The Flyers have already informed teams JVR, Hayes and Provorov are all available. JVR will definitely be moved and will be highly sought after. I think Hayes has a decent shot of being moved by the deadline if the Flyers cover salary, and I think Provorov is gone in the off season. I am a bit squeamish on Provorov however, given what the Flyers are stuck with on defense now and the fact that this draft does not have any projected stud defenseman.
- jd250

Think you are over valuing JVR. They will be fortunate to get a 2nd for him. With the like of Toewes...Kane..Horvat...Oreilly...Tarasenko...etc being available at the deadline JVR will be traded but not highly sought out. Hayes isn't going anywhere unless Flyers retain $$ for 3 yrs and or add assets.....other possibility with Hayes is Flyers taking back a worse contract which doesn't help them. Best resolution with Hayes would be a kumbaya moment between him and Torts.

I think teams taking the Flyers lightly is over, they will scheme to shut down TK, Flyers need 3 lines contributing to keep teams honest. No, I did not include the 4th line

Think you are over valuing JVR. They will be fortunate to get a 2nd for him. With the like of Toewes...Kane..Horvat...Oreilly...Tarasenko...etc being available at the deadline JVR will be traded but not highly sought out. Hayes isn't going anywhere unless Flyers retain $$ for 3 yrs and or add assets.....other possibility with Hayes is Flyers taking back a worse contract which doesn't help them. Best resolution with Hayes would be a kumbaya moment between him and Torts.
- hfc355

Wow, I was thinking a 3rd with salary retained for JVR. MAYBE a 2nd if they retain 50%.


Torts had a hard on for Hayes before the season even started. He was the first guy he called out by name when talking about the culture of the team. "If Kevin Hayes is out there blocking shots...yadda yadda yadda"

That was most definitely a shot across his bow before they ever hit the ice. Torts knew what he was getting in Hayes.

Braun's probably gone if anybody still wants him. JVR I can't see them trading if they're within shooting distance of a wild card spot. The allure of "anything can happen in the POs" is just too great.

And just based on the way Torts talks, I expect Frost and Bellows to be gone before next season. Maybe Zamula and Allison, too. And Cates will be signed to a long term deal lol.
- Tomahawk

Tortorella has been complementary of Frost of late. Just said he needs to keep it up because a few weeks doesn't make a season.

Matt Read came to us after 4 year college career and put up good numbers. He may have scored 20+ goals that first year. He got a nice "top 6" contract (I don't remember the figure 10 years ago) and just didn't produce like we had hoped. He may have hit 20 goals again once. He should've been 3rd or 4th line PK guy but our roster forced him to play up the line-up. It just didn't pan out for him. I was critical of him due to the fact that he underperformed. Not his fault at all.
- cdearth23

Read played on the 3rd line for most of his Flyers career.

I disagree. Our goaltenders have been stellar. They make mistakes, like TK makes mistakes but they have kept at it and are top notch in my mind.

The other good players may not be on the top line level but many have improved or are currently making strides. Very little talk about regression right now.
- NC Flyers Fan

Konency has 46 points in 36 games. He’s been really good all season. We might not even score without him. Hart started off hot and even with his hot start would leak a soft goal. Now he’s cooled off and Ersson took over. Who has been as consistent as Konency?

Konency has 46 points in 36 games. He’s been really good all season. We might not even score without him. Hart started off hot and even with his hot start would leak a soft goal. Now he’s cooled off and Ersson took over. Who has been as consistent as Konency?
- SuperSchennBros

That wasn’t really what you first said.

Travis Konency isn’t only our best player. There isn’t a close a second.
- SuperSchennBros

Best player and no close second. Goaltending can be a little skewed from team play in addition to individual mistakes. And there is only one crease, a single tender isn’t going to play every game. The best player in many games this season has been our goalie.

if he does go to Boston you should just delete your account

- black_francis

There should be a caveat to that though. If the Flyers add assets to move him that does not count. If they are able to make a trade with salary included and actually get some sort of return then an account deletion could be on the table.

I am of the firm belief that Fletcher will not move his prized free agent signing for at least another two years.

That wasn’t really what you first said.



Best player and no close second. Goaltending can be a little skewed from team play in addition to individual mistakes. And there is only one crease, a single tender isn’t going to play every game. The best player in many games this season has been our goalie.
- NC Flyers Fan

It’s exactly what I said. Individually Konency has been the Flyers best player and there has been no close second. He’s played all situations. He’s been a spark plug for us, even in losses. Even when Torts benched him against the sharks, it was shocking because he’s been that good. He even responded to the benching well. You brought up goaltending. We’ve had two really good goaltenders in any streak the Flyers have put together.

No team "tanks" willingly. Tanking is a combination of being void of talent, having no structure, tuning the coaching out etc. Bad teams just snowball. These are professionals making a lot of money. They are not going to willingly lose games. This isn't WWF wrestling where outcomes are predetermined.

My anger is at ownership and Fletcher for ineptly managing the roster. Being angry because they are winning games is just misguided nonsense.
They were never getting Bedard anyway.
- PLindbergh31

I would have to disagree on this one. Intent is a prerequisite of losing being called tanking.

However you are correct that players, coaches do not play to lose (it has happened repeatedly in soccer and tennis in recent years but I cannot recall anything comparable in North American sports).

The intent comes completely from the management side. Once the coach and the team start the game they play as hard as they can and as well as they can, for the reasons you said. Thus, the trick is to put players and coaches on the arena whose best/hardest is still going to ensure losing.

Philly wrote the book on this one. Hinkie dredged up players who would have had trouble breaking into a ACC college roster and started them year after year. That was intentional, and that is tanking. Their current profile is due to that.

Doug Pederson pulled Jalen Hurts in a close game against Washington for the 3rd string qb Sudfeld in the final game of the season, saying Sudfeld needed the reps (Sudfeld was released a few weeks later). That led to Devonta Smith (Pro bowl alternate, and a high 2nd round pick which is Landon Richarderson, pro bowl starter), and an extra pick for next year. They currently have the highest odds for reaching the supe.

Will the Sixers win anything? Odds are higher they won't then they will. Ditto for Eagles as well. But they have at least a foot in the door to a championship in the next few years, and it is a solid foot at that, not just a toe.

That is pretty much what it comes down to: having that shot or not. Having that shot almost always that mgmt must tank in the sense above (encourage or at least condone bad seasons).

Which in turn means whether mgmt is willing to incur the financial losses that losing entails. Sixers were. In the NFL, even losing teams sellout, so the Eagles example is a wash. Flyers won't tank because the mgmt/ownership will not incur those sustained losses.

(dropping in here after a couple of months. Hope all is well. Happy 2023 to all )

Not a chance...no body taking on 3 yrs of Hayes.
- hfc355

Ok, you watch and see. Hayes for 3 years $7.1M, yes no one would take that contract. But Hayes for 3 years at $4M, that is bargain for a 2nd line player compared to what other 2nd line centers are making, and the price is only going to go up as the cap goes up.

if he does go to Boston you should just delete your account

- black_francis

No .. no .. I love MJL, I'll be kind to him ;-)

Why would Boston upset their chemistry and phenomenal season by getting an inconsistent not team first guy? A big guy who doesn’t use his size and doesn’t always show up is not someone you want taking a roster spot in the playoffs.
- Minnyhock

wait ... you can say a lot of things about Hayes but saying he is not a team first guy is not accurate. From everything I hear, players love playing with Hayes and he is a good locker room guy. The issue here is simply Hayes is not a Tort's type of player so there is no longer a fit here for him. To be honest, I think Hayes would welcome a move more than anyone else, and the Flyers could use the $4M in cap space for the next 3 seasons.

Think you are over valuing JVR. They will be fortunate to get a 2nd for him. With the like of Toewes...Kane..Horvat...Oreilly...Tarasenko...etc being available at the deadline JVR will be traded but not highly sought out. Hayes isn't going anywhere unless Flyers retain $$ for 3 yrs and or add assets.....other possibility with Hayes is Flyers taking back a worse contract which doesn't help them. Best resolution with Hayes would be a kumbaya moment between him and Torts.
- hfc355

A 2nd round pick in 2023 for JVR would be a great return for the Flyers IMO. Also the Flyers will cover salary, about $2.5M - $3M per season to make a Hayes trade work. Its not about the $3M in dead cap space, its about the $4M in cap savings for the Flyers.

There should be a caveat to that though. If the Flyers add assets to move him that does not count. If they are able to make a trade with salary included and actually get some sort of return then an account deletion could be on the table.

I am of the firm belief that Fletcher will not move his prized free agent signing for at least another two years.
- mickel25

I think you are missing something very important .. Torts is calling the shots around here now, thus Hayes is as good as gone.

It’s exactly what I said. Individually Konency has been the Flyers best player and there has been no close second. He’s played all situations. He’s been a spark plug for us, even in losses. Even when Torts benched him against the sharks, it was shocking because he’s been that good. He even responded to the benching well. You brought up goaltending. We’ve had two really good goaltenders in any streak the Flyers have put together.
- SuperSchennBros

In general, I think Flyers fans undervalue the impact that good goaltending has on the team success while at the same time blaming the goalie unfairly for goals against/losses.

If I went back through every game and gave a best player award, I bet the goalies combined would beat TK. There are multiple goalies due to the nature of the position so I understand giving the edge to TK. If TK is MVP, then the goalies have been a close second is my main point.

wait ... you can say a lot of things about Hayes but saying he is not a team first guy is not accurate. From everything I hear, players love playing with Hayes and he is a good locker room guy. The issue here is simply Hayes is not a Tort's type of player so there is no longer a fit here for him. To be honest, I think Hayes would welcome a move more than anyone else, and the Flyers could use the $4M in cap space for the next 3 seasons.
- jd250

It’s good if he’s a fun guy and promotes camaraderie in the locker room. But his play on the ice matters more. You watch him more than me. He plays well at times but I see some indifferent and checked out play with little commitment to defense too. Do you think he would welcome being moved just to get away from Torts or because he wants to win?

I’m stoked reading the overall positive posts!

There are people FURIOUS that they’re winning….it is what it is. The main thing, now, above all, is that CF (or whomever) stays the course and continues to sell for the future.

Any sort of asset usage for the immediate is malpractice

Ok, you watch and see. Hayes for 3 years $7.1M, yes no one would take that contract. But Hayes for 3 years at $4M, that is bargain for a 2nd line player compared to what other 2nd line centers are making, and the price is only going to go up as the cap goes up.
- jd250

Not a bargain if the player is lazy..has an attitude..and doesn't back check

wait ... you can say a lot of things about Hayes but saying he is not a team first guy is not accurate. From everything I hear, players love playing with Hayes and he is a good locker room guy. The issue here is simply Hayes is not a Tort's type of player so there is no longer a fit here for him. To be honest, I think Hayes would welcome a move more than anyone else, and the Flyers could use the $4M in cap space for the next 3 seasons.
- jd250

Well Rangers and Winnipeg didnt want him...a goofy funny locker room guy may not be what winning teams are looking for.

Ok, you watch and see. Hayes for 3 years $7.1M, yes no one would take that contract. But Hayes for 3 years at $4M, that is bargain for a 2nd line player compared to what other 2nd line centers are making, and the price is only going to go up as the cap goes up.
- jd250

With the cap potentially only going up 1M next season. 4M is not a bargain. They have to take that on for 3 years. Teams are very reluctant to do that. Especially for a player like Hayes. 17 of the league's 32 teams are in LTIR. The only team currently sniffing the playoffs that would have the full season cap space at this point are Minnesota and the Islanders. Nothing is impossible but it is a difficult and unlikely trade.

I think you are missing something very important .. Torts is calling the shots around here now, thus Hayes is as good as gone.
- jd250

This is a baseless assumption that you are making.

I’m stoked reading the overall positive posts!

There are people FURIOUS that they’re winning….it is what it is. The main thing, now, above all, is that CF (or whomever) stays the course and continues to sell for the future.

Any sort of asset usage for the immediate is malpractice
- Wingdestroyer

That's the issue. This team tends to get google-eyed when a hot girl walks close to them and gives them a glance. They think they can get her so they dress themselves up.

Sure if you'll delete your account if he doesn't.
- MJL

Nah I’m not the one talking out of my a$$ and berating posters here daily. I’ve got no pony in the race.

Watching you sweat might be worth a HB season ticket though 😆

In general, I think Flyers fans undervalue the impact that good goaltending has on the team success while at the same time blaming the goalie unfairly for goals against/losses.

If I went back through every game and gave a best player award, I bet the goalies combined would beat TK. There are multiple goalies due to the nature of the position so I understand giving the edge to TK. If TK is MVP, then the goalies have been a close second is my main point.
- NC Flyers Fan

You keep saying the goalies. I keep saying Travis Konency.