Good point on Hayes...what purpose does that comment serve? If he did sign with the Flyers that comment is something the player now has to answer for...Just dumb.
I will go on record by stating the obvious. Kadri is and would be a better player for the Flyers. I like Hayes, but Kadri is simply a better hockey player.
- landros 2

Maybe he truly has his heart set on another place like hammhuis did. Oh well.

At this point I don't think Hayes is signing here.

Imagine he takes a big contract and doesn't live up to it amidst comments that he really didn't want to come here to begin with?

Mentally I am moving on and chalking up the Jamie Benn pick as a missed opportunity.

Oh well.
- MBFlyerfan

they have 9 picks still....so they have enough bullets to hit on a Jaimie Benn type if need be.

But but who have to give up picks and/or prospects. Those 2 are greater than a nhl player who can help his team win.
- daryl stanley

I worry about kadri s behaviour in the playoffs and hat he'll once again get rattled by physical play and take a stupid penalty or suspension

I worry about kadri s behaviour in the playoffs and hat he'll once again get rattled by physical play and take a stupid penalty or suspension
- Hextall271

People had the same fear of Gudas and he has a very good season.

Maybe he truly has his heart set on another place like hammhuis did. Oh well.
- Hextall271

He probably does.....but it serves no purpose to make a comment like that...don't say anything at all.

Maybe he truly has his heart set on another place like hammhuis did. Oh well.
- Hextall271

I think it was more negotiating.

Columbus can't get involved unless they are moving on from Duchene, Panarin and Bobrovsky. Bob seems like a good bet to go but I have read they still want to retain the other too.

AZ I guess but does he really think they can win now? And I have also heard AZ wants in on Duchene.

I just see it more to squeeze some more dollars out of the Flyers then anything else.

I am just glad tough physical hockey is still here. The Blues and Capitals the prior year showed physicality is still useful.

I was listening to the radio this morning and keith Jones made an interesting point. Some GM's get fooled thinking that the game is completely changing, mentioned Hextall, and yet the two past cup champions won bringing a physical game. Said it shows that physicality is still needed.
- J35Bacher

It just goes to show it’s a totally different game in the playoffs. How the refs call the games (and it’s more obvious as the playoffs get deeper and deepet) is night and day compared to the regular season, and it affects the game so much. It’s crazy how stark the difference is

True, but just about each one of those years the Flyers were a tough team, competative, and damn near won the cup. Since the plan of the future, the "5 year plan" or "10 year plan" I forgot which, the Flyers were barely competitive to just make the playoffs. Yeah, yeah I know, at least now the Flyers have a bunch of good prospects. You know, other teams have good prospects too. I'm glad Hextall is gone. He didn't give Berube much of a chance and took on other team's albatrosses to set up for the future. We'll never see the end of his plan in full, but I hope that the current regime can inject some needed talent to get the team ready for a Cup run.
- RustyPipes

I think it is an extreme over statement to say that about each one of those years " they damn near won a cup." Remember, that was mostly in a non salary cap era. You may be glad that Hextall is gone but if this team goes anywhere in the future it's going to be because of how Hextall set them up.

Trying to buy and trade their way to the Cup is a mistake.

So happy to see Berube lift the cup. Well deserved, just awesome to see. Way to go Chief! Also happy for Schenn and Maroon. Bittersweet, but always happy to see ex-flyers fulfill their dreams.

I think it is an extreme over statement to say that about each one of those years " they damn near won a cup." Remember, that was mostly in a non salary cap era. You may be glad that Hextall is gone but if this team goes anywhere in the future it's going to be because of how Hextall set them up.

Trying to buy and trade their way to the Cup is a mistake.
- MJL

Said no team ever that actually wins the cup.

Listen I understand your thoughts but sports don't have 5 year plans anymore for the most part.

Results matter. The Blues traded for Schenn 2 years ago and then went out and got O' Reilly this past offseason. They signed Bozak to solid money. They've been aggressive. I appluad them.

You keep saying that the time isn't right and waiting for the window to open but maybe you need to open the window yourself and make things happen.

"Kevin was quite impressed with his visit to Philadelphia and he'd consider signing there but it's not his first choice"
- bmeltzer

Or it could just be a frank, honest statement.

He may want a turnkey chance to win, or there could be family considerations.

I was surprised Pietrangelo didn't hand the Cup off to Lehtera.

I was surprised Pietrangelo didn't hand the Cup off to Lehtera.
- PLindbergh31

Lehtera doesn't play there any more.

[quote=J35Bacher]Said no team ever that actually wins the cup.

Listen I understand your thoughts but sports don't have 5 year plans anymore for the most part.

Results matter. The Blues traded for Schenn 2 years ago and then went out and got O' Reilly this past offseason. They signed Bozak to solid money. They've been aggressive. I appluad them.

Did the Pens, Hawks, Caps and Kings have a five year plan? I believe they did. Do they win if they do not draft well over a number of years? Of course they added good players through trade and FA that put them over the top. However, the core of those teams were all drafted.

I think the Flyers are at the point were they can start adding to complete the roster. Still need growth from the youngsters though.

I was surprised Pietrangelo didn't hand the Cup off to Lehtera.
- PLindbergh31

Lehtera doesn't play for them any more.

Man, can you just imagine the unrest there must be in Pittsburgh today? Former Pens Sundqvist, Bortuzzo, and Perron skating around with the Cup last night 2 months after the Penguins were swept in the first round?

What an embarrassing, poorly run organization they must be to trade all these Stanley Cup champions away.

- mickel25[quote=J35Bacher]Said no team ever that actually wins the cup.

Listen I understand your thoughts but sports don't have 5 year plans anymore for the most part.

Results matter. The Blues traded for Schenn 2 years ago and then went out and got O' Reilly this past offseason. They signed Bozak to solid money. They've been aggressive. I appluad them.

Did the Pens, Hawks, Caps and Kings have a five year plan? I believe they did. Do they win if they do not draft well over a number of years? Of course they added good players through trade and FA that put them over the top. However, the core of those teams were all drafted.

I think the Flyers are at the point were they can start adding to complete the roster. Still need growth from the youngsters though.

I am not saying you can only sign free agents. You need to have some sort of core which mostly comes from the draft. But those teams also made moves to better there team. They didn't just wait for promise of prospects.

And they also made some gutsy calls.

Did the Pens, Hawks, Caps and Kings have a five year plan? I believe they did. Do they win if they do not draft well over a number of years? Of course they added good players through trade and FA that put them over the top. However, the core of those teams were all drafted.

I think the Flyers are at the point were they can start adding to complete the roster. Still need growth from the youngsters though.
- mickel25

This and they have started to add...it started with JVR.

I am not saying you can only sign free agents. You need to have some sort of core which mostly comes from the draft. But those teams also made moves to better there team. They didn't just wait for promise of prospects.

And they also made some gutsy calls.
- J35Bacher

Agreed. But they had to wait a few years for the young players to develop same as the Flyers are doing now. Keep in mind the Hawks were terrible for a decade before winning those Cups. The Pens were trash for five years before getting Malkin and Crosby. Caps and Kings were non-competitive for most of there existence.

It's frustrating to be patient. Hopefully this offseason will be the launching point for a consistent run of playoffs and contention for the Flyers.

Agreed. But they had to wait a few years for the young players to develop same as the Flyers are doing now. Keep in mind the Hawks were terrible for a decade before winning those Cups. The Pens were trash for five years before getting Malkin and Crosby. Caps and Kings were non-competitive for most of there existence.

It's frustrating to be patient. Hopefully this offseason will be the launching point for a consistent run of playoffs and contention for the Flyers.
- mickel25

And Edmonton has been waiting on promise for a while now. Same with Buffalo. AZ.

There is no perfect plan. I feel there needs to be some aggressiveness in the plan. And feel like there were missed chances.

I like the idea of trading for Kadri, but not the 11th overall or Ghost.

I like the idea of trading for Kadri, but not the 11th overall or Ghost.
- Feanor

What about Hagg and 2020 first?

As far as roster players go...ghost is pretty close in value. I know you think it’s insane and fletcher should be fired if the trade happens ..but ghosts value is right around that of an established 2C in this league on a team friendly deal.

It is opening a hole to close another one. But perhaps they have someone else in mind for the D and they like kadri.
- Just5

Toronto don't gain any cap room in that deal, though, and that's what they really need.

And Edmonton has been waiting on promise for a while now. Same with Buffalo. AZ.

There is no perfect plan. I feel there needs to be some aggressiveness in the plan. And feel like there were missed chances.
- J35Bacher

I agree for the most part. However, the last five years of stacking the pipeline were an absolute necessity for this franchise. They were about 10 years behind most of the NHL in terms of prospects until Hextall arrived.

This offseason they absolutely should be aggressive. They need to complete this roster with NHL level players.

I like the idea of trading for Kadri, but not the 11th overall or Ghost.
- Feanor

But this is the problem. Everyone wants to get but not give.

The blues gave up 2 first rounders for Schenn.

The blues gave up a 1st rounder, a 2nd rounder, and very good prospect in Tage Thompson and two depth players for O'Reilly.

The Bruins moved a good prospect in Donato for a depth player in Coyle.

You have to give to get. A Micheal Raffl doesn't bring back the impact player people want.

I think it is an extreme over statement to say that about each one of those years " they damn near won a cup." Remember, that was mostly in a non salary cap era. You may be glad that Hextall is gone but if this team goes anywhere in the future it's going to be because of how Hextall set them up.

Trying to buy and trade their way to the Cup is a mistake.
- MJL

When did I say "they damn near won the cup every year"? Here you are going all MJL again. Regardless, all I'm saying is that Hextall refused to entertain trades of the draft picks or prospects to fill the gapping holes. He knew going into last season that there were holes - didn't address them or should I say didn't successfully address them. He's gone and I hope that the current regime will do what it takes to upgrade/address the holes and if it means trading a pick or prospect so be it.