* trade TK
* fire Tortorella
* rebuild


That’s the story…

Bill, I believe there is a small but very important clarification that needs to be made regarding the Gauther and Rutger McGroarty situations. In both cases, its not that the Fyers or the Jets were unwilling to sign the player to an ELC after their first college season, but that both teams would not guarantee an NHL roster spot to either player. This makes perfect sense to me. NHL roster spots should be earned, not given out like candy. If Rutger McGroarty wants to be in the NHL, sign an ELC and beat out a player already on the roster. Otherwise he can develop in the AHL and then be called up when ready. I think the NHL needs to step in and start fining these players before this gets out of hand. In both cases, I don't think the Flyers or the Jets did anything wrong, yet both teams will have paid a cost; the Jets will hardly get equal value in a trade now that this is out there.
- jd250

Fine them for what? Using their rights to make decisions?

They are technically doing nothing wrong according to the CBA, so how can you fine them?

Yea, because you could never trade him if you don’t this summer. Another brilliant bozo who can’t think a second ahead
- ClaudeFather

Or he could stay the extra yr and become a UFA and you get absolutely nothing. So punish him and risk getting nothing. Again not brilliant idea. Get something while u can

Fine them for what? Using their rights to make decisions?

They are technically doing nothing wrong according to the CBA, so how can you fine them?
- TheFreak

Yeah really the only way you can solve that problem is to have the next CBA contain a provision that the drafting team holds the right for a longer period of time or in perpetuity, but A) the Players Association would never agree to something like that and B) the longer the rights are retained the more likely it is that the players would win if it went to court. So it is what it is and the players have minimal power. Quitter and now McCroaty are using their power. It’s all part of the game. It comes with the territory.

June 23rd….really is quite the day in Flyers history.

Bill, I’m not sure I understand what I’m supposed to get from your discussion on Torts points per game average over his career? If median points per game for all teams in the league over that time period is 1.2 then that means Tort’s average of .88 is a little below average over his career? So you’re saying he’s had a meh career?

must play a 200 ft game to play for the flyers. gold standard.

funny how a self-inflicted wound by the flyers may have a trickle down effect. Had cutter stayed maybe the poach rutger.

It is funny that the media are still following orders and calling this a rebuild
- corduroy

Careful… someone might get testy and hand out a ban

Make the kid sweat, leave him in college.
- ClaudeFather

That would be about the dumbest decision they to make.

Yeah really the only way you can solve that problem is to have the next CBA contain a provision that the drafting team holds the right for a longer period of time or in perpetuity, but A) the Players Association would never agree to something like that and B) the longer the rights are retained the more likely it is that the players would win if it went to court. So it is what it is and the players have minimal power. Quitter and now McCroaty are using their power. It’s all part of the game. It comes with the territory.
- mikeyo27

As a fan of the Flyers and Jets I see why some think there should be punishment ….but it’s all in the negotiated CBA. It does suck, especially for the Flyers, in this latest circumstance…but guys refusing to play for a certain team has a long history in every sport.
It not like the Flyers made off with an amazing haul, I’m not convinced waiting another year or at least to this draft would have hurt the Flyers over all trade position, even if it was public knowledge. You could make the argument that with more teams looking to add talent the trade might have actually given the Flyers other options.
In the end a Player needs to have a contract somewhere. They need the NHL far, far, far more than the NHL will ever need them. If a guy never plays, the NHL would continue on just fine.

As usual, you badly miss the boat. It is very simple for a team like the Flyers, not a contender and not in the playoffs. To sign the player and tell him he will be in the NHL lineup for the remainder of the NHL season when Gauthier's NCAA season concluded in 23. Once he is under contract for following years. You then have control. You're wrong in stating that the Flyers didn't do anything wrong. They royally screwed up. How can the NHL fine a player who is one, not under contract, and secondly. Didn't do anything outside of his rights as a player? What would they be fining them for? Your comment are not well thought out.
- MJL

I agree that they cannot fine the player when he's within his rights to sign or not sign. The reason they can get away with it is because they know they can force a trade to a different team. It's the alternative team's incentive to sign that previously drafted player that makes this work. I agree that this can become a problem prospectively because it adds another dimension of uncertainty that can force teams to effectively burn first round picks like the Flyers did with CG and WPG did with RM. (more to come, guaranteed) Rather than fine the player, perhaps the league should add some more requirements that includes not only giving up their player but also their first round pick in the upcoming draft year, maybe more or less depending on where the player was previously picked in the draft. Adding a bit more pain to the teams will disincentivize draftees like CG and RM from seeking to get out of their previous draft commitments. Of course, the player could elect to stay in NCAA for the full 4 years, but then he's defeating his own purpose of wanting to be in the NHL right away by doing so.

must play a 200 ft game to play for the flyers. gold standard.

funny how a self-inflicted wound by the flyers may have a trickle down effect. Had cutter stayed maybe the poach rutger.
- hello it's me 2050

What if they understand behind closed doors that it was a mistake and now they try to correct it? Yeah, I know who I’m talking about. Fat chance.

But it would be like the Eagles getting Murray after trading McCoy.

They could say “well, we ended up with an offensive threat and a defensive player we wanted”

Ofc, Murray sucked for the Eagles, but hey. There’s something to spin if they wanted to.

As a fan of the Flyers and Jets I see why some think there should be punishment ….but it’s all in the negotiated CBA. It does suck, especially for the Flyers, in this latest circumstance…but guys refusing to play for a certain team has a long history in every sport.
It not like the Flyers made off with an amazing haul, I’m not convinced waiting another year or at least to this draft would have hurt the Flyers over all trade position, even if it was public knowledge. You could make the argument that with more teams looking to add talent the trade might have actually given the Flyers other options.
In the end a Player needs to have a contract somewhere. They need the NHL far, far, far more than the NHL will ever need them. If a guy never plays, the NHL would continue on just fine.
- landros 2

it wouldn't have, was all about making the playoffs and getting a plyer in the lineup without losing one. another short sighted decision to me.

x reporting Michkov to play for the Flyers for this coming season….it is June 23rd, after all.

New agent: CAA.

Bill, I’m not sure I understand what I’m supposed to get from your discussion on Torts points per game average over his career? If median points per game for all teams in the league over that time period is 1.2 then that means Tort’s average of .88 is a little below average over his career? So you’re saying he’s had a meh career?
- Dkos

I can't speak for Bill but that's my take. It's something I've been stating all along. He won on Cup back in 2004. Since then, he hasn't done much as a coach. He certainly has longevity and a reputation but has simply been a mediocre coach the last 20 years.

I agree that they cannot fine the player when he's within his rights to sign or not sign. The reason they can get away with it is because they know they can force a trade to a different team. It's the alternative team's incentive to sign that previously drafted player that makes this work. I agree that this can become a problem prospectively because it adds another dimension of uncertainty that can force teams to effectively burn first round picks like the Flyers did with CG and WPG did with RM. (more to come, guaranteed) Rather than fine the player, perhaps the league should add some more requirements that includes not only giving up their player but also their first round pick in the upcoming draft year, maybe more or less depending on where the player was previously picked in the draft. Adding a bit more pain to the teams will disincentivize draftees like CG and RM from seeking to get out of their previous draft commitments. Of course, the player could elect to stay in NCAA for the full 4 years, but then he's defeating his own purpose of wanting to be in the NHL right away by doing so.
- Letterkenney

That would likely result in an NHLPA challenge and something they would likely never agree to in a CBA.

I can't speak for Bill but that's my take. It's something I've been stating all along. He won on Cup back in 2004. Since then, he hasn't done much as a coach. He certainly has longevity and a reputation but has simply been a mediocre coach the last 20 years.
- MJL

I don’t think Bill is suggesting he’s been mediocre though. Didn’t he say something like, “his teams performed as expected”? What’s that mean? He has zero effect on the teams he coached? I’m hoping for some clarification from Bill. What Laviolette’s average? How about Maurice?

Just when I thought I wouldn't have to hear about Cutter until the inevitable Ducks/Flyers game......

It is funny that the media are still following orders and calling this a rebuild
- corduroy

They still have a week or two here to prove it is a rebuild.

x reporting Michkov to play for the Flyers for this coming season….it is June 23rd, after all.

New agent: CAA.
- landros 2

Let’s play along for a second and say he is coming June 23rd. Do you think it increases or decreases the chance they are actively selling in a rebuild?

Adding to that, seeing as Michkov is a RW, does it affect their decision on trading or signing TK?

I have seen talking heads argue for both so I am seriously asking here.

Ok now that what Briere and co. hoped was gonna happen the whole time happened can they stop with the phoney rebuild nonsense?

Let’s play along for a second and say he is coming June 23rd. Do you think it increases or decreases the chance they are actively selling in a rebuild?

Adding to that, seeing as Michkov is a RW, does it affect their decision on trading or signing TK?

I have seen talking heads argue for both so I am seriously asking here.
- coffee junkie

It's state he is coming over, not today the 23rd but coming this summer

It's state he is coming over, not today the 23rd but coming this summer
- WhiskeyMan

source please

source please
- monty burns

Google, it is all over the internet.

It's state he is coming over, not today the 23rd but coming this summer
- WhiskeyMan

Sure, date doesn’t matter, but it looks like he is coming. Do folks think it means more action on rebuilding or less?