I'd gladly trade Ristolainen for Gourde. Then it would make a lot if sense. Then I would EXTEND Gourde at the deadline.
- MJL

FTFY

I like the discussion, but it is possible for a team to say a player is worth it at a certain price and then after that, not worth it given what they can get back for him… that was all plan A last year
- Eklund

So the plan was for them to basically resign all of their players on expiring deals and tell the fans that they are/were rebuilding?

Do you hear what you are saying? Are you high?

Why is it you think they ended up dealing Walker?
- furio16

Because they got good value for him!

Because they got good value for him!
- jd250

They could've gotten good value for Konecny. Why didn't they trade him?

IIRC, last year the Flyers beat every team in the league except NSH, which they played 2x and got 1 OTL point against them. So, they beat all the top teams last year, as well. This year they are not as good.
- Letterkenney

The Flyers had a better record last season because they had above average goal tending for the first half of the season. As I already pointed out, the 2nd half record last season and the 1st half record this season are exactly the same, both below .500. Jones and Briere were very clear that this year it was quite possible the team would take a step back because 1. they were not going to add any significant players to the roster and 2. they knew the goaltending would not be nearly as good.

Late to the party but No to Gourde. Makes no sense. Cap Space is not enough justification to move a good piece with term for a 3rd line UFA C. There is no good options out there for C either with the free space. Who you going to sign?

35 year old Tavares?
35 year old Duchene?
33 Year old Granlund?
34 year old Brock Nelson?
36 year old Benn?
37 year old Giroux?

No thanks. Marner nor Rantanen are NHL Cs. If Briere did any of this, I would instantly lose confidence in him to run this team.

If you add any of these guys as a stop gap C shirt term for low cap that is one thing but we shouldnt be moving a 24 year old player, one who is our only natural LW just to add a temp C.

They could've gotten good value for Konecny. Why didn't they trade him?
- MJL

That would have been the smartest move.

Wouldn't have needed to commit long term big money to him and you probably would have gotten a solid return.

The Flyers seem to have this strategy that everything will just fall into place with hope.

The Flyers had a better record last season because they had above average goal tending for the first half of the season. As I already pointed out, the 2nd half record last season and the 1st half record this season are exactly the same, both below .500. Jones and Briere were very clear that this year it was quite possible the team would take a step back because 1. they were not going to add any significant players to the roster and 2. they knew the goaltending would not be nearly as good.
- jd250

Flyers goaltending last year in the first half was also below average

They could've gotten good value for Konecny. Why didn't they trade him?
- MJL

Because TK is a great player who can be part of the future success of the team and also be a leader of the team, which the Flyers are clearly grooming him to be.

What you don't understand is there is no reason this "rebuild" needs to be a long one. People like you that believe in tanking of course look at rebuilds as a long process, because every team that has engaged in this strategy has taken 6-8 years to compete. Still many others never compete; the Sabres for example.

The same might hold true with Risto. He is still young enough and signed to a what is now a reasonable contract given the cap increases and his MUCH improved play. Why sell Risto just for the sake of selling him and create a huge hole in the defense that Briere would then have to fill? Unlke Walker, Risto has term so there is no urgency to trade him right now. If the Flyers are blown away with an offer they should trade him. But right now getting yet another late 1st round pick does nothing for this rebuild. Briere needs to find another way, other than tanking, to get an elite player.

ty

Because TK is a great player who can be part of the future success of the team and also be a leader of the team, which the Flyers are clearly grooming him to be.

What you don't understand is there is no reason this "rebuild" needs to be a long one. People like you that believe in tanking of course look at rebuilds as a long process, because every team that has engaged in this strategy has taken 6-8 years to compete. Still many others never compete; the Sabres for example.

The same might hold true with Risto. He is still young enough and signed to a what is now a reasonable contract given the cap increases and his MUCH improved play. Why sell Risto just for the sake of selling him and create a huge hole in the defense that Briere would then have to fill? Unlke Walker, Risto has term so there is no urgency to trade him right now. If the Flyers are blown away with an offer they should trade him. But right now getting yet another late 1st round pick does nothing for this rebuild. Briere needs to find another way, other than tanking, to get an elite player.
- jd250

So he will be the captain in 5/6 years when Couturier is done? Another Captain at the end of his career.

Come on bud. I don’t make up rumors and in general the mods will delete comments like this.. I have broken several flyers trades over the years so this is one of my most connected teams for sure. Let’s just discuss it OK and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. Most rumors don’t. Cool?
- Eklund

I think Gorde is 33, Farabee is 24-25, To me that is a waste of an asset. Gorde does nothing to help now, not like we are winning anyhting, you let Joel play his way out of this funk and take it from there.

Flyers goaltending last year in the first half was also below average
- MJL

you're wrong! Watch the games!

you're wrong! Watch the games!
- jd250

😆

So he will be the captain in 5/6 years when Couturier is done? Another Captain at the end of his career.
- furio16

I think Couts will be done before that to be honest. I'm not sure he will last.

Because TK is a great player who can be part of the future success of the team and also be a leader of the team, which the Flyers are clearly grooming him to be.

What you don't understand is there is no reason this "rebuild" needs to be a long one. People like you that believe in tanking of course look at rebuilds as a long process, because every team that has engaged in this strategy has taken 6-8 years to compete. Still many others never compete; the Sabres for example.

The same might hold true with Risto. He is still young enough and signed to a what is now a reasonable contract given the cap increases and his MUCH improved play. Why sell Risto just for the sake of selling him and create a huge hole in the defense that Briere would then have to fill? Unlke Walker, Risto has term so there is no urgency to trade him right now. If the Flyers are blown away with an offer they should trade him. But right now getting yet another late 1st round pick does nothing for this rebuild. Briere needs to find another way, other than tanking, to get an elite player.
- jd250

and how does that work in your mind? Overpaying in FA? Other than that you are going to have to give up a ton of assets in a trade. Or you know we can keep picking in the middle of the pack in perpetuity until luck finally hits (if ever)?

Seriously, what is the plan? Right now it certainly feels like they have no line of sight into how to accomplish the "rebuild" and get into contention. At some point they are going to need to pick a lane if they are ever determined to be a relevant franchise again.

Tortorella is a terrible developmental coach. If they ever get some top talent in here. The next coach will completely need to change how they play.
- MJL

Oh really? The next coach? Well tell me then, in what specific ways should the Flyers change how they play?

Because TK is a great player who can be part of the future success of the team and also be a leader of the team, which the Flyers are clearly grooming him to be.

What you don't understand is there is no reason this "rebuild" needs to be a long one. People like you that believe in tanking of course look at rebuilds as a long process, because every team that has engaged in this strategy has taken 6-8 years to compete. Still many others never compete; the Sabres for example.

The same might hold true with Risto. He is still young enough and signed to a what is now a reasonable contract given the cap increases and his MUCH improved play. Why sell Risto just for the sake of selling him and create a huge hole in the defense that Briere would then have to fill? Unlke Walker, Risto has term so there is no urgency to trade him right now. If the Flyers are blown away with an offer they should trade him. But right now getting yet another late 1st round pick does nothing for this rebuild. Briere needs to find another way, other than tanking, to get an elite player.
- jd250

So the reason Walker was traded was because they got a good return but that doesn't apply to Konecny. Don't you get a really good return for a great player?
As far as a long rebuild is concerned. I agree, the Flyers shouldn't take the long approach. They should stick to what has been working so well for the last 15 years! It cracks me up when some actually ignore reality..
Trading Ristolainen would not leave a huge hole. He is an overpaid mediocre 3rd.pair level defenseman. A rebuilding team is supposed to have holes. You fill them with younger players or short term gap vets if need be when rebuilding.
Good luck with Briere finding another way. How much time do you have?

Oh really? The next coach? Well tell me then, in what specific ways should the Flyers change how they play?
- jd250

Your posts are the equivalent of whining to Mommy

https://x.com/ADiMarco25/...is_nightmode%3Dfalse&mx=2

They wanted to resign him, trading him wasn't what DB wanted to do. Can you imagine trying to spin letting a UFA defenseman leave in FA while claiming a rebuild? Trading Walker was the only rebuilding type move they made all year. Let's not also forget, that they only got that return due to the salary and term they took on for RyJo who was never going to play for them. In a sense, Walker was kind of a secondary piece rather than a main piece.

I know everyone wants to say "look at walker", "look at the return for walker" but the return wasn't for Walker and trading Walker was the only option after failing to resign him that wouldn't put him in the press's crosshairs.
- Flyers_01

lots of opinions on this, maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle but the fact is DB took a throw in asset, had that asset have success and flipped him for an asset

Because TK is a great player who can be part of the future success of the team and also be a leader of the team, which the Flyers are clearly grooming him to be.

What you don't understand is there is no reason this "rebuild" needs to be a long one. People like you that believe in tanking of course look at rebuilds as a long process, because every team that has engaged in this strategy has taken 6-8 years to compete. Still many others never compete; the Sabres for example.

The same might hold true with Risto. He is still young enough and signed to a what is now a reasonable contract given the cap increases and his MUCH improved play. Why sell Risto just for the sake of selling him and create a huge hole in the defense that Briere would then have to fill? Unlke Walker, Risto has term so there is no urgency to trade him right now. If the Flyers are blown away with an offer they should trade him. But right now getting yet another late 1st round pick does nothing for this rebuild. Briere needs to find another way, other than tanking, to get an elite player.
- jd250

This is not a rebuild -- Full Stop

They are in year 12 of a retool -- they are no better as a team than they were in 2013

and how does that work in your mind? Overpaying in FA? Other than that you are going to have to give up a ton of assets in a trade. Or you know we can keep picking in the middle of the pack in perpetuity until luck finally hits (if ever)?

Seriously, what is the plan? Right now it certainly feels like they have no line of sight into how to accomplish the "rebuild" and get into contention. At some point they are going to need to pick a lane if they are ever determined to be a relevant franchise again.
- Flyfly

Well lets talk about the options. Option 1 is the team picks in the top 3 and grabs a franchise center. That is not going to happen because this team as constituted is not bad enough to bottom out that far. Yes the Flyers could get lucky drafting a 1C in the later rounds, but the odds are low as you know.

Option 2 is free agency. Briere just stated that he would consider getting an older center but also stated the price tags for these players is extremely high and in the long run not worth it. It is possible that Flyers could sign a really good veteran center to serve as a 1C bridge until a player they are developing is ready, for example if Luchanko develops.

Option 3 is a hockey trade. Teams in general do not trade 1Cs. BUT, as we have seen recently with the Rantanan trade, elite players sometimes become available due to various reasons, like contracts for example. Florida drafted and developed Huberdeau (3rd overall) and Weeger (7th round pick) who both became very good players, and traded them to Calgary for an elite player Matthew Tkachuk. We are hearing rumblings that Vancouver might be willing to move on from Pettersson. So elite players do become available. The common denominator of trades like this a team has to have good players to trade for potential elite players. That is one aspect of this rebuild. Drafting and developing good players that can become very good NHL players, and then using them as assets to get an elite player when they become available. It takes time and frankly luck to be able to have the assets another team would take in a trade for an elite player that other team needs to move on from. We just have to have patience.

and how does that work in your mind? Overpaying in FA? Other than that you are going to have to give up a ton of assets in a trade. Or you know we can keep picking in the middle of the pack in perpetuity until luck finally hits (if ever)?

Seriously, what is the plan? Right now it certainly feels like they have no line of sight into how to accomplish the "rebuild" and get into contention. At some point they are going to need to pick a lane if they are ever determined to be a relevant franchise again.
- Flyfly

As I tried to explain to ek, elite talent in their prime do not make it to FA -- Players like Kevin hayes makes it to FA -- that is the talent they will over pay for and continue to be stuck in this cycle of suck!

This is not a rebuild -- Full Stop

They are in year 12 of a retool -- they are no better as a team than they were in 2013
- corduroy

Briere has been on the job less than 2 years. It is completely unfair to compare him to the failed attempts by Hextall (who clearly didn't have a clear vision of how he wanted to build the team) and Fletcher (who just kept trying to bandaid a marginal at best team with an aging core).

As I tried to explain to ek, elite talent in their prime do not make it to FA -- Players like Kevin hayes makes it to FA -- that is the talent they will over pay for and continue to be stuck in this cycle of suck!
- corduroy

That isnt true. Its rare but they do hit FA. Tavares hit FA, Pietrangelo hit FA, Gaudreau hit FA. As of right now Marner and Rantanen are slated to hit FA