Pavelski forced himself onto every roster with his play. Drafted out of the USHL when it wasn’t as respected. Wisconsin didn’t even want to give him a full ride. Yet he led them in scoring both years. The scout who discovered him was the only one who believed in him and fumed at the Sharks for six rounds.

Jett is billed as a good skater and Pavelski never was better than average. Pavelski fell under the radar and Jett didn’t. I don’t see any legitimate reason to compare the two.
- Minnyhock

Pevalski was 19 years old when he was drafted. Jett is 17 and I guess can't develop into a better player.

Not saying I agree with the pick but give him a chance before writing him off.

Even if not these two, and I get it. Doesn’t it annoy you (plural all of us) that the Flyers are not apparently in on any of these players? Maybe McGraorty and Alskarov don’t matter but what are they doing with other young players that are rumored to be available? Players like Rossi and Zegras, Necas perhaps. Let’s just stick with Injured and aging Coots, Talented Frost White coach Hayes and won’t give a fair shot, Poehling and Laughton who are interchangeable. I’m just really starting to see that it’s the same old song and dance
- mikeyo27

What is the fascination with Zegras? He is an example of the exact player that they don't need. They don't have the assets to get Necas. What are the going to give up to get Alskarov? The Flyers have their goalies set for the season. What are the giving up to get Rossi and why is Minnesota dealing him?

Pevalski was 19 years old when he was drafted. Jett is 17 and I guess can't develop into a better player.

Not saying I agree with the pick but give him a chance before writing him off.
- WhiskeyMan

Not sure where you're getting this from. Who is saying he won't be a good player or can't develop into a better player?

What is the fascination with Zegras? He is an example of the exact player that they don't need. They don't have the assets to get Necas. What are the going to give up to get Alskarov? The Flyers have their goalies set for the season. What are the giving up to get Rossi and why is Minnesota dealing him?
- MJL

Yeah. The Flyers shouldn’t try to get young talented players if/when available. My bad. Regard the hope that they explore Zegras, Rossi, Necas, McGraorty, Askarov, or any other <25 potentially available on the market. They should just keep Frost and Farabee even though the coach doesn’t coach them well, and resign TK and keep Laughton.

Yeah. The Flyers shouldn’t try to get young talented players if/when available. My bad. Regard the hope that they explore Zegras, Rossi, Necas, McGraorty, Askarov, or any other <25 potentially available on the market. They should just keep Frost and Farabee even though the coach doesn’t coach them well, and resign TK and keep Laughton.
- mikeyo27

My only worry with a player like Zegras is that he will just be another Konecny. A 2nd line player who will be demanding first line money in a few years.

But that doesn't mean you don't explore what is out there. However I don't see Zegras as a 1C in this league.

Yeah. The Flyers shouldn’t try to get young talented players if/when available. My bad. Regard the hope that they explore Zegras, Rossi, Necas, McGraorty, Askarov, or any other <25 potentially available on the market. They should just keep Frost and Farabee even though the coach doesn’t coach them well, and resign TK and keep Laughton.
- mikeyo27

The Flyers need elite talent. Anything that prevents them from or can hurt their chances of getting elite talent. Is not good. You acquire a player like Zegras. One you have to give up assets, aka draft picks or other assets and what does it do for you? Makes you a better bubble playoff team and helps ensure that you won't be getting a higher draft pick and the increased odds of getting elite talent. This team doesn't have an issue getting good players. It has an issue acquiring elite talent. It's elite talent or bust. See the big picture. A player like Zegras is not what they need. Middle ground is the worst spot to be in. You need to be either really good or really bad.

Pevalski was 19 years old when he was drafted. Jett is 17 and I guess can't develop into a better player.

Not saying I agree with the pick but give him a chance before writing him off.
- WhiskeyMan

I haven’t seen Jett play so I can’t really make a judgement on him. He could surprise and become a good player. A guy being younger matters but I don’t give him an outsized boost for that unless he’s a Bedard or a Crosby.

I was only saying that he and Pavelski are very different and there is no comparison between the two.

If Jett had even half of Pavs' hands and scoring ability at the same age nobody would have a problem with the pick.

Problem is the chance that Zeev meets his top-pair potential is higher than the chance Jett exceeds his middle-six projection. It's all about the probability. Neither of them are slam dunk anything but Zeev is simply more talented.
- Tomahawk

Probability, talent assessment and trying to get an edge to see what no one else sees.
The 49ers picked Jerry Rice at #16 saying that he was the best player in the draft. Other teams laughed. Teams don’t make those out of the box picks because it rarely pays off and GMs care about their jobs more than anything else.

I'm obviously a Flyers fan, but I honestly don't track the young, up-and-coming players before or after the draft. So, I probably don't know as much about them as most everyone else here on this board.

However, what I think I can speak to - just like everyone else here - is the team's track record. When I was growing up during the 80's, the Flyers made the playoffs every year, won their division a number of times, and got to the SCF or conference finals a few times. No Cups, but they came damn close a couple of times. That's a competitive, contending team. If the GM of that team tells us what his mindset is on drafting or not drafting a certain player, then I would be more inclined to trust his judgement.

But the Flyers in the last 10+ years have not been contending. Only 4 playoff appearances in the last 12 years, and a current streak of 4 years and counting w/o making it. Only one playoff series win during that time. To my unexpert, fan eyes, that's nothing short of dismal, especially considering how consistently contending the Flyers *used* to be. So that means that the GM now has to prove to me that his drafting logic makes sense by actually getting the Flyers back to respectability. And yes, it means I won't know if DB was right/wrong about the 2024 draft until 2026/2027 at least... but because the track record hasn't been good lately, I just don't trust them (and it's not DB's fault what he inherited, but it is what it is). And I don't think I'm being unreasonable or over-critical... just build a good team now dagnabit - the Flyers are out in the wilderness - get 'em back to civilization for goodness' sake.

Sorry for ranting so long.

The Flyers need elite talent. Anything that prevents them from or can hurt their chances of getting elite talent. Is not good. You acquire a player like Zegras. One you have to give up assets, aka draft picks or other assets and what does it do for you? Makes you a better bubble playoff team and helps ensure that you won't be getting a higher draft pick and the increased odds of getting elite talent. This team doesn't have an issue getting good players. It has an issue acquiring elite talent. It's elite talent or bust. See the big picture. A player like Zegras is not what they need. Middle ground is the worst spot to be in. You need to be either really good or really bad.
- MJL

I totally get your position and I certainly won’t say you’re wrong in it. It’s based on logic. You and I disagree on the potential impact of Zegras but like I said, that’s understandable. We both agree (as do most everyone on this blog) that they need to either be really bad or really good. I am extremely frustrated that they appear to be doing nothing to commit to either. While I see acquiring a Zegras or a Rossi as a way to add elite young players/prospects, I respect everyone here who disagrees that either of the those players (and others I’ve mention) are this elite type young players. I am also ticked that young home grown talent like Frost and Farabee seem to be stinted in their growth because of the was the coach has handled them. I’m not a believer mentoring through public embarrassment. Heck, I still have a very bad taste from the treatment of Coots by the coach. After 50 years of being a rabid Flyers fan, I’m so tired of rinse and repeat. I continue to try to give this front office the benefit of the doubt but I just can’t anymore. I need to see results and we are exactly where we all fear… rooting and loving a team that just won’t execute a master plan.

I'm obviously a Flyers fan, but I honestly don't track the young, up-and-coming players before or after the draft. So, I probably don't know as much about them as most everyone else here on this board.

However, what I think I can speak to - just like everyone else here - is the team's track record. When I was growing up during the 80's, the Flyers made the playoffs every year, won their division a number of times, and got to the SCF or conference finals a few times. No Cups, but they came damn close a couple of times. That's a competitive, contending team. If the GM of that team tells us what his mindset is on drafting or not drafting a certain player, then I would be more inclined to trust his judgement.

But the Flyers in the last 10+ years have not been contending. Only 4 playoff appearances in the last 12 years, and a current streak of 4 years and counting w/o making it. Only one playoff series win during that time. To my unexpert, fan eyes, that's nothing short of dismal, especially considering how consistently contending the Flyers *used* to be. So that means that the GM now has to prove to me that his drafting logic makes sense by actually getting the Flyers back to respectability. And yes, it means I won't know if DB was right/wrong about the 2024 draft until 2026/2027 at least... but because the track record hasn't been good lately, I just don't trust them (and it's not DB's fault what he inherited, but it is what it is). And I don't think I'm being unreasonable or over-critical... just build a good team now dagnabit - the Flyers are out in the wilderness - get 'em back to civilization for goodness' sake.

Sorry for ranting so long.
- copelal

In the words of former President Bill Clinton, “I fell your pain”

Well said.

I totally get your position and I certainly won’t say you’re wrong in it. It’s based on logic. You and I disagree on the potential impact of Zegras but like I said, that’s understandable. We both agree (as do most everyone on this blog) that they need to either be really bad or really good. I am extremely frustrated that they appear to be doing nothing to commit to either. While I see acquiring a Zegras or a Rossi as a way to add elite young players/prospects, I respect everyone here who disagrees that either of the those players (and others I’ve mention) are this elite type young players. I am also ticked that young home grown talent like Frost and Farabee seem to be stinted in their growth because of the was the coach has handled them. I’m not a believer mentoring through public embarrassment. Heck, I still have a very bad taste from the treatment of Coots by the coach. After 50 years of being a rabid Flyers fan, I’m so tired of rinse and repeat. I continue to try to give this front office the benefit of the doubt but I just can’t anymore. I need to see results and we are exactly where we all fear… rooting and loving a team that just won’t execute a master plan.
- mikeyo27

If Zegras is a 1C talent, which he is not. Why is Anaheim trading him and what will the Flyers give up to get him?
If you're so tired of rinse and repeat, why are you advocating for more rinse and repeat? Which is what acquiring someone like Zegras is. Here it is in a nutshell, if the Flyers want to overpay for someone like Zegras. Anaheim being a smart team, might agree to that.

In the words of former President Bill Clinton, “I fell your pain”
- mikeyo27

In the words of Monica, "XXXX on my face".