I do know what Tort's approach is and I do believe Risto is a better defenseman than you give him credit for. Oh, and BTW, so does Bill M. So we'll just see how the season goes. I for one think Risto will have his best advanced metrics season, not top of class by any means, but really good for him.
- jd250

He and Braun will be Torts go to shot blockers so his numbers will improve. That’s assuming that Risto actually keeps himself in position to block shots.

From Charlie O'Connor. I hope this puts the Hextall as GM debate to rest once and for all:

Can you recap how we got here as a franchise? We have no top-end talent. Our farm system is meh? Yet somehow we are always in salary cap trouble. Are the Flyers the least innovative franchise in the league? — Shawn B.

Such analysis would take a full column. But if I was going to point to one thing that led to the Flyers’ current predicament of lacking top-end talent with no clear path to get it, it’s that the crown jewels of the Ron Hextall retool — Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, Nolan Patrick, Carter Hart — all either stagnated or regressed.

The whole thought process behind Hextall’s plan was to provide players like Giroux and Jakub Voracek with young teammates who would slowly lessen their load so that they could age gracefully into their 30s and become the second tier on the club behind the drafted players who would then be entering their primes. And in 2019-20, it looked like that was exactly what was happening. Provorov appeared to be developing into a legit No. 1 defenseman given a stable partner. Konecny was scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate. Hart was establishing himself as an above average NHL starter at an extremely young age. Yes, the Patrick pick was looking iffy due to the uncertainty surrounding his injury status, but it looked like the Flyers had at least three young stars ready to take the helm from Giroux and Voracek, in addition to Couturier moving into “best all-around player on the team” status.

You know the rest. Konecny clearly regressed. One can debate how much of Provorov and Hart’s statistical declines have been due to outside factors, but it’s also fair to note that true stars dominate even in less than ideal situations, and at least at this point, neither are at that level. Patrick obviously proved to be a bust, at least in Philadelphia.

In order to build a contending team via the draft-and-develop model, you need to hit at least a couple home runs. It appeared the Flyers had. Now, it looks like they basically just hit a bunch of doubles at best. That’s not to say that Provorov, Konecny and Hart should be viewed as disappointments, to be clear. And I suspect that the current prospect pool will produce far more quality players than most frustrated fans want to admit; last season was a bit of a perfect storm in terms of injuries in that regard, which made the pool seem worse than it actually was. But at least some players have to dramatically exceed expectations for it to work, if you’re not drafting in the top-five year after year. That just didn’t happen with the Hextall crop, and this is the result — having to fill top-of-the-lineup holes with expensive free agents on the downslopes of their careers rather than cost-controlled youngsters trending upward.
- jd250

you should know better than that.

We can gnaw and argue away all we want bottom line this is the worst team in the Metropolitan Division and its going to be at least 3 yrs before we become even remotely become a mid level competitive team
- hfc355

I’d say 5 years at least. Even with Bedard we’d still be tied to these crap contracts that aren’t producing nearly enough for us. The roster certainly sucks but all Chuck did this off-season was kick the can further down the road by blowing picks and cap space.

Brink torn labrum in his hip. At 21 years old.

The Flyers way.
- PLindbergh31

He and Farabee both got hurt training correct? Where they following what trainers were telling them to do or doing stuff on their own?

Brink really needed to start adding muscle. Just sucks!

He and Farabee both got hurt training correct? Where they following what trainers were telling them to do or doing stuff on their own?

Brink really needed to start adding muscle. Just sucks!
- WhiskeyMan

Farabee was benching the bar, and Brink was doing jumping jacks.

Same, and I doubt a corporate legal eagle is scouring the internet for such things.

You obviously are interested enough, and find value in, subscribing to that site. That's how it should be.
- Scoob

Well. Also curious as this is a paid site to post. The court battle would be interesting.

Farabee was benching the bar, and Brink was doing jumping jacks.
- PLindbergh31

Happens. My second hernia came from a sneeze. Know your being sarcastic, but sometimes it’s just the weight of the straw.

From Charlie O'Connor. I hope this puts the Hextall as GM debate to rest once and for all:

Can you recap how we got here as a franchise? We have no top-end talent. Our farm system is meh? Yet somehow we are always in salary cap trouble. Are the Flyers the least innovative franchise in the league? — Shawn B.

Such analysis would take a full column. But if I was going to point to one thing that led to the Flyers’ current predicament of lacking top-end talent with no clear path to get it, it’s that the crown jewels of the Ron Hextall retool — Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, Nolan Patrick, Carter Hart — all either stagnated or regressed.

The whole thought process behind Hextall’s plan was to provide players like Giroux and Jakub Voracek with young teammates who would slowly lessen their load so that they could age gracefully into their 30s and become the second tier on the club behind the drafted players who would then be entering their primes. And in 2019-20, it looked like that was exactly what was happening. Provorov appeared to be developing into a legit No. 1 defenseman given a stable partner. Konecny was scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate. Hart was establishing himself as an above average NHL starter at an extremely young age. Yes, the Patrick pick was looking iffy due to the uncertainty surrounding his injury status, but it looked like the Flyers had at least three young stars ready to take the helm from Giroux and Voracek, in addition to Couturier moving into “best all-around player on the team” status.

You know the rest. Konecny clearly regressed. One can debate how much of Provorov and Hart’s statistical declines have been due to outside factors, but it’s also fair to note that true stars dominate even in less than ideal situations, and at least at this point, neither are at that level. Patrick obviously proved to be a bust, at least in Philadelphia.

In order to build a contending team via the draft-and-develop model, you need to hit at least a couple home runs. It appeared the Flyers had. Now, it looks like they basically just hit a bunch of doubles at best. That’s not to say that Provorov, Konecny and Hart should be viewed as disappointments, to be clear. And I suspect that the current prospect pool will produce far more quality players than most frustrated fans want to admit; last season was a bit of a perfect storm in terms of injuries in that regard, which made the pool seem worse than it actually was. But at least some players have to dramatically exceed expectations for it to work, if you’re not drafting in the top-five year after year. That just didn’t happen with the Hextall crop, and this is the result — having to fill top-of-the-lineup holes with expensive free agents on the downslopes of their careers rather than cost-controlled youngsters trending upward.
- jd250

Yes, in looking at their stats, from 2019 on, they all appear to be middling at best. This is again confirmation that current management is terrible at development. For more evidence showing this to be true, please refer to the stats of Aube-Kubel after being claimed by Colorado.

Brink torn labrum in his hip. At 21 years old.

The Flyers way.
- PLindbergh31

On a scale of 1 to Ellis, how bad is that injury?

On a scale of 1 to Ellis, how bad is that injury?
- ClaudeFather

it's not good.

Why hire McKinsey when you have Wharton grad Danny Boy in da house?
- PT21

Were you against the approach that Fletcher took to hire Torts? Using a vetting company and having an interview process with multiple candidates?

I agree Scott is smart. He comes across that way to me. He is also, of course, very accomplished.

If he indeed doesn't know much of hockey, he could do what all smart experienced corporate leader types do in such situations, which happens all the time hire a top notch consultancy firm to advise him about hockey strategy, who would tell him what essentially every one knows by now: in the post salary cap era, chances of winning are heavily correlated with how high you draft.

He has either not done that or ignored them. Why?
- PT21

Name one hockey consultancy firm. He had consultants and that's where he gets his info from. That's the issue.

The "context" was the commonality of utterly unprovoked insulting vituperation. A couple of weeks or so ago, he strongly insinuated that Bill was taking the stance did because of fear of losing his job.

I am sure I will never have the pleasure of meeting you in person, MJL, but I have to wonder if you are this benumbingly slow in real life or it is just a social media act.
- PT21

Funny that I'm smart enough to realize that his comment on Bill has nothing to do with the spat between the two of you and that he repeatedly has labeled you a racist. It really doesn't take much to realize that. Just simple common sense. Yet, you failed to realize that. Hmmmmm........

Yes, in looking at their stats, from 2019 on, they all appear to be middling at best. This is again confirmation that current management is terrible at development. For more evidence showing this to be true, please refer to the stats of Aube-Kubel after being claimed by Colorado.
- iamscore2day

Those players were doing fine under Hextall. They regressed under a different GM yet he thinks it's a referendum on Hextall. However I feel it's about coaching, not the GM.

I do know what Tort's approach is and I do believe Risto is a better defenseman than you give him credit for. Oh, and BTW, so does Bill M. So we'll just see how the season goes. I for one think Risto will have his best advanced metrics season, not top of class by any means, but really good for him.
- jd250

I get the feeling that you don't. As far as the rest. I'm experiencing deja vu.