Maybe Briere is ready, maybe he's not. There is zero doubt that Tortorella is the main influencer. That doesn't mean that he always gets his way but he obviously wins the battles he wants to go all in on. We know that Tortorella has Hilferty and Jones in his back pocket. Briere is either complicit and in agreement with them or he is just simply outvoted. Based on some of his most recent comments. I'm starting to heavily lean towards he is in agreement. The path that they will take moving forward is not hard to figure out. Especially with Michkov now on board. The rebuild is over. As soon as they can, when the cap is cleared up. They will escalate. This new era of orange will play out without the payoff and we'll be looking at another reset down the road. Before we know it, another decade of futility will be upon us. Only thing that can save us from the incompetence is if they get lucky in the draft. But that will have to be with more than one player.
- MJL

So when he trade's TK and a bunch of picks for Marner.....

is there a deal to be had with CBJ? TK & Laughton for Laine and a pick? We get out from a long term deal with TK, take on 2 years of Laine and perhaps flip him if he finds his game again? Worst case he’s a deadline flip, best case he’s a #2 OA reclaimation?

Maybe Briere is ready, maybe he's not. There is zero doubt that Tortorella is the main influencer. That doesn't mean that he always gets his way but he obviously wins the battles he wants to go all in on. We know that Tortorella has Hilferty and Jones in his back pocket. Briere is either complicit and in agreement with them or he is just simply outvoted. Based on some of his most recent comments. I'm starting to heavily lean towards he is in agreement. The path that they will take moving forward is not hard to figure out. Especially with Michkov now on board. The rebuild is over. As soon as they can, when the cap is cleared up. They will escalate. This new era of orange will play out without the payoff and we'll be looking at another reset down the road. Before we know it, another decade of futility will be upon us. Only thing that can save us from the incompetence is if they get lucky in the draft. But that will have to be with more than one player.
- MJL

Of course the mastermind Torts is behind everything the Flyers do! You know this because? Oh right, bc Torts is a manipulator. Please get some new material. I've never been a Torts fan and don't think he's the right coach for this team, but your obsession with him is unhealthy plus your assumptions about how he controls everything is comical. "The rebuild is over" - I love it!

is there a deal to be had with CBJ? TK & Laughton for Laine and a pick? We get out from a long term deal with TK, take on 2 years of Laine and perhaps flip him if he finds his game again? Worst case he’s a deadline flip, best case he’s a #2 OA reclaimation?
- anti-lame

I would think about that but I doubt Torts would sign off on that. I don't think he and Laine had the best relationship.

He would be intriguing being fed pucks by Michkov all day long.

Maybe Briere is ready, maybe he's not. There is zero doubt that Tortorella is the main influencer. That doesn't mean that he always gets his way but he obviously wins the battles he wants to go all in on. We know that Tortorella has Hilferty and Jones in his back pocket. Briere is either complicit and in agreement with them or he is just simply outvoted. Based on some of his most recent comments. I'm starting to heavily lean towards he is in agreement. The path that they will take moving forward is not hard to figure out. Especially with Michkov now on board. The rebuild is over. As soon as they can, when the cap is cleared up. They will escalate. This new era of orange will play out without the payoff and we'll be looking at another reset down the road. Before we know it, another decade of futility will be upon us. Only thing that can save us from the incompetence is if they get lucky in the draft. But that will have to be with more than one player.
- MJL

Well if we need to get lucky in the draft we’re screwed because they just got lucky….


And botched it

is there a deal to be had with CBJ? TK & Laughton for Laine and a pick? We get out from a long term deal with TK, take on 2 years of Laine and perhaps flip him if he finds his game again? Worst case he’s a deadline flip, best case he’s a #2 OA reclaimation?
- anti-lame

I would’ve traded tk for savoi straight up

Torts tale as old as time.

https://thehockeywriters....rella-patrik-laine-usage/

Torts tale as old as time.

https://thehockeywriters....rella-patrik-laine-usage/
- MBFlyerfan

Trust me I’m aware of their relationship but think about this… Maybe Laine is at a point in his career where he’s ready to listen and Torts puts all the criticism against him to rest if he gets this guy going. Fantasy land, I know - but it’s interesting to think about

I don’t agree that Tortorella has the influence everyone makes him out to have. He’s just an easy villain. Briere is just not ready to be GM and is falling into the exact same mistakes Hextall made like putting too much stock into his own scouting acumen for the draft and believing all his young players will make their ceiling and not accounting for the fact some will absolutely bust. It’s eerily identical.
- psuhockey

Torts has had a huge influence on roster construction everywhere he's gone. Even in the places where he's worked with strong, experienced GMs he still made it very clear which kinds of players he was willing to play and which he wasn't. His GMs all pretty much caved to his requests.

It's played out the same way here. He defined The Standard. The players he wanted gone have been excised. The players he likes are all getting extensions. The ink isn't even dry on Michkov's ELC and the GM is out there saying that MM's gonna be at Torts' mercy.

The Flyers like their guys. If Laughton can be had for a cheap aav he should be in line for a nice preemptive extension next offseason as well.
- StepfordSam

8 years at $5M per. They owe it to him. He has the intangables.

Torts has had a huge influence on roster construction everywhere he's gone. Even in the places where he's worked with strong, experienced GMs he still made it very clear which kinds of players he was willing to play and which he wasn't. His GMs all pretty much caved to his requests.

It's played out the same way here. He defined The Standard. The players he wanted gone have been excised. The players he likes are all getting extensions. The ink isn't even dry on Michkov's ELC and the GM is out there saying that MM's gonna be at Torts' mercy.
- Tomahawk

Did anyone want Hayes or Deangelo? You’re acting like he jettisoned guys that you’d rather still be on the team. To me it’s a bias against the coach. If Lavi said we gotta get those two off the team you’d probably fall in line

Not buying it that kids won't. Young people are used to switching. They switch partners without a second thought in their sexual lives. They switch phone models, computers, jobs, cities etc etc. Show them excitement of winning and they will come. Seasons tix, maybe not. The current model of long time fans - no. But you just need a large enough group of fans for a subset of them to spend money reliably - they don't have to be the same ones doing so for every game.

Sixers sucked for so long. Now look. Arena sold out every game.

As for your corporate analogy. Not buying that either. Those industries didn't have the antitrust exemption sports franchises do, and the revenue sharing that it entails. They don't have to have an ear to the ground. They don't have to innvovate. All that is needed is at any given time, the sport itself, across all franchises, is bringing in money, and they will get a part of it, and they will be fine.

Across all of recent sports history, how many franchises have failed/folded because they were not winning enough? None. The only time franchises fold is if they move, because of lack of local financial support. Either from fans (Coyotes eg.) or from the city/state (Cleveland Browns)
- PT21

Can’t use NBA as a comparable. NBA is in decline in the US. However, they get HUGE sums of cash from Europe, but especially from China. Last numbers I heard was 1.5 billion from China alone. For some weird reason, they love hoops.

Other than that, your point makes sense.

is there a deal to be had with CBJ? TK & Laughton for Laine and a pick? We get out from a long term deal with TK, take on 2 years of Laine and perhaps flip him if he finds his game again? Worst case he’s a deadline flip, best case he’s a #2 OA reclaimation?
- anti-lame

Laine?! What is the obsession with this guy? One dimensional and currently in the players assistance program. Is that an unprotected 1st rounder? Because if not, this isn’t good.

Laine?! What is the obsession with this guy? One dimensional and currently in the players assistance program. Is that an unprotected 1st rounder? Because if not, this isn’t good.
- coffee junkie

I agree f this guy.

I would think about that but I doubt Torts would sign off on that. I don't think he and Laine had the best relationship.

He would be intriguing being fed pucks by Michkov all day long.
- MBFlyerfan

I wouldn't. That's a solid no. He's in the players assistance program. He's been steadily declining for years. Why would you trade for him? Michkov is a rookie that is going to need development time. It is unlikely that he bursts into the league and becomes a play making machine that elevates a player like Laine. Laine has two years left on his current contract.

Torts tale as old as time.

https://thehockeywriters....rella-patrik-laine-usage/
- MBFlyerfan

I don't have an issue with what he did there. I think it's fair to say that he should get some shifts in OT. Tortorella is obviously way too safe with his decision making in OT. I understand how he handled the 3rd period. I have no issue with players getting benched that deserve it. My issue is when Tortorella's neurosis and poor judgement causes him to bench players that don't deserve it.

Torts has had a huge influence on roster construction everywhere he's gone. Even in the places where he's worked with strong, experienced GMs he still made it very clear which kinds of players he was willing to play and which he wasn't. His GMs all pretty much caved to his requests.

It's played out the same way here. He defined The Standard. The players he wanted gone have been excised. The players he likes are all getting extensions. The ink isn't even dry on Michkov's ELC and the GM is out there saying that MM's gonna be at Torts' mercy.
- Tomahawk

Here is the issue with Tortorella in a nutshell. Most team want a lineup made up of skill, talent and speed. With the right mix of toughness and role players backing it up. Tortorella wants a team of grinders and checkers with just a smattering of skill to provide just enough offense. He wants to check to win and will always favor the defensive side of the puck. Which is why he starts two defenseman in OT and plays a journeyman checking center 19 minutes as the team's #1 center and benches skilled and talented forwards in a must win game. Tells you all you need to know.

Did anyone want Hayes or Deangelo? You’re acting like he jettisoned guys that you’d rather still be on the team. To me it’s a bias against the coach. If Lavi said we gotta get those two off the team you’d probably fall in line
- anti-lame

Hayes and Deangelo weren't the only ones. Provy. Allison. Frost and Farabee are now a female genitalia hair away from the same fate.

Go back and look at how the Rangers and Jackets lineups shifted over time from the beginning of Tort's tenure to the end. The teams just get grindier and grindier and grindier and a bunch of skilled players either get flushed out or can't escape fast enough.

Here is the issue with Tortorella in a nutshell. Most team want a lineup made up of skill, talent and speed. With the right mix of toughness and role players backing it up. Tortorella wants a team of grinders and checkers with just a smattering of skill to provide just enough offense. He wants to check to win and will always favor the defensive side of the puck. Which is why he starts two defenseman in OT and plays a journeyman checking center 19 minutes as the team's #1 center and benches skilled and talented forwards in a must win game. Tells you all you need to know.
- MJL

💯