How many players on the roster are “Fletcher guys” & how many are “Hextall guys”. I’m not saying Fletcher is great but this mess is 90% on Hextall screwing up this organization. Fletcher was handed a turd
- Fopa21

Yet the GM has decided to keep and extend all of these guys. So this mess is all on Fletcher.

We heard the same thing about CC for years & he takes the easy route & signs w Ottawa.

Who cares if he wanted to come here. He is exceptionally talented offensively no doubt & we need that but when we have so many similar players (small perimeter forwards) Cam, Bee, TK, Frost, Brink, throw in JVgarbage & it didn’t make sense to bring another in for crazy money & term albeit JG being the best of the bunch. Flush out what you have first
- Fopa21

What’s the easy way out? Easy way out of what?

At this point, it is painfully obvious that some of these moves aren't even entirely fletcher. Firing him isn't going to change anything.

Homer, Clarke, Lombardi, barber, and company will just get another "yes" man in at GM.

Dave Scott needs to realize this and clean house. If he doesn't realize soon, he's a (frank)ing potato and we will be (frank)ed until he's gone too.

They boasted about the 7 person analytics team. They're either the worst analytics team ever assembled in any industry, or more likely, their analyses just get thrown in the garbage.

I love this team, and watched every game for 20+ years. Even games I missed, I recorded and watched later. Last season deflated me so much I stopped investing so much for my own well being. I won't be going to any games or even buying t-shirts for the foreseeable future. My vow was originally until fletcher got poop canned, but that alone won't even be enough for me.

Bill, as always thanks for all you do. I would not want your job at this time with the state this franchise is in.

What’s the easy way out? Easy way out of what?
- SuperSchennBros

No expectations. No pressure to win

No expectations. No pressure to win
- Fopa21

Huh?

He went to the best team in the league and probably outplayed most of, if not all of his new teammates in Florida. Florida couldn’t afford him, so G chose to go home, which most players do on their last contract. Johnny G wanted to come to Philly because it’s home. Tony DeAngelo. Wayne Simmonds went home.

No expectations. No pressure to win
- Fopa21

I would argue that Ottawa is expected to improve this upcoming season, make playoffs, there will be pressure to do so.

Loved Ray Emery’s passion. That game where he forced Holtby to fight was so memorable.

ND and Seeler fought this past season. It was a great scrap, and at the end they even patted each other on the helmet and back as a sign of mutual respect. I’m probably in the minority here, but I personally love the signing of ND (not necessarily the term, however). He understands his role and he sticks up for his teammates. Other than Mac and Seeler last season, Flyers didn’t have enough players with that kind of mindset. All that said…where in the hell is the scoring going to come from this year, Chuck?!!
- BroadSTmayhem

It's 2022. There is no role for Deslauriers.

Player development sucks here. Kjell Samuelsson needs to go with the rest of the front office.
- hereticpride

Still waiting for answers on how Chiris Stewart is doing as a player development coach. Can’t seem to find any information.

Hey Bill, I didn't get a chance to post this the other day but I thought your blog from 7/14 was excellent, and summed up pretty much what I have believed also better than I ever could. I was not in favor of singing JG because he is small and will lose a step or two over the life of the contract, and once that happens I believe the he will not be as effective and will probably be getting injured more. I also as you know am not a RR basher and I believe he is a better player than most give him credit to be. He will never be a top pairing guy, but I think he does give this team an element that they don't have and as Mike Yeo explained in one interview, no one wants to win more than Risto on the team. That can be infectious is a very good way.

However the thing that has bothered my about this off season is the seemingly lack of a plan from Fletcher. He seems to be all over the place and not in a good way. I do believe Fletcher was late in finding out that JG wanted to come to Philly and by the time he tried to react other teams were on to it and were holding the Flyers over a barrel. And when you look at the market for 2nd pairing physical defenseman, the RR extension was too high a price to pay IMO. Clearly Fletcher compounded the mistake of trading for RR with signing him to an overly priced extension. Then there is a DeAngelo trade. If Fletcher had properly read the market and stay connected as much as he claimed he was, he could have and should have had cap space available to jump on JG, but he spent is very unwisely IMO. This is why good teams always keep their cap space well managed so when the right player comes along they can pounce. You see it all over the league this free agent period, but alas the Flyers are on the outside looking in, getting retreads like Braun and another limited player to an ridiculous 4 year contract. Its very hard to make an argument that Fletcher deserves to keep his job at this point. Am I wrong?

Now if the plan all along was to tank for Bedard, then I am all in. Clearly looking at how much Carolina, Columbus and NJ have improved, its hard to think the Flyers will not be in last place again next season and in the running for the top overall pick.
- jd250

In 9 NHL seasons, how has Ristolainen wanting to win more than anyone helped the teams he has been on to this point? We'll start with that,


My favorite talking point for Ristolainen. He brings an element that we need. If that element is a completely mediocre overpaid player who we can give another team a 1st and 2nd round pick for. Then I guess he does.

I would argue that Ottawa is expected to improve this upcoming season, make playoffs, there will be pressure to do so.
- ClaudeFather

Yeah, Ottawa made strong moves this summer.

It's 2022. There is no role for Deslauriers.
- MJL

I think the ND signing may be Fleeced Fletcher's way of giving the Flyers fans the single finger salute as a last au mage to eternal mediocrity on his way out (presuming the Flyers management recognizes his incompetence and fires him)

Huh?

He went to the best team in the league and probably outplayed most of, if not all of his new teammates in Florida. Florida couldn’t afford him, so G chose to go home, which most players do on their last contract. Johnny G wanted to come to Philly because it’s home. Tony DeAngelo. Wayne Simmonds went home.
- SuperSchennBros

Hahahaha. He went to the best team for 3 months. He had 3 ES goals I doubt that counts as outplaying but the CC apologists never see him for what he is so I understand your perspective lol

Well he did go to Harvard and is Bobby Clarke's surrogate son. What more do you need? If you graduated from Harvard you have to be at the top of your field, whatever it is, right?

Seriously though is there some Flyers roster org chart that has roster spots reserved for enforcers and Fletch was just ticking off the box for the next half decade when he signed ND?
- Flyers_01

This is the most reasonable explanation I’ve seen for the signing. Thanks

That sounds like a Fleeced Fletcher deal, for sure.
- Letterkenney

I like seeing other referring to chuck as fleeced Fletcher now 😂😂

This guy can't get out of this organization fast enough

Hexys draft picks and fleeced phuck's horrific signings are going to take years to rebound from

This is going to be a hard to watch year

I think the ND signing may be Fleeced Fletcher's way of giving the Flyers fans the single finger salute as a last au mage to eternal mediocrity on his way out (presuming the Flyers management recognizes his incompetence and fires him)
- Letterkenney

I think its is the single worst signing of Fletchers reign, and possibly one of the worst signings in Flyers history.

Deslauriers is a good guy and probably a good teammate. If the deal were for a year or even 2 I would say, meh, ok he can be sent down or whatever. But 4 years, at that cap hit, after buying out Lindblom, is pure unadulterated malfeasance.

I would argue that Ottawa is expected to improve this upcoming season, make playoffs, there will be pressure to do so.
- ClaudeFather

They finished 26th last season. I would doubt most fans are expecting to jump 10 spots in the standings. They’re better tho yes

Hahahaha. He went to the best team for 3 months. He had 3 ES goals I doubt that counts as outplaying but the CC apologists never see him for what he is so I understand your perspective lol
- Fopa21

And 20 assists in 18 games. 23 points in 18 games.

Next

Good to see the plan for Attard is to beat any ounce of offensive creativity out of him. Sure he is 23, has 3 years of high-caliber college hockey and 15 NHL games where he showed good growth, but a year in the AHL should let him percolate into a defensive defensemen. A year of watching Braun, RR and TDA chase the puck in their own end is what this team needs for future success.

And 20 assists in 18 games. 23 points in 18 games.

Next
- MBFlyerfan

Right. It’s his same empty stats from the last decade here. He fools the uneducated like yourself who look up at the end of the season & say look he had a PPG. Who cares that 75% of them were on the PP & he only had 3 ES goals basically stating he does almost nothing 85-90% of the game but boy does he shine for the 4-5 minutes of PP time per game 🤣 🤡

I think its is the single worst signing of Fletchers reign, and possibly one of the worst signings in Flyers history.

Deslauriers is a good guy and probably a good teammate. If the deal were for a year or even 2 I would say, meh, ok he can be sent down or whatever. But 4 years, at that cap hit, after buying out Lindblom, is pure unadulterated malfeasance.
- MBFlyerfan

That’s it….the player for a year is fine…maybe he surprises and plays well…..but to get rid of Lindblom to make it happen is pathetic and about as poor asset management as can be….add in he signed a similar contract with SJ? So not only did you receive nothing in return you created a 600 k cap hit next year? Everything Bozo does seems to be a head scratching decision.
I think it’s also important to remember the context of the Lindblom signing…..Bozo knew it was a deal that wouldn’t reap any rewards early on as the guy was lucky just to be alive…to bale on a 26 year old offensive player before and use that $ to sign two guys on the wrong side of 30 is remarkably stupid.

God I hope Chuck turns up at the bar tonight

Right. It’s his same empty stats from the last decade here. He fools the uneducated like yourself who look up at the end of the season & say look he had a PPG. Who cares that 75% of them were on the PP & he only had 3 ES goals basically stating he does almost nothing 85-90% of the game but boy does he shine for the 4-5 minutes of PP time per game 🤣 🤡
- Fopa21

Are those 4-5 minutes not apart of the game? Does a PP goal not count in the box score?

Right. It’s his same empty stats from the last decade here. He fools the uneducated like yourself who look up at the end of the season & say look he had a PPG. Who cares that 75% of them were on the PP & he only had 3 ES goals basically stating he does almost nothing 85-90% of the game but boy does he shine for the 4-5 minutes of PP time per game 🤣 🤡
- Fopa21

- MBFlyerfan

Don't you love when someone as dumb as dirt calls people uneducated? It's hysterical.

God I hope Chuck turns up at the bar tonight
- hereticpride

After your operation, are you sure you have the stones to confront him?