You and NC are like poppa bear and momma bear. One too optimistic, one too pessimistic.

I’m not gonna go and guess what each player scores because that’s pointless but I expect the Flyers to score somewhere in the 260-280 goal range. So, if they can get the goals against down to 240 or less, they should finish somewhere between 95-105 points.

So basically anywhere from 2nd in the division to just missing the playoffs by a point or 2.
- BiggE

It is hard to figure out if they can get those goals against down based on the changes on paper. Coaching will be big for the team to gel…the first two AV seasons felt like a coin flip. I just don’t know.

It’s so hard to predict this stuff because it is all dependent on health and usage.
- BiggE

Exactly. But I do think we need TK and Farabee to be pushing close to 30 goals. Cam will be getting PK minutes so I don't think it's realistic for him to be at 30. I'd be happy with 20+ as long as others are scoring. That 3C is a big question mark. That should be a secondary scoring line for us. If Frost steps up, great. But we need a center that can generate offense.

Nick Ritchie signs 2 years 5 million with Toronto. Big physical wing that plays a heavy game. Would have been a great addition. But there isn't any money to even make a signing like this.

What other non contending teams are capped out other than the Flyers?
- PLindbergh31

Actually, Toronto is fully capped out. They are in LTIR territory again. Plus the Toronto goalies are Mrazek and Campbell. Have they improved?

Actually, Toronto is fully capped out. They are in LTIR territory again. Plus the Toronto goalies are Mrazek and Campbell. Have they improved?
- bmeltzer

Bill, will you be doing a break down of the east? who got better? stayed the same or worse off

https://www.diebytheblade...nhl-hockey-buffalo-sabres

And this is why we should stay away from Eichel.
- MBFlyerfan

Doesn't it seem pretty standard hardball?

The guy has given Buffalo some of his best years. He hasn't dogged it They have pooped the bed around him, but own his rights. He owes them nothing. They are trying to max his value in a trade. He is trying to get out and will make it as hard as possible for them to do anything else.

Go outside and get some fresh air

Doesn't it seem pretty standard hardball?

The guy has given Buffalo some of his best years. He hasn't dogged it They have pooped the bed around him, but own his rights. He owes them nothing. They are trying to max his value in a trade. He is trying to get out and will make it as hard as possible for them to do anything else.
- PT21

He owes them nothing?
They’re paying him 10 million per season and he owes them nothing?

This is exactly what’s wrong with the world in a nutshell

Actually, Toronto is fully capped out. They are in LTIR territory again. Plus the Toronto goalies are Mrazek and Campbell. Have they improved?
- bmeltzer

Nope. Don’t think they have: They are a franchise I don’t think will win while I’m alive. They are one of the few I will believe it when I see it.

He owes them nothing?
They’re paying him 10 million per season and he owes them nothing?

This is exactly what’s wrong with the world in a nutshell
- BiggE

They paid him $10m because that was his market value, not b/c they were doing him a favor. They have received fair value for years gone by. For the future years, its up to them to recoup his value in a trade.

In a free market, all other relevant factors, including risk, gratitude, loyalty, and situations such as this should have already been priced into contract.

He owes them absolutely nothing.

They paid him $10m because that was his market value, not b/c they were doing him a favor. They have received fair value for years gone by. For the future years, its up to them to recoup his value in a trade.

In a free market, all other relevant factors, including risk, gratitude, loyalty, and situations such as this should have already been priced into contract.

He owes them absolutely nothing.
- PT21

As long as he is under contract and an employee he owes them his commitment and he should do all he is required to do. Buff is a shxt show and I don’t blame him for wanting out but he does have obligations per his contract and employment

Doesn't it seem pretty standard hardball?

The guy has given Buffalo some of his best years. He hasn't dogged it They have pooped the bed around him, but own his rights. He owes them nothing. They are trying to max his value in a trade. He is trying to get out and will make it as hard as possible for them to do anything else.
- PT21

He was the one who signed a 10 yr contract..He owes them 5 years. They owe him 10M per...thats whats owed. As far as trading him its the GMs job to get the best deal possible. If he doesnt like the return then let Eichel prove that he can play and the return will be more. No one is giving them "what they want" until he proves he is healthy. If he was healthy trade would have been made months ago.

I think any team that is capable of making the final 4 is technically a contender, and I certainly think with the changes CF hs made so far this team can get there, but of course things have to break right for them. Their team defense has to improve immensely, their goalies have to rebound, they have to avoid major injuries to key players and Covid outbreaks, etc. But if these things happen, yes this team can make the final 4 and as I posted previously, once there anything can happen. I would still like them to get more speed in their lineup, but perhaps with a "regular" season with consistent practice, this team can learn to play faster and make better decisions.
- jd250

So in other words if everything breaks exactly right and everyone has a great year they could make the final 4?? I could say that about 25 teams...Fact is their season totally depends of Hart. If he plays like last year they arent going anywhere. ( and it wasnt just defensive breakdowns he was awful). He has to gets his head together and figure out how to defend better on the glove side because the league figured out his weakness and they will keep exploiting it.

They paid him $10m because that was his market value, not b/c they were doing him a favor. They have received fair value for years gone by. For the future years, its up to them to recoup his value in a trade.

In a free market, all other relevant factors, including risk, gratitude, loyalty, and situations such as this should have already been priced into contract.

He owes them absolutely nothing.
- PT21

They haven’t received close to fair value for 10 million per.

So in other words if everything breaks exactly right and everyone has a great year they could make the final 4?? I could say that about 25 teams...Fact is their season totally depends of Hart. If he plays like last year they arent going anywhere. ( and it wasnt just defensive breakdowns he was awful). He has to gets his head together and figure out how to defend better on the glove side because the league figured out his weakness and they will keep exploiting it.
- hfc355

A


Agree on Hart but every team needs their goalie to have a good season to go anywhere

They paid him $10m because that was his market value, not b/c they were doing him a favor. They have received fair value for years gone by. For the future years, its up to them to recoup his value in a trade.

In a free market, all other relevant factors, including risk, gratitude, loyalty, and situations such as this should have already been priced into contract.

He owes them absolutely nothing.
- PT21

He literally owes them 5 more seasons of doing exactly what a $10 millon per year player is asked to do.

A


Agree on Hart but every team needs their goalie to have a good season to go anywhere
- wcorvette

Agreed. But the Flyers, being a team built on “depth offense” needs really good/great goaltending to make a cup.

Say what you want about the Flyers being a contender on paper, we all want to see them make one (and better yet, (frank)ING WIN ONE). A great Carter Hart makes this a cup contending team. We’ve seen him, albeit brief, at that level. If he can do it again this team can make a SURPRISE run. Let’s just root for that instead of complain so much!!

YAY!!

Agreed. But the Flyers, being a team built on “depth offense” needs really good/great goaltending to make a cup.

Say what you want about the Flyers being a contender on paper, we all want to see them make one (and better yet, (frank)ING WIN ONE). A great Carter Hart makes this a cup contending team. We’ve seen him, albeit brief, at that level. If he can do it again this team can make a SURPRISE run. Let’s just root for that instead of complain so much!!

YAY!!
- Wingdestroyer

Hope is what we got

As long as he is under contract and an employee he owes them his commitment and he should do all he is required to do.
- wcorvette

He was the one who signed a 10 yr contract..He owes them 5 years. They owe him 10M per...thats whats owed.
- hfc355

He literally owes them 5 more seasons of doing exactly what a $10 millon per year player is asked to do.
- mochoson

Of course he owes them his hockey labor: up to the ability of his health, when the season starts, he is obliged to suit up and play. That's his contract.

But that's not what we are discussing here. Its not like he is a no-show. The season hasn't started. There is probably nothing in his contract that prevents him from airing concerns about his health and his dissatisfaction with the way he is being handled. That's what he is doing.

If Buffalo is stupid enough to force Eichel to play (because that's his contract), good luck signing Dahlin and Cozens and so on. Such situations almost always end in one way: the star player leaving. Buffalo knows that full well.

They haven’t received close to fair value for 10 million per.
- BiggE

Explain to me how you would determine this "fair value" and that he came up short. He cannot be a McDavid.

He has generally had poopty linemates. His production of points/$ is right around league average for standard contracts. He has played long minutes.

PTO Jumbo Joe

There isn't much flexibility left. Here is my prediction. The Flyers have a really strong regular season and the fanbase is over exuberant and confident. Then in the playoffs, the fans are ultimately left disappointed and some fan favorites becomes the whipping boys. It wouldn't surprise me for many to reconsider their positions on the moves that Fletcher made in a reactionary manner.
- MJL

Like clockwork.

They'll all act like they hated Ellis, Atkinson, Risto and Yandle all along.

I'm guessing 239-goals, and I even feel like that's probably a dozen or so too many:

Giroux (16) Couturier (27) Konecny (24)
Farabee (24) Hayes (16) Atkinson (18)
JVR (21) Frost (9) Allison (14)
Lindbolm (12) Laughton (9) Aube-Kubel (7)
Thompson (1) Other (4)

Provorov (8) Ellis (12)
Sanheim (5) Ristolainen (5)
Yandle (6) Braun (0)
Morin (0) Other (1)
- Tomahawk

yikes that's pretty awful and contending for a lottery pick if that's true

yikes that's pretty awful and contending for a lottery pick if that's true
- 2Real

Not really. Bad offensive teams are usually in the low 200's. ~240 puts you at around league-average. I think they will sit middle-third.

There isn't much flexibility left. Here is my prediction. The Flyers have a really strong regular season and the fanbase is over exuberant and confident. Then in the playoffs, the fans are ultimately left disappointed and some fan favorites becomes the whipping boys. It wouldn't surprise me for many to reconsider their positions on the moves that Fletcher made in a reactionary manner.
- MJL

im not sure what the reationary manner is? Trying to get better? Thats the job of a GM. Should he of kept the same team and hope for better results, definately not He even said cant keep bringing the same guys back and expecting different results, and i dont think anyone disagrees with that.

https://podcast.sportsnet...wants-a-disc-replacement/

This podcast tells you why Eichel wants to opt for disc replacement and not fusion. Now it’s clear about the reservations he has about the fusion the team wants.