The only minor thing that gives me pause about the Clarke comments is that he has been known to throw people under the bus to protect the franchise and make the franchise look better in his eyes. Lindros and Neilson come to mind.


Other than that there seemed to be no indication the Flyers were ever going to pick anyone but Hischier or Patrick. Usually that kind of thing leaks to the pundits. It is probably attributed to Hextall's iron lock on the office. Not one person ever reported the Flyers were even thinking about looking at anyone but Hischier or Patrick.
- MBFlyerfan

Bob Clarke just doesn't all of a sudden decide to give an interview. It was a targeted mission with an agenda.

Bob Clarke just doesn't all of a sudden decide to give an interview. It was a targeted mission with an agenda.
- MJL

nothing but speculation on your end.

thought you deal in facts. any facts to back that statement up? If was an interview about his career. love how those last 90 seconds get you all angry because he talked about your incompetent dad.
b
what was the agenda cliff? lay it out for us all. talk about my career for 59 minutes then tell the truth about your dad. damn that was some agenda

Only that Heiskanan went next, not Makar. But it has since been said that the scouts wanted Heiskanan not Makar and he got it mixed up.
- MBFlyerfan

you know what I meant. nothing he said was out of line.

you know what I meant. nothing he said was out of line.
- hello it's me 2050

Other than the mix up made it sound like he was reciting talking points. Was it Makar, or was it Heiskanen? Why would he get it mixed up? Right there it tells you there wasn't a consensus if he cant even get the basic facts straight.

Other than the mix up made it sound like he was reciting talking points. Was it Makar, or was it Heiskanen? Why would he get it mixed up? Right there it tells you there wasn't a consensus if he cant even get the basic facts straight.
- MBFlyerfan

you can take it how you like. mixing up the names is no big issue. it happens.

again the main point is he was just giving out info. nothing more nothing less to me. not one thing wrong with his tone or what he said. the saint ronnie fan club all upset and still upset to this day.

It’s okay to nitpick….until it’s not okay to nitpick.

It’s okay to nitpick….until it’s not okay to nitpick.
- roenick97

Do people nitpick ‘at’ or ‘about’ something?

you can take it how you like. mixing up the names is no big issue. it happens.

again the main point is he was just giving out info. nothing more nothing less to me. not one thing wrong with his tone or what he said. the saint ronnie fan club all upset and still upset to this day.
- hello it's me 2050

I get that. But knowing Clarke's past, there is enough there to just make me question whether or not this is just revisionist history on his part. I am just not sure I entirely believe that the scouts wanted Heiskanen or Makar over Patrick or Hischier. That is all.

It totally sucks that he the worst pick of the top 5 taken by a long shot.

The 2017 draft was undisputedly, Nico Hesher or Nolan Patrick. I’m sick of this 7 years later hindsight. I’d love to read the post on this board the evening Patrick was drafted to the Flyers. Can anybody find it?
- roenick97

100% spot on. I posted almost the exact same statement a good while ago.

The 2017 draft was undisputedly, Nico Hesher or Nolan Patrick. I’m sick of this 7 years later hindsight. I’d love to read the post on this board the evening Patrick was drafted to the Flyers. Can anybody find it?
- roenick97

Bill’s writeup of day one:

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...ref=broadstreethockey.com

If a team picks a player

and the fan base hates the pick

but the player becomes a superstar

does the fan base still complain about the pick?

Not sure, it never happened to the Flyers.

Only thing that matters is the final result.

Bill’s writeup of day one:

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...ref=broadstreethockey.com
- Quetzalcoatl

Oh absolutely loving walking down memory lane. Found this gem...

What if Couturier gets hurts again? What if Patrick's injury history is everything we've read about? What if Giroux has another down season. These are more likely, as Schenn has remained one of our more healthy players along with Simmonds and Voracek over the past five seasons.
- SuperSchennBros

Everything about the Schenn trade I nailed Even called his career year.

My point not being anything could happen, but more along the lines..Schenn's value will never be this high again.

2 1st round picks and maybe a 3rd for a 25 goal scorer..you take that any day of the week including the made up Funday. Super replaceable.
- Glak18

I remember this classic:

- Streit2ThePoint

Nailed it, Frosty!

Oh absolutely loving walking down memory lane. Found this gem...





- Glak18

I said this on FB. So in the end the order doesn't really matter. We got two players who I think will eventually be NHL players. I also believe Strome will play in the NHL. Patrick is a no brainer.

So that is 4 guys picked who could be NHL players.

I am happy with this draft.
- MBFlyerfan

This post aged like gas station sushi.

This post aged like gas station sushi.

- MBFlyerfan

Yeah I noticed a lot of Strome suckling...not sure why. Maybe it was the name recognition.

Oh absolutely loving walking down memory lane. Found this gem...





- Glak18

What did I say that was wrong in that statement? Not only did I ask all the right questions, Couturier and Patrick’s injuries turned out to be worse than I imagined.

Not to mention, I still feel the same way about how Schenn was handed today, as I did back then. If Nolan Patrick were healthy (which he never was), a healthy Patrick on the cheap and a healthy Schenn could have made us a better team heading into the 2017-18 season. Instead Hextall put all his eggs into Patrick. I wanted to keep both for at least 1 season.

Bill’s writeup of day one:

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...ref=broadstreethockey.com
- Quetzalcoatl

Thanks for the link! There's a lot to read but I did notice (and recall) a lot of excitement about Nico or Nolan. I also see many happy about the Patrick pick (as was I at the time). I didn't notice anyone clamoring for Makar.

Bill’s writeup of day one:

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...ref=broadstreethockey.com
- Quetzalcoatl

The blog from draft night had a few nice ones:

we got the best player in the draft!
- 2real

with nolan giroux is now expendable
- 2real

This is Kane/JVR all over again
- PhillySportsGuy

JVR couldn't hold Patrick's jock strap.
- landros

Oh god Tippett is hideous
- Mordecai

This post aged like gas station sushi.

- MBFlyerfan

If I remember correctly, I'm pretty sure I posted the Flyers just drafted their future #1 center. I think most thought he was going to be a pretty good player for the Flyers.

Thanks for the link! There's a lot to read but I did notice (and recall) a lot of excitement about Nico or Nolan. I also see many happy about the Patrick pick (as was I at the time). I didn't notice anyone clamoring for Makar.
- Don Nachbaur

The only mention of Makar was about Bob McKenzie reporting that one team had him ranked #1 and people praying that it was Jersey so we could get NP lol. Then somebody compared Makar to Dante Fabbro lol.

So yeah, Miro and Makar were not on anybody's wish list. The Flyers already had a ton of defensive prospects. It was C or bust.

The blog from draft night had a few nice ones:











- Tomahawk

Good stuff! I wasn't a poster back then but I was on here checking out what people thought about the pick.

The only mention of Makar was about Bob McKenzie reporting that one team had him ranked #1 and people praying that it was Jersey so we could get NP lol. Then somebody compared Makar to Dante Fabbro lol.

So yeah, Miro and Makar were not on anybody's wish list. The Flyers already had a ton of defensive prospects. It was C or bust.
- Tomahawk

Yes sir! I rarely know much about prospects except for the ones that are really hyped. I heard/read a lot about Patrick that year so I was hoping he'd be our pick. It's always easy to revise history, but who would've thought back then that Patrick would be a total bust. Flyers luck!

interesting takes from that archived blog:

Agree 100%

They seem to being doing a great job under Hextall:
2014
If the draft was re-held today, I'm pretty sure Sanheim goes higher than #17
Lindblom will turn out to be a flat out steal as a 5th rounder and again, if the draft was re-held today, he's a late 1st, early 2nd.

2015
Provy was no-brainer, but moving up to #24 to snag Konecny was a very good move
Getting one of the top goal prospects in the world (Sandstrom) in the 3rd round is awesome
Vorobyev is a very nice pick for a 4th rounder and Cooper Marody may be an even better for a guy taken in the 6th

2016
Rubtsov at #22 is looking like a great pick, the scouts love this kid.
Getting Hart in the 2nd round was another really good pick
Getting Bunnamon, who in a re-draft would be a solid 2nd rounder, in the 4th round is fantastic.

I'm more than willing to give Hextall and his staff the benefit of the doubt when it comes to drafting.



-BiggE


/***/
Ratcliffe!

I had him as a late 1st rounder on my list, great pick up. Giving up picks to get this guy works for me!
- BiggE


/**/
I'm picturing these top 3 lines in 2 or 3 years:

Ratcliffe-Patrick-Voracek
Lindblom-Giroux-Simmonds
Rubtsov-Coots-Konecny


Also take those 3 lines by 19-20 and add this top D to the mix:
Provorov-Myers
Sanheim-Gudas
Morin-Ghost
Hagg
 
- BiggE


/***/
Regarding the Frost pick. Over the past few years I have learned to trust the Flyers scouting under Hextall.

They seem to stick to their own criteria and it seems to be working for them.
- MBFlyerfan


/**/
Very happy with the Ratcliffe trade/pick! Think Lucic if this kid pans out! What a draft the Flyers are having. 3 first rounders and one was rated #1 overall. Obviously it will be judged 4years from now but as of right now...I'm loving it! A+


/**/
If the 2nd pick wasn't a gift from the hockey god's, I'm not so excited to see Hextalls draft than. Other than Patrick, I'm not so thrilled in what he's done. He's taken reaches and projects
-twpguy


/**/
Bill I know how much you and I love the Flyers but trading a top six forward with some grit in his prime will set the Flyers back for a couple years and Schenn is just approaching his prime. Look for 65 points in St. Louis and a lock for top six. Lehtara on the other hand is a cull. Third line player that is either injured or inconsistent. The draft picks are nice but what are you going to get at around 20 and higher. The Blues will not be at the bottom of the league so the pick is not going to be elite unless a miracle takes place and with Hextall running the show there is no chance. I hate this move and would trade Giroux before I trade Schenn, based on work ethic alone. Who is going to get all those pp goals now?? Oh wait Cousins is gone and the there will only be a few pp opportunities now, lol Flyers management is right on par with Benning and that corndog in Edmonton.
- joegreif17


Full rebuild should have meant dog facker Giroux is gone, not Schenn who has not ever reached his prime. Hextall is clearly a very lousy GM and tell me where is the number one goalie coming from, if it is Dallas I will be so pizzed! Mason is still the best fa goalie out there.
- joegreif17


/**/
I have to say Hexy is crushing it IMO. We cried for a change in approach to building this team and now we got it. Some seemed to want the quicker way but I feel that hasn't worked. In the future we will always have to move out core pieces and replace them with younger cheaper pieces in the Cap world. This won't be the first time we have to send away a useable player.
- peesinwind


/**/

They threw him on the top-pair immediately, on his off-side, out of short-term need. Not to mention they keep bringing in guys to slot ahead of him on the PP.

Not exactly the soundest development strategy.
- Tomahawk

Really? How did York play last season? Seems to me that whatever they did for Yirk payed off. How about Risto? Hasn't he played the best season of his career, at least defensively for the Flyers? I think there is enough evidence to show Brad Shaw knows how to coach defenseman and get the most out of them.