What? Don't tell me your not a Swifty? Say it isn't so!
- jd250

Metal head from the 80's

Wouldn't know a swift song if it was playing

I don't think Button is right on Gauthier
- TheFreak

Didn't say he was, just that projecting players is a very hard thing to do. From what I have watched of Gauthier this season at BC, he is physical, and excellent skater and good in transition. He obviously has a very good shot and quick release. However, he often has way more shot attempts than shots on goal as he struggles to get shots through. On the PP he sets up at the top of the right circle and just pounds pucks at the net in a very predictable manner. He can make a nice pass from time to time but he is mainly a shoot-first recipient. He'll need a very good center to play with, and it just so happens that Anaheim has a potential elite center waiting for him. If Gauthier stays healthy and no unfortunate accident happens to befall him (karma), I think he will score his share of goals. However, one thing you have to watch with him is his makeup and character. What he did to the Flyers is inexcusable and completely unwarranted from what I know of the situation, so who is to say he won't do it again.

What has Drysdale done in 4 years in the league to show he is a top pairing dman? he skates pretty, but he hasn't exactly done very much..he has 4 points and is a -8 in 15 games here.

Overall this season he has 9 points in 25 games and is a -10.

How do you see this as a top pairing performance?
- TheFreak

Ok, so far he is not Cale Makar, but he has a long, long way to go. Remember he was hurt and missed a ton of games also, and he is learning a completely different defensive system. It takes time.

Doesn't sound like Torts is holding back Frost at all, from what Frost is quoted:

"A little bit more, for sure," Frost said. "I don't think I'm all the way there yet. I still have a fair amount of mishaps defensively, kind of like in the outdoor game. It's not something I'm trying to do obviously, I'm working hard to be good on both sides of the puck. I think when he [Torts] sees that I'm kind of feeling it out there, then he starts giving me more ice time. I think if I'm having a good game, then he's more willing to put me out in the last couple of minutes."

He is 21. Lets revisit this conversation in 3 years.
- MBFlyerfan

I do agree he has potential, from what he has shown. I do not think he has the potential to be a top 2 pairing dman.
I am not down on him, I just think he isn't what most here think.

Think top pairing dmen..

Is he even as good as Rielly in Toronto. Overall?
I think he skates pretty, but from what we have seen defensively, I see a bit better version of Ghost so far.
I just think that top pairing dmen are more noticible, I worry about the size and his injury history. Even at his age, will be 22 before the end of the season, I find that he isn't noticable out there. He has a couple of plays a game where I remember he is on the team. I don't see him quarterbacking anything right now, and was hoping to see more.

I do understand it is early in his Flyers career, but he was deemed expendable for a "head-case, non center prospect" by Anaheim. I also get that he is learning a new system, but didn't Torts say he wanted him to fly and use his skills, and learn the system too. Maybe it's Torts system is stifling, maybe he came a bit overhyped by the big "3", or maybe he is still struggling to learn and the 11-7 system is not helping.

Just so far, in just under a quarter of the season, I have found him to be underwhelming.

What has Drysdale done in 4 years in the league to show he is a top pairing dman? he skates pretty, but he hasn't exactly done very much..he has 4 points and is a -8 in 15 games here.

Overall this season he has 9 points in 25 games and is a -10.

How do you see this as a top pairing performance?
- TheFreak

I have to agree here. I have NOT been impressed with Drysdale at all. He looks rather weak in his own zone and physically, and he only shows brief flashes of offensive prowess. The only thing he has going for him is that he is only 21 years old. Meh...

Metal head from the 80's

Wouldn't know a swift song if it was playing
- TheFreak

I wouldn't know a Swift song if it sat on my face and wiggled around although she is welcome to!

You’re not backing a winner when you go down this road. In fact you’re very much showing weakness, if “Hello it’s me” is the idol you look up to.
- roenick97

laaaaaalamont

What has Drysdale done in 4 years in the league to show he is a top pairing dman? he skates pretty, but he hasn't exactly done very much..he has 4 points and is a -8 in 15 games here.

Overall this season he has 9 points in 25 games and is a -10.

How do you see this as a top pairing performance?
- TheFreak

hew knows the goods when he sees it

Metal head from the 80's

Wouldn't know a swift song if it was playing
- TheFreak

same here, def a smart ass business woman.

Didn't say he was, just that projecting players is a very hard thing to do. From what I have watched of Gauthier this season at BC, he is physical, and excellent skater and good in transition. He obviously has a very good shot and quick release. However, he often has way more shot attempts than shots on goal as he struggles to get shots through. On the PP he sets up at the top of the right circle and just pounds pucks at the net in a very predictable manner. He can make a nice pass from time to time but he is mainly a shoot-first recipient. He'll need a very good center to play with, and it just so happens that Anaheim has a potential elite center waiting for him. If Gauthier stays healthy and no unfortunate accident happens to befall him (karma), I think he will score his share of goals. However, one thing you have to watch with him is his makeup and character. What he did to the Flyers is inexcusable and completely unwarranted from what I know of the situation, so who is to say he won't do it again.
- jd250

you know as much as the next guy which is nothing.

what he did I find nothing wrong with in any way. More will follow suit in time

Doesn't sound like Torts is holding back Frost at all, from what Frost is quoted:
- jd250

pick a new topic holmes. it is beat beyond death.

same here, def a smart ass business woman.
- hello it's me 2050

Totally respect what she has done with her career and that she has pretty much avoided controversy. She has made herself into an empire.

I do agree he has potential, from what he has shown. I do not think he has the potential to be a top 2 pairing dman.
I am not down on him, I just think he isn't what most here think.

Think top pairing dmen..

Is he even as good as Rielly in Toronto. Overall?
I think he skates pretty, but from what we have seen defensively, I see a bit better version of Ghost so far.
I just think that top pairing dmen are more noticible, I worry about the size and his injury history. Even at his age, will be 22 before the end of the season, I find that he isn't noticable out there. He has a couple of plays a game where I remember he is on the team. I don't see him quarterbacking anything right now, and was hoping to see more.

I do understand it is early in his Flyers career, but he was deemed expendable for a "head-case, non center prospect" by Anaheim. I also get that he is learning a new system, but didn't Torts say he wanted him to fly and use his skills, and learn the system too. Maybe it's Torts system is stifling, maybe he came a bit overhyped by the big "3", or maybe he is still struggling to learn and the 11-7 system is not helping.

Just so far, in just under a quarter of the season, I have found him to be underwhelming.
- TheFreak

I believe he is still adjusting to a few things.

1) Not having a steady partner in this silly 11/7 setup.
2) Still trying to learn the Flyers zone defense setup after playing man to man with Anaheim for his first few years.

Lets wait and see where he is after a full training camp and having a steady partner. The raw skills are there for sure. Its his head that needs to be straightened out. It takes a while to overcome "automatic" responses you learned playing in a new system with rotating partners.

Just my theory on it.

Doesn't sound like Torts is holding back Frost at all, from what Frost is quoted:
- jd250

Tortorella scratched him 11 times this season and last season stapled him to the 4th line in the early season. If Tortorella had his way, Frost would not be a Flyer. After all this time, you still don't get the kid. He will always take responsibility and put things on him self publicly, not matter what. Yet he felt the need to initiate a meeting with the head coach recently. What do you think that was about, discussing off season plans?

I do agree he has potential, from what he has shown. I do not think he has the potential to be a top 2 pairing dman.
I am not down on him, I just think he isn't what most here think.

Think top pairing dmen..

Is he even as good as Rielly in Toronto. Overall?
I think he skates pretty, but from what we have seen defensively, I see a bit better version of Ghost so far.
I just think that top pairing dmen are more noticible, I worry about the size and his injury history. Even at his age, will be 22 before the end of the season, I find that he isn't noticable out there. He has a couple of plays a game where I remember he is on the team. I don't see him quarterbacking anything right now, and was hoping to see more.

I do understand it is early in his Flyers career, but he was deemed expendable for a "head-case, non center prospect" by Anaheim. I also get that he is learning a new system, but didn't Torts say he wanted him to fly and use his skills, and learn the system too. Maybe it's Torts system is stifling, maybe he came a bit overhyped by the big "3", or maybe he is still struggling to learn and the 11-7 system is not helping.

Just so far, in just under a quarter of the season, I have found him to be underwhelming.
- TheFreak

A lot of playing hockey in instinctual. The game happens so fast you simply don't have time to think, you just have to know what to do. When a player is learning a new system or just trying to do something a different, and hopefully better way, their game slows down. It slows down because they are thinking more and questioning their decisions throughout. As new patterns form the player thinks less and just plays, and that is when you get to see the player they are. Don't underestimate the impact of learning a completely new system and tendencies of new teammates. I have already seen improvement in Drysdale, and I expect we will continue to see steady improvement as this season moves along. Not saying he is a lock as a top pairing defenseman, only that we have not seen what Drysdale can truly do just yet.

you know as much as the next guy which is nothing.

what he did I find nothing wrong with in any way. More will follow suit in time
- hello it's me 2050

I have no issue with it. He exercised his rights and he didn't break any rules. The bigger issues to me is why he didn't want to sign.

It already is happening. Truscott is refusing to sign with Vancouver, Hunter Brzustewicz was also refusing to sign with any canadian team, so Vancouver traded him to Calgary in the Lindholm trade.

A lot of playing hockey in instinctual. The game happens so fast you simply don't have time to think, you just have to know what to do. When a player is learning a new system or just trying to do something a different, and hopefully better way, their game slows down. It slows down because they are thinking more and questioning their decisions throughout. As new patterns form the player thinks less and just plays, and that is when you get to see the player they are. Don't underestimate the impact of learning a completely new system and tendencies of new teammates. I have already seen improvement in Drysdale, and I expect we will continue to see steady improvement as this season moves along. Not saying he is a lock as a top pairing defenseman, only that we have not seen what Drysdale can truly do just yet.
- jd250

Could this also apply to Frost? I mean, Torts is probably in his head so much at this point that he is thinking too much on the ice instead of just playing the game. I'm not a Frost guy, but on his behalf I could see this being an issue. He may need a change of scenery soon.

Tortorella scratched him 11 times this season and last season stapled him to the 4th line in the early season. If Tortorella had his way, Frost would not be a Flyer. After all this time, you still don't get the kid. He will always take responsibility and put things on him self publicly, not matter what. Yet he felt the need to initiate a meeting with the head coach recently. What do you think that was about, discussing off season plans?
- MJL

Yes, I heard they were vacationing together :-) They have had a few meetings actually, that was not the only one. In fact Frost said in this article he feels much more comfortable talking to Torts if he needs to, which I think is a very good sign.

Sure, its likely Torts id'd Frost as a player that should be moved, but we know Torts also id'd Sanheim to be shipped out. Obviously both players are here and are contributing, and Torts I think has come around on both of them. You look at scratching Frost 11 times this season as a bad thing, I don't. Torts just doesn't bench players for the hell of it, even though I know you don't agree. I think he looks at it as a last resort to allow the player the reset and receive the coaching Torts and his staff are trying to give. In the end I think Frost is a better player now than he was last year, still inconsistent, but overall better.

Totally respect what she has done with her career and that she has pretty much avoided controversy. She has made herself into an empire.
- TheFreak

100%...I dont get the attraction fan wise. though hell as you said built an empire

Totally respect what she has done with her career and that she has pretty much avoided controversy. She has made herself into an empire.
- TheFreak

Saw an article last night where she is already setting rules for Kelce in their relationship. They'll have their fling and he will be gone, and then she will write a song about him.

Yes, I heard they were vacationing together :-) They have had a few meetings actually, that was not the only one. In fact Frost said in this article he feels much more comfortable talking to Torts if he needs to, which I think is a very good sign.

Sure, its likely Torts id'd Frost as a player that should be moved, but we know Torts also id'd Sanheim to be shipped out. Obviously both players are here and are contributing, and Torts I think has come around on both of them. You look at scratching Frost 11 times this season as a bad thing, I don't. Torts just doesn't bench players for the hell of it, even though I know you don't agree. I think he looks at it as a last resort to allow the player the reset and receive the coaching Torts and his staff are trying to give. In the end I think Frost is a better player now than he was last year, still inconsistent, but overall better.
- jd250

They haven't had a few meetings. They've had one and Frost had to initiate. Which makes Tortorella a hypocrite with his public claims to want to form relationships with players. Yes, Tortorella does bench players just for the hell of it. He benched a player who had a strong previous season after two games! LOL Last resort to what? You're hysterical. The only thing Frost needs is for Tortorella to leave him alone. Tortorella has slowed Frost's progress with his treatment of the player. That's the reality.

Could this also apply to Frost? I mean, Torts is probably in his head so much at this point that he is thinking too much on the ice instead of just playing the game. I'm not a Frost guy, but on his behalf I could see this being an issue. He may need a change of scenery soon.
- Phillywhiteout

Yes, I think at one point Torts had to be in Frost's head, but not as as much now. But I think with a player like Frost especially, given his game is based on his ability to be creative offensively, trying to do what Torts demands centers do defensively has played a roll in Frost's inconsistent play.

I believe he is still adjusting to a few things.

1) Not having a steady partner in this silly 11/7 setup.
2) Still trying to learn the Flyers zone defense setup after playing man to man with Anaheim for his first few years.

Lets wait and see where he is after a full training camp and having a steady partner. The raw skills are there for sure. Its his head that needs to be straightened out. It takes a while to overcome "automatic" responses you learned playing in a new system with rotating partners.

Just my theory on it.
- MBFlyerfan

all valid points. I am not overly impressed at all as of yet, that being said not gonna throw in the towel.

Me I do not expect him to be a top pair guy. If he can solidify a 2nd pair with above avg offense all good.

One thing I wonder where they too focused on getting a RHD and maybe left something else on the table?

I have no issue with it. He exercised his rights and he didn't break any rules. The bigger issues to me is why he didn't want to sign.

It already is happening. Truscott is refusing to sign with Vancouver, Hunter Brzustewicz was also refusing to sign with any canadian team, so Vancouver traded him to Calgary in the Lindholm trade.
- TheFreak

There have always been low level prospects that don't want to sign with teams. Truscott was a 5th round pick. Why would Calgary want Brzustewicz if he is refusing to sign with any Canadian team?