This is true but that’s why management should step in and start moving out players immediately. Players and coaches play to win but the GM needs to plan for the future and a higher draft pick potentially helps the future more than winning meaningless games at this point.
- psuhockey

The NHL trade market has not developed yet. With the salary cap situation and the trade deadline still a month and a half from now, teams aren't ready to make moves. Management has to maximize the return for any assets that they will attempt to move. That isn't going to happen now.

Unless they bottom out and win the lottery next year, I don't think there's a generational talent coming their way.

So you might as well play to win and see where the chips fall. Draft the best player avail and hope it works out as there are zero guarantees.
- Hextall271

Generational players only come around so often. I'll settle for an elite player or two. I don't know a darn thing about any of the draft eligible players but there should be some really good talent available with a top 10 pick.

Generational players only come around so often. I'll settle for an elite player or two. I don't know a darn thing about any of the draft eligible players but there should be some really good talent available with a top 10 pick.
- MJL

Yeah. I am not tracking this draft or next closely but know the top picks. Take a top 10.

Interesting note, the memorial cup will be hosted in my home town this june, so I hope to get to a lot of games to see some of the elite prospects. Should be some great hockey.

Yeah. I am not tracking this draft or next closely but know the top picks. Take a top 10.

Interesting note, the memorial cup will be hosted in my home town this june, so I hope to get to a lot of games to see some of the elite prospects. Should be some great hockey.
- Hextall271

You lucky bastard!

Generational players only come around so often. I'll settle for an elite player or two. I don't know a darn thing about any of the draft eligible players but there should be some really good talent available with a top 10 pick.
- MJL

We can start talking about it now. By the time the draft rolls around we will all be experts LOL.

Here is our first research subject.


https://www.thedraftanaly...file-lw-juraj-slafkovsky/

Back in the playoff race. Maybe buyers at the deadline.....

The problem with that is that is that there's zero guarantee unless it's a bedard type clear cut generational talent. We had the second pick recently and it didn't work out at all. They'll be in the lottery, and I expect that they'll pick top 10. That SHOULD bring you a player with a good shot at making the NHL.
- Hextall271

The 2017 draft which you mentioned had no projected generational players. Heiskanen, Makar and Pettersson were taken in the top 5. The 5-10 picks after were Glass, Andersson, Mittelstadt, Rasmussen and Tippett. Is there a difference between the first 3 players I mentioned and the last 5?

You are correct there are zero guarantees. There is an element of chance much like gambling. But like gambling it’s about playing the percentages. Single numbers do come up on the Roulette wheel but there are bets with better odds on the table. The odds are undeniably better of picking an elite player at the top of the draft than it is lower in the round. You can list all the Giroux’s, Bergerons and Ahos you like but those players a very rare where they were picked. The odds are also undeniably better that a player picked at the top of the draft will be NHL ready faster than lower in the draft. Again you can make a list for everyone who made it quick that was picked later but the probability favors the top. So you can say win and take a chance since there are no guarantee just acknowledge you are making a bad bet in the process.

The problem with that is that is that there's zero guarantee unless it's a bedard type clear cut generational talent. We had the second pick recently and it didn't work out at all. They'll be in the lottery, and I expect that they'll pick top 10. That SHOULD bring you a player with a good shot at making the NHL.
- Hextall271

Who cares about a guarantee. You want to put yourself in the best positon to get the best pick.

They need to move CC sooner rather than later. Assuming he wants to leave. This GM cant be this stupid. He has to know getting the highest pick possible is in the best interest going forward.

The NHL trade market has not developed yet. With the salary cap situation and the trade deadline still a month and a half from now, teams aren't ready to make moves. Management has to maximize the return for any assets that they will attempt to move. That isn't going to happen now.
- MJL

That’s bs. Teams have made big moves at this point in the season before. Outside of salary cap implications there is no reason to wait. As far as returns, it’s complete bunk that they get better near the deadline. It’s like the myth of AHL seasoning. Sounds great in theory but in reality it’s garbage. Giroux’s return now or later will be an “A” asset (1st rd pick or good prospect) a “B” asset (2nd rd picks or 2nd level prospect), and something else. If the Flyers take a cap dump, the B asset can be upgraded to an “A”. That’s pretty much the return on any decent player available whether at the deadline or in the offseason. It’s not going to magically become more. The Flyers can should just take a cap dump and make it happen now but they won’t. Fletcher wants as much cap space to blow this summer as possible but it won’t be helping the team any and realistically will just be hurting it down the line.

Playoffs??????People talking playoffs!!!!

Generational players only come around so often. I'll settle for an elite player or two. I don't know a darn thing about any of the draft eligible players but there should be some really good talent available with a top 10 pick.
- MJL

Are TK and Joel elite in your opinion?

No doubt. Although I call it the moral victory cup. They will go on a period of solid hockey. Especially if they get some injured players back. Don't be fooled. There was some very good things that happened in the game last night but also some of the same troubling signs that have always been there.
- MJL

You do realize that very few teams have the ability to play a perfect game? Hockey/sports are about mistakes and everyone makes them. I thought last night's game actually had entertainment value and that's all I'm looking for at this point cause they ain't getting back in the playoff hunt. I hate the tanking idea in professional sports in general. That's why I hope the Sixers NEVER win jack squat! What they did was an embarrassment to pro sports!! Thanks!

I was at the game (10 game ticket pass) and our rep moved us from 209 row 11 to 103 row 11 right before puck drop. I was very critical of TK in the 1st as well as JVR (horrible game minus the goal), but glad TK snapped out of it; what a snipe. He was all over the ice in the 2nd and 3rd. Strong game from Laughton and Lindblom. The Mathew-Frost-Willman line showed solid speed and pressure on forecheck most of the night. Hart was awesome. I know the season is lost, but one of the more entertaining games I attended this year. That’s all you can ask for I guess. A win alway feel nice, especially when you have a whiny Jets fan behind you all game 😂
- arichardson22

That is all I ask for - is to be entertained. Which is why I prefer players with a little skill and lots of wheels. Laughton s a classic example. He has trouble finishing but has th skills and wheels to at least get to those points....

You lucky bastard!

- MBFlyerfan

We'll see. I think the home team is gonna get creamed, but that's ok I guess.. It should be some great hockey.. Hope covid doesn't derail it all though.

That’s bs. Teams have made big moves at this point in the season before. Outside of salary cap implications there is no reason to wait. As far as returns, it’s complete bunk that they get better near the deadline. It’s like the myth of AHL seasoning. Sounds great in theory but in reality it’s garbage. Giroux’s return now or later will be an “A” asset (1st rd pick or good prospect) a “B” asset (2nd rd picks or 2nd level prospect), and something else. If the Flyers take a cap dump, the B asset can be upgraded to an “A”. That’s pretty much the return on any decent player available whether at the deadline or in the offseason. It’s not going to magically become more. The Flyers can should just take a cap dump and make it happen now but they won’t. Fletcher wants as much cap space to blow this summer as possible but it won’t be helping the team any and realistically will just be hurting it down the line.
- psuhockey

Its not even close to being BS.

Ratcliffe hasn't looked out of place. Maybe he's one of them guys who is better in NHL than AHL, like Eric Wellwood.
- backfire

He really looked good when he got a brief chance to play with some skill guys, which is why I do not agre with bringing up players like him and Frost and playing them on the 4th line. Of course someone has to play there, but it is hard to assess.......

You do realize that very few teams have the ability to play a perfect game? Hockey/sports are about mistakes and everyone makes them. I thought last night's game actually had entertainment value and that's all I'm looking for at this point cause they ain't getting back in the playoff hunt. I hate the tanking idea in professional sports in general. That's why I hope the Sixers NEVER win jack squat! What they did was an embarrassment to pro sports!! Thanks!
- Phillywhiteout

If pro sports don’t want tanking then don’t reward failure like the draft does. Miami is in the news for wanting to tank in 2019. The coach defied his boss and the Dolphins ended up with the 5th pick in Tua instead of the first pick in Burrows. Cincinnati was rewarded for being awful while Miami was punished for trying to win.

Until the system that reward failure changes, I don’t fault teams for trying to game the system.

Its not even close to being BS.

- MBFlyerfan

Great examples. I got one that proves my point in Thomas Vanek. He was traded in October for a 1st and 2nd round pick only to get a 2nd rd pick at the deadline that year. Waiting until the deadline isn’t some gospel because that’s what GM’s tell you.

If CC agrees to be traded I shut him down until a trade happens.

It will just ruin their draft position. These two wins have moved the Flyers to 7th overall out of the top 5. Don’t know how much it matters this draft but stupid all the same.
- psuhockey

That is the least of my worries. I'm hoping it doesn't ruin the draft altogether by Chuck thinking he has a chance and trading the pick for a run at the playoffs. This would also mean he would not try to move our UFAs.......

That is the least of my worries. I'm hoping it doesn't ruin the draft altogether by Chuck thinking he has a chance and trading the pick for a run at the playoffs. This would also mean he would not try to move our UFAs.......
- mr4tno

I wouldn’t worry about this years pick. I would worry about Fletcher traded the 2023 first to try and save his job this offseason.

Great examples. I got one that proves my point in Thomas Vanek. He was traded in October for a 1st and 2nd round pick only to get a 2nd rd pick at the deadline that year. Waiting until the deadline isn’t some gospel because that’s what GM’s tell you.
- psuhockey

It is a known fact that teams in contention get more desperate as the trade deadline nears. They don't call it silly season for nothin. There is much more likely to be a bidding war for an available player at the deadline than right now.

What is this poop?! Stop winning games, damn it!
I think we should start Martin Jones a game or two extra per week
Move McEwen to the top line and see what he can do
Put morin back at wing
Let yandle play top pair minutes and see what he has left in the tank

Make it happen!

It is a known fact that teams in contention get more desperate as the trade deadline nears. They don't call it silly season for nothin. There is much more likely to be a bidding war for an available player at the deadline than right now.
- Phillywhiteout

How is it a known fact? Maybe it was back in the day before the salary cap but not anymore. The league has changed since then. GMs are reticent to trade earlier because it announces to their fans the season is over. The only other reason to wait is maybe maybe more teams will get in on the player but for Giroux that isn’t an option because Giroux can pick where he goes. The Flyers can get a list of teams this week and trade him next week and get the exact same return they would get at the deadline. Write this in stone: the return will be an “A” asset, a “B” asset and something else. I doubt Fletcher will get more because he won’t be taking a cap dump.

It is a known fact that teams in contention get more desperate as the trade deadline nears. They don't call it silly season for nothin. There is much more likely to be a bidding war for an available player at the deadline than right now.
- Phillywhiteout

The only thing different about this year is the 8 spots in the East are wrapped up so no team will be adding players in East for a playoff run. Teams will only be adding in East if they need and can solidify their playoff team.