In the past this season, Gostisbehere, Voracek, Simmonds and now JVR are other options. Your read that the Flyers don't have other options on the PP is not accurate.
- MJL

You’re right for the most part, everyone has a job to do but the PP basically filters through Giroux. The PP likely doesn’t work without G.

As you stated, the whole world knows what the Capitals’ strategy is...but they also have options.

Tankathon sim landed the Kings at 1, Flyers at 2, Sabres at 3, and moved the Devils down to 5. I'll take it

Thankfully Boudreau is staying in Minnesota
- FlyerFan16

Bullet dodged

Tankathon sim landed the Kings at 1, Flyers at 2, Sabres at 3, and moved the Devils down to 5. I'll take it
- five4fighting10

Thank you

My candidates so far

Dave Tippet
Todd Richards
Pete deboer if he gets fired
- Just5

Didn't Tippett miss the playoffs his last 5 seasons? Are we using personnel in Arizona as the reason why?

Thank you
- Just5

You're welcome. Just trying to do my part.

At what point to try to make a run with the guys who have been here for a while in their prime like the captain and jake?

you can be patient , draft and develop; thats the mantra of all teams really. clearly some players take longer so while that is going on your core ages and may miss their window.
- daryl stanley

Yes, that is a risk as is young players never developing. However I'd take that risk over trying the trade and buy my way to a Stanley Cup.

So then you agree that they need changes to the team because Giroux alone isn't getting it done....?????
- youarewrong

No I am not. This team is not even close to the team that played WSH in playoffs. Giroux, Voracek, Ghost, Raffl maybe laughton and Gudas are the only players still on the team from back then.

What needs to be changed is how the PP works.

How does the draft rights work with Allison and Laczyinksi if they don't sign this year? We lose them if they aren't signed by June of next year?

That’s a thin hope. Even that, if it were me, I’d still be bummed losing out on a top 5 draft pick while simultaneously being one of the worst teams in the league.
- NC Flyers Fan

It's 50/50 whether they get a top 3 pick. So not that thin.

Yes, that is a risk as is young players never developing. However I'd take that risk over trying the trade and buy my way to a Stanley Cup.
- MJL

doesn't answer the question though.

what cant they do both? as I dont think one way only will work.

clearly they have good individual pieces. Have propsects and picks. There can be a happy medium.

At some point you need to move picks/prospects for actual nhl players imo. Not aging vets or free agents to be.

No I am not. This team is not even close to the team that played WSH in playoffs. Giroux, Voracek, Ghost, Raffl maybe laughton and Gudas are the only players still on the team from back then.

What needs to be changed is how the PP works.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

These are the same guys that got 5 coaches and 2 GM's fired because they are mentally fragile, or tune coaches out. Too many 8-10 game winless streaks followed by 8-10 game winning streaks. Inconsistency is the only consistent thing this core has done, and that needs to change.

This even goes back to when they were the top power play, and the worst at 5 on 5. Please go back and read what has been written by Bill the last 3 days.

How does the draft rights work with Allison and Laczyinksi if they don't sign this year? We lose them if they aren't signed by June of next year?
- iroc4me2

They will be free to sign anywhere I believe in August of 20

Didn't Tippett miss the playoffs his last 5 seasons? Are we using personnel in Arizona as the reason why?
- PLindbergh31

Yes. How’s Guy Boucher’s Playoff percentage?

Didn't Tippett miss the playoffs his last 5 seasons? Are we using personnel in Arizona as the reason why?
- PLindbergh31

Since i know you have solid hockey knowledge under the Clown makeup..

Who would your possible choices be ?

WOULD BE OKAY WITH

Torts just for the lulz
AV, Deboer
I would go Richardson or Dineen as darkhorses

WOULD NOT BE OKAY WITH (been there and done that)
Lavi
Hitch

They don't but neither does every trade or UFA signing.
- MJL

Can't argue that.

These are the same guys that got 5 coaches and 2 GM's fired because they are mentally fragile, or tune coaches out. Too many 8-10 game winless streaks followed by 8-10 game winning streaks. Inconsistency is the only consistent thing this core has done, and that needs to change.

This even goes back to when they were the top power play, and the worst at 5 on 5. Please go back and read what has been written by Bill the last 3 days.
- youarewrong

7 out of 22 is not "the same guys"

Nothing has changed with our system, that is the point. Teams have years worth of PP footage of the SAME system. Yes the team has gone through 5 coaches. How many times did we cut the entire coaching staff? Not many. The head guy has changed but the the others have remained.

Giroux, Voracek, Couturier Laughton, Gudas all had successful seasons and did their parts to make this team successful.

That leaves Raffl and Ghost from 2016. Raffl is a 4th line player and Ghost had a bad season, it happens. How is this a problem with the core?

Let me remind you who we have had coach this team:

Lavy
Stevens
Berube
Hakstol
Gordon

Only one of them is worth noting. Berube despite his success this season is not a good coach. St.Louis simply got lucky Binnington could play hockey at a elite level. They would not be in a playoff spot if they kept Allen in there.

7 out of 22 is not "the same guys"

Nothing has changed with our system, that is the point. Teams have years worth of PP footage of the SAME system. Yes the team has gone through 5 coaches. How many times did we cut the entire coaching staff? Not many. The head guy has changed but the the others have remained.

Giroux, Voracek, Couturier Laughton, Gudas all had successful seasons and did their parts to make this team successful.

That leaves Raffl and Ghost from 2016. Raffl is a 4th line player and Ghost had a bad season, it happens. How is this a problem with the core?

Let me remind you who we have had coach this team:

Lavy
Stevens
Berube
Hakstol
Gordon

Only one of them is worth noting. Berube despite his success this season is not a good coach. St.Louis simply got lucky Binnington could play hockey at a elite level. They would not be in a playoff spot if they kept Allen in there.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

They’re not talented enough, there’s no secondary scoring, they’re not quick enough to be where they should be, they’re not tough enough to play hard minutes or go to the dirty areas....there needs to be system changes as well as player changes.

Didn't Tippett miss the playoffs his last 5 seasons? Are we using personnel in Arizona as the reason why?
- PLindbergh31

4 out of 5 of those years, a dman led his team in scoring. XD

2014-15, not a single forwards scored over 42 pts.

The current groups avg age is 25...... Guys like NoPa, Konecny, Lindblom and most our D havent hit their prime yet. They are going to improve their game and the Flyers will improve as a result. Some additions need to be made but no significant changes to the roster need to be made.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I think you are 75% right here. While I agree with all of the above, I think the Flyers roster moving forward needs two very significant things. A scorer is the first one. We need a prototypical, shoot first, straight up sniper type, and we need him on a line with G. Every single skill guy on our team, for some reason, always wants to pass, pass, pass. Pucks need to go on net for things to happen, and we need a selfish guy to just shoot. Being set up by a player like G would only be a boon to that player. That is why I want a Panarin, Skinner, or even to a lesser extent, Nyquist, just someone who has a goal scoring pedigree.

Second significant thing this roster needs, is an established, experienced, veteran top 4 blue liner. When it comes to FA's there aren't many, but I would say Kronwall, Stralman, Jordie Benn, or a player of that ilk. Someone who can calm down a defensive unit after a goal, or being hemmed in their own zone. I was even thinking of trade partners, and players like Doughty and OEL came to mind, although Arizona is on the rebound and i doubt they just trade OEL. Not sure what Chicago is planning on doing with their roster, but even a guy like Seabrook, or Keith, but I doubt Keith is going anywhere.

Bottom line is, we are almost there, but since we have our Goalie, my opinion is that we are a sniper and vet dman away from being a serious contender. Fletch can make it happen for sure, he may even be able to do it in one summer. The sooner the better, as the players can form some chemistry from it as well.

I think you are 75% right here. While I agree with all of the above, I think the Flyers roster moving forward needs two very significant things. A scorer is the first one. We need a prototypical, shoot first, straight up sniper type, and we need him on a line with G. Every single skill guy on our team, for some reason, always wants to pass, pass, pass. Pucks need to go on net for things to happen, and we need a selfish guy to just shoot. Being set up by a player like G would only be a boon to that player. That is why I want a Panarin, Skinner, or even to a lesser extent, Nyquist, just someone who has a goal scoring pedigree.

Second significant thing this roster needs, is an established, experienced, veteran top 4 blue liner. When it comes to FA's there aren't many, but I would say Kronwall, Stralman, Jordie Benn, or a player of that ilk. Someone who can calm down a defensive unit after a goal, or being hemmed in their own zone. I was even thinking of trade partners, and players like Doughty and OEL came to mind, although Arizona is on the rebound and i doubt they just trade OEL. Not sure what Chicago is planning on doing with their roster, but even a guy like Seabrook, or Keith, but I doubt Keith is going anywhere.

Bottom line is, we are almost there, but since we have our Goalie, my opinion is that we are a sniper and vet dman away from being a serious contender. Fletch can make it happen for sure, he may even be able to do it in one summer. The sooner the better, as the players can form some chemistry from it as well.
- sjk540

Nyquist is probably most realistic. Fletch has a fondness for Swedes too, IIRC.

Coburn is who I would look at on D. They don't need a bonafide top-4, because they can just let their kids grow into that role. Coburn does everything you said, plus they can easily slide him up and down the lineup.

Nyquist is probably most realistic. Fletch has a fondness for Swedes too, IIRC.

Coburn is who I would look at on D. They don't need a bonafide top-4, because they can just let their kids grow into that role. Coburn does everything you said, plus they can easily slide him up and down the lineup.
- Tomahawk

Oh absolutely, and his mobility hasn't completely disappeared either. I would have made a case for Girardi strictly due to his leadership and veteran ilk, but he has definitely lost a step. What about McDonough? TB has some contract negotiations coming up they cannot afford to not pay.

Yep, and I liked so many of the things Gordon said yesterday.

“I think anything as a coach that you want to emphasize, whatever you emphasize gets done. Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes it takes changing a mindset on how you have to do things.”—Gordon
- NC Flyers Fan

The current "core" players have been through 3 coaches over the last 5-6 years and the mindset hasnt changed. Half hearted backchecking, poor starts , and shoddt D-zone coverage has been a constant regardless of the coach

doesn't answer the question though.

what cant they do both? as I dont think one way only will work.

clearly they have good individual pieces. Have propsects and picks. There can be a happy medium.

At some point you need to move picks/prospects for actual nhl players imo. Not aging vets or free agents to be.
- daryl stanley

Do you think you're going to get young quality established NHL players for prospects and draft picks?

Oh absolutely, and his mobility hasn't completely disappeared either. I would have made a case for Girardi strictly due to his leadership and veteran ilk, but he has definitely lost a step. What about McDonough? TB has some contract negotiations coming up they cannot afford to not pay.
- sjk540

That new deal is a tough pill to swallow, especially for a team with a bunch of good young dmen that will need to get paid too soon.