I think that's an overreach. If Michkov comes over, he's going to put up 33 goals and 68 points in his first season? I hope you're right but I doubt that.
- MJL

any thoughts on the devils re-signing Kurtis MacDermid to a 3 year extension?

How do you expect them to address it? I mean that sincerely. As pointed out in a previous blog they have little cap room to work with this summer. Next summer they will be in a much better cap position if they don’t muck it up this summer. Do you expect a trade for Zegras or Necas? A signing of Lindholm or Stamkos? We covered many blogs ago there’s no chance they’re getting Draisaitl.
- Schmojo

I expect them to pursue linholm or another top free agent center. Perhaps trade for a kadri type. Maybe Necas.

they will find the money as that will not prevent them from spending imo.

Great news about Michkov if true. However what cannot happen is the Flyers try to rush a rebuild as a result. The Flyers need to be aggressive in this draft and the next draft, and trade as many veteran players as they can now. You don't build a championship team with one elite player and a bunch of average players. The Flyers need to start getting potential elite players at all key positions, 1D and 1C specifically. This draft has some potential 1D players at the top of the draft, the Flyers need to get one of these players. The same in next year's draft. Then with these positions filled and Michkov in place, the Flyers have a chance to be something special again.
- jd250

How about they first start a rebuild?

Yeah, probably a little bit of an overreach on my part. Bedard put up 61 pts in 68 games this year. Michkov I could see in the 50pt range though. So not entirely replacing TK’s production in year 1 but by year 2 he probably could.
- Schmojo

I'd be happy with 15-20 goals and 40 points

They will have to move bottom D pair players, bottom 6 O players. As long as you have to reshape the franchise, make package deals to move up and take swings at talent

[quote=Trox88]

Something I’ve been wondering for a bit now is if they’re going to try to move Michkov to center. That was the plan with Gauthier. They even moved Cates to C because they’re so thin. Last year MM all of a sudden expressed a desire to play center and spent some time there in SKA’s camp. Obviously he was loaned to Sochi and played wing all year. But if the Flyers want to try him at center, they need to get him playing there asap. If the KHL teams won’t oblige, then it makes sense to get him over now, which might be why there’s this development with Michkov recently. If they’re not willing to rebuild, I’m not sure where else they’re getting a #1 center so they’ll have to force fit MM. The lines start to look like this:

Foerster/Michkov/TK
Farabee/Frost/Tippett
Laughton/Couturier/Brink
Cates/Poehling/Hathaway

Do we think Helenius makes it to 12? Center already playing in a pro league.

Catton would be great but moving up to the 4-6 range to get him isn’t going to be cheap.

What if they could move up into the top 8 to take a D without moving 12, and therefore if he falls, also getting Catton.

I went over to the MTL blog and asked if they’d be interested in this trade:

Flyers get:
2024 MTL 1st (5th ovr)
2024 MTL 3rd

Canadiens get:
Konecny
Laughton
2024 PHI 2nd
2025 PHI 2nd

Got some mixed responses. Funny that one person told me that wasn’t enough for MTL to get that return and another basically told me to pound sand, haha.

I don’t expect Catton to fall to 12 but he’d be awesome to have. I think at 12, they’re likely to be choosing among Helenius, Iginla, Eiserman, Sennecke, Brandsegg-Nygard, Yakemchuk etc. if they could pull off the above trade, and draft one of the top D, then take any of these guys at 12. They could look to also move up from the FLA pick if Hage falls into the 20s.
- Schmojo

Flyers are giving up far too much for far too little

[quote=Schmojo]
Man that’s crazy. I don’t think toy with your future franchise players position because of need.

If they can’t land a center in this draft I think a winger or D men gets dealt for one. Simple as that.

[quote=hereticpride]

Do you think someone will trade a #1 center for what the Flyers can offer? Is everyone fully off of the Coots as #1 center train?

If so, then I think the book is closed on whether Coots contract was a mistake.

[quote=hereticpride]

I know they normally go bpa but there’s got to be some targeting at centre and d in the next two drafts IMO.

What if they could move up into the top 8 to take a D without moving 12, and therefore if he falls, also getting Catton.

I went over to the MTL blog and asked if they’d be interested in this trade:

Flyers get:
2024 MTL 1st (5th ovr)
2024 MTL 3rd

Canadiens get:
Konecny
Laughton
2024 PHI 2nd
2025 PHI 2nd

Got some mixed responses. Funny that one person told me that wasn’t enough for MTL to get that return and another basically told me to pound sand, haha.

I don’t expect Catton to fall to 12 but he’d be awesome to have. I think at 12, they’re likely to be choosing among Helenius, Iginla, Eiserman, Sennecke, Brandsegg-Nygard, Yakemchuk etc. if they could pull off the above trade, and draft one of the top D, then take any of these guys at 12. They could look to also move up from the FLA pick if Hage falls into the 20s.
- Schmojo

I think because you’ve got so many holes that you keep the extra picks. Despite that, I wouldnt be shocked if they didn’t at least try to move up if there’s a centre they want. Thats a glaring need. I’m looking forward to the draft. The fact that db was willing to basically throw playoffs out the window to get a first for Walker is a good sign to me. The day the trade was made, I suspected that they weren’t going to make it and I was absolutely fine with that. Let’s see what he can get done.

What if they could move up into the top 8 to take a D without moving 12, and therefore if he falls, also getting Catton.

I went over to the MTL blog and asked if they’d be interested in this trade:

Flyers get:
2024 MTL 1st (5th ovr)
2024 MTL 3rd

Canadiens get:
Konecny
Laughton
2024 PHI 2nd
2025 PHI 2nd

Got some mixed responses. Funny that one person told me that wasn’t enough for MTL to get that return and another basically told me to pound sand, haha.

I don’t expect Catton to fall to 12 but he’d be awesome to have. I think at 12, they’re likely to be choosing among Helenius, Iginla, Eiserman, Sennecke, Brandsegg-Nygard, Yakemchuk etc. if they could pull off the above trade, and draft one of the top D, then take any of these guys at 12. They could look to also move up from the FLA pick if Hage falls into the 20s.
- Schmojo

I agree with them.

Do we think Helenius makes it to 12? Center already playing in a pro league.

Catton would be great but moving up to the 4-6 range to get him isn’t going to be cheap.
- hereticpride

I think it’s possible. Most rankings have him in the latter half of the top 10 or just outside. He’s a center which will help his value but he’s listed at 5’11 so he’s not big. From a lot of what I’ve read about him is he projects as a solid 2-way middle six center. He’s really good at a lot of things but doesn’t have an elite trait like most of the other top prospects. Some evaluations say his offensive production hasn’t been great either, especially his goal scoring in international events this year.

[quote=hereticpride]

I don’t think they should do it either but they’ve shown the desire twice recently. They also did it with Giroux years ago.

Flyers are giving up far too much for far too little
- WhiskeyMan

If Dallas offered Heiskanen for that same return would you think that’s overpaying? There’s no guarantee any of these guys become that level but many people think 4-5 of these top defenseman have #1 D potential.

I think because you’ve got so many holes that you keep the extra picks. Despite that, I wouldnt be shocked if they didn’t at least try to move up if there’s a centre they want. Thats a glaring need. I’m looking forward to the draft. The fact that db was willing to basically throw playoffs out the window to get a first for Walker is a good sign to me. The day the trade was made, I suspected that they weren’t going to make it and I was absolutely fine with that. Let’s see what he can get done.
- Hextall271

The thing is, the Flyers holes are elite talent. They have plenty of middle of the lineup players already. Stockpiling more middle of the lineup players really does them no good. Late 1sts and 2nd round picks rarely produce elite players. The Flyers have shown they’re not capable of identifying those rarities too.

I think it’s possible. Most rankings have him in the latter half of the top 10 or just outside. He’s a center which will help his value but he’s listed at 5’11 so he’s not big. From a lot of what I’ve read about him is he projects as a solid 2-way middle six center. He’s really good at a lot of things but doesn’t have an elite trait like most of the other top prospects. Some evaluations say his offensive production hasn’t been great either, especially his goal scoring in international events this year.
- Schmojo

I avoid like the plague

I agree with them.
- hello it's me 2050

Agree with which? That it was an over pay for the Flyers or that there’s no chance MTL makes that deal?

I think that's an overreach. If Michkov comes over, he's going to put up 33 goals and 68 points in his first season? I hope you're right but I doubt that.
- MJL

If he stays healthy I would say yes.

I'd be happy with 15-20 goals and 40 points
- MJL

Oh man I would be totally disappointed in that. But with Torts as the coach.....

Torts cuts him and he heads back to the KHL
- ClaudeFather

Kid has to learn how to play the 200 ft game and block shots to earn his ice time in Philly

Siberia would be less of a punishment to this kid than having torts as his hc in the nhl

I don’t know what I will think. I guess I’m gonna have to see what they say after free agency in the draft but I’m sure that I will admit. I am wrong if they do what you say I hope you will admit that you were wrong if they do what I say.I will parrot what ever the three headed monster and their state run media spews - I do what I do
- jd250

FTFY

How about they first start a rebuild?
- Pelle31Forever

Oh man I would be totally disappointed in that. But with Torts as the coach.....
- MBFlyerfan

As a 20 year old, why? We're not talking about a generational player, right? I'm expecting growing pains.