The reasons I'd like to see the Flyers make a trade to upgrade the D, probably in the offseason, are as follows:

I love Ghost, his skill level is off the chart, but is really the guy you want on the ice matching up against another team's top pp or in the last minute of the game protecting a lead and defending 5 against 6?

Hagg has a done a nice job overall this season, but lets not kid ourselves, he's not, nor will he ever be a top pair guy.

Sanheim, if he gets stronger and as he gains experience might be that guy, but there is far from any guarantee. The same goes for Myers, who has yet to even establish himself as an NHL player, let a alone, a top pair Dman.

And finally, we have big Sam. At this point Morin is a total question mark until he returns and starts playing NHL games. I saw enough of him with the Phantoms to think that he could be a key guy on the PK and perhaps a guy you use in those late game situations to protect that lead, but again, there are no guarantees.

So, lets say you don't make a move and none of the above become that type of player over the next few seasons, now what? Go back to the draft and wait another 3-5 years to find that guy?

Building through the draft and being patient is a good method for building a team, especially early on, but, at some point, you need to make a bold move or 2 to get a team to that top level. We talk a lot about goaltending, but between Hart and Sandstrom, they should hopefully have their guy already in the system. We talk about needing one more good center, but with Frost, Rubtsov and Vorobyev in the wings, I think we got that covered too. We have Ratcliffe, Farabee, Allison, and Lacyzinski all on their way to fill out the foward corps.

What we don't have though, is anyone other than Provorov that looks a like a legit top pair Dman. At some point, you give up some of the wealth you've been accumulating to acquire that guy.

So what does this team need in order to be a favorite for the cup? And how long will it take to develop/trade for what we need.

Here is my list:
1. Franchise Goalie- Carter Hart, he is about 2 years away from that.
2. Top Pairing D- between Sanheim and Myers I hope one develops into a top pairing guy to match with Provorov within 2 years.
3. Physicality- I feel if we add Morin to the back-end and over the next 2 years filter out some bottom 6 guys with vets that are tough to play against and can play the PK.
4. 3rd Line Center- Maybe Frost, maybe its someone we trade for or sign.
5. PK.- while we add physicality, we need to add guys that can PK... and coach PK.

So I can see these moves panning out in the next 2 years. Moving out Gudas, A-Mac, and Frolin on defense, Elliot and Nuevirth in goal, and Weise, Lehtera, and either Raffl or Laughton.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Eric Stall/Colin Wilson-Frost
Bellemare-Laughton-Smith-Pelly

Provorov-Sanheim
Morin-Ghost
Hagg-Myers

Hart
Sandstrom

2-3 years away

Can't say I blame him for those things...
- opeth_pa

So what does this team need in order to be a favorite for the cup? And how long will it take to develop/trade for what we need.

Here is my list:
1. Franchise Goalie- Carter Hart, he is about 2 years away from that.
2. Top Pairing D- between Sanheim and Myers I hope one develops into a top pairing guy to match with Provorov within 2 years.
3. Physicality- I feel if we add Morin to the back-end and over the next 2 years filter out some bottom 6 guys with vets that are tough to play against and can play the PK.
4. 3rd Line Center- Maybe Frost, maybe its someone we trade for or sign.
5. PK.- while we add physicality, we need to add guys that can PK... and coach PK.

So I can see these moves panning out in the next 2 years. Moving out Gudas, A-Mac, and Frolin on defense, Elliot and Nuevirth in goal, and Weise, Lehtera, and either Raffl or Laughton.

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny
JVR-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Eric Stall/Colin Wilson-Frost
Bellemare-Laughton-Smith-Pelly

Provorov-Sanheim
Morin-Ghost
Hagg-Myers

Hart
Sandstrom

2-3 years away
- youarewrong

That D would be great, provided that Sanheim develops into a top pair guy who can play at that level while playing his off side. That is far from a given.

Flyers looked good in the third period but it wasn't enough.. and what is all this Nylander to the Flyers talk anyways - my thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfn2Ult8Ui8

I must've watched a different game than folks here. I didn't think it was awful at all. Florida played a tight game and did a good job keeping the Flyers on the perimeter. Florida's first goal was a crazy fluke, and their second, while stoppable was also a terrific shot. The Flyers played a really strong third period and got them to bend but not break. It happens. The sky is not falling.
- Scoob

I didn't think it was awful, just boring. A lot of NZ play.

1. Franchise Goalie- Carter Hart, he is about 2 years away from that.

- youarewrong

A franchise type goalie would be great but I don't think that is necessary. A really good goalie who is reliable, healthy (not injury prone), gives up below average number of clunker goals, and can steal some games for the team would be very good.

I think we need to tap the brakes on Hart. Imho, he's about two years away from just being in the NHL. He probably will not even be a regular starter at that point, but might develop into a starter by the end of the 20/21 season. And still, I don't think there's any way he'll be a sure-thing at that point. He'll only be 22 years old then. Iow, there's still a long way to go before he can be deemed an NHL anything. Maybe he'll be a franchise type goalie. Maybe he'll be the "really good" type of goalie I described above. No way to know except to let him develop and learn and let time pass.

That said, they'll need a legitimate #1 guy soon. Elliot isn't getting any younger. I'd like them to make a move for a high-quality starter who can be here for 2-3 years starting in 2019/20 season. They don't have anyone in the organization right now who fits that bill.

The patience meter is on E.

PP discussion:

Based on tweets from practice, the Flyers are looking to go back to the all or nothing PP1 again.

PP discussion:

Based on tweets from practice, the Flyers are looking to go back to the all or nothing PP1 again.
- NC Flyers Fan

I saw that JVR was put on unit 1 and that Lindblom was taken off unit 2.

Edit: yup

New power play units.
Giroux-Couturier-JVR-Gostisbehere-Voracek (JVR at netfront)
Other unit is Patrick-Simmonds-Weal-Konecny-Provorov (Patrick along the side wall)

I believe MJL since last year has been saying Patrick is better suited for along the wall rather than netfront.

All this talk of who to trade and trade for is interesting, but kind of a pipedream. I see the only Dman that the Flyers would consider to trade and has any value would be Gudas. I think that he has good value now. Will they package anyone to get a viable Top D - Hextall hasn't shown that he has that in his DNA.

On a different note on the PP, why oh why does it take so long for everyone to come leisurely back behind the net and then wait so long before moving the puck up to attempt to get into the offensive zone and then make a ill advised pass only to do it all over again costing another 30 seconds. Heck glaciers move faster.

The patience meter is on E.
- MJL

That’s not true, at least for me. I’m willing to be patient, but also honest enough to realize that every key position may not be able to be filled via the draft.

I saw that JVR was put on unit 1 and that Lindblom was taken off unit 2.

Edit: yup

New power play units.
Giroux-Couturier-JVR-Gostisbehere-Voracek (JVR at netfront)
Other unit is Patrick-Simmonds-Weal-Konecny-Provorov (Patrick along the side wall)

I believe MJL since last year has been saying Patrick is better suited for along the wall rather than netfront.
- arichardson22

Talked on the thread last night...really want Lindblom on the 2nd unit and would like them to use a whole different approach than the 1st unit. Also, back to 1 d-man on the second unit. If they must only have one, Coots should be with the 2nd unit.

That’s not true, at least for me. I’m willing to be patient, but also honest enough to realize that every key position may not be able to be filled via the draft.
- BiggE

I think we should be honest and realize that adding a top pairing defenseman via trade isn't very likely.

I think we should be honest and realize that adding a top pairing defenseman via trade isn't very likely.
- MJL

I would actually say that IMO adding a top pairing dman without gutting the team isnt very likely.

I just go back to as much as I want a player like Hedman, PA or OEL is it worth losing what it would take to get them.

It's a tough spot for sure.

I think we should be honest and realize that adding a top pairing defenseman via trade isn't very likely.
- MJL

I have to agree with you. At least so far, I don’t think there has been any availability to make a trade. There might be a chance at the trade deadline or next summer. I do think Hexy is willing to make a trade if he thinks it makes the Flyers better (even if it means losing a young player or draft picks).

Im really starting to question Knoblauch's decision making with the PP. Im happy he finally returned Voracek and is now appropiately using JVR on the top unit.

But common sense is to balance the lefties vs righties better than 4-1. Use at least one of Simmonds or Patrick net front and shift Couturier to the second unit.

28th ranked PP
30th ranked PK

Somehow none of the coaches are on the hot seat.

I would actually say that IMO adding a top pairing dman without gutting the team isnt very likely.

I just go back to as much as I want a player like Hedman, PA or OEL is it worth losing what it would take to get them.

It's a tough spot for sure.
- opeth_pa

Although it was a decade ago, adding a top pair defenseman via trade cost us our most recent 1st rounder, a middle-6 winger, and 2 consecutive first round picks. And this was for a player who was 34 with 1 year remaining. If you want to add a guy who's in his prime and/or signed long-term, that price goes up.

If you want to trade for a true top-pair guy, like a top-10 defenseman, assuming the player is available, just be okay with losing at least 1 of Provorov, Hart, and Patrick as a start.

28th ranked PP
30th ranked PK

Somehow none of the coaches are on the hot seat.
- Feanor

The PP will come around I think based off past recent performances.

The PK on the other hand is almost as embarrassing a long standing tradition as the Flyers goaltending being a point of contention.

I must've watched a different game than folks here. I didn't think it was awful at all. Florida played a tight game and did a good job keeping the Flyers on the perimeter. Florida's first goal was a crazy fluke, and their second, while stoppable was also a terrific shot. The Flyers played a really strong third period and got them to bend but not break. It happens. The sky is not falling.
- Scoob

They have the worst combined special teams in the league and the season is 22% done already.

Rumors state Carolina is entertaining moving Hamilton for Nylander....if real, voracek for Dougie would be a solid deal for both sides.
- juiced

Dougie is getting passed around like a bong at a frat party.

They have the worst combined special teams in the league and the season is 22% done already.
- Feanor

Yup - and they're still in the thick of things in the Metro. Fixing those things isn't rocket science, but it will take some change.

The sky is not falling.

Yup - and they're still in the thick of things in the Metro. Fixing those things isn't rocket science, but it will take some change.

The sky is not falling.
- Scoob

The roster is better than the past three years, but the performances are somehow worse.

Raise the bar? It's time to swing the axe.