If Toronto gets Kapanen and Johnsson signed to the deals reported by McKenzie, they are very good benchmarks for Konency and the Flyers.
- ravishingone

Tk is a better player than both. But I would say it did help us. I still expect 5 per.

You mean like tying for the league lead in goals by a defenseman despite getting limited PP time?

Yeah, I think he'll get that figured out some day.
- jmatchett383

Weren’t like a third of his goals empty net goals though to be fair?

Just to make sure the team positive wasn’t looking through Flyer colored lenses at the draft:

ESPN’s Chris Peters had the Flyers as one of his winners from round one (while the Penguins were a loser), and in his draft grades (paywall) he had more praise for Fletcher and Co. after the draft was complete.

The Flyers were one of five teams to receive a grade in the ‘A’ range with four teams (Hurricanes, Kings, Devils, Rangers) receiving an ‘A’, while the Flyers received an ‘A-’. However, the Devils and Rangers’ grades were more about lucking into the top two picks than anything else.
- peesinwind

The guy at the Athletic, Pronman gave the Flyers a B minus on the draft. He thinks they will get 2 NHL players eventually out of it.

Just to make sure the team positive wasn’t looking through Flyer colored lenses at the draft:

ESPN’s Chris Peters had the Flyers as one of his winners from round one (while the Penguins were a loser), and in his draft grades (paywall) he had more praise for Fletcher and Co. after the draft was complete.

The Flyers were one of five teams to receive a grade in the ‘A’ range with four teams (Hurricanes, Kings, Devils, Rangers) receiving an ‘A’, while the Flyers received an ‘A-’. However, the Devils and Rangers’ grades were more about lucking into the top two picks than anything else.
- peesinwind

ESPN? No credibility coming from anyone there reguarding anything hockey

Weren’t like a third of his goals empty net goals though to be fair?
- iroc4me2

So he was on the ice protecting a lead for the team is a bad thing? I look at empty net goals for players as a counter balance to shots that ring off the post.

The guy at the Athletic, Pronman gave the Flyers a B minus on the draft. He thinks they will get 2 NHL players eventually out of it.
- Marc D

Scott Wheeler, also at The Athletic had the Flyers with the 3rd best draft. Take the whole thing with several truckloads of salt is my advice.

I know the Flyers are getting bashed for the Braun deal, helping a cap strapped team and giving up unnecessary assets in the deal.

Look what Vancouver did on the J.T. Miller trade. Besides helping Tampa get out of their cap hell, they gave back a 1st and 3rd rd pick plus a goalie prospect. They didn’t use Tampa’s cap situation as leverage at all.

As opposed to the Carolina deal for Marleau where taking 6m in cap space gets you a first round pick or the PK Subban deal, where NJ took 9m in cap space but got a top defender back for 2 2nd rd picks and non elite prospects.

Cap space is a huge asset and using it at the right time may be the biggest decision a GM has to make in this league.

Scott Wheeler, also at The Athletic had the Flyers with the 3rd best draft. Take the whole thing with several truckloads of salt is my advice.
- Doc_Sarcasm

agree

well, after mucking up some trades imho on price, fletch recovered some bit with his draft. i like the choices as a group. it appears to me that we have gone with some flawed but high ceiling players. each of the top 4 picks has an issue from size to skating ability. and yet they all seem to have great hands, vision, and hockey sense. as they mature, perhaps they work on their shortcomings, maybe even a late growth spurt or at least filling out/thickening, or improve speed, i believe all 4 have shot at nhl level play.i would not wager this of course, but i agree w pronman that at least 2 should play. its going to be very interesting to follow these guys in juniors, esp our potential sniper!

So great draft. Very nice variety on defense. Was really surprised about drafting a goalie (rich get richer). Thought more people should be positive about the high ceiling on Brink. Good draft pick trades by Fletcher. Also the continued 7th to Montreal is funny. Whoever is eventually drafted with that pick should get the t-shirt. “The Flyers waited years for the chance to draft me.”

Scott Wheeler, also at The Athletic had the Flyers with the 3rd best draft. Take the whole thing with several truckloads of salt is my advice.
- Doc_Sarcasm

You mean its impossible to actually predict a players nhl success from scouting ? Nonsense. Pre draft rankings mean everything.

ESPN? No credibility coming from anyone there reguarding anything hockey
- SMS4016

How about this?

Rotoworld’s Corey Abbott also gave the Flyers an ‘A’ grade, which was tied for second best (with three others) in the Eastern Conference.



“Philadelphia Flyers

Grade: A

First Round Selection(s): Cam York (14th)

The Flyers had a chance to take Cole Caufield or Peyton Krebs with their first-round pick, but decided to choose York instead. The team already has some good forward prospects in the system and their better defense prospects are transitioning to being full-time NHLers, so the move makes sense…

Philadelphia added another first-round talent in the second round when they moved up to take Bobby Brink at 34th overall. Brink is a great playmaker and he has a high-compete level. He could make plenty of teams regret passing him in the first round.

The selections of Ronnie Attard (72nd) and Egor Serdyuk (165th) and Bryce Brodzinski (196th) have the potential of bringing some value to the organization in the long run as well.”

Scott Wheeler, also at The Athletic had the Flyers with the 3rd best draft. Take the whole thing with several truckloads of salt is my advice.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Table salt or sea salt? Is it iodized?

Provy should get 8/56mil. Both sides get a little now and later. New cba probably gonna eliminate long contracts. Lots of talk of 5 year max deals.
- SMS4016

This is what I threw out there earlier in the week.

Table salt or sea salt? Is it iodized?
- bird_dog_pa

whichever one has the most offensive upside three years down the road.

You mean its impossible to actually predict a players nhl success from scouting ? Nonsense. Pre draft rankings mean everything.
- Tfaehner

I know.. heresy. and... umm.. why is there a large crowd gathering outside my front door with torches and pitchforks?

So he was on the ice protecting a lead for the team is a bad thing? I look at empty net goals for players as a counter balance to shots that ring off the post.
- ravishingone

I wasn’t hating on Provy, behind Coots and previously simmer, he is my favorite Flyer. I was simply saying the “tied lead league” point isn’t really valid because to me it’s tainted beings a decent portion were EN. He absolutely earned that time to be out there late in game, nobody is arguing any of that

I certainly don’t want a nasty negotiation and I freely acknowledge that Provorov is the Flyers’ best defenseman and very likely a top pairing defenseman for just about any team, but I don’t think I would cave on anything over 7 million per season.

I think you can be a really good player, which Provorov is, and valuable to your team, and still not be at the level of comparable slots on other teams and therefore not need to be paid more just because your contract is up.

The Seth Jones contract is a great comparison. I understand that Provorov is going to make more simply based on timing, as Bill said. I get that and understand it.

But to me, that only goes so far. Again, totally fine with 7 million.

Start going higher, I think you gotta play hardball if you’re the Flyers.

JMO

I wasn’t hating on Provy, behind Coots and previously simmer, he is my favorite Flyer. I was simply saying the “tied lead league” point isn’t really valid because to me it’s tainted beings a decent portion were EN. He absolutely earned that time to be out there late in game, nobody is arguing any of that
- iroc4me2

Goals are still goals, and ENGs can ice a win (eg, barely clinging to a one-goal lead and then the ENG ends the threat). Also, ENGs from defensemen usually come from more distance rather being tap-ins from the crease.

I certainly don’t want a nasty negotiation and I freely acknowledge that Provorov is the Flyers’ best defenseman and very likely a top pairing defenseman for just about any team, but I don’t think I would cave on anything over 7 million per season.

I think you can be a really good player, which Provorov is, and valuable to your team, and still not be at the level of comparable slots on other teams and therefore not need to be paid more just because your contract is up.

The Seth Jones contract is a great comparison. I understand that Provorov is going to make more simply based on timing, as Bill said. I get that and understand it.

But to me, that only goes so far. Again, totally fine with 7 million.

Start going higher, I think you gotta play hardball if you’re the Flyers.

JMO
- AllInForFlyers

Yes, yes, and yes.

Provy should get 8/56mil. Both sides get a little now and later. New cba probably gonna eliminate long contracts. Lots of talk of 5 year max deals.
- SMS4016

I honestly think this would be fair to the player and the team. He is given the respect and commitment from the team, as an RFA, at a salary that is easily reflected as a top pairing defenseman around the league

And we really don't want to see ANY kind of a hold out, do we?
- Doc_Sarcasm

(frank) no. I have no tolerance for holdouts.

Goals are still goals, and ENGs can ice a win (eg, barely clinging to a one-goal lead and then the ENG ends the threat). Also, ENGs from defensemen usually come from more distance rather being tap-ins from the crease.
- bmeltzer

Absolutely goals are goals, but i just feel as though they aren’t quite the same as an ES, PP, or SH goals. But I get what you’re saying, especially with how many games we’ve watched another team tie it up with the goalie pulled over the last two years.

The guy at the Athletic, Pronman gave the Flyers a B minus on the draft. He thinks they will get 2 NHL players eventually out of it.
- Marc D

I'll be happy of they get 2 NHL players out of it.

As someone who doesn't follow prospects until after they're drafted, I think they did a good job at the draft. They needed to add D to their pipeline and they did just that and added a potential goal scorer.

Absolutely goals are goals, but i just feel as though they aren’t quite the same as an ES, PP, or SH goals. But I get what you’re saying, especially with how many games we’ve watched another team tie it up with the goalie pulled over the last two years.
- iroc4me2

This seems more true considering how many one goals games there are now.