2023-24 Roster Thread 2: The Days Get Longer Edition

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I was expecting more to be done at this point. The team still has more talent than they should if they want to get a high pick in next year’s draft. Especially at FWD.

See I am not concerned about that. It’s been crickets league wide for over 2 weeks. Maybe or maybe not Briere has poked around and nobody is biting. There are guys on this team who should not be traded for the sake of it. Folks want TK and Hart traded. But there is no market right now.

 

[deadhead]

You keep talking about the size of Tampa Bays defense, as if that mutes them being really talented hockey players. Especially at the top of the roster.

I pointed that out as well, as I said, one does not preclude the other - Flyers need to draft and/or develop (Farabee, Frost) some top offensive talent, but they also need "gritty depth" at forward and a more physical defense that can clear the crease and breakup the cycle by winning board battles and regaining puck possession. TB had Hedman, but they also had D-men like Cernak and McDonagh. And lots of forwards with speed, grit and enough skill to capitalize on the opportunities created by an aggressive forecheck.

It's not one or the other, you can't pay more than 3-4 top offensive players in any case (look at Edmonton and Toronto to see what happens when half your cap goes to a few top offensive players), so you need to build a team, not just collect a few stars.

 

[Cody Webster]

Still going back to the 2004 well I see, some things never change

 

[Lindberg]

See I am not concerned about that. It’s been crickets league wide for over 2 weeks. Maybe or maybe not Briere has poked around and nobody is biting. There are guys on this team who should not be traded for the sake of it. Folks want TK and Hart traded. But there is no market right now.

Every worthwhile asset the Flyers own should be liquidated in less than two months. /sarcasm

 

[Curufinwe]

Briere on Michkov:

"He was extremely interesting because we don't have anyone like him in the organization. And you've heard us say, you know, the last few years how we don't have that difference maker, we don't have the high end skill players especially after losing guys like Voracek and Giroux. So having the chance or seeing a guy of this talent drop to 7 for us we felt was something we could just not pass over. The interesting part on top of it was, Matvei, clearly told us he wanted to play for the Flyers, he wanted to play in a hockey market where people cared about the team."

 

[Rebels57]

Briere on Michkov:

"He was extremely interesting because we don't have anyone like him in the organization. And you've heard us say, you know, the last few years how we don't have that difference maker, we don't have the high end skill players especially after losing guys like Voracek and Giroux. So having the chance or seeing a guy of this talent drop to 7 for us we felt was something we could just not pass over. The interesting part on top of it was, Matvei, clearly told us he wanted to play for the Flyers, he wanted to play in a hockey market where people cared about the team."

Despite all of the nonsense this offseason, this is still the best and most important thing to happen so far. A reason for hope in the future.

 

[Curufinwe]

Briere on Hayes:

"Off the ice was fine.... but it was getting toxic with the way Torts was using him. And I felt it was better to give him the chance to go somewhere else, just so it doesn't stay around the room."

 

[Rebels57]

Briere on Hayes:

"Off the ice was fine.... but it was getting toxic with the way Torts was using him. And I felt it was better to give him the chance to go somewhere else, just so it doesn't stay around the room."

As expected, it was all Torts fault. Whose value will he destroy next?

Hayes, DeAngelo, and to a lesser extent Sanheim so far.

Farabee next?

 

[Curufinwe]

Briere on Angelo (asked pre-buyout):

"...we're looking at all of our options. Obviously with Tony the fact is that it's not healthy with the locker room situation, and him not dressing at the end of the year last year."

 

[Beef Invictus]

I pointed that out as well, as I said, one does not preclude the other - Flyers need to draft and/or develop (Farabee, Frost) some top offensive talent, but they also need "gritty depth" at forward and a more physical defense that can clear the crease and breakup the cycle by winning board battles and regaining puck possession. TB had Hedman, but they also had D-men like Cernak and McDonagh. And lots of forwards with speed, grit and enough skill to capitalize on the opportunities created by an aggressive forecheck.

It's not one or the other, you can't pay more than 3-4 top offensive players in any case (look at Edmonton and Toronto to see what happens when half your cap goes to a few top offensive players), so you need to build a team, not just collect a few stars.

No they do not "need" that. They need the best hockey players they can find. Guys who outplay their opponents. The second this team thinks about size or grit they completely lose the plot. Focus on the former and the latter is a nice optional bonus.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Briere on Michkov:

"He was extremely interesting because we don't have anyone like him in the organization. And you've heard us say, you know, the last few years how we don't have that difference maker, we don't have the high end skill players especially after losing guys like Voracek and Giroux. So having the chance or seeing a guy of this talent drop to 7 for us we felt was something we could just not pass over. The interesting part on top of it was, Matvei, clearly told us he wanted to play for the Flyers, he wanted to play in a hockey market where people cared about the team."

"Losing" guys. You lose guys to injury and retirement, don't act like their departure was some sad twist of fate, Daniel.

Briere on Hayes:

"Off the ice was fine.... but it was getting toxic with the way Torts was using him. And I felt it was better to give him the chance to go somewhere else, just so it doesn't stay around the room."

If your coach is using players that badly you should fire him instead of building around him

Basically we are learning that Tortorella is one of the biggest locker room cancers in team history.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

Briere on Hayes:

"Off the ice was fine.... but it was getting toxic with the way Torts was using him. And I felt it was better to give him the chance to go somewhere else, just so it doesn't stay around the room."

not one person here could have predicted this..

not one person..

hahaaa...

 

[Striiker]

It's the horses fault for not finishing the job.

 

[Audible Velvet]

"Losing" guys. You lose guys to injury and retirement, don't act like their departure was some sad twist of fate, Daniel.



If your coach is using players that badly you should fire him instead of building around him

Basically we are learning that Tortorella is one of the biggest locker room cancers in team history.

Spot on

 

[renberg]

As expected, it was all Torts fault. Whose value will he destroy next?

Hayes, DeAngelo, and to a lesser extent Sanheim so far.

Farabee next?

Perhaps you saw better play out of these guys than others did? What I saw out of Hayes and TDA was bad play with no matter who they were on the ice. Evidently the rest of the clubs in the League saw the same thing since the market for these guys has been zero. Through the first two thirds of the season, for whatever reason, Sanheim played poorly. He did pick it up near the end of the year. Farabee did not have the greatest of seasons either; most likely due to recovering from his neck injury.
Until these guys show that they can play better, their value is destroyed. Tortorella can't hit them with a magic wand and get better play from them. They have to do that on their own. Did Tortorella push them in ways that are open to question? Sure. However we don't know what else went on between the coach and the players that didn't seem to work. I suspect that Farabee will play much better this year since he'll be fully recovered from his neck issue. The same with Sanheim. He'll be a year into his long term contract and hopefully not feel undue pressure to live up to it.
If they show the improvement that should be expected of them, will that be due to Tortorella's coaching? I doubt it. It would go on the players where performance always lies. Coaches always get too much credit of success and too much blame for failure. It's all about the players.

 

[bennysflyers16]

Torts benching of Sanheim and Frost tells you all you need to know.

You have 82 chances to bench guys, but you have to be a slimy hatred little to pick the one meaningful time to do it to specific players.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

Torts benching of Sanheim and Frost tells you all you need to know.

You have 82 chances to bench guys, but you have to be a slimy hatred little to pick the one meaningful time to do it to specific players.

and then play it off like you didnt know..

100% douche move

 

[Curufinwe]

"Losing" guys. You lose guys to injury and retirement, don't act like their departure was some sad twist of fate, Daniel.

I think he's aware they were traded by the previous GM.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Briere on Angelo (asked pre-buyout):

"...we're looking at all of our options. Obviously with Tony the fact is that it's not healthy with the locker room situation, and him not dressing at the end of the year last year."

I want the tell-all on Tony

 

[FlyerNutter]

As expected, it was all Torts fault. Whose value will he destroy next?

Hayes, DeAngelo, and to a lesser extent Sanheim so far.

Farabee next?

Farabee is 100% the next on the hit list.

 

[Beef Invictus]

I think he's aware they were traded by the previous GM.

Yeah. I think his framing of it is bullshit.

 

[gertbfrobe16]

Torts benching of Sanheim and Frost tells you all you need to know.

You have 82 chances to bench guys, but you have to be a slimy hatred little to pick the one meaningful time to do it to specific players.

I'm pretty sure it was, I'm in charge and look what I'll do if you don't bow and acknowledge my greatness and power statement from Torts. I will show everyone who is in charge.

 

[Rich Nixon]

(I wonder if Frost's somewhat uncertain relationship with Torts has any influence on the length of contract he is willing to sign)

 

[Magua]

I’m going to surmise that Tortorella calling Frost a toilet seat, being damning with faint praise at best, and not backing him privately or in usage as one of “his guys” has more to do with Frost’s contract than Frost not wanting a life changing $20-25MM long-term.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

For those who still think frost isn't worth signing long term, and state he's not good defensively