It’s surreal how the Wild and Flyers have so many ties. Fletcher, Flehr, Yeo, Seeler, Mayhew,etc. The Flyers even brought over the Wild equipment manager.
- Minnyhock

The hallmark of mediocrity is to stick to what you know and be scared that if you take a chance, you will (frank) up. That's why Flyers consistently rehire old valiant warriors. That's why CF brings over people he knows.

That nuanced response was worthy of Alan Greenspan in which you appear to agree with me.

I would say this to you: it is essentially impossible that a GM NOT be aware of any move he makes affecting draft position. How could they? It is extremely relevant to their fortunes and is directly affected by the team they put on ice.

Yet to say they are thinking of draft position in current decisions is anathema to fans for a variety of reasons. As such, they almost have to behave like a politician in what they do and what they say and the gap thereof. Any public statements have to be interpreted in that context. It is truly bizarre.

Sometimes, the best strategic way to get out of this sort of 2-faced dilemma is to have your hands be publicly tied. It takes away discretion, and so, fans can't blame you. Guerin might have done just that. He can shoot for whatever he likes, point is, the straitjacket he has put himself in makes it unlikely (though not impossible) he will succeed.

I am hoping we have put ourselves in such a situation and I am hoping we can also lock ourselves in a bit more.
- PT21

I never liked the way Greenspan used big words and gave explanations that said nothing. The jury is still out on what kind of GM Guerin is. I think they will give him some time to build a winner.

Puck you.
- PT21

Is your real name David Puddy? Did you mean to write "you stupid?"

I never liked the way Greenspan used big words and gave explanations that said nothing. The jury is still out on what kind of GM Guerin is. I think they will give him some time to build a winner.
- Minnyhock

I disagree he said nothing. He simply used words like numbers: extremely calibrated.Most Fed Res chairrmen do that, as you are undoubtedly aware, though not quite to that extent. They have to be very nuanced. They cannot afford to be like Elon Musk's Twitter feed. The markets will spook.

Unike I hear evidence to the contrary, I believe Guerin, Francis and Yzerman are all birds of the same feather in terms of current philosophy, and the only differences in their coloring are the excuses they use.

On the topic of hockey management, is it now time to declare that Uncle Lou is not quite the genius he is made out to be? His philosophy of not making a sinle big move to augment a young promising team, and simply bringing in old players he helped draft/develop with a franchise 10 years ago appears to have gone belly up.

How can you say they are excellent? What are basing this on?
- hello it's me 2050

Ersson was one of the best goalies in the SHL last year and perhaps the year before. Fedotov was the same in the KHL. He has been the best goalie in the olympics this year. You could say that makes him the giant in a field of dwarves but it is till true (figuratively and literally as he is 6'7" before the skates go on). Sandstrom has had a rocky period but seems to have found his old form which made him one of the best european goalie prospects. Chucky will have some assets to turn into the next RR and Ellis is what I am saying.

I legitimately couldn't care less about this team until Clarke and Homer have 0 ties whatsoever to this organization any more.

It will be more of the same until then.

Is your real name David Puddy? Did you mean to write "you stupid?"
- iamscore2day

I didn't who this Puddy guy is. Just searched.

No, I was riffing on your use of the word hobgoblin. Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) is the most famous hobgoblin of them all.

Ersson was one of the best goalies in the SHL last year and perhaps the year before. Fedotov was the same in the KHL. He has been the best goalie in the olympics this year. You could say that makes him the giant in a field of dwarves but it is till true (figuratively and literally as he is 6'7" before the skates go on). Sandstrom has had a rocky period but seems to have found his old form which made him one of the best european goalie prospects. Chucky will have some assets to turn into the next RR and Ellis is what I am saying.
- iamscore2day

They are unproven in north america. So to give them an excellent moniker is off base imo.

Olympic competition has been well not good. He has done his job which is all you can ask for.

Sandtrum has been good for phantoms. Cant say excellent imo.

Goalie prospects usually don't have much trade value unless top end. Do other GM's view those 3 as top end?

Have they still not technically shut down Hayes and Ellis for the season lol

I didn't who this Puddy guy is. Just searched.

No, I was riffing on your use of the word hobgoblin. Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) is the most famous hobgoblin of them all.
- PT21

very cool. unexpected on any board.

Ersson was one of the best goalies in the SHL last year and perhaps the year before. Fedotov was the same in the KHL. He has been the best goalie in the olympics this year. You could say that makes him the giant in a field of dwarves but it is till true (figuratively and literally as he is 6'7" before the skates go on). Sandstrom has had a rocky period but seems to have found his old form which made him one of the best european goalie prospects. Chucky will have some assets to turn into the next RR and Ellis is what I am saying.
- iamscore2day

Ersson last year: 11th in sv %. Year before, 20th, with a 0.895. Wallstedt ranks higher, has a better sv% than both of those years of Errson, and is younger.

I don't really know much about prospects. But there was a lot of hype about Wallstedt I do remember. If he wasn't a goalie, and not played abroad, he would probably have been even higher than when he was picked.

I disagree he said nothing. He simply used words like numbers: extremely calibrated.Most Fed Res chairrmen do that, as you are undoubtedly aware, though not quite to that extent. They have to be very nuanced. They cannot afford to be like Elon Musk's Twitter feed. The markets will spook.

Unike I hear evidence to the contrary, I believe Guerin, Francis and Yzerman are all birds of the same feather in terms of current philosophy, and the only differences in their coloring are the excuses they use.

On the topic of hockey management, is it now time to declare that Uncle Lou is not quite the genius he is made out to be? His philosophy of not making a sinle big move to augment a young promising team, and simply bringing in old players he helped draft/develop with a franchise 10 years ago appears to have gone belly up.
- PT21

Lou reminds me of Al Davis. Both brilliant but staying on as the brilliance faded and the game passed them by.

They are unproven in north america. So to give them an excellent moniker is off base imo.

Olympic competition has been well not good. He has done his job which is all you can ask for.

Sandtrum has been good for phantoms. Cant say excellent imo.

Goalie prospects usually don't have much trade value unless top end. Do other GM's view those 3 as top end?
- hello it's me 2050

Sandstrom recently has been very strong. As for limiting the assessment to NA experience, I don't agree. How they do against the competition in the best non-NHL leagues is a valid basis for assessing them. Would not know about how GMs view them. I would not use our GM's views, that is for sure.

very cool. unexpected on any board.
- iamscore2day

You are saying using "puck" on a hockey board is cool?

Kidding. Thanks.

I legitimately couldn't care less about this team until Clarke and Homer have 0 ties whatsoever to this organization any more.

It will be more of the same until then.
- mochoson

I try and give CF the benefit of the doubt, but who was right next to him in the box last night, Homer.

Lou reminds me of Al Davis. Both brilliant but staying on as the brilliance faded and the game passed them by.
- Minnyhock

Team has hit a rough patch this year, for sure, but I would still take him any day over Chucky/Bobby. I think he will be all right. If they let go of Lou, though, Barry's days are likely numbered. I would love to see him here but there is a stink emanating from our organization that is likely to scare off folks with options.

So he follows other teams that have probably won nothing in his lifetime?
- MBFlyerfan

I'm assuming he saw the Yankees win in 09. Lakers had a couple.

Zucker sucks and blows? Is he Megamaid?
- mickel25

No, a Hoover

Have they still not technically shut down Hayes and Ellis for the season lol
- hereticpride

Still holding out hope

I came into this season saying CF made them better, that he still needed another off-season to find a way to add speed and skill. The Flyers were a team that could win a playoff round but would need to catch lighting in a bottle to do better, well they didn't catch it and got stuck by it. I don't lean one way or the other about firing CF. There has been over a decade of mismanagement, is changing CF going to change that? The decision are influenced from the above the GM level.

I am on record saying I am ok with CF doing a retool this off-season, as long as he has an eye for the future. He needs to pick in top 3 and get a 2nd for this season and hopefully next season. I do think Coots, Ellis and Hayes will all be healthy next season. I also think G will see what a well run franchise looks like and he will not come back. They Flyers have FXcked him around for most of his career. With G gone our high level talent will actually be less going into next season. CF already needed more, now it will be even harder. Do the Flyers have the assets to retool, to add speed and skill? I think they will. Will they have the CAP, could be. Will all the needed skill and speed players be available and fit into the cap? That is a small needle to thread.

I am getting more comfortable that the Flyers have some juice in the farm system, at least competent bottom 6 options. On the bad side, their player development blows. YEO is no better than AV. How in the hell are they not giving the kids big minutes. We have almost a half season to get a good long look at the kids and get them experience. Let the York's, Frost's and Zamula's play big minutes. it is just BAD management.

I don't think going back to the draft and wait and see approach is the right way. They would need to pick top 5 for 3 years to really get any sort of momentum going, unless they got lucky with a superstar.


I think a balanced, smart approach is what is needed
- wcorvette

No doubt balance and smarts is required here, however I think Yeo is a better coach than AV was, no .. I really mean it. Look at how the Flyers are playing right now, with a depleted lineup and a season that is clearly over. They are busting their butts and are playing the best defensively I have seen them play in a very long time. They are committed to the system and you can see that clearly. Yes they make bad mistakes at the wrong times and can't finish games, but that is on the players, not the coaches. I wish Yeo would shorten his bench in crunch time, but overall I give Yeo an awful lot of credit for keeping this team together under these circumstances. Last year coming into March was a very tough time for the Flyers, and AV could not hold the team together, in fact he did the opposite, he managed to get the players to hate him. I think that carried over into this season to be honest. I really don't think the Flyers need 3 top 5 picks, with the core they have and players coming up. I think Fletcher and Flahr have drafted well historically and I believe they can find fast and skilled players. If the Flyers can add two or three young stud players to their lineup, get their veteran core healthy and continue to play like they are right now, they can do some serious damage.

Team has hit a rough patch this year, for sure, but I would still take him any day over Chucky/Bobby. I think he will be all right. If they let go of Lou, though, Barry's days are likely numbered. I would love to see him here but there is a stink emanating from our organization that is likely to scare off folks with options.
- iamscore2day

Why? He would, at best, get this team to overachieve. Which means, for this team, maybe winning 1 round in playoffs. That's if everyone stays healthy.

Sandstrom recently has been very strong. As for limiting the assessment to NA experience, I don't agree. How they do against the competition in the best non-NHL leagues is a valid basis for assessing them. Would not know about how GMs view them. I would not use our GM's views, that is for sure.
- iamscore2day

The Flyers, for the first time I can remember, have Hart and several good prospect goalies including Sandstrom and Fedotov. For this I have to Hextall credit, he obviously knows how to draft goalies.

Im not in any way defending how this team has been built. But the fact is no GM or team depth could overcome the amount of injuries to top players this team has. They just don't have the horses. And there are no deals out there to get better players to save this season.

female doging about the lineup is somewhat silly. Anyone who thinks this team, as it is iced currently, should be winning any games is delusional. And as much as I dislike what Comcast and Fletch has done, there is NO GM that could overcome what has happened injury wise.

And don't give me the "all teams have injuries" BS. They all do. And they all suffer from it. Any team that is without its top 5 centers, top 6 wing, 1st and 2nd pair dman, and icing the bottom two lines full of AHL callups is not going to win.

Its been dragging down the level of debate in here for months. Its become a game of gotcha and trying to one up the cleverness of the insults.

If most of you are like this is real life its no wonder the world is going to poop.
- MBFlyerfan

Agree with your point, but they learned something from the attrition. This organization lacked more depth than anticipated. We all know about the number of starters out, but you'd figure more players would be blossoming from getting an opportunity. Other than Mayhew, who else has had a chance to shine ? It is at this point we get back to decision making, and sending young players down to let players like Yandle play. I like the guy, don't get me wrong. But we know what he can do. Let's find out what the others can do with an extended tryout. Coming up for 8 games to fill in for an injury and getting sent back down is NOT development. If they called it such, they were marketing. It was a back fill. Why would you do that to a kid like York ? It is confounding.

I try and give CF the benefit of the doubt, but who was right next to him in the box last night, Homer.
- Flyerz74

Fletcher is the definition of a "yes man".

Flyers need a ton of talent. They will probably be terrible again next season barring some really, really impressive trades by Chucky. There are simply too many holes to fill and nowhere near enough cap space.

No doubt balance and smarts is required here, however I think Yeo is a better coach than AV was, no .. I really mean it. Look at how the Flyers are playing right now, with a depleted lineup and a season that is clearly over. They are busting their butts and are playing the best defensively I have seen them play in a very long time. They are committed to the system and you can see that clearly. Yes they make bad mistakes at the wrong times and can't finish games, but that is on the players, not the coaches. I wish Yeo would shorten his bench in crunch time, but overall I give Yeo an awful lot of credit for keeping this team together under these circumstances. Last year coming into March was a very tough time for the Flyers, and AV could not hold the team together, in fact he did the opposite, he managed to get the players to hate him. I think that carried over into this season to be honest. I really don't think the Flyers need 3 top 5 picks, with the core they have and players coming up. I think Fletcher and Flahr have drafted well historically and I believe they can find fast and skilled players. If the Flyers can add two or three young stud players to their lineup, get their veteran core healthy and continue to play like they are right now, they can do some serious damage.
- jd250

My heart as a Flyer fan is with you, I want to say losing this season was a blessing to move us forward, we get a high pick and acquire more assets. I see there is a path but getting highly skilled, fast players, where are they coming from? The first one to replace G, then the 2 more they never had coming into this season? CF will have to work some magic and get lucky. You hope the right teams disappoint the rest of the way. Maybe the Oil shxt the bed and move Leon in a Blockbuster. I mean would the oil see the value of a Coots plus for Leon? How about the Jets, I do believe their could be some good trades out there. Only one team wins the cup, it was never going to be the Flyers this season, in hindsight, I will take a top 3 pick. If you don't win the cup, competitive teams are looking for the change that will help them win the cup.

side note-

I don't see Pitt winning the cup, I do think they have peaked already. If not, they will have an interesting off-season, FA's Letang, Malkin and Rust. Then Kap is an RA. That could be a cap crunch or with their luck they will all take a huge discount. All I have left is to root for their demise.