I don't think the environment is dysfunctional at all. Yes, losing sucks but I agree with Fletcher when he says this is the time the younger players have to step up and show they can step in and want to be here. What younger players are regressing or lacking growth, TK, Provorov and Sanheim? TK and Provorov have taken a step back for the past 2 seasons. With Provorov I am thinking its completely due to the number of minutes he is playing game after game (3 of the past 5 games he has played over 26 minutes) and relying on him as being your number 1. With TK I just think he is what he is, and its inconsistent which is what makes it frustrating. I think we have to just ask ourselves, is there more to TK than what we are seeing and can it come out consistently moving forward? With Sanheim, I just don't think he is that good and I would trade him.
- jd250

Mostly, I agree with you on Provorov, and I would not trade him. On Sanheim, I do not understand his usage or coaching. Why no extended looks on the PP? If neither he nor Ristolainen can play up with Provorov, I am very much against bringing back that pairing. Just because it’s the Flyers most complete pairing this season doesn’t make it good. Do they somehow imagine with a different partner, either will be effective to fill in at 1RD? Seems so bizarre considering they haven’t really tried currently. Regarding TK, I have long wondered if he would be more engaged consistently if they moved him to center. He is a puzzle, no doubt. He clearly has regressed. I wonder about coaching and health/fitness.

Mostly, I agree with you on Provorov, and I would not trade him. On Sanheim, I do not understand his usage or coaching. Why no extended looks on the PP? If neither he nor Ristolainen can play up with Provorov, I am very much against bringing back that pairing. Just because it’s the Flyers most complete pairing this season doesn’t make it good. Do they somehow imagine with a different partner, either will be effective to fill in at 1RD? Seems so bizarre considering they haven’t really tried currently. Regarding TK, I have long wondered if he would be more engaged consistently if they moved him to center. He is a puzzle, no doubt. He clearly has regressed. I wonder about coaching and health/fitness.
- NC Flyers Fan

Neither is a long term fit to play with Provorov but right now, the defense should be Provorov/Sanheim, York/Braun and Seeler/Ristolainen.

Fletcher talks about adding top-end talent while also wanting more size and be tougher to play against. If Giroux was willing to go to the Rangers, would you take back Kaapo Kakko? He has the potential to be both a solid top 6 forward with scoring skill and size though he has not shown it enough yet.
- jd250

Comical...Rangers arent giving us Kakko for Giroux...that's crazy. Kid is 20 yrs old and progressing nicely. Just started to get to play in top 6 with talent before he got hurt.But to answer your question that's a no brainers do it in a minute.

ok....miserable (frank)
- THE BLACK HAND

Never understood the whole bandwagon jumping thing? You're either a fan of that particular team or you aren't. Never jumped on a bandwagon in my life as an adult. It's like people think if they root for a winner that makes them a winner....or I guess they're lemmings that feel the need to belong to something. Very weird to me. I'm a Flyers fan and still am despite hating how the team is currently constructed. I don't give a rat's ass about the Sixers. And that's all I have to say about that!

Neither is a long term fit to play with Provorov but right now, the defense should be Provorov/Sanheim, York/Braun and Seeler/Ristolainen.
- MJL

Yes, why the hell not? Big sigh! 😣

Yes the number 1 problem on the Flyers is the lack of top-end talent and it has been this way for the past few years now. I have routinely posted that the Flyers top players are not top players in the league. This to me is the primary reason the Flyers would not be a cup contender, because just looking around the league you can see the real cup contenders (Tampa, Florida, Colorado for example) have multiple elite players. However, this Flyers team coming into this season should have been a playoff team that maybe wins a round, and after last season that would have been a step in the right direction. Injuries stopped this step in its tracks.
- jd250

Healthy who do you think they were better then...Carolina..Rangers..Caps...Pens??. IMO all are better then Flyers even if healthy .Those teams have also had injuries this season

Neither is a long term fit to play with Provorov but right now, the defense should be Provorov/Sanheim, York/Braun and Seeler/Ristolainen.
- MJL

I'd keep Provorov for sure, but I'd certainly be willing to part with both Sanheim and Konecky at this point. At the very least get both their asses in the gym this summer, so that they can better handle the rigors of an NHL season!!

What is re-tooling the right way? More of the same of what they've been doing? Re-tooling is exactly what they shouldn't be doing.
- MJL

I agree with Fletcher that the best way to obtain top end talent is through the draft. However I also agree with PT21 that the very best way is to get into the top 5 of the draft as Detroit has done recently. So if the Flyers do it that way I think they are on the right track. However if they try to throw money at a quick fix, like signing Gaudreau for example, that IMO is the wrong way to obtain top end talent.

Never understood the whole bandwagon jumping thing? You're either a fan of that particular team or you aren't. Never jumped on a bandwagon in my life as an adult. It's like people think if they root for a winner that makes them a winner....or I guess they're lemmings that feel the need to belong to something. Very weird to me. I'm a Flyers fan and still am despite hating how the team is currently constructed. I don't give a rat's ass about the Sixers. And that's all I have to say about that!

- Phillywhiteout

Why do you have such a cynical view of others? Not everyone has unlimited time to view sports. I'm not a soccer fan and I don't like watching soccer. However if the Phila. Union win the championship, that's great. I don't normally follow the Sixers during the season but I love the playoffs. Yes, I'm a bandwagon Sixers fan and a lemming. It has nothing to do with wanting to belong to something. It has to do with, wait for it. Entertainment!

I agree with Fletcher that the best way to obtain top end talent is through the draft. However I also agree with PT21 that the very best way is to get into the top 5 of the draft as Detroit has done recently. So if the Flyers do it that way I think they are on the right track. However if they try to throw money at a quick fix, like signing Gaudreau for example, that IMO is the wrong way to obtain top end talent.
- jd250

Now it seems as though you don't have an understanding at what a re-tool is or you're just contradicting yourself.

There is zero chance of the Rangers giving up Kakko for a playoff rental. C'mon, be real.
- MJL

The Rangers have at least 4 young players in their system that are underperforming or just don't have a shot yet at breaking into the lineup. The 4 players are Kakko, Kravtsov, Chytil and Lundkvist. I would think if the Rangers decided to go for it this season, they are going to have to deal 1 or 2 of these players.

The Rangers have at least 4 young players in their system that are underperforming or just don't have a shot yet at breaking into the lineup. The 4 players are Kakko, Kravtsov, Chytil and Lundkvist. I would think if the Rangers decided to go for it this season, they are going to have to deal 1 or 2 of these players.
- jd250

That couldn't be more incorrect. They don't have to deal any of them. There is zero, I repeat zero chance of the Rangers giving up Kakko for a playoff rental. That you even suggested it, is mind boggling as well as questioning whether the Flyers would take him in a deal for Giroux. Of course they would!

Now it seems as though you don't have an understanding at what a re-tool is or you're just contradicting yourself.
- MJL

Fletcher used the term "aggressively retool". I would imagine to you that means the Flyers will throw money at the problem and make more bad deals to free up cap space and then use that cap space to spend it on aging talent. I am saying that this would be the wrong approach. There are other ways to aggressively retool, and that is to be aggressive at getting up into the top 5 of the next two drafts and getting players with good odds of being top end players. That is what I want the Flyers to do and what I have been posting they should do for months. There is no contradiction here!

That couldn't be more incorrect. They don't have to deal any of them. There is zero, I repeat zero chance of the Rangers giving up Kakko for a playoff rental. That you even suggested it, is mind boggling as well as questioning whether the Flyers would take him in a deal for Giroux. Of course they would!
- MJL

First of all, I asked a question to kick off a normal dialog around a relevant topic, not to have another useless discussion with you about what I said or didn't say. However you act like you have complete inner knowledge of what the Rangers would or would not do and you don't! So stop acting like you are some sort of authority on everything Rangers because you are not. There has been a lot of chatter around the Rangers of late and what they potentially could trade to go for it this season, and Kakko is one of those players.

Fletcher used the term "aggressively retool". I would imagine to you that means the Flyers will throw money at the problem and make more bad deals to free up cap space and then use that cap space to spend it on aging talent. I am saying that this would be the wrong approach. There are other ways to aggressively retool, and that is to be aggressive at getting up into the top 5 of the next two drafts and getting players with good odds of being top end players. That is what I want the Flyers to do and what I have been posting they should do for months. There is no contradiction here!
- jd250

No, not to me, that's what a re-tool means. Making more trades and using free agency. Exactly like he has done the entire time he has been here. Now after all that was said at the press conference and how they have done things since Fletcher has been here, you think it's going to change? You don't even realize what you're saying when you say you support Fletcher and his plans.

Healthy who do you think they were better then...Carolina..Rangers..Caps...Pens??. IMO all are better then Flyers even if healthy .Those teams have also had injuries this season
- hfc355

If completely healthy I think this Flyers team could compete with all these teams and win their share of games.

First of all, I asked a question to kick off a normal dialog around a relevant topic, not to have another useless discussion with you about what I said or didn't say. However you act like you have complete inner knowledge of what the Rangers would or would not do and you don't! So stop acting like you are some sort of authority on everything Rangers because you are not. There has been a lot of chatter around the Rangers of late and what they potentially could trade to go for it this season, and Kakko is one of those players.
- jd250

You don't need to have any inner knowledge of what the Rangers might do to know that they aren't going to trade Kaako for a 34 year old Giroux, who is a pending UFA.

If completely healthy I think this Flyers team could compete with all these teams and win their share of games.
- jd250

Completely healthy, the Flyers are not anywhere near the top teams in the league.

The Rangers have at least 4 young players in their system that are underperforming or just don't have a shot yet at breaking into the lineup. The 4 players are Kakko, Kravtsov, Chytil and Lundkvist. I would think if the Rangers decided to go for it this season, they are going to have to deal 1 or 2 of these players.
- jd250

They have 17 million in cap space so they don't have to move anyone to fit anybody. SO they have that from a negotiating standpoint. They aren't up against any sort of cap wall. But they are especially not moving Kakko in a deal for a rental. That will never happen.

I could see Chytil in a deal for a "go for it" type player.

It all comes down to Giroux, and what teams will be on his list.

Mostly, I agree with you on Provorov, and I would not trade him. On Sanheim, I do not understand his usage or coaching. Why no extended looks on the PP? If neither he nor Ristolainen can play up with Provorov, I am very much against bringing back that pairing. Just because it’s the Flyers most complete pairing this season doesn’t make it good. Do they somehow imagine with a different partner, either will be effective to fill in at 1RD? Seems so bizarre considering they haven’t really tried currently. Regarding TK, I have long wondered if he would be more engaged consistently if they moved him to center. He is a puzzle, no doubt. He clearly has regressed. I wonder about coaching and health/fitness.
- NC Flyers Fan

With the Risto/Sanheim pairing, they may be the best Flyers defensive pairing but that still is not very good. Risto has his bad moments for sure, and Sanheim to me is just not that good. Neither has shown they can step up and help Provorov reduce his minutes and that is disappointing.

Completely healthy, the Flyers are not anywhere near the top teams in the league.
- MJL

Not in the league, but in the Metro division if completely healthy I think they make the playoffs. No team IMO from the Metro is at Tampa, Florida or the Avs' level.

Fletcher used the term "aggressively retool". I would imagine to you that means the Flyers will throw money at the problem and make more bad deals to free up cap space and then use that cap space to spend it on aging talent. I am saying that this would be the wrong approach. There are other ways to aggressively retool, and that is to be aggressive at getting up into the top 5 of the next two drafts and getting players with good odds of being top end players. That is what I want the Flyers to do and what I have been posting they should do for months. There is no contradiction here!
- jd250

I am glad to see that you are conceding that his "retooling" trades have been a failure. Risto and Ellis are worse than adding nothing at all. Now, "retool" is a euphemism for "tanking?" This is the action that Chuck is to implement? And you are optimistic? Please google "Stockholm syndrome" and read up on what you suffer from. Yeesh.

Not in the league, but in the Metro division if completely healthy I think they make the playoffs. No team IMO from the Metro is at Tampa, Florida or the Avs' level.
- jd250

No Canes, Pens or Bs? Seems a little odd.

You don't need to have any inner knowledge of what the Rangers might do to know that they aren't going to trade Kaako for a 34 year old Giroux, who is a pending UFA.
- MJL

Straight up, of course not, but if the Flyers wanted Kakko they might work out a larger trade. Same with Newhook, I don't expect the Avs to trade Newhook for only a rental, but in a larger deal, maybe. This would be another way the Flyers can be aggressive at the deadline to obtain young and potentially top end talent.

No Canes, Pens or Bs? Seems a little odd.
- iamscore2day

The Bs are not close and I think they will be lucky to beat out the Red Wings for a wildcard spot. The Pens and Canes are good teams and are well coached, however I don't think they win a series against what IMO are the upper echelon teams in the league.