This is exactly right. The goaltending and the coach are too good to have a bottom 5 finish
- Just5

The coach is actually mediocre. Goaltending is the biggest factor.

Amen to this! Picking 14th again just cements another decade of mediocrity. What's worse is the Flyers bonehead management might not sell everyone well before the deadline, worsening the situation.
- jd250

You might want to check your definition of mediocrity. In the last decade they missed the playoffs 6 times, and won one playoff series. You call that mediocre?
I call it embarrassing.

He’s flashing top 10 talent on a regular basis now
- Just5

Tippet has a chance to be a good player but top 10 is Mikko Rantanen.

What if the Russian kid is there at 7 or 8? He’s not coming for 3 years…but clearly is top 3. Some teams may not want to wait with other very good prospects sitting there.
- landros 2

IMO this might end up being the best case scenario.

You roll the dice and potentially get a star player in 3 years. Let’s be honest, outside of the top 3 any drafted player this year ain’t playing in the NHL next year. So it’s really only waiting 2 more years.

PLUS, he doesn’t make your team any better the next 3 years so maybe you keep picking in the top 7!

Problem solved

Tippet has a chance to be a good player but top 10 is Mikko Rantanen.
- MJL

Not sure what you or the poster mean by that, just because Mikko was taken in the top 10? So was Dylan Strome, or Patel zacha. Tippett is showing his skill set which warranted a top 10 pick, if that’s what the poster meant, I agree. Rantanen is probably one of the better picks all time at 10

Not sure what you or the poster mean by that, just because Mikko was taken in the top 10? So was Dylan Strome, or Patel zacha. Tippett is showing his skill set which warranted a top 10 pick, if that’s what the poster meant, I agree. Rantanen is probably one of the better picks all time at 10
- ClaudeFather

We can look through the history of the draft and see misses all over the place. Is JVR what you would want or expect with a player taken 2nd overall? Picking a player in the top 10 in the draft, I would want and expect a player to be a top player in the NHL. I think that ship has sailed on Tippet. Doesn't mean he can't be a solid player but he's not a player who is going to wind up a top player in the league at this point.

We can look through the history of the draft and see misses all over the place. Is JVR what you would want or expect with a player taken 2nd overall? Picking a player in the top 10 in the draft, I would want and expect a player to be a top player in the NHL. I think that ship has sailed on Tippet. Doesn't mean he can't be a solid player but he's not a player who is going to wind up a top player in the league at this point.
- MJL

At 10th overall, you absolutely should not be expecting a top player in the league. If Tippett became a 25-30 goal 50-60 point guy, that would be great. Top 5, I’d want a damn good player but 10 is certainly stretching it.

IMO this might end up being the best case scenario.

You roll the dice and potentially get a star player in 3 years. Let’s be honest, outside of the top 3 any drafted player this year ain’t playing in the NHL next year. So it’s really only waiting 2 more years.

PLUS, he doesn’t make your team any better the next 3 years so maybe you keep picking in the top 7!

Problem solved
- Wingdestroyer

No way I take that chance..who knows where Russia will stand in 3 yrs they may force their players to stay or spend 3 yrs in the army...way too risky for a top 10 pick with current political climate

At 10th overall, you absolutely should not be expecting a top player in the league. If Tippett became a 25-30 goal 50-60 point guy, that would be great. Top 5, I’d want a damn good player but 10 is certainly stretching it.
- ClaudeFather

I disagree. You should expect a top player. No guarantee but if you don't think a player can reach that level then you shouldn't be taking him there. Unless it's a weak draft.

I disagree. You should expect a top player. No guarantee but if you don't think a player can reach that level then you shouldn't be taking him there. Unless it's a weak draft.
- MJL

Go look at the guys drafted 10th overall historically and get back to me

Go look at the guys drafted 10th overall historically and get back to me
- ClaudeFather

I already have. As I said to you previously. You find misses all over the draft including the top 5 in history. Go look at that and get back to me.

I already have. As I said to you previously. You find misses all over the draft including the top 5 in history. Go look at that and get back to me.
- MJL

A lot of more misses than hits pal. The player Tippett is starting to become has more than warranted a pick at #10.

A lot of more misses than hits pal. The player Tippett is starting to become has more than warranted a pick at #10.
- ClaudeFather

I would have a bigger expectation of a player picked in the top 10 than the player that I think Tippet is going to be. Go look at the 3rd overall pick and see how many players didn't add up to being a top player, pal. There are misses everywhere in the draft. It's why they call it a crapshoot.

No way I take that chance..who knows where Russia will stand in 3 yrs they may force their players to stay or spend 3 yrs in the army...way too risky for a top 10 pick with current political climate
- hfc355

It’s a bold move….but if he slides to 7-8 I absolutely would take the chance. He could very well be the second best player in the draft. There are variables and risks with EVERY PLAYER in the draft. But outside of Bedard none of them project to be as dynamic….it’s a risk but taking big swings is a way to expedite a Flyers turnaround.

I see the argument against, but the talent is too much for me to pass personally in that scenario.

The coach is actually mediocre. Goaltending is the biggest factor.
- MJL

So let me get this straight. A coach that has the second most wins in the history of the NHL among American born coaches and a Stanley Cup is mediocre? This current team has way less talent then they've had in previous years and I will disagree that goaltending is the only factor. They play harder and don't quit in the middle of games like previous teams have. Face it, Torts gets the most out of his rosters in general and he's doing the same thing this year with this roster. You just don't like him and there's nothing anyone can do to change your mind. Happy New Year!

So let me get this straight. A coach that has the second most wins in the history of the NHL among American born coaches and a Stanley Cup is mediocre? This current team has way less talent then they've had in previous years and I will disagree that goaltending is the only factor. They play harder and don't quit in the middle of games like previous teams have. Face it, Torts gets the most out of his rosters in general and he's doing the same thing this year with this roster. You just don't like him and there's nothing anyone can do to change your mind. Happy New Year!
- Phillywhiteout

Yea, you didn't get it straight. Every time I read about playing harder, I laugh and realize that for many. Tortorella's mind games are working on a faction of the fan base.
I actually like Tortorella before he got the Flyers job. So far, I don't like what he has done with the Flyers. For some reason you have the illogical opinion that it's about liking rather than what I see on the ice.

I would have a bigger expectation of a player picked in the top 10 than the player that I think Tippet is going to be. Go look at the 3rd overall pick and see how many players didn't add up to being a top player, pal. There are misses everywhere in the draft. It's why they call it a crapshoot.
- MJL

You pointing out exactly why Tippett is worthy of his selection is pretty comical. You can hope and wish all you want, a guy like Rantanen around #10 is a home run. It’s a hope, absolutely should not be an expectation.

We can look through the history of the draft and see misses all over the place. Is JVR what you would want or expect with a player taken 2nd overall? Picking a player in the top 10 in the draft, I would want and expect a player to be a top player in the NHL. I think that ship has sailed on Tippet. Doesn't mean he can't be a solid player but he's not a player who is going to wind up a top player in the league at this point.
- MJL

At 10th overall, you absolutely should not be expecting a top player in the league. If Tippett became a 25-30 goal 50-60 point guy, that would be great. Top 5, I’d want a damn good player but 10 is certainly stretching it.
- ClaudeFather

That stuff is all draft class dependent. Quality and depth vary wildly.

Really can't compare draft position between 2007 and 2017.

That stuff is all draft class dependent. Quality and depth vary wildly.

Really can't compare draft position between 2007 and 2017.
- Tomahawk

Rantanen draft was loaded as well, very good players throughout the first round. Doesn’t change the fact that Expecting a Rantanen in the latter portion of the top 10 is foolish

Really love what we’re getting out of Owen Tippett. We’re getting more out of Tippett than Farabee, at a quarter of the cost. I hate to say this because I do like Farabee and think he has nothing but time to give more but Farabee is currently a bad contract. We jumped at giving him his money before he earned it.

Rantanen draft was loaded as well, very good players throughout the first round. Doesn’t change the fact that Expecting a Rantanen in the latter portion of the top 10 is foolish
- ClaudeFather

Yeah, 2015 was a good one.

When all is said and done, Rants will probably end up the second best player ever taken at #10 behind Selanne. Holik is currently #2 if that puts things in perspective lol.

Really love what we’re getting out of Owen Tippett. We’re getting more out of Tippett than Farabee, at a quarter of the cost. I hate to say this because I do like Farabee and think he has nothing but time to give more but Farabee is currently a bad contract. We jumped at giving him his money before he earned it.
- SuperSchennBros

He’s coming off neck surgery, no training this summer. He’s really never found his footing this season. It wouldn’t be wise to write him off

He’s coming off neck surgery, no training this summer. He’s really never found his footing this season. It wouldn’t be wise to write him off
- ClaudeFather

Oh I’m not writing him off. Not at all. The problem for me is, he looks the same as before the neck surgery. Farabee only really has one season where he looked great and that was the half season where he potted 20 goals. At what point is the neck surgery just an excuse? He hasn’t missed a game. He’s taking regular shifts in a top 6 role. I’m watching him get into fights where he’s getting punched in the head.

He’s coming off neck surgery, no training this summer. He’s really never found his footing this season. It wouldn’t be wise to write him off
- ClaudeFather

Only 22-years old too.

So let me get this straight. A coach that has the second most wins in the history of the NHL among American born coaches and a Stanley Cup is mediocre? This current team has way less talent then they've had in previous years and I will disagree that goaltending is the only factor. They play harder and don't quit in the middle of games like previous teams have. Face it, Torts gets the most out of his rosters in general and he's doing the same thing this year with this roster. You just don't like him and there's nothing anyone can do to change your mind. Happy New Year!
- Phillywhiteout

Totally agree it's not just the goaltending. Goaltending has been very good but not like the elites. Torts has absolutely gotten more out of this group of misfits than anyone could have expected though it is temporary and will wear thin in about a yr. Their effort is 100% better than has been last few yrs