You say this often, but to me at least, it seems the paradigm for a successful pp has changed. It is no longer park your skates in front of goalie, suffer the brutal x-checks on back like Leclair/Knuble, and then score on the tip/rebound from crease. The modern pp is much more mobile. Players constantly changing positions, moving east west a lot, lots more active passing (not just back and forth like the Provy-Giroux model). Higher fraction of goals scored from greater distance.

I could be misguided though. Maybe I just tend to watch the wrong teams.
- PT21

I think you might be misguided. When did this “change”? Terrible Torts tried this with Frost and Foerster this season. Seemed to work a little for Frost but in my opinion, Flyers need a specialist.

Especially after his requisite GWG
- PT21

Gutless Whiney Gauthier?

as we used to say, leight
- BulliesPhan87

I still say leight...

What's the new terminology for leigjtness now
I gotta catch up with my HB slang words

Meaning he is not bound to sign for that team, I think.
- PT21

.. after stating I am Born to be a flyer. Maybe he wanted to guarantee he was a top 10’picl and just told them what they wanted to hear so they’d take him. Higher singing bonus ets I think. Then just say. Nope. I’m not signing with you guys.

You, was not intended to refer to you personally. Apologize for the poor phrasing.




He can choose to and it's not illegal but it's definitely wrong. Most sign with the team that drafted them because they know it's the right thing to do. Teams all the time make decisions that affect players. Where they play, how much money they make. Gauthier was wrong in my opinion to act as he did. It is his choice and it is wrong. We're obviously not going to agree on this. I don't think there is any more I can add between us.
- MJL

The right thing to do would have been to sign him to the ELC back in Aprl '23, like most teams would have done. They let Attard knock a year off his contract when he arrived at end of year, even though he was and still is no where ready. What would it really have hurt to let him see last spring. This just feels like a self inflicted gun shot wound, and we are trying to blame someone else for it.

I agree..we aren't going to change each others minds on this, so lets just try and enjoy Drysdale

.. after stating I am Born to be a flyer. Maybe he wanted to guarantee he was a top 10’picl and just told them what they wanted to hear so they’d take him. Higher singing bonus ets I think. Then just say. Nope. I’m not signing with you guys.
- Hextall271

Yeah, none of this is an issue if he is just honest from the start. Then Jonesy is saying “You don’t want to be a Flyer? Then you won’t be a Flyer.” behind closed doors before the draft even happens and not in a mid season press conference for the entire world to hear.

Whoever Cutter has surrounded himself with are absolute buffoons.

It’s particularly hilarious because he’s not even anywhere near the talent level of numerous players who have happily gone to down franchises in recent years.

This kid is going to bounce around the league from team to team over his career just chasing paychecks. Book it.
- hereticpride

Well, you look at mcdavid and eichel. Both went where they were drafted. Edmonton has a great history but what a desolate place in the winter. I’ve been there many times. Eichel went to Buffalo and tried to make it work at least. Can’t tell me those guys wouldn’t have rather gone to a Los Angeles or New York.

HOLY poop

Nick Saban retired

Yeah, none of this is an issue if he is just honest from the start. Then Jonesy is saying “You don’t want to be a Flyer? Then you won’t be a Flyer.” behind closed doors before the draft even happens and not in a mid season press conference for the entire world to hear.

Whoever Cutter has surrounded himself with are absolute buffoons.
- hereticpride

I really want him to regret his choice. I’d love to be at his first game in Philly. Hot ticket.

Yeah, none of this is an issue if he is just honest from the start. Then Jonesy is saying “You don’t want to be a Flyer? Then you won’t be a Flyer.” behind closed doors before the draft even happens and not in a mid season press conference for the entire world to hear.

Whoever Cutter has surrounded himself with are absolute buffoons.
- hereticpride

Seems like it. Would have been a lot better if he had said he didn’t want to come here from the get go but I suspect that the word might have gotten out at the draft amd it could have hurt his draft standing. Remember kid, the league doesn’t owe you anything either. It can be cruel and you can be out of the league and playing in Europe in short order.

The right thing to do would have been to sign him to the ELC back in Aprl '23, like most teams would have done. They let Attard knock a year off his contract when he arrived at end of year, even though he was and still is no where ready. What would it really have hurt to let him see last spring. This just feels like a self inflicted gun shot wound, and we are trying to blame someone else for it.

I agree..we aren't going to change each others minds on this, so lets just try and enjoy Drysdale
- TheFreak

I agree, it would've been the smart thing to do, to give in and sign him in 23 but they didn't.

Yeah, none of this is an issue if he is just honest from the start. Then Jonesy is saying “You don’t want to be a Flyer? Then you won’t be a Flyer.” behind closed doors before the draft even happens and not in a mid season press conference for the entire world to hear.

Whoever Cutter has surrounded himself with are absolute buffoons.
- hereticpride

I don't think he was being dishonest there. It was a reaction to the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 season.

I think you might be misguided. When did this “change”? Terrible Torts tried this with Frost and Foerster this season. Seemed to work a little for Frost but in my opinion, Flyers need a specialist.
- roenick97

Last ten years or so. The guy in the bumper position seems to be further away. He moves more with the play, screening the goalie for the angles. LeClair for example, would have that 3 point stance, and much of the battle seemed to be to literally dislodge him from there. Scoring that goal was a test of sadomasochistic endurance.

WhaT I mean to say is, that pp specialist in that bumper position being that big strong guy doesn't seem to be a requisite. Point might be the best in the league, because he is so phenomenal in getting that shot off from all sorts of positions. His smallness is the advantage, not a detriment.


I am just speaking very casually. I need to get out of here before I get bogged down in another discussion.

I really want him to regret his choice. I’d love to be at his first game in Philly. Hot ticket.
- roenick97

He’ll probably magically take a maintenance day his first year or two in the league when Philly shows up on the schedule. I can’t wait for it tho. He’s going to get booed out of the building.

Gutless Whiney Gauthier?
- hereticpride

Its whiny not whiney Mr. english teacher.

Well, you look at mcdavid and eichel. Both went where they were drafted. Edmonton has a great history but what a desolate place in the winter. I’ve been there many times. Eichel went to Buffalo and tried to make it work at least. Can’t tell me those guys wouldn’t have rather gone to a Los Angeles or New York.
- Hextall271

I've gone back so far to the 2008 NHL draft and looked at the top 5 picks of every draft. Only one player so far, Zach Bogosian, didn't sign his ELC with the team that drafted him. He was traded in a multi player trade. People keep saying this happens. In reality, not really. Extremely rare.

Its whiny not whiney Mr. english teacher.
- PT21

I just switched to Sanka. Have a heart.

Last ten years or so. The guy in the bumper position seems to be further away. He moves more with the play, screening the goalie for the angles. LeClair for example, would have that 3 point stance, and much of the battle seemed to be to literally dislodge him from there. Scoring that goal was a test of sadomasochistic endurance.

WhaT I mean to say is, that pp specialist in that bumper position being that big strong guy doesn't seem to be a requisite. Point might be the best in the league, because he is so phenomenal in getting that shot off from all sorts of positions. His smallness is the advantage, not a detriment.


I am just speaking very casually. I need to get out of here before I get bogged down in another discussion.

- PT21

A player in the bumper position and a player in the net front role are two different roles and positions on the PP. For example, Wayne Simmonds was net front. Not bumper. The net front is just that. At the net. The bumper is in the slot moving side to side and up and down and can crash the net.

You think the ghosting strategy came from agent to client rather than other way around? I see it the opposite way.

And I also ask you to be a little less certain of the timeline of events. You are presuming that his camp said he didn't want to be a Flyer and then boom, nothing. What if it was more of a continuous process, with mounting irritation/friction and then the ELC being the final straw?

You guys spend so much energy fuming about the "disrespect" conveyed to the organization. I respect the passion. But this organization is not a nun who has had an upskirt picture made public. Gaining respect is not what it is about. It is about being on a path to win.

I wonder: How is that working out? The organization has said it will not sacrifice winning for rebuilding. And that it will not tank. This is like me saying I will fly to Chicago but not on a plane or chopper. It leaves air balloon, and gliders and such as possibilities.

Is such an organization deserving of respect?
- PT21

Whether the organization is worthy or not doesn’t really enter into my thought process. It’s just sports. If I thought too deeply about it I’d probably realize how silly it all is and stop wasting my time with it. I’m from Philadelphia. Ive always followed the Flyers. Not much deeper than that. I don’t know where you’re getting the impression that I’m worried about the or-gan-I-zation being disrespected or that I think the Flyers are singularly pristine and I’m not really sure why it matters. One wonders why you are spending so much time and effort to contradict others impression that Gauthier did the Flyers dirty.

Well, you look at mcdavid and eichel. Both went where they were drafted. Edmonton has a great history but what a desolate place in the winter. I’ve been there many times. Eichel went to Buffalo and tried to make it work at least. Can’t tell me those guys wouldn’t have rather gone to a Los Angeles or New York.
- Hextall271

And how did that "trying to make it work" actually work?

And how did he react when he wanted to be traded to have that surgery? Was he still honor bound to the club that bemoaned having to pick him after McJesus?

time will tell just who fell/And who’s been left behind
/When you go your way and I go mine

I just switched to Sanka. Have a heart.
- hereticpride

Sanka? Good god, man.

I just switched to Sanka. Have a heart.
- hereticpride

Whether the organization is worthy or not doesn’t really enter into my thought process. It’s just sports. If I thought too deeply about it I’d probably realize how silly it all is and stop wasting my time with it. I’m from Philadelphia. Ive always followed the Flyers. Not much deeper than that. I don’t know where you’re getting the impression that I’m worried about the or-gan-I-zation being disrespected or that I think the Flyers are singularly pristine and I’m not really sure why it matters. One wonders why you are spending so much time and effort to contradict others impression that Gauthier did the Flyers dirty.
- Dkos

1. Because I genuinely believe he didn't.
2. Because I am secretly mad that an antiseptic, vapid organization tries to summon up fake outrage over trivialities that disguise what is really going on.
3. Because I am a stone cold loser.

I just switched to Sanka. Have a heart.
- hereticpride

mr vargas

1. Because I genuinely believe he didn't.
2. Because I am secretly mad that an antiseptic, vapid organization tries to summon up fake outrage over trivialities that disguise what is really going on.
3. Because I am a stone cold loser.
- PT21

1. Fair enough
2. Not really a secret. To me it’s one of the things that makes it so much fun to be a flyers fan.
3. Who isn’t around here? Welcome to the club.