I think the kid has hit a wall.
- WhiskeyMan

True, you can see he is just not moving his feet out there, and is clearly not aggressive going after the puck in the defensive zone.

I don't know if they tried to re-sign or was just looking at what he is asking for, regardless if you plan on letting him go.

Say if Walker only wanted 1.5 mil a year then you would re-sign him because why the heck not.

Any gm would at lest check in and see what the player is asking for.
- SlNlSTER

If you don't want to believe that they did then have at it. Bottom line is it was a no brainer easy trade to make. It doesn't/didn't signify they are rebuilding in any way.

Michkov is behind the play quite a bit now. He really needs to improve his conditioning and his acceleration in the off season. But it's all good, this is what is expected from a 20 year old kid playing in the NHL for the first time. I am not worried about Michkov developing, but I do wish he was playing more minutes in these games. The coach is putting defense and wins first and foremost.
- jd250

That's your pet phrase. He's behind the play or can't keep up. It has nothing to do with conditioning and everything to do with confidence. Which Tortorella is helping to diminish. Defense and wins should not come first ahead of the development of this teams currently only young asset. This team has no chance of winning.

The Flyers always seem to focus on the negatives instead of the positives with a player. They rarely cater to a player's strong points. They take the creativity/offense right out of them. Learn to play the winning Flyers way.

Seeing other rookies play huge minutes then look at MM

This coach plays to lose instead of playing to win. Nothing will be accomplished with this guy at the helm. Once he is gone they will in a way have to start all over.

That's your pet phrase. He's behind the play or can't keep up. It has nothing to do with conditioning and everything to do with confidence. Which Tortorella is helping to diminish. Defense and wins should not come first ahead of the development of this teams currently only young asset. This team has no chance of winning.
- MJL

Well anyone watching the game can clearly see Michkov is behind the play and not playing with consistent intensity. I don't think Torts is holding Michkov back confidence wise, but I do agree that Torts coaching to win these games and limiting Michkov's minutes is not helping. I am not saying Michkov should play 20 minutes a game, but less than 10 minutes is not good either. I would like to see 14 minutes a game and 1st PP minutes for Michkov consistently.

The only thing holding Michkov's potential and creativity back are the players around him. The coaches are teaching him how to be a professional NHL hockey player both on and off the ice, as they should. Briere just needs to get more talent around Michkov and you will see his productivity explode. However, as I stated, Michkov has some work to do himself, to improve his skating and conditioning.
- jd250

Teams do not acquire the talent needed to bring out the best in MM game drafting in the mid teens

True, you can see he is just not moving his feet out there, and is clearly not aggressive going after the puck in the defensive zone.
- jd250

Why isn't he "aggressive"? thin the coach has something to do with that? As someone said he looks like a much different player than a few months ago. In a bad way.

In 7 or 8 years who cares what the Flyers are paying TK? By then, the cap will be so high TK's contract will represent about 5% of the cap space. You are focusing on the wrong thing. TK is the leader of this team and he has plenty of good years ahead of him.

I have said that Farabee is a smart player that knows how to get to the tough areas of the ice to score goals, and when he is playing that way you see the results. But that does not negate the fact that Farabee is a low skill player. How many scoring chances have we seen Farabee not convert this season already? Farabee is what he is, a solid middling forward. There is nothing special in his game and IMO Farabee is very replaceable.

One GM recently said it best. The way the league is now, he could take his bottom two lines and replace them with another team's bottom two lines and it would make no difference to the team. This was a comment against Bettman wanting to expand the league by two more teams, basically saying there is just not enough talent in the world to support it. The league needs to retract two teams, not expand.
- jd250

You think the cap is going up to 175 million in the future? That would be something huh?

Teams do not acquire the talent needed to bring out the best in MM game drafting in the mid teens
- corduroy

I agree ... I don't know what the plan is, but I am willing to give Briere this off season to make it clearer. If the Flyers return basically the same team next year I will be off the Briere bandwagon.

Teams do not acquire the talent needed to bring out the best in MM game drafting in the mid teens
- corduroy

Not unless they get VERY lucky. Luck is not a great draft strategy.

You think the cap is going up to 175 million in the future? That would be something huh?
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, maybe not that much, but even if TKs contract is 7.5% of the cap by then its still a very manageable contract.

Yes, maybe not that much, but even if TKs contract is 7.5% of the cap by then its still a very manageable contract.
- jd250

Manageable for a productive player. The jury is out as to whether that will be the case. I hope so for the Flyers sake.

Not unless they get VERY lucky. Luck is not a great draft strategy.
- MBFlyerfan

True, but luck permeates the entire draft, from the top of the first round to the late rounds. If the draft was an exact science with predictable outcomes, a lot more tanking teams who pick high for several season would be winning cups. The odds are better at the top no doubt, but nothing is close to a guarantee. Its more about when a team is picking versus how many top picks they get.

Risto, the Flyers best defenseman, picks up player of the game honors.

Also, has anyone noticed how well Drysdale has played lately? Monster third period tonight from him.
- jd250

Risto has made himself invaluable. How can they look to move him at this time? They have no one in the system remotely ready to fill his spot. If he was dealt the trickledown effect would be immense and very negative.

If they do move him then they need to go find a replacement via UFA or trade. UFS will cost you more term and money. Trade more assets. More than what you would acquire.

A short term 2-year extension is what they should be looking to do with Risto once eligible. Danny is playing this perfect. No hurry make a team give up a 1st plus a high end prospect or NHL ready player. You cant put a price on intangibles and what effect they have in the room.

In 7 or 8 years who cares what the Flyers are paying TK? By then, the cap will be so high TK's contract will represent about 5% of the cap space. You are focusing on the wrong thing. TK is the leader of this team and he has plenty of good years ahead of him.

I have said that Farabee is a smart player that knows how to get to the tough areas of the ice to score goals, and when he is playing that way you see the results. But that does not negate the fact that Farabee is a low skill player. How many scoring chances have we seen Farabee not convert this season already? Farabee is what he is, a solid middling forward. There is nothing special in his game and IMO Farabee is very replaceable.

One GM recently said it best. The way the league is now, he could take his bottom two lines and replace them with another team's bottom two lines and it would make no difference to the team. This was a comment against Bettman wanting to expand the league by two more teams, basically saying there is just not enough talent in the world to support it. The league needs to retract two teams, not expand.
- jd250

If the Flyers ever get to cup contender status, can't wait to see how many good years TK has at that point in time.

Well anyone watching the game can clearly see Michkov is behind the play and not playing with consistent intensity. I don't think Torts is holding Michkov back confidence wise, but I do agree that Torts coaching to win these games and limiting Michkov's minutes is not helping. I am not saying Michkov should play 20 minutes a game, but less than 10 minutes is not good either. I would like to see 14 minutes a game and 1st PP minutes for Michkov consistently.
- jd250

You're the king of fallacies. Do you know what a fallacy is?

Why isn't he "aggressive"? thin the coach has something to do with that? As someone said he looks like a much different player than a few months ago. In a bad way.
- furio16

No I don't think the coach is the issue because I see other players much more aggressive on the puck in the d-zone. It's no accident that Michkov has the 3rd worst +/- on the team. You can see him often losing his coverage in this own zone, and just floating to pucks along the board and point versus aggressively attacking them. I am sure confidence is part of it, where he is thinking about what to do versus instinctively doing it, but that is to be expected from a 20 year old in his first NHL season. I don't know of any kid from the KHL or juniors that came into the NHL and magically knew how to play in his own end.

Well anyone watching the game can clearly see Michkov is behind the play and not playing with consistent intensity. I don't think Torts is holding Michkov back confidence wise, but I do agree that Torts coaching to win these games and limiting Michkov's minutes is not helping. I am not saying Michkov should play 20 minutes a game, but less than 10 minutes is not good either. I would like to see 14 minutes a game and 1st PP minutes for Michkov consistently.
- jd250

He isn't coaching to win at all. He thinks he is though he is wrong.

You're the king of fallacies. Do you know what a fallacy is?
- MJL

Do you know what a plethora is? Like for example, every day you produce a plathora of crap posts on this forum?

No I don't think the coach is the issue because I see other players much more aggressive on the puck in the d-zone. It's no accident that Michkov has the 3rd worst +/- on the team. You can see him often losing his coverage in this own zone, and just floating to pucks along the board and point versus aggressively attacking them. I am sure confidence is part of it, where he is thinking about what to do versus instinctively doing it, but that is to be expected from a 20 year old in his first NHL season. I don't know of any kid from the KHL or juniors that came into the NHL and magically knew how to play in his own end.
- jd250

The coach is def an issue. Do say otherwise is wrong.

Don't care about his plus/minus. Let him play his game and be the dynamic player many think and want him to be. Don't bastardize his game.

I agree ... I don't know what the plan is, but I am willing to give Briere this off season to make it clearer. If the Flyers return basically the same team next year I will be off the Briere bandwagon.
- jd250

Then after this offseason, you will say lest wait until the deadline. You will support/parrot all they say until the next regime change.

Risto has made himself invaluable. How can they look to move him at this time? They have no one in the system remotely ready to fill his spot. If he was dealt the trickledown effect would be immense and very negative.

If they do move him then they need to go find a replacement via UFA or trade. UFS will cost you more term and money. Trade more assets. More than what you would acquire.

A short term 2-year extension is what they should be looking to do with Risto once eligible. Danny is playing this perfect. No hurry make a team give up a 1st plus a high end prospect or NHL ready player. You cant put a price on intangibles and what effect they have in the room.
- furio16

very well said ... are you a Risto believer?

Not unless they get VERY lucky. Luck is not a great draft strategy.
- MBFlyerfan

Does hope trump luck?

In 7 or 8 years who cares what the Flyers are paying TK? By then, the cap will be so high TK's contract will represent about 5% of the cap space. You are focusing on the wrong thing. TK is the leader of this team and he has plenty of good years ahead of him.

I have said that Farabee is a smart player that knows how to get to the tough areas of the ice to score goals, and when he is playing that way you see the results. But that does not negate the fact that Farabee is a low skill player. How many scoring chances have we seen Farabee not convert this season already? Farabee is what he is, a solid middling forward. There is nothing special in his game and IMO Farabee is very replaceable.

One GM recently said it best. The way the league is now, he could take his bottom two lines and replace them with another team's bottom two lines and it would make no difference to the team. This was a comment against Bettman wanting to expand the league by two more teams, basically saying there is just not enough talent in the world to support it. The league needs to retract two teams, not expand.
- jd250

Math is not your strong suit, is it? It matters because IF the Flyers are able to get to contender status, it will be 7-8 year from now. If not longer. Konecny is likely to be a shell of himself at that point.

You don't score 20 goals in the NHL with low skill. Again, you refuse to use simple common sense.


Who is that GM? Again, you've been manipulated. If there is such as GM, he's an idiot.

very well said ... are you a Risto believer?
- jd250

What is a Risto believer?