Nope - his point is that simply getting the #1 pick is no guarantee of success. You need to use your picks wisely and build around your stars.
- Scoob

Top players make it a hell of a lot easier to succeed, or make mistakes in other areas of team building.

For an organization that has an incredibly hard time winning in other areas of development, and overall management it would massively help.

The point stands that they had a perfect chance this season at trying to maximize their odds at Bedard, or another one of the highly touted kids.

They chose to place more importance yet again, on other things.

I’m not sure how much evidence is needed that the Flyer way is downright wrong.

By all means continue on the present path, and see how much skin is left in that game.

10years of largely poor success. The best the Flyers have to yield for that is Carter Hart, Konecny, and Gauthier?

The status quo that’s defended so proudly is an interesting concept. This fanbase sometimes gets what it deserves.
- FlyerFan3260

Who’s defending it. A couple of folks here including me and Bill?

Most of their mistakes center around two issues.. they ffed up and should have take a dman instead of Patrick and then the new guy comes and does a miserable job of compensating for the other guys mistake. That’s in a nutshell their problem.

However, there are a legitimate 10 or 15 or so very good options amongst their top 50 players and the drafting has not been bad. It hasn’t.

Also you can’t simply answer what moves you would have made to ensure a tank this year. Cause there aren’t any. It is what it is a 500 team who have a ton of youth either here or are coming. That’s reality.

They dumped g and don’t really have any old guys playing a big role anymore.

Also assuming ur not dropping 5K on season tickets..

Add to this they have 18 picks over the next 3 drafts in the first three rounds.

3 firsts
8 seconds
7 thirds.

40 million in cap space next season.

The only things holding them back will be the arena they play in.

In all honestly the NHL needs to move them.
- MBFlyerfan

They will be getting an Arena in Tempe I believe, only holdup is flightpath to airport.

It is VERY telling that so many cup winners of the last 15 years have a #1 overall pick on their roster.

The Flyers aren't winning that lottery even if they have the top odds. A more consistent approach to improving our futures would be to stop trading draft picks for mediocre cap anchor defensemen.

Connor Bedard, 21 points and a +12 in 5 games

However back on Earth, Gauthier is quietly having a nice tournament, 8 points in 5 games. Would like to see him bury a few more chances though.
- jd250

and people don't want to full tank for this kid

No. What they ARE doing is trying to determine who can/should be pieces of the puzzle moving forward. Yes, they need a superstar. Yes, their cap situation is a mess. No, while they have some decent prospects in the pipeline, there isn't a franchise player.

As far as the draft lottery goes, it is what is it. If you are building from absolute scratch, you can draft Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, have them become everything they were hyped to be, and still be far from a Cup contender. This is year 8 of McDavid's career. It's year 9 for Draisaitl. Both are bonafide superstars. The Oilers are currently barely clinging to the lower wildcard spot near the midpoint of the season. Colorado, with all of their injuries, has a higher points percentage and is one point behind with two games in hand.

This season MAY be the final (12th straight, 14th in the last 16) season where Buffalo finishes out of the playoffs before becoming a playoff club again. That's after years and years of drafting at or near the top.

Worry about building a team -- the Flyers still have a long way to go -- and not pining just for a guy who could win Art Ross Trophies on otherwise rotten to middling clubs. Whatever direction they go in, the Flyers will need no small amount of good luck, too.
- bmeltzer

Lmao

Top players make it a hell of a lot easier to succeed, or make mistakes in other areas of team building.

For an organization that has an incredibly hard time winning in other areas of development, and overall management it would massively help.

The point stands that they had a perfect chance this season at trying to maximize their odds at Bedard, or another one of the highly touted kids.

They chose to place more importance yet again, on other things.

I’m not sure how much evidence is needed that the Flyer way is downright wrong.
- FlyerFan3260

They did not have the perfect chance this year. Chicago did. Aneheim did. The flyers have had a ton of injuries to their youth the past two years. Their entire system had been decimated. They are now getting healthy and the young guys are finally producing.

The moves for them to tank were not there. Again even if they did we are talking about an 18 to 25% chance..

Hypothetical time.

Not knowing where the Flyers ultimately end up picking, need to make this trade today.

Trade a locked guarantee for the first overall selection for wherever the flyers end up picking with their first, and two of TK, provorov, and York.

The Flyers aren't winning that lottery even if they have the top odds. A more consistent approach to improving our futures would be to stop trading draft picks for mediocre cap anchor defensemen.
- BulliesPhan87

Bingo!!!

They will be getting an Arena in Tempe I believe, only holdup is flightpath to airport.
- konalover711

Ive read it is waiting for voter approval. Either way it is still 2 to 3 seasons away.

Who’s defending it. A couple of folks here including me and Bill?

Most of their mistakes center around two issues.. they ffed up and should have take a dman instead of Patrick and then the new guy comes and does a miserable job of compensating for the other guys mistake. That’s in a nutshell their problem.

However, there are a legitimate 10 or 15 or so very good options amongst their top 50 players and the drafting has not been bad. It hasn’t.

Also you can’t simply answer what moves you would have made to ensure a tank this year. Cause there aren’t any. It is what it is a 500 team who have a ton of youth either here or are coming. That’s reality.

They dumped g and don’t really have any old guys playing a big role anymore.

Also assuming ur not dropping 5K on season tickets..
- Joe Nardone

Moves to ensure a greater chance at a higher pick involve not trading to TDA. Involve moving on from Sanheim, and Provorov.

Those are obvious things. This Bob Clarke logic that all they needed was to draft Cale Makar is misguided, because the main problem with the team is not singular events.

It’s a theme of incorrect thinking when it comes to team building, and ignoring the overall importance of talent. Ignoring the best way to obtain said talent in the modern NHL. One miss on Cale Makar should not cripple a franchise, that’s committed to rebuilding for more than a season.

The Flyers have no idea how to build a team, with the draft as the primary focus. That’s the issue. That includes doing what’s needed to gather more picks, yes in higher positions.

The Flyers drafting isn’t bad is something I cannot side with, because again. In 10 years of what’s largely failure the best the team has to show for it is Travis Konecny, and Carter Hart? That’s downright pathetic.

I don’t mean to offend, but stating I am not dropping 5K on tickets doesn’t make the point you think it does. People have paid that for years with the team continuously stuck in the mud. The same blind loyalty based on antiquated history is on display there, just as it is through all departments of this organization.

That’s the biggest issue. The Flyers have no idea how to build something worthwhile in the current NHL, and worse yet are more concerned with running a comfortable country club.

Hypothetical time.

Not knowing where the Flyers ultimately end up picking, need to make this trade today.

Trade a locked guarantee for the first overall selection for wherever the flyers end up picking with their first, and two of TK, provorov, and York.
- stayinthefnnet

Yes 100%

They did not have the perfect chance this year. Chicago did. Aneheim did. The flyers have had a ton of injuries to their youth the past two years. Their entire system had been decimated. They are now getting healthy and the young guys are finally producing.

The moves for them to tank were not there. Again even if they did we are talking about an 18 to 25% chance..
- Joe Nardone

An 18% chance is a lot better than 5%. Moves were available to be made as I outlined in other posts.

Funny how other teams can actively put themselves into position to bottom out but the Flyers cannot plan for doing so?

Picking 3rd instead of 7th doesn’t give the team a better chance at drafting a better player?

Maybe we should just hope for a little bit of good luck.

This was the 1st time since 2013-2-14 that the Flyers had a winning record on their West coast trip. The players on the ice will never tank, so get the thoughts of Bedard out of your heads. Once again, it seems like the Flyers will win enough games to get themselves out of the lottery. I know we won't make the playoffs, but lately it's been fun to see some of the young talent actually making good plays on the ice. I still enjoy watching Tippet. Torts has been given some lemons, but he seems to be making lemonade out if it, or Vodka and lemon if you prefer?
- Thors-Hammer

Players don't tank. Management tanks.

That’s the biggest issue. The Flyers have no idea how to build something worthwhile in the current NHL.
- FlyerFan3260

This is 100% the problem. Until they realize that you cannot trade and free agent your way to winning the cup nothing else matters.

Torts is throwimg Cates into the deep end of the pool at center. My guess is he views Cates as the best defensive option at center currently on the roster. Also, he seems to be challenging both TK and Farabee with that task of going against another 1st line, which is interesting. I expect the Cates experiment at center to.last the rest of the season. I think long term he views Cates as a viable 3C on a good team. Right now, I don't think Torts views Tanner as nothing more then a 13 th fwd. Hopefully, it changes. I cannot write thar Brown is even an avg. 4C. I don't believe that at all.
- Trox88

I don’t view Cates as anything special at center both defensively or offensively.

This is 100% the problem. Until they realize that you cannot trade and free agent your way to winning the cup nothing else matters.
- mickel25

I am coming off as a bit of an ass, but seeing some sort of rationale at not "tanking" while watching Bedard on display is just...

It's not even about Bedard. This team is years out from doing anything worthwhile. Yet they continue to hum along as they always have too proud to do what is needed. Trading JVR, and Braun at the deadline is not enough to be marked as sellers with a commitment to the drafting process. Actively not trying to move up from say 8th OA is a critical failure in what's said to be a loaded draft.

There are constant possibilities to do the right thing when it comes to properly building a team, but they are all ignored. Status quo, year after year. The defense of that from the team's leading writer who does actually know the game, is frustrating.

I don’t view Cates as anything special at center both defensively or offensively.
- SuperSchennBros

I like him better at wing. Cates has been good considering the role he has taken on. Would love to see him as a winger on a competent third or fourth line. He scores a good amount. I think he would score more at wing.

I like him better at wing. Cates has been good considering the role he has taken on. Would love to see him as a winger on a competent third or fourth line. He scores a good amount. I think he would score more at wing.
- mickel25

I’m disappointed that Laczynski hasn’t had a longer look at center and Cates a longer look at wing. I agree Cates would be more productive at wing.

I’m disappointed that Laczynski hasn’t had a longer look at center and Cates a longer look at wing. I agree Cates would be more productive at wing.
- SuperSchennBros

Maybe once he comes back off IR he will get a look.

I don’t view Cates as anything special at center both defensively or offensively.
- SuperSchennBros

I give him credit for trying and I think the experience will help when he is moved back to wing. Cates should be a nice middle 6 forward, a Scott Laughton type

I am coming off as a bit of an ass, but seeing some sort of rationale at not "tanking" while watching Bedard on display is just...

It's not even about Bedard. This team is years out from doing anything worthwhile. Yet they continue to hum along as they always have too proud to do what is needed. Trading JVR, and Braun at the deadline is not enough to be marked as sellers with a commitment to the drafting process. Actively not trying to move up from say 8th OA is a critical failure in what's said to be a loaded draft.

There are constant possibilities to do the right thing when it comes to properly building a team, but they are all ignored. Status quo, year after year. The defense of that from the team's leading writer who does actually know the game, is frustrating.
- FlyerFan3260

I have been saying this for a long time. 100% agree.

As for Bill, I do not know what you expect from him. He is harsh sometimes in his own eloquent way. He is just not going to openly bash the team or a single player. He is a professional. I don't think he is soft on the team overall. He just won't go to the level of vitriol we want him to.

I also do not think Bill has any power to change this organization. Do you really think if Bill was tougher on the team they would suddenly realize how poorly they are run?

I have been saying this for a long time. 100% agree.

As for Bill, I do not know what you expect from him. He is harsh sometimes in his own eloquent way. He is just not going to openly bash the team or a single player. He is a professional. I don't think he is soft on the team overall. He just won't go to the level of vitriol we want him to.

I also do not think Bill has any power to change this organization. Do you really think if Bill was tougher on the team they would suddenly realize how poorly they are run?
- mickel25

I have zero personal issues with Bill.

There is a side that flares when he argues in favor of the status quo, and downplays the importance of what a true modern rebuild entails for a team as bereft of high end talent as the Flyers are. Primarily because its clearly a belief that's entrenched in the organization. It's 100% wrong.

This year in particular is very much putting on display how much they undervalue the importance of the draft.

I do not need him trashing the team.

I have zero personal issues with Bill.

There is a side that flares when he argues in favor of the status quo, and downplays the importance of what a true modern rebuild entails for a team as bereft of high end talent as the Flyers are.

I do not need him trashing the team.
- FlyerFan3260

Keep most of your draft picks. Draft and develop well. Sign the right players to longterm deals. Cash in on the players you decide not to keep. Add through trade and FA to finish off the roster for multiple chances at a cup. All of this takes patience and vision. Flyers have zero patience or vision.