I'm watching a team trying to make aggressive passes to move up the ice and turning the puck over on a consistent basis. At this point they're not connecting in the offensive zone either. It looks like they have no cohesion.. If this is how they plan to play, it may work out in the long run but get ready for lots of Ls in the meantime. Some young talent at center might help!

frost and oilers 1st for Granlund....
- hello it's me 2050

Whew, that would be bold and stupid. Certainly a possibility with this regime.

I don't know of any teams that didn't suck before they won the Stanley Cup, it's just a process you have to go through in order to be good in the NHL. It's the way the league is structured.

Every team that's won the Cup since the 2005 lockout has had multiple, more than one, top five picks. They have to draft well and they have to draft often.
- Dave21Brown

Here is the difference. Those team intentionally made moves to suck. This team sucks due to incompetence and foolishness, rather than trying to suck.

Here is the reality as I see it. There is no coach alive who could coach this team into a legitimate good team. That lack a 1C and a top defense pairing. The goaltending overall is just adequate at best. What needs to happen and should be happening is that the coaching staff should be focused on player development for the future. Unfortunately, they're not the right coaches for this task. I posted numerous times that eventually this team will see that the approach and strategy that they play with, will not lead to anything. The playoff level intensity shift to shift, the shot blocking and taking all the bumps and bruises, is not enough to win at this level. Which is why were seeing and have been seeing the team play outside of the structure and system to try and get something going.
I posted numerous times last season that all Tortorella is as a coach, is a high priced interim coach. His strengths as a coach are installing a defensive and forecheck structure. In terms of the modern style and systems of play, the game has passed him by. When you watch other teams play in the offensive zone. You can see an attack structure. You can see that they know where the puck support and escape pressure outlets are. You can see the movement away from the puck into scoring lanes. Teams play structurally in the offensive zone. You can see the transition strategy and how they move the puck. This is all absent from the Flyers. How many times in last nights game did Michkov use his excellent ability to shield the puck on the cycle, only to not have any cutters or anybody jumping into an open spot. The majority of the Flyers offense comes from improvisation and individual play. When someone is not "hot" offensively, they struggle. This is evident at 5 on 5 and on the PP.
I said numerous times last season that what they were doing, just being competitive, was fools gold and was not going to lead to anything meaningful. Now or in the future. This coaching staff is not capable of developing young elite talent nor is it capable of installing a strategy and system of modern day NHL hockey. Combined with the absurd structure of the hierarchy of the front office and the influence of Tortorella. The future of this franchise remains bleak.
- MJL

Thank you for the well-detailed post about how you said something numerous times last season. Your insight is much appreciated.

Here is the difference. Those team intentionally made moves to suck. This team sucks due to incompetence and foolishness, rather than trying to suck.
- MJL

I think this is completely disingenuous. Since Briere was named GM (March 2023) and Hilferty took over, they've made a conscious effort to acquire draft equity and what your seeing this year is them taking a step back and following their long term goal. To build through the draft. They have three first round picks next year.

I'm watching a team trying to make aggressive passes to move up the ice and turning the puck over on a consistent basis. At this point they're not connecting in the offensive zone either. It looks like they have no cohesion.. If this is how they plan to play, it may work out in the long run but get ready for lots of Ls in the meantime. Some young talent at center might help!
- DANCER

Well said about the lack of cohesion. I luckily haven't been able to catch all of the games, but they are a mess whenever I watch. I never root against them but wouldn't mind if they continue like this for a stretch...if it means firing Torts. We need a coach that works better with younger players. As many have said, when winning, the team could deal with Torts, but going back to the end of last season and now...they will get tired of his act.

Here is the reality as I see it. There is no coach alive who could coach this team into a legitimate good team. That lack a 1C and a top defense pairing. The goaltending overall is just adequate at best. What needs to happen and should be happening is that the coaching staff should be focused on player development for the future. Unfortunately, they're not the right coaches for this task. I posted numerous times that eventually this team will see that the approach and strategy that they play with, will not lead to anything. The playoff level intensity shift to shift, the shot blocking and taking all the bumps and bruises, is not enough to win at this level. Which is why were seeing and have been seeing the team play outside of the structure and system to try and get something going.
I posted numerous times last season that all Tortorella is as a coach, is a high priced interim coach. His strengths as a coach are installing a defensive and forecheck structure. In terms of the modern style and systems of play, the game has passed him by. When you watch other teams play in the offensive zone. You can see an attack structure. You can see that they know where the puck support and escape pressure outlets are. You can see the movement away from the puck into scoring lanes. Teams play structurally in the offensive zone. You can see the transition strategy and how they move the puck. This is all absent from the Flyers. How many times in last nights game did Michkov use his excellent ability to shield the puck on the cycle, only to not have any cutters or anybody jumping into an open spot. The majority of the Flyers offense comes from improvisation and individual play. When someone is not "hot" offensively, they struggle. This is evident at 5 on 5 and on the PP.
I said numerous times last season that what they were doing, just being competitive, was fools gold and was not going to lead to anything meaningful. Now or in the future. This coaching staff is not capable of developing young elite talent nor is it capable of installing a strategy and system of modern day NHL hockey. Combined with the absurd structure of the hierarchy of the front office and the influence of Tortorella. The future of this franchise remains bleak.
- MJL

👍

Belicheck woulda been coaching high school if not for Brady.

The lack of talent on this team is blatantly obvious
- WhiskeyMan

Honestly. I thought it was strange he didn’t pull Ersson for a 6th attacker.

I think this is completely disingenuous. Since Briere was named GM (March 2023) and Hilferty took over, they've made a conscious effort to acquire draft equity and what your seeing this year is them taking a step back and following their long term goal. To build through the draft. They have three first round picks next year.
- Dave21Brown

I disagree. They traded Walker because they couldn't re-sign him. Moved Provorov because both sides wanted a change of scenery. Moves weren't made to purposely suck. The POHO is on record a number of times that they're just waiting for cap space to clear so they can make moves and get back to wheeling and dealing to try and win. How it can be disingenuous when it is clear by action and by statement that they had no intention of not trying to compete for the playoffs and that the playoffs were the stated goal? They have sucked through the Fletcher years and currently not due to plan but due to incompetence. Unintended consequences.

Zamula did produce on PP2 last season, but I think Sanheim or York would be a safer option at the moment. But Zamula also led the team in ES TOI last night despite his struggles. Hard to work out what's going on there.

On the positive side, the whole team is healthy now. Not including Ellis and Johansen, of course.
- Feanor

No idea what Zamula has done to earn third in ice time for the defense.

I think this is completely disingenuous. Since Briere was named GM (March 2023) and Hilferty took over, they've made a conscious effort to acquire draft equity and what your seeing this year is them taking a step back and following their long term goal. To build through the draft. They have three first round picks next year.
- Dave21Brown

Did they? or were they a capped out dead end team who needed to wait for bloated contracts to expire? They did not intentionally step back this year from last year, they were looking to build on last year.

One of these picks is the 1st round pick from the 2022 trade of Giroux which they elected to punt to 2025 and the other was in part for trading an aging UFA who wasn't going to resign with the Flyers anyway (they tried) and which may still handcuff them this year if they lose their litigation against RJ.

So one of those 1sts traces back to a 2022 Fletcher trade and the other for a guy who wasn't going to sign with them anyway and a salary dump which still haunts them. If DB punts the Giroux 1st again does he get additional credit for having multiple 1sts in 2026?

Picks are great but the Flyers in no way saw this start coming. The Flyers need generational players and DB never had a viable plan to provide them. The Flyers were only able to land Michkov because Fletcher was incompetent. The only way the Flyers will be able to realistically land players of similar talent is if DB is incompetent so rejoice that the Flyers are on the path to another top 5 "cost controlled" player because that is how to win long term.

That is also why nobody would trade with DB last year into the top 5. He tried.

Honestly. I thought it was strange he didn’t pull Ersson for a 6th attacker.
- roenick97

That was a coach who saw a 5-1 or 6-1 loss if he did that. White flag.

I disagree. They traded Walker because they couldn't re-sign him. Moved Provorov because both sides wanted a change of scenery. Moves weren't made to purposely suck. The POHO is on record a number of times that they're just waiting for cap space to clear so they can make moves and get back to wheeling and dealing to try and win. How it can be disingenuous when it is clear by action and by statement that they had no intention of not trying to compete for the playoffs and that the playoffs were the stated goal? They have sucked through the Fletcher years and currently not due to plan but due to incompetence. Unintended consequences.
- MJL

wrong.

I disagree. They traded Walker because they couldn't re-sign him. Moved Provorov because both sides wanted a change of scenery. Moves weren't made to purposely suck. The POHO is on record a number of times that they're just waiting for cap space to clear so they can make moves and get back to wheeling and dealing to try and win. How it can be disingenuous when it is clear by action and by statement that they had no intention of not trying to compete for the playoffs and that the playoffs were the stated goal? They have sucked through the Fletcher years and currently not due to plan but due to incompetence. Unintended consequences.
- MJL

LOL at folks who are trying to spin this bad start to the season as all part of The Plan.

I disagree. They traded Walker because they couldn't re-sign him. Moved Provorov because both sides wanted a change of scenery. Moves weren't made to purposely suck. The POHO is on record a number of times that they're just waiting for cap space to clear so they can make moves and get back to wheeling and dealing to try and win. How it can be disingenuous when it is clear by action and by statement that they had no intention of not trying to compete for the playoffs and that the playoffs were the stated goal? They have sucked through the Fletcher years and currently not due to plan but due to incompetence. Unintended consequences.
- MJL

They couldve resigned walker if they wanted to. As the original poster said, you are being disingenuous.

LOL at folks who are trying to spin this bad start to the season as all part of The Plan.


- Tomahawk

people still defending this organization is noble.

Did they? or were they a capped out dead end team who needed to wait for bloated contracts to expire? They did not intentionally step back this year from last year, they were looking to build on last year.

One of these picks is the 1st round pick from the 2022 trade of Giroux which they elected to punt to 2025 and the other was in part for trading an aging UFA who wasn't going to resign with the Flyers anyway (they tried) and which may still handcuff them this year if they lose their litigation against RJ.

So one of those 1sts traces back to a 2022 Fletcher trade and the other for a guy who wasn't going to sign with them anyway and a salary dump which still haunts them. If DB punts the Giroux 1st again does he get additional credit for having multiple 1sts in 2026?

Picks are great but the Flyers in no way saw this start coming. The Flyers need generational players and DB never had a viable plan to provide them. The Flyers were only able to land Michkov because Fletcher was incompetent. The only way the Flyers will be able to realistically land players of similar talent is if DB is incompetent so rejoice that the Flyers are on the path to another top 5 "cost controlled" player because that is how to win long term.

That is also why nobody would trade with DB last year into the top 5. He tried.
- Flyers_01

100%

I think this is completely disingenuous. Since Briere was named GM (March 2023) and Hilferty took over, they've made a conscious effort to acquire draft equity and what your seeing this year is them taking a step back and following their long term goal. To build through the draft. They have three first round picks next year.
- Dave21Brown

For one draft year. ONE. If they are lucky, one will be a top player, and the rest may play in 3-5 years and will most likely be middle 6 at best. If things go as normal, they may get two good players of which neither are stars or elite.

Most likely they trade one or more of these picks for immediate help. Then they will do what they have said they will do over and over, spend their newly found cap space on overpriced free agents.

Winning teams draft their stars and sign their support. The Flyers plan to sign their stars and draft their support.

So what you are saying is that torts is a shoe-in for the Jack Adams Awards again this year
- corduroy

😂😂😂

LOL at folks who are trying to spin this bad start to the season as all part of The Plan.


- Tomahawk

It's amazing. It really is.

Here is the difference. Those team intentionally made moves to suck. This team sucks due to incompetence and foolishness, rather than trying to suck.
- MJL

The absolute worst kind of suck

Well Luchanko will draw back in so is Coots back on 4th line winger duty? Foerster as well i would assume so who is out there? Do they sit Cates and Brink? Maybe Zamula sits for EJ?

I feel it is just shuffling the deck chairs but Feds is going to need to have his best game of the season to keep this from being a disaster.
- Flyers_01

Luchenko will def be back in. Coots probably stays at C. Cates likely out unless someone is in Torts Doghouse. I would def sit Zamula at this point. He has not been good.

LOL at folks who are trying to spin this bad start to the season as all part of The Plan.


- Tomahawk

Def not part of the plan. Flyers are not intentionally bad, they are just bad right now and we all knew it was a possibility. Unfortunately player development is not linear. Guys dont only get better. Sometimes they take steps backwards before they move forward again.

I think still believe this team will be better but if we dont see improvement by end of Novemember then its safe to say this is a bottom 5 team which in itself it probably the best. We need another guy with Michkov's talent level

How many deals has DB signed to date w his own players?
- Flyfly

Briere has signed

Cates - 2 years
Konecny - 8 years
Tippett - 8 years
Seeler - 4 years
Hathaway - 2 years Twice
Frost - 2 years
Poehling - 1 year then 2 years
Brink - 2 years
Zamula - 1 year then 2 years
York - 2 years
Ersson - 2 years
Fedotov - 2 years

So he has signed 15 contracts assuming I havent missed any and only 2 are 8 year deals so far