I'm not really defending Chuck here, but this guy is a better player than Ghost. Ghost was on waivers and no one wanted him. He played well in Arizona last year and still no one wanted him at the trade deadline. I didn't like giving up a second rounder to get rid of Ghost(don't really care about the 7th rounder), but this team needed a player like this guy to improve on the backend. I'm not really defending the trade, but from a hockey standpoint this guy fills a need. He played on Carolina's first pair last season and was a +30(probably skewed some cause he played for Carolina).
- Phillywhiteout

Yes he fills a need Chuck created and paid with picks two times over to fix. That’s the whole problem (ignoring all the personal baggage he brings with him.)

You know surprise benefit, usually after the draft, then FA we have the worse time of the year, no hockey and no hockey news. This trade provide fodder all the way up to the first game of the season.

Does Fletcher remember that he traded a 2nd to get rid of Ghost just a year ago? And now he just traded a 2nd, 3rd and a 4th to replace him.

“We felt are our biggest need was a puck moving defenseman. Somebody again to help transition the puck, help on the powerplay”
- Feanor

DeAngelo is a more well rounded player at this point. Not a rest it all on +- guy but DeAngelo was +30 and ghost was -54. The knock on Ghost was his difficulty in his own zone. DeAngelo is no poop down defender but I think he has shored that end up a bit. By the way. I still think Ghost is a talented player. Just weak defensively.

I wasn’t gonna but (frank) it I’ll throw my 2 cents in …

Things Tony d said… (frank)ing ignorant beyond for a young person to say.

Casting stones anyone?

- Stayin alive

Nah. I had a very bad temper as youngster playing sports of all kinds. Embarrassing dumb behavior, but I never even thought to utter any kind of slur at anyone.

He’s been twice knocked for abuse of officials as well. 5 teams in 6 years. Yeah seems like a real stand up dude players love having in the room.

Show these racist comments? Muppet yeah why not.
- furio16

Read bills blog, says why these comments were never made public.

But how about this? A largely, majority white league decided it was bad enough to suspend him for 8 games.

Is that good enough?

You know surprise benefit, usually after the draft, then FA we have the worse time of the year, no hockey and no hockey news. This trade provide fodder all the way up to the first game of the season.
- wcorvette

Just wait til Torts gets tired of answering questions about him every night lol

It's complete incompetence and it shows that the GM has no future vision. It's just reactionary moves. Keep giving away future assets to fill holes that he created. Has no expertise in putting a team together where all the pieces fit. He is so far below in the class of the top GM's in the league. The Flyers GM is in essence the equivalent of a hockey used car salesman.
- MJL

Not a defense of Fletcher, but is it him or is it demands from corporate to keep the team relevant and him essentially having to be Homer to satisfy them.

You know surprise benefit, usually after the draft, then FA we have the worse time of the year, no hockey and no hockey news. This trade provide fodder all the way up to the first game of the season.
- wcorvette

Free agents can start talking to teams tomorrow, correct?

Yes he fills a need Chuck created and paid with picks two times over to fix. That’s the whole problem (ignoring all the personal baggage he brings with him.)
- hereticpride

Well, apparently he was a model citizen in Carolina last year and by all accounts there were no issues on and off the ice. The GM of the Canes said that they really wanted to re-sign this guy, but they didn't have the cap space. Torts ain't gonna put up with any of that crap and the kid obviously has talent(I actually wanted the Flyers to draft him, but the Rags snagged him with the pick before). I guess I'm different from most folks in that I don't get hung up on draft picks. Yes, the first and second rounders are important, but once you get to the lower round picks the percentage of players that actually make it to the NHL dwindles rapidly.

Just wait til Torts gets tired of answering questions about him every night lol
- hereticpride

As he should. Chuck addressed it all today. When the season starts no one should ask about his past. They should only focus on his play with the Flyers. Unless he repeats his poor decisions while in Philly

Not a defense of Fletcher, but is it him or is it demands from corporate to keep the team relevant and him essentially having to be Homer to satisfy them.
- Flyers1218

Even if that’s the case he’s done an absolute bang up job of doing anything to keep them relevant.

As he should. Chuck addressed it all today. When the season starts no one should ask about his past. They should only focus on his play with the Flyers. Unless he repeats his poor decisions while in Philly
- arichardson22

Chuck unfortunately doesn’t get to decide that.

Chuck unfortunately doesn’t get to decide that.
- hereticpride

I mean Torts can handle his own. I have no doubt he’ll say something along the lines of “if you’re gonna ask about this I simply will ignore you” lol. Not the first time he’s done it.

Even if that’s the case he’s done an absolute bang up job of doing anything to keep them relevant.
- hereticpride

The Risto and Ghost deals were bad. But the bias for action had already been demanded.

The Niskanen move was great, Pitlick, etc. he got vets that helped for the playoff run. Braun actually didn’t turn out to be horrible.

The pieces the Flyers traded for Ellis are going to be doing the exact same thing he is…. not playing. But the guy was a legit top pairing defenseman.

Things were relatively fine until Niskanen retired and the bias for action started.

Read bills blog, says why these comments were never made public.

But how about this? A largely, majority white league decided it was bad enough to suspend him for 8 games.

Is that good enough?
- FloHaake

So you have nothing? Again so you have zero proof they were racist comments. Understood.

So you have nothing? Again so you have zero proof they were racist comments. Understood.
- furio16

It’s obvious that it was. Really pointless to argue.

He’s not my family, he’s not my friend. It’s not my job to judge his humanity and I don’t get my moral compass from the friggin Philadelphia Flyers. All I care about is that he keeps his mouth shut and makes this team better.

If a fan has a problem with him and can’t get past the things he’s done then so be it, that’s your right, decide if you can root for the team while he’s there.

Well, apparently he was a model citizen in Carolina last year and by all accounts there were no issues on and off the ice. The GM of the Canes said that they really wanted to re-sign this guy, but they didn't have the cap space. Torts ain't gonna put up with any of that crap and the kid obviously has talent(I actually wanted the Flyers to draft him, but the Rags snagged him with the pick before). I guess I'm different from most folks in that I don't get hung up on draft picks. Yes, the first and second rounders are important, but once you get to the lower round picks the percentage of players that actually make it to the NHL dwindles rapidly.
- Phillywhiteout

I care way more about NFL draft picks then NHL. Anything can happen, but the later round picks are total crap shoots in hockey.

Well, apparently he was a model citizen in Carolina last year and by all accounts there were no issues on and off the ice. The GM of the Canes said that they really wanted to re-sign this guy, but they didn't have the cap space. Torts ain't gonna put up with any of that crap and the kid obviously has talent(I actually wanted the Flyers to draft him, but the Rags snagged him with the pick before). I guess I'm different from most folks in that I don't get hung up on draft picks. Yes, the first and second rounders are important, but once you get to the lower round picks the percentage of players that actually make it to the NHL dwindles rapidly.
- Phillywhiteout

DeAngelo was drafted by the Lightning 19th overall in 2014.

Things are already getting really ugly on social media regarding DeAngelo. Fans saying he’s probably going to use slurs on the ice and a bunch of imbeciles jumping in and saying things like they hope he does and they’ll love him more if he does. And those comments are getting a ton of likes. Disgusting.

This move is already a colossal failure.

Flyers already throwing Hayes quotes out there trying to vouch for him trying to do damage control.

Chuck and the PR Head need to go. Like yesterday.
- hereticpride

It is the perfect illumination of how stupid people on the left and right are

To have someone like DeAngelo play for the same franchise that Wayne Simmonds put his heart and soul into, on and off the ice, is just wrong.

He’s a bad guy. The fact that someone like Hayes will sit there and defend him is not surprising. Boys club bullpoop, he’s never faced real consequences for anything he’s done. It’s a joke. Hockey is for everyone right? Yea right. We know who this game is for, it’s shown to us time and time again. It’s for guys just like DeAngelo. And Hayes. And whoever else would stand alongside this guy and say “oh good teammate. Fans will
Love him.”

I’m sure he will be popular in south Philly, just won’t be for his play so much as his attitude. Fits right in down in certain sections of South Philly…..
- FloHaake

you riden with biden?

In what way does it not make sense from a hockey standpoint? Which defenseman on last year's team possessed these type of skills? This team basically had NO PP QB and it showed in the stats as one of the worst PPs in the league. As far as the other stuff? Who really cares what is said on social media? It's basically a cesspool for wimps that hide behind their devices and say things that they'd never say to someone's face in a million years.
- Phillywhiteout

really dipshyte?

Nah. I had a very bad temper as youngster playing sports of all kinds. Embarrassing dumb behavior, but I never even thought to utter any kind of slur at anyone.

He’s been twice knocked for abuse of officials as well. 5 teams in 6 years. Yeah seems like a real stand up dude players love having in the room.
- FloHaake

You never made the slightest of aracist jokes about any race? No Asian or Jewish jokes? Nothing at all? You sir are a saint, can't wait to see your name in the catholic bible.

Your argument is that he abused refs, big fn deal!

Things are already getting really ugly on social media regarding DeAngelo. Fans saying he’s probably going to use slurs on the ice and a bunch of imbeciles jumping in and saying things like they hope he does and they’ll love him more if he does. And those comments are getting a ton of likes. Disgusting.

This move is already a colossal failure.

Flyers already throwing Hayes quotes out there trying to vouch for him trying to do damage control.

Chuck and the PR Head need to go. Like yesterday.
- hereticpride

Just to make sure we understand this correctly.. this move is a colossal failure cause fans are upset on twitter???

Can you confirm, cause I think Fletcher better get to twitter and maybe ask Carolina if the trade can be rescinded..

DeAngelo was drafted by the Lightning 19th overall in 2014.
- NC Flyers Fan

Hmmmmm, no kidding. I really thought the Rags drafted him before the Flyers. Guess I'm thinking of someone else.

Thanks for the company press release Bill. So when is the Kate Smith statue going back up? They opened the can of political correctness worms, now they have to follow through and be consistent. Why the about face all the sudden?
- StepfordSam

Great job as always, Bill. Hang in there as many of us who disagree every day at least agree that you do a great job here.