The New New Unending Flyers thread

[flyers19rw]

The decades long power ranking in the East is changing. Bruins, Penguins and Rangers are in decline. That opens the door for the Flyers to compete for a PO spot. Given the maturation of some of the players and a more aggressive offensive system of play under a new coach, the Flyers have a shot for a WC slot in the POs next season.

[Austinfan]

But it should come "naturally," as players improve and new players are added, not through force feeding.

They've actually got adequate depth between Phllly and LHV, what they need is more quality at the top, and some competent goalies.

TK - Couts - Michkov
Foerster - Cates - Brink (4th best xGF% line in the NHL, and they were matched against top lines)
Grebenkin/Bump/Barkey - Jett - Tippett
Pelletier - Poehling - Hathaway

York - Sanheim
Andrae - Grans (Risto)
Seeler - Drysdale
Zamula

[zambonir]

Take it for what it's worth but in the article BE shared both Cates and Foerster were mentioned as possible trade pieces (as was Tippett). Which, to be fair, probably says something about the credibility of the analysis (if nothing else the Wild couldn't possibly take Tippett if they don't even want to pay Rossi).

But that doesn't mean the Flyers aren't in the market for a #1 or #2 C if they can get one now instead of in 2026 or 2027. And we don't even know if they will draft a C with the #6 pick (or they might but he won't actually stick there or a be a 1 or 2 C).

[bigegypt0417]

I'm sorry...I don't believe that wanting a front office that's capable of multitasking is...getting carried away.

Do you know how unrealistic it is to think you'll hit on every draft pick?

I'm not the one arguing a one dimensional approach.

[bigegypt0417]

I'm pretty sure my point was the availability of a young center...the rest is the musing of an internet reporter

[zambonir]

For sure, any available (or not entirely available) young center is someone the Flyers will ask on. Briere has already explicitly stated as much, in addition to his intention to try and make trades and sign free agents (and/or trade one of the picks into next year).

[Austinfan]

I think Briere has shown he's both patient and opportunistic, that is, he won't be rushed into a deal that he doesn't think provides value, but he's willing to pull the trigger on the right deal.

Top 6 centers 25 and under rarely become available, and to add an over 30 center on a shorter deal runs against the availability of players who are upgrades over what they already have on the team.

But one advantage of committing to a rebuild is you can wait for the right deal to come along instead of forcing a move out of need.

[zambonir]

Gonna be disappointing if the Phantoms don't pull off the upset (for one thing I'd like to catch a game). They won Game 2 in Hershey for the split and could have closed it out at home on Friday but Bears have the edge now.

Flyers prospects Jett Luchanko, Alex Bump getting taste of playoff hockey with...

[Austinfan]

Being able to play another 5-6 PO games would be great for player development.

Phantoms have a bunch of prospects that are a few months to a full season or so from being NHL ready, an extended run would accelerate that timeline.

[LegoDoom]

Being able to play another 5-6 PO games would be great for player development.

Phantoms have a bunch of prospects that are a few months to a full season or so from being NHL ready, an extended run would accelerate that timeline.

Your theory is going to be blown up when the prospects you are mentioning aren't really good enough and the Flyers have a ton of picks. The Flyers need better talent, not more of so-so talent.

[zambonir]

But there is still no downside to the players on the Phantoms roster playing more games. Deciding a player isn't good enough is also part of the development process.

[LegoDoom]

But there is still no downside to the players on the Phantoms roster playing more games. Deciding a player isn't good enough is also part of the development process.

That's fine, but AF has been mentioning a lot of players who will barely make the roster, if ever.

[xogfog]

And the Phantoms season ends with a game 5 loss to Hershey.

[zambonir]

So it goes. Bears were the superior team by a lot over the regular season, shorter series gave the Phantoms two chances to steal it, but no.

Probably the end of Kolosov's Flyers career, he was neither the starter nor the back-up in the playoffs (heck I guess I don't even know if he was physically there).

[flyers19rw]

I suspect that Kolosov understands that he is not NHL ready. He was probably given a choice to build his game either in the AHL or the KHL. He chose the latter and the Flyers were amenable with that. He’ll either be back in the future or will be a chip in a trade. His rights will stay with Philly for a while.

[zambonir]

His deal is up after next season and he probably won't merit an offer sheet if he's still with the org. I think his rights will probably be traded if he's in the KHL next year (or if some tanking/struggling team has a spot for him on the NHL roster). Probably as soon as this summer. But it also depends whether Fedotov is traded, sent to the AHL (he'd likely clear at his salary) or somehow ends up staying on the Flyers.

So I guess the Flyers did not even send him back to Allentown at the end of the NHL season? If Kolosov really wanted to further his career and his place with the Flyers, he would have wanted to battle for time in the playoffs over two older journeymen.

[Austinfan]

You need cheap depth as well as stars.
Where do you think a lot of that depth comes from? Developing players in the AHL.

Go look at the Pens Cup winning teams.

[LegoDoom]

You need cheap depth as well as stars.
Where do you think a lot of that depth comes from? Developing players in the AHL.

Go look at the Pens Cup winning teams.

The Mario/Jagr teams or the Crosby/Malkin teams? Depth is the easy part.

[bigegypt0417]

The Pens?

They Had Crosby, Malkin and Letang and Fleury in goal.

That's almost a historical core of stars.

When you start with those types of players...it's fairly easy to build around them.

Your comparison is apples to trout.

[flyers19rw]

Kolosov is 23 years old at a position where experience matters. He has shown some promise while here. If the organization didn't think so, they''d just cut bait with him now and totally let him go free which would be silly since he still is an asset. Now all they need to do is offer him a QO at the end of next season and they retain his rights which they probably will do. Like other Russians who faltered with the organization such as Rubtsov or Vorobyev these players can become useful chips in future trades.