I have my worries with DB. I know he was backed in a corner but drysdale does very very little for me. He rarely flashed and was pretty much a mess defensively. He’s s work in progress but also missing requisite size from the get go, with defensemen you are in a hole to start.

Gurianov? Really? I know it’s a minor league trade. But why is he here on the team now? Cmon.
- Just5

Drysdale is 21. Very young for a defenseman. He has shown flashes of exceptional skating and vision. We need to give him time to develop. He has the potential to be elite. He need experience and good coaching (Shaw is pretty darn good with these defensemen) and hopefully a good stable partner to be paired with. I don’t believe that partner is currently on the team.

Gurianov is a nice gamble. Low risk potentially high reward. The big guy can fly and from that one shot ticketed for the top corner, he seems to have good placement. Made a nice back check at one point in the game as well. He may very well be a really nice middle 6 winger. If not, he’s not blocking anyone from playing during this stretch and he has done it before in the playoffs and he’s still relatively young.

Yes, but the 2021 draft was overall a weak draft and the Flyers were picking 14th, so I don't think they would have got an impact player anyway is my only point. The 2023 draft was a very deep draft with a lot of high end talent, so that 2nd round pick to me was the more valuable of the two picks and the one I would not have given up if I were Fletcher. I also want to note that Flahr is doing the drafting for the Flyers and he IMO has done a terrific job. Even in the 2021 draft the FLyers got Tuomaala in the late 2nd round and he is at least showing he can play pro hockey in the AHL. Whether that translates to the NHL we'll see, Tuomaala has to get stronger physically for sure.
- jd250

Wyatt Johnston has back to back 24 goal seasons and is listed as a center. Flyers probably could use that guy. He was picked #23 overall.

Joking aside, it sure seems like Shaw is being groomed for the head coach position.

Perhaps Torts plans on relocating upstairs after he's firmly established The Standard?
- Tomahawk

torts is a coach. that is what he wants to do. that is all he knows. no way he moves upstairs unless it is a no show paid advisor job in 5 years after he gets an ext and that runs out.....

The very little I’ve seen of Johnson, I’d dress him over risto for sure. He’s been better imo
- Just5

For what they ask Risto to do now I can’t say I disagree.

Flahr has a solid NHL track record, both in Minnesota and for the Flyers. He drafted York, Brink, Attard, Andrae, Foerster, and Gauthier. And so far Michkov and Bonk have potential to be great picks. Why can't you give the guy any credit?
- jd250

Easy to see he’s done a better job drafting than Hextall.

torts is a coach. that is what he wants to do. that is all he knows. no way he moves upstairs unless it is a no show paid advisor job in 5 years after he gets an ext and that runs out.....
- hello it's me 2050

His shelf life as a coach is limited and this is probably his last kick at that can.

If he goes upstairs in a VP or advisory position he gets to still be hands on with the team while basically having a guaranteed paycheck for the rest of his life.

I think he'd rather do that than go back on TV.

I heard they will have an event on Sunday that will have Torts bench you with all of your friends and family in attendance. Only $50

Any small business owners with LLC or S Corp you could be a criminal soon as the end of the year.
Or you just started a business a criminal in 30 days.
This is important enough to learn about to get reporting rules dropped.

Well, the 7 game gauntlet has arrived. What's the saying...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If this stretch doesn't kill them they should secure a playoff spot. Have to at least squeak out 2 wins in this stretch and 3 would be even better (4 would be a near miracle). Looks like it's going to come down to the Isles, Flyers and Wings for those final 2 tickets to the dance. Is Seeler really this important to the PK. That PK last night looked like the PK ghosts from years gone by. Wide open passing lanes galore. Put Ginning back in! It can't hurt. Can it?
- Phillywhiteout

Throw Buffalo in that mix. Like usual they are getting red hot to finish the season. Only 5 points back

Imagine the Flyers are just trying their hardest not to embarrass RJ publicly by softening up the narrative but the triumvirate ultimately want him nowhere near the team.
- Tomahawk

They took him to get the 1rst….Walker on his own was not going to get that. DB just weaponized the $ to get a better return. I’m sure they plan on burying him in the minors next year or eating a bit of $ and facilitating a trade. That’s the worst case scenario. Maybe, the Flyers do give him a shot at some point? He’d be on a short leash but it’s not like they can’t use some offensive type guys.

Not when saying he only had X amount of ice time. In a game where there are a lot of penalties, ES icetime is going to be down for most players.
- MJL

After you pointed out the penalties, I changed my narrative from TOI to ES TOI...so the 8min of ES TOI is relatively low compared to everyone else's ES TOI, especially for a player that was 1st star of the game

They took him to get the 1rst….Walker on his own was not going to get that. DB just weaponized the $ to get a better return. I’m sure they plan on burying him in the minors next year or eating a bit of $ and facilitating a trade. That’s the worst case scenario. Maybe, the Flyers do give him a shot at some point? He’d be on a short leash but it’s not like they can’t use some offensive type guys.
- landros 2

I think if they can't find somebody to take him they'll just buy him out, like TDA.

I don't see them feeling too good about burying the guy in the AHL and effectively ending his career.

After you pointed out the penalties, I changed my narrative from TOI to ES TOI...so the 8min of ES TOI is relatively low compared to everyone else's ES TOI, especially for a player that was 1st star of the game
- mr4tno

I agree, he should've played more. He was very good last night.

Drysdale is 21. Very young for a defenseman. He has shown flashes of exceptional skating and vision. We need to give him time to develop. He has the potential to be elite. He need experience and good coaching (Shaw is pretty darn good with these defensemen) and hopefully a good stable partner to be paired with. I don’t believe that partner is currently on the team.

Gurianov is a nice gamble. Low risk potentially high reward. The big guy can fly and from that one shot ticketed for the top corner, he seems to have good placement. Made a nice back check at one point in the game as well. He may very well be a really nice middle 6 winger. If not, he’s not blocking anyone from playing during this stretch and he has done it before in the playoffs and he’s still relatively young.
- mikeyo27

These are both good points. I just remember being way more excited with a young ghost when he came in same age. Drysdsle has better skating ability but I don’t see what he’s better at than ghost was.

It’s been what 4 years since that playoff run? I’d rather the 6th or 7th round pick for Wade

I think if they can't find somebody to take him they'll just buy him out, like TDA.

I don't see them feeling too good about burying the guy in the AHL and effectively ending his career.
- Tomahawk

Flyers need to start playing hardball. If you want to play in the NHL, play better.

I think if they can't find somebody to take him they'll just buy him out, like TDA.

I don't see them feeling too good about burying the guy in the AHL and effectively ending his career.
- Tomahawk

I don’t think they will bury him either…he’s easily a 2$ million dollar C…we’ll see how it plays out…but a motivated Johansen on his last chance is worth a look.

Flyers need to start playing hardball. If you want to play in the NHL, play better.
- MJL

I agree. A buyout is complete BS. They don’t need cap savings next year.

Tell him this summer he has an opportunity to make the team like everyone else

It seems like the Flyes gave up a lot, but when you look at it now, they really didn't give up all that much for Risto. Buffalo did not hit on their 1st round pick that year, and I'm not sure the Flyers would have done any better. That was a weird draft year if you recall with Covid. Haag was a throw in. The 2nd round pick last season was a good pick I would have loved the Flyers to keep. It's the years and AAV of the extension that for me is harder to swallow, especially since it should have been clear to Fletcher that his plan failed and he needed to pivot.
- jd250

This is what makes you a tool….

Buffalo did not hit on their 1st round pick?


So laughable. 14th overall pick that is 20 years old and you say didn’t hit. How the hell do you know this? Because he’s not scoring 30 goals in nhl yet?

You sir have no idea what you are talking about

Flyers need to start playing hardball. If you want to play in the NHL, play better.
- MJL

The guy just doesn't give a (frank) for weeks at a time. They're not letting somebody like that near the team right now. No matter how many points he could put up or how many faceoffs he could potentially win. Musn't endanger the culture.

The guy just doesn't give a (frank) for weeks at a time. They're not letting somebody like that near the team right now. No matter how many points he could put up or how many faceoffs he could potentially win. Musn't endanger the culture.
- Tomahawk

If he doesn't give a (frank) for weeks at a time, why should the Flyers? The Flyers should do what is best for the Flyers. I don't see a buyout or a retained salary trade being that. He has to play and show that he deserves a shot. Whether that is in the AHL or with the Flyers. Flyers are stacking up the dead cap space.

If he doesn't give a (frank) for weeks at a time, why should the Flyers? The Flyers should do what is best for the Flyers. I don't see a buyout or a retained salary trade being that. He has to play and show that he deserves a shot. Whether that is in the AHL or with the Flyers. Flyers are stacking up the dead cap space.
- MJL

That may all be true but we know the Flyers don't operate like that.

His shelf life as a coach is limited and this is probably his last kick at that can.

If he goes upstairs in a VP or advisory position he gets to still be hands on with the team while basically having a guaranteed paycheck for the rest of his life.

I think he'd rather do that than go back on TV.
- Tomahawk

agree probably last kick. however his optics look good, so would another team take a shot with him? i still think he gets a 2 year ext.

disagree, he loves the spotlight. he loves tv...imo

agree probably last kick. however his optics look good, so would another team take a shot with him? i still think he gets a 2 year ext.

disagree, he loves the spotlight. he loves tv...imo
- hello it's me 2050

He's never held as much sway and power as he's had here. Basically co-GM, co-Pres, face of the franchise, fans love him, keys to the city.

The only way he can mess it up is if he overstays as coach. Move upstairs while he's got Hilferty, DB and Jonesy wrapped around his finger.

He's never held as much sway and power as he's had here. Basically co-GM, co-Pres, face of the franchise, fans love him, keys to the city.

The only way he can mess it up is if he overstays as coach. Move upstairs while he's got Hilferty, DB and Jonesy wrapped around his finger.
- Tomahawk

What could possibly go wrong? This franchise is completely screwed up.

Any small business owners with LLC or S Corp you could be a criminal soon as the end of the year.
Or you just started a business a criminal in 30 days.
This is important enough to learn about to get reporting rules dropped.
- bird_dog_pa

Love S Corps