Mad Dog

At least for the foreseeable future, yes. And it'll take many years to undo all the damage done, and even that is not given unless they hire someone with a clue.

Fletch completely failed at his job. He couldn't build a winning franchise, and he doesn't know how to rebuild, either. He is completely worthless. But unless people stop paying for tickets, nothing will change.

Brendan Lemieux???? Are you friggin' kidding me?

I am OK with this.

I agree with FC. They are both terrific, superstar players in their own rights. It's equal to comparing Draisaitl and McDavid. Each one has his own greatness.

Well, that didn't go well. But they played against the best team in the NHL... the team with no obvious shortcomings. I just wish this game wasn't *so* lopsided.

Look. They won't threaten to win the Cup this year. Hell, they most likely won't even make the playoffs. On many nights, especially earlier in the season, this squad looked disoriented, lost, and, frankly, unwatchable. But you also have to like how this young group is developing. They know they have nothing to lose. Nobody expects them to do much this year. You have to like the development of Farabee, Noah Cates, Laughton, Owen Tippett. TK is on pace to score 92 points this season (!). Right now, he is ahead in scoring of Stamkos, Panarin, Roope Hintz, Tavares, Brayden Point, Zibanejad, Brady Tkachuk, and Bo Horvat, to name a few. What I particularly like about his game this year is he creates his own chances, splitting evenly before goals and assists. Imagine what he could do with a playmaking center... We could be possibly talking Pastrnak's production. And they have a franchise goalie... finally. Again, no parade on Broad Street this year, or in any near future. But I like how this team responded to this coach, and vice versa.

Well, for better or worse, there is one positive this season. TK is playing out of his mind. Tortorella apparently found a way to maximize on his potential.

I think the Flyers won only because Rick vouched for them here. I can't think of any other reason. Oh well... Ask and you shall receive.

That's how I understood it, too. People seem to be confused about the procedure. A player needs to clear the league's concussion protocol, get off IR, and only *then* he can be practicing. This is completely different. From what I understand, he was allowed to practice *when* on IR. Christ....... this is wrong when dealing with any player, let alone your franchise goalie, who has been your MVP all season long. How can this organization be so damn incompetent and negligent???

If the reports of him practicing after being placed on IR are true, this organization is even more eff'd up than all of us thought. Hart is their MVP, and has been for a long time. BY FAR.... This is a borderline criminal conduct.

A nice list... On couple of teams, there could be some questions, but overall, hard to disagree with most of the choices. And taking it even further, if I would have to name THE best of the best... just one active player, I would go with Cale Makar without hesitation. Just a phenomenal player on all levels and clearly the best d-man in the league by a country mile right now, who will remain to be the best of the best for many years to come. An absolute, unquestioned superstar.

Yes, the future in Buffalo looks bright. I know people are tired of hearing this as it's been perceived that Buffalo has perennially had a young and building team and nothing to show for. But I feel like this time around it's different. Particularly Thompson, Cozens, Dahlin, Luukonne, and Jack Quinn will be a core of this team for many years to come, barring some unforeseen circumstances, of course. It's not just them having a good year. They *are* already a core of this team. Dylan Cozens especially has impressed me. He is mature beyond his age. He plays important minutes on ice. There are almost no flaws to his game. He plays against the opposing teams' best players in crucial moments of the game as Granato has confidence in him. He has a high hockey IQ. He is great with and without the puck. He doesn't take shifts off, which is why they call him "Workhorse from Whitehorse". His puck possession and ice vision in a neutral zone is unparalleled. And he is only 21 years old. He reminds me of young Patrice Bergeron. In a couple of years, these players will make people forget that Eichel ever played for Buffalo.

I have two of my teams moving in opposite directions in our two leagues.

I know Thompson is stealing all the highlight in Buffalo these days, and deservedly so. But there is another star in Buffalo, quietly born - Dylan Cozens. Man, what a stud! There is literally NOTHING this guy cannot do on the ice. Granato uses him in all the situations: PP, PK, even strength... Making cuts, navigating through a neutral zone, playing against the opposing team's best players, one-on-one coverage, his work without a puck... he does it all. I can see why he was a 7th overall pick. And in a couple of years, I won't be surprised if he challenges for a Selke trophy winner.

I heard at one point, the Jets considered swapping Mark Scheifele for Hayes, but at the end, it fell through.

His second... I mean, crap... The guy is only 35. Puts things in perspective. Hockey needs to be taking a back seat for him at this point in his life... If he doesn't retire after this, I don't know what he is thinking.

And you would have won. By a stroke of pure luck, I drew 'Deke in the finals. I knew at that moment that I was going to beat him easily. You did me a big favor by losing to him.

Horrible, horrible trade... Not even *close* to enough for McDavid. You got hosed, FD! Congrats!

You are not being objective. Quick is aging... He has maybe two years left in him. And Buffalo is not in te hwin-now mode, so Quick doesn't fit into their model. And Cal Petersen is simply an average goalie. Give Luukonnen some time to grow. You are placing unrealistic expectations on the kid. He has what it takes to be at least a solid, good goalie in this league. He needs to polish his game, and to do that, he needs to play. Buffalo is giving all their other kids all the time in the world to develop. Why not treat him in the same fashion? There is absolutely no purpose or reason to trade Luukonnen for someone like Jonathan Quick. That would be something that the Flyers management would do. You do NOT want that. No...

So for comparison, this is what Jim Nill at Dallas did: 1) Heiskanen (23yrs) signed until 2029 2) Oettinger (23yrs) signed until 2025 3) Robertson (23yrs) signed until 2026 4) Hintz (26yrs) *just* signed until 2031 Most expensive contract is $8.45 million. With the Salary Cap going up next year, the Stars are set. This is what good, sound management means... something we are not accustomed to, here.

If I am not mistaken, Jim Nill (the current Dallas Stars GM) is signed through 2023-2024. I would go after him when his contract expires.

They truly are... Torts will push them to play up to their ability every night and Hart will give them a chance to get some points here and there, but at the end of a day the glaring lack of talent will make them finish just about at the bottom of the league. IN fact, I can see them finishing dead last... And what's even more depressing is that there is nothing to even look forward to down the road, as long as this management is in control. See, people love to bash Buffalo. And while they may *still* be a non-playoff team, they are fun to watch. I really believe the core of Thompson, Duhlin, Tuch, Cozens, Jack Quinn, Owen Power, and Mittelstadt is too good not to be a solid, decent team in couple of years from now. And Luukkonen is an electrifying young goalie, having stardom written all over him. They have pieces in place; they just need experience and patience. The Flyers have nothing. There is just no direction whatsoever. They are a true AHL team, which will be an AHL team for years to come thanks to this absolute horror of a management.

How can this stiff Fletcher still have a job in the NHL?!

Unwatchable...