needs a good summer to work on the skating a little. but he has the skills for the nhl. hope it's not another bellows
- Peter Richards

Fairly confident Brink is a better passer then Bellows. I like his development this year especially considering his hip surgery. I think a line of Tippett-Frost-Brink would compliment each other very well.

Fairly confident Brink is a better passer then Bellows. I like his development this year especially considering his hip surgery. I think a line of Tippett-Frost-Brink would compliment each other very well.
- Trox88

agree, was referring to the nhl skills but ahl feet. bellows has a better shot. brink has slick hands and vision agree.

interesting line. the other would be foerster on lw with frost and tip.

theres a few different combos i could think of that i want to see when all are healthy

agree, was referring to the nhl skills but ahl feet. bellows has a better shot. brink has slick hands and vision agree.

interesting line. the other would be foerster on lw with frost and tip.

theres a few different combos i could think of that i want to see when all are healthy
- Peter Richards

Ideally, they are able to move Hayes and Laughton during the summer. Time to open some top 9 spots besides JVR. Even with those moves TK, Coots, and Atkinson return. Coots and Atkinson have no trade value at the moment. Do they cash in on TK? Going to be an interesting summer.

Fairly confident Brink is a better passer then Bellows. I like his development this year especially considering his hip surgery. I think a line of Tippett-Frost-Brink would compliment each other very well.
- Trox88

While Brink has "quickness" apparently he's not a great open ice skater. I'm not sure he'd fit in with the pace that Frost/Tippett are being asked to work on. They'd probably be electric in the offensive zone though :-)

The Flyers RW depth:
TK
Atkinson
Tippett
Foerster
Allison
Brink
Lycksell
Who goes?

The Flyers RW depth:
TK
Atkinson
Tippett
Foerster
Allison
Brink
Lycksell
Who goes?
- Flybynight88

I'm not sure of waiver issues, but Lycksell and Brink are probably AHL bound and Atkinson is LTIR bound. If Foerster can't handle the NHL, you swap him.
I don't think TK gets traded so I guess TK, Tippet, Foerster, Allison?

While Brink has "quickness" apparently he's not a great open ice skater. I'm not sure he'd fit in with the pace that Frost/Tippett are being asked to work on. They'd probably be electric in the offensive zone though :-)
- fishbulb1980

Brink has pretty good acceleration but yeah his skating needs work and he’s not that fast. His hockey sense is high and he can be crafty and his deception is high end. Really like his playmaking but I wonder what his play without the puck will look like on the big club.

Brink has pretty good acceleration but yeah his skating needs work and he’s not that fast. His hockey sense is high and he can be crafty and his deception is high end. Really like his playmaking but I wonder what his play without the puck will look like on the big club.
- Minnyhock

He needs a great summer

Ideally, they are able to move Hayes and Laughton during the summer. Time to open some top 9 spots besides JVR. Even with those moves TK, Coots, and Atkinson return. Coots and Atkinson have no trade value at the moment. Do they cash in on TK? Going to be an interesting summer.
- Trox88

Couturier and Atkinson coming back will set the rebuild back 2 years. In fact the Flyers may even forget they were talking about a rebuild. Sadly, the problem regarding Couturier and Atkinson, is these versions of them (aged and injured) are no longer difference makers.

Couturier and Atkinson coming back will set the rebuild back 2 years. In fact the Flyers may even forget they were talking about a rebuild. Sadly, the problem regarding Couturier and Atkinson, is these versions of them (aged and injured) are no longer difference makers.
- mr4tno

Atkinson was never really a difference maker. We don't know how Couturier comes back. There is a possibility that he comes back healthy and back to the level he was at before his back injury.

Atkinson was never really a difference maker. We don't know how Couturier comes back. There is a possibility that he comes back healthy and back to the level he was at before his back injury.
- MJL

Yes, anything is possible, and that might be the worse case scenario. How do they rebuild when their captain is making almost $8MM a year for the next 7? We will be right back to square one - low to middle of pack, always capped out and trying to plug holes with grinders (skill costs money)

Atkinson was never really a difference maker. We don't know how Couturier comes back. There is a possibility that he comes back healthy and back to the level he was at before his back injury.
- MJL

If I'm not mistaken Atkinson had a 40 goal season under Torts in Columbus. That's a difference maker to me. I think the chances of Coots getting back to the level he was at before the TWO back surgeries is pretty slim. I hope I'm wrong, but let's just say that I don't like the odds.

The Flyers RW depth:
TK
Atkinson
Tippett
Foerster
Allison
Brink
Lycksell
Who goes?
- Flybynight88

Allison for sure, can't stay on the ice, then one of these players will move to his off wing. I don't see Brink being ready for the Flyers next season unless he significantly improves his skating this summer, which I don't see happening.

Yes, anything is possible, and that might be the worse case scenario. How do they rebuild when their captain is making almost $8MM a year for the next 7? We will be right back to square one - low to middle of pack, always capped out and trying to plug holes with grinders (skill costs money)
- mr4tno

At least the cap is supposed to go up significantly in a couple of years. Just a slight bump up next year, but I heard the following year it could go up to as high as 95 million. Of course, every other team gets those benefits as well.

I didn't like the Coots extension from day one. That's too much term for a guy that already had lots of miles on him and seemed to be dealing with nagging injuries often. And I said this before his back injury. He isn't the fleetest of foot in a league that just keeps getting faster too. Not good IMO.

Couturier and Atkinson coming back will set the rebuild back 2 years. In fact the Flyers may even forget they were talking about a rebuild. Sadly, the problem regarding Couturier and Atkinson, is these versions of them (aged and injured) are no longer difference makers.
- mr4tno

Why don't we wait and see how both players look this off-season and into next season before we once again don the doom and gloom hats. The fact is the Flyers will be losing several players this summer, leading the way will be Hayes and most likely Provorov. If that happens the Flyers for the first time in a while will be accumulating cap space which is a very good thing. Also with several roster spots open at forward and on defense, any kid that has earned his spot on the big club will be there. Couts and Cam are good players if healthy, and if they are healthy and play, they will propel this team forwards, not backwards. You need to get used to one simple fact, this year is as low as the Flyers will go for quite a while give the group of young players they have. If they get lottery luck they can be contending relatively quickly, otherwise its going to be a slow burn. Bottom line, the only thing that will severly impact their progress is not hitting on their draft picks. At a minimum they need to select the right players with their 1st round picks.

Yes, anything is possible, and that might be the worse case scenario. How do they rebuild when their captain is making almost $8MM a year for the next 7? We will be right back to square one - low to middle of pack, always capped out and trying to plug holes with grinders (skill costs money)
- mr4tno

Even a rebuilding team needs those veteran leaders. Those players to take the hard ice so developing players are slotted correctly. Honestly, this team is never going to burn it down. So as far as top picks. They have Gauthier and whomever they draft in this upcoming draft. There's also going to be some trades made. Have to hope they hit.

If I'm not mistaken Atkinson had a 40 goal season under Torts in Columbus. That's a difference maker to me. I think the chances of Coots getting back to the level he was at before the TWO back surgeries is pretty slim. I hope I'm wrong, but let's just say that I don't like the odds.
- Phillywhiteout

I was posting in the context of Atkinson as a Flyer. I don't see it as pretty slim for Couturier. I see it as 50/50.

At least the cap is supposed to go up significantly in a couple of years. Just a slight bump up next year, but I heard the following year it could go up to as high as 95 million. Of course, every other team gets those benefits as well.

I didn't like the Coots extension from day one. That's too much term for a guy that already had lots of miles on him and seemed to be dealing with nagging injuries often. And I said this before his back injury. He isn't the fleetest of foot in a league that just keeps getting faster too. Not good IMO.
- Phillywhiteout

Couturier's game was never about speed. I don't see that as an issue if he is healthy.

Why don't we wait and see how both players look this off-season and into next season before we once again don the doom and gloom hats. The fact is the Flyers will be losing several players this summer, leading the way will be Hayes and most likely Provorov. If that happens the Flyers for the first time in a while will be accumulating cap space which is a very good thing. Also with several roster spots open at forward and on defense, any kid that has earned his spot on the big club will be there. Couts and Cam are good players if healthy, and if they are healthy and play, they will propel this team forwards, not backwards. You need to get used to one simple fact, this year is as low as the Flyers will go for quite a while give the group of young players they have. If they get lottery luck they can be contending relatively quickly, otherwise its going to be a slow burn. Bottom line, the only thing that will severly impact their progress is not hitting on their draft picks. At a minimum they need to select the right players with their 1st round picks.
- jd250

Even if they get fortunate in the lottery, they will not be a contending team relatively quickly. There is no single player they can draft in this draft that can do that.

I was posting in the context of Atkinson as a Flyer. I don't see it as pretty slim for Couturier. I see it as 50/50.
- MJL

A 30 year old hockey player with two back surgeries? I hope your optimism is rewarded.

Couturier's game was never about speed. I don't see that as an issue if he is healthy.
- MJL

I guess you and I look at things differently. In your case you look at it as if he can't miss what he never had. In my case I look at it like he is the type of player that can't afford to lose a couple steps in the league that just keeps getting faster and faster.

A 30 year old hockey player with two back surgeries? I hope your optimism is rewarded.
- Phillywhiteout

Modern medicine can do a lot of things and not every back injury is the same. 30 years old is not that old.

I guess you and I look at things differently. In your case you look at it as if he can't miss what he never had. In my case I look at it like he is the type of player that can't afford to lose a couple steps in the league that just keeps getting faster and faster.
- Phillywhiteout

I don't think you're wrong. If he loses skating and strength because of the back injury then he won't be the same player. It's all about how he heals up and if he comes back strong.

I guess you and I look at things differently. In your case you look at it as if he can't miss what he never had. In my case I look at it like he is the type of player that can't afford to lose a couple steps in the league that just keeps getting faster and faster.
- Phillywhiteout

the game is getting faster every year. i agree, he can't afford to get slower. even with his defense and how good he is, if you can't keep up.....well. see Vinny.

At least the cap is supposed to go up significantly in a couple of years. Just a slight bump up next year, but I heard the following year it could go up to as high as 95 million. Of course, every other team gets those benefits as well.

I didn't like the Coots extension from day one. That's too much term for a guy that already had lots of miles on him and seemed to be dealing with nagging injuries often. And I said this before his back injury. He isn't the fleetest of foot in a league that just keeps getting faster too. Not good IMO.
- Phillywhiteout

This. The extension was bad before the injuries. As a general rule you should stay away from paying large sums of money beyond year 32. yes, there are exceptions, but when they are not the exceptions, they become disasters.