would you be opposed to the flyers hiring back Ronald Hextall in some capacity?
- hello it's me 2050

Valet service?

That’s your “opinion” not fact. Lol. I see growth. Maybe not a linear as I want but it’s there.

Lehigh has 7-8 guys that need grooming but have potential to make the NHL…no I do not know what the over all impact of these guys would be.

Tuomaala
Lycksell
Gendron
Desnoyers
Grans
Samson
Ginning
Andrae
Attard.

Again, all prospects that are at least this far along that they are playing pro hockey in the 2nd toughest league in the world.
- landros 2

Outside of andrae I see a bunch of lottery tickets in that group to make the NHL.

IMO I do not think the flyers think of ollie attard ginning as legit nhl prospects at this point.

It depends where you live. Hockey is # 1 here. Always has been. But Basketball has really gained popularity especially with the younger generations coming up. It’s also the ethnicity of the Canada has changed in the last 20 years. Other sports are gaining on Hockey.
I’m no fan of how the Bettman regime has changed the game overall, but from strictly a financial perspective his stewardship has overseen changes that have allowed the sport to expand into area’s no one ever thought would work…and the over all value of the league has exploded.
You are bang on when you say the US saw and probably still does see the NHL as a Niche sport…easily the #4. But the Bettman era ushered in changes that he and others all hoped would help change that perspective. I’m not sure with the different demographics that will ever change.
- landros 2

Agreed. I've been to Canada many times and I realize that it's easily the #! sport up there. The fat is that hockey is rapidly frowing at the grass roots level here in the states even if it isn't showing in TV ratings. When I was growing up there were like two rinks in a rather large area and it was hard to get ice time. We'd rent out a rink at 2AM to get practice time back then. There was one hockey team at the high school level in the town that I grew up in. Now there are 4 rinks just in that town (WC) and kids start playing organized hockey at 5 years old (both boys and girls). It's certainly growing in popularity.

That’s your “opinion” not fact. Lol. I see growth. Maybe not a linear as I want but it’s there.

Lehigh has 7-8 guys that need grooming but have potential to make the NHL…no I do not know what the over all impact of these guys would be.

Tuomaala
Lycksell
Gendron
Desnoyers
Grans
Samson
Ginning
Andrae
Attard.

Again, all prospects that are at least this far along that they are playing pro hockey in the 2nd toughest league in the world.
- landros 2

Big difference between making the NHL and being an everyday player that contributes to a team. How many guys there might fall in the latter?

You may not know but I do. He is not a player that is considered part of the future core. He is a stop gap veteran. That you state that he's probably the Flyers second best defenseman, is an indictment on the Flyers defense core rather than a statement that he is part of the core future.
- MJL

I may not know, but you do? Right there I stopped reading. You know how? You know someone that works for the team? He was indeed signed as a stop gap veteran no doubt, but things can change.

You may not know but I do. He is not a player that is considered part of the future core. He is a stop gap veteran. That you state that he's probably the Flyers second best defenseman, is an indictment on the Flyers defense core rather than a statement that he is part of the core future.
- MJL

no one said he is part of the future core. Not all 6 dman or 12 fwd are part of a future core. Your core really only consists of 6 players or so Cliff.

So who are you replacing him with next season? You never seen walker play prior to his arrival in philly. He has played well. That is a fact cliff.

I may not know, but you do? Right there I stopped reading. You know how? You know someone that works for the team? He was indeed signed as a stop gap veteran no doubt, but things can change.
- Phillywhiteout

Yes I do. So does pretty much everyone else. A 28 year old stop gap veteran doesn't morph into a future core player on a rebuilding team.

Outside of andrae I see a bunch of lottery tickets in that group to make the NHL.

IMO I do not think the flyers think of ollie attard ginning as legit nhl prospects at this point.
- hello it's me 2050

I think a couple of those forwards certainly have a shot to make it. That defenseman list is unimpressive though and they really need to draft some top flight defenders in the upcoming draft (supposed to be deep in defensive prospects).

Yes I do. So does pretty much everyone else. A 28 year old stop gap veteran doesn't morph into a future core player on a rebuilding team.
- MJL

As I tend to say rather often to you...we shall see...and when I say core I'm saying a guy that they could sign for a few years as the kids cut their teeth at the NHL level.

Outside of andrae I see a bunch of lottery tickets in that group to make the NHL.

IMO I do not think the flyers think of ollie attard ginning as legit nhl prospects at this point.
- hello it's me 2050

They probably didn’t think Brink was last year at this time. You may end being correct, but all prospects are essentially “lottery”tickets. Hopefully, some of these kids hit. Like any successful organization, your draft picks have to hit on some level if you are going to be successful. The so called rebuild will not be successful and has no chance on being successful if the guys they draft eventually can’t contribute on the NHL level…now that is fact.

Agreed. I've been to Canada many times and I realize that it's easily the #! sport up there. The fat is that hockey is rapidly frowing at the grass roots level here in the states even if it isn't showing in TV ratings. When I was growing up there were like two rinks in a rather large area and it was hard to get ice time. We'd rent out a rink at 2AM to get practice time back then. There was one hockey team at the high school level in the town that I grew up in. Now there are 4 rinks just in that town (WC) and kids start playing organized hockey at 5 years old (both boys and girls). It's certainly growing in popularity.
- Phillywhiteout

for the peeps who make great coin yes. You think many people in chester are signing up to play hockey? The cost pretty much eliminates a huge population segment.

cost 18k k plus to play tier 1 hockey in the US. Many spend much more. Hockey is the biggest fn racquet out there as far as sports imo.

I think a couple of those forwards certainly have a shot to make it. That defenseman list is unimpressive though and they really need to draft some top flight defenders in the upcoming draft (supposed to be deep in defensive prospects).
- Phillywhiteout

When someone says they think the rebuild can take less than 5 years. Just look at the defenseman prospect list. The Flyers don't have a legit top defense pairing right now and they don't have anyone in the system that is projected to be a future top pair defenseman. Sometimes players exceed expectations and that can happen but it's not very likely. The Flyers could draft a player that could "speed" develop into that level of player but that's not very likely either.

They probably didn’t think Brink was last year at this time. You may end being correct, but all prospects are essentially “lottery”tickets. Hopefully, some of these kids hit. Like any successful organization, your draft picks have to hit on some level if you are going to be successful. The so called rebuild will not be successful and has no chance on being successful if the guys they draft eventually can’t contribute on the NHL level…now that is fact.
- landros 2

disagree with the brink assessment. Maybe not this quick though he was always though of as being on this roster.

Well put it this way, I do not think those prospect are anything specials in anyway. You need to hit on yout top picks. Thats what will drive a "rebuild". You miss you are hosed.

Big difference between making the NHL and being an everyday player that contributes to a team. How many guys there might fall in the latter?
- ClaudeFather

Honestly who knows…I sure don’t. But what I do know with certainty is that if you continually draft guys that can’t play in the NHL you will never be good. Call it a re tool, a rebuild, call it what you want. If you can’t draft and develop any plan will fail.

As I tend to say rather often to you...we shall see...and when I say core I'm saying a guy that they could sign for a few years as the kids cut their teeth at the NHL level.
- Phillywhiteout

Your definition of a core player is a player that could be signed for a few years as a stop gap while younger players develop? Okay

Your definition of a core player is a player that could be signed for a few years as a stop gap while younger players develop? Okay

- MJL

what is your definition of a core player cliff? how many current flyers are "core" players?

disagree with the brink assessment. Maybe not this quick though he was always though of as being on this roster.

Well put it this way, I do not think those prospect are anything specials in anyway. You need to hit on yout top picks. Thats what will drive a "rebuild". You miss you are hosed.
- hello it's me 2050

No argument there…you can’t continually miss on 1rst rnd picks…those are the most likely the guys who become your best players….hell look at who the Flyers best players are? The majority are 1rst rnd picks.

No argument there…you can’t continually miss on 1rst rnd picks…those are the most likely the guys who become your best players….he’ll look at who the Flyers best players are? The majority are 1rst rnd picks.
- landros 2

hitting early is the key. Then you need some luck and good scouting.

maybe I am off base, to me you should be able to build a 4th line with your draft picks. flyers have failed so bad in that area. Not a huge issue as you can fill that role cheaply. Just odd no internal players to fill that 4th line over the last x amount of years.

for the peeps who make great coin yes. You think many people in chester are signing up to play hockey? The cost pretty much eliminates a huge population segment.

cost 18k k plus to play tier 1 hockey in the US. Many spend much more. Hockey is the biggest fn racquet out there as far as sports imo.
- hello it's me 2050

Well, the Ed Snider foundation has tried to help to get inner city kids involved in hockey. In fact, I think one of those kids has a shot at making it to the NHL. Hockey is an expensive sport and there isn't really anything anyone can do about it. However, it has grown dramatically in the last 20 years at the younger levels. I grew up in a basketball family and we weren't rich by a long shot (middle class). All the kids that had doctors and lawyers as parents had all the equipment and so on. My Dad wasn't very supportive due to the cost, but I baled hay in the summers and helped pay for it. Could go on and on, but the reality is true that it will always be a niche sport in this country due to expense and exposure. The other part of the equation is simple climate. Canada has a cold climate and kids naturally grow up playing ice hockey while much of the U.S. has a warm climate where kids simply don't grow up playing ice hockey.

Your definition of a core player is a player that could be signed for a few years as a stop gap while younger players develop? Okay

- MJL

Ugh! Here we go with the semantics crap again.

Well, the Ed Snider foundation has tried to help to get inner city kids involved in hockey. In fact, I think one of those kids has a shot at making it to the NHL. Hockey is an expensive sport and there isn't really anything anyone can do about it. However, it has grown dramatically in the last 20 years at the younger levels. I grew up in a basketball family and we weren't rich by a long shot (middle class). All the kids that had doctors and lawyers as parents had all the equipment and so on. My Dad wasn't very supportive due to the cost, but I baled hay in the summers and helped pay for it. Could go on and on, but the reality is true that it will always be a niche sport in this country due to expense and exposure. The other part of the equation is simple climate. Canada has a cold climate and kids naturally grow up playing ice hockey while much of the U.S. has a warm climate where kids simply don't grow up playing ice hockey.
- Phillywhiteout

ed snider is for tier 2 and all about optics. That level is not good competition and much and i mean much cheaper than tier 1. Good program no doubt as it gets others involved.

there is but it is catered to rich/well off peeps. They can easily lower cost if the wanted. Also just as an example. Cost 5k for new top end goalie gear to outfit a goalie. You have players paying upwards of 200 an hour for private lessons. Kids 13-18 having advisors that their parents pay anywhere from 3500+ per year ( I didnt even facotr that part in the 18k!!!)

Ugh! Here we go with the semantics crap again.

- Phillywhiteout

Semantics! Hysterical. That is literally what you posted.

Semantics! Hysterical. That is literally what you posted.

- MJL

who are the flyers core players?

Semantics! Hysterical. That is literally what you posted.

- MJL

So you just want all kids to play? Yeah, that'll work out well.

Full marks to Flyers.. you guys took it to us all night long...

Our 1st Eakins game of the year.. total breakdown in D zone coverage.. crappy outlet passing.. no cohesion in the O zone..hell barley any O zone time at all...

Tons of chances against... burn this one..