But wait, Cutter wishes we all knew the truth! He is nothing but a fraud!
- jd250

So do the rumors of MM39 telling teams he would not play for them at the draft make him a fraud?

I have no doubt the Flyers could get a late 1st round pick for Risto with no salary retention or taking back a bad deal. But I just don't see this as valuable. The Flyers could have 5 first round picks. Teams in the top 5 are not trading out of the top 5, even if the Flyers offered them 3 later 1st round picks. The Bruins tried this in 2015 and had picks 12-14, and still couldn't complete a trade.
- jd250

A late 1st as it isn’t valuable.

3 or 4 years from now who do you think has a better chance to help the Flyers, Risto or whatever they would do with that late 1st?

The Flyers would have to gut the team to get into the top 5, which is not going to happen. Even if the Flyers traded away Risto and Laughton this year this team is not getting into the top 5. And as I mentioned, teams in the top 5 are not trading out of the top 5 for reasons you just highlighted, with Schaefer having very high potential. So the Flyers are going to have to build this another way.
- jd250

If they were to move Risto and Laughton….and maybe a Frost….they definitely have a chance to drop into screaming distance of the top 5…it’s not only the assets you accumulate it’s the talent your moving out will hurt this team….much like after they moved Walker last year.

If they were to move Risto and Laughton….and maybe a Frost….they definitely have a chance to drop into screaming distance of the top 5…it’s not only the assets you accumulate it’s the talent your moving out will hurt this team….much like after they moved Walker last year.
- landros 2

The Comcast bottom line will also be in play IMO. Haven't had playoffs in 4 years. They are an afterthought in Philly to an extent. Sixers struggling badly. They will definitely want to take advantage of that and be in the Spring spotlight. Get the Flyers much needed publicity.

Those are another reason why I do not think they will move those 2 players.

Everyone keeps saying its not a rebuild, but then they just describe tanking. The Flyers are not tanking. They are not going to jettison players for pennies on the dollar just for the hell of it. For example, as well as Risto is playing, the most the Flyers could expect to get in return from a deadline trade is another late 1st round pick. Is that more valuable that what Risto is giving this team right now? Any rational and knowledgable person not named MJL would answer No, its not. All it would do is open up another hole in the roster that the Flyers would eventually need to fill. How about trading Laughton and his $3M salary. The most the Flyers will get for Laughton is a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Is that worth it? No! So let's trade Frosty. What will the Flyers realstically get for him, maybe a 3rd round pick? Again, given the lack of centers on this team is that worth it right now? No!

The Flyers right now do not have the cap space to bring in any players. The Flyers also are not making impulse moves for short term gains which is exactly what we have said we wanted as a fanbase. The Flyers are developing their younger players to see what they got but also to make them more valuable assets down the road. The Flyers are also bringing in young players and trying to restock their farm system, with 6 picks in the first two rounds of this draft. They already have Michkov, Bonk, Barkey, Luchanko and Drysdale, plus Andrae and Grans ready in the AHL.

I think we just need to see what happens before this year's draft, because that is where I think the Flyers can make some significant moves. The Flyers will have about $5M of dead money coming off their books after this season, plus the $4M from RYJO which should be settled by then. However the Flyers have 4 RFAs that they need to extend or make a decision on, plus TKs new contract kick's in, so there still will not be a lot of cap space to play with next season.
- jd250

I would package risto bags for a 1st rd pick

We have 3 defenseman coming up that need a roster spot, and could feel the roll or close to it

Laughs i would trade, because why not he not irreplaceable. And get younger for a 4th liners player

Frost i would trade for a bag of pucks
So anything else would be awesome.

I would even trade bee if I can.

The Flyers would have to gut the team to get into the top 5, which is not going to happen. Even if the Flyers traded away Risto and Laughton this year this team is not getting into the top 5. And as I mentioned, teams in the top 5 are not trading out of the top 5 for reasons you just highlighted, with Schaefer having very high potential. So the Flyers are going to have to build this another way.
- jd250

No they wouldn't. They're not that far away. A significant injury to Konecny or Sanheim probably puts them close.

Not at all, you are just a person of very low intelligence and cannot understand. The Flyers already will have two late round 1st round picks in this draft. Adding a 3rd late 1st round pick in a shallow draft is not going to add much more value. They can get the same level of player in the 2nd round at that point. My other point even if the Flyers have 4 1st round picks, teams are not trading out of the top 5 so the Flyers would not be able to draft a potential elite player at the top of the draft.
- jd250

Oh I understand. When it fits your narrative such as when defending the Flyers rebuild. Late first round picks are valuable. When it doesn't fit your narrative, such as in a return scenario for Ristolainen. Late first round picks are not valuable.

That’s going to be a problem if they don’t want to tank. They are going to have to be super aggressive which means overpaying and Briere doesn’t seem to want to take that chance. In fairness it’s early but as of now they have no avenue of getting a #1 center besides getting ridiculously lucky in the lottery or an Aho/Bergeron like steal.
- psuhockey

They overpaid for Tippett. Overpaid for a backup goalie. Briere is not going to have any problem overpaying. It's a guarantee that he will.

So the Flyers are going to have to build this another way.
- jd250

Chuck and Hextall already tried that other way.

But I'm sure it'll work this time around.

Chuck and Hextall already tried that other way.

But I'm sure it'll work this time around.
- Tomahawk

Third time is the charm

They overpaid for Tippett. Overpaid for a backup goalie. Briere is not going to have any problem overpaying. It's a guarantee that he will.
- MJL

Would you have not signed Fedotov or would you have walked away?

They overpaid for Tippett. Overpaid for a backup goalie. Briere is not going to have any problem overpaying. It's a guarantee that he will.
- MJL

Overpay in a trade not salary.

Overpay in a trade not salary.
- psuhockey

Using free agency is going to be a big part of their strategy moving forward.

I have no doubt the Flyers could get a late 1st round pick for Risto with no salary retention or taking back a bad deal. But I just don't see this as valuable. The Flyers could have 5 first round picks. Teams in the top 5 are not trading out of the top 5, even if the Flyers offered them 3 later 1st round picks. The Bruins tried this in 2015 and had picks 12-14, and still couldn't complete a trade.
- jd250

A late first is really valuable even if it slightly hits more so than the pick itself. Teams would love to acquire prospects in trade more so than picks themselves because they are closer to contributing. Whenever Briere calls I am sure the only names out of other teams mouths are Bonk and Luchanko. Look at the ROR trade with Buffalo. Tage Thompson was key piece of that deal and he was a late pick who many thought was scuffling since he was drafted but he was a young immediate piece that Buffalo could play right away. Same with Tippett who wasn’t late but was considered a bust.

If Ristolainen brings back a first they should take it and run. Shoot for a 2026 one but take a 2025 one if necessary.

Using free agency is going to be a big part of their strategy moving forward.
- MJL

They will never get a 1C in free agency.

No they wouldn't. They're not that far away. A significant injury to Konecny or Sanheim probably puts them close.
- MJL

They were on their way for sure until the stupid goalies started playing at an NHL level. Couple that with the centers producing a little over the last 10-15 games and here we are two points out of a wild card slot. Undoubtedly both positions will decline in the last 3 months of games and they will finish right outside of the playoffs.

They will never get a 1C in free agency.
- psuhockey

We all know that. The Flyers don't. That is the problem.

Sent Kolosov down.
- mickel25

Ahhhhh. Yes I agree with ya

They will never get a 1C in free agency.
- psuhockey

The 1C they need, most likely not but they could certainly get a center. My premise is and has been all along that the Flyers will not be successful with the methods they are going to use in the future.

They were on their way for sure until the stupid goalies started playing at an NHL level. Couple that with the centers producing a little over the last 10-15 games and here we are two points out of a wild card slot. Undoubtedly both positions will decline in the last 3 months of games and they will finish right outside of the playoffs.
- mickel25

There are 5 teams ahead of them in the wild card race. Their playoff odds are trending up though. They now sit at a 15% chance of making the playoffs.

No they wouldn't. They're not that far away. A significant injury to Konecny or Sanheim probably puts them close.
- MJL

Or the goalies revert back to December form

There are 5 teams ahead of them in the wild card race. They're playoff odds are trending up though. They now sit at a 15% chance of making the playoffs.
- MJL

Therefore, the reality is that the Flyers are most likely a bubble team that isn’t quite good enough to make the playoffs and not quite bad enough to get a top 10, certainly not a top 5 pick. Why does this seem so familiar?

There are 5 teams ahead of them in the wild card race. They're playoff odds are trending up though. They now sit at a 15% chance of making the playoffs.
- MJL

15% of the time it works everytime.

The 1C they need, most likely not but they could certainly get a center. My premise is and has been all along that the Flyers will not be successful with the methods they are going to use in the future.
- MJL

My worry is that they repeat history and overpay for a Kevin Hayes type player and try to gaslight us into thinking its a 1C.

Getting a legit 1C in free agency is exceedingly rare. And they will have to over pay if they do have a shot at one. Also, it is most likely that player will be in their late 20's early 30's almost guaranteeing the latter part of their contract will be an albatross. They can attempt to trade for one but there aren't many Jack Eichel level players out there demanding to be traded from their teams.

The best course of action is the draft, or somehow lucking in to trading for a young C prospect who could become a legit 1C. Teams aren't exactly lining up to trade those types away.

There are 5 teams ahead of them in the wild card race. They're playoff odds are trending up though. They now sit at a 15% chance of making the playoffs.
- MJL

They've actually dropped in the overall standings despite the recent wins.

Rags, Habs, Jackets and Sens have all gone on better/longer runs.

Flyers currently picking 11th, down from 13th IIRC.