As a Flyers fan, I’m cool with just riding the wave while it lasts. Michkov looks like the real deal and the goaltending has started playing better of late. We really need a #1 center to truly compete.
The only thing is that I think NYR doesn't want picks, they want players. It'd be more of a retool than a rebuild, and Philly would have to give something up in return.
I absolutely love the individual team videos. I don’t care what team it is, it’s always interesting. Always some of my favourite videos of yours. Usually I play them in the background and it helps get work done around the house
Underrated fact about this little run the Flyers are on right now, is that almost all of the games the opposing goalies had incredible performances. The team could have scored double the goals during this stretch and it would still be normal scoring %. So the fact they found a way to gain so many points is impressive imo.
The important to thing to note about how last year ended for the Flyers was how it ended with basically their *only* goalie being Ersson and basically being forced to ride him into the ground. With both Fedotov and Kolosov this year (and if they continue to play better) I don't see that happening
My favorite team. Love how close the team is. Everyone sticks up for each other, there's a lot of great chemistry with everybody, and they play like a unit at times. I wrote off Fedotov very early on, but he's dramatically improved. Kosolov is good as well. I'm just excited to see how they play moving forward.
As a flyers fan who has watched every game this year, I think making the playoffs is more important that getting a higher pick. The reason I say that is this younger group needs to experience the playoffs. I think they need a taste of what playoff hockey is like. I think that benefits them more than a higher pick.
The flyers look so much better now than the beginning of the season. Playoffs would be nice lol, but im completely fine with these young guys really learning the game and growing. Playing this grind type of hockey is really going to improve these guys for when they have a chance of contending.
Great video THG! Really interesting breakdown of my favorite team. When the Flyers began their rebuild, it was always more about culture first, talent second to me. Torts was and is the perfect coach for this role, and bringing in Briere and Jonesy to rebuild that pedigree of greatness that they knew as players for the Flyers is already seeping down the roster. Wanting to lose games to hope you get the next big potential star, to *maybe* round out the lineup, would only do more damage to this team than any positive. You're right about what makes them good -- their work ethic. As you said, Torts expects nothing less than 100%. For a team lacking the talent of those Cup favorites, they've still found ways to keep things close with those very teams. Victories over the Wild (7-5), the Lightning (2-1 SO), and the Rangers (3-1) showed that they can hang with the best, and even OT/SO losses to Vegas (5-4), Florida (4-3 SO) and to the Oilers (4-3), suggest similar. They've of course flubbed and choked some games to good and worse alike, but the fight has waned only once or twice through the first 25 games. All this to say, despite their lack of talent comparatively, their work ethic is proving itself valuable -- leading directly to wins against teams like the Rangers that most would undoubtedly have written them off against. The most important thing this does is justify the hard work and buy in to the culture Danny, Jonesy, and Torts are trying to instill in this very young team. As prospects come up, perhaps they aren't the #1 overall picks, but knowing that the team is going to pull every drop of talent out of them, and knowing they are coming into a culture that will work harder than anyone else for them, will reap better results from more draft picks, than tearing the whole thing down to gamble on what is not a guaranteed messiah. The Team plays better, the culture grows stronger, the chemistry grows with it. From a Franchise perspective, when production comes from all these players, trade value increases for those you might be shopping if you do end up selling at the deadline. This would also be true down the road for when they become buyers. They don't necessarily need to make the playoffs in my opinion, but winning more than we lose and remaining competitive night in and night out -- proving that the work ethic is worth it, in spite of the talent -- is vital to the grand strategy for long term success for my beloved Flyers. It would be great if we could have it both ways: Get the #1 pick overall and still grow the culture in nothing but a positive direction; however, I think it has proven to not be true. It'd be different if this was 4 years ago at the beginning of the teardown, but it isn't. We used our draft picks on what could be truly the next generation of great Flyers (Thank you Michkov!). Its time we continue the upward trajectory and keep the work ethic rolling, so that when our roster is filled with developed talent, they have the confidence, support, and buy-in from those legendary Flyers teams that has been missing for many years. Sorry this was such a long comment -- I love and care so deeply for my Flyers! I appreciate you for reading it. Lets Go Flyers!
Exactly the same mindset that’s kept them from winning the cup in 50yrs. How many times do they have to be first round exits to realize you need high end talent.
Flyers should ride the wave and do their best. You can always make the argument to continue losing and "get more draft picks" in an endless rebuild. The team has a good core of depth talent as a foundation to build on so that they can start trying to sign some of those more skilled players in free agency to push them over the hump, and winning and showing you're capable of winning will help persuade top end free agents to want to come to Philly. Much like last year, I see the team as a fringe-playoff team; we simply don't have the top end talent to compete for the Cup but that's okay. We're building, our young guys are getting valuable experience and seeing the benefits of playing hard (playing hard and tough hockey and losing all the time is demoralizing in and of itself). With Fedotov and Kolosov showing themselves to be better learning the NHL game, the Flyers also hopefully won't fall into the issue that truly sunk them last year which was the Carter Hart situation. Once Hart was out, not only did Ersson have to play beyond his means because of how absolutely horrible Cal Peterson was/is, the entire team morale took a major hit. The fall and Hart coincided. Without it, they would've been a playoff team (and more than likely would have been knocked out in the first round; buy hey! it's something). This year they dug themselves an early hole with that 1-5-1 start, but they've also quickly climbed out of it. The team is only improving. The main moveable pieces here would be Ristolainen, who is playing great so his value on the trade market should be very high, maybe either Kolosov or Fedotov when that time of the year comes and *somebody* is going to need a goalie, Johnson if somebody wants him, and maybe a Morgan Frost or alike if there are takers. With some money coming off the books, perhaps this offseason will be one where they take a stab at a free agent or two to bolster them, and being a playoff team will make the destination more desirable. But whatever happens, I just want them to be competitive. I want those young guys to keep improving. I feel that wishing for failure is a bad strat both in building a team and as a fanbase. Let's enjoy the ride and have fun.
50 year Flyer fan here, and I like the current direction they're going in. Torts make's sure this team fights for 60+ minutes, which is why this team is getting points right now. Slowly getting better, game by game, inch by inch. Not a super serious contender right now, but if this trend continues, the Flyers will be a contender in a year or 2. Their goal tending situation is going well also having 2 quite good back ups fighting over that position. I can see Briere trading Fedotov to a team that needs a backup. Kolosov has been improving and he's a bit more athletic than Fedotov is I see this team making the playoffs this year and it's always fun when the Philadelphia Flyers make the playoffs. Hopes are high and Michkov is the real deal at 19. Go Flyers!
Thanks for covering the flyers in depth! It's tough as a flyers fan - I enjoy the 'success' but it's obvious the team needs more. Most glaring need in my opinion is down the middle - need someone to drive the play with Michkov & Konecny... Coots is a really good checking center - but beyond him it's uninspiring. Would love creative / point scoring talented center. Defense could use some help, too even though it's solid & has some good pieces... Not enough creativity from the blue line. It's a team perennially destined for the soft mushy middle - tortarella gets more out of this team than he should (credit to him) but then hurts the draft stock to get the talent we are lacking. So - I'd love for the organization to put the foot in the ground either way. Trade the assets and get the good draft pick -- or try to shake things up with a big move and 'go for it'. Both are risky.
Philly is on fire and doing it without their starter. Wins through good defense are wins, even if theyre puck management still looks a bit shaky at times.
My general perspective, if Michkov gets a point or two, regardless of the outcome of the game, my head hits the pillow happy. There are other players I'd like to see do well - guys like Foerster, Brink, Farabee, Frost, Sanheim, TK, and Risto - but a few of those guys I really just want their trade value to be high (Frost, Farabee, and Risto in particular). This year I view as a development year for Michkov, hopefully he continues on this pace and gets the Calder, but that's really it. If they make the playoffs, I'll watch. If they don't, I'll be happy come draft day.
I 100% as a Flyers fan want this to be more of a commitment to the rebuild. I know that’s not how Torts’ rolls but I really think it’s the right decision with the draft stock they’ve got. Also, Coots has been fantastic at driving the play this season, just doesn’t really have the points to show for it but he really is setting so much of the offense uo
Thanks for the video! A lot of time off for a team with games in pocket. Panthers and the Wild are tough but everyone else is beatable, so the Flyers are in a good position skating into the end of the year. They got Pens, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks for the rest of 2024 beyond the games on the whiteboard. Points are points, so I think you are right to highlight their chances.
Thank you for the video Shannon - top quality as always, as painful as it has been to watch my Flyers for the last few seasons, I still believe it's best for young teams to not just tank and phone each game in, but to go out there each night and give it all, must mean so much more for the development of the younger players on the roster - building a culture of losing just to gain a slightly higher draft each year surely has an impact on those younger players Watching us almost secure a playoff spot but missing narrowly , must have done so much to build a winning culture within that locker room , and as long as Torts is there, I look forward to that continuing until they are finally ready to take the next step - whenever that will be Patience is key here
As a big Flyers fan, I want to get the wins to get back to the playoffs. I just want a playoff berth this year if possible. Normally I am the other way around but with 3 1st rounders, I want playoffs. But pieces do need to be moved this year eventually. We need Scoring centers badly and I do not think Frost is that person. He is just way too inconsistent in scoring. Farabee is another one who I thought would be much better than he is. I would like to get another Sniper personally that can really shoot the puck and hopefully some of Tippett's shots will go in. At defense Emil Andrade is a much different player then last year and he looks much more confident. But when Drysdale comes back who goes out (Johnson I assume). As far as Goaltending I dont know if the Flyers keep all 3 goaltenders or not. I am not as sold on Fedotov as I am with Kolosov. But If they do not keep all 3, then I think Kolosov is the odd man out. The flyers are going to have some interesting decisions to make once Drysdale and Ersson come back from IR thats for sure.
The Flyers missed the playoffs last year because Errson was rode into the ground. The 8 game L streak was awful. I hope the continue to play for the wins. Tanking for a better pick is not the way. Lets go Flyers!! 🎉
That is not 100% the reason. The Sean Walker trade was a factor as well. Before the trade, the Flyers were 33-23-8, after the trade they went 6-10-3. That trade got them Johansen and a first round pick, so it improved them in the future draft, when they weren’t Cup contenders anyway. But the team chemistry was adversely affected - the record shows that. Not saying goaltending wasn’t a factor, but it was more than that.
Perfect storm for us is we keep playing with heart and the young guns play well and develop and we still come in last place. We really need a #1 C above anything else...
We also have Denver Barkey, Heikki Ruohonen, Ilya Pautov (sleeper pick) Cole Knuble, Spencer Gill, Yegor Zavragin (top 5 KHL save percentage at age 19), along with Andre and Richard who are new found successes. We don’t need any more future imo. It’s time for playoff experience. No expectations to make it far. Just get the kids exposure for the future, and make some moves when the cap goes up. Plus, we have 5-6 picks in the first two rounds already.
We really need high-end center prospects above all else. Hoping we can use some of the high end picks in our 2025 draft to make some trades this offseason. 🤞
@ yeah I wouldn’t count on us getting that high value center with where we will most likely be in the draft. But the moves I talked about will definitely be made to get one, I believe. Using those draft picks COULD be it, but I wouldn’t count on it just yet. Danny has been religiously preaching patience, don’t be surprised if his time isn’t here then.
Love the flyers coverage , appreciate you! I personally think we need one more draft pick and to get rid of contracts before we start picking up big free agents and going for it
the flyers have like 6 picks in the top 45 next draft. preferably, i’d rather the flyers just focus on the rebuild. if they make the playoffs it would be good for the younger players but wouldn’t really help us as far as getting as high as possible in the draft. i do appreciate torts work ethic and holding all players responsible and not dimming down the game for the sake of draft placement. and his work with michkov is by having meetings once a week to stay on the same page is admirable.
Goaltending has been shaky which was obviously expected with two foreign goaltenders coming in & Ersson being injured. It's definitely better these past few weeks. They weren't expected to be a contender at all. The Flyers are trending in the right direction.
Was secretly hoping you'd make a video about this. Been kind of exciting watching Philly as of lately, they're showing signs of a great team but they still have lots of tough hurdles in the coming weeks. But I also want them to use the players that they have, sure a bigger name would be great but I feel like there's already been so much trading with this team and it led to the slump they had.
Flyers need a 1C but I’m okay with them playing well as I think it’s good for the development of the players they do have. So, they need to draft well next couple years and be aggressive and smart with roster moves.
As a Flyers fan yes I do want to be bad so we can get another super star player,but at the same time I do like to see them to win even if they go in overtime I am just happy that I am watching team I care and there is vision
As a Flyers fan, I’m just excited to see where the season goes! If we make the playoffs it will be great experience for the young guys. If we miss the playoffs - at least we get a higher draft pick for 2025. We really need center depth at some point this TDL or off-season though.
They have such good draft capital moving forward. I like the team being able to see some success and continue to fight after the rough start. A playoff berth would be the cherry on top.
not a flyers fan but i think there's a good team there, with some changes needing to be made. once those changes are made i think they can be really fun to watch and scary to play against
Coots may never meet his previous offensive highs but part of his value has always been his significant defensive contributions. He may never be the most popular Flyer to wear the C but still is an important piece.
I would rather them keep playing better and start to have some veterans join the young guys. There is a massive dead contract on the team with Ryan Ellis still doing his thing (6.25m until 2026-27) but Michkov, Farabee and seven other players are still under 25 years old and if we can get a couple good free agents, we can be a consistent playoffs team. If the Flyers had a top 6 Center, one better defenseman and a Goalie and this team looks a lot more competitive.
As a diehard flyers fan, I like them competing night in night out and being a bubble team instead of losing just to draft high. I trust in Danny B and Jonesy at the helm to make the appropriate moves given the situation they are in with some bad contracts from the fletcher days still. Not to mention we have 6 draft picks in 2025 in what will be in the top 50. We hit on a couple of them with the young core we already have. I see this team in contention in 2026 given some dead money being gone and this core continuing to develop and the likes of Bonk, Jett, Barkey and hopefully a couple more young guys making the roster. Watch out for this kid named Noah Powell, he's my Longshot guess to be a stud in the NHL in 3-4 years.
Hello. I'm told the style of play that Coach Tortorella has them playing gets them worn out over 82 games, which led to the 8 game losing streak at the end of last season. This year they have a break for 2 weeks in February for the 4 Nations tournament. That break could very well be what they need to prevent another late season collapse.
As a Flyers fan, I think the problem with an all-out tank is that they’re not bad enough to get that good of a draft pick. Realistically they’d be looking at maybe the top 10 at best, so why not try to make the playoffs and get our young guys some postseason experience? And I don’t think the Flyers need an insane amount of help. Konecny and Michkov are great wingers, and hopefully Luchanko can become that top-line center. Tippett, Frost, Farabee, Foerster, Poehling, etc. are all fairly young and have potential to be solid contributors. Maybe you look for another top-line forward to really put the offense over the top, but they probably think Luchanko can be that. The defense is solid now and with Bonk coming up it should get better (especially if Drysdale could stay healthy). In conclusion, I think selling just to finish mid-table again would be a mistake when we can use our veterans to get our young guys playoff experience while still getting similar pick locations and prospects. I also just like to watch winning hockey so I’m biased towards not selling.
As a Flyers fan I'm rooting for W's. No guarantee another top draft pick even works out. We have 3 firsts and 3 seconds in 2025, so we'll be able to stock the cupboards with young players regardless. Time to continue building a winning culture here and developing the young guys who are on the team NOW.
Why would you tank when you could easily move up in the draft by packaging some of the (numerous ) draft picks that they have. As for this season, having 74, 71, 86 & 48 contribute more consistently will help. Overall, keep playing hard. Continue to be a pain in the ass to play against. Be competitive for 60 minutes. Positive development for the younger guys. Look out for each other and take no shit. I say...why not us for a playoff spot.
i just feel like the team that is here now can find the finish that we need to push us over the edge, and with the young guys a little playoff experience wouldnt hurt.
Flyers are most likely not making the playoffs this year but with Michkov,Konecny,Ersson,and a ton of eye-opening prospects such as guys like Emil Andrae makes me have a lot of hype for this team in the next 1-2 years
Two of my customers were on the Stanley Cup winning teams and another was on the team from the 90's. They all express that they would rather the Flyers upgrade their talent pool than waste time being mediocre.
Noah Cates currently had the best plus/minus on the team, not flashy points wise but he’s been the best two way forward IMO. Hoping to sneak in the wild card to get those young players some early playoff experience.
The most important point which you didn't really touch on when it comes to tank or continue to play is the amount of draft picks that the Flyers have next year. They currently have 3 first and 3 second round picks in the 2025 draft. It would make sense to just continue playing and maybe make a smart deadline deal and wait until draft day to move or stand pat. They could use a good top six centers, but also have Luch, Bark and Bonk all killing it in the CHL. There is definitely no reason to panic or change tack. All Flyers nation should just take a deep breath and enjoy the beginning of the Mich era and know that things are looking up and not expect much more than good hockey right now.
Philly has a history of giving up on young players too quickly. I am hoping to see real improvement from Tippett, Brink, Frost, Foerster, and Farabee and am wondering how patient will they be, can they be? They need a play-making center. Jett Luchanko gives me some real hope. I believe Michkov will continue to improve.
Flyers Fan since 92-93 when i was 12 and they adddd Big E. Its a free ride year. Every Flyers fan is praying Michkov is a new Ovechkin/Datsyuk hybrid. So if we are winning, and he is leading the ROTY race, we all want it to keep going and going up, meaning if some miracle run lhappens perfect, if it all crashes and we got a top 3 draft pick, also great. Im assuming we are pretty united on the "just stop finishing in 17th but that might be inevitable unless they purposefully tank, and I cant condone that behavior. Lol
I’m never going to root for the Flyers to lose. I think making the playoffs would be good because it would get guys like Michkov a taste of the playoffs & the experience would be good for them. N the other hand, we desperately need a 1C so if they miss the playoffs & end up with a top 10 pick I won’t be too upset. Basically it’s a win-win.
Flyers are certainly trending in the right direction. Feels good because we have so much draft capital and there’s a lot of room to add more picks and I think soon we will be a premier free agent destination
It was like last year. The Torts effect is real - he gets the most out of his teams. Imagine if flyers had some better players, they’d be a powerhouse team. Also, during the flyers improved play in the last two weeks, their special teams has been worse so they’re playing better 5-on-5. I would love to get a high draft pick but playoff hockey would be great experience for this team (or at least meaningful games).
Lifelong Flyers fan. Danny B and Jones are doing the rebuild the right way. No short cuts, good draft picks. Taking their time with the youngsters. Would love to see Jett every night, watch him and Matvi light it up but... Another year of Juniors was the right call as Jett has speed, and we know Torts loves speed, but still so much Jett needs to learn about the NHL game. Hell, Matvi as well. He got a couple of games on the Torts ride the pine Roulette....and took it like a man. I really don't like all the trade talks. Especially Risto who has just been like a new man recently. Really stepped up with Yorkie and Jayme out. The Flyers have a very tight locker room right now. 25 guys all working the same system towards the same goal. Last thing they need to some super star with an attitude becoming a cancer in the room. The Flyers have 3 first round and 3 second round picks next draft!!! No reason to pack it in and try and win the lottery. These guys need some playoff experience. Even if it's a one and done. A lot of young guys and let's face it...2020 playoffs were NOT the typical NHL playoffs. They need to feel the energy of the crowd.... especially in South Philly. Consider this....they have been winning close games, a lot of OT games....with two backup ROOKIE Goalies! Both have really stepped up to the point where...when Eresson comes back....do you carry 3 or...who do you send down? Hate the idea of trading any considering the Net Minder problems Philly has had for....years now! The team is developing an identity. Guys are playing for each other. Look at Nashville, they go out and spend the money and....what has it done for them? I want to see my Flyers stay the course, build from within and trade only....only when it's such a great deal you can't pass it up. If next years draft is decent....they could really stack up some talent with six potential picks in the first two rounds! Or, trade some picks to move up in the round to get that Matvi like talent. Matvi Michkov looks like a lock for the Calder. The kid loves to compete and the high pressure heroics. Let's go Flyers!!!!
The unfortunate thing about Risto is that most fans believe that we vastly overpaid (we kinda did tho) for him and as a result, it leaves a sour taste. Its not Risto's fault Chuck is a moron. I have always been a fan of his even during his down years. Hes the only dman on our roster that plays to his actual size. (seeler as well but hes not as big) He will take the body and completely kill plays by shoving a player into the boards. God forbid, sanheim or zamula take a few notes from him with their nonstop stick checking. Now that he is finally healthy and is moving his legs again, he is playing up to his potential, the moment that happens, everyone wants to see him gone. With all the rumors I wouldnt be suprised if it happened too.
@ekgoalie3429 Yea...I think he's playing better away from the puck and, jumping up in the O zone which...as a former D man....love seeing. Risto has always been a good hitter but... It would sometimes cause him to be way outta position. I think the biggest difference with Risto is the difference with the teams play of late....they are playing the system Torts is running. It's one thing to teach young players the system but.... with Vets that have played in other systems and developed bad habits....it can be so much harder to change them. I hate all the trade talk. This is a plus .500 team that's a bit banged up and...been winning the part 3+ weeks with their #2 & 3 net minders. They are finally playing something resembling NHL level defense. Finally! 😉 I don't want to see a top 4 dman leaving!
At the start of the season, I just wanted them to have competetive losses. Good fights to bring games close and Michkov gets plenty of points while staying a bottom feeder to allow them to get a top 5 pick. At this point, I'm just enjoying the ride and where they end up, they end up. They do need better center depth, but with how deep this draft is supposed to be with tallent and the amount of draft capital, it is very likely they hit on more than a few of those picks in the top 60. If so then they can really build something that lasts. Especially when the money comes off the books and they can FINALLY go after free agents.
As a devoted Flyers fan, it's been a painfully long drought. No matter the roster or coaching staff, the team looks the same every year with little or no improvement. I think it will be the same story again this season. However, I have more confidence in the front office then in years past. I'm ok with unloading some players (Frost, Farabee, Hathaway, Risto, Drysdale, etc.) to stockpile draft picks. I do like what I'm seeing with Flyers goaltending situation.
I want us to win. Will this team win a cup? No way. But I do think the most important thing is for some of these guys to develop and I think winning hockey and maybe even a taste of the playoffs could help. Guys like Farabee, Frost, Foerster, Tippet, and of course, Michkov, will all really benefit from a late season playoff push. I think with our young prospects, current young players on the NHL roster, and maybe a big signing/trade or 2 down the road, the Flyers will be set up to win soon without needing another top 5 pick.
Flyers need a couple natural goal scorers. It doesn’t matter if that comes from the wing or center or defensemen. The amount of goal scoring chances this team has not capitalized on (which could have won them at least 4-5 more games easily) is absolutely silly. Loving the goaltending, the defense is starting to pick it up, and the passing is really starting to come along. Just need 2 goal scorers. Next year the cap space is a little more generous and 2026 even more so. I feel more players will want to come to Philly in the coming years. 🙌🏻
Root for wins or tanks? I thought we were doing the accidental tank since Fedotov couldn't stop a beach ball and Kolosov wasn't a whole lot better but they seemed to a have figured it out. Flyers are going to have some decisions to make when Errson is healthy again. Of course the backups playing decently could fall apart tomorrow and then the stealth tank is back on. The Flyers fan in me that watches as many games as possible roots to see wins and is enjoying the Michkov show. Do I think playing middle of the road hockey and eeking into the playoffs on at the 2nd WC spot or barely missing the playoffs is good for the rebuild? Well since this is what they've been doing since 2012; I would have burned it all to the ground and started from scratch but the armchair GM in me has accepted that this is not going to be a tear it down to the studs rebuild process. So I'm just gonna enjoy the ride. There's been some storylines to get excited about. TK is on another level. Sanheim is quietly having his best season as a Flyer. I'm impressed over the last couple of years that this coaching staff has turned Risto into a servicable NHL defenseman that they may be able to get some other franchise to over pay for because "he's big and he hits". Well now he's not a liability on the ice. Worthy of mention. Emil Andre has been a breath of fresh air. Well liked rookie defenseman that got looks in seasons past; seems to be sticking since getting called up a few weeks ago and while by no means a finished product; is far more intriguing than what Jamie Drysdale has shown so far (I do love watching Drysdale skate, when he's healthy). Denver Barkey having over a point per game season in the O. Then there are Bjarnason and Zavragin in the goalie pipeline. There's reasons to be optimistic but when I look at teams like Detroit and Buffalo and worry that this could haywire quickly. Just have to hope that a lot of things break the Flyers way (a team notoriously short on luck) and trust that this against the grain rebuild can work
Flyers fan here, I don't want this team to tank. I won't the young players to continue to improve and move towards a playoff spot if possible. We have the prospects we need the players to take the next step
flyers need keep this run going. It’s healthy for our young guys like michkov drysdale york etc.. but i do think this trade deadline will be huge. getting rid of risto while he still has interest from teams needs to happen, getting a good return for frost will also be important.
just riding the wave right now, I would love to see them move risto, but truthfully, i don’t care. These days as a flyers fan i’m just happy to be competitive. Lot of draft picks in a loaded draft coming up. all i really want is ivan ryabkin and i’ll be okay with whatever happens
The flyers currently have 3 (one conditional) first round picks and 3 second rounds picks in the 2025 draft. If we really feel like there is a guy we want I think we could move up with our current assets. I want the young guys to get used to winning hockey early!
Michkov is great, but he's gonna need some help to pick up the 5v5 production. Out of those 19 points, I believe only 7 or 8 are 5v5 points. Everything else is while he's on the ice with Konecny (power play, 3v3 overtime, 4v4).
I 100% will always be on the bangwagon that they should bottom out this year. They have a crap ton of picks in the first two rounds and will likely end up with 1 or 2 more before the draft. That being said they really need to find that #1C star prospect and get some other really good prospects across the board.
Does tanking ever work? The 76ers had "The Process," got 'em nowhere. And it introduces a culture of losing. Most importantly the fans pay good money for a good effort. So max effort every night.
Turned them into a constant contender with an opportunity to win the championship every year. Ultimately came up short but were always in the picture. Flyers don’t have enough talent and drafting 15th overall isn’t going to get it done
As a fan, it's not a bad position to be in. Of course every game I watch I am hoping they win, but if they fall off again and get a top 10 pick or something to go with the youth that won't be the worst thing. That said, in the last 10 years, we've had a can't-miss #2 OA and #5 OA - both centers - disintegrate before ever contributing. So I'm not sure a high pick is as important as fixing the development side of things. Teams like Tampa and Boston seem to do just fine drafting in the 20s every year. So I'd always rather see them continue to try to win
I like the Flyers identity. If they can get to the playoffs, let the guys who made it there play. If not, there is no love lost. They can go 'all in' if they really want to in a year or so. But I wanna see them improve continously. I don't wanna see another Detroit or Nashville.
All I want is Michkov Calder and a 1st OA pick. Only one is likely to happen. Hope we at least sell high on Risto, and cut Frost and Laughton soon after. Farabee I wouldn't mind seeing let go either. Clear cap space, draft higher. Nothing matters until the 2027-28 season when Briere and Jones have said theyd shift to being buyers.
It's a real Sophie's choice...so hard to decide. On one hand, I want to see them win and it certainly makes the games more enjoyable and exciting to watch...on the other hand, we REALLY do need to draft high in the next draft. We desperately need high-end talent to make this team a legit contender. We need an elite center (or two) to compete with the big boys. So that brings me back to my initial statement, I want to watch them succeed and make the playoffs, but in my heart, they really need to land a top 3 pick.
The Flyers need more high-end talent. I think it would be more beneficial to have another high-end pick as opposed to a playoff exit in the first round. They need a stud center.
Tough place as a Flyee fan. We really need to be bad to get a top pick. Desperately need a #1C. At the same time, they just aren't bad enough to be in that spot.
You can’t imagine how starved the fanbase is for wins after so looooooong of just mediocre seasons year in year out, watching them has been fun as hell since last season again. Idk I just want them to play to win, if they fall short again, then we draft higher, I still have trust in Danny at this moment
Fedotov was as bad as he could be. He was overreacting instead of using his size. Not saying he is going to save the franchise but the fact he has improved the way he has is a sight to behold. Credit him for rebounding so strong with a bad team in front of him......# 39 is on the rise. Damn straight I expected him to be playing well. He wants the puck and he damn knows what to do with it. We have a shot at 3 first round picks. If they make the playoffs I'm good. If they tank out and get a high pick I'm good. They are playing decent hockey and they are fun to watch. You never know what can happen. The best thing going on is this.....if the game heads to ot the flyers have a guy who is a serious threat to score. Mitch is already a clutch player. Been a minute or two since I could say that.
Two things are true at once for me. I wish they'd embraced an actual tank, drafted high, and built from there. But im also really enjoying the team the last 2 years. Conflicted 😮
The actual tank takes a long time and does not guarantee success. It is better that they retool while not completely dumping everything. It can be frustrating not getting over the hump, but it beats watching nothing for 5-6 years.
I far prefer icing a competitive team and selling off veterans at the deadline than angling for a top draft pick. This team is not meant to dwell in the basement. It's meant to develop players either to be trade chips now or pieces on a contender several years down the line.
I am a longtime fan, but these guys are team roller coaster. A few weeks ago, they had the third worst record in the league. Now they are a wild card. Enjoy the climb and hold on tight on the way down!
As a Flyers fan, I’m cool with just riding the wave while it lasts. Michkov looks like the real deal and the goaltending has started playing better of late. We really need a #1 center to truly compete.
The rumors are rangers are selling too....
The only thing is that I think NYR doesn't want picks, they want players. It'd be more of a retool than a rebuild, and Philly would have to give something up in return.
@@sharkhaos_probably Laughton, risto, or maybe even a farabee could all be solid retool targets.
if Mich gets one more OT winner he'll be the only teenager ever to have 4 OT winners
@@456yukon he's just gotta get it before his birthday lol
I absolutely love the individual team videos. I don’t care what team it is, it’s always interesting.
Always some of my favourite videos of yours. Usually I play them in the background and it helps get work done around the house
Underrated fact about this little run the Flyers are on right now, is that almost all of the games the opposing goalies had incredible performances. The team could have scored double the goals during this stretch and it would still be normal scoring %. So the fact they found a way to gain so many points is impressive imo.
100% agree and worth mentioning. Well said.
Good point
The important to thing to note about how last year ended for the Flyers was how it ended with basically their *only* goalie being Ersson and basically being forced to ride him into the ground. With both Fedotov and Kolosov this year (and if they continue to play better) I don't see that happening
Honestly Michkov’s development is more important. The wins are fun.
My favorite team. Love how close the team is. Everyone sticks up for each other, there's a lot of great chemistry with everybody, and they play like a unit at times. I wrote off Fedotov very early on, but he's dramatically improved. Kosolov is good as well. I'm just excited to see how they play moving forward.
As a flyers fan who has watched every game this year, I think making the playoffs is more important that getting a higher pick. The reason I say that is this younger group needs to experience the playoffs. I think they need a taste of what playoff hockey is like. I think that benefits them more than a higher pick.
Kolosov
@@stevebabiak6997 I think kolosov will be # 1 goalie. Errson is mercurial.
@@billblake9665 - all goalies are streaky - both winning and losing ;)
Torts will push for playoffs, not to lose. Love lunch-pail attitude. 3 goalies- need to make a decision. Love your videos. ❤
The flyers look so much better now than the beginning of the season. Playoffs would be nice lol, but im completely fine with these young guys really learning the game and growing. Playing this grind type of hockey is really going to improve these guys for when they have a chance of contending.
Great video THG! Really interesting breakdown of my favorite team. When the Flyers began their rebuild, it was always more about culture first, talent second to me. Torts was and is the perfect coach for this role, and bringing in Briere and Jonesy to rebuild that pedigree of greatness that they knew as players for the Flyers is already seeping down the roster. Wanting to lose games to hope you get the next big potential star, to *maybe* round out the lineup, would only do more damage to this team than any positive. You're right about what makes them good -- their work ethic. As you said, Torts expects nothing less than 100%.
For a team lacking the talent of those Cup favorites, they've still found ways to keep things close with those very teams. Victories over the Wild (7-5), the Lightning (2-1 SO), and the Rangers (3-1) showed that they can hang with the best, and even OT/SO losses to Vegas (5-4), Florida (4-3 SO) and to the Oilers (4-3), suggest similar. They've of course flubbed and choked some games to good and worse alike, but the fight has waned only once or twice through the first 25 games. All this to say, despite their lack of talent comparatively, their work ethic is proving itself valuable -- leading directly to wins against teams like the Rangers that most would undoubtedly have written them off against.
The most important thing this does is justify the hard work and buy in to the culture Danny, Jonesy, and Torts are trying to instill in this very young team. As prospects come up, perhaps they aren't the #1 overall picks, but knowing that the team is going to pull every drop of talent out of them, and knowing they are coming into a culture that will work harder than anyone else for them, will reap better results from more draft picks, than tearing the whole thing down to gamble on what is not a guaranteed messiah. The Team plays better, the culture grows stronger, the chemistry grows with it.
From a Franchise perspective, when production comes from all these players, trade value increases for those you might be shopping if you do end up selling at the deadline. This would also be true down the road for when they become buyers.
They don't necessarily need to make the playoffs in my opinion, but winning more than we lose and remaining competitive night in and night out -- proving that the work ethic is worth it, in spite of the talent -- is vital to the grand strategy for long term success for my beloved Flyers. It would be great if we could have it both ways: Get the #1 pick overall and still grow the culture in nothing but a positive direction; however, I think it has proven to not be true. It'd be different if this was 4 years ago at the beginning of the teardown, but it isn't. We used our draft picks on what could be truly the next generation of great Flyers (Thank you Michkov!). Its time we continue the upward trajectory and keep the work ethic rolling, so that when our roster is filled with developed talent, they have the confidence, support, and buy-in from those legendary Flyers teams that has been missing for many years.
Sorry this was such a long comment -- I love and care so deeply for my Flyers! I appreciate you for reading it. Lets Go Flyers!
Exactly the same mindset that’s kept them from winning the cup in 50yrs. How many times do they have to be first round exits to realize you need high end talent.
Need to draft a legit 1c super early in the draft. Imagine a Giroux-esque player next to Michkov 🤑
We dont need a giroux besie michkov, we need a Lindros between him n TK
@@wgdjoefraser I meant a player of his caliber or higher, not a Giroux clone. Pick your flavor, as long as he's a legit 1c 🤷♂
@@wgdjoefraserno, we don’t need an injury prone 1c.
Flyers should ride the wave and do their best. You can always make the argument to continue losing and "get more draft picks" in an endless rebuild. The team has a good core of depth talent as a foundation to build on so that they can start trying to sign some of those more skilled players in free agency to push them over the hump, and winning and showing you're capable of winning will help persuade top end free agents to want to come to Philly.
Much like last year, I see the team as a fringe-playoff team; we simply don't have the top end talent to compete for the Cup but that's okay. We're building, our young guys are getting valuable experience and seeing the benefits of playing hard (playing hard and tough hockey and losing all the time is demoralizing in and of itself). With Fedotov and Kolosov showing themselves to be better learning the NHL game, the Flyers also hopefully won't fall into the issue that truly sunk them last year which was the Carter Hart situation. Once Hart was out, not only did Ersson have to play beyond his means because of how absolutely horrible Cal Peterson was/is, the entire team morale took a major hit. The fall and Hart coincided. Without it, they would've been a playoff team (and more than likely would have been knocked out in the first round; buy hey! it's something).
This year they dug themselves an early hole with that 1-5-1 start, but they've also quickly climbed out of it. The team is only improving.
The main moveable pieces here would be Ristolainen, who is playing great so his value on the trade market should be very high, maybe either Kolosov or Fedotov when that time of the year comes and *somebody* is going to need a goalie, Johnson if somebody wants him, and maybe a Morgan Frost or alike if there are takers. With some money coming off the books, perhaps this offseason will be one where they take a stab at a free agent or two to bolster them, and being a playoff team will make the destination more desirable.
But whatever happens, I just want them to be competitive. I want those young guys to keep improving. I feel that wishing for failure is a bad strat both in building a team and as a fanbase. Let's enjoy the ride and have fun.
50 year Flyer fan here, and I like the current direction they're going in.
Torts make's sure this team fights for 60+ minutes, which is why this team is getting points right now.
Slowly getting better, game by game, inch by inch. Not a super serious contender right now, but if this trend continues, the Flyers will be a contender in a year or 2.
Their goal tending situation is going well also having 2 quite good back ups fighting over that position. I can see Briere trading Fedotov to a team that needs a backup.
Kolosov has been improving and he's a bit more athletic than Fedotov is
I see this team making the playoffs this year and it's always fun when the Philadelphia Flyers make the playoffs.
Hopes are high and Michkov is the real deal at 19.
Go Flyers!
Go for it, always! 👊🏻 Flyers in the playoffs is always worth it
Thanks for covering the flyers in depth! It's tough as a flyers fan - I enjoy the 'success' but it's obvious the team needs more. Most glaring need in my opinion is down the middle - need someone to drive the play with Michkov & Konecny... Coots is a really good checking center - but beyond him it's uninspiring. Would love creative / point scoring talented center. Defense could use some help, too even though it's solid & has some good pieces... Not enough creativity from the blue line. It's a team perennially destined for the soft mushy middle - tortarella gets more out of this team than he should (credit to him) but then hurts the draft stock to get the talent we are lacking.
So - I'd love for the organization to put the foot in the ground either way. Trade the assets and get the good draft pick -- or try to shake things up with a big move and 'go for it'. Both are risky.
Philly is on fire and doing it without their starter. Wins through good defense are wins, even if theyre puck management still looks a bit shaky at times.
When you gotta do important life stuff but THG uploads:
My general perspective, if Michkov gets a point or two, regardless of the outcome of the game, my head hits the pillow happy. There are other players I'd like to see do well - guys like Foerster, Brink, Farabee, Frost, Sanheim, TK, and Risto - but a few of those guys I really just want their trade value to be high (Frost, Farabee, and Risto in particular). This year I view as a development year for Michkov, hopefully he continues on this pace and gets the Calder, but that's really it. If they make the playoffs, I'll watch. If they don't, I'll be happy come draft day.
Yeah at this point not much at stake, just would love to see exciting hockey
I like Risto’s game. He is a good 3rd pair d-man.
I 100% as a Flyers fan want this to be more of a commitment to the rebuild. I know that’s not how Torts’ rolls but I really think it’s the right decision with the draft stock they’ve got.
Also, Coots has been fantastic at driving the play this season, just doesn’t really have the points to show for it but he really is setting so much of the offense uo
Thanks for the video! A lot of time off for a team with games in pocket. Panthers and the Wild are tough but everyone else is beatable, so the Flyers are in a good position skating into the end of the year. They got Pens, Ducks, Kings, and Sharks for the rest of 2024 beyond the games on the whiteboard. Points are points, so I think you are right to highlight their chances.
Thank you for the video Shannon - top quality as always, as painful as it has been to watch my Flyers for the last few seasons, I still believe it's best for young teams to not just tank and phone each game in, but to go out there each night and give it all, must mean so much more for the development of the younger players on the roster - building a culture of losing just to gain a slightly higher draft each year surely has an impact on those younger players
Watching us almost secure a playoff spot but missing narrowly , must have done so much to build a winning culture within that locker room , and as long as Torts is there, I look forward to that continuing until they are finally ready to take the next step - whenever that will be
Patience is key here
I’ve been saying for FIVE years that Michkov is the best prospect of our lifetimes
They still need more pieces especially a 1C but wow that Russian kid is good
I want a top center prospect but I also don’t like to watch my Team lose lmao
As a big Flyers fan, I want to get the wins to get back to the playoffs. I just want a playoff berth this year if possible. Normally I am the other way around but with 3 1st rounders, I want playoffs. But pieces do need to be moved this year eventually. We need Scoring centers badly and I do not think Frost is that person. He is just way too inconsistent in scoring. Farabee is another one who I thought would be much better than he is. I would like to get another Sniper personally that can really shoot the puck and hopefully some of Tippett's shots will go in. At defense Emil Andrade is a much different player then last year and he looks much more confident. But when Drysdale comes back who goes out (Johnson I assume). As far as Goaltending I dont know if the Flyers keep all 3 goaltenders or not. I am not as sold on Fedotov as I am with Kolosov. But If they do not keep all 3, then I think Kolosov is the odd man out. The flyers are going to have some interesting decisions to make once Drysdale and Ersson come back from IR thats for sure.
The Flyers missed the playoffs last year because Errson was rode into the ground. The 8 game L streak was awful. I hope the continue to play for the wins. Tanking for a better pick is not the way. Lets go Flyers!! 🎉
That is not 100% the reason.
The Sean Walker trade was a factor as well. Before the trade, the Flyers were 33-23-8, after the trade they went 6-10-3.
That trade got them Johansen and a first round pick, so it improved them in the future draft, when they weren’t Cup contenders anyway. But the team chemistry was adversely affected - the record shows that.
Not saying goaltending wasn’t a factor, but it was more than that.
Best coach in the NHL and I am a Ranger fan!! I hope this team stays the course....Good Video!!!!
Yep for sure. Gets the most out of his roster.
Perfect storm for us is we keep playing with heart and the young guns play well and develop and we still come in last place. We really need a #1 C above anything else...
We also have Denver Barkey, Heikki Ruohonen, Ilya Pautov (sleeper pick) Cole Knuble, Spencer Gill, Yegor Zavragin (top 5 KHL save percentage at age 19), along with Andre and Richard who are new found successes. We don’t need any more future imo. It’s time for playoff experience. No expectations to make it far. Just get the kids exposure for the future, and make some moves when the cap goes up.
Plus, we have 5-6 picks in the first two rounds already.
We really need high-end center prospects above all else. Hoping we can use some of the high end picks in our 2025 draft to make some trades this offseason. 🤞
@ yeah I wouldn’t count on us getting that high value center with where we will most likely be in the draft. But the moves I talked about will definitely be made to get one, I believe. Using those draft picks COULD be it, but I wouldn’t count on it just yet. Danny has been religiously preaching patience, don’t be surprised if his time isn’t here then.
Love the flyers coverage , appreciate you!
I personally think we need one more draft pick and to get rid of contracts before we start picking up big free agents and going for it
Great non biased and informational video. Liked and subbed
the flyers have like 6 picks in the top 45 next draft. preferably, i’d rather the flyers just focus on the rebuild. if they make the playoffs it would be good for the younger players but wouldn’t really help us as far as getting as high as possible in the draft.
i do appreciate torts work ethic and holding all players responsible and not dimming down the game for the sake of draft placement. and his work with michkov is by having meetings once a week to stay on the same page is admirable.
Goaltending has been shaky which was obviously expected with two foreign goaltenders coming in & Ersson being injured. It's definitely better these past few weeks.
They weren't expected to be a contender at all.
The Flyers are trending in the right direction.
Was secretly hoping you'd make a video about this. Been kind of exciting watching Philly as of lately, they're showing signs of a great team but they still have lots of tough hurdles in the coming weeks. But I also want them to use the players that they have, sure a bigger name would be great but I feel like there's already been so much trading with this team and it led to the slump they had.
Flyers need a 1C but I’m okay with them playing well as I think it’s good for the development of the players they do have. So, they need to draft well next couple years and be aggressive and smart with roster moves.
As a Flyers fan yes I do want to be bad so we can get another super star player,but at the same time I do like to see them to win even if they go in overtime I am just happy that I am watching team I care and there is vision
As a Flyers fan, I’m just excited to see where the season goes! If we make the playoffs it will be great experience for the young guys. If we miss the playoffs - at least we get a higher draft pick for 2025. We really need center depth at some point this TDL or off-season though.
They have such good draft capital moving forward. I like the team being able to see some success and continue to fight after the rough start. A playoff berth would be the cherry on top.
They have 3 first round picks in the next draft, and 3 second round picks. Good chance to pickup some more talent, if they draft well.
That has been a big IF …
not a flyers fan but i think there's a good team there, with some changes needing to be made. once those changes are made i think they can be really fun to watch and scary to play against
Thanks for doing this, enjoyed the video. Who's your favorite for winning the calder?
Coots may never meet his previous offensive highs but part of his value has always been his significant defensive contributions. He may never be the most popular Flyer to wear the C but still is an important piece.
I would rather them keep playing better and start to have some veterans join the young guys. There is a massive dead contract on the team with Ryan Ellis still doing his thing (6.25m until 2026-27) but Michkov, Farabee and seven other players are still under 25 years old and if we can get a couple good free agents, we can be a consistent playoffs team. If the Flyers had a top 6 Center, one better defenseman and a Goalie and this team looks a lot more competitive.
Ersson is a good goalie and fedotov and kolosov are playing well
Ryan Ellis is a straight up thief. Don’t ever wanna hear that name again
I will say, we always play Florida hard
As a diehard flyers fan, I like them competing night in night out and being a bubble team instead of losing just to draft high. I trust in Danny B and Jonesy at the helm to make the appropriate moves given the situation they are in with some bad contracts from the fletcher days still. Not to mention we have 6 draft picks in 2025 in what will be in the top 50. We hit on a couple of them with the young core we already have. I see this team in contention in 2026 given some dead money being gone and this core continuing to develop and the likes of Bonk, Jett, Barkey and hopefully a couple more young guys making the roster. Watch out for this kid named Noah Powell, he's my Longshot guess to be a stud in the NHL in 3-4 years.
A video on Calgary Flames would be a good comparable
I want playoff hockey back in Philadelphia so, so bad.
Hello. I'm told the style of play that Coach Tortorella has them playing gets them worn out over 82 games, which led to the 8 game losing streak at the end of last season. This year they have a break for 2 weeks in February for the 4 Nations tournament. That break could very well be what they need to prevent another late season collapse.
I just want the boys to go out there and play! Win or loose, they’re a young team! Getting better and better each game.
As a Flyers fan, I think the problem with an all-out tank is that they’re not bad enough to get that good of a draft pick. Realistically they’d be looking at maybe the top 10 at best, so why not try to make the playoffs and get our young guys some postseason experience? And I don’t think the Flyers need an insane amount of help. Konecny and Michkov are great wingers, and hopefully Luchanko can become that top-line center. Tippett, Frost, Farabee, Foerster, Poehling, etc. are all fairly young and have potential to be solid contributors. Maybe you look for another top-line forward to really put the offense over the top, but they probably think Luchanko can be that. The defense is solid now and with Bonk coming up it should get better (especially if Drysdale could stay healthy). In conclusion, I think selling just to finish mid-table again would be a mistake when we can use our veterans to get our young guys playoff experience while still getting similar pick locations and prospects. I also just like to watch winning hockey so I’m biased towards not selling.
As a Flyers fan I'm rooting for W's. No guarantee another top draft pick even works out. We have 3 firsts and 3 seconds in 2025, so we'll be able to stock the cupboards with young players regardless.
Time to continue building a winning culture here and developing the young guys who are on the team NOW.
They’re finally getting goaltending, Konecny and Michkov are unreal
Why would you tank when you could easily move up in the draft by packaging some of the (numerous ) draft picks that they have.
As for this season, having 74, 71, 86 & 48 contribute more consistently will help.
Overall, keep playing hard.
Continue to be a pain in the ass to play against.
Be competitive for 60 minutes.
Positive development for the younger guys.
Look out for each other and take no shit.
I say...why not us for a playoff spot.
I dont primarily cheer for flyers but they are one of those teams I like to see succeed. For my old nostalgia I guess. Lets GO
i just feel like the team that is here now can find the finish that we need to push us over the edge, and with the young guys a little playoff experience wouldnt hurt.
Flyers are most likely not making the playoffs this year but with Michkov,Konecny,Ersson,and a ton of eye-opening prospects such as guys like Emil Andrae makes me have a lot of hype for this team in the next 1-2 years
Two of my customers were on the Stanley Cup winning teams and another was on the team from the 90's. They all express that they would rather the Flyers upgrade their talent pool than waste time being mediocre.
Noah Cates currently had the best plus/minus on the team, not flashy points wise but he’s been the best two way forward IMO. Hoping to sneak in the wild card to get those young players some early playoff experience.
The most important point which you didn't really touch on when it comes to tank or continue to play is the amount of draft picks that the Flyers have next year. They currently have 3 first and 3 second round picks in the 2025 draft. It would make sense to just continue playing and maybe make a smart deadline deal and wait until draft day to move or stand pat. They could use a good top six centers, but also have Luch, Bark and Bonk all killing it in the CHL. There is definitely no reason to panic or change tack. All Flyers nation should just take a deep breath and enjoy the beginning of the Mich era and know that things are looking up and not expect much more than good hockey right now.
Philly has a history of giving up on young players too quickly. I am hoping to see real improvement from Tippett, Brink, Frost, Foerster, and Farabee and am wondering how patient will they be, can they be? They need a play-making center. Jett Luchanko gives me some real hope. I believe Michkov will continue to improve.
Winners win. No tank
Agreed
Flyers Fan since 92-93 when i was 12 and they adddd Big E. Its a free ride year. Every Flyers fan is praying Michkov is a new Ovechkin/Datsyuk hybrid. So if we are winning, and he is leading the ROTY race, we all want it to keep going and going up, meaning if some miracle run lhappens perfect, if it all crashes and we got a top 3 draft pick, also great. Im assuming we are pretty united on the "just stop finishing in 17th but that might be inevitable unless they purposefully tank, and I cant condone that behavior. Lol
I’m never going to root for the Flyers to lose. I think making the playoffs would be good because it would get guys like Michkov a taste of the playoffs & the experience would be good for them. N the other hand, we desperately need a 1C so if they miss the playoffs & end up with a top 10 pick I won’t be too upset. Basically it’s a win-win.
Flyers are certainly trending in the right direction. Feels good because we have so much draft capital and there’s a lot of room to add more picks and I think soon we will be a premier free agent destination
Just took a quick look at the standings and uhhhhh how do the Islanders have SIX overtime losses already 😂😂😂
It was like last year. The Torts effect is real - he gets the most out of his teams. Imagine if flyers had some better players, they’d be a powerhouse team.
Also, during the flyers improved play in the last two weeks, their special teams has been worse so they’re playing better 5-on-5. I would love to get a high draft pick but playoff hockey would be great experience for this team (or at least meaningful games).
Lifelong Flyers fan.
Danny B and Jones are doing the rebuild the right way. No short cuts, good draft picks. Taking their time with the youngsters. Would love to see Jett every night, watch him and Matvi light it up but... Another year of Juniors was the right call as Jett has speed, and we know Torts loves speed, but still so much Jett needs to learn about the NHL game. Hell, Matvi as well. He got a couple of games on the Torts ride the pine Roulette....and took it like a man.
I really don't like all the trade talks. Especially Risto who has just been like a new man recently. Really stepped up with Yorkie and Jayme out. The Flyers have a very tight locker room right now. 25 guys all working the same system towards the same goal. Last thing they need to some super star with an attitude becoming a cancer in the room. The Flyers have 3 first round and 3 second round picks next draft!!! No reason to pack it in and try and win the lottery. These guys need some playoff experience. Even if it's a one and done. A lot of young guys and let's face it...2020 playoffs were NOT the typical NHL playoffs. They need to feel the energy of the crowd.... especially in South Philly.
Consider this....they have been winning close games, a lot of OT games....with two backup ROOKIE Goalies! Both have really stepped up to the point where...when Eresson comes back....do you carry 3 or...who do you send down? Hate the idea of trading any considering the Net Minder problems Philly has had for....years now!
The team is developing an identity. Guys are playing for each other. Look at Nashville, they go out and spend the money and....what has it done for them? I want to see my Flyers stay the course, build from within and trade only....only when it's such a great deal you can't pass it up. If next years draft is decent....they could really stack up some talent with six potential picks in the first two rounds! Or, trade some picks to move up in the round to get that Matvi like talent.
Matvi Michkov looks like a lock for the Calder. The kid loves to compete and the high pressure heroics.
Let's go Flyers!!!!
The unfortunate thing about Risto is that most fans believe that we vastly overpaid (we kinda did tho) for him and as a result, it leaves a sour taste. Its not Risto's fault Chuck is a moron. I have always been a fan of his even during his down years. Hes the only dman on our roster that plays to his actual size. (seeler as well but hes not as big) He will take the body and completely kill plays by shoving a player into the boards. God forbid, sanheim or zamula take a few notes from him with their nonstop stick checking. Now that he is finally healthy and is moving his legs again, he is playing up to his potential, the moment that happens, everyone wants to see him gone. With all the rumors I wouldnt be suprised if it happened too.
@ekgoalie3429 Yea...I think he's playing better away from the puck and, jumping up in the O zone which...as a former D man....love seeing. Risto has always been a good hitter but... It would sometimes cause him to be way outta position.
I think the biggest difference with Risto is the difference with the teams play of late....they are playing the system Torts is running. It's one thing to teach young players the system but.... with Vets that have played in other systems and developed bad habits....it can be so much harder to change them.
I hate all the trade talk. This is a plus .500 team that's a bit banged up and...been winning the part 3+ weeks with their #2 & 3 net minders. They are finally playing something resembling NHL level defense. Finally! 😉 I don't want to see a top 4 dman leaving!
At the start of the season, I just wanted them to have competetive losses. Good fights to bring games close and Michkov gets plenty of points while staying a bottom feeder to allow them to get a top 5 pick. At this point, I'm just enjoying the ride and where they end up, they end up. They do need better center depth, but with how deep this draft is supposed to be with tallent and the amount of draft capital, it is very likely they hit on more than a few of those picks in the top 60. If so then they can really build something that lasts. Especially when the money comes off the books and they can FINALLY go after free agents.
As a devoted Flyers fan, it's been a painfully long drought. No matter the roster or coaching staff, the team looks the same every year with little or no improvement. I think it will be the same story again this season. However, I have more confidence in the front office then in years past. I'm ok with unloading some players (Frost, Farabee, Hathaway, Risto, Drysdale, etc.) to stockpile draft picks. I do like what I'm seeing with Flyers goaltending situation.
100% ok with the wins, Briere and Torts have publicly said they won’t full tank which you would likely need for real top tier player in the top ten.
I want us to win. Will this team win a cup? No way. But I do think the most important thing is for some of these guys to develop and I think winning hockey and maybe even a taste of the playoffs could help. Guys like Farabee, Frost, Foerster, Tippet, and of course, Michkov, will all really benefit from a late season playoff push. I think with our young prospects, current young players on the NHL roster, and maybe a big signing/trade or 2 down the road, the Flyers will be set up to win soon without needing another top 5 pick.
Flyers need a couple natural goal scorers. It doesn’t matter if that comes from the wing or center or defensemen. The amount of goal scoring chances this team has not capitalized on (which could have won them at least 4-5 more games easily) is absolutely silly. Loving the goaltending, the defense is starting to pick it up, and the passing is really starting to come along. Just need 2 goal scorers. Next year the cap space is a little more generous and 2026 even more so. I feel more players will want to come to Philly in the coming years. 🙌🏻
Root for wins or tanks? I thought we were doing the accidental tank since Fedotov couldn't stop a beach ball and Kolosov wasn't a whole lot better but they seemed to a have figured it out. Flyers are going to have some decisions to make when Errson is healthy again. Of course the backups playing decently could fall apart tomorrow and then the stealth tank is back on.
The Flyers fan in me that watches as many games as possible roots to see wins and is enjoying the Michkov show. Do I think playing middle of the road hockey and eeking into the playoffs on at the 2nd WC spot or barely missing the playoffs is good for the rebuild? Well since this is what they've been doing since 2012; I would have burned it all to the ground and started from scratch but the armchair GM in me has accepted that this is not going to be a tear it down to the studs rebuild process. So I'm just gonna enjoy the ride.
There's been some storylines to get excited about. TK is on another level. Sanheim is quietly having his best season as a Flyer. I'm impressed over the last couple of years that this coaching staff has turned Risto into a servicable NHL defenseman that they may be able to get some other franchise to over pay for because "he's big and he hits". Well now he's not a liability on the ice.
Worthy of mention. Emil Andre has been a breath of fresh air. Well liked rookie defenseman that got looks in seasons past; seems to be sticking since getting called up a few weeks ago and while by no means a finished product; is far more intriguing than what Jamie Drysdale has shown so far (I do love watching Drysdale skate, when he's healthy).
Denver Barkey having over a point per game season in the O.
Then there are Bjarnason and Zavragin in the goalie pipeline.
There's reasons to be optimistic but when I look at teams like Detroit and Buffalo and worry that this could haywire quickly. Just have to hope that a lot of things break the Flyers way (a team notoriously short on luck) and trust that this against the grain rebuild can work
Flyers fan here, I don't want this team to tank. I won't the young players to continue to improve and move towards a playoff spot if possible. We have the prospects we need the players to take the next step
flyers need keep this run going. It’s healthy for our young guys like michkov drysdale york etc.. but i do think this trade deadline will be huge. getting rid of risto while he still has interest from teams needs to happen, getting a good return for frost will also be important.
just riding the wave right now, I would love to see them move risto, but truthfully, i don’t care. These days as a flyers fan i’m just happy to be competitive. Lot of draft picks in a loaded draft coming up. all i really want is ivan ryabkin and i’ll be okay with whatever happens
The flyers currently have 3 (one conditional) first round picks and 3 second rounds picks in the 2025 draft. If we really feel like there is a guy we want I think we could move up with our current assets. I want the young guys to get used to winning hockey early!
Michkov is great, but he's gonna need some help to pick up the 5v5 production. Out of those 19 points, I believe only 7 or 8 are 5v5 points. Everything else is while he's on the ice with Konecny (power play, 3v3 overtime, 4v4).
The problem I have with tanking means we gave up trying to develop some of the players I really like.
I 100% will always be on the bangwagon that they should bottom out this year. They have a crap ton of picks in the first two rounds and will likely end up with 1 or 2 more before the draft. That being said they really need to find that #1C star prospect and get some other really good prospects across the board.
Does tanking ever work? The 76ers had "The Process," got 'em nowhere. And it introduces a culture of losing. Most importantly the fans pay good money for a good effort. So max effort every night.
Turned them into a constant contender with an opportunity to win the championship every year. Ultimately came up short but were always in the picture. Flyers don’t have enough talent and drafting 15th overall isn’t going to get it done
As a fan, it's not a bad position to be in. Of course every game I watch I am hoping they win, but if they fall off again and get a top 10 pick or something to go with the youth that won't be the worst thing. That said, in the last 10 years, we've had a can't-miss #2 OA and #5 OA - both centers - disintegrate before ever contributing. So I'm not sure a high pick is as important as fixing the development side of things. Teams like Tampa and Boston seem to do just fine drafting in the 20s every year. So I'd always rather see them continue to try to win
I like the Flyers identity. If they can get to the playoffs, let the guys who made it there play. If not, there is no love lost.
They can go 'all in' if they really want to in a year or so. But I wanna see them improve continously. I don't wanna see another Detroit or Nashville.
All I want is Michkov Calder and a 1st OA pick. Only one is likely to happen. Hope we at least sell high on Risto, and cut Frost and Laughton soon after. Farabee I wouldn't mind seeing let go either. Clear cap space, draft higher. Nothing matters until the 2027-28 season when Briere and Jones have said theyd shift to being buyers.
It's a real Sophie's choice...so hard to decide. On one hand, I want to see them win and it certainly makes the games more enjoyable and exciting to watch...on the other hand, we REALLY do need to draft high in the next draft. We desperately need high-end talent to make this team a legit contender. We need an elite center (or two) to compete with the big boys. So that brings me back to my initial statement, I want to watch them succeed and make the playoffs, but in my heart, they really need to land a top 3 pick.
Kinda my sleeper team
Def. They're the kind of team that if they make it can upset and win a round or two. Young and hungry.
6 picks n the 1st 2 rounds next season pending on what Edmonton n Colorado do .. we have a shot to get a really good player
Cheering for a win on even numbered days then cheering for a tank and a good draft pick on odd days
I hate mediocre hockey but hate sandbagging more. I’m happy with them working hard and winning.
They have 6 picks in the top 40 next year... lets keep this thing going. If you sneak into the playoffs anything can happen
The Flyers need more high-end talent. I think it would be more beneficial to have another high-end pick as opposed to a playoff exit in the first round. They need a stud center.
as a disgruntled rangers fan, i'm rooting for the flyers. lfgf 💯
Tough place as a Flyee fan. We really need to be bad to get a top pick. Desperately need a #1C. At the same time, they just aren't bad enough to be in that spot.
If Philly learns how to play in the 2nd period, they're way ahead of the pace. But the 2nd is as bad now as the power play was last year.
You can’t imagine how starved the fanbase is for wins after so looooooong of just mediocre seasons year in year out, watching them has been fun as hell since last season again. Idk I just want them to play to win, if they fall short again, then we draft higher, I still have trust in Danny at this moment
Fedotov was as bad as he could be. He was overreacting instead of using his size. Not saying he is going to save the franchise but the fact he has improved the way he has is a sight to behold.
Credit him for rebounding so strong with a bad team in front of him......# 39 is on the rise.
Damn straight I expected him to be playing well. He wants the puck and he damn knows what to do
with it. We have a shot at 3 first round picks. If they make the playoffs I'm good. If they tank out and get a high pick I'm good. They are playing decent hockey and they are fun to watch. You never know
what can happen. The best thing going on is this.....if the game heads to ot the flyers have a guy who
is a serious threat to score. Mitch is already a clutch player. Been a minute or two since I could say that.
Two things are true at once for me.
I wish they'd embraced an actual tank, drafted high, and built from there. But im also really enjoying the team the last 2 years.
Conflicted 😮
The actual tank takes a long time and does not guarantee success. It is better that they retool while not completely dumping everything. It can be frustrating not getting over the hump, but it beats watching nothing for 5-6 years.
Life long Laughton
I far prefer icing a competitive team and selling off veterans at the deadline than angling for a top draft pick. This team is not meant to dwell in the basement. It's meant to develop players either to be trade chips now or pieces on a contender several years down the line.
I am a longtime fan, but these guys are team roller coaster. A few weeks ago, they had the third worst record in the league. Now they are a wild card. Enjoy the climb and hold on tight on the way down!
Torts is easily the coach of the year so far.