The number of lottery pick dmen who seriously undershot expectations is alarming: Jack Johnson, Gudbranson, Luke Schenn, Ryan Murray, Larsson, Reinhart, Juolevi, Haydn Fleury, Bogosian, Hickey, Cam Barker...

Even guys like Erik Johnson, JBo and Pitkanen who had respectable careers were a bit less than expected.

More misses than hits over the past 20 years, for sure.
- Tomahawk

I think teams need to reevaluate how they try to rush these guys in to the NHL. Defense is clearly harder to play than forward in this league. Even Rasmus Dahlin is sputtering, though I think that has as much to do with his team as him being rushed.

I think teams need to reevaluate how they try to rush these guys in to the NHL. Defense is clearly harder to play than forward in this league. Even Rasmus Dahlin is sputtering, though I think that has as much to do with his team as him being rushed.
- MBFlyerfan

In some cases yeah, they probably would have fared better if they got eased in.

In most cases tho, it just comes down to lack of hockey sense and not being able to read/react at the speed of NHL pressure. Kinda like drafting QBs for their tools but more of the position is mental and adjusting on the fly than athleticism.

It's just so hard to accurately gauge the mental makeup of most 18-yos.

Edit: Take Owen Power for example. You have TSN ranking him #1, making comparisons to Pronger and Hedman, praising his vision. But then you have other guys who "wonder about his decision making" and that "he makes poor judgments" and "cannot handle pressure at all". It's all over the place.

Though I drool at the thought of seeing Lindsay Vonn around town, I would think Debs say no. PK is only there for 1 more year, they are committed to rebuilding, and JVR and Ghost are longer term and they are neither here nor there. (They would just spoil draft position without being any part of the future).
- PT21

Hate to be a Deb, but Subban and Vonn broke up awhile ago, so she wouldn't be around town if he came here. Oh, and Subban sucks these days anyway!

I don't see a plan here, I see the beginning of a complete rebuild and I don't think that is necessary. Instead Fletcher has to get creative and just replace some veteran forwards while augmenting his backend. My plan is to replace Jake, JVR, Ghost, Myers and Elliott with Hamilton, Foligno, Schwartz, another top 4 veteran D and a FA goalie. Also next season add York, Frost, Allison and Foerster to the mix. This is enough turnover of the roster to address the culture and leadership on this team. Then augment further at the trade deadline to contend next season!
- jd250

Your plan doesn't sound bad, I just don't think it's very realistic. Moving all of Jake, JVR, and/or Ghost and their contracts is not just going to be difficult, it will be damn near impossible. Fletch will either be taking a bad contract back, or attaching other assets to those guys in order to move them. And if that's the case, then how wil they have the cap space to sign the FAs that your proposing they go get, or have any assets left to trade for the top pairing Dman you think they should bring in?

I'm not tryin to come at you & not looking for an argument. I think they need a major retooling as well. I just think it's going to be far more difficult for Fletch to accomplish than many others seem to think given the vets' underachieving play, bloated contracts with term remaining, and the financial landscape of the league for the next few seasons. Anyone that thinks they're going to "clean house" this offseason is going to be very disappointed IMO

With the likely announcement that the OHL is shutting down the season for good, this would mean that OHL prospects like Tyson Foerster and Zayde Wisdom would be able to remain with the #Phantoms for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. #FlyersTalk

With the likely announcement that the OHL is shutting down the season for good, this would mean that OHL prospects like Tyson Foerster and Zayde Wisdom would be able to remain with the #Phantoms for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. #FlyersTalk
- wcorvette

sounds awesome to me. i haven't really watched any of them, but i see some clips of goals and stuff here and there. their point totals suggest they're doing just fine playing pro hockey.

sounds awesome to me. i haven't really watched any of them, but i see some clips of goals and stuff here and there. their point totals suggest they're doing just fine playing pro hockey.
- Ftown19125

Once in a while Comcast delivers a Phantoms game from their competitor Service Electric who is in the Berks/Lehigh Valley region. Yes those OHL kids are doing well there and giving it their best shots.. sort of wished I spent my extra TV package money on the Phantoms instead of NHL Center Ice..

I don't see a plan here, I see the beginning of a complete rebuild and I don't think that is necessary. Instead Fletcher has to get creative and just replace some veteran forwards while augmenting his backend. My plan is to replace Jake, JVR, Ghost, Myers and Elliott with Hamilton, Foligno, Schwartz, another top 4 veteran D and a FA goalie. Also next season add York, Frost, Allison and Foerster to the mix. This is enough turnover of the roster to address the culture and leadership on this team. Then augment further at the trade deadline to contend next season!
- jd250

I have provided greater details on other days. Trade Couturier, wean off JVR,Jake,Ghost, resign Giroux, and no more expensive or long term deals for at least 3 years. Fairly traditional rebuild. It is definitely a plan: the most critical aspect of which is to get fans to buy into it (literally as well as psychologically).

I understand your plan, and your guess is as good as mine, but I disagree with it. First, Dougie and Slavin are integral to Carolina hopes. They are not parting with those 2 or AHo or Svechnikov. They have sucked 10 years to get to this stage.

As for us, I believe we are trying to draw a winning hand from a deck missing aces. However much you shuffle that hand, the absence of aces (high end talent) makes it very likely someone else will beat you.

I do not believe that the fundamental issue with this club is a mix of veterans. With the right mix, we may avoid a March like we saw. However, we will have still have the Mays and Junes of the last 20 years.

Hate to be a Deb, but Subban and Vonn broke up awhile ago, so she wouldn't be around town if he came here. Oh, and Subban sucks these days anyway!

- Phillywhiteout

Oh crap. Ah well.

The number of lottery pick dmen who seriously undershot expectations is alarming: Jack Johnson, Gudbranson, Luke Schenn, Ryan Murray, Larsson, Reinhart, Juolevi, Haydn Fleury, Bogosian, Hickey, Cam Barker...

Even guys like Erik Johnson, JBo and Pitkanen who had respectable careers were a bit less than expected.

More misses than hits over the past 20 years, for sure.
- Tomahawk

I would expect a chance of a miss to be 4 times as many as hits in the lottery picks. But I would expect chance of a miss to be 40 times as much as the chance of a hit outside the lottery rounds.

Whatcha gonna do? Take the 20% chance or the 2% chance?