Ivan - Ghost
Sanheim - Morin
Myers - Haag

the flyers future D........I laugh every time. Maybe Adam Ginning will still pan out.

Resign Risto and trade Sanheim. Your thoughts?
- mickel25

I would in a heart beat…but I don’t think Fletch will be able to sign Risto.

I would in a heart beat…but I don’t think Fletch will be able to sign Risto.
- landros 2

If RR has any thoughts of winning why sign here if the money is close elsewhere?

Sanheim is a free agent after the 2023 season. He will be traded at some point. No doubt imo.
- hello it's me 2050

Beyond the fact that Sanheim continues to be very inconsistent….his over all game has never developed. How do you win with this guy playing 22 minutes a night?

I would in a heart beat…but I don’t think Fletch will be able to sign Risto.
- landros 2

I think Risto should go out and the get the most money he can. I think for the Flyers this means they should try to recoup what they can for him and move on. I like Risto but given where this team is at, I think it makes more sense to trade him and try to recoup at least a 1st round pick either this year or next year. Sanheim I would trade in the off season. I am not a fan of his and think the Flyers need a much stronger defenseman in their top 4.

If RR has any thoughts of winning why sign here if the money is close elsewhere?
- hello it's me 2050

Why would he? I agree.

Here is a question. Who is the last team to have 2 coaches with 10 game losing streaks before they half way point of an NHL season?
- PLindbergh31

Ouch. That hurts.

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.
- MJL

On draft day with John Carlson on the board. Not a smart guy. Not even close.

Resigning Ristolainen would be a huge mistake. I'm okay with a trade of Sanheim in the right deal as long as the age of the return is similar.
- MJL

What if they trade Sanheim for a 2nd round pick and prospect? I am honestly not sure they would even get this much for him.

I think Risto should go out and the get the most money he can. I think for the Flyers this means they should try to recoup what they can for him and move on. I like Risto but given where this team is at, I think it makes more sense to trade him and try to recoup at least a 1st round pick either this year or next year. Sanheim I would trade in the off season. I am not a fan of his and think the Flyers need a much stronger defenseman in their top 4.
- jd250

It really is a messy puzzle…Risto has played well. If the Flyers are unable to do a full reset, considering the current contract structure, then losing Risto will on make it another hole that needs to be filled next year.

On draft day with John Carlson on the board. Not a smart guy. Not even close.
- iamscore2day

Probably was listening to his scouts…

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?
- PLindbergh31

No one who remembers the "near-greatness" that Homer delivered ever asks this question. Prior to '87, we were a machine. Since then, we have been a team with a ceiling that has had a few notable exceptions to those outcomes. For the fanbase, those notable exceptions drive the perception of "Flyer Hockey."

It really is a messy puzzle…Risto has played well. If the Flyers are unable to do a full reset, considering the current contract structure, then losing Risto will on make it another hole that needs to be filled next year.
- landros 2

I do wonder what his market actually is. He is coming from a bad Buffalo team and so far this year hasn't lit it up offensively and defensively has been a bit up and down. His number might not be much higher than it is right now at $5.4. Still can the Flyers find a solid top 4 Defenseman for less than this? I think they can.

or ruined early on...never reaching potential.

See Morgan Frost.
I at least expected with nobody covering him and no 4th line pluggers dragging him down he would have buried his opportunity last night in SO...
- konalover711

Maybe he listened to the same coaches who have guided all of our other shooters who have all failed to score a single shoot-out goal this season. Talk about hating for hate's sake.

One thing I would do if I were Flyers is not resign Risto and throw that money at Hampus Lindholm, who is a FA after this season. Still young, he can skate and is smart. He would be my number 1 target in free agency this year.

As has been mentioned earlier, it's almost impossible to win the Stanley cup without having 1 #1 overall draft pick pan out and usually at least another Top 4 draft pick pan out.

Tampa Bay without Stamkos and Hedman never come close to a Stanley cup. In addition to being great themselves, the trickle down effect is also huge.

Having a Hedman, for example, in addition to being a goalie's best friend allows you slot every other defenseman lower so you aren't forcing your defense to play above their abilities simply because you have no one else.

Same thing with a Stamkos. He will take the pressure off of the other forwards, etc.

The sad truth is teams don't win the Stanley Cup with just hard work. You need the generational talent. If you get lucky, like TB, you have one or two bad years, and go right back to the top.

The Flyers are already the Edmonton Oilers without the potential generational talent to talk about. A sad team with no future and a bloated salary cap with horrible contracts.

If the Flyers won't do whatever it takes, what's proven to be required to win a Stanley Cup in a cap world, what care about the team?

As a side note, this team is so screwed up roster wise, getting a rookie Mario Lemieux on this team wouldn't be enough to turn it around overnight. Hayes was an obvious bad contract at signing despite the "trust the flyers brass" crowd and "give it time". I still think Ellis never plays another game for the Flyers and was a save my job or if not he won't be my problem signing.

One thing I would do if I were Flyers is not resign Risto and throw that money at Hampus Lindholm, who is a FA after this season. Still young, he can skate and is smart. He would be my number 1 target in free agency this year.
- jd250

How does he fit into the flyers window of being a contender?

I think trading TK or Provorov right now would be stupid to be honest. You don't cut off your nose to spite your face as the expression goes. When times like these occur, you cannot overreact and make emotional decisions, and I am happy that we have Fletcher because that is exactly the approach he is taking, he is being patient while the hoard is massing at the gates!

TK and Provey may be having rough years, but they demonstrate game in and game out that they want to be Flyers and they are putting out maximum effort. Eventually things will turn around for both these players, and we WANT that to happen with the Flyers, not another team.

Its clear some veterans should be moved. I think G will be traded for sure, Risto is 50/50 I would say at this point. JVR will be bought out in the off season, no one is going to trade for him this season since they all know he will be available for nothing in the off season. Again, I don't think things are as bleak here as you all think or want to believe. The Flyers still have a great goalie in Hart. They will get Ellis back next season with Provey and York which is nice start to rebuilding the D. They will get a healthy Couts back with Cam, Farabee, Laughts and hopefully a healthy Hayes which is a nice start to the forward group. If the Flyers can augment their lineup with significantly more speed and skill (via the draft and FAs) I think they can be much better next season.

There is an old saying that "it doesn't rain every day", at some point the Flyers have to get some luck and not lose so many players to injury.
- jd250

This is complete fantasy. Fletcher is being patient? Since when?


If the Flyers buy out JVR it just confirms how colossally stupid they are.
So another quick fix and a reset? When will some learn?

I do wonder what his market actually is. He is coming from a bad Buffalo team and so far this year hasn't lit it up offensively and defensively has been a bit up and down. His number might not be much higher than it is right now at $5.4. Still can the Flyers find a solid top 4 Defenseman for less than this? I think they can.
- jd250

I think it will be a struggle to find a top 4 d man in that range. Where I would be on board is if they think one of these young guys can step up …ie York or Zamula and fill that role. How do you get guys like VDV, Brown, Thompson, Willman, mayhew from seeing the ice? Guys like Frost, Bunnaman, Ratcliffe, Allison, Brink and O’brien …the guys we spent draft capital on have to develop and actually play.

What if they trade Sanheim for a 2nd round pick and prospect? I am honestly not sure they would even get this much for him.
- jd250

It would have to be a very good prospect. Despite his inconsistencies, Sanheim is still a legit 2nd pair defenseman that has some positives to his game.

This is complete fantasy. Fletcher is being patient? Since when?


If the Flyers buy out JVR it just confirms how colossally stupid they are.
So another quick fix and a reset? When will some learn?
- MJL

There is no sense of trying to have a rational conversation with you, I get it, you hate Fletcher, he replaced Hextall, so no matter what he does or does not do it won't matter. I think Fletcher this season has been very patient, letting things play out, and that is absolutely the right thing to do at this point.

I think trading TK or Provorov right now would be stupid to be honest. You don't cut off your nose to spite your face as the expression goes. When times like these occur, you cannot overreact and make emotional decisions, and I am happy that we have Fletcher because that is exactly the approach he is taking, he is being patient while the hoard is massing at the gates!

TK and Provey may be having rough years, but they demonstrate game in and game out that they want to be Flyers and they are putting out maximum effort. Eventually things will turn around for both these players, and we WANT that to happen with the Flyers, not another team.

Its clear some veterans should be moved. I think G will be traded for sure, Risto is 50/50 I would say at this point. JVR will be bought out in the off season, no one is going to trade for him this season since they all know he will be available for nothing in the off season. Again, I don't think things are as bleak here as you all think or want to believe. The Flyers still have a great goalie in Hart. They will get Ellis back next season with Provey and York which is nice start to rebuilding the D. They will get a healthy Couts back with Cam, Farabee, Laughts and hopefully a healthy Hayes which is a nice start to the forward group. If the Flyers can augment their lineup with significantly more speed and skill (via the draft and FAs) I think they can be much better next season.

There is an old saying that "it doesn't rain every day", at some point the Flyers have to get some luck and not lose so many players to injury.
- jd250

you are entertaining.

No one even knows wtf is wrong with Ellis. So who knows when or if he will be back.

Ex selke will likely be banged up every year going forward imo.

"Laughts" lol.

what free agents can they add that have more speed and skill? Saying they can be much better next seaosn means schitt when you look ar where they are presently.

I know top picks matter, but it's what you do with those picks.

I know I'm not comparing apples to apples but the Sixers went that route and didn't do the swiftest of jobs. Sure they got got Embiid and Simmons ( I know I know) but the screwed the pooch and traded up to get Fultz when they could have stayed pat and got Tatum. Also Okafor over Porzingis.

Point being they need to draft the right guys and then hopefully develop them too.

As has been mentioned earlier, it's almost impossible to win the Stanley cup without having 1 #1 overall draft pick pan out and usually at least another Top 4 draft pick pan out.

Tampa Bay without Stamkos and Hedman never come close to a Stanley cup. In addition to being great themselves, the trickle down effect is also huge.

Having a Hedman, for example, in addition to being a goalie's best friend allows you slot every other defenseman lower so you aren't forcing your defense to play above their abilities simply because you have no one else.

Same thing with a Stamkos. He will take the pressure off of the other forwards, etc.

The sad truth is teams don't win the Stanley Cup with just hard work. You need the generational talent. If you get lucky, like TB, you have one or two bad years, and go right back to the top.

The Flyers are already the Edmonton Oilers without the potential generational talent to talk about. A sad team with no future and a bloated salary cap with horrible contracts.

If the Flyers won't do whatever it takes, what's proven to be required to win a Stanley Cup in a cap world, what care about the team?

As a side note, this team is so screwed up roster wise, getting a rookie Mario Lemieux on this team wouldn't be enough to turn it around overnight. Hayes was an obvious bad contract at signing despite the "trust the flyers brass" crowd and "give it time". I still think Ellis never plays another game for the Flyers and was a save my job or if not he won't be my problem signing.
- Flyers_01

It took TB 10 years to win the Cup after drafting Stamkos and 9 years after drafting Hedman. It was not until they got very fortunate with Kucherov and Point that they were able to elevate.

I'd say pick a team to watch and root for. The Avalanche are a fantastic team to watch with some nice depth and high-end future HOF talent.

One of the best things I think Philadelphians, South New Jersians, Bucks Countians (LOL) can do is just stop going to the WFC. An empty arena is the only way the bean counters at Comcast will effect any sort of dramatic change.

I'm open to letting Briere come in and do a full rebuild - a real one. Wouldn't be mad at Tocchet taking the reins as a coach either, but for the love of all things decent clean house and nix the Lappy's and other Flyers lackeys out of South NJ.

Edit: Pork Roll is NJ not Philly.