But all this is just opinion. Not fact.

We just saw a playoffs where all the number 1 seeds lost, an Islanders team lose their generational captain and play better, a Canes team went to the ECF and a St. Louis team who played old school hockey with a rookie goalie win the cup.

Hockey people might see more then you or i do.
- J35Bacher

Anything can happen in one season but is that the way you should manage. Hope we get lucky, stay healthy, the top seeds get knocked out and we play well and win? That happens but what happens more often? What is the better approach.

I can understand this. My worry (and I realize it is worst case) is that we see all of the younger players we have being bled away because we cant afford to pay them due to cap issues. I don't want to become Toronto and have our window being slammed shut before it should be.
- MBFlyerfan

It would be a kick in the nads to lose any of the talented young players we have garnered from 5 long years, just to make marginal upgrades to the roster

Anything can happen in one season but is that the way you should manage. Hope we get lucky, stay healthy, the top seeds get knocked out and we play well and win? That happens but what happens more often? What is the better approach.
- MJL

You mean like going into a season with Elliot and Mr. Glass as your tandem?
A coach that was not going to bring them to the cup?
Banking on young players progressing?

Just like to me it's a false narrative that Fletch is an abject failure 6 months into is job..

Again...that infamous magic 2 years from now that has to come some point in the business world.

There is 0 wrong IMO for the Team trying to do what it believes it needs to do to be competitive which is something the Flyers were not under Hexy.
- opeth_pa

I haven't read anyone state that Fletcher is an abject failure. That's a false narrative. I think most understand that while the cap situation is not great, he has improved the team on paper. Which is the mandate he was given.

Is that all we want to be, competitive? I think the bar should be higher.

You mean like going into a season with Elliot and Mr. Glass as your tandem?
A coach that was not going to bring them to the cup?
Banking on young players progressing?
- opeth_pa

Elliott and Neuvirth were brought in as stop gaps, not as long term solutions. Hextall took a chance on Hakstol. Didn't work out, not the cause of last season in my opinion. Why shouldn't you bank on young players progressing? That's what drafting and developing, which is the best strategy is all about.

Niskanen and Bruan were brought in as stop gaps, not as long term solutions. Hextall took a chance on Hakstol. Didn't work out, not the cause of last season in my opinion. Why shouldn't you bank on young players progressing? That's what drafting and developing, which is the best strategy is all about.
- MJL

Trade ghost draft Caufield call it a day

Mock draft now posted on Flyers' site: https://www.nhl.com/news/...t-round-picks/c-307951244

Sent with @NHL
- bmeltzer

Good with Boldy for sure.

I haven't read anyone state that Fletcher is an abject failure. That's a false narrative. I think most understand that while the cap situation is not great, he has improved the team on paper. Which is the mandate he was given.

Is that all we want to be, competitive? I think the bar should be higher.
- MJL

I havent seen you say that because while I dont always agree with your view I find your posts to be at least logical.

Plenty of people with gloom and doom currently around Fletcher and it's not warranted when the past GM got 5 years and this one has had what 6 months?

How do you know that being competitive is all they are going to be though? How do you know what the roster is going to look like on opening day or if they make the playoffs.

I am willing to give this approach a chance since Hexy's way didn't accomplish anything but making cap fans happy.

I haven't read anyone state that Fletcher is an abject failure
- MJL

u dont reed gud

Good with Boldy for sure.
- Just5

Though I would prefer a defenseman instead.

Just like to me it's a false narrative that Fletch is an abject failure 6 months into is job..

Again...that infamous magic 2 years from now that has to come some point in the business world.

There is 0 wrong IMO for the Team trying to do what it believes it needs to do to be competitive which is something the Flyers were not under Hexy.
- opeth_pa

Sorry but that's crap. I don't believe I read anything where anyone has said this team isn't going to be better this year.

Spicy thread today

Sorry but that's crap. I don't believe I read anything where anyone has said this team isn't going to be better this year.
- FlyerFan16

as many have been so extremely emphatic to point out, those two things (us being better this year and him being a failure) aren't exactly mutually exclusive

False narrative. If you're at a point where you're a legit contender and have a real shot at it, the cap position the Flyers are in is fine. In fact it's where you should be. When you're in the position the Flyers are in which is a developing team that is not a legit contender, then being in that position is not fine when you have as many good quality young players as they have. It's nuanced.
- MJL

they may see themselves as a legit contender after these moves and what moves are coming next no? They have a better pulse than you most would agree. Just because you disagree doesnt make it wrong does it?

Flyers were always going to be a "capped" team. Why are people shocked. Oh my bad its not the right time.

Elliott and Neuvirth were brought in as stop gaps, not as long term solutions. Hextall took a chance on Hakstol. Didn't work out, not the cause of last season in my opinion. Why shouldn't you bank on young players progressing? That's what drafting and developing, which is the best strategy is all about.
- MJL

like niskannen and braun

Sorry but that's crap. I don't believe I read anything where anyone has said this team isn't going to be better this year.
- FlyerFan16

Fair enough..Abject failure is a bit strong but don't deny their are posts like the below.


"Words cant express how pissed off I am that Fletcher, Holmgren, and Comcast pissed away all the cap space we suffered through the last five years clearing off. And for what? To lose in the first round in 7 games instead of 5?
"

I havent seen you say that because while I dont always agree with your view I find your posts to be at least logical.

Plenty of people with gloom and doom currently around Fletcher and it's not warranted when the past GM got 5 years and this one has had what 6 months?

How do you know that being competitive is all they are going to be though? How do you know what the roster is going to look like on opening day or if they make the playoffs.

I am willing to give this approach a chance since Hexy's way didn't accomplish anything but making cap fans happy.
- opeth_pa

I didn't base my replay on what they might be but rather what you stated about wanting to be competitive. Hextall's approach was bailed on too early.

Fair enough..Abject failure is a bit strong but don't deny their are posts like the below.


"Words cant express how pissed off I am that Fletcher, Holmgren, and Comcast pissed away all the cap space we suffered through the last five years clearing off. And for what? To lose in the first round in 7 games instead of 5?
"
- opeth_pa

You're equating that to saying that Fletcher is an abject failure. It is somewhat hyperbole but it doesn't say that in my opinion.

I didn't base my replay on what they might be but rather what you stated about wanting to be competitive. Hextall's approach was bailed on too early.
- MJL

We can agree to disagree..

IMO 5 years or 3 years in with no viable success other than cap space is not bailing on someone too quick in the business world.

MacDonald was not penciled into a top 4 role heading into this off season for the upcoming season. It was one of 3 choices. 3rd pair, waived and demoted, or bought out.
- MJL

I agree... But, he was penciled into a top 4 heading at the start of last season. By the recent moves, apparently they desired to fill his vacant spot with an older experienced guy.

We can agree to disagree..

IMO 5 years or 3 years in with no viable success other than cap space is not bailing on someone too quick in the business world.
- opeth_pa

There was viable success. In 17/18 they finished 3rd in the Metro and made the playoffs. I'll use the term you used for that. They were competitive. They regressed last season.

We can agree to disagree..

IMO 5 years or 3 years in with no viable success other than cap space is not bailing on someone too quick in the business world.
- opeth_pa

Nothing wrong with being aggressive, but the way Fletcher is going about it is penny wise and pound foolish imo. We'll see what the results are. That is what he will be judged on. If they miss the playoffs, or get smoked in the first round this year he's going to get shredded.

I haven't read anyone state that Fletcher is an abject failure. That's a false narrative. I think most understand that while the cap situation is not great, he has improved the team on paper. Which is the mandate he was given.

Is that all we want to be, competitive? I think the bar should be higher.
- MJL

Ill state it....Fletcher (frank)ing sucks

Ill state it....Fletcher (frank)ing sucks
- KINGKENZO

You just ruined it!