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.
- jd250

York's development was most likely slowed by the Flyers tactics. A player doesn't have to be ruined for the development process to be questioned. Shaw is able to coach players defensively but the game of hockey is transition and attack. Ristolainen has steadily declined as a Flyer since coming over from Buffalo.

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.
- jd250

so shaw turned a former 1st rd pick into a bottom pair dman. of which he already was, impressive.

If someone promotes Suzuki as better than Patrick he quietly gets fired before July 1.

If they trade back even a couple picks they had better be right about the player they select because that's the kind of move that could be career ending.


-mayorofangrytown


/**/


Actually my deal was:

They take AMac, Read and Weise along with #2 overall and we get #6, another top 12 pick in 2017, their unprotected 1st in 2018, our choice of any goalie on their roster, our choice of any Dman on their roster and our choice of any forward on their roster, and, if any of the players we choose have cap hits greater than 3.5 million they need to retain the difference.

That deal, I would make.
- BiggE


/**/

https://sports.yahoo.com/...kov-center-203837624.html

Well that didn't take long. Some people believe that Michkov is the Flyers future #1 center

https://sports.yahoo.com/...kov-center-203837624.html

Well that didn't take long. Some people believe that Michkov is the Flyers future #1 center
- Flyers_01

they shouldn't ever make him a center.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...kov-center-203837624.html

Well that didn't take long. Some people believe that Michkov is the Flyers future #1 center
- Flyers_01

I’m within the group that you leave Michkov alone. If he could really some day become the next Kucherov, this is a win. With this said, we all know Giroux was drafted a wing and became a pretty dominant center. If you can think of a better comparison (and I fully expect the hate to rain down on me) because this only off the top of my head. I’d prefer the next Datsyuk over the next Kucherov.

Yes I know it’s a reach, Datsyuk was probably the greatest two way center of the last 20 seasons.

they shouldn't ever make him a center.
- MBFlyerfan

yep. leave him be and hopefully a dominate winger.

will be interesting to watch if they try it.

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.
- jd250

I’ve stated many times that I don’t dislike Ristolainen but I do think you overvalue him. I do believe Risto improved defensively at least he did one season ago but it’s hard to note if he could build upon that play when he barely played this season. Not to mention when he did play, he became a third pair defenseman by default when he got hurt in camp and you weren’t breaking up Seeler and Walker or York and Sanheim. Risto has however offered nothing offensively. It doesn’t help that he’s not playing much offensively situations but he’s not doing himself any favors either by not offering much when he is in the offensive zone.

Risto is a weird situation.

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.
- MJL

yea, most were excited and for good reason, just can't have nice things

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.
- jd250

I will agree with Torts on York, his camp when he was sent down, there was a good case to send him down, there was also a case to keep him, but the last play, he got worked, fell down I believe and gave up the winning goal, I could be off, either way, he was already struggling and he looked completely defeated after that play.

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

Hextall went against the old guard, and when Hextall became vulnerable due to bad picks and decisions, the old guard pounced in the chummed waters.

Hextall went against the old guard, and when Hextall became vulnerable due to bad picks and decisions, the old guard pounced in the chummed waters.
- jd250

According to your standard, Hextall was a solid drafter

I will agree with Torts on York, his camp when he was sent down, there was a good case to send him down, there was also a case to keep him, but the last play, he got worked, fell down I believe and gave up the winning goal, I could be off, either way, he was already struggling and he looked completely defeated after that play.
- wcorvette

Exactly, he needed to be sent down to regroup and regain confidence. He also needs to be much more assertive in his play. When he came back he was a different player and has not looked back since. Torts did the same thing with Zac Werenski and he developed and thrived. I think people need to start giving Torts and Shaw some credit here. We have seen the biggest jump in young player development in a long time since they have been part of the organization.

Exactly, he needed to be sent down to regroup and regain confidence. He also needs to be much more assertive in his play. When he came back he was a different player and has not looked back since. Torts did the same thing with Zac Werenski and he developed and thrived. I think people need to start giving Torts and Shaw some credit here. We have seen the biggest jump in young player development in a long time since they have been part of the organization.
- jd250

What jump? Who have they developed? Any picks outside the 1st rd have they turned into top end players?

Or are all the 1st rd picks on the flyers roster naturally progressing because of their skill? Now does the coaching staff get some credit, yes some. Not as much as you want to give them. When they start turning mid and late rd picks into players then get back to me.

Exactly, he needed to be sent down to regroup and regain confidence. He also needs to be much more assertive in his play. When he came back he was a different player and has not looked back since. Torts did the same thing with Zac Werenski and he developed and thrived. I think people need to start giving Torts and Shaw some credit here. We have seen the biggest jump in young player development in a long time since they have been part of the organization.
- jd250

No he didn't need to be sent down. He had played a solid 30 games of regular season NHL action the season before. A few pre-season games does not cancel that. Apparently some think a magical 20 games of AHL play transformed the player. The reality is that he was sent down because Tortorella didn't like his personality and how he handled conflict. It was a egregious player handling and the fact that it didn't damage the player moving forward, does not eliminate it as a mistake.


The best young player development in a long time? Why were two important young players benched in one of the most important games of the year?

According to your standard, Hextall was a solid drafter
- MJL

I don't know what standard you are referring to. At the time it looked like Hextall was a good drafter, and he certainly found some good players like TK and Hart. But in the end, in 5 drafts the Flyers have little to show for it. Now of course there was some bad luck with injuries, Patrick and O'Brien come to mind, or who knew Hart would be arrested for sexual abuse, or that Provorov would not reach his potential. That is why the draft is such a crap shoot and no team should rely on the draft solely to build a championship caliber team.

No he didn't need to be sent down. He had played a solid 30 games of regular season NHL action the season before. A few pre-season games does not cancel that. Apparently some think a magical 20 games of AHL play transformed the player. The reality is that he was sent down because Tortorella didn't like his personality and how he handled conflict. It was a egregious player handling and the fact that it didn't damage the player moving forward, does not eliminate it as a mistake.


The best young player development in a long time? Why were two important young players benched in one of the most important games of the year?
- MJL

Because they deserved to be.

What jump? Who have they developed? Any picks outside the 1st rd have they turned into top end players?

Or are all the 1st rd picks on the flyers roster naturally progressing because of their skill? Now does the coaching staff get some credit, yes some. Not as much as you want to give them. When they start turning mid and late rd picks into players then get back to me.
- hello it's me 2050

Hunter MacDonoald may very well be one of those players.

I don't know what standard you are referring to. At the time it looked like Hextall was a good drafter, and he certainly found some good players like TK and Hart. But in the end, in 5 drafts the Flyers have little to show for it. Now of course there was some bad luck with injuries, Patrick and O'Brien come to mind, or who knew Hart would be arrested for sexual abuse, or that Provorov would not reach his potential. That is why the draft is such a crap shoot and no team should rely on the draft solely to build a championship caliber team.
- jd250

I believe you said if you get 2 nhl players out of a draft it is a good draft.

nah that was just a flat out bad waste of a pick.

Well the Ivan not reaching his potential is all on Ronald as he never put him in a position to succeed. Same with Sanheim.

Hunter MacDonoald may very well be one of those players.
- jd250

really doesn't answer my question though does it. that is just a deflection.

No he didn't need to be sent down. He had played a solid 30 games of regular season NHL action the season before. A few pre-season games does not cancel that. Apparently some think a magical 20 games of AHL play transformed the player. The reality is that he was sent down because Tortorella didn't like his personality and how he handled conflict. It was a egregious player handling and the fact that it didn't damage the player moving forward, does not eliminate it as a mistake.


The best young player development in a long time? Why were two important young players benched in one of the most important games of the year?
- MJL

yes he did. even by his own admission. Those 30 games under a diff coaching staff which you always fail to mention.

The reality is he had a bad camp and pre-season. Once again you forget the facts cliff.

Bill to your knowledge did the flyers ever come close to trading for or bring back Chris simon? what about Probert?
- hello it's me 2050

Not that I know of, although Simon was not part of the original Lindros trade agreement. The Flyers' 2021 first-round pick used on Ryan Sittler was. When the case went to arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi, Quebec said they would not have drafted Sittler with the Flyers pick. So the compensation was adjusted and Simon became part of the final trade.

Any team would have loved to have Probert on the ice for them but he was going through so many personal problems.

Hunter MacDonoald may very well be one of those players.
- jd250

Hunter MacDonald is an AHL/NHL tweener at best.

Hunter MacDonald is an AHL/NHL tweener at best.
- MBFlyerfan

not according to "jonesy". They are hyping this kid up so much it is hysterical.

Not that I know of, although Simon was not part of the original Lindros trade agreement. The Flyers' 2021 first-round pick used on Ryan Sittler was. When the case went to arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi, Quebec said they would not have drafted Sittler with the Flyers pick. So the compensation was adjusted and Simon became part of the final trade.

Any team would have loved to have Probert on the ice for them but he was going through so many personal problems.
- bmeltzer

Yeah about the original deal. seemed alike a guy they would have targeted at some point.

imagine him riding shotgun with #88.

Bill name your top 5 deal that the flyers almost made that never happened. Excluding Bourque.