Andrae has been more good than bad. You let him work through it at the NHL level. He will be down there in the AHL a long time unless an injury or trade. Otherwise, no need to send him down.

How will he regain health in the AHL as opposed to the NHL?
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No! You don't work through things at the NHL level. That's how you destroy players that clearly are not ready. You work through it in practice and in the AHL. Andrae will be called back up when he is ready. There is no need to rush the kid. The Flyers are not going anywhere this year. My hope is Briere will make a series of trades by the deadline and Andrae will be back no later than the deadline, play out the season and build towards next year.

If that is all your post said I wouldn't have responded. Torts is not the sole decision maker here. Briere and his staff have a say also. Anyone watching the games could clearly see Andrae was struggling and struggling badly. Torts even said that he will miss the offensive part of his game but right now this is the best thing for the player. So what is wrong with this? Why does everything with you have to end up with Torts is full of crap? You talk out of both sides of your mouth. In one post you want the Flyers to do this the "right way"; i.e. to draft and develop their players properly and not rush them. And then out of the other side of your mouth you are bashing the organization for being patient with their players and trying to develop them the right way. Can't make it up!
- jd250

You continue with your fallacies. Andrae played one game against the Kings since he came back from being held out and he made one mistake in the game. Otherwise, he did not struggle in that game. He played solidly overall. Again I'll say it to you for the third time and maybe it will sink in. If they sent him down because they don't think he is 100%, I'm okay with it.
I state that Tortorella is full of crap because he simply is. If he's sending him down and make no mistake about it, Tortorella calls the shots, not Briere, because he was not playing well, Tortorella is full of crap. If it's because they don't think he is 100%, then say that. Either way, Tortorella is full of crap.
With respect to your absurd comment that I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, my position on Andrae is and has been that he is NHL ready. That he should've made the Flyers out of camp and been on the team all along. Player development is not one general approach for every player. It is individualized. The Flyers don't develop players the right way. They are horrible at it and so is Tortorella. I have been consistent with all of that.

Not on a rebuilding team. A coach on a rebuilding teams job is to try and win but not at the expense of developing players and overplaying and favoring veterans. He is a bad coach
- MJL

No, that's a coach for a tanking team, which the Flyers are not. Torts is here to build a winning culture, develop players and determine which players are part of the future and which ones are not. If you want a tanking team's coach, you can hire Phil Hously like the Sabres did. And, how many games did the Sabres lose in a row now? 1-7-2 in their last 10 and last place once again, and with all that talent and high draft capital? No thanks!

Very true, because Foerster, Tippet, TK and Brink are clearly playing like their confidence has been zapped by Torts. Michkov is 20 years old! He has never played this type of schedule and against the top talent in the world. And I am sure he has not been rocked like he has a few times already this year. Anaheim healthy scratched Leo Carlsson 27 times last year to help him ease into the NHL. We all saw the reaction when Michkov sat two games. So if Torts and his staff are limiting Michkov's minutes to help him develop, again, what is wrong with this? When other organizations do it you praise them. When the Flyers do it you bash them.
- jd250

Michkov put up 27 points in 33 games. He can clearly play at the NHL level. Each player is an individual. At this point in time, limiting his minutes is not helping him develop. It is hindering him. Tortorella's methods have been a hindrance to numerous young players on this team. He's now doing it to York again. Name an example of how I have praised other organizations for doing to the same thing the Flyers have done. One, just one example.

No! You don't work through things at the NHL level. That's how you destroy players that clearly are not ready. You work through it in practice and in the AHL. Andrae will be called back up when he is ready. There is no need to rush the kid. The Flyers are not going anywhere this year. My hope is Briere will make a series of trades by the deadline and Andrae will be back no later than the deadline, play out the season and build towards next year.
- jd250

Andrae, is clearly not ready? He has been the Flyers 3rd best defenseman since he was called up overall. He should've been with the team the entire season.

You continue with your fallacies. Andrae played one game against the Kings since he came back from being held out and he made one mistake in the game. Otherwise, he did not struggle in that game. He played solidly overall. Again I'll say it to you for the third time and maybe it will sink in. If they sent him down because they don't think he is 100%, I'm okay with it.
I state that Tortorella is full of crap because he simply is. If he's sending him down and make no mistake about it, Tortorella calls the shots, not Briere, because he was not playing well, Tortorella is full of crap. If it's because they don't think he is 100%, then say that. Either way, Tortorella is full of crap.
With respect to your absurd comment that I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, my position on Andrae is and has been that he is NHL ready. That he should've made the Flyers out of camp and been on the team all along. Player development is not one general approach for every player. It is individualized. The Flyers don't develop players the right way. They are horrible at it and so is Tortorella. I have been consistent with all of that.
- MJL

One mistake against the Kings? Are you kidding me? Andrae was completely overwhelmed the entire game. And it wasn't just the Kings game. Andrae was bad the several games before he was sat. He came back and was even worse against the Kings. I think that hit had something to do with it. And this is going to be Andrae's struggle if he wants to play defense in the NHL at this size. He is going to have to learn how to check with his stick and avoid big hits, and that is not going to be easy. I thought Andrae was ready for the NHL also, and when he came up he started out well, but he teethered off pretty fast. I'm worried his size will always limit him on what he will ultimately be in the NHL.

Andrae, is clearly not ready? He has been the Flyers 3rd best defenseman since he was called up overall. He should've been with the team the entire season.
- MJL

I posted earlier he was ready also, and after watching him play since that hit, he clearly lost confidence. Hopefully he can regain it and learn how to avoid those types of hits in the future, which will not be easy for a defenseman of his size.

No, that's a coach for a tanking team, which the Flyers are not. Torts is here to build a winning culture, develop players and determine which players are part of the future and which ones are not. If you want a tanking team's coach, you can hire Phil Hously like the Sabres did. And, how many games did the Sabres lose in a row now? 1-7-2 in their last 10 and last place once again, and with all that talent and high draft capital? No thanks!
- jd250

There's the buzzwords that you've been brainwashed by. Tortorella hasn't won squat in over 20 years. Speaking of talking out of both sides if your mouth. You talk about developing players then approve of overplaying vets and sitting the kids. Do you not understand that there is no fool proof method of team development? You keep bringing up the Sabres while ignoring all the other teams who have successfully done it. While you continue to rubber stamp the Flyers methods that have led to nothing 14 years and counting. Meanwhile teams like SJ, Chicago and others are preparing to soar past the Flyers. While the Flyers build a winning culture and suck up all the glory that comes with being a capped out, mediocre perennial bubble playoff team. LOL

I posted earlier he was ready also, and after watching him play since that hit, he clearly lost confidence. Hopefully he can regain it and learn how to avoid those types of hits in the future, which will not be easy for a defenseman of his size.
- jd250

He played one game against LA. He was fine in that game overall.

Michkov put up 27 points in 33 games. He can clearly play at the NHL level. Each player is an individual. At this point in time, limiting his minutes is not helping him develop. It is hindering him. Tortorella's methods have been a hindrance to numerous young players on this team. He's now doing it to York again. Name an example of how I have praised other organizations for doing to the same thing the Flyers have done. One, just one example.
- MJL

Yes, Michkov was playing great, but we are not talking about 1 bad shift or 1 or 2 bad games, we are talking about 6 or 7 games at this point. Michkov clearly is not the same player. He is avoiding contact, not fighting for pucks, not challenging the point men in the defensive zone. He is not doing anything out there right now. Again, I think he took several big hits and its impacting him.

He played one game against LA. He was fine in that game overall.
- MJL

I disagree. I thought Andrae defensively was getting burried that entire game. Yes, he makes some good stretch passes and is a good PP QB, but defensively he was brutal, and for a defenseman that's not a good thing.

One mistake against the Kings? Are you kidding me? Andrae was completely overwhelmed the entire game. And it wasn't just the Kings game. Andrae was bad the several games before he was sat. He came back and was even worse against the Kings. I think that hit had something to do with it. And this is going to be Andrae's struggle if he wants to play defense in the NHL at this size. He is going to have to learn how to check with his stick and avoid big hits, and that is not going to be easy. I thought Andrae was ready for the NHL also, and when he came up he started out well, but he teethered off pretty fast. I'm worried his size will always limit him on what he will ultimately be in the NHL.
- jd250

All of that is false. Against the Kings, he had a CF% of 59.09%. xGF% 73.20. Scoring chances with Andrae on the ice were 10-6 Flyers. High danger chances were 4-1 Flyers. Andrae has not teetered off. He made a significant impact and improved the Flyers defense. He carried and improved Ristolainen. He is clearly an NHL defenseman and the 3rd best defenseman on the Flyers.

I disagree. I thought Andrae defensively was getting burried that entire game. Yes, he makes some good stretch passes and is a good PP QB, but defensively he was brutal, and for a defenseman that's not a good thing.
- jd250

You have no evidence to support that. You claimed last game that Drysdale was terrible. Your track record of assessing defenseman is not good.

Yes, Michkov was playing great, but we are not talking about 1 bad shift or 1 or 2 bad games, we are talking about 6 or 7 games at this point. Michkov clearly is not the same player. He is avoiding contact, not fighting for pucks, not challenging the point men in the defensive zone. He is not doing anything out there right now. Again, I think he took several big hits and its impacting him.
- jd250

I would agree that his play has dropped off some but that is to be expected. Part of the growing pains of a young player. I would disagree that he is not fighting for puck or avoiding contact. Those are just pet phrases that you routinely use. The solution is not to cut his ice time or stop playing him. The solution is to keep playing him, coach him and let him work through it. Tortorella cuts ice time or scratches players because that is all that he has in his tool bag. He's a dinosaur that needs to go.

No! You don't work through things at the NHL level. That's how you destroy players that clearly are not ready. You work through it in practice and in the AHL. Andrae will be called back up when he is ready. There is no need to rush the kid. The Flyers are not going anywhere this year. My hope is Briere will make a series of trades by the deadline and Andrae will be back no later than the deadline, play out the season and build towards next year.
- jd250

yes, you do when you have shown you can handle the NHL level. Andrase is one of their top 6 dman. he is ready as the guy you prop up said he is ready. Andrae has numerous years of pro experience; not like he is some 19-20 year old.

Wasn't it 2 weeks or so ago you were felating all over Andrae. now your tune has changed.

he will not be called up unless and injury or trade. no matter what he does in the ahl. hell that was the only reason he got called up anyway.

You continue with your fallacies. Andrae played one game against the Kings since he came back from being held out and he made one mistake in the game. Otherwise, he did not struggle in that game. He played solidly overall. Again I'll say it to you for the third time and maybe it will sink in. If they sent him down because they don't think he is 100%, I'm okay with it.
I state that Tortorella is full of crap because he simply is. If he's sending him down and make no mistake about it, Tortorella calls the shots, not Briere, because he was not playing well, Tortorella is full of crap. If it's because they don't think he is 100%, then say that. Either way, Tortorella is full of crap.
With respect to your absurd comment that I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, my position on Andrae is and has been that he is NHL ready. That he should've made the Flyers out of camp and been on the team all along. Player development is not one general approach for every player. It is individualized. The Flyers don't develop players the right way. They are horrible at it and so is Tortorella. I have been consistent with all of that.
- MJL

if he is not 100% then what purpose does sending him down serve? that makes zero sense.

No, that's a coach for a tanking team, which the Flyers are not. Torts is here to build a winning culture, develop players and determine which players are part of the future and which ones are not. If you want a tanking team's coach, you can hire Phil Hously like the Sabres did. And, how many games did the Sabres lose in a row now? 1-7-2 in their last 10 and last place once again, and with all that talent and high draft capital? No thanks!
- jd250

doing a great job so far no? they still have the same core of losers who know nothing but losing.

sabres have more regulation wins than the flyers. sabres have a better record than the flyers since torts was hired. any thoughts on that?

Andrae, is clearly not ready? He has been the Flyers 3rd best defenseman since he was called up overall. He should've been with the team the entire season.
- MJL

who are the other 2?

Not on a rebuilding team. A coach on a rebuilding teams job is to try and win but not at the expense of developing players and overplaying and favoring veterans. He is a bad coach
- MJL

Well, I see your 10 days away from here did you no good at all as far as evaluating hockey talent, but congrats for making it for 10 days without your lifeline. I figured you'd be in rehab or something for your withdrawal of not being able to vent your nonsense on here for 10 days. A coach with the most wins for a U.S. born coach and 2 Jack Adams awards along with a Stanley Cup is a bad coach cause you say so. WTF!

I don't know how he is going to ultimately turn out but he's has played well the last handful of games and he was really good last night.
- MJL

Wow, just wow!!!!!! If you think that Drysdale had a good game against Columbus there is literally no hope for you. In what was a sloppily played game by both teams he was probably the WORST player on the ice in that game. Directly responsible for the first two Columbus goals and finished a -3. No wonder folks on here wonder if you actually watch the games.

Welcome back, and I hope everyone is enjoying their Holidays. A few predictions as we head towards the new year. With the upcoming Flyers schedule I fully expect them to be at the bottom of the Metro division by the time they play the Cutter game on January 11th. Perhaps even the bottom of the eastern conference. Speaking of Cutter, I think that trade will ultimately end up being one of the worst trades in Flyers history. By all accounts he is acquitting himself quite well despite not really putting up the numbers just yet, and I think Drysdale is a ZERO. He basically is a skater with ZERO hockey IQ and physicality. He's only 22 and I guess that is his only hope. My other prediction is that Celebrini will win the Calder. I just think his game is more well rounded than Michkov's and Michkov has fallen off a cliff lately. He really looks sluggish at times with that skating style. Thanks!

https://x.com/justingiam/...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

if he is not 100% then what purpose does sending him down serve? that makes zero sense.
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He actually played the next day in Lehigh…so I think it’s safe to assume he’s 100%.

He actually played the next day in Lehigh…so I think it’s safe to assume he’s 100%.
- landros 2

Playing doesn't necessarily mean he is 100%.

Playing doesn't necessarily mean he is 100%.
- MJL

Then they are stupid. I saw a few more mistakes in his last few games, but overall I agree he was easily in their top 4.