Cg had ZERO leverage and Philly didn’t call his bluff. Calling his bluff would’ve meant telling him they aren’t moving him and enjoy 4 years in college risking injury and making no money.


Top prospects want elc signed and first year burned as fast as possible. Cg wanted to be signed. Told to do 1 more year of college. He was pissed. He’s immature (as expected) philly puffed their chest and made a rash stupid decision. They got Pennie’s on the dollar in trade. And don’t be fooled by the narrative Philly pushed. There was no threat if it came out what cg would’ve had to deal with the big bad flyers fans. They are nothing. They would’ve been standing cheering like crazy the first time cg put a puck in the net.
- Stayin alive

Not true. College kids always hold some leverage as they can stay all 4 years and then go FA route.


To me the Flyers don't have the talent in the system to lose a guy like Gauthier. So he wanted to sign early. Sign the kid. Not every prospect is the same.

Not true. College kids always hold some leverage as they can stay all 4 years and then go FA route.


To me the Flyers don't have the talent in the system to lose a guy like Gauthier. So he wanted to sign early. Sign the kid. Not every prospect is the same.
- J35Bacher

Completely agree. Anyone who doesn't think this was a misstep on the Flyers part is kidding themselves. He proved he was NHL ready by his showing in the world championships a month later.

Not true. College kids always hold some leverage as they can stay all 4 years and then go FA route.


To me the Flyers don't have the talent in the system to lose a guy like Gauthier. So he wanted to sign early. Sign the kid. Not every prospect is the same.
- J35Bacher

The kid hasn't played a minute in the NHL, so no one knows how good he is. Tonight doesn't count either because teams are really going to try to hard.

Not true. College kids always hold some leverage as they can stay all 4 years and then go FA route.


To me the Flyers don't have the talent in the system to lose a guy like Gauthier. So he wanted to sign early. Sign the kid. Not every prospect is the same.
- J35Bacher

Agreed. Kid seems like a total douche but he is talented. Flyers botches this and it has the potential to hurt for a long time. Drysdale has the skill, but if I am projecting, this whole scenario is going to sting for a long time.

Cg had ZERO leverage
- Stayin alive

Maybe if you repeat that a few dozen more times it'll be true

Did CG tell you this personally? Maybe that’s the case and maybe not. If CG wanted to sign but could not get a guarantee he wouldn’t be sent down to the Phantoms then that’s on him. I think there
Is more to it.
- bird_dog_pa

Db admitted he sent him back to college. There was debate that maybe when drafted fletch told cg he’d do 1 year in college then sign elc. Doesn’t matter db here now.

And he wasn’t eligible for ahl. Not old enough at time so it was nhl team this year or college. Db knew he needed more developement so college.


Cg handled it bad and got his way because Philly was weak. If Philly had come out with story there would’ve been backlash at first about cg. Then as heads cooled and cg realized during college season he has no option but to sign like he did with Anaheim or spend another 2 years in college he would’ve smoothed over with Philly.


And the Philly marketing would’ve went to work dismissing it all as water under the bridge. A misunderstanding etc etc and he would’ve signed elc and played last night.


In an ironic twist maybe he scores. lol

Did CG tell you this personally? Maybe that’s the case and maybe not. If CG wanted to sign but could not get a guarantee he wouldn’t be sent down to the Phantoms then that’s on him. I think there
Is more to it.
- bird_dog_pa

In my opinion it was obviously about the Flyers not being willing to sign him in March of 23

He played 4 more games than last season. So more chance to get more points.

He played 67 games to years ago and got 30 points. Only 9 less than this year.

He is just returning to what he is, an average 3rd line forward that every team has.
- WhiskeyMan

so I will ask again does lower minutes this season possibly explain less points?

no one said he is more than that. That has plenty of value. see past trades.

Not true. College kids always hold some leverage as they can stay all 4 years and then go FA route.


To me the Flyers don't have the talent in the system to lose a guy like Gauthier. So he wanted to sign early. Sign the kid. Not every prospect is the same.
- J35Bacher

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.
- Stayin alive

how many teams dont sign their top 5 pick college prospect?

He had options. Flyers messed up. Simple as that.

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.
- Stayin alive

I guess you could say the Flyers should've called his bluff and let him sit but that would've been risky. The threat was obviously strong enough to get the Flyers to act.

The kid hasn't played a minute in the NHL, so no one knows how good he is. Tonight doesn't count either because teams are really going to try to hard.
- WhiskeyMan

I don't care.

I get him signed and I play him. I am rebuilding. Once signed then we go from there. If not ready then he goes to the AHL next season. But I am going to go on a limb and say he would have been fine.

Is he good enough for the NHL or is he an over achieving AHLer? I know nothing about him.
- WhiskeyMan

I would be shocked if he ever plays more than 5 NHL games. There are always surprises, but I would compare him to (potential career) to Ryan Potulny (I view Potulny as a better player).

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.
- Stayin alive

Isn't that making the argument though? The kid wanted to play on the Flyers as March '23 and the Flyers did not sign him. CG was pissed and refused to sign which is his decision. We don't have to like it but the Flyers f'd up. They should have signed him at the time. He would have been better than most of roster from day one.

no idea why the font is bolded lol

Maybe if you repeat that a few dozen more times it'll be true
- Tomahawk

Maybe if you repeat that a top 5 pick is gonna risk 4 years in college making no money and never getting those earnings years back or that an agent would allow that or advise that it’ll make it true

I mean surely we see all these top players in college staying 4 years and not seeing them sign elc as fast as possible. Yep I’m wrong.

Frost & Atkinson got roughly 8 & 4 minutes. 🤔

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.
- Stayin alive

Blake Wheeler was picked fifth overall and did the same thing.

I think Gauthier was fully prepared to spend 4 years in college especially with how loaded BC's roster is and the opportunity to make NIL money.

No offense but do you know how many TOP prospects that go to college spend 4 years there risking injury and wasting earning years? None.

No TOP prospect or agent is gonna do that. And spare the Adam Fox example. He wasn’t a TOP 5 pick prospect. Out of the thousands in history that have gone this route maybe a a few have.


And with the big money now involved you’ll never see it again.

This leverage college kids have is for the lesser talented or perceived.
- Stayin alive

The leverage is there. Just because most don't use it doesn't mean it disappears.

He played his hand and got what he wanted.

I guess you could say the Flyers should've called his bluff and let him sit but that would've been risky. The threat was obviously strong enough to get the Flyers to act.
- MJL

Step 1 ) he’s not gonna sit 4 year in college. ZERO chance cg sits 4 years in college. When was the last time top 5 pick sat 4 years in college to “become free agent”

I do think Laughton has value in the market. I know Bill has mentioned the Flyers could have interest in acquiring a young, center reclamation project. Peyton Krebs has been mentioned many times. Not necessarily, Flyers are going to trade Laughton for a center, but I do expect Briere to get more young center depth in the organization. Even Briere knows a team is not a serious contender when in a "must win" game, Poehling is the center with the most minutes (not a shot at him). Offseason objective- increase organizational young center depth. Step 1- Rizzo signed. Let's see what happens next.
- Trox88

Flyers have the assets to create a package and get a player of need, a young player. DB, need to use all resources and tools to get that high ceiling talent. take a step back next season to reset. If there is a D in the draft they think is the man, trade to move up, short of that, get another 1st pick or two for the 2025 draft.

That said. I thought Zamula played well last night.
- mickel25

I agree.

Rigged game Torts pulled the goalie in a tie game when they were already eliminated with the tie in the Detroit game. That was more crooked than the soccer games in the Italy league with Juventus a couple of years ago
- saintdog19

If that qualifies as "rigged", what do you make of the icing call (that should not have been) that gave the Wings an offensive zone faceoff with seconds left?

It’s public knowledge cg wanted and expected to be signed to his elc after first year college. Db balked (rightfully so) and had him return to college for another year.
- Stayin alive

Not rightfully so. The goal shy Flyers would have been much better off signing Gauthier in March last year and getting his NHL career started rather than wasting ice time on guys like Hayes, Bellows, Lemieux, Allison and Deslauriers.

Briere miscalculated, no doubt about it, and the Flyers lost a lot of value. Now that he's signed do you think Anaheim would trade Gauthier to the Flyers for Drysdale, their 2nd back and the Panthers 1st rounder? No way.

Isn't that making the argument though? The kid wanted to play on the Flyers as March '23 and the Flyers did not sign him. CG was pissed and refused to sign which is his decision. We don't have to like it but the Flyers f'd up. They should have signed him at the time. He would have been better than most of roster from day one.

no idea why the font is bolded lol
- Flyfly

I think it’s OBVIOUS he needed another year of college. To mature. Db was well within his rights to tell the kid hey we want you to do one more year of college to grow. Go dominate. Grow body. Enjoy world jr’s.


People forget and use the March timeline for signing him or not. But here’s the truth and facts. NHL season starts in October. He would’ve signed at end of college season in March or early April depending on college team season so you’re really talking about where does he play ACTUAL hockey for 6 or 7 months from October to April? He would’ve signed just like he did in Anaheim and burn 1st year of elc.


What would’ve been better for his development? Dealing with torts game all season or dominating in college and playing in world jr’s tourney?

Db has 100 % correct what he did.

He was doing what was best not only for team but the player.

Where they (frank)ed up was puffing chest and making a stupid trade and how they publicly handled the situation when cg shunned them.


Yes cg is guilty of immature behavior but there simply ZERO chance top 5 pick is gonna sit in college 4 years.

The team should NEVER just cave

I kind of expected the Torts hate to flow today. Some of the criticism he gets is deserved. Some of it is simply fabrications. Interesting I was just listening Elliot Friedman on NHL radio who said teams like Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, New Jersey will be looking for a guy just like Torts. A guy that can come in and set an expectation for the young guys to meet. Be a bit of a hard ass…but get the buy in needed to compete. He talked about all 4 of this teams having more talent than the Flyers yet they were not as consistent.
Outside in the Hockey world Torts is getting a ton of praise for what the Flyers were this year.
I do think there were things the Flyers accomplished this year but I also think it showed that they are still in need of change….change in the form of more skilled youth. I thought a while back that Torts could be coming to the end of the line….not because it’s what the Flyers wanted but more for what Torts wanted. I guess we’ll see.
- landros 2

Even if I agree with what you say (and elsewhere in the hockey world =/ what one guy says on radio), those teams are at a completely different stage of their talent curve. Esepcially the ones not called Det.

Wtf is the point of loading a team full of grinders and showing your commitment to rebuilding by overplaying them and doing everything you can to stunt the growth of your skill platers by not letting them go through their teething issues?