It's hard for me to believe DB is a fan of this forum. If he actually reads the comments here I imagine he looks at the folks here as outliers. Not representative of the majority of fans.

I think this draft, and off season, are crucial for DB and Jonsey. Unfortunately I haven't seen anything thus far to make me think that they are capable of building a contender. I haven't seen any indication that they are innovative or forward thinking or even aware of what it takes to compete in the current NHL. Other than drafting Michkov I haven't seen one move that gives me any real hope that there's going to be any improvement here at all. Having said that I'm still going into the end of this season with a kernel of hope that they might at least do something interesting. They might somehow get a very good high pick or they might make some kind of move to bring in a top center, or top defenseman, or even a capable goalie...something. If all we get is Jett-like vanilla pick I'll be totally out of hope for them.

They get them by either drafting and developing them, signing them as FAs or trading for them. There is no secret formula here. Tanking does not guarentee a team anything.
- jd250

You keep making this idiotic statement. It's about probabilities. What approach has a higher percentage of success. There is no fool proof method. There is a clear method of higher rate success to emulate. It is not the Flyers methods. Literally everything they do is counter to the successful franchises in the league.

Cap space gives a team a lot of flexibility. Not just to sign players, but also to take on bad contracts for younger or future assets. You are assuming that Briere and Jones want to build a team of FAs that can make 1 or 2 runs and then fade away, as Flyers regimes have done in the past. Jones and Briere have stated many times this is not what they want or how they want to build the team. You are predicting a pessimistic future which I honestly can't blame you for given the history of this franchise. But I am going to take Briere and Jones' word for it until they show me otherwise. And so far, their actions are aligned with their words. If they don't trade more veterans this deadline or before the draft, and try to build on the little they have via FAs, then I will be right there with you.
- jd250

Jones has literally said once the cap clears up and cap space becomes available that they're going to use it to add from the outside. You won't be right there. You'll have some other kind of delusional reasoning.

Regarding the goaltending, its been a tough year. Carter Hart was their goalie and he got arrested. Ersson is a competent backup but so far cannot stay on the ice enough to be a reliable starter. Kolosov belongs in the AHL but is being allowed to apparently hold up the franchise and keep himself on the NHL team. Fedotov has been underwhelming so far. The good news I guess compared to past regimes is there a few good goalie prospects in the piepline as Briere has tried to restock the position. I think you will see Briere trading vets this deadline and off season for future assets. He traded Walker last season, and now that Risto has really improved his play I think there is a good market for him. Laughton is another player at a great price that teams going into the playoffs would covet.
- jd250

Well who is allowing it?

Do yourself a favor and become informed. Do some research and see how long it took for TB to win the Cup after drafting Stamkos and Hedman. See how long it took Colorado after drafting MacKinnon. See how long it took Florida after drafting Barkov. This is the reality for most teams. Which is why I have posted multiple times. The drafting of Michkov should be considered the beginning of the rebuild. With more rebuilding to do. They still need 2 defenseman and two centers of all star to elite caliber players. How do they get them?
- MJL

Stamkos rookie year 08-09 they finished under .500 that year & only one other time during stamkos tenure. Doesn’t seem like they believed in tanking. Yes it took a while but tb wasn’t actively trying to tank. They drafted a star & built a team competing year in & year out.

Hedman rookie year 09-10. Under .500 season since 1. Again, not a team drafting stars tanking & building around them. Took awhile to win cups but they didn’t do it through tanking.

Do yourself a favor & become informed.

flyers aint gonna win schitt with this roster or core. now or in the next 3 years. needs to be flushed and start over. too bad the 3 stooges will not allow it or accept this fact.

Positive is they have Sanheim, ex selke, and TK all locked up long term.

still amazes me peeps defend this slop or really think the future is "bright".

There's a lesson to be learned here
But what a price to pay
You know, I may never learn

Cap space gives a team a lot of flexibility. Not just to sign players, but also to take on bad contracts for younger or future assets. You are assuming that Briere and Jones want to build a team of FAs that can make 1 or 2 runs and then fade away, as Flyers regimes have done in the past. Jones and Briere have stated many times this is not what they want or how they want to build the team. You are predicting a pessimistic future which I honestly can't blame you for given the history of this franchise. But I am going to take Briere and Jones' word for it until they show me otherwise. And so far, their actions are aligned with their words. If they don't trade more veterans this deadline or before the draft, and try to build on the little they have via FAs, then I will be right there with you.
- jd250

Keep in mind, Briere also minimized cap space flexibility by taking on bad contracts with term (in the case of the Walker trade, all for a pick that most assume will be in the mid to late 20s at best... where's the value?). Whether you agree or not, Cal Petersen's contract (and subsequent cap hit) hindered the team's ability to consider acquiring players this past offseason. Ditto for Ryan Johansen (though the league lent a helping hand months after the fact).

It's an ongoing issue with the Flyers since the cap began... the inability to work within a budget, and plan long-term. Two years in, Briere hasn't done a whole heck of a lot to change my mind.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the same current situation as the Flyers. Hard to get better when you draft in the bottom half of the 1st round almost every year. Unless you're Las Vegas I guess.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the same current situation as the Flyers. Hard to get better when you draft in the bottom half of the 1st round almost every year. Unless you're Las Vegas I guess.
- backfire

Hey at least the Steelers have a SB win this century. I'd say the Flyers are more like the Chicago Bears of the NHL.

Hey at least the Steelers have a SB win this century. I'd say the Flyers are more like the Chicago Bears of the NHL.
- TobyFlenderson

raiders

Is management giving the team what they need to succeed now?

They do have a losing culture. Not sure how you or anyone else can deny that fact. This organization is a poop show.

So if guys like Laughton and Risto are moved does that show management doesn’t care? Will that have a negative effect on the room and the great culture they are building.

You seem to be talking out both sides of your mouth.
- furio16

I don't think it will have a negative impact on the players that are there because Jones, Briere and Torts have made the following very clear:

1. The Team is not close to contending.
2. It was expected the team could take a step back this season
3. There will not be help coming from outside of the organization
4. Players need to show management they are capable of and want to be part of the long term plans of the team.
5. Briere is listening to all offers presented to him, all cards on the table.

So trading Risto and Laughton would be consistent with this message.

Keep in mind, Briere also minimized cap space flexibility by taking on bad contracts with term (in the case of the Walker trade, all for a pick that most assume will be in the mid to late 20s at best... where's the value?). Whether you agree or not, Cal Petersen's contract (and subsequent cap hit) hindered the team's ability to consider acquiring players this past offseason. Ditto for Ryan Johansen (though the league lent a helping hand months after the fact).

It's an ongoing issue with the Flyers since the cap began... the inability to work within a budget, and plan long-term. Two years in, Briere hasn't done a whole heck of a lot to change my mind.
- BaronVonShiznit

Well, RJO is off the books already, Petersen, York and DeAngelo are coming off the books after this season for an additional $6.4M in savings. The cap is also going up significantly. TK's contract kicks in, York, Feorster and Cates will probably sign bridge deals so that will eat into the cap space. But I expect the Flyers to trade Risto and Laughton which should balance this out. Thus I project going into next season the Flyers will be in good shape cap wise.

Well, RJO is off the books already, Petersen, York and DeAngelo are coming off the books after this season for an additional $6.4M in savings. The cap is also going up significantly. TK's contract kicks in, York, Feorster and Cates will probably sign bridge deals so that will eat into the cap space. But I expect the Flyers to trade Risto and Laughton which should balance this out. Thus I project going into next season the Flyers will be in good shape cap wise.
- jd250

it is the moment, Trade Laughts and RR and I will give DB the credit that is due.

Briere is no different than Fletcher.

Upon proclaiming Danny as the next GM, how much turnover was there in say the dogpoop scouting department?

Player development?

Tortorella granted even more power?

Briere is nothing but a pawn to the collective, and archaic minds that run the Flyers.

Miss the playoffs again, and we are one step closer to his firing. That’s my positive takeaway.

I don't think it will have a negative impact on the players that are there because Jones, Briere and Torts have made the following very clear:

1. The Team is not close to contending.
2. It was expected the team could take a step back this season
3. There will not be help coming from outside of the organization
4. Players need to show management they are capable of and want to be part of the long term plans of the team.
5. Briere is listening to all offers presented to him, all cards on the table.

So trading Risto and Laughton would be consistent with this message.
- jd250

I can’t keep track of all the different positions you take on a daily basis.

Wasn’t the room told the rebuild was BS?

It's hard for me to believe DB is a fan of this forum. If he actually reads the comments here I imagine he looks at the folks here as outliers. Not representative of the majority of fans.

I think this draft, and off season, are crucial for DB and Jonsey. Unfortunately I haven't seen anything thus far to make me think that they are capable of building a contender. I haven't seen any indication that they are innovative or forward thinking or even aware of what it takes to compete in the current NHL. Other than drafting Michkov I haven't seen one move that gives me any real hope that there's going to be any improvement here at all. Having said that I'm still going into the end of this season with a kernel of hope that they might at least do something interesting. They might somehow get a very good high pick or they might make some kind of move to bring in a top center, or top defenseman, or even a capable goalie...something. If all we get is Jett-like vanilla pick I'll be totally out of hope for them.
- Dkos

Good take!

Regarding the goaltending, its been a tough year. Carter Hart was their goalie and he got arrested. Ersson is a competent backup but so far cannot stay on the ice enough to be a reliable starter. Kolosov belongs in the AHL but is being allowed to apparently hold up the franchise and keep himself on the NHL team. Fedotov has been underwhelming so far. The good news I guess compared to past regimes is there a few good goalie prospects in the piepline as Briere has tried to restock the position. I think you will see Briere trading vets this deadline and off season for future assets. He traded Walker last season, and now that Risto has really improved his play I think there is a good market for him. Laughton is another player at a great price that teams going into the playoffs would covet.
- jd250

I don't believe for a second that they didn't have any idea that Hart was being investigated and was one of the players with huge question marks surrounding his future. I watched Hart play in the WHL against the Victoria Royals, and his future looked so bright..he literally has the best stats of any goalie to have played in the WHL...CHL player of the year in back to back years. At the end, just before he was charged, he was a shell of the goalie setting records in the WHL. He never even touched on his potential.

Having said that, I think the Flyers knew he was one of the players being investigated, and they should have had some kind of plan moving forward, not just throwing a rookie back up into the starting role.

We'll never know, but I wonder how much the Flyers knew about the situation.

Briere is no different than Fletcher.

Upon proclaiming Danny as the next GM, how much turnover was there in say the dogpoop scouting department?

Player development?

Tortorella granted even more power?

Briere is nothing but a pawn to the collective, and archaic minds that run the Flyers.

Miss the playoffs again, and we are one step closer to his firing. That’s my positive takeaway.
- flyer_nutter

lappy as GM, he hasn't had that role yet.

I don't believe for a second that they didn't have any idea that Hart was being investigated and was one of the players with huge question marks surrounding his future. I watched Hart play in the WHL against the Victoria Royals, and his future looked so bright..he literally has the best stats of any goalie to have played in the WHL...CHL player of the year in back to back years. At the end, just before he was charged, he was a shell of the goalie setting records in the WHL. He never even touched on his potential.

Having said that, I think the Flyers knew he was one of the players being investigated, and they should have had some kind of plan moving forward, not just throwing a rookie back up into the starting role.

We'll never know, but I wonder how much the Flyers knew about the situation.
- TheFreak

Hate it but kind of a blessing, with Hart this team has more points. This TDL and offseason is going to be the telltale for DB and CO, always was going to be.

it is the moment, Trade Laughts and RR and I will give DB the credit that is due.
- wcorvette

100%. Some talk about these moves that never seem to come.

Hate it but kind of a blessing, with Hart this team has more points. This TDL and offseason is going to be the telltale for DB and CO, always was going to be.
- wcorvette

I think fans who are putting too much into the deadline and the offseason are setting themselves up for disappointment

I think fans who are putting too much into the deadline and the offseason are setting themselves up for disappointment
- MJL

you tell em cliffie

I don't think it will have a negative impact on the players that are there because Jones, Briere and Torts have made the following very clear:

1. The Team is not close to contending.
2. It was expected the team could take a step back this season
3. There will not be help coming from outside of the organization
4. Players need to show management they are capable of and want to be part of the long term plans of the team.
5. Briere is listening to all offers presented to him, all cards on the table.

So trading Risto and Laughton would be consistent with this message.
- jd250

So Briere is listening? Is he calling anyone? They were not expected to take a step back this year…horrific goaltending has led to that. The failed Sanheim trade, the Gauthier debacle, his inability or reluctance to trade Laughton? His inability to trade Risto up till now? Two garbage goalies from Russia, one over paid and one given too much too soon. Signing Seeler with a no trade. Extending and over paying Poehling. Yes he’s acquired two at 1rst round picks…but they were only accomplished by taking back 3 really bad contracts…not exactly Keith Allan….

So Briere is listening? Is he calling anyone? They were not expected to take a step back this year…horrific goaltending has led to that. The failed Sanheim trade, the Gauthier debacle, his inability or reluctance to trade Laughton? His inability to trade Risto up till now? Two garbage goalies from Russia, one over paid and one given too much too soon. Signing Seeler with a no trade. Extending and over paying Poehling. Yes he’s acquired two at 1rst round picks…but they were only accomplished by taking back 3 really bad contracts…not exactly Keith Allan….
- landros 2

danny is the hardest working GM out there. letting peeps know Laughton and Risto are available for multiple 1st rd picks.

I think we need to consider what Briere and Jones inherited from the dufas Fletcher. They inherited infact a veteran laden, cap strapped team at the bottom of the league, filled with bad contracts. You and others just seem to think that they can wish these problems away and just start trading everyone. Recall what Hextall inhereited from Holmgren? Pretty similar right? It took Hextall 4 years to try to unravel the mess he started with, and his poor decision making made it only worse. In order to trade veterans, those veterans have to be players other teams want. Briere did a masterful job getting rid of Hayes. His trade of Provorov worked out great for the Flyers also. Trading Walker got a number 1 pick back. It takes time to unravel the mess Fletcher left the organization in. We have to face facts, the Flyers do not have many veteran players other teams want, whether that is based on their contracts or performance. Risto has significantly improved, whether you want to admit that or not, and teams will push hard to get him with no salary retention now, so it was wise for Briere to hold on to him. I think the culture is established enough now that Laughton should be traded, especially at his price tag. I also think there will be a big trade coming, one that will involve picks and younger players like Farabee. Frost unfortunately has not improved his trade value, but he may be valuable in a change of scenary swap. These are things I predict are going to happen, and when they do, your perspective on what the plan is should change.
- jd250

And when they don't, will you change yours?