Why do I question the Flyers ability to develop players?
Couturier was pegged as a defense first player and given no pp time for years despite the fact that he was seen as potentially the first pick overall in his draft year before he contracted mono. By the time they started to realize there was more to his game than checking, he had 5 years of hard wear and tear on his tires.
Sanheim, clearly a skilled player, has rarely been given an extended look on the pp. Hell, for years the organization favored the less talented Provorov and even Robert Hagg over TS.
They continually play Laughton at center when his skill set is much better utilized on the wing.
Time and time again, they put skilled players on lines with grinders and then wonder why those players don’t produce.
They see no value in a player like Ghost but fawn over a prospect like Hunter McDonald.
They pass over a Dman with 1D potential because they feel having York, Drysdale and Andrae doesn’t allow them to draft another sub 6’1 D, even though Drysdale has done squat, Andrae is still a wildcard and there is no guarantee that York, or any of the three, will even be here by the time a guy like Buium would be coming into his prime.
They keep Luchanko on the roster simply to make themselves feel smart and to try and justify the selection. The kid was nowhere near ready to play in the NHL.
There’s more, much more, but I think the point has been made.