vis

31 minutes ago, FireDillabaugh said:

 All they care about when it comes to ticket sales are the corporations purchasing their club box and luxury boxes. 

That well is drying up as well. So many tickets go unused, at least in my place of work.  Companies are reassessing the need for these types of packages.  

2 hours ago, radoran said:

And by all account Ghost was a quality locker room guy.

 

There are obvious differences.

Lol.  Touché.  

It was done before it started.  
 

Fact is that Flyers shouldn’t have been players in UFA.  Should wait for the existing contracts to run out and for young kids to develop before spending in UFA.

That said, wtf are they giving 4 years to Deslauriers?

Braun?  Eh.  Whatever.  

43 minutes ago, radoran said:

The comparison isn't entirely off base...

Not entirely off, but not entirely on either.  There’s an age difference.  Different number of games played.  DeAngelo’s stats did have not fallen off like Ghost’s did until last year’s rebound.  

On 7/9/2022 at 1:03 AM, FireDillabaugh said:

If Gauthier was selected at around 12-18, it's a completely different story.  But, he wasn't.  He was selected at 5, when it's pretty apparent that he wasn't the BPA at the time,  and probably won't live up to the 5th pick.  Again, won't bother holding my breath waiting for him to do so.  He will probably be capable of helping the team eventually, if Lappy doesn't destroy him when he's eventually placed in Lehigh after his time at BC.  But, that help will probably be as a middle six role, while other names that were there at 5 may show they are true top line NHL players eventually.

Fair.  I guess most of the rankings that I saw from the usual suspects close to draft time (and I don't follow these things too closely, admittedly), had Gauthier as a borderline top 5 pick, maybe top of the next group.  Most had Gauthier, Geekie and Savoie ranked pretty closely.  Doesn't seems to me they reach absurdly reached for the guy.  Seems like he was picked in a fairly reasonable spot.  I mean, if you value Craig Button, he had Gauthier at 7 and Savoie and Nazar around 20ish.  Central Scouting had Gauthier, Savoie and Geekie at 3, 4 and 5 among North American Skaters.  Nazar didn't crack the top 10 in what I saw.

I think the Flyers wanted a player certain to make the roster in a couple of years, rather than taking a risk on a boom or bust player.  Gauthier seems rather safe, but not spectacular, in that regard.

On 7/9/2022 at 12:20 PM, radoran said:

 

They SIGNED Yandle

...

And they portray this as "success" - we'll see...

Yeah, the bar for success is low for this organization, lowered even more by Yandle's signing.

Certainly not bowled over by the acquiring DeAngelo.  But, also not getting the comparisons to Ghost some are making.

On 7/9/2022 at 12:20 PM, radoran said:

I get the situation, but it remains that the Flyers just gave up three draft picks to sign a guy with questionable character that they could have had for nothing.

Yeah, the questionable character stuff is the issue.  Even if he could have been had for nothing, it's just stupid.

12 minutes ago, radoran said:

I mean, DeAngelo WAS waived.

Not last year and not because of his on-ice play, which was the point of my post.

12 minutes ago, radoran said:

The Flyers could have claimed him then.

 

They didn't. The Hurricanes gave him a one year deal for $1M

 

The Flyers waited a year

No one claimed him given the circumstances under which he has waived.  

And maybe the Flyers should have given him a deal last year.  But, again, given the circumstances seems like no one other than Carolina wanted to take that chance.  I don't fault the Flyers for not signing him in the offseason -- especially with eyes set on Ellis.

12 minutes ago, radoran said:

But my del Zotto references aren't entirely off base until they are...

Why? Because del Zotto is an offensive defensemen and has an Italian surname which begins with a "D"? 

I don't think they are all that comparable.  Del Zotto topped out at 41 points in 77 games.  DeAngelo has had 50+ points in two season with less than 70 games played each time.  Plus, del Zotto lacks any semblance of competitiveness, something that apparently isn't the case with DeAngelo (and may actually be a weakness).  Yeah, they both aren't great defensively, that's fair.  But I think you're shortchanging DeAngelo's on-ice performance when comparing him with del Zotto (even more so than when people compare DeAngelo to Ghost).

I feel like some people are trying to find reasons not to like the Gauthier pick based on inaccurate assumptions or by drawing unfair comparisons to players previously drafted by the team.  I don't know, guess I just would like to know what it is about the scouting reports that are problematic.  He doesn't seem to be deficient in any area.  Perhaps he isn't elite in any area, except for compete level (which this team solely lacks), though.  I suppose Jiricek was a viable option, so I get if you preferred him over Gauthier (frankly, I was thinking they should take Jiricek but understand why they went with a F and worried a little about Jiricek's knee surgery).  But what were people expecting for the fifth pick in a weak draft?

Really torn on this.

They need a quarterback on the PP, so I think they could use someone with his skillset.  And if Ellis is LTIR'd, then the need for an NHL dman is even greater (though I don't think he fills the role that Ellis would theoretically fill).  From an on-ice perspective, this makes sense to me.  So, neither the picks nor contact bother me much.  

So obviously the issue here is whether his racism/homophobia and lockerroom issues are behind him.  I just hope the team did their homework here and that those issues have been addressed.  I mean, what could go wrong bringing in a player known for being divisive to a team with supposed lockerroom issues? 

23 hours ago, CoachX said:

Why do you think Tortorella wiil fail, and does he HAVE to deliver a cup for it to be a success?

If he can help players become the best versions of themselves, teach them how to consistently play hard with good habits, install some organizational identity AND all of that carries over to the next coach/regime (and there will be a next coach/regime before a Cup is a reasonable possibility), then to me that’s a success.  In a way, I view Torts as a transitional coach.  Kind of like a Chief Restructuring Officer.  His job is to turn this team in the right direction after hitting rock bottom.  He may stick around as CEO or at least will have this team set up the right way for the next CEO.  

13 minutes ago, albertaflyer said:

Interesting read. Torts isn't Fletchers choice. So it must be good choice. 

Flyers to Hire John Tortorella as Next Head Coach - Crossing Broad

Ha!  
 

Guess he can’t be blamed if things go south with Torts.  Wonder what this means for Fletcher, though.  Seems he is being a bit undermined here.

3 hours ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

I've been on the Benoit Groulx bandwagon for the longest of time.

I’ve seen his name mentioned but still wonder why he hasn’t won a job.  Rarely identified as a top choice candidate. 

3 hours ago, mojo1917 said:

I wanted Jim Montgomery.

He had a good run and this team in the past has been good to people recovering from addictions.  I don’t know enough about his coaching acumen, but Tortorella does have a longer track record.  I also wonder if Comcast wanted no parts of him because of his history.  

I am looking forward to Torts taking over the reigns.  At the least, things should be way more entertaining around this team.  Part of the reason general interest in this team has waned is because it's a faceless, passionless, boring franchise.  This is part of the reason why the product on the ice has been terrible.

Imo, Tortorella checks a lot of boxes for this team.  He is passionate; this team has lacked any semblance of passion.  He wants his teams to be difficult to play against and to give full effort on a consistent bases; no one can say this team has done that in a long time.  He is hands on and accessible to his players (for better or worse) and they will know where they stand with him (again, for better or worse); one criticism of Vigneult was that he was too aloof.

My concern is that he will stifle creative hockey.  And I hope he doesn't run roughshod over young players.

My understanding is that Cam Atkinson lobbied hard for him.  I think that speaks volumes.  Arguably, Cam was our best and most consistent forward last year (aside from G perhaps).  And he sets a good example, imo.

Some of the handwringing seems to be that this move reeks of "the old guard" having a say in management of this team.  Not sure it really does.  One thing is for certain: Torts is an outside voice so I don't think you can criticize them for that.  And what do we make of the report that Scott hired outside consultants to help vet candidates?  if anything, that seems to undermine the argument that the team is secretly run by Clarke and Holmgren.  Frankly, I doubt either one does a damn thing for this team outside of field a call for opinions (not approvals) on occasion.

My impression is that Torts is a pretty thoughtful guy.  He seems to be self-aware enough to try to adapt his style to new situations and learn from past mistakes.  Yes, he's demanding and probably says or does things that are overly critical.  But I think he's a good leader.  I say this all because I've worked for/with people who seem to share similar personality traits.  I initially hated working for some of these people, but over time came to better understand them (and them me) and ended up regarding them as great leaders and some of the best people I've worked with.  Hope it works out as well for the Flyers as well as it did for me. 

If Trotz rejected an offer and Cassidy is heading to Vegas, what other candidates did people want?

Torchetti won’t be a long term answer.  Guy’s first name might as well be “interim.”

Funny to me that he’s in COVID protocol already 

Dave Scott is a passionless, soulless suit concerned with nothing more than financial spreadsheets and his own job.  He doesn’t have a deep-rooted, innate desire to see this team win other than to improve his metrics and preserve his job.  He does not inspire.  This is a business, not a passion, for him.  He’s not a hockey guy.  The players know this.  They don’t respect him or the organization.  It wouldn’t surprise me that the players don’t respect anyone in management either, including Fletcher, Clarke and Holmgren.  Don blame them, really.  

Good job holding the opponents to a touchdown a second time in a row.  /s
 

Gave up 50 shots.  Yikes.  

Flyers managed to score 5 goals on a third, possibly fourth, string goaltender.  Guy got his first career win tonight.  
 

Not much to take away from this game, other than that Giroux played well and at least the PP scored.  
 

Glad Laughton got that shortie.  I was livid the Avalanche still had their top unit out at that point.  Disrespectful.  

No reason to keep Giroux.  Such a mixed bag of a career as a Flyer.  Pronger getting hurt and retiring was the worst thing to happen to him.  He needed other leaders in the room.

But we know how the story will go: Flyers will show flashes of good play and climb into PO contention.  Fletcher will be in limbo at the deadline, caught between the mirage of being a playoff team (and potential meddling from corporate) and knowing the Flyers really have no chance to do anything meaningful if they do make the POs.  As a result, Giroux won't be traded (again, corporate bringing pressure to bear on several fronts) and he will either be signed to a stupid contract or sign elsewhere for nothing, the former being the more likely scenario imo.  Either way, rebuilding is delayed and more years of mediocrity ensue. 

1 hour ago, CoachX said:

good debate points,but in the end, the proof is in the poo at center ice (k9 reference)

 

the team is horrible. No coach will win with this lineup. They could get better, but only marginally. And no help is in sight

Agree, but not all of that is on Fletcher.

Don't mean to start a debate, but this also isn't all of the Fletcher's fault.  Clarke and Holmgren decimated the organization by handing out ****** contracts to aging vets and disregarding player development.  Hextall failed to make trades, properly evaluate and develop prospects and kept Hakstol beyond his usefulness (which was zero, frankly, since shortly after he got here).  Fletcher, not sure what to think.  Glad he doesn't sit on his hands like Hextall.  I don't dislike the moves he's made in the aggregate, but not so sure the parts fit.

Doubtful anything really changes, but Fletcher could not sit this one out.  Had to happen.  Look forward to AV having success with another team.  Therrien should never coach another NHL game. 

Anyhoo...organization is boring and irrelevant at this point, in need of an enema and flushing of leadership in all areas.  Players aren't as good as they, or we, think they are.

After what happened after he lost his job in STL, it would be a great story if Yeo could win a Cup having taken over the reigns in the middle of the season.  Probably will happen with the next team he coaches after this group manages to get him fired, too.

3 hours ago, radoran said:

 

Good to see you covissioner.

Right on, rad.  Hope you are doing well, my friend. 

7 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

 

 

Couldn't agree more vis. Nice to see you back but totally understand why you haven't been around. I have nothing good to say about this organization anymore. I haven't watch a game in weeks. I've never done this before (at least not since I've been able to watch all the Flyer games) but just can't be bothered to waste my time. I'd rather watch Family Feud. And I don't. 

Not posting had more to do with the busy-ness of life, but also because I got tired of me complaining about the organization.  Well, here I am again…

I barely watch either.  Forget they are playing sometimes.