The current Flyers are probably a 90-95 point team.
To be a SC contender, I look to build a 100+ point team for 5+ years and hope the Hockey Gods smile upon me (hot goalie, few injuries).
Flyers will probably never land an elite 1C, there are only a half dozen or so at one time, then 10-15 good 1Cs who often look better or worse depending on their wings.
Given the Flyer wings, a top 2C will look like a 1C, CYA on defense and distribute the puck (i.e. Jett's profile).
Dvorak can fill in for a couple years, but they need another C to go with Jett.
Thing is they're building the talent pool and draft picks to make a move in a couple seasons.
The other factor is player development, one thing they've done well the last couple years is teach skating, Brink went from average to top 20% in two years, Cates from below to above average, etc. So I'll see what happens with some of the prospects - but they now have a skating coach for the Phantoms - big change from the Hextall era when player development wasn't an organizational priority. Give Fletcher credit, he pushed for more investment in coaching and facilities, Briere has continued with that agenda. They have first rate training facilities and a deep coaching staff.
