I doesn’t matter until this team fixes how they draft. They need a #1 scoring center and a #1 defenseman. A team can tank their way to a #1 center even though the Flyers won’t do it. I am tired of people only pointing out how tanking doesn’t work because of Buffalo and conveniently leaving out Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA, Washington and Tampa Bay, the winners of 11 of the last 13 Stanley Cups, which had massive contributions from top 5 picks. You can put St Louis in there with Pietrangelo to make it 12 out of 13. It seems it indisputable that top picks help win Stanley Cups but I guess the Flyers will automatically become Buffalo. Judging by their last two 2nd overall picks it may be true.

A #1 defenseman can be had outside of top picks but scouts have to recognize the talent and the Flyers haven’t been able to do it. And it’s not just defensemen. Tampa Bay had found two better centers in the 3rd round during Hextall’s time as GM then the Flyers did with multiple first round picks. Yes there is luck there but if it’s completely luck based, why hasn’t it happened to the Flyers since Giroux in 2006? Luck should go around at some point. The Flyers have done a good job at finding middle of lineup players but without the top line players, which for the most part now can no longer be had via trade or free agency in their prime, they will just be trapped in the mediocre middle.

Fix the scouting or expect to be having the same old conversations 10 years from now.
- psuhockey

You make a lot of good points here! I think with the draft a lot of it is timing. I mean next season the team that tanks the best will have the best shot at landing Connor Bedard, while some years the team picking high has very little to choose from. Still I agree that if you have a chance to get into the top 5, you have to do it. Continuing to pick at 14 is going to get you a middle of the pack player, nothing special, putting aside the luck aspect as you pointed out.

I said this yesterday, I Flyers need more voices in their executive leadership.
- jd250

They don't need more voices, they need the right voices.

Hire Danny B immediately and let’s burn this thing to the ground . Let him rebuild this thing
- ClaudeFather

What makes you think Briere is qualified for that? I'm not saying that he's not but I don't know.

dbth

Would that be wrong to say?
- hello it's me 2050

It could be. A lot of former players are in management positions. If he doesn't think that having 21 200 foot players that play the Flyer way I'd be open to it.

Him being a former Flyer doesn't bother me.

Hire Danny B immediately and let’s burn this thing to the ground . Let him rebuild this thing
- ClaudeFather

Amen.

A lot of empty seats last night it seems from some pics.

Ha! How's player development working out with Chris Stewart?
- PLindbergh31

This is very funny.

Philadelphia fell to 0-4 in shootouts this season... The Flyers have gone 0-for-16 on shootout attempts this season
- bmeltzer

They have not scored one shootout goal this season? That seems almost impossible.

What makes you think Briere is qualified for that? I'm not saying that he's not but I don't know.
- MJL

He was close to getting Montreal GM job. Maybe there are better candidates, but the Flyers clearly need a change at the top.

It could be. A lot of former players are in management positions. If he doesn't think that having 21 200 foot players that play the Flyer way I'd be open to it.

Him being a former Flyer doesn't bother me.
- hockeylover

It bothers me as he has been around for numerous years within flyers management. He said he learned from Shooter.

No doubt
At least Holmgren built a team that reached a Cup final. Fletcher’s teams have never got close to a Cup.
- BiggE

Never mind the farm system wasteland, salary cap devastation and goalie predicament that Homer gifted us.

Holmgren made really good trades. He was not good at drafting or contracts.
- mickel25

Yes, getting rid of Jeff Carter and Bob was very smart of him. We are quite fortunate.

A lot of empty seats last night it seems from some pics.
- hello it's me 2050

Even when they sucked in the early 90's they were still filling the seats for the most part.

I guess apathy and pricing out the average person, and being forced to breath through a rag watching them go 0 for 9 in a shootout will give folks pause about spending their money to see this wreck of a team.

It bothers me as he has been around for numerous years within flyers management. He said he learned from Shooter.
- hello it's me 2050

Yeah, I saw those posts after I posted. Still, he could just being saying that to be polite and have a totally different style. Who knows. My gut tells me Chucky is back next year anyway.

I doesn’t matter until this team fixes how they draft. They need a #1 scoring center and a #1 defenseman. A team can tank their way to a #1 center even though the Flyers won’t do it. I am tired of people only pointing out how tanking doesn’t work because of Buffalo and conveniently leaving out Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA, Washington and Tampa Bay, the winners of 11 of the last 13 Stanley Cups, which had massive contributions from top 5 picks. You can put St Louis in there with Pietrangelo to make it 12 out of 13. It seems it indisputable that top picks help win Stanley Cups but I guess the Flyers will automatically become Buffalo. Judging by their last two 2nd overall picks it may be true.

A #1 defenseman can be had outside of top picks but scouts have to recognize the talent and the Flyers haven’t been able to do it. And it’s not just defensemen. Tampa Bay had found two better centers in the 3rd round during Hextall’s time as GM then the Flyers did with multiple first round picks. Yes there is luck there but if it’s completely luck based, why hasn’t it happened to the Flyers since Giroux in 2006? Luck should go around at some point. The Flyers have done a good job at finding middle of lineup players but without the top line players, which for the most part now can no longer be had via trade or free agency in their prime, they will just be trapped in the mediocre middle.

Fix the scouting or expect to be having the same old conversations 10 years from now.
- psuhockey

The key to putting a decent team on the ice is drafting well, not necessarily tanking. Tanking may accelerate the process, but for every Patrick Kane that goes #1, there's a JVR that is right behind him! That's a massive talent decrease from #1 to #2 (Kane's a future hall of famer and JVR will be an after thought)and being the worst team in the league doesn't guarantee a #1 overall pick. How many #1 overall picks does Edmonton have and they have won exactly what since 1990? The Flyers have had some luck come their way by getting higher picks through the lottery, but they didn't draft well for a variety of reasons(Hexy vs. scouts, bad luck). Still sucks that the Flyers have only ever picked first overall once in the team's history and that was a trade they made to acquire the pick!

Yes, getting rid of Jeff Carter and Bob was very smart of him. We are quite fortunate.
- iamscore2day

Trading a first rounder for Steve Eminger was a beauty. Holmgren did some very good things but he was not the right guy in a cap environment.

What makes you think Briere is qualified for that? I'm not saying that he's not but I don't know.
- MJL

If he’s getting interviews with the Canadiens and supposedly interviewed well I’d think he’s competent.

No doubt
At least Holmgren built a team that reached a Cup final. Fletcher’s teams have never got close to a Cup.
- BiggE

I don't really know how to view that Cup team. They snuck into the playoffs on the last day winning a shootout of all things. Kinda fluky. Do you think that was a Cup caliber team that badly underachieved during the regular season, or a team that got hot in the playoffs?

Yeah, I saw those posts after I posted. Still, he could just being saying that to be polite and have a totally different style. Who knows. My gut tells me Chucky is back next year anyway.
- hockeylover

yes i agree he will be back in some decision making capacity.

Can someone explain what a Player Development coach does? It was my understanding that their role was to coach players on how to live off the ice with working out, nutrition, finances, how to deal with the media etc.

Even when they sucked in the early 90's they were still filling the seats for the most part.

I guess apathy and pricing out the average person, and being forced to breath through a rag watching them go 0 for 9 in a shootout will give folks pause about spending their money to see this wreck of a team.
- hockeylover

still sold out the 5 years they missed the playoffs.

it cost silyl money to go to a game today. Dropping an easy 500 with food and drink.

The key to putting a decent team on the ice is drafting well, not necessarily tanking. Tanking may accelerate the process, but for every Patrick Kane that goes #1, there's a JVR that is right behind him! That's a massive talent decrease from #1 to #2 (Kane's a future hall of famer and JVR will be an after thought)and being the worst team in the league doesn't guarantee a #1 overall pick. How many #1 overall picks does Edmonton have and they have won exactly what since 1990? The Flyers have had some luck come their way by getting higher picks through the lottery, but they didn't draft well for a variety of reasons(Hexy vs. scouts, bad luck). Still sucks that the Flyers have only ever picked first overall once in the team's history and that was a trade they made to acquire the pick!
- aantny88

The team is horrible, trade away the pending free agents and you can be horrible next year too. Maybe grab some veteran plugs where necessary. If that goes on for another season, then you have 3 very high picks in a row. Is that considered tanking? What would be the alternative sign guys like Kevin Hayes to bad contracts and finish top 10 instead of top 5? I don’t understand people’s idea that tanking is something they or the organization is above.

It's a train wreck from Dave Scott to the guy scrubbing the poopters at the WFC.
- PLindbergh31

Oh come on, the arena staff is good. No need to drag them into this mess.

The key to putting a decent team on the ice is drafting well, not necessarily tanking. Tanking may accelerate the process, but for every Patrick Kane that goes #1, there's a JVR that is right behind him! That's a massive talent decrease from #1 to #2 (Kane's a future hall of famer and JVR will be an after thought)and being the worst team in the league doesn't guarantee a #1 overall pick. How many #1 overall picks does Edmonton have and they have won exactly what since 1990? The Flyers have had some luck come their way by getting higher picks through the lottery, but they didn't draft well for a variety of reasons(Hexy vs. scouts, bad luck). Still sucks that the Flyers have only ever picked first overall once in the team's history and that was a trade they made to acquire the pick!
- aantny88

they were successful in acquiring those picks. That is the first step.