Nick Seeler is 6,3 200 LBs ? That’s not smallish. I get that you need size but all three of Drysdale, Andrae and obviously York should be in the lineup every night.
- landros 2

Yes I just looked that up. I never realized that, Seeler seemed smaller to me for some reason. Still the only physical player in the bunch would be Risto, and that is not enough IMO.

York-Sanheim
Seeler-Drysdale
Andrae-Risto

Plenty of size. No reason for Zamula or Johnson to play over Andrae moving forward.
- mickel25

As I posted earlier, we don't need any more size. It's not like the 90s when you needed big D because you could maul the forwards legally. That's not the game anymore. Speed, quick transition passes to go on the attack. The main issue is that we're spending entire periods in our zone and can't clear.

Further, we've been terrible this season so far. What harm would it do to switch it up?

Yes I just looked that up. I never realized that, Seeler seemed smaller to me for some reason. Still the only physical player in the bunch would be Risto, and that is not enough IMO.
- jd250

Where has the physicality gotten us so far this year? We need mobile, puck moving D properly supported by the forwards.

New, but in reality old.
- Hextall271

So, to be clear... what was once old, is then new and now old again?

You know I didn't realize Seeler is 6'3". Still Drysdale and York are 5'11" and Andrae is 5'9" on a good day. That is too small of a D corps IMO.
- jd250

I want the most talented players in the lineup. They could load up against specific teams if need be. I don't have a problem with that. Andrae moves the puck well. The Flyers need more of that.

Where has the physicality gotten us so far this year? We need mobile, puck moving D properly supported by the forwards.
- Hextall271

Exactly, put out your best lines. Andre looks better than Drysdale at this point. Not saying to bench Drys but Andre looks like he can play. Give the kid a shot. EJ and Drysdale in your top 6 is just ugly d zone coverage.

EJ isnt blocking anyone. Flyers stupidity is blocking him. They dont need to play EJ. They called Andrae up during the Seeler injury and could have and should have played him. If you consider that blocking then you could argue the Flyers potentially calling up any other D from the Phantoms would be blocking.

EJ did not have to play and there is no defending the fact that he did aside from maybe Game 1. One can only hope after he hits 1000 games played, he sits in favour of Andrae.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Seriously? That's the entire point! LOL. That when they re-signed him, it was a guarantee that Tortorella was going to overplay him. The 1000 game bit is just another theory that you have like Luchanko and the back to backs. Johnson is playing because Neanderthal Tortorella thinks he's the best choice right now. He absolutely is blocking young players. You're not getting it.

Seriously? That's the entire point! LOL. That when they re-signed him, it was a guarantee that Tortorella was going to overplay him. The 1000 game bit is just another theory that you have like Luchanko and the back to backs. Johnson is playing because Neanderthal Tortorella thinks he's the best choice right now. He absolutely is blocking young players. You're not getting it.
- MJL

The entire post was laughable - EJ is not blocking Andre and then ends with "One can only hope after he hits 1000 games played, he sits in favour of Andrae."

The entire post was laughable - EJ is not blocking Andre and then ends with "One can only hope after he hits 1000 games played, he sits in favour of Andrae."



- Flyfly

Just completely lacked common sense.

He's not being blocked, the Flyers stupidity is blocking him. LMAO

Just completely lacked common sense.

He's not being blocked, the Flyers stupidity is blocking him. LMAO
- MJL

Attendance: 17,440

It was Flyers stupidity that Andrae didn't leave on the road trip with the team and been available for game 1. Seeler was hurt 3-4 days before game 1 and the Flyers elected to play short handed despite plenty of advance notice.
- Flyers_01

They didnt need him for Game 1. They expected Seeler to be ready and if not EJ was available. It was not necessary at the time to bring an extra D. Thats the whole point of carrying 7D. The 7th D is the emergency guy. Would it have been smarter to take an extra D sure but it wasnt a 100% necessity.

As I posted earlier, we don't need any more size. It's not like the 90s when you needed big D because you could maul the forwards legally. That's not the game anymore. Speed, quick transition passes to go on the attack. The main issue is that we're spending entire periods in our zone and can't clear.

Further, we've been terrible this season so far. What harm would it do to switch it up?
- Hextall271

We've reached a point where all the young D coming up across the league -- big or small -- can all skate, transition, handle the puck, thread a pass, etc.

So every team is trying to get bigger on the back end now because you don't have to choose between size and skill/skating anymore.

Andrae is just a hard sell in the current climate. He's gonna have a hard time finding a niche and getting a real chance. 10-years ago his skill would have stood out. Not anymore.

"Almost" should be their official slogan for the season.

We "almost" made the POs last season!
We "almost" scored a bunch of goals!
Feds "almost" closed his five hole!
Jamie "almost" knows how to play hockey.
Etc.
- Tomahawk

Long time fans Almost care!

Didn’t like the 3rd man in, but huge respect to Couts for 1) not killing Dach, and 2) dropping the gloves with Xhekaj when he didn’t need to.

That is a captain
- QuickSCF

Accident

No choice

The entire post was laughable - EJ is not blocking Andre and then ends with "One can only hope after he hits 1000 games played, he sits in favour of Andrae."



- Flyfly

It is common sense. EJ is there for emergencies. That is his purpose. The Flyers called up Andrae, he should have played in Game 2 and Torts chose not to. EJ is not the one blocking Andrae. Torts is. The feeling is that part of EJ resigning was that he gets to play enough to hit the 1000 game mark. Its a milestone and one EJ probably wants to hit. It isnt a huge ask something a GM would just say "OK whatever" to. So once he hits the 1000, hopefully thats all it is and Torts will sit him and play young players like he did last season when Attard and Ginning came up and played ahead of Marc Staal.

If EJ isnt here, theres someone else in that 7th D role and if this isnt about the 1000 games that means Torts would be playing that Dman ahead of Andrae as well. Doesnt matter who it is. Fact is the Flyers are not going to have Andrae up with the team to sit in the pressbox for over half a season. The top 6 were already locks. The only spot available was the emergency 7th D position and that isnt a spot for someone like Andrae.

Flyers have to not be dumb and play their young prospect ahead of of the 7th D when they have the chance

I was told by someone in hockey ops that Tortorella did not want "go too small on D" with three small/smallish D. York and Drysdale are in the lineup, so that squeezed out Andrae when he was called up. Right now with York out, though, there's an opportunity for Andrae. He was a bright spot last night.
- bmeltzer

How the hell is this guy employed in 2024

Attendance: 17,440
- hello it's me 2050

is that a surprise to you?

How the hell is this guy employed in 2024
- ClaudeFather

The President agrees with and has stated multiple times he wants a big defense.

The problem is the GM acquired a small defenseman with his best trade chip when his best two young defensemen were small. He also signed his top two right wingers to long term contracts when 3 of the teams best young players were right wings in Foerster, Tuomaala and Michkov were right wings.

Seems to me the Flyers have a bigger problem then Tortorella on their hands.

It's fine if the plan is for him to sit most of the year as the 7th dman with a spot start here and there. I'd prefer to have Zamula and Andrae play a lot so that they can develop.
- Hextall271

There might be something wrong on overall development. I’m within the minority that I don’t care if Nick D earns his money here or there but he hasn’t come out of have line up since he was put in. Yes, Brink has to play. Zamula on the other hand I believe earned his scratch for last night. Too many mistakes leading directly to goals but again I would agree, he can’t stay out forever while Johnson plays. I can however live with Zamula possibly being waived in favor of Andrae. Thats just me though. I don’t see a real high ceiling for Zamula.

I thought Brink was one of the best guys in preseason when he was getting opportunities. They seem to have dried up in the regular season.
- landros 2

A goal and 3 assists in 6 games played. Not too bad, especially on this team.
Certainly not bench worthy.

The President agrees with and has stated multiple times he wants a big defense.

The problem is the GM acquired a small defenseman with his best trade chip when his best two young defensemen were small. He also signed his top two right wingers to long term contracts when 3 of the teams best young players were right wings in Foerster, Tuomaala and Michkov were right wings.

Seems to me the Flyers have a bigger problem then Tortorella on their hands.
- psuhockey

💯

Attendance: 17,440
- hello it's me 2050

hopefully by xmas it is in the 15's

We've reached a point where all the young D coming up across the league -- big or small -- can all skate, transition, handle the puck, thread a pass, etc.

So every team is trying to get bigger on the back end now because you don't have to choose between size and skill/skating anymore.

Andrae is just a hard sell in the current climate. He's gonna have a hard time finding a niche and getting a real chance. 10-years ago his skill would have stood out. Not anymore.
- Tomahawk

I don't disagree with any of that but that doesn't change that Andrae should be playing over someone like Erik Johnson.

On other thing to consider if Andrae plays when York returns, then the Flyers have Drysdale, York, Seeler and Andrae, all on the smallish side. Only Risto and Sanheim have size and only Risto uses his size. That is a huge disadvantage IMO. This is an example of how this roster is just not right and Briere has got to make big changes this season and next off season.
- jd250

Seeler is not small and I don't really consider York small anymore.