The '25-'26 Philadelphia Flyers thread

[flyers19rw]

Berglund is going to make it in the show. He may not be Peter Forsberg but he has at least second line center written all over him. On other sites all I see about him are fans saying that he's too slow; is playing against weak opposition and other derogatory things. If a Flyers prospect isn't Cellebriini or Schaefer, they're being written off as bums. It's getting to be a tough audience out there.

[Austinfan]

The hardest thing to predict is how a player will fill out and how much he can improve his skating.
Flyers have been able to improve a number of recent picks, Foerster, Cates, Brink. Missed with Strome.

I think they rated Nesbitt and Berglund higher than other teams b/c they projected them to add 20-30 lbs and improve their speed, in which case you have a big skilled two way center. If they guess wrong, they have a deep AHL team.

The two players who've looked better than expected are Ruohonen (freshman at Harvard) and Westergard (4th line SHL but just turned 18 in September), both playing major roles for Finland.

[LegoDoom]

Adding 20-30 lbs and improving speed is nonsensical.

[Austinfan]

Not at all, numerous players have done so.
You see it in the NFL combine every year.

What matters is the player's physique and how they add weight.
Build up the lower body and with good skate coaching, you become a more explosive skater.
Build up the upper body and you become top heavy, slow down due to weight and struggle with leverage.

So it's a combination of genetics and proper training.

[phillychuck]

Weight gain, even if muscular, is also mostly effective for increasing speed in a straight line. More weight anywhere decreases quickness, especially in tight areas.

[LegoDoom]

You are talking about people that have skated for 15+ years. Obviously teaching better technique will help, but these players should have already been taught that.

I like efficient skaters.

[Austinfan]

I don't think weight has a big impact on lateral agility, more body control (which is why I think bigger 18 year olds don't look as good in many cases, still developing body control after their growth spurt from 16-18) and body type.

Longer legged players are going to struggle with lateral agility, a long stride is great for building up speed (Sanheim is a good example) but makes it awkward trying to make shifty moves in short areas (like near the blue line on the PP).

The ideal NHL body is probably 6'0 210 lbs, with weight evenly distributed but a big butt for explosive push and strong, flexible ankles. Tippett is probably close to the ideal, great straight line speed, nifty open ice moves, can deliver big hits. If his instincts and vision were on the same level as his athleticism, he'd be elite. Though with coaching and experience he's gradually improved, his ceiling is probably a middle of the pack 1RW or top 2RW.

[bigegypt0417]

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-trade-egor-zamula-penguins-acquire-philip-tomasino/703845/

[Austinfan]

Tomasino is probably more for the Phantoms than the Flyers.

Phantoms had 9 D-men, and 4 who are legitimate prospects, Bonk, Murchison, Kyrou and McDonald. So really wasn't much need for Zamula, who along with Ginning was their oldest D-man at 26, Grans (23), Gaudette (24), Schmidt (22).,

Tomasino has flashed at the NHL level, but is a bit of a tweener, like Richard, an AHL+ player who is good offensively but questionable on defense. Richard is fast but undersized, Tomasino is average size and slighly below average speed. Given Barkey's promotion and Bump's injury (and Richard in the Spengler Cup) Phantoms were short on scorers.

He's a RFA next summer, given Martone, Jett, Bump, and Foerster returning, even if they move out Hathaway and DeLo and don't resign Abols and Grandstrom, still no room at the inn. Maybe gets a one year deal to return to Phantoms, similar to Eklind this season.

[LegoDoom]

Another goal today.

Heikki Ruohonen is also having a nice tournament. I admit that I don't know much about him, but by the looks of it he can really skate and has some talent although his Harvard stats aren't great.

[Austinfan]

He's a 19 year old freshman at Harvard, so I'd focus on how he improves as the season progresses.
A lot of college kids struggle their first season, playing against older players.

[LegoDoom]

Another goal vs USA!

[Docs]

Finland knocks USA out of the tournament

[bigegypt0417]

Flyers are sitting in third halfway through the season.

Currently third in the Atlantic with less games played.

Currently sitting at the 26th draft position.

Probably a buyer at the deadline if thry can find a younger piece.

[Docs]

Barkey with his first career goal yesterday. I read that Zamula didn’t report to the Pens AHL team.

[phillychuck]

Details on Zamula:

Penguins suspend Egor Zamula for failing to report to the AHL

[Docs]

This article says the penguins cleared out salary space by trading a guy with a 1.75m salary for a guy with a 1.7m salary, i guess they are right lol

But seems like this is the kind of analysis we get when we have AI writers

[Austinfan]

Barkey has had an amazing start for an undersized 20 year old.
Still worried whether he can hold up physically, and he probably needs to go on the Brink workout plan, but after 7 games, starting to think he's for real.
Watched him in the Memorial Cup, while Cowan has more raw talent (top end speed), Barkey was captain of that team and the straw that stirred the drink.

Briere collecting a lot of captains that have led teams deep into playoffs at NCAA, CHL and WJC-20.
Don't think he feels intangibles replace talent, rather, intangibles are a talent multiplier.

[VoteForKalas]

Don't look now, but it is deja vu all over again: Flyers has the 31st ranked PP.

The bad PP coach is long gone along with Torts if some believed he was involved in their struggles.

Even the players are not the same as we have Zegras, Dvorak, York and now Barkey involved.

Hopefully, they can get it turned around. It sure would help us develop as a team if we had even a middling PP.

[zambonir]

Five-year extension for Dvorak. 5.15 AAV.