radoran

Similar thing happened in Nashville where they likely should have been sellers and even publicly called out the team for dogging it. Then they go on a little run and the GM thinks they should be buyers to thank the team for being relatively mediocre. After all, a playoff run is good experience. Losing to the eventual Cup winner in the first round is a good sign. They really do feel the "rebuild" is "ahead of schedule" and that can be a problem if they are looking to build a Cup winner and not a "definitely a playoff team" team. They need to take some big swings because they have some big holes that aren't likely to be filled in the lower half of the first round.

You've read my commentary outside this thread. It makes sense in the context of trying to give the locker room a chance at the playoffs. It's a good short term thing. It also means they could wind up with a lower draft pick in a not very good draft. That's where German Rubstovs came from. Again, the question is "what is the goal?" "The goal" changed from "don't fall in love" rebuild to "let's make the playoffs". Again, the point is what happens this off-season. Nothing that happened at the deadline happens in a vacuum. Briere has accomplished a LOT in a short term and I give him credit for that. I've defended his deadline moves on here in several threads. But he has a LOT to do and if we're in "definitely a playoff team" zone while we "wait for Michkov" - i.e. taking the roster as sacrosanct and considering the low firsts as "first round players" - then it will not surprise any skeptics if the results are exactly the same as we've seen for 12 years. I hope to be wrong as I've hoped to be wrong watching them make the wrong move after the wrong move for 20+ years. I want to see some indication we're moving in a truly different direction. Otherwise we're a Minnesota, Nashville, Vancouver always the bridesmaid franchise. I hope to be wrong.

What they paid for Johnson.

They were "definitely a playoff team" for 12 years and now in year one of the rebuild they're a year away from "definitely a playoff team." What could go wrong? The issue has never been "good enough to make the playoffs." Show me the path to winning the Stanley Cup that doesn't involve a top five pick. We can asterix Michkov in there, but that's two year away by all accounts. Briere needs to leverage some assets into elite level talent via draft or trade. Again I'll point to Chicago with FIVE 1/2 picks over the next two years that are mostly higher than the Flyers' picks and they already have a generational #1 in the NHL. Was the fourth worth the chance at the playoffs this year? We will find out.

They are the definition of a bubble playoff team - one of four teams 10 points behind the lead pack, competing for three spots. They very seriously need to be worried about losing the Metro 3 and dropping out of the Wild Card entirely. Tampa is awake and Detroit is another "promising young team" this year. The year of playoff experience could be valuable. Or they could miss the playoffs next year. The Devils were the "up and coming young team" last year. They look set to miss the playoffs this year. Playoffs are short term value. Talent can have long term effects. Briere needs to up the talent level.

The question isn't whether Ristolainen "can play defense" - it's whether he's worth what they paid to acquire him and what they are currently paying him. The first answer is "sort of" and the next two are "no".

It's a little deceptive because they didn't play home and away each year for many years so the Sharks didn't play as often in Philadelphia. Without looking, also possible pandemic cancellations. Flyers need to TCOB here if they want to make the playoffs. Many teams nipping at their heels.

Which Schenn?

I'm happy with what they've done, but they've also been surprised with an overachieving "playoff" team. I have spent cash money to go down and watch games for the first time since pre-pandemic. Dealing Provorov brought a good return; Hayes removed a boat anchor; they have established a baseline "culture" that apparently means "playing hockey"; he has amassed some lower 1sts; they bank a lot on Michkov coming over. All in all they are an enjoyable team to watch (mostly) and have the opportunity to be creative with players and picks. I hope they do.

We can but hope.

To be clear, the reported deal was Hayes and Sanheim for Krug and the Blues's first round pick in 2024. Which would you like more: a third first rounder in this year's draft or six more years of Travis Sanheim? Floor's yours.

I mean, sure, as far as this goes. He also turned Ivan Provorov into two firsts and a second. It also cost him a fifth he recouped with cap space to turn an expiring UFA into a 1st rounder. He got rid of Kevin Hayes. I have my issues with the Seeler deal, but it's not soul crushing or ridiculously onerous. I do have concerns that Briere is doing the typical NHL GM things like the 4th for Johnson to make the draft pick worse. He just flat out said he thought the rebuild was "ahead of schedule". And, yes, all they've got is another middling, bubble playoff team. I want to see if he moves that needle with a significant move. Otherwise the New Era is just the Old One with a boyish face.

Honestly, at this point they're doing what Nashville just did - "rewarding" this year's team with a chance at "the playoffs". It's a short term thing with potential long term repercussions. I would like to see Briere make a run at, say, Anaheim for a top 5 pick with a couple of the firsts in hand and a sizeable roster player. IF there is a guy in that spot they KNOW can fill one of the big holes for "when Michkov comes over". Anaheim could be convinced that getting a solid top 6 forward and a couple of firsts could accelerate their rebuild. Just one example, but I don't want to see them just take the 15+ pick and the 25+ pick as "first rounders" and be done with it. Would like to see some creativity.

Gurianov has at least done something of note in the NHL. He has a 20 goal season and two 10 goal seasons. Allison has 13 NHL goals. I - like Tortorella - don't know what to make of Allison because he couldn't stay healthy. This is a win out of the gate for Briere and if Gurianov does anything it's a bonus. Pending his ability to, you know, play defense and listen to his coach.

It ain't just you...

It's an acquisition for basically nothing for a player who will play the way the coach wants. The idea isn't "make the best move" it was "make a good move" and it was.

I find it exactly the opposite. Briere emerged here turning a 4th into a 1st and leveraging cap space to replace a 5th. If they get ANYTHING (a laurel, and hearty handshake) for Johansen it (checks notes) saves Comcast money. I do NOT see the issue here, beyond the fact that the draft pick they were already going to have wasn't going to be all that great. I don't see how this deadline isn't an overall win for Briere and I don't particularly like the Seeler deal. Leverage some of these 1sts to get into the top 10/5 and that's even better. They have specific (1C/1D) holes to fill. It's yet to be seen if Drysdale can shoulder the burden. It's a good group. They play for each other. They play the right way. Yadda yadda. Are they capable of winning 16 playoff games in one year?

I really don't feel this is an "all in" move. Dropping a 4th on an expiring contract as a recognition to the locker room for their continued efforts isn't a massive waste from where I sit. Dealing some of those 1sts for "win now" would be "all in."

That is 100% exactly what this trade is about. This is a Walker replacement for the playoff run.

I'm no fan of the Seeler deal, but these are no way Holmgrenian level events here. He effectively upgraded a 4th rounder to a 1st losing a 5th and taking on short term salary. That's not great but it's not bad either. This isn't 2nd and 3rd for Andy MacDonald territory and $2.7M for 4 is no where close to $5M for 6. The Johnson deal is throwing a bone to your locker room and while I might not have done it, it's not the end of the world. Granted there is some PTSD from ol' Fletch blowing Holmgrenian out of the water with two roster players, 1st, 2 2nds, and a 7th for Ristolainen and the subsequent contract. We've taken several steps back from that ledge.

Anything can happen, my man. Anything can happen. I get the reasoning behind the deal of throwing a bone to the locker room after trading Walker. I'm not worried about Comcast's money and they don't have anything to spend the $2M on next year anyway. I am worried that they've started the "in a better position than we thought!" process. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once they start down the dark path, forever will it dominate their destiny, consume them it will, as it did Bobby Clarke's apprentice. via GIPHY

Well, and this comes back to when you "have to" sign a guy to $9M for eight years it might not be the best idea when it turns out he's not the right guy for the position.

generally, they're ephemeral and don't amount to much. occasionally, there's a bigger deal involved that happens later. this is more "addition by subtraction"

Buyout looks like $2.6M for two years. Honestly, retaining the $2M for future considerations and a nice skate sharpener isn't a terrible idea.

It costs $2M to retain an additional 50% It costs $2.85M to bury him in the AHL. Floor's yours.