because they are not rebuilding despite what they spew. The co-gm/coach wants his vets. Needs his vets. Has no interest or patience to live with growing pains if they were truly rebuilding.

All you will get for this slop is mid rd picks at best. The players with real value will not be moved unless they ask. Mind boggling to me a guy like TK would not ask out.
- hello it's me 2050

Well if they don't unload a lot of vets this year and pick in the top 5 of the draft again, they are screwed and truly are going nowhere!

So if you don’t have the talent, what do you preach to your developing players? Wait for Michkov and coast until then? As far as I’m concerned the “be harder to play against” mantra is less for the fans and more for the players who are going to be enduring this rebuild.

Its not selling a bs product, it’s openly admitting we aren’t going to win games so this is the only thing we can control so that we are prepared for when we do have the talent here.

Otherwise we will get high end talent here and a team full of guys that feel it’s ok to fold as soon as you’re down a goal or two.
- black_francis

Who knows how good Michkov will be or if he will ever get out of Russia for that matter! Michkov can be Sidney Crosby and it will not matter if the other pieces are not in place (#1 goalie, true top pairing defenseman and a true 1C) when he gets here. Just ask Connor McDavid how's life playing for Edmonton, and he has Draisaitl to play with at least. You don't get these players by drafting in the middle of the 1st round or in a trade, because teams with these types of players don't trade them! You have to bottom out for a couple of seasons, draft high and develop them.

Accountability, work ethic, hard to play against. That's the path to the Cup. Sounds like the same old Flyers to me.
- MJL

You’re not listening. No one said this is the path to the cup. It’s the path in front of us.

If your team has zero foresight into how they play now and how that can affect them in the future, why play the games?

Who knows how good Michkov will be or if he will ever get out of Russia for that matter! Michkov can be Sidney Crosby and it will not matter if the other pieces are not in place (#1 goalie, true top pairing defenseman and a true 1C) when he gets here. Just ask Connor McDavid how's life playing for Edmonton, and he has Draisaitl to play with at least. You don't get these players by drafting in the middle of the 1st round or in a trade, because teams with these types of players don't trade them! You have to bottom out for a couple of seasons, draft high and develop them.
- jd250

Great - you have these two guys - how’s the rest of the team? They aren’t chopped liver, you need to give them a reason to play, develop and not ask for a ticket out. Then you will have a supporting cast around your superstar

You can bottom out without mentally/collectively giving up

Accountability, work ethic, hard to play against. That's the path to the Cup. Sounds like the same old Flyers to me.
- MJL

No, its really, really different this time, Everything is wide open The Flyers have a plethora of mediocre players trying to win a roster spot! It's the competition that will change everything.

Great - you have these two guys - how’s the rest of the team? They aren’t chopped liver, you need to give them a reason to play, develop and not ask for a ticket out. Then you will have a supporting cast around your superstar

You can bottom out without mentally/collectively giving up
- black_francis

Yes, I agree, as a player or coach you should try to win every game of course. What I am saying is unless the Flyers bottom out (standings wise) the Flyers have no shot at succeeding with this "rebuild". You can and should have a few veteran players to provide example for the younger players, but the Flyers IMO have too many veteran players right now.

The problem seems to be that this organization still thinks "harder to play against" means getting hits and physically beating you. When what it really should mean is being so talented the other team cant compete against you.

Great talent is the hardest thing to play against. Yeah yeah, they still need to work hard, but I would rather have hard working talent over hard working plugs.
- MBFlyerfan

They've already admitted they need more talent. That doesn't happen overnight. Being harder to play against in the interim is a stop gap solution that will help bridge the gap until more talent is drafted/acquired.

I get the frustrating with the organization, but what should they be saying at this point? "We're going to roll over until we're given generational talent"... Not happening, ever.

I’d love to argue the nuances of this team but I’m a CEO and have better things to do right now

EDIT: sorry… was a CEO

Did Buffalo prepare their players during down years so that when Eichel was drafted they were prepared? Or did he leave as soon as he realized the team being built up around him leading into his debut was pure sh!t?

coaches and players never try to intentionally lose.
- hello it's me 2050

Just ice a horrible goaltending crew. Look at the Devils Penguins tank for Mario Lemieux

Just ice a horrible goaltending crew. Look at the Devils Penguins tank for Mario Lemieux
- THE EVIL WITHIN

yep it is about the players the gm gives the coach.

They've already admitted they need more talent. That doesn't happen overnight. Being harder to play against in the interim is a stop gap solution that will help bridge the gap until more talent is drafted/acquired.

I get the frustrating with the organization, but what should they be saying at this point? "We're going to roll over until we're given generational talent"... Not happening, ever.
- BenderRodriguez

I have some comments. First is, being harder to play against is not an interim stop gap solution. It's a talking point. Even more important is that the Flyers track record shows that they don't know what being harder to play against actually is. Perhaps even more important is that nobody should believe that this identity the always talk about is just temporary until they prove otherwise.

What is the saying? Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

That being said. Up until recently it seemed like this team always valued drafting the "200 foot" player who works hard over the uber talented player who may have issues in that "works hard" dept.

My problem with that is they are kids. They can be taught to work hard in many cases, but they cant be taught to be talented per se.
- MBFlyerfan

This!! This also goes back to fitting square pegs in round holes.
We draft kids for a specific talent but then try to conform them into 200 ft players, which takes away from their talent, imo.
Csn they eventually be developed into 200 ft players? Absolutely. But I'd like to see us draft talent and let them develop as they age.
Connor McDavid and Ocoee weren't always 200 ft player's but they learned the game as they aged.
Why can't we draft with the same philosophy?

Touche.

However, if you put Michkov on this team right now, with Torts, quagmire hockey and the organizational focus on being "harder to play against"... he's not gonna make a dent in this thing by himself... if his development even survives the process.

The 21st Century has yet to dawn on this franchise.
- Tomahawk

100% agree, over 20 years trying the same ole crap, and the end result is always the same. Meanwhile the rest of league transitioned to a speed and puck possession game, and the Flyers still play the dump and chase.

Main problem is recognizing there is an issue, but this franchise has done nothing to realize the change in the game and adjust to it.

On day 1 DB better be calling every GM and offering to use the Elis LTIR for picks and prospects. Possibly make a deal in the process for another 1st round pick this year. 3 would be nice, and we could take 2 dmen and another center. We need to get a 1`or 2 dman out of this draft and there are a few to chose from.

100% agree, over 20 years trying the same ole crap, and the end result is always the same. Meanwhile the rest of league transitioned to a speed and puck possession game, and the Flyers still play the dump and chase.

Main problem is recognizing there is an issue, but this franchise has done nothing to realize the change in the game and adjust to it.

On day 1 DB better be calling every GM and offering to use the Elis LTIR for picks and prospects. Possibly make a deal in the process for another 1st round pick this year. 3 would be nice, and we could take 2 dmen and another center. We need to get a 1`or 2 dman out of this draft and there are a few to chose from.
- Flyerloon

And if no one bites? Thats not on DB, that’s on Fletcher.

100% agree, over 20 years trying the same ole crap, and the end result is always the same. Meanwhile the rest of league transitioned to a speed and puck possession game, and the Flyers still play the dump and chase.

Main problem is recognizing there is an issue, but this franchise has done nothing to realize the change in the game and adjust to it.

On day 1 DB better be calling every GM and offering to use the Elis LTIR for picks and prospects. Possibly make a deal in the process for another 1st round pick this year. 3 would be nice, and we could take 2 dmen and another center. We need to get a 1`or 2 dman out of this draft and there are a few to chose from.
- Flyerloon

Im trying to look at all the angles to see if the Flyers can benefit from the Tampa situation. Even after they put Seabrooke on LTIR they will still be slightly over the cap.

They need a goalie badly. Of course they will have plenty of room after they LTIR Vasilevsky, but when he comes back they are going to have major issues....Cant say I am too sad about it because in my opinion they have circumvented the cap rules enough...

I’d love to argue the nuances of this team but I’m a CEO and have better things to do right now

EDIT: sorry… was a CEO
- black_francis

The CEO comment was directed at Phillywhiteout who was arguing with me one night and than out of nowhere told me to watch how I talk to him. He runs a company…as if anyone believes him or this even matters. It was a ridiculous statement to make at the time he made it.

For those who don’t understand the reference

Angel Hernandez is a joke

I have some comments. First is, being harder to play against is not an interim stop gap solution. It's a talking point. Even more important is that the Flyers track record shows that they don't know what being harder to play against actually is. Perhaps even more important is that nobody should believe that this identity the always talk about is just temporary until they prove otherwise.
- MJL

do you think this line is being sold to the fans or the players?

How do you blow a call that bad

How do you blow a call that bad
- 2Real

I wouldnt have left the game

I wouldnt have left the game
- THE BLACK HAND

Harper should just stand somewhere on the field I don’t think Hernandez would see him

Angel Hernandez is a joke
- 2Real

Worst umpire in the history of the game. That was ridiculous.

Bill, are there any nhl refs as bad as Angel Hernandez

HC Sochi steamrolled by CSKA 7-1.

Michkov no points -2 in 17(ish) minutes.