2024-25 Roster Thread #1: The Beginninging

[deadhead]

Standings are unreliable in November. One week ago, we were the 5th worst team in the league; today, we're 14th-worst, on the back of just 3 good games.

Remember Edmonton last season?
In any sport, the first 1/4 of the season is the "shakeout cruise."

A fast start gives you a cushion, but as the Phillies if it guarantees anything.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Standings are unreliable in November. One week ago, we were the 5th worst team in the league; today, we're 14th-worst, on the back of just 3 good games.

Regardless of what one may think the standings do say otherwise.

I myself do not think this is a good team.

 

[flyersnorth]

Regardless of what one may think the standings do say otherwise.

I myself do not think this is a good team.

They'll probably finish right around where they did last year.

Right now on Tankathon, they would have the #12 (William Moore, C), #16 (Jake O'Brien, C) and #18 (Jackson Smith, LHD) picks.

Kinda wish they could get a top 5 pick either organically or through a trade.

 

[deadhead]

If they have 3 picks in the teens, and 3 more picks between 33-44, they're fine.
Heck, if Edmonton and Colorado squeeze into the POs but get knocked out in the 1st or 2nd rd, that'll be fine too.

Gives you the option to move up and down the draft, trade into 2026 or package players/picks in a trade for a young player.

They don't need to hit on all six picks, end up with 3 solid starters and it's a fine draft.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

They'll probably finish right around where they did last year.

Right now on Tankathon, they would have the #12 (William Moore, C), #16 (Jake O'Brien, C) and #18 (Jackson Smith, LHD) picks.

Kinda wish they could get a top 5 pick either organically or through a trade.

Stuck in neutral as usual. Neutral is being kind. Top 5 picks are not traded.

 

[Rebels57]

Swapping picks with the Oilers from 2024 to 2025 is starting to look like a good gamble. Now of course, now that I say this they are guaranteed to win the Cup.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Don’t do this to @JojoTheWhale

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Don’t do this to @JojoTheWhale

 

[freakydallas13]

And there is zero evidence that Holmgren has had any influence on any decision.
Rumors would have hit the internet by now, as they did a few years ago.

Hilferty has said the fossils are welcome (PR), but he's never said they have an actual role.
For one thing, his only relation to them is as a "fanboi", there is no actual history.

Of course Briere would listen politely, but if you don't have authority, it means nothing.
It's more like smiling at Grandpa when he talks about the days real men played hockey.

You also have no evidence that proves Homer, Clarke, or the other advisers aren't directly involved, so posting to the contrary is just indulging in your own personal fantasy.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Swapping picks with the Oilers from 2024 to 2025 is starting to look like a good gamble. Now of course, now that I say this they are guaranteed to win the Cup.

It was the smart move as soon as it was made. No downside.

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

So essentially thats the pick we got in Giroux trade, how many years has it been already?

 

[Beef Invictus]

There is no "they." That's conspiracy theory type talk. "Those people."

Couts started out as an 18 year old on a deep team, then he was behind Giroux as the 1C, and competed with Schenn as the 2C. Given the lack of forward depth after 2012, G got the best forwards and Couts and Schenn competed for the "scrubs".
2014: Voracek and Simmonds on the 1st line, Read, Raffl, Umberger, Vinnie the next forwards.
2015: replace Umberger and Vinnie with Gagner and VdV
It was moving G to LW that allowed C to center a scoring line, not some plot against him.

AV was the one who didn't like Ghost, partially due to his style of play, but also b/c he needed time to adjust to his loss of speed after having both knees scoped.

Sanheim played on PP2 his first two full seasons, behind Ghost.
Ghost, Gustaffson and Provorov played ahead of him in 2020-21.
York and Yandle in 2021-22, TDA & York in 2022-23, Drysdale & York last season, but Sanheim still averaged 1:31.

Laughton plays center b/c of lack of centers, last year it was Laughton or Cates. This year Laughton is better than Frost or Cates so far.

We'll see if they made the right move between Jett and Buium. Both were areas of need, so they must have really liked Jett. He does fit what they want. They kept Luchanko on the roster to reward him for coming to camp prepared and give him a taste of the NHL. I doubt they were "trying to justify the selection," things this board obsesses over are probably ignored by most fans.

The real problem has been lack of talent depth (problem since 2012) due to Hextall's bad drafting in 2017 and 2018 and CF trading away too many first and second rd picks.

"They" is management. You know, the same crowd of scouts, advisors, and leadership who have been around for upwards of 50 years.

They exist. They're employed by the team. They make the decisions and set the culture and the priorities. The team lists all of them on the website.

The weird thing is pretending "they" don't exist or have nothing to do with the team now.

 

[Beef Invictus]

And I doubt anyone is taking orders from them either.
Nothing they've done fits the MO of Clarke and Holmgren.
Holmgren would have shipped out a 1st rd pick for a veteran center by now.

Their insistence on treating players like crap and favoring ego games over them doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Getting mad about players daring to assert their CBA-given rights and holding grudges doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Throwing players under the bus in the media doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Their generation-spanning inability to assess dmen and refusal to change doesn't fit the MO of any previous management groups? Their lust for grinding over skill doesn't fit Clarke?


Either you aren't being serious or you've completely forgotten this team's history prior to 2024.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

Their insistence on treating players like crap and favoring ego games over them doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Getting mad about players daring to assert their CBA-given rights and holding grudges doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Throwing players under the bus in the media doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Their generation-spanning inability to assess dmen and refusal to change doesn't fit the MO of any previous management groups? Their lust for grinding over skill doesn't fit Clarke?


Either you aren't being serious or you've completely forgotten this team's history prior to 2024.

dont forget rule#1 no player shall ever eclipse Clarkes record..

if you get near.. #traded....

 

[Beef Invictus]

I can buy that the team doesn't follow Holmgren's MO very much. Which checks out! Because Homer himself and most indications since then say that he is pretty checked out. The team is very Clarkeian though, and since he was given such favored status as the Snider's spiritual heir, it sure would be a coincidence if the team's values and priorities just happen to mirror his to a large extent.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Their insistence on treating players like crap and favoring ego games over them doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Getting mad about players daring to assert their CBA-given rights and holding grudges doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Throwing players under the bus in the media doesn't fit the MO of Clarke? Their generation-spanning inability to assess dmen and refusal to change doesn't fit the MO of any previous management groups? Their lust for grinding over skill doesn't fit Clarke?


Either you aren't being serious or you've completely forgotten this team's history prior to 2024.

Clarke went after and acquired many many skilled players during his time as GM. To say he lusted grinders over skill is incorrect.

 

[deadhead]

I can buy that the team doesn't follow Holmgren's MO very much. Which checks out! Because Homer himself and most indications since then say that he is pretty checked out. The team is very Clarkeian though, and since he was given such favored status as the Snider's spiritual heir, it sure would be a coincidence if the team's values and priorities just happen to mirror his to a large extent.

How is it Clarkeian?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

So essentially thats the pick we got in Giroux trade, how many years has it been already?

84.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Clarke went after and acquired many many skilled players during his time as GM. To say he lusted grinders over skill is incorrect.

He acquired some skilled players. He was also obsessed with dragging in veteran garbage, just like the team still is.

How is it Clarkeian?

Nah, I don't believe that you have no memory of Clarke. Nice try.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

He acquired some skilled players. He was also obsessed with dragging in veteran garbage, just like the team still is.



Nah, I don't believe that you have no memory of Clarke. Nice try.

Go look at his trade transactions. Tells a different story. Way more skill than grinders. In fact not even close. At least his 2nd term as GM.

 

[BernieParent]

If they have 3 picks in the teens, and 3 more picks between 33-44, they're fine.
Heck, if Edmonton and Colorado squeeze into the POs but get knocked out in the 1st or 2nd rd, that'll be fine too.

Gives you the option to move up and down the draft, trade into 2026 or package players/picks in a trade for a young player.

They don't need to hit on all six picks, end up with 3 solid starters and it's a fine draft.

Narrator's voice: it will not be a fine draft. Acquiring more middle-line/pairing talent will not do anything to lift them from their decades-long mediocrity no matter how much you try to speak it into existence, dead. The FO all but put their meagre stack of chips on hitting home runs over the ensuing drafts to infuse top-end players into a talent-flaccid roster and prospect pool. They have done so once to date, with big question marks for Luchanko and Bonk. The mile-wide, inch-high depth pool doesn't do anything but continue a team that can, at best, hope for a first-round playoff series win.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

If they have 3 picks in the teens, and 3 more picks between 33-44, they're fine.
Heck, if Edmonton and Colorado squeeze into the POs but get knocked out in the 1st or 2nd rd, that'll be fine too.

Gives you the option to move up and down the draft, trade into 2026 or package players/picks in a trade for a young player.

They don't need to hit on all six picks, end up with 3 solid starters and it's a fine draft.

This cracks me up. You and the Flyers brass touting the 25 draft as the one that will shape the franchise for years to come.

Now that the early reports are not as strong as predicted. Has as strong top 5. Now you are pivoting. Of which I called a while back.

 

[freakydallas13]

I will laugh so hard hard if they trade the Edmonton 1st for a 2026. It will be a pick more than 4 years after the trade at that point.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Go look at his trade transactions. Tells a different story. Way more skill than grinders. In fact not even close. At least his 2nd term as GM.

Outside of those trades, he surrounded those players with nothingness. Total inability to build depth, because the bottom of the roster wasn't a place where you put talent, it was where you put grinders. Same attitude we see now. Deliberately limiting roster potential in pursuit of roles. Holmgren is the first and only GM in 40 years to break that trend. From Clarke onwards, it's been firmly entrenched otherwise. Core Flyers Value. That's not coming from out of the ether.