I know I am a cynic when it comes to this team, but I feel like the organization is doing this Luchanko thing as a way to say "I told you so" to all those people who questioned the pick over Buium.

Its optics over common sense.

And Bill I couldn't agree with you more about Torts. I've said it over and over that he develops tunnel vision with certain players both for and against them. And he gets lost in that tunnel no matter what happens. He says its a clean slate but we all know that is bull$hit.
- MBFlyerfan

If Luchanko struggled like most 18 year olds in their first camp I’d agree. But he’s been pretty good. Do I think he’d help this team this year over some other vets? Probably…but I agree his development should be the main concern, I’m hoping the Flyers will get this right, what ever they decide.…like all drafts, they can take years to shake out. Just because Luchanko has opened eyes passing on Buium may still come back to haunt them and some others that passed on him.

Or it’s a way to reward him, give him a taste, go back to juniors and dominate - while also lighting a fire under the ass of a guy like frost - “this is the type of play that will replace you”

People are over exaggerating what a 9 game look will do to this kid - for better or worse. Now if you wanna talk about keeping him up all season - I have doubts about that for sure
- anti-lame

I’m not as concerned as others ….if he physically couldn’t handle a little trial run…that’s one thing…but kid has a solid build. From what some “insider” guys are saying, it’s not for the long haul.

I’m not as concerned as others ….if he physically couldn’t handle a little trial run…that’s one thing…but kid has a solid build. From what some “insider” guys are saying, it’s not for the long haul.
- landros 2

Big nothing burger to see how he fares. Anyone who says it’s some “I told you so” tactic is projecting their own insecurities on the Jett over Buium debate

Cutter with 2 goals for the lame Ducks!🦆 Yea i know it was against the lame Sharks 🦈
- THE EVIL WITHIN

Jett is Torts substitute for Cutter. A poor man's version though

Jett is Torts substitute for Cutter. A poor man's version though
- THE EVIL WITHIN

We’ll see

If Luchanko struggled like most 18 year olds in their first camp I’d agree. But he’s been pretty good. Do I think he’d help this team this year over some other vets? Probably…but I agree his development should be the main concern, I’m hoping the Flyers will get this right, what ever they decide.…like all drafts, they can take years to shake out. Just because Luchanko has opened eyes passing on Buium may still come back to haunt them and some others that passed on him.
- landros 2

I think he DID struggle. In the games where it counted. He was overwhelmed and basically invisible against an NHL Bruins squad. I don't really care that he did the rope skate great or that he has a great mind and knows where to be and all that. What is the point if when he gets there, he gets manhandled.

Like has been said, if its 9 games so be it, but I don't trust that they send him back after 9 games.

I think he DID struggle. In the games where it counted. He was overwhelmed and basically invisible against an NHL Bruins squad. I don't really care that he did the rope skate great or that he has a great mind and knows where to be and all that. What is the point if when he gets there, he gets manhandled.

Like has been said, if its 9 games so be it, but I don't trust that they send him back after 9 games.
- MBFlyerfan

maybe we can send frost down for more development

My concern is the physical side of the NHL game. I know he is big boy but the emphasis would be on "boy". Send him back to Guelph and let him grow, physically, mentally, whatever. I coached middle school hockey for years and saw coaches move players up a level who just were not ready to handle the adjustment of playing with older, bigger players. No, this is not school hockey but I feel the same concern even at the professional level.

My concern is the physical side of the NHL game. I know he is big boy but the emphasis would be on "boy". Send him back to Guelph and let him grow, physically, mentally, whatever. I coached middle school hockey for years and saw coaches move players up a level who just were not ready to handle the adjustment of playing with older, bigger players. No, this is not school hockey but I feel the same concern even at the professional level.
- 54fightin

I agree completely. What concerns me is not only Jett's physical makeup but his mental as well. If his stay with the club ends with a foreseeable send down, how will that affect him?

If it's a driver for him to understand his deficiencies and motivates him to work on them, then the trial would be a good thing.

If on the other hand, it's an overwhelming experience which creates a doubt within himself whether he can ever meet his expected potential, then it can be a disaster.

Yet he's managed lead the NHL in shorthanded points (15, two more than Konecny) over the past two years. And he's managed to lead all Flyers forwards in total/average PK time over the last three. Hard to do when you're "always" in the box.

Does Laughton take quite a few minors? Yes. So does Tyson Foerster, who took 16 of them as a rookie last year.
- bmeltzer

Almost every season his penalties minutes have gone up. He is getting slower and commits lazy penalties. If forester continues to commits penalties like laughton does i will have the same complaint.

Almost as if the same old Flyer philosophies are continuing under a “new era”.

Wonder why in a zero accountability - incestous country club we would see such a thing.

I think he DID struggle. In the games where it counted. He was overwhelmed and basically invisible against an NHL Bruins squad. I don't really care that he did the rope skate great or that he has a great mind and knows where to be and all that. What is the point if when he gets there, he gets manhandled.

Like has been said, if its 9 games so be it, but I don't trust that they send him back after 9 games.
- MBFlyerfan

I don’t think he struggled anywhere as bad as most of the team did against Boston… I m not going to tell you he stood out though… for what ever reason , be it his full body of work, rookie camp, pre season games and practices every day, they feel the kid has earned it up till now or he wouldn’t still be here. I’m with you on “so be it”. And I look forward to seeing how he fairs for how ever long he’s here.

My concern is the physical side of the NHL game. I know he is big boy but the emphasis would be on "boy". Send him back to Guelph and let him grow, physically, mentally, whatever. I coached middle school hockey for years and saw coaches move players up a level who just were not ready to handle the adjustment of playing with older, bigger players. No, this is not school hockey but I feel the same concern even at the professional level.
- 54fightin

I don’t disagree but we are talking about folks who are watching these guys nonstop on and off the ice. Surely they have a better vantage point than us

As Bill predicted … Both Lychsell and Richard cleared waivers

Almost as if the same old Flyer philosophies are continuing under a “new era”.

Wonder why in a zero accountability - incestous country club we would see such a thing.
- flyer_nutter

bored over there at hf boards?

Tortorella's way is to give his golden boys lots and lots of rope. He loves those "two-way players" without much on the offensive side of "two-way". His whipping boys get very littl rope. He goes by his gut and tends to be rather fickle and emotion-driven. It's how he's always been. He'll give lip service til the cows come home about not stifling offense... but then he'll stifle offense.

Specific to Laughton, he's still a very good penalty killer (NHL's shorthanded scoring leader over the past two seasons in fact). He's still versatile and never gripes about being yo-yoed from C to LW or vice versa, top-nine or fourth line. Plus he IS still the internal voice and finger on the pulse in the room. So there's still a spot for him.

Here's the thing, as I see it. Individually, there's room for any of Laughton, Cates or Poehling. Collectively, though, it gets a bit redundant. They're not identical players, mind you, but they take multiple slots of what I think is more ideally slots for 1 or 2 (max).

Do I have a fear that Luchanko will not be properly developed as an offensive player up to his ceiling because they're satisfied with his speed and defensive upside? Yes, I do have that concern.
- bmeltzer

And this is why he should be sent down ASAP

No wonder you had to make it a point to let us know you’re a “contractor” ::rolls eyes::

Does golden boy imply a player that plays the game like a pro rather than a pedestrian in the best league in the world? Give me a break!
- anti-lame

Did Bill not hand you your ass once already under a different screen name?

Forester takes penalties because he is a poor skater. The kid needs to get better.

Did Bill not hand you your ass once already under a different screen name?
- corduroy

he got upset because dad thought it was embarrassing to disparage other players on the roster in order to prop up another when you're being paid by the team. no winning there.

the golden boy take is so lame. people aren't agreeing with torts player assessments "just because"... it's long overdue. Players were coddled and catered to for a decade and that got us nowhere. For the first time a coach is saying, star player or not, there is an expectation of you as a professional athlete. effort and body language are currency.

sometimes we have predictions of how a player will pan out. and when it doesn't work that way and we are proven wrong we tend to get a little defensive of our stance. i get it.

if anything, Torts is saving us from overpaying/over-committing to "untapped potential" simply because he was a 24th overall pick and is "the best we got" moving forward

he seems like a kid who was never challenged up until this point. not his fault. he just might be what he is at this point.

My fear is that the flyers will go the Couturier route with Luchenko and not push his offensive side of his game. The flyers had a deeper roster when Couturier made the team. IMO it was be a disservice to keep JL on the team beyond 9 games. I would have sent him back to his JR team already.
- bird_dog_pa

Ther are no similarities between Coots and Luchenko. Coots was a checking center because the talent around him demanded it. Luchenko has a lot more skill to work with on hios wing with his wingers likely being Farabee and Brink. Couiturier was often blocked as well. Flyers always had someone playing above him. Luchenko has Torts favour while Coots and Frost do not. If he performs well he will be elevated. It isnt as if Coots never hit hios ceiling either. It just took him maybe a year or two longer.

That being said, I still dont think he sticks with the team for the full season.

Ther are no similarities between Coots and Luchenko. Coots was a checking center because the talent around him demanded it. Luchenko has a lot more skill to work with on hios wing with his wingers likely being Farabee and Brink. Couiturier was often blocked as well. Flyers always had someone playing above him. Luchenko has Torts favour while Coots and Frost do not. If he performs well he will be elevated. It isnt as if Coots never hit hios ceiling either. It just took him maybe a year or two longer.

That being said, I still dont think he sticks with the team for the full season.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I was not comparing the two as players. My point being is that Couturier was tasked with being the defensively responsible player because he had that ability as a young player so he was utilized in that aspect of on those flyers teams early in his career.
In six of his first seven seasons as a flyer he never broke 40 points. The other season was only 46 games.
I can see Torterella utilizing Luchenko in a purely defensive minded role. If he is a 200 foot player that includes the offensive zone. The best defense is a good offense.

bored over there at hf boards?
- anti-lame

Hah

Incredibly. More so with the team though.

It’s a weird faithful, and hateful relationship good sir.

Cutter had 2 goals in preseason not 2 goals in 1 game

Typical phoolies. But how about that exit velocity on Schwarbomb?!

The Phillies was in control so long Wheeler was pitching. 🫠