The New New Unending Flyers thread

[zambonir]

Understood, I just don't know if it's necessarily a "big advantage," as AF puts it. A correction in the context of Flyers history perhaps. But not necessarily something that makes him stand out leaguewide.

[flyers19rw]

Simon Nolet is now 84 years old and has stepped back in his role as a scout. When he was active the Flyers seemed to have more hits on draft day. So far with Flahr in charge, not as much.

[Docs]

I'm criticizing elite prospects and not you.

Please keep sharing. More information and different viewpoints are a good thing.

Please keep posting. I will stop posting if it means you will keep posting.

I apologize, I misunderstood your post as towards me and not Elite Prospects. I do not want you to stop posting, I did not react well, no excuses for that and I'm sorry. my family got some tough news on Wednesday and I don't think that I should have been responding to posts this week! Appreciate you and everyone here.

[Florida_Sunshine]

Take care of the family sir.

We'll still be here arguing.

[zambonir]

No we won't!

Good thoughts to you and yours Docs

[phillychuck]

Classy responses by everyone. Take care of your family, Doc.

[Austinfan]

Usually we get some idea in a few days as rumors and insider comments surface.

I think this will be a very fluid draft, while the top ten is close to set, as we saw last draft, there are always surprises (who picked Sennecke for #3 and Buium for #12?). After that, free fall all.

I think Briere will go in with specific targets in terms of players and then wait and see how things shake out.
He may also have a small list of Flyer players he's ready to trade (Andrae/Zamula, Hathaway, Poehling) if need be.
Trading up from #6 is unlikely, b/c it's rarely done.
Trading up from #22 is more common, #32, into the 1st rd

My expectations is (2) centers out of the first rd, there's only a couple likely D-men and Martone is unlikely to make it to #6.
After that, who knows? Probably one goalie and whoever looks good.

If they end up with Desnoyers, Reschney to go with Jett, Berglund, Cates (26), Poehling (27) they won't have to worry about center for a long time.

I think this is why Briere wanted to stockpile picks for this draft, it wasn't that it was stronger than 2024 (or 2026), but that its strength (centers) corresponded to the Flyers' biggest organizational hole.

[flyers19rw]

Usually we get some idea in a few days as rumors and insider comments surface.

It also is the silly season where nonsense gets spread by organizations that want to hide their intentions and fools who want to act as if they have some “inside information”.
Its fun to speculate but don’t get sucked in by rumors that really have no logical basis.

[Austinfan]

I was talking after the draft and trades, when details leak out.

Before the draft, most of what is out there is misinformation.

And a lot of media talk is pure speculation, like Dallas having to shed salary, so first the Robertson rumors, now the Marchment rumors - odds are Dallas has talked to a bunch of teams about a bunch of players, but it's a big jump from casually gauging interest to detailed discussions of trade parameters.

[xogfog]

I think the point is that Briere will not just dismiss a player because he is too small. He will look to see what other intangibles are there instead of just dismissing the player for being too small.

The problem is, the team already has a lot of smaller players. They do need size, but granted, I'd rather have a more skilled smaller player than an average bigger player.

[bigegypt0417]

Dallas has to shed salary...it would be logical you try to move high dollar players.

They have 10ish free agents and 5 million dollars in room.

Teams are probably setting cost at this point since there isn't time during the draft.

[Austinfan]

That's been interesting to watch, who goes and who comes/stays.
Frost and Farabee go, Pelletier comes, Brink gets more PT.
Pelletier has a high motor and is fearless, Brink responded to Torts by becoming a much better forechecker and more responsible defenisvely.

It's not surprising Briere has a soft spot for players like himself.

But he also wants balance, Barkey, Brink, TK and Pelletier is probably too many small forwards. And the Russian center they're trying to sign would make them even smaller.

Though I think he's more comfortable with smurfs at wing if he has full sized centers and one big wing to balance.
See Foerster - Cates - Brink.

It's on defense where I think he wants to pair undersized guys like Drysdale with players like Seeler.
Which makes at least one of Andrae or Zamula (long but lacks mass) expendable.
Drafted Bonk and Gill the last couple years, have Grans, McDonald and Samson.

[Florida_Sunshine]

I have read many times on this board that it is not possible to keep all draft picks and I wonder why. Unless the player is age 20 or makes the NHL roster, they return to their junior team. We would then have a chance to further evaluate them prior to offering a NHL contract. So, it is not a roster thing like in baseball.

With that said, I am all for packaging picks to move up as I highlighted yesterday.

For those that have taken the position that we can't keep all picks, please explain what I am missing here?

[zambonir]

I don't recall anyone saying it is not possible (for roster or contractual reasons), just not optimal to stockpile that many players in the same draft year, and probably more optimal to use some in trades - whether to move up to get quality over quantity or address nearer-term needs (be that an NHL player or pushing a first into 2026 because you might lose your own on an offer sheet to an NHL player. ).

Trading the Oilers pick into 2026 simply because it might be better is another consideration, since it won't be worse.

And you probably don't want three centers , for instance, who are the same age signing their ELCs and moving towards RFA status in the same year. Luchanko might be on the same timeline as this year's players so it would not be bad to have two first this year and two first next year. The latter could also be an asset at the '26 trade deadline if the Flyers are contending.

[Austinfan]

That assumes they're all CHL players.
CHL - 2 years to sign, though you can sign earlier and then slide the ELC until they go pro
College - 4 years to sign, though most after their junior season (3 years or more, depending if they go right to college)
Russia - indefinite
SHL - not sure, but I think you have 3 years.

And while your 1st rd picks will probably arrive in the NHL in 2026 or 2027, 2nd rd picks might not get there until 2028 or 2029 unless you've hit the jackpot.

So even if you used all 8 picks (up to #68), their arrival in Philly will still be staggered.

However you also face a 50 contract limit, so you will have to stagger signings, 1sr rd picks right away, maybe some other picks after 2 years in junior or 3 years in college.