2023-24 Roster Thread #6: A Hall of Famer, a doctor, a policeman and a moose walk into a bar with a Bundy...

[BernieParent]

Is Bobby Bench on the brink of a demotion to the AHL?

Bobby Orr Frost

 

[Don Nachbaur 26]

Extending Walker to a long term, massively overpaid deal would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

I expect the extension to be announced before the all star break. Be a f***ing Flyer

4x 4.25

 

[Beef Invictus]

I think they’re a playoff team next year (24/25).

Ok, but that's not remarkable. Every year doormat teams make the playoffs.

When do you think they will be contending for a Cup?

 

[BernieParent]

John Tortorella on choosing between Staal and Zamula.

 

[freakydallas13]

I don’t think you need to trade away a very effective top 4 RHD in Walker, a position very hard to find in the league & one the Flyers have failed to sufficiently fill since Niskanen retired, just because you merely expect to be a playoff team next season instead of one of the top teams in the league.

Why take a step back for a 2nd rd pick that is likely to amount to nothing?

Even a late 1st is unlikely to become a player as useful as Walker is right now, though I think you should at least consider offers if they include a 1st.

Walker is a good player at a position of need & a position that’s hard to acquire. And you can probably extend him for a reasonable contract.

It would be good for this franchise to continue progressing & to make the playoffs next season, & Walker helps that. When Michkov arrives in 2026, the Flyers could be a real threat, & Walker should still have tread on his tires.

I still don't know when you think this team will be a cup contender, not just a a playoff team.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Ok, but that's not remarkable. Every year doormat teams make the playoffs.

When do you think they will be contending for a Cup?

Never mind, saw this was sort-of answered. The delay in Michkov arriving is a gift. Sell everything and making a massive talent pool that will develop with him and maximize the window. Anything else will be the same non-committal crap they wasted Giroux and Couturier's careers with.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

John Tortorella on choosing between Staal and Zamula.

I listened to the presser. It definitely sounds Iike Zamula is sitting for Staal, despite him claiming he wasn't discussing tomorrow's lineup beyond that Brink is still out. He said the same think about Brink that he said about Frost: wants to play him but can't find a spot for him in the lineup.

He thinks Zamula's too much in his own head and needs a reset.

 

[bennysflyers16]

Big Z hasn't played once over Staal this year, it won't change now.

 

[BernieParent]

I listened to the presser. It definitely sounds Iike Zamula is sitting for Staal, despite him claiming he wasn't discussing tomorrow's lineup beyond that Brink is still out. He said the same think about Brink that he said about Frost: wants to play him but can't find a spot for him in the lineup.

He thinks Zamula's too much in his own head and needs a reset.

In principle, it is fine to sit rookies and give them a chance to reset, but the current situation of having prospects out for multiple games is ridiculous.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

In principle, it is fine to sit rookies and give them a chance to reset, but the current situation of having prospects out for multiple games is ridiculous.

Yeah Zamula probably deserves to be scratched - I can see him sitting for two games. But he should be right back in for game 3.

 

[Curufinwe]

No way to fit Brink in lineup says team starting Deslauriers and Hathaway every game and playing Poehling at 3C

 

[Ghosts Beer]

I was shocked to see that Zamula is tied for the team lead at +10.

He seems to be very uneven out there to me. I want to like him, but he screws up a lot.

 

[BiggE]

No way to fit Brink in lineup says team starting Deslauriers and Hathaway every game and playing Poehling at 3C

Gotta love this team. It’s all hands on deck, 9th in the East or bust!

Can’t wait to see the elite game breaking talent we land with the 16th overall pick.

 

[dragonoffrost]

Yeah Zamula probably deserves to be scratched - I can see him sitting for two games. But he should be right back in for game 3.

Which based on previous actions we know won't happen.

 

[bennysflyers16]

No way to fit Brink in lineup says team starting Deslauriers and Hathaway every game and playing Poehling at 3C

Forester or Frost will be next to sit, so Brinksy will get back in soon.

 

[dragonoffrost]

I was shocked to see that Zamula is tied for the team lead at +10.

He seems to be very uneven out there to me. I want to like him, but he screws up a lot.

This why +/- is not a stat to use to see individual play.

Gotta love this team. It’s all hands on deck, 9th in the East or bust!

Can’t wait to see the elite game breaking talent we land with the 16th overall pick.

SO MUCH THIS but THEY'VE IMPROVED is what we hear.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

In principle, it is fine to sit rookies and give them a chance to reset, but the current situation of having prospects out for multiple games is ridiculous.

It's how he talks about not being able to find a way to get a scratched player back in the lineup that's infuriating. There are things he says that make sense. Sitting a player indefinitely because you like the make up of a team doesn't, especially when he has said that practices have little to no impact on his lineup decisions. In this scenario, there's no way to show you are ready without being in an actual game, but you can't get in a game because the coach thinks you're not ready. Yossarian would be proud.

Forester or Frost will be next to sit, so Brinksy will get back in soon.

Despite his offensive struggles, Foerster has been very good (and, probably importantly, noticeable) away from the puck which has undoubtedly given him more leeway.

 

[Rebels57]

It's how he talks about not being able to find a way to get a scratched player back in the lineup that's infuriating. There are things he says that make sense. Sitting a player indefinitely because you like the make up of a team doesn't, especially when he has said that practices have little to no impact on his lineup decisions. In this scenario, there's no way to show you are ready without being in an actual game, but you can't get in a game because the coach thinks you're not ready. Yossarian would be proud.

Despite his offensive struggles, Foerster has been very good (and, probably importantly, noticeable) away from the puck which has undoubtedly given him more leeway.

Off puck play is literally the only thing Torts cares about. This is the same guy that prefers Barkov to McDavid. If it were up to Torts, there would not even be a puck on the ice.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

I still don't know when you think this team will be a cup contender, not just a a playoff team.

I said I think the Flyers will be a playoff team next season & a real threat when Michkov arrives in 2026, as long as they don’t sell off everything they have.

If they sell off everything they’ve got over age 24, like so many here want, then they won’t make the playoffs next season, won’t entice Michkov to try to come over early, & when Michkov arrives he’ll join a crappy team.

 

[dragonoffrost]

I said I think the Flyers will be a playoff team next season & a real threat when Michkov arrives in 2026, as long as they don’t sell off everything they have.

If they sell off everything they’ve got over age 24, like so many here want, then they won’t make the playoffs next season, won’t entice Michkov to try to come over early, & when Michkov arrives he’ll join a crappy team.

Michkov isn't coming over early the KHL won't allow him out of the contract unless some real strange deal gets cut.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I was shocked to see that Zamula is tied for the team lead at +10.

He seems to be very uneven out there to me. I want to like him, but he screws up a lot.

maybe... just maybe your not good at player evaluation...

 

[Ghosts Beer]

maybe... just maybe your not good at player evaluation...

So you think Zamula has been consistently reliable?

Never mind. I shouldn’t ask that of someone who doesn’t consistently watch the games.

 

[tnfrs]

John Tortorella on choosing between Staal and Zamula.

is that ron howard's brother? he still has those same teeth

 

[VladDrag]

I said I think the Flyers will be a playoff team next season & a real threat when Michkov arrives in 2026, as long as they don’t sell off everything they have.

If they sell off everything they’ve got over age 24, like so many here want, then they won’t make the playoffs next season, won’t entice Michkov to try to come over early, & when Michkov arrives he’ll join a crappy team.

So I just want to clarify something there about selling everything off. I don't want them to just sell for the sake of selling. I want them to sell for the sake of future. I didn't get a chance to reply to your earlier response, as I was out and about.

I'd be fine with re-signing Walker to a 3-year, reasonable cap hit deal in a vacuum. I won't be happy however, if they decide to not trade any of their veteran players that hold reasonable value. I don't know how you can call it a rebuild if you don't move players out for futures.

I can also see a roadmap to a potential contender by 2026, but so many things need to go right. Frost and Tippett need to be consistent offensive contributors, Brink and Foerster need to prove themselves, Couts needs to remain healthy, TK has to want to stay here, York needs to rebound, Sanheim needs to play at this level consistently, defensive prospects have to pan out (or trade for them). I've watched a lot of Gauthier; he's an intriguing prospect, and he's getting better, but I don't see him as the 1C everyone is claiming.

 

[thedjpd]

Michkov isn't coming over early the KHL won't allow him out of the contract unless some real strange deal gets cut.

Love how certain people are about things like this. We were certain Fedotov had a legit contract too.

KHL set their own precedent on this.