Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.
- jd250

arent the bruins somewhat high on bussi.

maybe the head coach should be on the bench a little more in the pre season.

Yes he was, but not all faceoffs are created equal, and he needs to be better.
- MBFlyerfan

all that matters is the stats!!!! they tell the whole story. there is no grey area!!!

Frost was 53% on faceoffs last night in the game. Luchanko should be sent back today. I believe his junior season starts very soon.
- MJL

All the kids will probably go back Friday Morning….unless they want to get more practice time in. The OHL regular season has already started….both teams with Flyer ties Guelph and London have played twice.
Good showing for Luchanko and Bonk, but as the competition has ramped up in some of these games you can clearly see the divide. Big year….for all 3 when you consider Barkey as well.

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.
- jd250

If Cutter turns out to be a total stud this could be one of the worst trades in franchise history. I have not been impressed with Drysdale at all since he has been here.

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.
- jd250

Drysdale is a work in progress on the back end. He has all the tools but needs to get his reps in. Even Torts referenced him as one of the most important guys for this season….the Flyers need to see a jump, the same way York did.

And there he is! The moment anyone presents his little brother in negative light you are there to protect him. I was REALLY hoping Jett would bust down the door and be this team's true second line center, but that obviously ain't gonna happen. He is prolly already better than Frosty at faceoffs.

- Phillywhiteout

Luchanko just turned 18 a month ago. He averaged just over a point a game in the O last year…not exactly MCDavid like production….he has really had a good camp but his time is still a ways down the road.

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.
- jd250

shaw will coach him up - just like he did with rr

Special team faceoffs!
- jd250

I didn't say you were wrong about anything. I didn't watch the game.

Luchanko just turned 18 a month ago. He averaged just over a point a game in the O last year…not exactly MCDavid like production….he has really had a good camp but his time is still a ways down the road.
- landros 2

Yeah, I realize now that was a pipe dream. He just turned 18 and really looked good in that first game, but reality has set in. I'm just venting this morning cause another regular season is about to start and there is really no hope of this team competing for anything other than a higher draft pick. Gets frustrating when all the other teams in Philly are good and the Flyers have basically sucked for 12 years now.

Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.
- jd250

He was always going to go back. The hype on this kid, and you wouldn't listen to anyone who said otherwise, was out of control. I give the Flyers PR department an A+ for having people focus on what they wanted people to talk about instead of Kolosov and RyJo issues.

Drysdale is a work in progress on the back end. He has all the tools but needs to get his reps in. Even Torts referenced him as one of the most important guys for this season….the Flyers need to see a jump, the same way York did.
- landros 2

I'm actually not so worried about Drysdale, my only concern with him is his health (can he stay healthy)

The rest will slowly improve with the coaching staff

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.
- jd250

You have this recurrent theme about defenseman not being coached properly before coming to the Flyers. As if other coaches around the league don't know how to coach defenseman. Tortorella is not happy unless he has a target.

All the kids will probably go back Friday Morning….unless they want to get more practice time in. The OHL regular season has already started….both teams with Flyer ties Guelph and London have played twice.
Good showing for Luchanko and Bonk, but as the competition has ramped up in some of these games you can clearly see the divide. Big year….for all 3 when you consider Barkey as well.
- landros 2

Both should've been sent back already then. Neither was going to make the team.

Sorry, just very frustrated at the lack of centers on this team. This is where I get my Irish up! All teams know that you build from the middle of the ice. That means stud goalie, stud defenseman or two and strong down the middle! This team is built bass ackwards! I only target Frost cause he is apparently the best of a bad group and I wanna see more!
- Phillywhiteout

That makes sense. Target he best player out of a group. Though I would dispute that he is the best of the centers.

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.
- jd250

The important part is that none of it is Torts's fault, it never is when he is involved in acquiring players. If Drysdale doesn't work out, he didn't screw up, it was the guy before him but if he plays well it's because Torts taught him everything he knows. I'm sure other coaches appreciate that. Teflon Torts.

"... I'm a little bit - not disappointed - but the defensive liability is something we need to work at. I didn't think the amount of work that we need to do with him ... I didn't think that at the point in time that we got him. But it is what it is."

If Cutter turns out to be a total stud this could be one of the worst trades in franchise history. I have not been impressed with Drysdale at all since he has been here.
- Phillywhiteout

You haven't seen Drysdale healthy as a Flyer.

Drysdale is a work in progress on the back end. He has all the tools but needs to get his reps in. Even Torts referenced him as one of the most important guys for this season….the Flyers need to see a jump, the same way York did.
- landros 2

work in progress is comical. he looks lost, confused, and well just not that good. after what the coach said JD must feel really good about himself.

bonk looks nowhere near nhl ready. can't even factor him into the equation for 25/26.

If Cutter turns out to be a total stud this could be one of the worst trades in franchise history. I have not been impressed with Drysdale at all since he has been here.
- Phillywhiteout

doesn't even need to be a stud. flyers botched this trade 100%

If Cutter turns out to be a total stud this could be one of the worst trades in franchise history. I have not been impressed with Drysdale at all since he has been here.
- Phillywhiteout

Ya but you really don't want a player to tell you to basically knock a year off his contract, and throwing a sissy fit, and basically ghosting the whole team and retired star players.

I even think his agent is 1 that most teams are not to thrill to work with. And has a tendency to tell his players to force your way out if they don't give into your demands.

The kid very much will probably be a stud player but not 1 that I feel is something you want on your team

The important part is that none of it is Torts's fault, it never is when he is involved in acquiring players. If Drysdale doesn't work out, he didn't screw up, it was the guy before him but if he plays well it's because Torts taught him everything he knows. I'm sure other coaches appreciate that. Teflon Torts.

"... I'm a little bit - not disappointed - but the defensive liability is something we need to work at. I didn't think the amount of work that we need to do with him ... I didn't think that at the point in time that we got him. But it is what it is."
- Flyers_01

So many are completely oblivious to how Tortorella manipulates.

The important part is that none of it is Torts's fault, it never is when he is involved in acquiring players. If Drysdale doesn't work out, he didn't screw up, it was the guy before him but if he plays well it's because Torts taught him everything he knows. I'm sure other coaches appreciate that. Teflon Torts.

"... I'm a little bit - not disappointed - but the defensive liability is something we need to work at. I didn't think the amount of work that we need to do with him ... I didn't think that at the point in time that we got him. But it is what it is."
- Flyers_01

the CO-GM/Coach doesn't seem to good with talent evaluation when it comes to trades so far.

He is def trying to separate himself from it 100%

You haven't seen Drysdale healthy as a Flyer.
- MJL

tired of this bs excuse as well.

Ya but you really don't want a player to tell you to basically knock a year off his contract, and throwing a sissy fit, and basically ghosting the whole team and retired star players.

I even think his agent is 1 that most teams are not to thrill to work with. And has a tendency to tell his players to force your way out if they don't give into your demands.

The kid very much will probably be a stud player but not 1 that I feel is something you want on your team
- SlNlSTER

The Flyers caused the issue. With the lack of stud players that the Flyers have, if Gauthier turns out to be a stud, then that is a player you definitely want on your team. The Flyers right now could have 3 of the top 15 NHL prospects in their organization.

work in progress is comical. he looks lost, confused, and well just not that good. after what the coach said JD must feel really good about himself.

bonk looks nowhere near nhl ready. can't even factor him into the equation for 25/26.
- hello it's me 2050

And there is our morning ray of sunstroke at his best. Thanks! Hell, I'm as bad as you this morning, but I gotta vent once in awhile ya know.

Yeah, I realize now that was a pipe dream. He just turned 18 and really looked good in that first game, but reality has set in. I'm just venting this morning cause another regular season is about to start and there is really no hope of this team competing for anything other than a higher draft pick. Gets frustrating when all the other teams in Philly are good and the Flyers have basically sucked for 12 years now.
- Phillywhiteout

I’m actually a little more optimistic. I see some decent building blocks and a team that might struggle at times but has a chance to be better than last year. Michkov is a key guy, but I also think their depth on the Wing is really solid. Yes they have a couple young D …but those kids have some solid upside. I was a Hart fan, but never bought into him becoming an elite goalie. Thus I think the goaltending, if it can remain healthy, has a chance to be very solid. We’ll see…not quite the “rebuild” I envisioned but I’m not seeing a team that finishes in the bottom ten…anyways that’s my big prognosticator view.