BobbyClarkeFan16

That's a damn fine burger. I'm not a fan of McDonald's burgers (I'm a Wendy's Baconator guy), but this one definitely hit it out of the park.

This is 100% Tortorella who wanted this. For all the talk about development of players, they want to win more than anything, young players be damned. And shame on management for not telling Tortorella that he needs to go back and they're all walking with him on this. If this backfires (and there's a big chance it will), they need to be fired. Enough of this nonsense of bringing in these retreads. Get rid of everyone. From management to senior advisors to coaching. Get rid of EVERY SINGLE PERSON. The only good thing for Luchanko is that he's got good wingers on Farabee and Brink to play alongside.

I hate Laperriere as a coach because he's not a good coach. Remember the awful PK the flyers had during the HAKTARD era? Do you remember who was coach of the PK? It was Laperriere. He's basically failed up into every role he's had within the organization. He's a good guy, but he's not particularly good at his job. That's what irritates me. There were NUMEROUS better development coaches available and Schmuck Felcher took the lazy route with the Laperriere hire and Briere continued it by signing him to an extension. What's even more aggravating? There were periods of time where the Flyers could have had Benoit Groulx and they let Kris Knoblauch walk. Picture those guys in Lehigh Valley working with the talent. Instead, we've got Puckhead who basically tells check harder. Now I'm starting to get angry thinking about that moron running things in Lehigh Valley.....

Tortorella: Flyers' goaltending situation 'scares the crap out of me' https://thescore.com/nhl/news/3088791 Clearly he's concerned. It's kind of refreshing that there isn't 'team speak' with regards to him. He'll tell it like it is. I'm not a fan of his coaching style, but I certainly appreciate the honesty after years of ********.

They were never serious about a 'rebuild'. Only four roster players were moved. That's it. Now, the roster is still quite young and some of the veterans are younger players, but the guys above Briere wanted a quick retool. We'll see if that works or if they're going to waste the careers of Michkov, Foerster, etc....

I love the skill that Michkov brings to the table, but you know what doesn't get talked about, yet it's probably the most important aspect of his game? How smart he is. I don't think I've seen a player in the history of this franchise that on the ice, is as smart as he is. He knows where everyone is, including the opposition and he knows where to be. He thinks the game at a fast and high pace, yet has the innate ability to slow the pace down. You can't teach that kind of smart. I know Briere and Tortorella are trying to temper expectations, but they have to be giddy at how good he is already. Now, I also understand it's preseason, but this is a very good and well rounded hockey player.

If Cowan doesn't make the Leafs and gets sent back, you've got Barkey, Cowan, Luchanko, Bonk and Dickinson on the power play. I don't see how any other team stops that. That would be nothing short of ridiculous.

London. I could see Luchanko being a Hunter acquisition. He fits EVERYTHING that London looks for in players.

I like it. I'm a Spencer Gill fan. A bigger defenseman who can skate well already, has shutdown capability and has good offensive chops? Plus, he was one of the few that Tortorella singled out and was impressed by. People forget that he's only 189 pounds and he just turned 18 a little over a month ago. Give him two years and when he fills out, he's going to get something special. This is a guy that Brad Shaw will really be instrumental in his development. I'm hoping that by the time Gill is ready, Shaw will be the next head coach. I like Shaw. He's got a knack for developing defensemen. Yeah, the more the 2024 draft plays out, the more it looks like the Flyers actually had a very solid draft.

No, Luchanko needs to go back to Guelph. Let him work on his shot and the rest of his offensive game there. He's going to get boatloads of ice time and he's probably going to the WJC tournament where he'll probably have a prominent role (wouldn't it be something if he and Barkey made the team AND played on the same line). There's no need to rush him. Not everyone makes the jump and they extra year for someone who was over if the youngest players in the draft is only going to be more beneficial for him.

I get it.

I don't have faith in Laperriere, at all. I rip on him all the time. But some players are developing in spite of him (Tuomaala and Andrae are two good examples of that). If Kolosov is as good as he thinks he is, he could tear it up down there.

Briere played this very well, actually. If Ersson/Fedotov stink and if Kolosov tears it up in the AHL, he gets his shot. If Ersson/Fedotov turn into a great pairing and if Kolosov does well in the AHL, one of them became trade material to land some more pieces. If all three stink, Kolosov returns to Russia, never to be seen or heard from again. Either way, the ball is now in Kolosov's court. Briere has taken the heat off himself and the franchise (for now).

All terrible teams he played on. That context has to be considered. It's the injury history that concerns me.

You certainly aren't wrong about that.