Bill on twitter, In response to someone questioning the Flyers current mediocre position.

"It could be worse. You could be a Maple Leafs, Canucks or Sabres fan. Could be a Rangers fan (1 cup in last 80 years)."

Fan my ass, raise the bar.

Bill on twitter, In response to someone questioning the Flyers current mediocre position.

"It could be worse. You could be a Maple Leafs, Canucks or Sabres fan. Could be a Rangers fan (1 cup in last 80 years)."

Fan my ass, raise the bar.
- FlyerFan3260

Typical I work for the flyers response. Instead of addressing the real issues or questions.

Will the home opener be a sell out?

Typical I work for the flyers response. Instead of addressing the real issues or questions.

Will the home opener be a sell out?
- hello it's me 2050

Who is being fooled by this nonsense? I've read these blogs for years without responding, and the tone shift toward placating any dissent is so obvious.

The kids who might be distracted by Gritty, and the modern music might fall for that but its insulting to anyone with a sense of rational thought about where this team currently stands.

Lacking high end young talent, capped out, poorly coached, and very valid questions about proper development are in play. Perhaps addressing that would instill some confidence that at least those who cover the team aren't living in a fantasy land retirement home with its management.

Bill on twitter, In response to someone questioning the Flyers current mediocre position.

"It could be worse. You could be a Maple Leafs, Canucks or Sabres fan. Could be a Rangers fan (1 cup in last 80 years)."

Fan my ass, raise the bar.
- FlyerFan3260

That makes sense to me…. The Flyers 5th worst team in the league based on that quote.

i've been waiting all offseason for your predictions. thank god hockey is back baby.
- Ftown19125

Oh by game one you’ll be hating my predictions lol

Who is being fooled by this nonsense? I've read these blogs for years without responding, and the tone shift toward placating any dissent is so obvious.

The kids who might be distracted by Gritty, and the modern music might fall for that but its insulting to anyone with a sense of rational thought about where this team currently stands.

Lacking high end young talent, capped out, poorly coached, and very valid questions about proper development are in play. Perhaps addressing that would instill some confidence that at least those who cover the team aren't living in a fantasy land retirement home with its management.
- FlyerFan3260

One needs to look no further than heavy trend of paying players big $ long term contract at young age now. This season it has been kicked into overdrive as the league has realized that you pay players from ages roughly 22 or so to 28 or so. Not 28 and older. But philly misses boat as usual. Coots… pending risto…. Ellis trade…. G pending. Middling for next decade

One needs to look no further than heavy trend of paying players big $ long term contract at young age now. This season it has been kicked into overdrive as the league has realized that you pay players from ages roughly 22 or so to 28 or so. Not 28 and older. But philly misses boat as usual. Coots… pending risto…. Ellis trade…. G pending. Middling for next decade
- Stayin alive

You realize that teams are trying to capitalize on the flat cap situation to lock dudes in on smaller contracts than they would otherwise have gotten, right? Before Covid, we saw a trend of dudes breaking 8-figures. Dudes are taking 10-20% less on these 8-year deals than they would have gotten if anybody had cap space.

Everybody expected Coots to clock in at near 9M per before. Covid's the only reason he's making closer to Kevin Hayes money instead.

My only point regarding the Jake contract was not meant to be a slight against Jake, it was revisiting the question, what was Hextall's plan to rebuild this franchise. Signing Jake, and then later JVR would have made more sense if this team was ready to contend during their prime years, but clearly they were not. Hextall hires a college coach with no experience, wouldn't give up 1 draft pick to make a good hockey trade, and made several questionable, albeit, small FA signings in the process. In hindsight, if the goal was always to build a contender through the draft, he might have been better off blowing it up and starting over, that was my only point. You don't think he could have traded Jake at the deadline and got several good prospects in return?


- jd250

Hextall could've traded a lot of players and gotten good assets in return. Including Giroux, Couturier and Voracek.
The same guy who readily complains that Hextall wasn't aggressive enough to try and win now is suggesting that Hextall should've traded a player who was 25 in his prime and had just had a season where he was 5th in the league in scoring and 2nd in the league in assists. The same guy who is tired of waiting on prospects suggests that Hextall should've traded Voracek for prospects.

The Flyers under Hextall or any other GM were never going to tank. Nor would I want them to.

I want what you want, for the Flyers to be a legit contender and win not just one, not just two, but multiple cups! I want the Flyers to become the NE Patriots of Hockey. However the prospects in the system are just not there, its plain and simple. The holes were gaping on this team and Fletcher had to do something now to at least get us on the road to contention, which I believe he has. He gave up Patrick and Myers, two players with potential for a sure thing with cost certainty in Ellis, that was a good hockey trade! He gave up a number 1 pick and a bottom pairing defenseman for a legit top 4 defender who is physical; that is a good hockey trade. He traded a pass-first forward for a shoot-first forward, which this team desperately needed; that was a good hockey trade. No one said this was enough, but it was a good start.
- jd250

You are not willing to consider other outcomes as possibilities. As I said repeatedly, I think the Flyers are improved team and a good team. However I'll believe it when I see it that Chuck Fletcher was able to trade this team into true contention. I look and see both sides as a possible outcome. I see the risk in most of the moves that Fletcher made.

Regarding Tampa, I know, they actually drafted players that can play, you know, Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, Vasey, Cirelli and Point! When you do this well in the draft, it makes things a heck of a lot easier to build around. The Flyers did not draft this well, and thus they are not in the same position.
- jd250

The Flyers have drafted players that can play. You know, Giroux, Couturier, Provorov, Konecny, Sanheim, Hart and others. While not currently at the caliber of TB's top stars, the Flyers have a strong base to build on. It will be a shame if the organization's lack of patience ruin how Hextall positioned the team.

They have also signed ufa's and made plenty of trades over the years to rework the supporting cast.

no team in the last 20 years had a team full of players they drafted and developed win the cup. The best team identify the keepers and work what they can to improve every year.

Boston has traded many young high draft picks over the years and has stayed competitive. Pitts has traded their first round pick year after year and has been competitive due to their core. washington traded players to rework the cast around ovie and backstrom. Tampa has done the same over the years.

he just wants to argue...
- Peter Richards

If you actually had any proof of where I have stated that a team shouldn't make any trades or sign any players. You might have a leg to stand on. As usual you are talking fantasy.

You realize that teams are trying to capitalize on the flat cap situation to lock dudes in on smaller contracts than they would otherwise have gotten, right? Before Covid, we saw a trend of dudes breaking 7-figures. Dudes are taking 10-20% less on these 8-year deals than they would have gotten if anybody had cap space.

Everybody expected Coots to clock in at near 9M per before. Covid's the only reason he's making closer to Kevin Hayes money instead.
- Tomahawk

Didn't the Flyers sign Sean Couturier to a fantastic 6 year deal at a steal of 4.3M? How about when they signed Giroux to an 8 year deal when he was 24? How about signing Provorov to a 6 year deal at 22.

Bill on twitter, In response to someone questioning the Flyers current mediocre position.

"It could be worse. You could be a Maple Leafs, Canucks or Sabres fan. Could be a Rangers fan (1 cup in last 80 years)."

Fan my ass, raise the bar.
- FlyerFan3260

It was tongue in cheek. But while we're on the subject....

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...Legacy-and-More/45/112288

Didn't the Flyers sign Sean Couturier to a fantastic 6 year deal at a steal of 4.3M? How about when they signed Giroux to an 8 year deal when he was 24? How about signing Provorov to a 6 year deal at 22.
- MJL

Don’t forget Konecny.

If you actually had any proof of where I have stated that a team shouldn't make any trades or sign any players. You might have a leg to stand on. As usual you are talking fantasy.
- MJL

Never claimed you said anything.

Don’t forget Konecny.
- Ftown19125

Konecny, Farabee.

Never claimed you said anything.
- Peter Richards

Stand behind your claims. Don't cop out. You know what you were inferring.

https://twitter.com/nhl_w.../1448036411710611463?s=21

Interesting.

I wonder if AV and his hand picked coaching staff are shown the door by turkey day if they get off to a horrendous start and look similar to the disgrace of last year. Food for thought. Holy smokes, I just looked at the Rags starting forward group compared to the Flyers starting forwards and I'm wondering if more 9-1 games are in the offing?

It was tongue in cheek. But while we're on the subject....

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...Legacy-and-More/45/112288
- bmeltzer

What are you trying to show there exactly?

That other NHL clubs have their struggles? To make ourselves feel better?

Of course most clubs have challenges, but since the Flyers decided to step away from Richards, and Carter things haven't been anywhere close to successful in Philadelphia. What good does it do anyone to try and minimize flaws with naive optimism? You have the power along with other writers to start asking actual hard questions of the coaches, and management team. To influence change, more than any fool watching from home can.

If you wish to defend them with some badge of loyalty and apparent rationality. I cannot stop you. Fans who have followed this team more than those wooed by a mascot, do not believe this is anywhere near good enough.

The notion that fan support was something that could always be relied on is rightfully being challenged, and in turn seen by Comcast.

I understand my criticism is harsh. It's because I am surprised to see this quite frankly. Someone who dares to drop the act, and call this franchise out for what it currently is would be so refreshing, and likely start a conversation that is long overdue.

The standard that somehow being a team that has to scrap to make a last playoff spot, win one playoff round, struggle to field one dynamic NHL star, and annually pick 14th needs to be much higher.

I wonder if AV and his hand picked coaching staff are shown the door by turkey day if they get off to a horrendous start and look similar to the disgrace of last year. Food for thought. Holy smokes, I just looked at the Rags starting forward group compared to the Flyers starting forwards and I'm wondering if more 9-1 games are in the offing?
- Phillywhiteout

Fletcher is under a ton of pressure and put himself on the line with all of the moves he made.

The Rangers would have to get a big jump from Lafreniere and Kakko to significantly superior to the Flyers forward core.

m

Fletcher is under a ton of pressure and put himself on the line with all of the moves he made.

The Rangers would have to get a big jump from Lafreniere and Kakko to significantly superior to the Flyers forward core.
- MJL

Exactly(as far as Fletcher goes)! And if he doesn't get the results on the ice that he wants someone is going to pay the price. Me thinks it could be this erstwhile coaching staff.

Exactly(as far as Fletcher goes)! And if he doesn't get the results on the ice that he wants someone is going to pay the price. Me thinks it could be this erstwhile coaching staff.
- Phillywhiteout

I think the coaching staff and the GM are at risk if they don't have a strong season.

I missed the days when Flyers fan booed Sarah Palin.

It seems now the fanbase has gone rapidly in the other direction.
- KGBflyers10

Back reading, I was struck by the fact that at least 2 people used DeShaun Watson and "half-time show" as comparisons (some merit to the latter, none to the former, but besides the point). Why this seemingly odd juxtaposition of comparables, being repeatedly, independently? Why not Riley Cooper, Michael Vick, DJax (last year), all much closer to home? Why not Mike Milbury, also more apt?

Well, umm, aha, haha.

https://www.outkick.com/c...and-watson-represent-nfl/

Iotw, gone suggests voluntary choice. A different word, (synonymous with energy efficient bulbs) comes to mind...There is money to be made, and it's the American way.

I was at that game, btw. Good times.

A first and second overall pick in there too, ranking doesn’t work.
- ClaudeFather

But also a couple of 2nd and 3rds! Who from the Flyers besides Carter Hart was drafted outside of the 1st round and has the potential to make the same impact as Kucherov, Cirelli or Point has for Tampa?

Stand behind your claims. Don't cop out. You know what you were inferring.
- MJL

What did I claim? What did I post in there that’s fantasy and not true?