Maybe. If someone can prove to me they turned down a 1st for him I will agree that's malpractice. If they turned down a 3rd then who cares. Not a franchise impacting move...
- 26912 PP

Was the Walker deal a franchise impacting move? You claimed that trade proved they weren't in a win now mode. Franchise's are rarely radically changed by one move. Normally it's a fairly large collection of moves that happened over a period of time. Positioning the team for the possibility of a franchise impacting move is part of that. You do that with smaller moves that in combination gain future assets, clear cap space and create opportunity and roster spots for younger players. A trade of Laughton, even for a 3rd, would've been one such smaller move.

He was a legit top 4 dman on their team and they were in a playoff spot (I think) when they traded him knowing it would hurt their chances. They traded him anyone. If that does not symbolize how this admin is different than maybe there is a spot on the UTAH or Buff bandwagon, cause you are probably not going to be pleased here.
- 26912 PP

it would have been 100% pure stupidity to keep in knowing they couldn't work out a deal. playoff spot or not. it was an easy call to make.

this is an incompetent management group. with no direction or plan. just like the last 2 prior GM's. I love it as pure entertainment.

No, they're absolutely still in the win at all costs strategy mode and this will be proven when they have the cap space to make moves. This is just a pause, not a true rebuild. You do realize that until they actually make and use those picks, they're not proven to be committed to that. I think there is a good chance that they trade some of those picks for immediate help. The Flyers are going to see what they have in Michkov and then jump the gun, not remaining patient. Jones has all but confirmed that they're going to have the same approach when the cap clears. The Walker deal did not prove anything. They wanted to re-sign Walker and traded him because they couldn't come to an agreement that both sides liked.
- MJL

The reason why they do not have cap space right now is cause they traded said cap space for assets. They openly said they were going to weaponize that space as part of their rebuild and acted upon it. That's the point. I do not like some of maybe even half of the things they do, but I hate to break the news to you - they have been rebuilding. They just did not subscribe to the Buff Sabres strategy in doing so.

it would have been 100% pure stupidity to keep in knowing they couldn't work out a deal. playoff spot or not. it was an easy call to make.

this is an incompetent management group. with no direction or plan. just like the last 2 prior GM's. I love it as pure entertainment.
- hello it's me 2050

I agree it was an ez call to make for a rebuilding team. Walker for a 1st and 4 mill in cap space. Had they not been rebuilding they keep Walker AND spend that 4 mill on him or another asset. It actually sounds more like a rebuild the more I type.

So best case scenario they draft 6 middle to bottom 6 players that might make the team in 3-5 years. Or they trade some to try to move up which rarely happens.

Either way, one draft is not going to save this franchise like some people seem to think.


They only traded Walker because he wanted too much money and it was either trade him or lose him for nothing. It proves NOTHING.
- MBFlyerfan

the PR spin that 2025 draft is key cracks me up. then it will be 2026 draft.

Now I expect some to be moved for players which is fine, depending on the return.

I agree it was an ez call to make for a rebuilding team. Walker for a 1st and 4 mill in cap space. Has they not been rebuilding they keep Walker AND spend that 4 mill on him or another asset. It actually sounds more like a rebuild the more I type.
- 26912 PP

lol you think they are rebuilding. they have you 100% fooled. go flyers

the PR spin that 2025 draft is key cracks me up. then it will be 2026 draft.

Now I expect some to be moved for players which is fine, depending on the return.
- hello it's me 2050

There is no spin. Its a fact they traded assets and now have 6 picks in the top 50 in the draft. Isnt that a good thing?

lol you think they are rebuilding. they have you 100% fooled. go flyers
- hello it's me 2050

lets go don earle

There is no spin. Its a fact they traded assets and now have 6 picks in the top 50 in the draft. Isnt that a good thing?
- 26912 PP

it is spin on how they think it will change the franchise.


sure it is good. let's see how many of those 6 they use or who they trade them for.

Flyers fifth-youngest team in NHL heading into 2024-25 season

The reason why they do not have cap space right now is cause they traded said cap space for assets. They openly said they were going to weaponize that space as part of their rebuild and acted upon it. That's the point. I do not like some of maybe even half of the things they do, but I hate to break the news to you - they have been rebuilding. They just did not subscribe to the Buff Sabres strategy in doing so.
- 26912 PP

The point that you're missing is that a true rebuild doesn't happen in one season and a handful of moves. A rebuild done correctly would take 3-5 years and does not include re-signing a player like Konency, re-signing Hathaway, Seeler and refusing to trade Laughton because he's too valuable in the room. They're not rebuilding. If you think they are, I hate to break the news to you but you don't know what a rebuild is.

Here is the clue. The drafting of Michkov should signal the beginning of the Flyers rebuild. They're viewing it as the beginning of the end and are now just waiting for cap space to clear to go right back to the same old ways

This is an elite player driven league. Having one is not enough. Later first round picks that are not likely to result in adding elite talent, is not the key.

Flyers fifth-youngest team in NHL heading into 2024-25 season
- jd250

How many of those young players are potential elite players?

Flyers fifth-youngest team in NHL heading into 2024-25 season
- jd250

wow that is impressive. having most of that "young" talent being nothing special skews it a little.

He was a legit top 4 dman on their team and they were in a playoff spot (I think) when they traded him knowing it would hurt their chances. They traded him anyone. If that does not symbolize how this admin is different than maybe there is a spot on the UTAH or Buff bandwagon, cause you are probably not going to be pleased here.
- 26912 PP

Did they Trade seeler? No

Hathaway? No

rp? No

Laughton? No

You can drink the kool-aid but rebuilding teams would have moved any and all of those players

The reason why they do not have cap space right now is cause they traded said cap space for assets. They openly said they were going to weaponize that space as part of their rebuild and acted upon it. That's the point. I do not like some of maybe even half of the things they do, but I hate to break the news to you - they have been rebuilding. They just did not subscribe to the Buff Sabres strategy in doing so.
- 26912 PP

so did they get a 1st for walker or did they get a first for cap space?

Hayes, CA, and TD are casualties of torts and his pettiness - Cam was cooked at the beginning of the year last season - they could have waived him and ate the salary this year - but no they bought him out carrying an extra year of dead salary. They have no issue burying cp in the minors but not other players?
- corduroy

Hayes is on his 3rd team in 3 years, but yeah it was Torts and his Pettiness.
Tell me again were TDA is playing this season after playing only 31 games for Carolina last season.

So you want them to carry 3 goalies and keep CP up? You have seen how bad he is correct? They would send him to the ECHL if they could.

Did they Trade seeler? No

Hathaway? No

rp? No

Laughton? No

You can drink the kool-aid but rebuilding teams would have moved any and all of those players
- corduroy

6 picks in the top 50 in the 25 draft. Trading cap space for draft picks. I do agree on Seeler and Laughton, but retaining Hathaway with 39 on this team is an absolute no brainer.

so did they get a 1st for walker or did they get a first for cap space?
- corduroy

this was answered but hopefully it becomes just a 1st if they can skate from the 4 mill.

function is the key in the waiting room

Hayes is on his 3rd team in 3 years, but yeah it was Torts and his Pettiness.
Tell me again were TDA is playing this season after playing only 31 games for Carolina last season.

So you want them to carry 3 goalies and keep CP up? You have seen how bad he is correct? They would send him to the ECHL if they could.
- WhiskeyMan

the coach throughs players under the bus and kills any trade value they have. A team that is rebuilding would have kept them, rode out the contracts and just traded them in the last year of their respective deals - but not the Flyers

Did they Trade seeler? No

Hathaway? No

rp? No

Laughton? No

You can drink the kool-aid but rebuilding teams would have moved any and all of those players
- corduroy

Seeler should be the 7th Dman, or yes traded away but I don't think they would have gotten much back in a return.
What was offered for RP and Laughton? I don't think anyone really wanted RP. I do believe DB over valued Laughton and it was a mistake not to move him.

As for Hathaway, no big deal. As we saw in the pre-season, there are no forward prospect outside of Olle that are close to NHL ready.

Hayes is on his 3rd team in 3 years, but yeah it was Torts and his Pettiness.
Tell me again were TDA is playing this season after playing only 31 games for Carolina last season.

So you want them to carry 3 goalies and keep CP up? You have seen how bad he is correct? They would send him to the ECHL if they could.
- WhiskeyMan

Some things you're forgetting. Hayes was having an career offensive season, was close to a point per game player around January. Tortorella in his usual short sightedness, then began to mess with the player. Demoted him in role and cut his ice time. Hayes production dropped off significantly. The Flyers were then forced to have to move him and only received a 6th round pick in return and had to retain 50% of his salary on the cap for three years. If Tortorella had just left him alone. There was a much better chance of the Flyers getting a better deal for Hayes in return.

Tortorella approved the trade for Angelo, talked him up and then when he realized who the player actually was, he then decided to screw with that player also. Leading to a buyout and the Flyers taking it on the chin again

6 picks in the top 50 in the 25 draft. Trading cap space for draft picks. I do agree on Seeler and Laughton, but retaining Hathaway with 39 on this team is an absolute no brainer.
- 26912 PP

Retaining Hathaway was stupidity. He would've brought back a decent asset at the deadline. There is no need for Hathaway on this team.

So who in here is for team tank?

I was last year and it didn't end well.
With that said, knowing my luck, I'm assuming if I want us to be a playoff team this season we are destined for a top 8 pick
- Bob Habib

Logically the Flyers NEED to obtain higher end skill for the future, but if the team is playing well, exciting to watch and are winning games then I am fine with that.

What I am NOT fine with is getting puck-teased all year. I get it and sick of hearing people justify it, but I don't want to see the worst team/great team roller coaster all year just to see them miss the playoffs because of a couple points.

As for Hathaway, no big deal. As we saw in the pre-season, there are no forward prospect outside of Olle that are close to NHL ready.
- WhiskeyMan

Cates is out of the lineup for the first game. He's 25 years old and he's gone from a top minute center to the 13th forward.