So you think they signed Nic D for 4 years with a partial NTC to battle for a roster spot?

I will be shocked if Radcliff makes the opening night roster.
- furio16

I forgot they gave him that ridiculous contract. The hits just keep coming.

So you think they signed Nic D for 4 years with a partial NTC to battle for a roster spot?

I will be shocked if Radcliff makes the opening night roster.
- furio16

It’s a slippery slope to assume that any 4th line player (Ratcliffe, Deslauriers, etc) is a stone-cold-lock for a spot in true competition. Training camp is just beginning now. If someone is beat out for a spot, their contract issue is Fletcher’s problem. Torts should focus on putting the best players forward for opening night. If Fletcher is routinely forcing a coach’s hand on who to start in the regular season, he has overstepped and is not allowing his coach to do his job. There is always the popcorn suite for someone too.

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?
- Feanor

Maybe he will

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?
- Feanor

Any player can play on on any line. Coaches choice.

Maybe he will
- NC Flyers Fan

One step closer to a true tank if he plays on the 3rd line

I support this

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?
- Feanor

Might as well put me on the 4th line then lol

It’s a slippery slope to assume that any 4th line player (Ratcliffe, Deslauriers, etc) is a stone-cold-lock for a spot in true competition. Training camp is just beginning now. If someone is beat out for a spot, their contract issue is Fletcher’s problem. Torts should focus on putting the best players forward for opening night. If Fletcher is routinely forcing a coach’s hand on who to start in the regular season, he has overstepped and is not allowing his coach to do his job. There is always the popcorn suite for someone too.
- NC Flyers Fan

There is no slippery slop for a guy they signed on the 1st day of free agency and gave him a 4 year deal. None.

Do you not understand the coach can only play the players the GM provides?

It’s a slippery slope to assume that any 4th line player (Ratcliffe, Deslauriers, etc) is a stone-cold-lock for a spot in true competition. Training camp is just beginning now. If someone is beat out for a spot, their contract issue is Fletcher’s problem. Torts should focus on putting the best players forward for opening night. If Fletcher is routinely forcing a coach’s hand on who to start in the regular season, he has overstepped and is not allowing his coach to do his job. There is always the popcorn suite for someone too.
- NC Flyers Fan

ND is a stone cold lock to be in the lineup game 1

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?
- Feanor

After seeing MacEwen on the PP, nothing would surprise me.

ND is a stone cold lock to be in the lineup game 1
- ClaudeFather

Yup. About the only highlight they’re going to have for this team is him jumping someone. Gotta sell tickets somehow. Sigh.

It’s a slippery slope to assume that any 4th line player (Ratcliffe, Deslauriers, etc) is a stone-cold-lock for a spot in true competition. Training camp is just beginning now. If someone is beat out for a spot, their contract issue is Fletcher’s problem. Torts should focus on putting the best players forward for opening night. If Fletcher is routinely forcing a coach’s hand on who to start in the regular season, he has overstepped and is not allowing his coach to do his job. There is always the popcorn suite for someone too.
- NC Flyers Fan

I think Deslauriers is a stone cold lock as well.

Why are you assuming Deslauriers can't play on the 3rd line?
- Feanor

Imagine the space on the ice that will open up for Morgan Frost?

There is no slippery slop for a guy they signed on the 1st day of free agency and gave him a 4 year deal. None.

Do you not understand the coach can only play the players the GM provides?
- furio16

I choose to view it as a true competition and there are multiple players that Fletcher has provided to choose from.

If they waive someone better, you gonna be great with that? Sends an excellent message to emphasize drafting and development, spending assets and resources, then after five years waiving them to be claimed by another team at no cost. Brilliant! If your favorite is the best choice, then lucky you.

Dogs do have a sixth sense
- SMS4016

Maybe ….They usually smell poop and add to the poop show.

I think Deslauriers is a stone cold lock as well.
- SuperSchennBros

No saying it is wrong, but contradictions like this are not appreciated by many folks. Tells us it is a competition and young guys have an opportunity to make the team. In reality, there is zero chance. I hate being lied to, and I call BS on this for Fletcher. I expect better than BS from Torts.

Already happened.
- bmeltzer

Is Rick Bronwell still there? Holy crap. The Flyers list 3 equipment managers and 3 assistant equipment managers. Do teams normally carry that many equipment guys?

No saying it is wrong, but contradictions like this are not appreciated by many folks. Tells us it is a competition and young guys have an opportunity to make the team. In reality, there is zero chance. I hate being lied to, and I call BS on this for Fletcher. I expect better than BS from Torts.
- NC Flyers Fan

There is for some spots, but just not his. Young guys are battling Brown/Macewen roster spots last year

No saying it is wrong, but contradictions like this are not appreciated by many folks. Tells us it is a competition and young guys have an opportunity to make the team. In reality, there is zero chance. I hate being lied to, and I call BS on this for Fletcher. I expect better than BS from Torts.
- NC Flyers Fan

At this point Im fine with him being on the team but they should be using him as 13th unless we are playing a team that deploys players we should be concerned about (Washington/Rangers/Isles/Nashville...etc). He can still be here to protect the kids when need be.

If Coots is out...cut bait with the PTO players, go with the youngsters and stop pretending we can ice a competitive team. Scratching and clawing to get a10-14 draft spot vs. a top 5 is absolutely detrimental at this point.

Nicky NTC is actually quite likely to be on the 3rd line on Saturday since they probably won't be icing a full strength lineup.

I choose to view it as a true competition and there are multiple players that Fletcher has provided to choose from.

If they waive someone better, you gonna be great with that? Sends an excellent message to emphasize drafting and development, spending assets and resources, then after five years waiving them to be claimed by another team at no cost. Brilliant! If your favorite is the best choice, then lucky you.
- NC Flyers Fan

Expect it to happen. If they had complete faith in any of these guys they drafted then you do not sign ND and ZM. Then add Antoine on the PTO.

At this point Im fine with him being on the team but they should be using him as 13th unless we are playing a team that deploys players we should be concerned about (Washington/Rangers/Isles/Nashville...etc). He can still be here to protect the kids when need be.

If Coots is out...cut bait with the PTO players, go with the youngsters and stop pretending we can ice a competitive team. Scratching and clawing to get a10-14 draft spot vs. a top 5 is absolutely detrimental at this point.
- juiced

With all that LTIR space, they could have 7 D and 14 Forwards. They could, as you say, rotate in the extra two forwards for specific situations.

No saying it is wrong, but contradictions like this are not appreciated by many folks. Tells us it is a competition and young guys have an opportunity to make the team. In reality, there is zero chance. I hate being lied to, and I call BS on this for Fletcher. I expect better than BS from Torts.
- NC Flyers Fan

They say the same thing every year about competition yet they go out and sign slugs like ND that block younger kids from playing

Nic D may very well wear the A. Core player on a 4 year deal like the coach.

"5) I took my son Benjamin to the Phillies vs. Blue Jays game yesterday at Citizens Bank Park; an ugly 18-11 game that saw Toronto score in eight of the nine innings and the Flyers generate four-run and five-run innings yet never draw closer than two runs down after trailing 6-0. At any rate, a group of Flyers players were on hand and took batting practice: Justin Braun, Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim."

Glad to the the Flyers get 11.