100%! Professional athletes are wired to compete and win, that is why they are professional athletes. But don’t be dissing on Roman Reigns, the head of the table, the tribal chief in full God mode! :-)
- jd250

Is Andre and Hogan still wrestling against Bundy & Studd?

Based on the analytics over the last 30 games, Risto is the Flyers best defenseman. But even without the analytics you can see Risto has vastly improved since working with Shaw
- jd250

The eye test does still matter. I think defensively he’s shown “some” improvement. But I still see a guy who has really regressed offensively and is not playing anywhere close to his ability. Not sure if any team out there requiring a d man (maybe one of the ones who lost the Risto sweepsteaks we all heard about) would still be interested, but he’s playing like an every day 2 million dollar guy at this point.

If you can't put up points playing center with TK and Farabee, then that's not a good sign.

Hayes was acquired at a high price by Fletcher in 2019 to be the Flyers 2C and suddenly in late 2022 we're told that he can't play center at all, even as he's scoring more points per game than he ever has. What an odd situation.
- Feanor

Yeah it really is odd, isn't it?! Lazy hazey has put up the best numbers of his career and gets benched.
He is close to a PPG player and I don't recall a PPG player being benched before.
If anybody knows the answer please enlighten me but I don't recall ever seeing this happen

...only in Philly, eh?

Am I the only one that thought he was playing a really good game before his bone headed mistake?
- landros 2

No

So which lazy teammate did Provorov tell that they needed to make more of an effort after he passed the puck directly to a Capital for a goal against in the 3rd period?
- Feanor

He is not what he once was 5-6 years ago when he was the “ovechkin stopper” he has completely gone backwards & should be moved

This is kind of where I am at as well. Chicago basically signaled in the offseason they were tanking. Anaheim heel turned to tank and kept on a lame duck coach after a poor start to be tank commander. Injuries ravaged Columbus and their goaltending is terrible. Arizona has been tanking since 2015. As bad as the Flyers roster is, they were never going to compete with those teams, especially with how good Hart started off. Good goaltending covers a lot of this teams' warts.

I just worry now that the injury excuse will continue to justify Fletcher's employment. "Look how good they are without Ellis, Couturier and Atkinson! Imagine where they would be with those guys!!!"
- TobyFlenderson

This is also my fear... winning games means feltcher will remain in charge. And if he remains in charge I can see him acquiring pieces at the draft for the deep playoff run-- a first round exit.
Feltcher needs to go ASAP before he gives up any more of our assets

Only thing I can figure is that he must of thought that York was across from him. Which is where the right side defenseman should be but might want to look first.
- MJL

I agree with both sentences

Is is just me or did Lavi put on the pounds? Perhaps too much jam on the morning toast?
- hockeylover

He is planning to be Hitch on Halloween

So which lazy teammate did Provorov tell that they needed to make more of an effort after he passed the puck directly to a Capital for a goal against in the 3rd period?
- Feanor

It was a bad error. No one is error free, but everyone should be in the best physical shape for a grueling season and play with consistent effort. The error and consitent effort should not be conflated.

Only thing I can figure is that he must of thought that York was across from him. Which is where the right side defenseman should be but might want to look first.
- MJL

That what it seemed like.

That what it seemed like.
- missingmike

Same.

The credit goes mostly to Konecny. He studied a ton of video and analytics on his shot locations last offseason -- seeing that he was shooting too much from outside the dots and needing to get inside more -- and worked out like a madman to report to camp in the best shape of his life. All of this was before Day 1 of camp on the ice with Tortorella. Konecny has kept at it ever since.
- bmeltzer

I think Torts said the same when asked in his interview. Torts credited TK and gave a shoutout to Briere for his part in showing TK what the analytics and video showed was the issue in his game. I also kind of remember this being mentioned towards the end of last season, maybe by Yeo.

He is not what he once was 5-6 years ago when he was the “ovechkin stopper” he has completely gone backwards & should be moved
- Fopa21

Ovechkin did not score last night. Does he still have the title?

Please no. Sell sell sell.

So impressed with TK. hope he makes the ASG as he deserves it.
- Hextall271

Was at the game last night. Got there early so my son could catch warm-ups from the glass. During warmies, Provy barely interacted with any team mates. Hardly saw him speak to anyone. Only really passed to anyone during the actual drills. Spent most of his time off doing his own thing, often times visibly distant from any other Flyers. Didn't smile once that I saw, and looked miserable most of the time. It's a shame. And I actually thought he had a pretty strong game until the major gaff in the 3rd. Thought he had 2 or 3 real nifty touch passes in transition or to quickly start a breakout.

As far as TK, good on him for putting in the work. But after watching him struggle/regress the past two seasons, reading Bill's praise leaves me a little annoyed. Why did it take him til this past offseason to "figure it out"? What's done is done, and I'm happy to see him flourishing this year and glad he's a Flyer. Maybe his situation is just further proof of the toxic country club atmosphere that many suspect has existed with this team for the past several years.

Based on the analytics over the last 30 games, Risto is the Flyers best defenseman.
- jd250

Uh... since November here's where RR ranks (out of 8 D on the team):

CF% 8th
FF% 4th
GF% 5th
xGF% 4th

And the only reason RR is middle of the pack in some of this stuff is b/c TDA and Provy have both dived off a cliff at 5v5.

So what are you looking at that says that RR is #1?

This is also my fear... winning games means feltcher will remain in charge. And if he remains in charge I can see him acquiring pieces at the draft for the deep playoff run-- a first round exit.
Feltcher needs to go ASAP before he gives up any more of our assets
- Bob Habib

Agreed. If they continue to play hot leading up to the TDL it'll be interesting to see how they approach things.

I hope they just play out the season as is and whatever happens, happens.

I gotta figure JVR is dealt but nothing too crazy beyond that.

Could Cates be similar to Danault of the Kings ?

Play to win always. Provys mistake would have crushed last years version of the Flyers. Reality all players make mistakes, good teams rally around the player, good for the Flyers to still win.

Just be smart at the deadline. I would sell anyone on the 4th line now, before the Flyers hit a bad streak. Could they make a hockey trade with a team like the Canuck’s, maybe, should they, maybe.

The good news, on the NHL squad they have talent. They also have prospects, Brink 2 goals in 2 games, others down in LHV growing, Cutter in college etc.

The truth is, if all keep getting better and developing, they will most likely have to move some players in the next 12-24 months.

I would rather Briere do it than CF

Also true, we now see that injuries really did decimate the franchise and development. I don’t want CF calling the shots but fair is fair

Was at the game last night. Got there early so my son could catch warm-ups from the glass. During warmies, Provy barely interacted with any team mates. Hardly saw him speak to anyone. Only really passed to anyone during the actual drills. Spent most of his time off doing his own thing, often times visibly distant from any other Flyers. Didn't smile once that I saw, and looked miserable most of the time. It's a shame. And I actually thought he had a pretty strong game until the major gaff in the 3rd. Thought he had 2 or 3 real nifty touch passes in transition or to quickly start a breakout.

As far as TK, good on him for putting in the work. But after watching him struggle/regress the past two seasons, reading Bill's praise leaves me a little annoyed. Why did it take him til this past offseason to "figure it out"? What's done is done, and I'm happy to see him flourishing this year and glad he's a Flyer. Maybe his situation is just further proof of the toxic country club atmosphere that many suspect has existed with this team for the past several years.
- Big_E_88

I thought TK worked his ass of during the season last year, can't comment on off season stuff obviously. I account it towards maturity and also realizing he's a leader now with G gone and Couts not being around. This is his team.

Could Cates be similar to Danault of the Kings ?
- wcorvette

Danault has one of the highest 5v5 point production rates over the past several seasons.

Cates might be like him one day, but he's not anywhere close yet.

Chicago is getting bedard. No chance of this not happening.
- Just5

It's not just about Bedard there are 3 or 4 players a tier below Bedard that you would like to grab

Danault has one of the highest 5v5 point production rates over the past several seasons.

Cates might be like him one day, but he's not anywhere close yet.
- Tomahawk

Agree, knowing Cates is a rookie, no way he should be, but I could see that as his ceiling

Agreed. If they continue to play hot leading up to the TDL it'll be interesting to see how they approach things.

I hope they just play out the season as is and whatever happens, happens.

I gotta figure JVR is dealt but nothing too crazy beyond that.
- Pelle31Forever

I think it would be crazy (stupid) to stand pat. They know players like Braun and JVR will not be with them next year. You sell. And they have said for months they are finding out who is part of the future. Well, whoever is not, you sell. I know many won’t get a lot back but even a 6th round pick is something.

I think it would be crazy (stupid) to stand pat. They know players like Braun and JVR will not be with them next year. You sell. And they have said for months they are finding out who is part of the future. Well, whoever is not, you sell. I know many won’t get a lot back but even a 6th round pick is something.
- NC Flyers Fan

I think all agree with this, they need room for younger players at the very least, moving JVR and alike helps with that and gets back assets.

I do think the flyers have assets, and now some credibility in the assets, to make hockey trades. All values were so low after the last 2 seasons. Again, give credit to CF and Torts, they have rehabilitated the players value

And what might we have here? A playoff bubble team?
- StepfordSam

They will still finish 20 pts out of a playoff spot. Going to take 100 pts just to get in. They are headed to 80...Those 10 extra points is going to cost 5 or so draft slots