Montreal wanting him should have been a red flag in and of itself.
- Tomahawk

It basically highlights that Flyer decisions seem to be a few years behind the times. The NHL was already starting to pivot to better skating, more mobile, puck moving defensemen and the Flyers saw this as the a need to go to the time machine and grab a Chris Pronger light type.

They continue to display that with how the set up the 3rd and 4th lines

Aint't even hindsight either. Ghoul was a head-scratcher from the moment the pick was made. And it played out exactly as expected.

Same w/ Big Sam. People were like... huh?
- Tomahawk

If I remember correctly, Morin was down the scouts list a bit and it was Homer that talked them into moving him up the list....

It basically highlights that Flyer decisions seem to be a few years behind the times. The NHL was already starting to pivot to better skating, more mobile, puck moving defensemen and the Flyers saw this as the a need to go to the time machine and grab a Chris Pronger light type.

They continue to display that with how the set up the 3rd and 4th lines
- juiced

It showed a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Chris Pronger so good -- which is (frank)ed up because Flyers brass got to watch Prongs up close for a couple of seasons.

Prongs could have been 6-0 190 and still dominated, because he was legit one of the smartest and best passing dmen in the history of the game. That isn't something that you develop after draft day. It's either inherent, or it's not.

Morin was never gonna come within a light year of Prongs.

It showed a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Chris Pronger so good -- which is (frank)ed up because Flyers brass got to watch Prongs up close for a couple of seasons.

Prongs could have been 6-0 190 and still dominated, because he was legit one of the smartest and best passing dmen in the history of the game. That isn't something that you develop after draft day. It's either inherent, or it's not.

Morin was never gonna come within a light year of Prongs.
- Tomahawk

I 100% agree...just meant the Flyers at that point in time thought the key was having a menacing giant on the ice that is hard to play against....they werent reading the tea leaves of the directional change that was already well into flight.

It showed a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Chris Pronger so good -- which is (frank)ed up because Flyers brass got to watch Prongs up close for a couple of seasons.

Prongs could have been 6-0 190 and still dominated, because he was legit one of the smartest and best passing dmen in the history of the game. That isn't something that you develop after draft day. It's either inherent, or it's not.

Morin was never gonna come within a light year of Prongs.
- Tomahawk

Obviously he was taken pretty high in the draft but do you honestly believe that the Flyers thought Morin could have the potential of a Pronger?

I think they saw him as a player with raw physical skills who might become a strong physical defender.

Obviously he was taken pretty high in the draft but do you honestly believe that the Flyers thought Morin could have the potential of a Pronger?

I think they saw him as a player with raw physical skills who might become a strong physical defender.
- MJL

That was the dream of those in the room who wanted to take him, even Chris Pronger himself:

I had the luxury of being privy to draft room conversations when he was drafted in 2013, and while all the scouts weren’t completely on the same page, there was a real belief that if the team was patient with him, he could develop into something special.

At the time, also sitting in that draft room was Chris Pronger, who was advising the team while still under contract but for all intents and purposes was retired from the sport. Pronger had been out to see Morin play – and liked what he saw. Morin, who has Pronger’s size and a similar skating style, always wanted to model his game after Pronger’s. The talent was raw. It needed to be molded, but it was there.

I remember asking Pronger his honest opinion of the kid, and I remember his response – “You may not see him in the NHL for three, four years – maybe five. But if he’s developed right, when you do, you will see the kind of impact he will have on a game.”
- ASF

Also isn't it a strange coincidence that the team takes two 6'6+ dmen in the draft right after Pronger is ruled done?

Not really.

Case in point, 2013 draft... they chose to take a guy who's absolute ceiling was Zac Rinaldo (Tyrell Ghoulbourne) while skilled, two-way guys like Buchnevich, Guentzel and Bjorkstrand were still available. Now all those players are top-line, all-situations NHL wingers.

That's after throwing away the 11th-overall pick on a guy who never exhibited any sort of skill (Morin), while talented two-way guys like Morrissey, Pulock and Theodore were available. Those guys are now all top-pairing dmen.

Nobody is saying that they would have picked those other players for certain, but it just shows that this team is simply not prioritizing the right things when evaluating talent.
- Tomahawk

To be fair… they think their priority is right

That was the dream of those in the room who wanted to take him, even Chris Pronger himself:




Also isn't it a strange coincidence that the team takes two 6'6+ dmen in the draft right after Pronger is ruled done?
- Tomahawk

As just a fan, I saw Morin play a number of games. The obvious physical tools were there such as obviously size, skating stride and reach. However I never saw any glimpse of any high level puck skills or the high level hockey sense that Pronger possessed. Pronger was not only a physical monster but he also had a very high hockey IQ. He completely controlled the ice when he was out there and not just physically. but also in a cerebral manner. Hard to figure

Is that for all intensive purposes?
- MJL

I could care less
- funmaster18

I should not of laughed at this.

I should not of laughed at this.
- Scoob

*have*

As just a fan, I saw Morin play a number of games. The obvious physical tools were there such as obviously size, skating stride and reach. However I never saw any glimpse of any high level puck skills or the high level hockey sense that Pronger possessed. Pronger was not only a physical monster but he also had a very high hockey IQ. He completely controlled the ice when he was out there and not just physically. but also in a cerebral manner. Hard to figure
- MJL

Yeah, just weird that the Flyers' "hockey people" somehow reached the conclusion that being 6'6 was the key to Pronger's effectiveness.

Like it worked so well for Chris McAllister.

I should not of laughed at this.
- Scoob

They are just making him escape goat. Its a mute point anyway.

*have*


- corduroy

I should not of laughed at this.
- Scoob

Proper English only please

Yeah, just weird that the Flyers' "hockey people" somehow reached the conclusion that being 6'6 was the key to Pronger's effectiveness.

Like it worked so well for Chris McAllister.
- Tomahawk

I think they were trying to hit a home run and didn't feel like other available players did it for them. I personally believe that Morin would've been an NHL defenseman if not for the knee injuries and possibly a good. Most likely 2nd pair or a first pair complimentary type of player. The one thing to me that stands out is the comment that it might take 3-5 years. That's a long time for an 11th overall player to reach the NHL. Might have been more worthy of a later selection but they probably figured he wouldn't make it there.

They are just making him escape goat. Its a mute point anyway.
- MBFlyerfan

We need to imbrace lazy english. It's not the 1600's.

They are just making him escape goat. Its a mute point anyway.
- MBFlyerfan

lol!

Nick Deslauriers.

I’d like to weigh in on the discussion on Nick Deslauriers from earlier today. Keep in mind, I did not want this player but my issues with this player is not the same as others. My issue with Deslauriers is his contract. Both the money and term I believe is too much and doesn’t even match what current and passed fighters command. I’m even less impressed by this player because Nick Seeler fought Deslauriers last season and Seeler (who I also don’t want on my team) held up pretty well. From a Flyers’ fans standpoint, it would have best served us all if they just killed each other.

However, where I think some of the arguments made against Deslauriers from some fans have put you in a corner with no way out. The argument against Zach MacEwen has always been, he plays limited minutes and doesn’t at least kill penalties. From my understanding, Deslauriers does kill penalties. So you can’t really argue against him if he does exactly what you’ve all demanded. Just call it what it is, you have a Biased against “goons”.

Now, is our current situation if I had to choose between MacEwen and Deslauriers, I’d choose MacEwen all day. MacEwen makes next to nothing, 26 years old and I like his old school broad street bullies Mustache. He seems to be a nice guy and seems to like being here. Zach MacEwen seems to be our least talented player and yet our hardest worker. I choose to not poop on MacEwen for these reasons alone. Deslauriers, I don’t even know why he’s here.

Oh no. The grammar police are out today. Catch and release?

Nick Deslauriers.

I’d like to weigh in on the discussion on Nick Deslauriers from earlier today. Keep in mind, I did not want this player but my issues with this player is not the same as others. My issue with Deslauriers is his contract. Both the money and term I believe is too much and doesn’t even match what current and passed fighters command. I’m even less impressed by this player because Nick Seeler fought Deslauriers last season and Seeler (who I also don’t want on my team) held up pretty well. From a Flyers’ fans standpoint, it would have best served us all if they just killed each other.

However, where I think some of the arguments made against Deslauriers from some fans have put you in a corner with no way out. The argument against Zach MacEwen has always been, he plays limited minutes and doesn’t at least kill penalties. From my understanding, Deslauriers does kill penalties. So you can’t really argue against him if he does exactly what you’ve all demanded. Just call it what it is, you have a Biased against “goons”.

Now, is our current situation if I had to choose between MacEwen and Deslauriers, I’d choose MacEwen all day. MacEwen makes next to nothing, 26 years old and I like his old school broad street bullies Mustache. He seems to be a nice guy and seems to like being here. Zach MacEwen seems to be our least talented player and yet our hardest worker. I choose to not poop on MacEwen for these reasons alone. Deslauriers, I don’t even know why he’s here.
- SuperSchennBros

Too bad the Flyers didn’t choose between MacEwen and D Lo. One makes the other redundant. Yes, D Lo kills penalties but how effectively? He was on the 2nd unit of a poor Wild PK. He was worse there than the guy he replaced. A rising cap will make his celery not much of an issue. But the term is an albatross.

Too bad the Flyers didn’t choose between MacEwen and D Lo. One makes the other redundant. Yes, D Lo kills penalties but how effectively? He was on the 2nd unit of a poor Wild PK. He was worse there than the guy he replaced. A rising cap will make his celery not much of an issue. But the term is an albatross.
- Minnyhock

Sorry.....

I think they were trying to hit a home run and didn't feel like other available players did it for them. I personally believe that Morin would've been an NHL defenseman if not for the knee injuries and possibly a good. Most likely 2nd pair or a first pair complimentary type of player. The one thing to me that stands out is the comment that it might take 3-5 years. That's a long time for an 11th overall player to reach the NHL. Might have been more worthy of a later selection but they probably figured he wouldn't make it there.
- MJL

I never really saw that much in Morin. His puck skill always seemed suspect. Generally undisciplined, constantly running around for hits. A lot like RR but w/o any of the attacking ability.

Even if he had calmed down and cleaned up defensively, I think the upper limit of his potential was a Zadorov kind of one-way specialist. More likely just a fringe player like Tinordi.

Too bad the Flyers didn’t choose between MacEwen and D Lo. One makes the other redundant. Yes, D Lo kills penalties but how effectively? He was on the 2nd unit of a poor Wild PK. He was worse there than the guy he replaced. A rising cap will make his celery not much of an issue. But the term is an albatross.
- Minnyhock

Exactly. Okay, Deslaurier kills penalties but is he good at it. MacEwen busts his ass every shift but is he effective? In my opinion, neither player is a good NHL player for their role. Nor do they have any upside. Those roster spots, including the one that might go to PatricK Brown should be given to younger players who have some upside. We don't need to have a prototypical 4th line.

I never really saw that much in Morin. His puck skill always seemed suspect. Generally undisciplined, constantly running around for hits. A lot like RR but w/o any of the attacking ability.

Even if he had calmed down and cleaned up defensively, I think the upper limit of his potential was a Zadorov kind of one-way specialist. More likely just a fringe player like Tinordi.
- Tomahawk

He was very raw. He only played 29 NHL games.

Sorry.....
- MBFlyerfan

Just wanted to throw the grammar guys a bone.