On a positive note:

If the Flyers happen to lose their final game and Chicago wins both of their games in the season, Flyers move from 13th to 12th in the draft (12th to 11th Arizona forfeits their pick).

Although the Flyers could move to the 16th spot by winning....
- Glak18

It make little difference either which way, especially in such a crapshoot draft year.

Patrick isn’t at a cross roads in his career. If we give up on him, someone will give him an opportunity. We need him to be healthy and be better. No real decision should have been rushed to judgement based on this season as he made his return to the league.
- SuperSchennBros

Never said give up on him. But yes he is at a cross Roads. What exactly is he ? Can he fit in a top six ? Does he have the all around game to fit in the bottom six ? Will he ever bring the the big bodied game that made him the second over all pick? How long do the Flyers have to wait ? How long does the Flyers continue to roll him out there with such putrid results? Positions on an NHL ream are highly fought for....its competitive.....you only get some many kicks at the can. If you don’t think he’s at a cross roads then I can’t help ya....it’s as plain as day.

Lindblom has been way better than Patrick this season. He still isn't nearly back to where he has before the cancer ordeal but he at least has looked to be getting back on track. With a good offseason, it's not hard to see him having a solid 2021-22 season.

As for AV being protective, both players were defended and both were scratched a few times. BTW, of the two,, which one got regular PP time most of the season (hint: it wasn't Lindblom)?
- bmeltzer

What is a solid season for Oscar?
Calling my shot now for next year for Oscar
8-12 goals/10-15 assist
25 point player with ok defensive play...

Nothing to write home about nothing that will be missed. Spare me the pre cancer post cancer rah rah. This is straight up thought on the players ability and play. Nothing personal as obviously Oscar story is a great one. And I’ll add that’s a great hit for a 5th round pick and overall great for the team

But and this a big but... if your team had the whole Oscar debate as anything more than a footnote of your team either currently or for the future you’re doomed. He moves no needle anywhere.

Comon man. In no way is it a disaster. The team lucked in to the pick, and if you look at the picks taken where we probably would have picked, none of them are overwhelming. Its not like it was some franchise destroying decision. The team will survive the disaster, especially if Frost, who was taken at 27, turns in to a player.
- MBFlyerfan

That’s funny...how is it not a disaster after being gifted the 2nd over all pick and potentially whiffing on it? It’s not like the Flyers pick in the top 5 every year...(frank)in right it’s a disaster if you totally miss. You see the three players taken directly after him becoming cornerstone players...pretty sure that’s what the Flyers hoped and thought they were getting.

It make little difference either which way, especially in such a crapshoot draft year.
- bmeltzer

yea but we'll miss out on X player and argue about it for years to come any way

Jesus. I guess I’m just not foolish enough to lose sleep over game 55, the second last game of the season, when we had no shot at the playoffs two or three weeks ago.

Frankly, I don’t really care what anyone here thinks. I’d rather be wrong about suggesting that maybe along history of concussions might still be taking a toll on this kid to this day, than to mock and dismiss the notion entirely like we’re still in the 90’s. Eric Lindros in terms of concussions was a bad comparison, why? Because Patrick doesn’t hold the same skill sets? Well, that’s weird because we literally watch Lindros go from great to dwindle down to nothing. So speaking in more basic terms, we watched Primeau, Gagne, Roenick, Pronger and Laperriere go through the same thing but still play. Nothing wrong with asking the question instead of disgracefully take joy in it.
- SuperSchennBros

I thought your original post was good. Look I, thank God, haven't walked in their shoes. I don't know if it's post concussion syndrome, medication, playing timidly, or they're all different individual cases, but whether you're Lindros or Gagne or Patrick (or maybe even Richards -- the story was prescription meds, but maybe it started with concussions?) or one of the countless others, it's a fair comparison. Doesn't matter about original skill level

That’s funny...how is it not a disaster after being gifted the 2nd over all pick and potentially whiffing on it? It’s not like the Flyers pick in the top 5 every year...(frank)in right it’s a disaster if you totally miss. You see the three players taken directly after him becoming cornerstone players...pretty sure that’s what the Flyers hoped and thought they were getting.
- landros 2

Yea, you can’t pretend it’s not a disaster. We literally missed out on a player that could have made us very close to compete. Imagine last year we had Niskanen and makar?

Glad we passed on the little guy Caufield.
3 goals in 8 games.
- konalover711

0n tH3 p@C3 4 30 gOaLzzz

2 in the gimmick period
- ClaudeFather

Everybody loved them some ghost when he was winning Games in OT though

What is a solid season for Oscar?
Calling my shot now for next year for Oscar
8-12 goals/10-15 assist
25 point player with ok defensive play...

Nothing to write home about nothing that will be missed. Spare me the pre cancer post cancer rah rah. This is straight up thought on the players ability and play. Nothing personal as obviously Oscar story is a great one. And I’ll add that’s a great hit for a 5th round pick and overall great for the team

But and this a big but... if your team had the whole Oscar debate as anything more than a footnote of your team either currently or for the future you’re doomed. He moves no needle anywhere.
- SMS4016

Oskar's health was a big inspiration, and it's great to see him back, but I almost forgot he was even playing the last two or three games. Everyone is bad though, so who knows. His first season after cancer and also COVID nonsense it's been a challenge I'm sure.

Patrick is brutal. But I am willing to see him back on very certain terms and conditions regarding his play, and say "alright kid, time to sink or swim 2021-2022". If it's more of the same 20 games into the season? Then it's time to decide if this project is worth it or not.

If he is sent away or left unprotected this summer (doubtful, again, considering how it seems the club is trying to get him out of his own head) I wouldn't be upset.

Torts available. Nothing against av but ever there was a team that needed torts it’s this edition of flyers
- SMS4016

This team needs to hit the reset button. Has he ever started a job taking over for a team retooling before?

I free like he'd want to go to a team on the up and up.

0n tH3 p@C3 4 30 gOaLzzz
- corduroy

Isn't that Musk's son's name?

interesting tidbits from the 2017 draft.

Where Patrick ranks in the class:

Goals scored:5th
Assists: 7th
Points: 9th
Games played:3rd

I would have thought he would be way lower considering how much time he missed.

Lindblom has been way better than Patrick this season. He still isn't nearly back to where he has before the cancer ordeal but he at least has looked to be getting back on track. With a good offseason, it's not hard to see him having a solid 2021-22 season.

As for AV being protective, both players were defended and both were scratched a few times. BTW, of the two,, which one got regular PP time most of the season (hint: it wasn't Lindblom)?
- bmeltzer

That’s my point about being protected. Patrick was put in more challenging situations. Lindblom was handled more gently by AV. He wasn’t used on the PP. He wasn’t out there in OT.

To be honest, Lindblom hasn’t been much better, but the COACH has been much more protective of him than Patrick.
- Dkos

Lindblom's been a ghost of his former self, but is still a lot better than Patrick. That's how much of an afterthought NP has been on the ice. He can't even keep up with a guy who underwent full chemo.

Lindblom has been way better than Patrick this season. He still isn't nearly back to where he has before the cancer ordeal but he at least has looked to be getting back on track. With a good offseason, it's not hard to see him having a solid 2021-22 season.

As for AV being protective, both players were defended and both were scratched a few times. BTW, of the two,, which one got regular PP time most of the season (hint: it wasn't Lindblom)?
- bmeltzer

This.

Maybe he's trying lose.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The only explanation I can think of.

I’m really starting to wonder if Patrick’s heart is in it anymore. He just looks like a guy going through the motions who is more concerned with avoiding contact than playing the game with any semblance of intensity.

I also cannot see any justification for protecting him in the ED. G and Hayes have to be protected due to NMCs and Couts and TK are no brainers. Lindblom will certainly get one spot and I have to think they are going to protect Laughton after signing him to a 5 year extension. That leaves one spot and with only years left on his deal and the fact that he’s the team’s leading goal scorer, the last spot should go to JVR.

Assuming no deals are made that leaves Seattle looking at Jake, NAK, Ghost, Hagg, Morin or Braun in addition to Patrick. Honestly I’d be surprised if Seattle took him. If I’m Ron Francis, I’d grab Ghost over Patrick in a heartbeat.

interesting tidbits from the 2017 draft.

Where Patrick ranks in the class:

Goals scored:5th
Assists: 7th
Points: 9th
Games played:3rd

I would have thought he would be way lower considering how much time he missed.
- MBFlyerfan

He missed a season, but most of the guys from that draft didn't break into the league until D+2, D+3.

I’m really starting to wonder if Patrick’s heart is in it anymore. He just looks like a guy going through the motions who is more concerned with avoiding contact than playing the game with any semblance of intensity.

I also cannot see any justification for protecting him in the ED. G and Hayes have to be protected due to NMCs and Couts and TK are no brainers. Lindblom will certainly get one spot and I have to think they are going to protect Laughton after signing him to a 5 year extension. That leaves one spot and with only years left on his deal and the fact that he’s the team’s leading goal scorer, the last spot should go to JVR.

Assuming no deals are made that leaves Seattle looking at Jake, NAK, Ghost, Hagg, Morin or Braun in addition to Patrick. Honestly I’d be surprised if Seattle took him. If I’m Ron Francis, I’d grab Ghost over Patrick in a heartbeat.
- BiggE

3rd leading.

I really hope they use this opportunity to lose Voracek/JVR, even with sweeteners. However bad NP has been, he counts minimally against the cap and we can cut him loose anytime. Whether he stays or goes, it is not correlated with our ability to sign a star (because of $ and term).

3rd leading.

I really hope they use this opportunity to lose Voracek/JVR, even with sweeteners. However bad NP has been, he counts minimally against the cap and we can cut him loose anytime. Whether he stays or goes, it is not correlated with our ability to sign a star (because of $ and term).
- PT21

You are correct, 3rd leading. However hes the only net front threat they have on the pp and one of the few “shoot first” players on the roster.

Here’s the thing, it’s not like Patrick has had a so-so or even mildly bad season. He has been one of the worst forwards in the NHL. 9 points with the pp time he has received is abysmal production and his defensive game has been just as bad. If it’s strictly about the cap, fine, protect him, but to go into camp counting on him to be a top 9 forward would be incredibly foolish.

That’s funny...how is it not a disaster after being gifted the 2nd over all pick and potentially whiffing on it? It’s not like the Flyers pick in the top 5 every year...(frank)in right it’s a disaster if you totally miss. You see the three players taken directly after him becoming cornerstone players...pretty sure that’s what the Flyers hoped and thought they were getting.
- landros 2

Honestly, I have said this before, but it serves them right. They think they are better than everyone who goes through the pain of a few horrendous seasons to compete and they take advantage of a gullible enough section of fan base who will not see through the "stay competitive" nonsense. They picked middle of the pack and got middle of the pack players. Gee whiz - now what a surprise!

They were on a bubble playoff track and even THAT was too much pain.They pulled the plug and now find themselves squarely and truly in the middle of the road to years of likely mediocrity and now they are trying to cover their exposed butts. Expect some butt covering moves this off season.

It won't matter. They are nowhere near the stage where a single player would change their destiny. All variations lead to the same result: contending irrelevance.

I am not Bill but I will make a tangential conjecture. The continued usage of NP in spite of poor play seems to me to indicate that the management knows more about the issue than we do, and that they are trying to get him to play out of something, like an inhibition. All of which suggests to me they are taking the long view with him and he will be back.
- PT21

Not Bill (sorry couldn't resist)...PT...the only reason they might hold on to him is that center is a coveted position. I think he's more likely to go than stay but that'll be part of an interesting off season!

Torts, anyone?

Better yet...Tocchet??!!