BobbyClarkeFan16

I don't think anyone hates or has knives drawn for Briere. What I think some are upset about is that we have a GM that says that they're going to play young players, yet they make moves to fill spots with veterans, so that the young players don't get a chance. And the veterans they sign? They're players that one would expect Bobby Clarke, Paul Holmgren and Schmuck Felcher would have targeted. Why do they insist to sign crap to fill roles? The management of this team talks a good talk, and then when it comes time to deliver, it's the same disappointing player types they sign. It's as if this franchise just can't help themselves.

Has that been confirmed that's the player heading back? There was a post on Twitter a week ago that the player was Vasily Ponomarev.

"We're going to ensure our young players get a chance to develop and make the team so we can see what we have." Then process to sign guys that will fill roster spots and leave the young guys out looking in. There isn't room for a Foerster, Lycksell or Desnoyers now. This franchise. Even with a new GM, they just can't help themselves but sign these overrated hacks. Just watch. I'm willing to bet Hathaway will be gifted all sorts of ice time because "heaviness". Skill, not size or heaviness, is how you win. ****** dinosaurs.....

I'm looking at the 45% face offs won percentage, the average ice time of 11:46, the 64 shots taken in 53 games and the 7 goals. He stinks. If he was signed only to play on the PK, then I'd like to know why the Flyers refuse to use Farabee and Frost as a pair on the PK? Everywhere they've been prior to the NHL, they've been successful and great penalty killers. It only makes sense that they should continue to use them here.

Yep, the stooge's right hand man, Nature Boy Brent Flahr is still the assistant GM. There will always be a Minnesota flavour if the stench from the previous regime is still around.

I'm looking for the article right now that said Michkov was Belarusian. I know he doesn't owe military time, so they can't hold him for that.

How much money are the Flyers sitting on right now? It's like $13 million or something. Best thing Briere can do is some young unqualified players to fill roles. For instance, I'd take a shot on Yamamoto. The left side is rather weak and there's no one in Lehigh Valley ready to fill a left wing spot. Yamamoto might be a good reclamation project. I'd also look at a guy like Max Comtois from Anaheim. There's another guy who needed a change of scenery in the worst kind of way. He could move a guy like Deslauriers to the 13th forward spot. In terms of the only other free agent I'd consider, I'd look at a right handed defenseman. Ethan Bear would be ideal, but he's missing the first three months of the season with shoulder surgery. Then he'd have to get into game shape and be acclimated with the team, so you're looking at about four to five months to be effective. No trades and no big name signings. These are all guys that if they rebound, can be flipped at the deadline for draft assets.

Michkov isn't Russian - he's Belarusian. He owes no military time to anyone.

Think of a physical and faster Mats Zuccarello and you've got Denver Barkey. And if you didn't see his performance in the playoffs for London, you missed one of the best performances from a player. And here's the thing - he might end up with one more growth spurt and if he adds two inches and 20 pounds, you now have a 5'11, 175 pound center. This is an absolute sleeper of a pick.

This is a game changing home run pick. More important, Michkov wants to be here. It's going to happen and yeah, it will take three years, but it will be worth it.

I won't say I'm disappointed that Briere didn't deal Hart, Laughton, Sanheim or Konecny. When you've got younger players who are going to be joining the team and when you're rebuilding, you need to have some talent there. Getting obliterated every night is no way to develop players. Having some talent ensures that the team will be competitive, won't get slaughtered and will teach the young players about how to play. In Tortorella's system, it's paramount to pay attention to detail and these guys will teach the young players that. Now, I do expect that they'll get moved as more guys are ready to play. That's just the nature of the beast. I can live with moving all the guys if there are capable players in place that can replicate what they do. I do wonder with all this money left over if Briere plans on the team eventually being close to a salary floor team while the rebuild is taking place. It's smart not tie up too many long term big money deals. At the same time, I'd certainly hope that Briere will take on salary dumps if it means getting premier assets in return.

I had a chance to talk with a few of my friends who are scouts and they all said the same thing about Oliver Bonk. He's really, really good and he's just starting to understand how to utilize his talent. He's got the defensive side of the game down and they said that's the hardest part of the game. They mentioned that if you watch him play, he's very efficient. He's never out of position, he never misses assignments, he always makes the right play, he doesn't panic under pressure, and he's just starting to scratch the surface with regards to his offensive game. They also said that the best pro comparison for him would be a bigger Jared Spurgeon. Unassuming, but incredibly effective. They also mentioned that there were more dynamic defensemen in the draft. They also said that those dynamic defensemen had big red flags to their game. They said if you look at Bonk, there's nothing in terms of red flags and that if you're building a blueline, those kinds of players are on your team for 15 years.

I watched the draft last night and the panel was asked about the lack of moves and I think it was Jeff Marek who said that the draft was so deep this year that nobody wanted to move their picks and those who did were looking for ways to trade back into the first. Briere also mentioned that he was looking to move up initially but the cost was so high that he stayed.

Yep. Someone is going to think that Gibson will be revived by a move to a winning franchise. Fact is, he's been losing for so long and he's faced so much rubber that I think the man is tainted now. That gives me hope that is Gibson goes for a relatively high price, someone will bite on Carter Hart's potential and will give up a goldmine for him. Of course that could ask change depending on what happens with hockey Canada's investigation into the assault that happened in London.

And even then, he still might be coming over. There's all this talk that he's going to re-sign with the Russian club he was with, yet the Flyers tolled his contract. They aren't doing that if they don't think he's coming over.

Those are big moves that will happen in the offseason. Free agency starts on Saturday, so we should see things start off with a bang.

Creating a goalie pipeline is smart. I wish they would have taken a center, but because goalies are so volatile, it makes sense to draft and invest heavily in goaltenders.

I doubt Gauthier is going to be a center at the NHL level. He'll get eaten alive. He's better suited for the left side. Agreed that if Konecny is moved, a center prospect needs to come back in the worst way. That's part of the reason I wanted to see a deal with St Louis to get a guy like Zachary Bolduc in return. If Sanheim is moved for picks, hopefully we can land a 2nd today and add a guy like Riley Heidt. Intrigue abounds for day 2.

Quentin Musty. His game took a giant leap when Sudbury brought in Derek Mackenzie to coach the team. Musty scored 64 points in 34 games and his play just took off. I know some scouts said he's not always engaged, but after the change in coaching, I'd say they were incorrect. If anything, it was coaching that was holding him back. With regards to Bonk, I was taking a look at all time London Knights defensemen and his second season was on par with that of.....Evan Bouchard. Bonk is going to get tons of ice time in London. It won't surprise me when he's a 60/70 point defenseman next year that plays in all situations.

I'm not a fan of the pick. Not at all. At the same time, Bonk is in one of the pre-eminent programs in all of junior hockey. London simply produces NHL players.

Come on, Riley Heidt!!!!

Jesus, Arizona reaches again. What the hell.....

What makes this pick even greater? Briere didn't give up any assets to select him. That's a huge win.

I'm not worried about Michkov. He's not Russian, he's a Belarusian, so he owes no military time. His agent said that they had a great meeting with the Flyers and Washington's GM just said that they didn't meet with Michkov either. I'm excited about the Michkov selection.

Michkov!!!!!!!!!!