BobbyClarkeFan16

I think Nolan Patrick has the upside to be a fantastic player. I'm wondering though if the Flyers were the ideal situation for him to step into. He should have NEVER played in the NHL in his rookie season, especially when he required double hernia surgery and that sapped him of all his strength. He should have gone back to junior for one final season. Instead, he was rushed into the lineup to justify the draft position. This past season wasn't a better season either. We're looking at a kid who was bounced around the lineup by an incompetent coaching staff that had no business coaching the big club. It was CLEAR that Hakstol had lost the room and Hextall failed the young players by leaving him in place for too long. On top of it, Hakstol used a system that didn't utilize the strengths of the players. Usually, a coach tries to fit his system around the players he has, not tries to fit the players to the system. That's a recipe for disaster. I'm willing to give Patrick one more year. Usually year two is a dreaded sophmore jinx year, but with a new coaching staff in place, you can bet that they've reached out to everyone and that the expectations are clear. I certainly expect a big jump in production from Patrick, especially when you consider that historically, players third and fourth years are usually the years they make the jump. If he's not knocking down at least 60 points next season, then I think you start to look at moving on from Patrick.

Hello everyone and welcome to the HF.net annual mock draft. It was a struggle between selecting the physical mature and dominating Finnish winger in Kaapo Kakko or the dimunitive, but electrifying center in Jack Hughes. In the end, look at the needs of the team, the New Jersey Devils are proud to select from the US National Team Development Program, Jack Hughes. Just some quotes from three of the top scouts: “Hughes has tremendous first step which sets him apart; at times you don’t notice him cause he is small but when he gets the puck, watch out.” – Tyler Marshall,ISS Hockey “Turbo-charged center with blinding speed and fantastic vision who has dominated his peers at every level. Hughes’ skill is noticeable from the second he hits the ice, but his ability to make every single one of decisions seem calculated is what separates him from a very talented group of draft-eligible forwards. His sixth sense allows him to sniff out trouble before it’s within striking distance while simultaneously identifying weaknesses within the opponent’s scheme to stop him. It’s cliche to say he makes everyone around him better, but Hughes does so in more ways that one.” – Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst “We’re running out of superlatives for the electrifying 17-year-old. Hughes brings dynamic acceleration, top-end speed, edgework, puck skills… I can keep going but you get the idea. He’s been at his best when his USNTDP team has played high-end NCAA squads. Despite an injury slowing him down at the WJC, he still displayed his impressive skills against players two years his senior.” – Cam Robinson, Dobber Prospects In the end, Hughes is just a better fit for what the Devils are trying to rebuild.

Are we good to go to start?

I'm hesitant to believe that a hockey player was out of shape 3/4 of the way through a season before he was dealt. I remember when John Stevens said that about the guys after taking over from Hitchcock and same with Laviolette taking over for Stevens, Berube taking over for Laviolette, Hakstol taking over for Berube, etc......It's tired excuse when coaches say that. These guys are professional athletes and multi-millionaires to boot. They aren't going to do anything to jeopardize that. What I think about Hayes is that he's a big guy, but he's light. 6'5, 215 pounds? He's simply not heavy enough, which to me indicates he's not eating enough. A guy that big who plays a physical game needs to have more muscle on his frame. Not only that, having that extra muscle will help him on first step acceleration, especially if he's adding more muscle mass to his legs. He'll get a better push off and with the length of his stride, that's huge.

I'll send you a PM shortly

I know Hayes only has one 20 goal season under his belt, but you know he's going to get an awfully big role on the power play in Philadelphia. He's going to be the net presence guy a la Simmonds and that's going to add about 10 goals a year to his goal totals. Playing with Giroux, Voracek and Ghost (should they not move him) on the power play is going to make him lethal. Don't forget that having a Hayes means they won't have to play Couturier on the PK for the full two minutes and that the time on the PK can be balanced between Hayes, Patrick and Laughton, which means there's two minutes of ice time less for Couturier on the PK and you can add that to his even strength and PP time. I'm starting to think the Flyers will overpay Hayes for those reasons alone. And don't forget that once Patrick and Frost are ready (it's possible Frost could be ready this year, but I think giving him the Giroux treatment to start his career is a good thing), Hayes moves to the wing and you've got a big solid body there. I'm really starting to warm up to the idea of Hayes and what he can bring to the table. If Hayes is a poor man's version of Couturier and if Patrick can become another Couturier, that's an AWFULLY tough three headed center monster to play against. Of course, that leaves where do you play Frost, but that's a good problem to have.

Is there a time you want to start the draft at? As well, when we make our selection, I think we should PM the next person on the list to let them know they're on the clock. Seeing as to how I'm number one (hehehe.....thank god not a 'number 2' -> bathroom humour rules), I can make my selection immediately because I know who I'm going to start with.

He should have went to Boston University to begin with. O'Brien is the one guy who I really think is going to end up that dreaded b word. Hated the puck then, hate it even more now. Still wish Veleno or Kupari was the pick.

I think we're starting to get far ahead of ourselves here with regards to some of the 'potential' deals we think might go down. Fact is, we're seeing deals in which the Flyers are giving up a ton in Gostisbehere and the 11th overall. If you're making that kind of deal, that kind of return should get you a guy like Taylor Hall. None of the players listed are Taylor Hall. In terms of guys like Trouba, Karlsson, etc......everything is going to be dependent on whether they agree to a contract with the Flyers first, especially Trouba. There's no way Fletcher gives up a haul for him without getting his name on a 7-8 year contract first. It's just not happening. As for Karlsson, he has no leverage in getting a 7-8 million a year deal. We can throw that out the window as well. Right now, the best thing that Fletcher can do (and I think he will) is to have teams approach him (which from everything I've read on Twitter and the likes, that's exactly what he's doing). Make them come up with an offer and then counter from there. The fact is, as much as Fletcher and the Flyers say they need lots of pieces, they really don't need much in the grand scheme of things. A veteran defenseman who can play and drive a pairing, a back up goalie and a 2nd-3rd line center plus a right wing are the requirements. They have money, they have prospects and they have a boatload of picks. I'm certain that Fletcher and Nature Boy are relying on the scouts to help them through this and the scouts are probably going to have a large voice in the room. As for dealing Patrick, it's a long shot. When you consider his history with Provorov and Ivan is the future leader on the blueline, they're going to do all they can to keep him happy. Honestly, I expect the second tier of prospects like O'Brien, Allison, Laczynski, Rubtsov, etc....will be the prospects used as trade bait.

You nailed it with this. They don't want a bidding war. As for Hayes being lukewarm to Philadelphia, it's all agent talk to drive up the price for his services. The difference between Hayes and Hamhuis is that Hamhuis openly said he didn't want to go to Philadelphia.

Yes!!!!!

Fletcher won't move Farabee, Frost or Ratcliffe. He knows what he has in those guys and you can bet that he's not moving them. I expect Fletcher though will move guys like Allison and Laczynski. As for the 11th overall, I'm all for moving it if they can get a player who is between 22 and 25 years of age and just about ready to break through. I know the name Kapanen has come up a lot, but I'm also thinking of players like Roslovic in Winnipeg or Colin White in Ottawa (although I'm not sure the Sens would move him). What I want to see is if they can get Hayes' name on a contract and what that contract will be worth.

If there's ever a deal that can go in either direction (good or bad), this is it. This deal will be about what kind of contract they sign Hayes to.

Take a look at what players are being moved for and it's nowhere near the amount it used to be. Look at what Erik Karlsson was moved for. He was moved for peanuts. Look at the O'Reilly trade. Not exactly huge either. Look at when Tampa Bay acquired JT Miller and Ryan McDonagh. I could go on and on. No exchange of top prospects took place. The first round picks were late. The players that were used were, to be honest, mediocre. It's a different time now. Everyone is on a level playing field and the days of overpaying are pretty much at an end. If the Flyers are offering their first and a top prospect line prospect for William Karlsson, Vegas is jumping all over that. The other thing to factor into everything - the upcoming expansion draft. Now I'm not advocating moving Ratcliffe. I'd rather see the Flyers move Wade Allision or Tanner Laczynski instead.

I'm also in. No problem taking any team either.

I have no problem with choosing a player on where they play. My issue with the NCAA is the actual program they're playing at. For instance, I would NEVER recommend any prospect to go to a school like the University of New Hampshire. It's a trash program. Now, if they're going to one of the Boston schools, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc....(one of the schools with a great hockey program), then I'm all for it. It's the same with junior hockey. Under no circumstances would I take anyone from a program like Flint, where there has been TONS of issues. That just saps the development from players and they end up developing real bad habits. I really do think though that the pick is going to be moved. I look around the league and there are numerous teams with cap issues that are going to look to move guys. If Fletcher targets Vegas, Toronto, Tampa Bay and Nashville, there's no reason to believe that they can't walk away with two good players that can help elevate the team to the next level, especially since it seems like Fletcher has no problems taking on salary.

SB Nation has their mock draft and they had the Flyers taking Alex Newhook. Another had them taking Podkolzin. One was Caulfield. Krebs is in the one you were looking at @OccamsRazor and then there have been others where they were taking Soderstrom. With all the talk as of late coming out of Philadelphia, I'm convinced that the 11th will be moved on a package to land a center and defenseman. Think similar to the Hartnell/Timonen deal. Fletcher has been real vocal about improving the club and trade route seems to be the obvious choice, especially if they can take advantage of a team with cap issues.

I read the article and it wasn't quite that. Prospects will not be gifted spots and they're going to have to earn it. If they earn it, they'll play. Fletcher said the last thing he wants to do is make cuts in April and May. He did say they were going to be aggressive in free agency, but he wasn't sure if they could fill their needs that way. He mentioned signing a couple of 30+ year old players to 1 and 2 year deals of he thought they could help, but he also mentioned using some of the depth to possibly target a 25/26 year old that they could sign for the next 7-8 years. And yes, he did mention that he doesn't want to overwork Harry as the starter and that he wants to find a real good backup to support and help him because there's going to be bumps in the road.

Here's the thing. There's only so many spots available for players. The Flyers have an embarrassment of riches that moving say a Sanheim or Meyers in a deal for Marner won't hurt as much because of the depth. That doesn't mean the team does it. It just means they have the pieces and it won't break the system. Personally, I'd love marner because he had gotten better by a significant margin every year he's played. And no, I certainly don't believe he's reached his pique. I also believe that last season, the Flyers just started scratching the surface of what Sanheim can do. In terms of the Karlsson/Miller deal I proposed, it's a deal that fills two specific spots on the roster, allows for flexibility of young players making the lineup and still allows the Flyers to make other trades to restock the cupboard (In looking at possibly Gudas and Ghost in particular) and it allows Meyers to play on a top 4 role. Anyway we look at it, this club is going to look very different in the fall. I'm also looking forward to Vigneault letting the forwards really push the play and I expect this should be an incredibly tough club to play against. There will be prospects departing though so I hope people are prepared for that.

Karlsson and Miller from Vegas for Hagg, Rubtsov, the rights to O'Brien and the number 11.

Marner for Farabee and the 11th? Sign me up. However, the reality is that it would probably be Sanheim/Meyers, Farabee and the 11th. That's a heavy cost, but damn, Marner is so worth it.

Why are people so high on moving Ratcliffe? There is NOBODY else like him in the pipeline. Not Ratcliffe, Laczynski, etc.....This is legitimate power forward with 35 to 40 goal upside. You don't move those guys. We keep hearing about how the Flyers lack size in the lineup. Ratcliffe brings it. He also showed what he can do when he has a legitimate center getting him the puck. Dude can flat out score. If there's a list of prospects that are untouchable, he's on that list.

I'd have no problems with Kadri in Philadelphia. He had a down year in Toronto last year, but he's a very reliable center that would thrive playing for Vigneault.

You aren't getting Doughty for Voracek without a significant addition by the Flyers and no, Frost, Farabee, Ratcliffe or additional first round picks is not an option. As for Holmgren and Clarke, they're figureheads. Clarke does nothing but appear at events. If he's asked for something, he'll give input, but he has no say in day to day matters of running the team. As for Holmgren, he was quite hands off with Hextall, but towards the end, Hextall was not receptive to making changes to the club and often had disagreements with ownership on the direction of the club. It's also been noted that Hextall was often disrespecting of ownership and he micromanaged to a the point that it was a distraction. Hiring Gord Murphy so he could be a spy for Hextall? That crosses a line. Don't mistake this for giving Holmgren and Clarke a pass for their past indiscretions. At the same time, they get much needless blame for things they have had no control over.

I don't think it will be an accountability issue if they move Giroux because he's the one guy that shows up consistently. Moving Giroux will be because the club is simply further away from contention than they thought they were. Giroux is that one asset that can bring a franchise changing return.