They are missing their best player, Tage
- WhiskeyMan

Holy crap, I didn’t even notice. Huge loss!

Rather interesting Michkov is getting more physically engaged as the season progresses. Little snarl to his game. Adds to the legend.

I do think McCleod gets signed long term considering he is basically the 2C and traded Savoie to get him. I agree on Byram.
- Trox88

McLeod is the 3c.
Thompson
Cozens
McLeod

Also savioe traded for byram

Middlstadt was moved because they didn’t want (can’t) pay everyone. McLeod brought in to replace him.

McLeod is the 3c.
Thompson
Cozens
McLeod

Also savioe traded for byram

Middlstadt was moved because they didn’t want (can’t) pay everyone. McLeod brought in to replace him.
- Stayin alive

Savoie was traded to EDM for Mcleod. Byram was traded to Buffalo for Mittlestadt.

Buffalo is no closer to a Stanley cup than the Flyers. Yes they are young but Adams has not and I dont belive is capable of creating a contender. The team is poorly built just as it was during the last rebuild with Eichel

Flyers are younger and have less talent and they could make the playoffs sooner than Buffalo. Despite the poor start the Flyers are now 1 point out of a WC spot.

McLeod is the 3c.
Thompson
Cozens
McLeod

Also savioe traded for byram

Middlstadt was moved because they didn’t want (can’t) pay everyone. McLeod brought in to replace him.
- Stayin alive

https://www.espn.com/nhl/...monton-oilers-ryan-mcleod

The reason why I placed the link involving McCleod for Savoie is giving up a highly regarded prospect usually entails the piece the player gotten back probably going to be there awhile. I agree with you about why they wanted to trade Mittlestadt. Not sure if they bridge McCleod or sign him long term. Probably trade Tuch and Byram. However, does Cozens gets moved to really mix things up? Cozens only really had 1 very good season. His value is plummeting. Teams do not want to have anchor contracts. For me, Cozens is similiar to Zegras, but with more term. Does a GM just hold onto the player and hope the player turns it around to justify the contract, or move him very soon to recoup good value in a trade?

With the Flyers not tanking, these are the trades Briere has to be involved with and hopefully hit. Draft and develop is fine, but how many teams can pull it off without many top 5 picks? DAL has come the closest, but still has not made a Cup final. IMO, to get Michkov more help will have to come from the trade mkt supplemented by the draft. With the cap going up, UFA mkt really not going to give great options going fwd.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40502297/buffalo-sabres-trade-edmonton-oilers-ryan-mcleod

The reason why I placed the link involving McCleod for Savoie is giving up a highly regarded prospect usually entails the piece the player gotten back probably going to be there awhile. I agree with you about why they wanted to trade Mittlestadt. Not sure if they bridge McCleod or sign him long term. Probably trade Tuch and Byram. However, does Cozens gets moved to really mix things up? Cozens only really had 1 very good season. His value is plummeting. Teams do not want to have anchor contracts. For me, Cozens is similiar to Zegras, but with more term. Does a GM just hold onto the player and hope the player turns it around to justify the contract, or move him very soon to recoup good value in a trade?

With the Flyers not tanking, these are the trades Briere has to be involved with and hopefully hit. Draft and develop is fine, but how many teams can pull it off without many top 5 picks? DAL has come the closest, but still has not made a Cup final. IMO, to get Michkov more help will have to come from the trade mkt supplemented by the draft. With the cap going up, UFA mkt really not going to give great options going fwd.
- Trox88

They seem to have painted themselves into this corner.

Savoie was traded to EDM for Mcleod. Byram was traded to Buffalo for Mittlestadt.

Buffalo is no closer to a Stanley cup than the Flyers. Yes they are young but Adams has not and I dont belive is capable of creating a contender. The team is poorly built just as it was during the last rebuild with Eichel

Flyers are younger and have less talent and they could make the playoffs sooner than Buffalo. Despite the poor start the Flyers are now 1 point out of a WC spot.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Buffalo just hasn’t been successful with the ole reliable bottom out for 10 years strategy. When Adam’s panics to save his job is be right there looking to pilfer some of the young talent that hasn’t meshed so far.

I agree. Along with drafting, db is going to have to make some shrewd deals to get some more skill and if possible the odd ufa that makes sense but those seem to be rare nowadays. Not everyone is as lucky as the rags who have young ufa stars say they only want to go there.

1 point behind Boston for the last wild card spot. How can you not love the moxie and compete level this team has shown. Wouldn’t want to play this team in the first round.

Danny owes it to the boys to bring in reinforcements to help the playoff push. Start using some of those picks to bring in what the coach needs.

what does frost even fetch in return?
- black_francis

I think the best we can hope for is a change of scenery guy for a guy who needs a change of scenery. A problem for a problem swap.

1 point behind Boston for the last wild card spot. How can you not love the moxie and compete level this team has shown. Wouldn’t want to play this team in the first round.

Danny owes it to the boys to bring in reinforcements to help the playoff push. Start using some of those picks to bring in what the coach needs.
- furio16

Hard no for me. We don't need more players that fit Torts' mold, this team will never win like that. Keep the picks. If you ARE going to use them, use them to acquire young skill, not Torts type grinders. Especially since Torts is not going to be the coach when this team is ready to contend.

I will go a step further and say that whoever is picked in the upcoming draft will never play for a Torts coached team. So you cant be drafting to what Torts wants or needs IMO.

You do realize they are an extremely young team right?
- Stayin alive

I do realize that, but I don't think many of their players will reach their potential in that culture. For example, in this game $11+M AAV Owen Power got knocked off the puck by a 19 year old kid, and got beat up the ice by Noah freak'n Cates! The Sabres epically Suck and will always epically Suck.

Hard no for me. We don't need more players that fit Torts' mold, this team will never win like that. Keep the picks. If you ARE going to use them, use them to acquire young skill, not Torts type grinders. Especially since Torts is not going to be the coach when this team is ready to contend.

I will go a step further and say that whoever is picked in the upcoming draft will never play for a Torts coached team. So you cant be drafting to what Torts wants or needs IMO.
- MBFlyerfan

I think we need to rid ourselves of this false narrative that Torts only wants muckers and grinders because it is not true! The Torts mold for a hockey player is a player with balls, grit, speed, a willingness to forecheck and most of all, put the team ahead of themselves. More than anything else, Torts values a player that can forecheck and win puck battles. And make no mistake, every winner in this league is a strong forechecker and wins puck battles. You think Nathan McKinnon or Connor McDavid doesn't forecheck? You think Cale Makar doesn't battle in front of his own net or go into corners and win puck battles? You think Matthew Tkachuk doesn't block shots? Torts knows the character of player that is needed to win in this league, so don't mistake character for skill or type of player. Torts does not want a team of Nick Ds, otherwise Nick D wouldn't be sitting in the press box night after night.

Listen to this post game from Torts as he talks about Sanhein 3 years ago to now. Torts is spot on, and in fact mirrored exactly what I said about Sanheim then. Now Sanheim is playing like a true top pairing defenseman, and that is all because of Torts. Sanheim 3 years ago was "a boy that could skate", now he is a man that plays hockey.

1 point behind Boston for the last wild card spot. How can you not love the moxie and compete level this team has shown. Wouldn’t want to play this team in the first round.

Danny owes it to the boys to bring in reinforcements to help the playoff push. Start using some of those picks to bring in what the coach needs.
- furio16

I don't see that happening. More likely a player or two gets traded at the deadline. Frost and Risto are the two best candidates, though the Flyers will not get much for Frost at this point.

1 point behind Boston for the last wild card spot. How can you not love the moxie and compete level this team has shown. Wouldn’t want to play this team in the first round.

Danny owes it to the boys to bring in reinforcements to help the playoff push. Start using some of those picks to bring in what the coach needs.
- furio16

It’s not go time for them. Approach it like last year… even if we’re in the running for a playoff spot, if we can trade some vets for picks do it.

If we make it, it’d be like the caps situation last year. Get destroyed first round even if we brought some players in at the tdl. Get more picks and shed salary if you can. We’re a couple years away imo even though I do like how they’ve played of late.

Rather interesting Michkov is getting more physically engaged as the season progresses. Little snarl to his game. Adds to the legend.
- Trox88

He’s been great and better than expected. Tbh. Need to surround him with talent.

Also. Props to sanheim. He’s playing great.

I think we need to rid ourselves of this false narrative that Torts only wants muckers and grinders because it is not true! The Torts mold for a hockey player is a player with balls, grit, speed, a willingness to forecheck and most of all, put the team ahead of themselves. More than anything else, Torts values a player that can forecheck and win puck battles. And make no mistake, every winner in this league is a strong forechecker and wins puck battles. You think Nathan McKinnon or Connor McDavid doesn't forecheck? You think Cale Makar doesn't battle in front of his own net or go into corners and win puck battles? You think Matthew Tkachuk doesn't block shots? Torts knows the character of player that is needed to win in this league, so don't mistake character for skill or type of player. Torts does not want a team of Nick Ds, otherwise Nick D wouldn't be sitting in the press box night after night.

Listen to this post game from Torts as he talks about Sanhein 3 years ago to now. Torts is spot on, and in fact mirrored exactly what I said about Sanheim then. Now Sanheim is playing like a true top pairing defenseman, and that is all because of Torts. Sanheim 3 years ago was "a boy that could skate", now he is a man that plays hockey.
- jd250

He’s played great. Now I want to see consistency the rest of the year. Can he keep up this level of play?

He’s been great and better than expected. Tbh. Need to surround him with talent.

Also. Props to sanheim. He’s playing great.
- Hextall271

For these reasons just for Briere to sit and just use all of his picks to draft prospects in this upcoming draft makes little sense to me. They have chosen not to tank. Realistically, Sanheim and TK can produce at this level for 3 to 4 more years (hopefully more) before there is a dropoff. Michkov will probably be much better in that timeframe (crazy to think). So these prospects about to be drafted won't be able to contribute till the end of the Sanheim/TK production window at best. He needs to start adding to the roster over the next year to accelerate the rebuild. Not suggesting using all of his picks and go full Vegas team build, but he needs to be more aggressive reshaping his roster. Ironically, Briere's best move might turn out to be when Krug said "no thanks" to the Flyers.

For these reasons just for Briere to sit and just use all of his picks to draft prospects in this upcoming draft makes little sense to me. They have chosen not to tank. Realistically, Sanheim and TK can produce at this level for 3 to 4 more years (hopefully more) before there is a dropoff. Michkov will probably be much better in that timeframe (crazy to think). So these prospects about to be drafted won't be able to contribute till the end of the Sanheim/TK production window at best. He needs to start adding to the roster over the next year to accelerate the rebuild. Not suggesting using all of his picks and go full Vegas team build, but he needs to be more aggressive reshaping his roster. Ironically, Briere's best move might turn out to be when Krug said "no thanks" to the Flyers.
- Trox88

Wrt the krug comments. I always forget about that but thank god. It was in the hands Of the player and he saved us from ourselves inadvertently haha

Wrt the krug comments. I always forget about that but thank god. It was in the hands Of the player and he saved us from ourselves inadvertently haha
- Hextall271

I disagree. The Krug deal likely would have been better for the Flyers. Briere was tearing it down at that moment. Sanheim is likely a huge part for Briere pivoting on his rebuild method. Flyers would would have been a guaranteed bottom team the last 2 years had we made that trade IMO

For these reasons just for Briere to sit and just use all of his picks to draft prospects in this upcoming draft makes little sense to me. They have chosen not to tank. Realistically, Sanheim and TK can produce at this level for 3 to 4 more years (hopefully more) before there is a dropoff. Michkov will probably be much better in that timeframe (crazy to think). So these prospects about to be drafted won't be able to contribute till the end of the Sanheim/TK production window at best. He needs to start adding to the roster over the next year to accelerate the rebuild. Not suggesting using all of his picks and go full Vegas team build, but he needs to be more aggressive reshaping his roster. Ironically, Briere's best move might turn out to be when Krug said "no thanks" to the Flyers.
- Trox88

You cant replicate or use Vegas as a blueprint. They built a team through an expansion draft and got lucky landing a disgruntled Eichel. Briere said something quite concerning before the season started. He compared his team to the Blues which was basically a "Get lucky" model

Michlov 15 points in 16 games. If this kids keeps this production up all year, its actually scary how good of player the Flyers got. How much better is he going to be in his mid 20s.......

I disagree. The Krug deal likely would have been better for the Flyers. Briere was tearing it down at that moment. Sanheim is likely a huge part for Briere pivoting on his rebuild method. Flyers would would have been a guaranteed bottom team the last 2 years had we made that trade IMO
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

What was the official deal? Was there a first and krug coming our way? If not, my point is that we would have given away what now looks like a solid dman for nothing. Not good asset management.

You cant replicate or use Vegas as a blueprint. They built a team through an expansion draft and got lucky landing a disgruntled Eichel. Briere said something quite concerning before the season started. He compared his team to the Blues which was basically a "Get lucky" model
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I agree with the Blues opinion to a point. Most of their team was built thru trades after drafting players like Pietrangelo and Tarasenko. Ironically, Hexy helped out the Blues with the Schenn trade. I would argue both Armstromg and McCrimmon (Vegas GM) built their rosters thru aggressive trades, which include using all assets (including 1st rd picks). To this point Briere has shown a willingness to trade for draft picks only, which one would think a tear down to the studs philosophy- obviously has not happened. IMO, Michkov coming over early and looking like he is on a path to superstar means Briere needs to adopt more of the Armstrong/McCrimmon philosophy on roster building. Otherwise, TK and Sanheim become the Jamie Benn anchor on a cap if Briere sticks to the plan of using all of his draft picks for prospects. Even if he hits on most of these picks starting with last year's draft, the time to get those prospects up to speed, TK and Sanheim will have a decrease in production due to age.

Hard no for me. We don't need more players that fit Torts' mold, this team will never win like that. Keep the picks. If you ARE going to use them, use them to acquire young skill, not Torts type grinders. Especially since Torts is not going to be the coach when this team is ready to contend.

I will go a step further and say that whoever is picked in the upcoming draft will never play for a Torts coached team. So you cant be drafting to what Torts wants or needs IMO.
- MBFlyerfan

Was being totally sarcastic.

That is a scenario that one can see playing out. If the coach stays around in a management role then he may still want to draft according to his preferences.

I don't see that happening. More likely a player or two gets traded at the deadline. Frost and Risto are the two best candidates, though the Flyers will not get much for Frost at this point.
- jd250

If they are in a wild card spot or within a few points they will not sell. They chances are they buy.

This trading Risto narrative crap is always good for a laugh.