Is there a trade in place? Are you sitting them two games in a row?
- WhiskeyMan

It’s called protecting your assets. Perhaps you may have heard about that concept.

The poster asked about a fine or suspension -- I agree that is was interference but the hit itself was not dirty
- corduroy

A blindside hit to an unsuspecting player without the puck is always dirty IMO. We can agree to disagree on intent. I think he meant to hit him.

How do you figure? It was nowhere near the puck. Clear interference. 2 minute penalty was warranted.
- MBFlyerfan

Unfortunately, by the letter of the law the call was correct. The NHL needs to do one of 2 things.....

- implement what the NFL has regarding hitting players in vulnerable positions, i.e predatory hits (correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe the NHL currently has one)
- invoke common sense - if a player checks someone from behind into the boards they have the potential of receiving a match penalty even though it was the boards that caused the injury and not the check. What is the difference?

A blindside hit to an unsuspecting player without the puck is always dirty IMO. We can agree to disagree on intent. I think he meant to hit him.
- MBFlyerfan

Completely agree. He meant to hit him and it didn't matter to him whether or not GH had the puck or it was around. Imama played for my local QMJHL team and he's a fighter so the questionable hit fits the MO he had here in junior.

A blindside hit to an unsuspecting player without the puck is always dirty IMO. We can agree to disagree on intent. I think he meant to hit him.
- MBFlyerfan

It was extremely dirty. Just because he didn’t make contact with his head….to blind side a guy without the puck and have his head bounce off the ice ? What’s the difference? The problem…..when you don’t have the puck you are not prepared to get hit. This ain’t football.

The reason why I want Briere to trade players this deadline is so the Flyers can essentially tank for a high draft pick in this draft and hopefully get their 1C. Otherwise I would want the Flyers to keep Risto, whom as you know I think is the Flyers best defenseman, and I really don’t care about Laughton either way since it’s not like he’s taking up a lot of cap space or the blocking a prospect. But Briere is not thinking this way, either because he doesn’t believe any player in this draft is worth tanking for or because he has a different plan that he believes he can execute this summer to get that 1C; maybe both. Thus I reiterate, I and preparing for a quiet deadline.
- jd250

Stop with the excuses about why Briere seems to be slow playing a so called rebuild….now it’s because he doesn’t see a player worth tanking for? Then why on earth would he be collecting so many draft picks for this up coming draft? He basically put all his egg’s in the 2025 nhl drafts basket.

Stop with the excuses about why Briere seems to be slow playing a so called rebuild….now it’s because he doesn’t see a player worth tanking for? Then why on earth would he be collecting so many draft picks for this up coming draft? He basically put all his egg’s in the 2025 nhl drafts basket.
- landros 2

I'm not making excuses for Briere, I am just stating what I think he is thinking. I agree with you that if there is not a player worth tanking for in this draft, then this would be a huge blunder from the entire front office, since as you said they have 7 picks in the 1st two rounds of what is considered a weak draft class. So if they are not going to tank, then what is the plan? They can try to trade some of the picks, but again, if the draft is on the weak side, how much value do these picks really have? Bundy thinks the Flyers want Hagens from BC. I don't see why Hagens to be honest, but if that is the player they want then I will give them the benefit of the doubt. However, to get Hagens the Flyers have to be picking in the top 5 and maybe the top 3. That is never going to happen unless major moves are made this deadline. As we have seen in past drafts, teams picking in the top 5 and even the top 10 are not willing to trade out even if another team is willing to overpay.

It was a clean hit - full stop
- corduroy

Where was the puck? That was not a clean hit.

A blindside hit to an unsuspecting player without the puck is always dirty IMO. We can agree to disagree on intent. I think he meant to hit him.
- MBFlyerfan

Logic...that's not allowed around here!

Potentially 2 days away from Briere having a press conference stating how "we really like our players, offers did not reflect the value of our players." Will he be commended for being patient and not taking less value? Or is this just Chuck Fletcher's "trades are hard" rebranded. I sure hope some player other then Eric Johnson gets moved before the deadline.

Where was the puck? That was not a clean hit.
- dramado

If gh hit a penguin you would say it was clean

I do not think by trading Laughton and/or Risto will necessarily lead to more losing. They are not, despite what the team says, key drivers or players.

Who ever comes in to replace them will want to impress the staff and will be giving their best (one would think) in the last 20 odd games or so. They will be potentially looking to get a contract or a roster spot for next season. In that sense it is possible they give the team a shot in the arm. Were as once they fade out of the playoff picture the 2 vets may just go through the motions.

I do not think by trading Laughton and/or Risto will necessarily lead to more losing. They are not, despite what the team says, key drivers or players.

Who ever comes in to replace them will want to impress the staff and will be giving their best (one would think) in the last 20 odd games or so. They will be potentially looking to get a contract or a roster spot for next season. In that sense it is possible they give the team a shot in the arm. Were as once they fade out of the playoff picture the 2 vets may just go through the motions.
- Striiker

Even if it does lead to more losing, it doesn't matter. They've won several games of late and are no closer to a playoff spot. The odds of them making it are extremely low with so many teams to pass. Rangers and Habs got 2 pts last night and Ottawa rallied for 1 pt. There's almost no chance they make it even if they keep up the hot streak.

I do not think by trading Laughton and/or Risto will necessarily lead to more losing. They are not, despite what the team says, key drivers or players.

Who ever comes in to replace them will want to impress the staff and will be giving their best (one would think) in the last 20 odd games or so. They will be potentially looking to get a contract or a roster spot for next season. In that sense it is possible they give the team a shot in the arm. Were as once they fade out of the playoff picture the 2 vets may just go through the motions.
- Striiker

If this scenerio plays out, it is actually the best possible outcome. From their previous actions by not tearing it down to the studs, they will not be acquiring top 5 picks unless a truly catastrophic season happens. Adding additional talent thru trades has to happen. The issue is what you pointed out. To have a shot at getting true difference making players, Briere has to be willing to trade players that are young and have value. The only reason the Gauthier trade happened is because of the player wanting to be traded. It was not an organizational decision. Farabee and Frost had their values beaten to a pulp by the timeline it took them to deem both players as not part of the long-term future.

So if Schenn is now off the market and I saw Seattle might actually retain Gourde, there is no excuse not to move Laughton. He could be highest center available. If I get close to what I want I do not play chicken and try to extract more because teams will pivot and someone might become available then.

It’s called protecting your assets. Perhaps you may have heard about that concept.
- Striiker

Maybe I just think they are not being traded. So there is no point to them sitting