Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Beat Blackhawks in OT, 5-4, in Season Finale

2023-2024 Slogan: Back to the Drawing Board

2023-2024 Slogan: Back to the Drawing Board
- funmaster18

What?

Thanks for being first class Philly the way your team treated our Captain. Means a lot!!

Nice to see the coaches give Braun 20+ mins and PP time in his last game.

Been a tough season for him, glad he gets to go out on a high note.

Nice to see the coaches give Braun 20+ mins and PP time in his last game.

Been a tough season for him, glad he gets to go out on a high note.
- Tomahawk

I think it also was extra classy to put Braun's dad in the bench with the coaching staff.

TK, Frost, Tippet and Foerster are four kids I can't wait to see driving offense for this team next season. Cates had more points in his rookie year than Nolan Patrick! If Hart were on the Bruins he would win the Vezina hands down. He is a true number 1 goalie and is a player the Flyers will build around. I think we have seen the last of Sandstrom as a backup, Ersson will be here next season which is good for Hart because that means the Flyers can rest Hart throughout the season. York will be better next season. Andrea will be a good player, you can already see it on the Phantoms. Risto ended the season as the Flyers best defenseman, best +/- and most points since January just as I predicted. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a larger role next season, especially on the PP. Coaching was trememndous overall. Fletcher gone. Dave Scott gone. Lots of positives this year. I still say depending on how the ping pong balls bounce, the Flyers need to be aggressive and get into the 3rd or 4th pick to get Leo Carlsson and things will really take off.

TK, Frost, Tippet and Foerster are four kids I can't wait to see driving offense for this team next season. Cates had more points in his rookie year than Nolan Patrick! If Hart were on the Bruins he would win the Vezina hands down. He is a true number 1 goalie and is a player the Flyers will build around. I think we have seen the last of Sandstrom as a backup, Ersson will be here next season which is good for Hart because that means the Flyers can rest Hart throughout the season. York will be better next season. Andrea will be a good player, you can already see it on the Phantoms. Risto ended the season as the Flyers best defenseman, best +/- and most points since January just as I predicted. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a larger role next season, especially on the PP. Coaching was trememndous overall. Fletcher gone. Dave Scott gone. Lots of positives this year. I still say depending on how the ping pong balls bounce, the Flyers need to be aggressive and get into the 3rd or 4th pick to get Leo Carlsson and things will really take off.
- jd250

Do not forget Farabee who started to play better as the season progressed. Hopefully, he will continue as he should be back to full health

Do not forget Farabee who started to play better as the season progressed. Hopefully, he will continue as he should be back to full health
-3flyerkids

Yes, he is a very important forward for this team because they need LWs.

TK, Frost, Tippet and Foerster are four kids I can't wait to see driving offense for this team next season. Cates had more points in his rookie year than Nolan Patrick! If Hart were on the Bruins he would win the Vezina hands down. He is a true number 1 goalie and is a player the Flyers will build around. I think we have seen the last of Sandstrom as a backup, Ersson will be here next season which is good for Hart because that means the Flyers can rest Hart throughout the season. York will be better next season. Andrea will be a good player, you can already see it on the Phantoms. Risto ended the season as the Flyers best defenseman, best +/- and most points since January just as I predicted. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a larger role next season, especially on the PP. Coaching was trememndous overall. Fletcher gone. Dave Scott gone. Lots of positives this year. I still say depending on how the ping pong balls bounce, the Flyers need to be aggressive and get into the 3rd or 4th pick to get Leo Carlsson and things will really take off.
- jd250

There is a good chance that Hart will be traded this off season
I'd like to see the post where you predicted that Ristolainen would be the Flyers best defenseman, have the best +/- and most points since January. Just like your fantasy opinion on Ristolainen. It doesn't exist.
The Flyers have zero chance of being a good team with Ristolainen getting a larger role. The best role for Ristolainen for the Flyers would be for him to be playing with another team.
That the coaching was tremendous overall is more fantasy. Tortorella is a very mediocre coach. Stuck in his archaic ways with outdated systems, strategies, philosophies and player usage.

There is a good chance that Hart will be traded this off season
I'd like to see the post where you predicted that Ristolainen would be the Flyers best defenseman, have the best +/- and most points since January. Just like your fantasy opinion on Ristolainen. It doesn't exist.
The Flyers have zero chance of being a good team with Ristolainen getting a larger role. The best role for Ristolainen for the Flyers would be for him to be playing with another team.
That the coaching was tremendous overall is more fantasy. Tortorella is a very mediocre coach. Stuck in his archaic ways with outdated systems, strategies, philosophies and player usage.
- MJL

My only response is this has got to be the dumbest and most factless post you have ever made on this forum! Congrats.

TK, Frost, Tippet and Foerster are four kids I can't wait to see driving offense for this team next season. Cates had more points in his rookie year than Nolan Patrick! If Hart were on the Bruins he would win the Vezina hands down. He is a true number 1 goalie and is a player the Flyers will build around. I think we have seen the last of Sandstrom as a backup, Ersson will be here next season which is good for Hart because that means the Flyers can rest Hart throughout the season. York will be better next season. Andrea will be a good player, you can already see it on the Phantoms. Risto ended the season as the Flyers best defenseman, best +/- and most points since January just as I predicted. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a larger role next season, especially on the PP. Coaching was trememndous overall. Fletcher gone. Dave Scott gone. Lots of positives this year. I still say depending on how the ping pong balls bounce, the Flyers need to be aggressive and get into the 3rd or 4th pick to get Leo Carlsson and things will really take off.
- jd250

You also stated that:

The moves chuckles made set the franchise up to be a cup contender

Frost is an AHL talent

That McAvoy is not a top tier D-man

Tortilla Chip should win the Jack Adams

shall I go on

It’s over. Briere is listening on every asset. An interesting off season ahead.

Underrated positive from this year is some of the younger injury prone guys stayed healthy. Mainly Frost but Allison managed to play 60 games too. Foerster another.

My only response is this has got to be the dumbest and most factless post you have ever made on this forum! Congrats.
- jd250

It's the only response you are capable of. Based on your posting history, it is not a comment that I need to take seriously.

It’s over. Briere is listening on every asset. An interesting off season ahead.
- ClaudeFather

To be expected.

Do not forget Farabee who started to play better as the season progressed. Hopefully, he will continue as he should be back to full health
- 3flyerkids

A lot of players took strides forward under Torts. Also, some players "checked out" under him as well. Torts' approach clearly separated the wheat from the chaff.
Torts is not a long term solution, but might be a good transition coach to a better future.
I know, he rubs quite a few folks here in the wrong way, but I am ok with the cultural shift he has introduced. I am in support of him giving reins to the games to the various assistant coaches in the completely meaningless games (especially with the crowd here rooting for the loses for better draft position). It gives players a different voice on the bench, allows the coaches to flavor a different position, and allows Torts and Briere observe the players from a different vantage point and discuss the future.

A lot of players took strides forward under Torts. Also, some players "checked out" under him as well. Torts' approach clearly separated the wheat from the chaff.
Torts is not a long term solution, but might be a good transition coach to a better future.
I know, he rubs quite a few folks here in the wrong way, but I am ok with the cultural shift he has introduced. I am in support of him giving reins to the games to the various assistant coaches in the completely meaningless games (especially with the crowd here rooting for the loses for better draft position). It gives players a different voice on the bench, allows the coaches to flavor a different position, and allows Torts and Briere observe the players from a different vantage point and discuss the future. I
- missingmike

Has there really been a cultural shift? The issue is the culture that Tortorella wants to introduce, is not a winning one in today's NHL. The best thing that Tortorella has done is publicly expose what many of us already knew. That the team was unprofessionally run. The issue is that in some ways, Tortorella is also unprofessional.

lots to like about the season, lots to not like about it.

Not like

TDA trade and ND signing, just don't fit. As the season went on and the kids took over, ND looked more and more out of place, probably has a season left, then buried in the minors. TDA. so much talent, so much edge to his game, just appears to be a selfish player. I think they find a trade partner, the only hope is the benching down the stretch wakes him up, don't hold your breath. Top end talent, one on the D and 2 on the O, just not there.

like-

TK would have broke 40, I don't see how you trade him, no team is trading a top pick at this draft and I could not see future drafts giving fair value, I guess the number of picks could change that, or the right roster player, a young stud but TK at 26 is a real valuable piece. I love how Provy finished, iron man reminder, then a dangle OT goal, could be he played himself into a trade, kid deserves a good team, I am ok either way. Hart deserves a good team, and I think most know that, his value might be high enough to rationalize a trade. Tippett, Frost, Cates, Farabee and the rest of the kids are alright, both in the NHL and prospects. the Flyers have the middle 6 figured out.

Coots back, Cam back and what do they have? They need to pray Cam goes on a vengeance tour and they can move him at the deadline. If he gets back to form, what is he worth at 3 mil on an expiring contract, old Cam would be a nice piece for a playoff run. If the kids step forward again, Coots and Cam come back solid, this team will be picking in the teens next draft. They are in a tricky spot, the value on the team is all the young kids and the kids hitting their prime. To ensure a bottom 10 finish you would probably have to move TK, Hart and Provy, maybe more but if the kids step forward again and Coots and Cam are healthy, you still are not sure of a bottom 10. You could sell the 3, play the season and hope to sell at the TDL, hoping to dive in the standings for the 2nd half of the season. This is what happens when a team has no clear direction, we kind of are rebuilding with Hex and then a silly re-tool with CF, you end up in no mans land.

They really need a lucky bounce in the lottery. Briere is going have his hands full, he will have competing thoughts, he needs to thread the needle. Hell, there is a scenario where the right trade appears to improve the team, that with Cutter and #7 this year, and 2 first next year. GEEZ, never a dull moment in Flyer land and never a championship

To be expected.
- MJL

From what I understand, Hart isn't going anywhere until the 2018 WJC sexual scandal gets resolved and he's in the clear. Same goes with other players from that team. Someone is going to hang for that mess, for sure, maybe a few players. Let's hope its not Hart.

The only positive to this season is the transition to youth on the roster and seemingly in the front office. I am fine with moving any one player from this team. Just get the deal right.

I would love to see Hayes and TA traded this offseason. Not a ton of players to resign.

Keep getting young players chances at the NHL level. If young talented upgrades at defense or center are available to acquire I am fine with doing acquiring them.

From what I understand, Hart isn't going anywhere until the 2018 WJC sexual scandal gets resolved and he's in the clear. Same goes with other players from that team. Someone is going to hang for that mess, for sure, maybe a few players. Let's hope its not Hart.
- Letterkenney

I haven't heard that anywhere. It doesn't seem to me as though Hart is caught up in that in any way.

There is a good chance that Hart will be traded this off season
I'd like to see the post where you predicted that Ristolainen would be the Flyers best defenseman, have the best +/- and most points since January. Just like your fantasy opinion on Ristolainen. It doesn't exist.
The Flyers have zero chance of being a good team with Ristolainen getting a larger role. The best role for Ristolainen for the Flyers would be for him to be playing with another team.
That the coaching was tremendous overall is more fantasy. Tortorella is a very mediocre coach. Stuck in his archaic ways with outdated systems, strategies, philosophies and player usage.
- MJL

Thank for this season is over. What a disaster again. Why do you think hart is a lock to be traded. I still think we need a goaltender and I can just imagine when he excels for another teams and we go on another 20 year search for a starting goalie what the reaction, mine included will be.

I haven't heard that anywhere. It doesn't seem to me as though Hart is caught up in that in any way.
- MJL

He came out and denied it last summer I think. It find it crazy that hockey canada banned the whole team from playing in the worlds. Especially in view of how hockey canada doesn’t have their crap in order in recent times.

Has there really been a cultural shift? The issue is the culture that Tortorella wants to introduce, is not a winning one in today's NHL. The best thing that Tortorella has done is publicly expose what many of us already knew. That the team was unprofessionally run. The issue is that in some ways, Tortorella is also unprofessional.
- MJL

I know you are unhappy with him, but I somewhat in respectful disagreement with your opinion. If you allow me a medical comparison- Torts is abroad spectrum antibiotic for the septic body of this organization. Once the culture (sepsis) is over the body will need more sophisticated means and approaches in order to optimize performance.