It's interesting to see the Blackhawks and compare where they are in their rebuild to the Flyers.

For the Blackhawks, they have their potential generational talent in Connor Bedard, who plays that all important 1C position. The Flyers have no 1C on their team or in their system as yet.

Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar look like potential top-six pieces for the Blackhawks, Moore being that all important 2C. The Flyers have Luchanko who should be their 2C, and of course Michkov at RW, who has potential to be not generational, but just below that, and TK who is an estalbished NHL top six winger.

The Blackhawks have Artyom Levshunov, who looks like a potential 1D top-pairing defender. The Flyers have no top-pairing defender on their roster or in their system. The Blackhawks also have Korchinski who also projects to be a top-pairing defender. The Flyers have Bonk who may project to be a top-pairing defender, but certainly not a 1D.

And finally, the Blackhawks just got Spencer Knight to be their goalie of the future. He didn't have a good game today but he is a top prospect. The Flyers are once again a mess in nets.

So in summary, Blackhawk fans have a lot to look forward to, seeing a team that already has a 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, top six winger and a young and highly touted goaltender, while Flyers fans scratch their heads as they watch a team with no goalie, no 1D, maybe a 2D, no 1C, maybe a 2C and two top 6 wingers.

Fans are not stupid. They can handle a rebuild as long as they see key positions being filled by exciting players or prospects. This is a very important off season for Briere. He has a lot of work to do.
- jd250

Disagree michkov has the potential to be generational talent

It's interesting to see the Blackhawks and compare where they are in their rebuild to the Flyers.

For the Blackhawks, they have their potential generational talent in Connor Bedard, who plays that all important 1C position. The Flyers have no 1C on their team or in their system as yet.

Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar look like potential top-six pieces for the Blackhawks, Moore being that all important 2C. The Flyers have Luchanko who should be their 2C, and of course Michkov at RW, who has potential to be not generational, but just below that, and TK who is an estalbished NHL top six winger.

The Blackhawks have Artyom Levshunov, who looks like a potential 1D top-pairing defender. The Flyers have no top-pairing defender on their roster or in their system. The Blackhawks also have Korchinski who also projects to be a top-pairing defender. The Flyers have Bonk who may project to be a top-pairing defender, but certainly not a 1D.

And finally, the Blackhawks just got Spencer Knight to be their goalie of the future. He didn't have a good game today but he is a top prospect. The Flyers are once again a mess in nets.

So in summary, Blackhawk fans have a lot to look forward to, seeing a team that already has a 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, top six winger and a young and highly touted goaltender, while Flyers fans scratch their heads as they watch a team with no goalie, no 1D, maybe a 2D, no 1C, maybe a 2C and two top 6 wingers.

Fans are not stupid. They can handle a rebuild as long as they see key positions being filled by exciting players or prospects. This is a very important off season for Briere. He has a lot of work to do.
- jd250

For now, the Hawks have moved Bedard to wing. He may turn out to be Jack Hughes, which is still very good-drafted as center moved to wing. I think it is a little early to deem Levshunov as a #1 Dman based on draft status and not even a full year in the AHL. I would like to have the Hawks PP coach though.

It's interesting to see the Blackhawks and compare where they are in their rebuild to the Flyers.

For the Blackhawks, they have their potential generational talent in Connor Bedard, who plays that all important 1C position. The Flyers have no 1C on their team or in their system as yet.

Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar look like potential top-six pieces for the Blackhawks, Moore being that all important 2C. The Flyers have Luchanko who should be their 2C, and of course Michkov at RW, who has potential to be not generational, but just below that, and TK who is an estalbished NHL top six winger.

The Blackhawks have Artyom Levshunov, who looks like a potential 1D top-pairing defender. The Flyers have no top-pairing defender on their roster or in their system. The Blackhawks also have Korchinski who also projects to be a top-pairing defender. The Flyers have Bonk who may project to be a top-pairing defender, but certainly not a 1D.

And finally, the Blackhawks just got Spencer Knight to be their goalie of the future. He didn't have a good game today but he is a top prospect. The Flyers are once again a mess in nets.

So in summary, Blackhawk fans have a lot to look forward to, seeing a team that already has a 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, top six winger and a young and highly touted goaltender, while Flyers fans scratch their heads as they watch a team with no goalie, no 1D, maybe a 2D, no 1C, maybe a 2C and two top 6 wingers.

Fans are not stupid. They can handle a rebuild as long as they see key positions being filled by exciting players or prospects. This is a very important off season for Briere. He has a lot of work to do.
- jd250

Weren't you just saying that Chicago sucked and they are failing in their rebuild? It was pointed out by a few here they are further ahead, and I remember you disputing it.

Nikita Grebenkin 3 points in 4 games for the phantoms

1-9-1 in their last 11 games. Second year in a row the team has a complete collapse with 20 games left. How anyone can entertain keeping Torts is beyond me.

1-9-1 in their last 11 games. Second year in a row the team has a complete collapse with 20 games left. How anyone can entertain keeping Torts is beyond me.
- meduser

Didn't you want them to tank??

And both years they removed players predeadline so it was expected.

Didn't you want them to tank??

And both years they removed players predeadline so it was expected.
- SlNlSTER

Nope, just don't want them winning games they have no right to be winning.

It's interesting to see the Blackhawks and compare where they are in their rebuild to the Flyers.

For the Blackhawks, they have their potential generational talent in Connor Bedard, who plays that all important 1C position. The Flyers have no 1C on their team or in their system as yet.

Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar look like potential top-six pieces for the Blackhawks, Moore being that all important 2C. The Flyers have Luchanko who should be their 2C, and of course Michkov at RW, who has potential to be not generational, but just below that, and TK who is an estalbished NHL top six winger.

The Blackhawks have Artyom Levshunov, who looks like a potential 1D top-pairing defender. The Flyers have no top-pairing defender on their roster or in their system. The Blackhawks also have Korchinski who also projects to be a top-pairing defender. The Flyers have Bonk who may project to be a top-pairing defender, but certainly not a 1D.

And finally, the Blackhawks just got Spencer Knight to be their goalie of the future. He didn't have a good game today but he is a top prospect. The Flyers are once again a mess in nets.

So in summary, Blackhawk fans have a lot to look forward to, seeing a team that already has a 1C, 2C, 1D, 2D, top six winger and a young and highly touted goaltender, while Flyers fans scratch their heads as they watch a team with no goalie, no 1D, maybe a 2D, no 1C, maybe a 2C and two top 6 wingers.

Fans are not stupid. They can handle a rebuild as long as they see key positions being filled by exciting players or prospects. This is a very important off season for Briere. He has a lot of work to do.
- jd250

The Blackhawks are a year in front of the Flyers with their current rendition of their rebuild 2.0, they started this one in 2022 with 11 draft picks in that draft, 3 first round picks and 9 picks in the first three rounds. They've had 8 first round picks in the past three years.

Conversely, the Flyers were still flailing away in the wind thinking they could compete for the playoffs that year. You can thank Dave Scott for that! Thankfully the winds shifted when he stepped down. They had 6 picks in 2022, only two in the first three rounds. That's not a rebuild!

Also, Connor Bedard is a fantastic young player, but he's no "generational talent", that term is often too loosely thrown around these days. Since the 1967 NHL expansion there's probably only been six generational talents, my personal opinion, which is defined as a 20-30 year period in human populations.

Lastly, this is a big year for the Flyers rebuild, they have 13 draft picks in total, three in the first round and FIVE in the second round.

Disagree michkov has the potential to be generational talent
- SlNlSTER

I don't see Michkov being a McDavid or a Crosby, that's what I mean. If Michkov ended up being close to a Kucherov, I think we would all be very happy with that.

Weren't you just saying that Chicago sucked and they are failing in their rebuild? It was pointed out by a few here they are further ahead, and I remember you disputing it.
- meduser

Nope not at all. What I said was regarding the development of Connor Bedard, and that gutting a team of talent is not good for his own development. The other thing I mentioned is the Blackhawks have been out of the playoffs since 2017, so gutting a roster and hoping on the draft is one way to go, but it takes years and sometimes teams never get out of it, like Buffalo for example. At least with the Blackhawks, they are filling key positions with top projected prospects, thus their fabase have something exciting to watch and hope for. I still think the draft is the best way to get that 1C and 1D, but teams have to be willing to tank for them. And as you are seeing with the Flyers and Boston, you don't need to be bad the entire year to get a high pick, just bad the last 20 or so games of the season.

For now, the Hawks have moved Bedard to wing. He may turn out to be Jack Hughes, which is still very good-drafted as center moved to wing. I think it is a little early to deem Levshunov as a #1 Dman based on draft status and not even a full year in the AHL. I would like to have the Hawks PP coach though.
- Trox88

Oh, you are so right on the PP. That was embarrassing to watch. The problem is Torts blames it on the players, and its clear its the coaching. Briere has got to lay down the law this summer and get another PP coach in here.

1-9-1 in their last 11 games. Second year in a row the team has a complete collapse with 20 games left. How anyone can entertain keeping Torts is beyond me.
- meduser

Gavin McKenna.

https://www.audacy.com/st...elski-and-rob-ellis-0d1f9

If you listen to Keith Jones on Saturday’s show, it doesnt sound like they plan to do much of anything this offseason. And honestly, it’s probably the best to suck horribly next year.

Gavin McKenna.

https://www.audacy.com/st...elski-and-rob-ellis-0d1f9

If you listen to Keith Jones on Saturday’s show, it doesnt sound like they plan to do much of anything this offseason. And honestly, it’s probably the best to suck horribly next year.
- psuhockey

Too good to be true, but could you imagine the Flyers getting Misa this year and McKenna next year.

Oh, you are so right on the PP. That was embarrassing to watch. The problem is Torts blames it on the players, and its clear its the coaching. Briere has got to lay down the law this summer and get another PP coach in here.
- jd250

The PP is so bad that even with the horrible goaltending, this team would probably be still in contention for the wildcard. Michkov would have over 60 points this season with a better PP. The PP is a Torts problem, and he should be held accountable. The last PP he had that was above average happened during his NYR tenure.

Too good to be true, but could you imagine the Flyers getting Misa this year and McKenna next year.
- Dave21Brown

I won’t happen but the fascinating thing about next year is that a lot of the bad teams this year can’t really tank next year. Bedard is miserable in Chicago so they have to get better. Buffalo and Anaheim have been bad for so long their GM could get fired if they stink next year. Same with Detroit. Same also with Nashville with how much money they spent. Seattle has to turn it around soon because the SuperSonics about about to come back. Pittsburgh isn’t going to completely tank with Crosby there. San Jose could but if they win the lottery this year, they are eliminated from winning next year. It sets up perfectly for the Flyers.

Fans are not stupid. They can handle a rebuild as long as they see key positions being filled by exciting players or prospects. This is a very important off season for Briere. He has a lot of work to do.

Amen

Gavin McKenna.

https://www.audacy.com/st...elski-and-rob-ellis-0d1f9

If you listen to Keith Jones on Saturday’s show, it doesnt sound like they plan to do much of anything this offseason. And honestly, it’s probably the best to suck horribly next year.
- psuhockey

Briere has stated that the 26-27 season is the where things will start coming together

I won’t happen but the fascinating thing about next year is that a lot of the bad teams this year can’t really tank next year. Bedard is miserable in Chicago so they have to get better. Buffalo and Anaheim have been bad for so long their GM could get fired if they stink next year. Same with Detroit. Same also with Nashville with how much money they spent. Seattle has to turn it around soon because the SuperSonics about about to come back. Pittsburgh isn’t going to completely tank with Crosby there. San Jose could but if they win the lottery this year, they are eliminated from winning next year. It sets up perfectly for the Flyers.
- psuhockey

Flyers have enough 1st round pick to make an offer sheet to Bedard

I won’t happen but the fascinating thing about next year is that a lot of the bad teams this year can’t really tank next year. Bedard is miserable in Chicago so they have to get better. Buffalo and Anaheim have been bad for so long their GM could get fired if they stink next year. Same with Detroit. Same also with Nashville with how much money they spent. Seattle has to turn it around soon because the SuperSonics about about to come back. Pittsburgh isn’t going to completely tank with Crosby there. San Jose could but if they win the lottery this year, they are eliminated from winning next year. It sets up perfectly for the Flyers.
- psuhockey

Even though I totally support the "tanking" or just plain being bad to rebuild, it is tough having no team to cheer for, or a plummeting number of competitive games to watch. The thought of writing off all of next year is depressing. Maybe I need to find another hobby until they become relative again ? For how long ?

I won’t happen but the fascinating thing about next year is that a lot of the bad teams this year can’t really tank next year. Bedard is miserable in Chicago so they have to get better. Buffalo and Anaheim have been bad for so long their GM could get fired if they stink next year. Same with Detroit. Same also with Nashville with how much money they spent. Seattle has to turn it around soon because the SuperSonics about about to come back. Pittsburgh isn’t going to completely tank with Crosby there. San Jose could but if they win the lottery this year, they are eliminated from winning next year. It sets up perfectly for the Flyers.
- psuhockey

If they do not bring a goaltender outside the organization over the summer, then I'll believe they are serious about entering the McKenna sweepstakes. They have no goalie who has posted at least a .900% for an entire season.

Flyers have enough 1st round pick to make an offer sheet to Bedard
- WhiskeyMan

Yes but guaranteed Blackhawks match any offer thrown at him by any team

If they do not bring a goaltender outside the organization over the summer, then I'll believe they are serious about entering the McKenna sweepstakes. They have no goalie who has posted at least a .900% for an entire season.
- Trox88

Hopefully they don't bring anyone in, they just need to stay the course and rebuild from within. Try to get the best possible pick they can for the 2025 draft.

Macklin Celebrini is better than Bedard, and he's only 18 years old, heck, Logan Cooley is better than Bedard too. Not to take anything away from Connor Bedard, he's a great young offensive player, but Celebrini and Cooley could skate circles around that kid when you compare their games wholistically.
- Dave21Brown

Bedard certainly skated circles around the Flyers.

Bedard certainly skated circles around the Flyers.
- Tomahawk

Ok, not sure how that fits into the player vs player conversation, Michkov vs Bedard, but I understand your need to be negative about the team given how badly the Flyers have been managed over the past several years.

Hopefully they don't bring anyone in, they just need to stay the course and rebuild from within. Try to get the best possible pick they can for the 2025 draft.
- Dave21Brown

I'm not opposed to that path. Even if they bring a goalie like Georgiev, I would think they are still soft tanking. The profile of Georgiev is a goalie who was once above average, but now multiple years of being below average.

The other issue is HC. I do believe another year of Torts would be more helpful for the tank. His team will only be able to score at 5 on 5. However, I'm not in the camp that prolonged exposure to Torts is helpful to a young player's career down the road. I do think there is a diminishing return eventually. I would like a change at HC.