Being tough to crack the lineup is what is always should be. What it shouldn't be is to have the deck stacked against a young player. It should be a legitimate camp competition for some spots and in the current situation, it isn't.
- MJL

Camp hasnt even started yet, and you are arguing this point...lol ,Cant make this stuff up. Now if you waited until after camp and someone blew away the competition and didnt make it, then maybe youd have an argument.

Camp hasnt even started yet, and you are arguing this point...lol ,Cant make this stuff up. Now if you waited until after camp and someone blew away the competition and didnt make it, then maybe youd have an argument.
- bradster

Development is a process and is not linear.

Development is a process and is not linear.
- Peter Richards

Has the Flyers organization done a good job developing players?

Just look at this Flyers team since AV has been here. Farabee has progressed so far. Sanheim just got a hefty raise, so did Carter Hart. AV certainly was not holding Hart back by not playing him. Look, a coaches job is to put the team in the best position to win games, and part of that is playing the best players you have in the right spots and situations. If a player can handle it, he will play, otherwise he won't. I think AV wants to win a cup badly and will play anyone, no matter what age, he believes will help him get it.
- jd250

??? Sanheim and Carter goy hefty raises but they certainly didnt progress they regressed in a big way as did Myers..TK and every young guy not named Farabee.

Has the Flyers organization done a good job developing players?
- hello it's me 2050

Better than some, not as good as some others.

Can say we are not Nashville with d men. But looking at the nhl as a whole we are on par.

??? Sanheim and Carter goy hefty raises but they certainly didnt progress they regressed in a big way as did Myers..TK and every young guy not named Farabee.
- hfc355

Almost everyone regressed last year, is that who they are? or are they better than they played last year?

Exactly. We are in a great spot right now where it’s tough to crack our lineup + we have young reinforcements pushing for spots when injuries or bad streaks happen to players.
- arichardson22

Tough to crack a lineup that includes guys like Brassard..Thompson..Yandle..Braun..Jones and a few more. Thats not positive. What would have been positive is if we had young guys ready to move in so we didnt have to waste CAP space on these guys

The 'Nucks are sitting there ripe to be a victim of an offer sheet. They really cant afford to pay Quinn and Elias their market value with their current cap situation.
- juiced

This is why you have to be real careful when you sign (or trade for) veterans to large, long contracts - see Giroux, Courturier, Hayes, Ellis, JVR. Everything may be hunky dory now. What happens is Carter, Frost have breakout seasons -- see Vancouver. Our saving grace is Frost won't be in the NHL.....

Almost everyone regressed last year, is that who they are? or are they better than they played last year?
- bradster

They are certainly better then they played last year or we will be in deep trouble...but every young player regressed from the previous year except Farabee and they werent slight regressions . Same thing happened with young players on Rangers when AV was there young players didnt progress at all.

Tough to crack a lineup that includes guys like Brassard..Thompson..Yandle..Braun..Jones and a few more. Thats not positive. What would have been positive is if we had young guys ready to move in so we didnt have to waste CAP space on these guys
- hfc355

Don't think that tells the full story. I think the GM and AV wanted vets. Right or wrong. I believe they have guys ready to step in though will they get that chance?

The cap hit those vets are taking up is small and not an issue. Can all be waived without hurting your cap except Jones.

They also have O'Brien at 23, i hope our 1st round pick turns out better than they think
- bradster

Yes, I mean here is JOB playing for one of the best college hockey programs in the country and leading the team in scoring and he gets ranked 23, while Tuomaala who has not played at even this level is ranked 14? I think there is a lot of subjectiveness going into this ranking instead of objectiveness. JOB will have another great year and hopefully that will open more eyes.

Im not impressed with their staff's acumen. They have always praised the "shiny new toys" and dock the players who have worked up from their draft position. They do the same thing with Tanner L. Its like they dont watch a minute of college or minor hockey...they just live off the draft prospectus.
- juiced

Spot on!!

Tough to crack a lineup that includes guys like Brassard..Thompson..Yandle..Braun..Jones and a few more. Thats not positive. What would have been positive is if we had young guys ready to move in so we didnt have to waste CAP space on these guys
- hfc355

The players you listed all have 1 year contracts and total less than $6mil against the cap. That is good cap management. Any of those players minus Jones (backup goalie) can easily be moved/sent to the minors to clear room for another player.

All solid vets who can play until a younger player is ready to take there role. That could be game 1 of the season or later on. I am fine with it right now. I think Thompson will not play as much as folks think he will. Just my opinion though.

Being tough to crack the lineup is what is always should be. What it shouldn't be is to have the deck stacked against a young player. It should be a legitimate camp competition for some spots and in the current situation, it isn't.
- MJL

I think the Flyers are being smart here. Frost has barely played any hockey over the past 18 months and we saw firsthand what happens when you rush a young defenseman into the NHL and put too much on him. Hextall even stated he never saw a player regress by playing more games in the minors. I think the Flyers staff has already determined that Frost, York, Zamula and others are not ready and thus they have iced a more veteran team which will bide time for these and other young players to develop. Its a win win!

I’d argue on paper it isn’t, but come camp if x young player outplays y vet I truly believe our coaching staff will have the young guy penciled in. Unless that spot is on the 4th line and it’s Frost. Idk about you, but I rather have Frost 1st line minutes (to start) in the AHL vs 4th line in NHL
- arichardson22

To me putting Frost on the 4th line is waste of his talent. If he is as good as people say he is, I would not play him on the big club until he can get top 9 minutes and situations.

I think the Flyers are being smart here. Frost has barely played any hockey over the past 18 months and we saw firsthand what happens when you rush a young defenseman into the NHL and put too much on him. Hextall even stated he never saw a player regress by playing more games in the minors. I think the Flyers staff has already determined that Frost, York, Zamula and others are not ready and thus they have iced a more veteran team which will bide time for these and other young players to develop. Its a win win!
- jd250

Or did they panic and know there job is on the line? Then want the "safe" vet to play.

Lappy just said that from what he's seen, skating shouldn't be a concern with Forrester. Alluded to that he has NHL skating and no need to bring it up

To me putting Frost on the 4th line is waste of his talent. If he is as good as people say he is, I would not play him on the big club until he can get top 9 minutes and situations.
- jd250

Well having say Lindblom and whoever on the other wing is wasting their talent having Nate center them. Having Frost there could lead to a much more complete team with contributions from all lines.

??? Sanheim and Carter goy hefty raises but they certainly didnt progress they regressed in a big way as did Myers..TK and every young guy not named Farabee.
- hfc355

Regressed last year; a weird Covid year where players were in isolation the team couldn't practice. I think its far too early to judge this. If these players regress further this year, then you have an argument.

Well having say Lindblom and whoever on the other wing is wasting their talent having Nate center them. Having Frost there could lead to a much more complete team with contributions from all lines.
- hello it's me 2050

Given Frost's size and skill set, I don't think he would make a very good 4th line center.

Or did they panic and know there job is on the line? Then want the "safe" vet to play.
- hello it's me 2050

So they are panicking because they are afraid to lose their jobs, so they sit better players in favor of less effective veterans? I would think last year would create urgency to win hockey game and thus you want to play the best players you have available to you right now.

Given Frost's size and skill set, I don't think he would make a very good 4th line center.
- jd250

If your using a typical 4th line center argument sure. Nothing says you have to follow that.

so do you think Lindblom and whoever will be wasted playing with black hole Nate?

So they are panicking because they are afraid to lose their jobs, so they sit better players in favor of less effective veterans? I would think last year would create urgency to win hockey game and thus you want to play the best players you have available to you right now.
- jd250

Yes though they do not see it that way. There is no way you will convince me Nate is better than other in house options.

Tough to crack a lineup that includes guys like Brassard..Thompson..Yandle..Braun..Jones and a few more. Thats not positive. What would have been positive is if we had young guys ready to move in so we didnt have to waste CAP space on these guys
- hfc355

First we have no goalie prospect that would beat out Jones for our back up role. 2nd, Braun was arguably our most consistent dman last year. The year before he slotted on 3rd pair and played well. He’ll slot there again this year. Brassard and Thompson won’t be regulars in my opinion. We have a tough-condensed schedule this year. Between that, potential injuries and covid I really think Brassard and Thompson are just depth guys.

Yandle is only 1 year. But York and z could be up and probably will with injuries. Which will be more beneficial this year for their development. If frost earns his spot he will start. Nate or NAK could be the 13 th forward. Nothing is written in stone. Better to have a stopgap over putting them in a situation to fail. Injuries are inevitable. The rest is overblown.
- Peter Richards

What is the bar for Frost earning the spot? It's not about if the best place for the player turns out to be the AHL. It's about having a legit competition in camp. Where the better player plays. That is not the case in a few spots. It's already been determined unless the player makes them change their mind. That is an extremely high bar and not a normal competition for spots. The context of my position is not injuries opening up a spot.