The 2017 draft is a perfect example of this. Yes, most scouts had Patrick in the top 3 but they also agreed that his skating was only average and that he was more likely to be a high end 2C rather than a game breaker. A GM with a better understanding of today’s game would see the top end skating ability of Makar and Heiskanen and would have gone in that direction.
- BiggE

Makar was a junior-A defenseman in his draft year, dominating against a low level of competition. Therein lay the hesitation of some. If it hadn't been Patrick, it'd probably have been Heiskanen selected.

Let's see, these forwards don't get to the net and don't win any puck battles. That in a nutshell gives you no chance to win. Throw in the fact that many of their forwards look like sloths on skates(Hayes, Coots and JVR come to mind) and this team is cooked. My first trade candidate is TK. I've simply seen enough of his brutal/lazy mistakes (the Devils 3rd goal that ended up not counting). I thought this kid would grow up and become a very good player, but he seems to be regressing. On the backend, I look at Sanheim as the first out the door. These guys will bring something in return and I've simply had enough of their inconsistencies!!!!! Thanks!

Makar was a junior-A defenseman in his draft year, dominating against a low level of competition. Therein lay the hesitation of some. If it hadn't been Patrick, it'd probably have been Heiskanen selected.
- bmeltzer

That would have been fine.

Imo Provorov has regressed in his time here.
He used to consistently jump up into the play when he first came into the league now it’s rare.
Provy is a better player than he has shown recently.
He may not ever be a Norris caliber dman he just needs to be reliable, consistent and keep his game simple.
One guy isn’t going to fix this trash.
The flyers need a going out of business sale of sorts “everyone must go”.
Front office, scouting, player development staff, coaches.
I’d keep Hart and everyone else is on the market.
Now that’s not going to happen but if a deal makes sense then do the deal.

I am just having a hard time accepting that this team i this bad. It' not like we took a bunch of lacrosse players and tried to teach them hockey. These are NHL caliber players.

I think it is time to start looking to break it down and building for next year. Before we can completely blow it up, we need to finish out the year. We can't just unload every player we feel isn't playing up to expectations (almost entire roster?).

And I'm all for drafting or trading for a prospect and developing them, but our minor league team isn't the best environment right now.

I don't have any answers. Just disappointed.

So combined the phantoms and flyers are on an 18 game losing streak
- Just5

I dont understand how Chuck Fletcher still has a job

And not for nothing, but that dog taking a dump on our logo at center ice isn't helping matters.

Watching the game last night, my biggest impression was just how much this group of players lack chemistry. You watch other teams, even the Devils, and there is so much more chemistry between the players on the ice, players know where each other are going to be and therefore they can play fast, passing and moving to areas of the ice without thinking. With the Flyers, EVERYTHING is a chore that seems hard to do, for example zone exits and entries. What makes matters worse is the lack of communication between the players. One example last night was the NJ PP goal that made it 2-0. You had Mercer standing all alone in front of Hart, and both Sanheim and Risto were above him on either side, yet neither one engaged Merger to get him out of the way of Hart. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! Again, my beer league does better than this. And its so easy to correct, Risto and Sanheim just have to communicate with each other and one takes the player, but instead they both stood there and puck watched! The kicker however for me was the goal by Zacha to make it 3-0 that was ultimately called bac because of an off sides review. But did you see Zachas smirk after he scored, it was almost a smirk like, geez I can't believe this team is this bad with the puck. I just wanted to smash a hockey stick through the window after that play. The only good news from last night is this team took a step closer to blowing it up and getting a top 5 draft pick!

This team is broken. Its a carryover from last season. Changing out a a few pieces, who IMO, were the most vocal against the previous coach, didn't seem to change much.....especially now since that coach is gone.

The players confidence in themselves and each other is irrevocably lost. This group simply can not play together and it needs to be blown up and started over from scratch.

This isn't on Mike Yeo, what the hell can he do?


A fire sale is the only solution. Including the incompetent GM.
- MBFlyerfan

I was thinking about this last night as I watched the game, can we say now that this team has the SAME EXACT Malaise they had last season? If so does Fletcher have any other choice but to do a complete house cleaning here?

I am just having a hard time accepting that this team i this bad. It' not like we took a bunch of lacrosse players and tried to teach them hockey. These are NHL caliber players.

I think it is time to start looking to break it down and building for next year. Before we can completely blow it up, we need to finish out the year. We can't just unload every player we feel isn't playing up to expectations (almost entire roster?).

And I'm all for drafting or trading for a prospect and developing them, but our minor league team isn't the best environment right now.

I don't have any answers. Just disappointed.
- cdearth23

Using baseball as a reference. The flyers draft the guaranteed singles get on base walk MLB sure thing aka 200’ player.
Other teams draft power hitters aka star high end offensive players.
Sure single hitters and guys that walk a lot are good but when that’s your whole team your pitching aka goaltending better be world class.
Power hitters or home run guys have a bigger impact. They may strike out more than guys with high OBP.
They can also change the game with one at bat.
Successful teams need balance. The flyers don’t have balance.

I dont understand how Chuck Fletcher still has a job
- Dkos

Do you really think Fletcher is the problem here? He came in 2019 with the mandate of building around the core group that was here and compete for a championship, and I think he has tried to do that. But at some point, the realization has to set in that the core group that was here is JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH to build around! Hart is still young so he has much more development to do, but Provey, Sanheim, TK, G, Jake, JVR and Couts were simply not good enough to build around. Its time for big reset.

Another easy perspective to prove that this team is uncommonly bad? I've been following hockey for 40+ years and I've NEVER seen a team perform this badly after a coaching change. Usually a coaching change lights a fire under their arses for at least a few games. This team continues to sleep walk no matter what, but at least you have that end of game Giroux temper tantrum that we've seen about 40 times in the past 2 years. Does Vegas put up double figures tomorrow night? NEXT!!

Do you really think Fletcher is the problem here? He came in 2019 with the mandate of building around the core group that was here and compete for a championship, and I think he has tried to do that. But at some point, the realization has to set in that the core group that was here is JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH to build around! Hart is still young so he has much more development to do, but Provey, Sanheim, TK, G, Jake and Couts were simply not good enough to build around. Its time for big reset.
- jd250

The flyers need a shrewd GM not a nice guy GM.
I want a GM that would trade his own kid to a terrible team if it means winning a cup.
I’m not so sure CF is the GM that gets this done.

Yeah, I’d fire Hextall again if I could!
- BiggE

lol

Do you really think Fletcher is the problem here? He came in 2019 with the mandate of building around the core group that was here and compete for a championship, and I think he has tried to do that. But at some point, the realization has to set in that the core group that was here is JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH to build around! Hart is still young so he has much more development to do, but Provey, Sanheim, TK, G, Jake and Couts were simply not good enough to build around. Its time for big reset.
- jd250

He's in charge. He's responsible. He said it himself. Just about every move he has made has turned to poop (especially this year). Is this team in a better position now than it was when he was hired?

It's official, we are the worst team in the league right now. Gonna see a steady diet of backup goalies, like why not?

Another easy perspective to prove that this team is uncommonly bad? I've been following hockey for 40+ years and I've NEVER seen a team perform this badly after a coaching change. Usually a coaching change lights a fire under their arses for at least a few games. This team continues to sleep walk no matter what, but at least you have that end of game Giroux temper tantrum that we've seen about 40 times in the past 2 years. Does Vegas put up double figures tomorrow night? NEXT!!
- Phillywhiteout

This is almost always true and something bettors like to take on. A tell tale sign of how bad and fragile this team was when they fired the coach, the AVs went from -150 to -200

Trade Sanheim and Lindblom yesterday. Please.

A complete overhaul will be difficult. Right now they have too many older players that are on deals that are going to be difficult to move. They have two trade chips in Giroux and Ristolainen for the deadline. Maybe the clueless GM can recoup some of what he traded away. Why not trade Hart? He is going to be ruined by this situation like the Flyers have done to many young players.
-MJL

Ya, you're right, getting back a 2nd and Haag will surely push us back over the top! G and Risto for sure should be traded at the deadline, as well as TK and the vets on 1 year deals like Brassard, who was our best PP guy last night BTW! I think Fletcher can get at least 2 1st round picks and a few other picks and prospects to jump start this reset.

This mess is 100% on the players and their performance...or lack of
They dont even show a desire to win. I dont think its the type of players either. Just a lack of effort and doing what it takes to win.
We have talent on this team, but if they dont show up and compete hard, they wont win .

How many coaches does it take to get fired before the players get the blame ?
Shouldve traded tk last year, mailing it in for another year. See Ya

Trade Sanheim and Lindblom yesterday. Please.
- mochoson

Yes, these are two others I would trade at the deadline, and will give us a decent return.

Makar was a junior-A defenseman in his draft year, dominating against a low level of competition. Therein lay the hesitation of some. If it hadn't been Patrick, it'd probably have been Heiskanen selected.
- bmeltzer

Shows what a great job the Av’s did. Heiskanen, though would be the best player on the Flyers today.

He's in charge. He's responsible. He said it himself. Just about every move he has made has turned to poop (especially this year). Is this team in a better position now than it was when he was hired?
- Dkos

So the reason this team is bad this year is because of Risto, Atkinson and Ellis? Lindblom, JVR, TK and Provorov and the rest have nothing to do with it?

Trade Sanheim and Lindblom yesterday. Please.
- mochoson

Why would anyone trade for Lindblom??..nice story but he is not an NHL player . Had a nice run of about 30 games couple of years ago but thats been it. Sanheim couple years ago could have gotten you something really good not so much now but still a tradeable asset. I dont trust Fletcher or the scouting system to find that Brassard for Zibanejad type of deal. Wish they would have fired Fletcher 2 weeks ago and grabbed jeff Gordon when he was available.

Yes, these are two others I would trade at the deadline, and will give us a decent return.
- jd250

Lindblom wont get you a 7th round pick