Trading Bob was a horrible mistake but the bigger mistake was signing Bryz in the first place.

Re next season, the best thing that can happen is that some vets are dealt, Cam, Peterson and RyJo come completely off the books and the team drops 10 points in the standings and goes into the lottery with a pick in the 5-8 range.
- BiggE

It’s all about the start for me. If they come out of the gates and lose a bit. Last year felt like an eternity towards the end, imagine how this year will be for the players if they start 6-12 and have to listen to Torts nonsense sitting at the bottom of standings all year.

It’s all about the start for me. If they come out of the gates and lose a bit. Last year felt like an eternity towards the end, imagine how this year will be for the players if they start 6-12 and have to listen to Torts nonsense sitting at the bottom of standings all year.
- ClaudeFather

Is Torts immune to a terrible start next year?

Understand that there are explanations on some things that have happened here but come on Bill. This organization has been an absolute dumpster fire for the past decade plus. It’s embarrassing how bad this team is run.
- ClaudeFather

There are things they've screwed up. This was one because Ed Snider overruled his GM and the organization's goalie coach out of impatience to "guarantee" something that simply couldn't be guaranteed. It ended up, indirectly, working out OK. Mason's Flyers numbers were almost identical to Bob's career numbers.

For the record, Holmgren thought Bob was going to be a good No. 1 goalie. Jeff Reese thought the same, even more vehemently. But neither could guarantee to Ed Snider, after one year in the NHL, Bob was absolutely ready for a deep run come playoff time. And that's what Snider wanted. A guarantee Bobrovsky was ready for that OR a proven goalie of Vezina caliber (in his recent past).

Snider had been been talked into coming back with Boucher and Leighton (Bob was a surprise) in 2010-11. And then Lavy had a goalie carousel in the 2011 playoffs. Snider wasn't going to give in again.

From what I saw in the Memorial Cup, I think Bonk is a really solid prospect with a chance to be that elusive 1D the Flyers desperately need. Unfortunately he will have to play another season at London and then at least one season for the Phantoms, so a few years away. But very promising from what I saw of him this past week.
- jd250

Bonk has nothing to gain playing in the OHL next year. He was one of the top D this year. Will this ruin his development? Or will someone say DB and torts ruined his development?

Hayes might not be in the NHL by the time that contract is up. What a disaster of a contract.
- ClaudeFather

I hope he doesnt get bought out, and the flyers are on the hook for some of that

As I think about the season coming up, I don't agree with Jason that the Flyers have to make the playoffs to be a successful season. To me a successful season for the Flyers might actually look like a step back, with the Flyers finishing lower in the standings this coming season, but in the process clearing out more veterans that will not be part of the future, players like Laughton, Cam and Risto, clearing more cap space and opening up spots for younger players like Lycksell, Grans, Ginning, Attard and Andrae to get some NHL experience and continue to develop. You need to see what you have in these players and decide if they are part of this or not. Can't do that just playing in the AHL. The 2025 draft is going be a deeper draft so the Flyers should want to get as much draft capital as they can to really build the foundation for a contending team for many years to follow. Plus if Michkov does come over, the Flyers will have some cap space the in the 25-26 season to sign 1 or 2 good free agents and really kick this thing off. My opinion is this coming season is not the right time, more clean up needed IMO.
- jd250

you are a delusional dude. do you see any of them even on the roster to start the season?

grans is more of a fading prospect just like ginning and attard at this juncture. Ollie same thing. these guys aint as young as you seem to think. They all have numerous season of pro hockey under their belt.

The fact you really think they should see what they have in these players is funny. dont you think last season that should have been done? Nah torts is trying to win at all cost. he dont care one iota about the future.

you are a delusional dude. do you see any of them even on the roster to start the season?

grans is more of a fading prospect just like ginning and attard at this juncture. Ollie same thing. these guys aint as young as you seem to think. They all have numerous season of pro hockey under their belt.

The fact you really think they should see what they have in these players is funny. dont you think last season that should have been done? Nah torts is trying to win at all cost. he dont care one iota about the future.
- hello it's me 2050

And this is the problem.

It’s all about the start for me. If they come out of the gates and lose a bit. Last year felt like an eternity towards the end, imagine how this year will be for the players if they start 6-12 and have to listen to Torts nonsense sitting at the bottom of standings all year.
- ClaudeFather

I thought Bob asked to be traded, didn't want to be the backup to Bryz.

not sure 10 shots from the Oil will be good enough vs Panthers

Please just spew ill-informed hyperbolic crap on a message board without know what the hell actually happened and with no context behind it. Won't tax your pea-brain that way.
- bmeltzer

Loved the cup drought post. Everyone feels a lot better. Looking forward to your next one where you glorify their regular season success over a window of years. I read a similar one about the cowboys.

Since the lockout in 2005 here's a list of Stanley Cup Champions. Yes, there's a bunch of ways to build but the one "tried & true" common theme is that almost every team that wins has high-end talent they acquired through the draft. Mostly the top of the draft, but also in the first few rounds.

You've gotta win at drafting if you want a chance to win the Stanley Cup. There's a few teams below who don't have a top three pick on their team, but not many, I think Anaheim 07, Detroit 08 and Boston in 11 where the only teams who didn't draft their own top elite talent at the top of the draft.

2004–05 canceled due to labour dispute
2005–06 Carolina Hurricanes - Eric Staal 2nd, Cam Ward 25th Conn Smythe
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks - Pronger trade, Niedermayer UFA & Getzlaf 19th
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings - Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom
2008–09 Pittsburgh Penguins - Crosby 1st, Malkin 2nd, MAF 1st
2009–10 Chicago Blackhawks - Toews 3rd, Kane 1st, DEPTH
2010–11 Boston Bruins - Bergeron & Tim Thomas Conn Smythe
2011–12 Los Angeles Kings - Kopitar 11th, Brown 13th, Doughty 2nd
2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks - Toews 3rd, Kane 1st
2013–14 Los Angeles Kings - Doughty, Kopitar, Brown, Quick
2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks - Toews 3rd, Kane 1st, DEPTH
2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins - Crosby 1st, Malkin 2nd, MAF 1st
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins - Crosby 1st, Malkin 2nd, MAF 1st
2017–18 Washington Capitals - Ovechkin 1st, Backstrom 4th
2018–19 St. Louis Blues - Pietrangelo 4th
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning - Stamkos 1st, Hedman 2nd
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning - Stamkos 1st, Hedman 2nd
2021–22 Colorado Avalanche - MacKinnon 1st, Landeskog, 2nd, Makar 4th
2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights - unique situation expansion team

not sure 10 shots from the Oil will be good enough vs Panthers
- wcorvette

Run that series 10 times I think Dallas wins 8 of them. Can’t see it happening again against Florida

I thought Bob asked to be traded, didn't want to be the backup to Bryz.
- WhiskeyMan

He said trade me so I can start or I'll go back to Russia. So instead of losing the asset, they traded him for what they could.

It’s all about the start for me. If they come out of the gates and lose a bit. Last year felt like an eternity towards the end, imagine how this year will be for the players if they start 6-12 and have to listen to Torts nonsense sitting at the bottom of standings all year.
- ClaudeFather

This is the hope. It’s the one good thing about retaining torts, there’s a real chance the wheels come off hard and they replace him with the PP coach lol

It’s all about the start for me. If they come out of the gates and lose a bit. Last year felt like an eternity towards the end, imagine how this year will be for the players if they start 6-12 and have to listen to Torts nonsense sitting at the bottom of standings all year.
- ClaudeFather

The best thing that can happen is they lose, a lot, and Tortorella is fired. He's exhausting, I can't wait until he's gone.

Please just spew ill-informed hyperbolic crap on a message board without know what the hell actually happened and with no context behind it. Won't tax your pea-brain that way.
- Bill Meltzer

Good for you Bill, spot on!

Most Franchises fix a historically awful power play by asking an alumn what they think.

In case anyone was wondering

The best thing that can happen is they lose, a lot, and Tortorella is fired. He's exhausting, I can't wait until he's gone.
- Dave21Brown

I am right there with you. I am tired of his antics.

Bonk has nothing to gain playing in the OHL next year. He was one of the top D this year. Will this ruin his development? Or will someone say DB and torts ruined his development?
- bradster

Because of the CHL draft rules, next season Bonk either plays in the OHL or NHL. The Flyers cannot rush Bonk to the NHL, it will ruin his development and most likely get him hurt. The only thing the Flyers can do is let him play another season in the OHL and then he the following season give Bonk a shot at make the team.

you are a delusional dude. do you see any of them even on the roster to start the season?

grans is more of a fading prospect just like ginning and attard at this juncture. Ollie same thing. these guys aint as young as you seem to think. They all have numerous season of pro hockey under their belt.

The fact you really think they should see what they have in these players is funny. dont you think last season that should have been done? Nah torts is trying to win at all cost. he dont care one iota about the future.
- hello it's me 2050

Torts will try to win every game with the roster he has. Briere controls the roster as GM. My understanding is Ginning is not going back to Sweden, so he must have given a guarantee that he will have a legitimate shot at making the team. Also Briere is high on Grans.

The Panthers are playing like a team on a mission. I don’t see anyone beating them.
- BiggE

If FL can stop their PP like they did the Rags, they'll win this series in 5 or 6. I think it really comes down to that... and of course the goalies. But I don't think Skinner can match his performance of last night again. This may be where EDM get's exposed because FL always has a ton a traffic in front and they have the horses to battle through. Plus, that's where they score most of their goals. Should be a good series, I hope.

What's sillier is Canada's record against the West Coast/Sun Belt teams that they've complained non-stop about:

Montreal lost to Tampa
Ottawa lost to Anaheim
Edmonton lost to Carolina
Calgary lost to Tampa

If McJesus loses to Florida...
- Tomahawk

No way they lose. It’ll be a sweep for Edmonton because they are the model franchise of the nhl.

As a side note, I’d like to see how they’d have done if they had drawn Colorado and Vegas instead of LA and Van.

Please just spew ill-informed hyperbolic crap on a message board without know what the hell actually happened and with no context behind it. Won't tax your pea-brain that way.
- bmeltzer

Haha. This place is getting fun now. Let’s attack Bill. Great idea.

If FL can stop their PP like they did the Rags, they'll win this series in 5 or 6. I think it really comes down to that... and of course the goalies. But I don't think Skinner can match his performance of last night again. This may be where EDM get's exposed because FL always has a ton a traffic in front and they have the horses to battle through. Plus, that's where they score most of their goals. Should be a good series, I hope.
- Letterkenney

What we’ve learned is that goalies don’t matter and you need multiple number one overall picks iot to win the cup. Florida stands zero chance.

Good for you Bill, spot on!
- jd250

Haha. I know. That was gold.