team after his time with the Flyers (and played in two full seasons with the the club). NHL scouting departments are not always correct in their evaluations.

I don't see that. Again I'm looking at from the context of judging him not as a puck mover but as a stay at home defender type. I think the best description is he makes the simple play. He's not a guy that is going to under heavy forecheck pressure spring himself out and make a tape to tape pass to spring a forward on a breakout. He is capable of making the routine plays that a defenseman needs to make on the breakout.
- MJL

I understand the context, I just don’t think he makes a good first pass. I’m not comparing him to Ghost, Provorov or Sanheim, instead I don’t think he makes as good an outlet pass as guys like AMac, Gudas or Manning. Again, I still think he can be a capable 3rd pair guy, but making a good outlet pass is a part of his game that needs work.

I don't see that. Again I'm looking at from the context of judging him not as a puck mover but as a stay at home defender type. I think the best description is he makes the simple play. He's not a guy that is going to under heavy forecheck pressure spring himself out and make a tape to tape pass to spring a forward on a breakout. He is capable of making the routine plays that a defenseman needs to make on the breakout.
- MJL

I like the signing and I like Haggs game.

I kind of think of it like this:

Gostisbhere is to Rafalski like Hagg is to Daneyko. Having a guy help keep pucks out of the net is still useful and can still help win cups.

Bad things about summer:

1. no NHL hockey
2. bugs
/list
- Scoob

ftfy

Bad example with VDV. He was not offered a contract from any NHL team after his time with the Flyers (and played in two full seasons with the the club). NHL scouting departments are not always correct in their evaluations.
- VladDrag

Actually, VDV was a great example because Hakstol continued to use him when other options were available at the time. He obviously thought VDV was the best choice for the role he was assigned. I didn't say these players have to have 20+ years of continued service in the NHL. What makes him a really good example is he could of been cut loose at any time (buried, waived) without any major consequences, but he stayed while fans continued to ask why.

ftfy
- YuenglingJagr

I'll allow

ftfy
- YuenglingJagr

Great things about summer:

1. Anticipation for upcoming NHL hockey
2. Bikinis
3. Bugs (software)

Actually, VDV was a great example because Hakstol continued to use him when other options were available at the time. He obviously thought VDV was the best choice for the role he was assigned. I didn't say these players have to have 20+ years of continued service in the NHL. What makes him a really good example is he could of been cut loose at any time (buried, waived) without any major consequences, but he stayed while fans continued to ask why.
- Glak18

Maybe I’m not understanding you properly…

You said the reason teams have players that fans dislike is because they are good at that role (VDV). My stance is that VDV was not good at that role, and if he was, he would have been resigned or picked up by any other club in the NHL. He was not. Just because Hak has a reason (and by the way, I understand the logic), doesn’t mean it’s the right one in today’s game.

Maybe Hakstol is a revolutionary, and thinks the game completely different than all other NHL clubs, but the fact that he played VDV 79 and 81 games in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Then, VDV was not resigned by the Flyers or by any other NHL club. If he was good at that role, another NHL team would have signed him.

And just for the record, I dislike Hak, but I am going to give him this year to make my final decision on his coaching ability in the NHL. I’ve seen him do some good things, and I’ve seen him do some stupid things. My number one issue with him is his deployment of players.

Bad example with VDV. He was not offered a contract from any NHL team after his time with the Flyers (and played in two full seasons with the the club). NHL scouting departments are not always correct in their evaluations.
- VladDrag

That's a bad example. The fact that he was not offered a contract from another team doesn't mean anything. There are a lot of available players comparable to Vandevelde around so there simply aren't that many spots available to a player of his caliber.

Have the Flyers EVER been 10 million under the cap? And even with Provorov and TK getting new contracts next season that will increase their cap hit by loads, they are losing around 15 million in cap space

Have the Flyers EVER been 10 million under the cap? And even with Provorov and TK getting new contracts next season that will increase their cap hit by loads, they are losing around 15 million in cap space
- nastyflyergirl

Not to my knowledge. The Flyers were always a cap team that always tried to win by spending up to the cap. If the Flyers develop as a team like we all hope, they will be a cap team again in the near future.

Have the Flyers EVER been 10 million under the cap? And even with Provorov and TK getting new contracts next season that will increase their cap hit by loads, they are losing around 15 million in cap space
- nastyflyergirl

When he left he was but Ronald the Orange, a lowly wizard with anger management issues. He traveled to the City of Angels only to return as......



Ronald the White.

The powerful Necromancer of Caps and reasonable contracts and sage drafting.

When he left he was but Ronald the Orange, a lowly wizard with anger management issues. He traveled to the City of Angels only to return as......



Ronald the White.

The powerful Necromancer of Caps and reasonable contracts and sage drafting.
- MBFlyerfan

The amount of good Hextall has done for this franchise only makes the Weise signing more confusing.

Should I get the Witcher 3
- bulet13

Don't waste your time or money

That's a bad example. The fact that he was not offered a contract from another team doesn't mean anything. There are a lot of available players comparable to Vandevelde around so there simply aren't that many spots available to a player of his caliber.
- MJL

Maybe I’m not understanding you properly…

You said the reason teams have players that fans dislike is because they are good at that role (VDV). My stance is that VDV was not good at that role, and if he was, he would have been resigned or picked up by any other club in the NHL. He was not. Just because Hak has a reason (and by the way, I understand the logic), doesn’t mean it’s the right one in today’s game.

Maybe Hakstol is a revolutionary, and thinks the game completely different than all other NHL clubs, but the fact that he played VDV 79 and 81 games in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Then, VDV was not resigned by the Flyers or by any other NHL club. If he was good at that role, another NHL team would have signed him.

And just for the record, I dislike Hak, but I am going to give him this year to make my final decision on his coaching ability in the NHL. I’ve seen him do some good things, and I’ve seen him do some stupid things. My number one issue with him is his deployment of players.
- VladDrag

I think the misunderstanding has more to do with you being stuck on VDV specifically. I am not debating whether VDV is good, great at his role, decisions made by others or if other teams feel he is good. The fact is he had a role on the Flyers and was chosen for that role over other players (with a better skillset), not for 1 game, but for multiple seasons. Whether he no longer plays doesn't factor in because GUARANTEED there WILL BE players with roles on NHL teams THIS year who will not be in the NHL next year. EVERY single team has them, not just the Flyers.

The amount of good Hextall has done for this franchise only makes the Weise signing more confusing.
- hereticpride

On a few different levels. Weise wasn't this bad in previous destinations. The length of the contract was always a head scratcher. But even more so has been Weise's total lack of pride in his game.

The amount of good Hextall has done for this franchise only makes the Weise signing more confusing.
- hereticpride

We wouldn't have gotten Nolan Patrick without Dale Weise

I think the misunderstanding has more to do with you being stuck on VDV specifically. I am not debating whether VDV is good, great at his role, decisions made by others or if other teams feel he is good. The fact is he had a role on the Flyers and was chosen for that role over other players (with a better skillset), not for 1 game, but for multiple seasons. Whether he no longer plays doesn't factor in because GUARANTEED there WILL BE players with roles on NHL teams THIS year who will not be in the NHL next year. EVERY single team has them, not just the Flyers.
- Glak18

Exactly. Coaches look for certain qualities in a player that fills a role. The need for those qualities changes as a team changes.
Some want to use the fact that he wasn't signed by anyone after leaving the Flyers to show that he didn't belong in the NHL.

Exactly. Coaches look for certain qualities in a player that fills a role. The need for those qualities changes as a team changes.
Some want to use the fact that he wasn't signed by anyone after leaving the Flyers to show that he didn't belong in the NHL.
- MJL

My whole point is a player with the most skill or better skillset doesn't always win the role or is the best for the role.