2024-25 Roster Thread #2: Midseasonnar

[kudymen]

Last 11 games, 7-2-2:

Just curious, why 11?

 

[deadhead]

Just curious, why 11?

Because that's when they seem to have turned it around after a slow start and are playing like last season (competitive with average goaltending).

I think it's probably a combination of players getting their mojo back, but also the two Russians playing consistently decent in goal, that has a big psychological lift if you don't think every mistake will end up in the back of the net.

But we know more as the season progresses.

 

[kudymen]

Because that's when they seem to have turned it around after a slow start and are playing like last season

Oh in that case I think those numbers would look even better if we just looked at 9 (the 7-2-0) instead of all 11 (7-2-2)

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

Just curious, why 11?

 

[Cody Webster]

Just curious, why 11?

Because it fits his narrative

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

All of this seems familiar.

 

[Beef Invictus]

All of this seems familiar.

Nothing ever changes

 

[kudymen]

Nothing ever changes

But it will. In 2 years.


Just like last year
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before
And the year before

 

[prototypical4thliner]

The real question is how they rank on the most improved dangerousness team list.

They live in the Danger Zone. They are the Danger Zone.

 

[Appleyard]

 

[flyersnorth]

Bizarre piece from ASF yesterday.

As Flyers Continue to Surge Behind Another Matvei Michkov OT Game-Winner, Tough Decisions Loom | OnPattison

Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett both scored in the latest Flyers win that have them playing some of the best hockey in the NHL. Flyers management is going to have to make some decisions soon, though, and there is a wonder how that will impact the locker room.

onpattison.com

Basically, he points out the goaltending dilemma (carrying 3 goalies; worried Kolosov would flee if sent to AHL; now believe Fedotov would likely be claimed if waived).

And he points out the defense dilemma

Drysdale wasn't playing well before his injury and now there's not a spot for him in the lineup with the guys the Flyers have playing operating on all cylinders. It's hard to imagine John Tortorella going back to him unless there's another injury, someone's play starts to drop off precipitously, or there is a trade.

Then he ends with some trade speculation.

Trade Winds a-blowin?​

Briere wasn't with the team in St, Louis on Saturday. Instead, he made the trip to watch Lehigh Valley play Laval in the AHL. I'm told he wanted to check in on Anthony Richard, who was recently sent down, and also see Samu Tuomaala, who has been playing well for the Phantoms. They rallied to beat the Canadiens farm team. Richard had a goal. Tuomaala had a primary assist on another goal.

It's no secret that Torts liked Richard's play when he was with the Flyers and feels he can help their sometimes-stagnant offense. Tuomaala might also be able to provide some scoring depth as other forwards have been struggling to find the back of the net.

If the Flyers are considering giving these guys a shot, something has to give. A player needs to be waived or moved. Briere is talking to every GM in the league. He was weighing options on several players. Rasmus Ristolainen is a top target by other teams. Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink have been asked about. Scott Laughton's name constantly comes up as the trade deadline gets closer and closer. Briere is going to be active. He likes where this team is developing in several areas, but it is sorely lacking centers at the moment and that needs to change.

So, what to do?

There have been meetings recently among the Flyers brass to decide how they want to go about this. How much change to a close-knit locker room do they really want to make? Extracting a guy or two makes sense, but which ones? If they do more than that, will it completely upset the apple cart?

There are players knocking on the door. There are other close to being pushed out. But who will be the first shoe to drop? And when? If I'm a betting man I think it's Morgan Frost and at this point I'm thinking it might happen before the new year, but I'm speculating there.

Briere recognizes that he needs to give this team some runway now because they have positioned themselves in a good spot for the time being, but that doesn't mean he's taking his eye off the targeted timeline. It's not go-time yet for the Flyers. But Briere knows that he needs to let the team's play dictate when the difficult decisions have to be made. And some could be coming sooner than others.

 

[CerpinTaxt]

Bizarre piece from ASF yesterday.

As Flyers Continue to Surge Behind Another Matvei Michkov OT Game-Winner, Tough Decisions Loom | OnPattison

Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett both scored in the latest Flyers win that have them playing some of the best hockey in the NHL. Flyers management is going to have to make some decisions soon, though, and there is a wonder how that will impact the locker room.

onpattison.com

Basically, he points out the goaltending dilemma (carrying 3 goalies; worried Kolosov would flee if sent to AHL; now believe Fedotov would likely be claimed if waived).

And he points out the defense dilemma

Drysdale wasn't playing well before his injury and now there's not a spot for him in the lineup with the guys the Flyers have playing operating on all cylinders. It's hard to imagine John Tortorella going back to him unless there's another injury, someone's play starts to drop off precipitously, or there is a trade.

Then he ends with some trade speculation.

Trade Winds a-blowin?​

Briere wasn't with the team in St, Louis on Saturday. Instead, he made the trip to watch Lehigh Valley play Laval in the AHL. I'm told he wanted to check in on Anthony Richard, who was recently sent down, and also see Samu Tuomaala, who has been playing well for the Phantoms. They rallied to beat the Canadiens farm team. Richard had a goal. Tuomaala had a primary assist on another goal.

It's no secret that Torts liked Richard's play when he was with the Flyers and feels he can help their sometimes-stagnant offense. Tuomaala might also be able to provide some scoring depth as other forwards have been struggling to find the back of the net.

If the Flyers are considering giving these guys a shot, something has to give. A player needs to be waived or moved. Briere is talking to every GM in the league. He was weighing options on several players. Rasmus Ristolainen is a top target by other teams. Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink have been asked about. Scott Laughton's name constantly comes up as the trade deadline gets closer and closer. Briere is going to be active. He likes where this team is developing in several areas, but it is sorely lacking centers at the moment and that needs to change.

So, what to do?

There have been meetings recently among the Flyers brass to decide how they want to go about this. How much change to a close-knit locker room do they really want to make? Extracting a guy or two makes sense, but which ones? If they do more than that, will it completely upset the apple cart?

There are players knocking on the door. There are other close to being pushed out. But who will be the first shoe to drop? And when? If I'm a betting man I think it's Morgan Frost and at this point I'm thinking it might happen before the new year, but I'm speculating there.

Briere recognizes that he needs to give this team some runway now because they have positioned themselves in a good spot for the time being, but that doesn't mean he's taking his eye off the targeted timeline. It's not go-time yet for the Flyers. But Briere knows that he needs to let the team's play dictate when the difficult decisions have to be made. And some could be coming sooner than others.

Everytime I read about how the Flyers FO thinks and operates I grow 5 years older.

 

[deadhead]

It's not rocket science.

Right now going with 3 goalies makes sense this season, Ersson has struggled to stay healthy, Fedotov would be claimed if waived and Kolosov is playing too good to be sent down. If Fedotov continues to improve, he'll be trade bait this summer b/c Bjarnason will be in LHV next season, so you'll have injury insurance. Even better if Makiniemi returns.

Laughton is available, he is the one player who can be easily moved without disrupting the team, b/c his 4LW spot could be filled with Richard or Lycksell.
Frost is only getting moved in a deal for a center.
They'll draft at least one center this summer, but in the short-run it's still a hole.

Risto is tougher, they want to move him but that might leave a big hole at RHD during the season, but as Walker showed, "make me an offer I can't refuse." But if he's only offered a late 2nd, Briere might wait until the draft.

They'll give Drysdale a long look, why give up on a talented 22 year old that quickly?
But with Andrae now a fixture, and Zamula deserving of ice time, it's getting crowded even if they send Grans back to LHV. So there's a limit to their patience.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

It's not rocket science.

Right now going with 3 goalies makes sense this season, Ersson has struggled to stay healthy, Fedotov would be claimed if waived and Kolosov is playing too good to be sent down. If Fedotov continues to improve, he'll be trade bait this summer b/c Bjarnason will be in LHV next season, so you'll have injury insurance. Even better if Makiniemi returns.

Laughton is available, he is the one player who can be easily moved without disrupting the team, b/c his 4LW spot could be filled with Richard or Lycksell.
Frost is only getting moved in a deal for a center.
They'll draft at least one center this summer, but in the short-run it's still a hole.

Risto is tougher, they want to move him but that might leave a big hole at RHD during the season, but as Walker showed, "make me an offer I can't refuse." But if he's only offered a late 2nd, Briere might wait until the draft.

They'll give Drysdale a long look, why give up on a talented 22 year old that quickly?
But with Andrae now a fixture, and Zamula deserving of ice time, it's getting crowded even if they send Grans back to LHV. So there's a limit to their patience.

Idk man for me Drysdale can skate but lacks the tool box massively. Seems like he doesn’t actually ever know what to do, even though he can skate like the wind. If he doesn’t figure it out, he might not even be an nhl player in a few years to be honest.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Bizarre piece from ASF yesterday.

As Flyers Continue to Surge Behind Another Matvei Michkov OT Game-Winner, Tough Decisions Loom | OnPattison

Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett both scored in the latest Flyers win that have them playing some of the best hockey in the NHL. Flyers management is going to have to make some decisions soon, though, and there is a wonder how that will impact the locker room.

onpattison.com

Basically, he points out the goaltending dilemma (carrying 3 goalies; worried Kolosov would flee if sent to AHL; now believe Fedotov would likely be claimed if waived).

And he points out the defense dilemma

Drysdale wasn't playing well before his injury and now there's not a spot for him in the lineup with the guys the Flyers have playing operating on all cylinders. It's hard to imagine John Tortorella going back to him unless there's another injury, someone's play starts to drop off precipitously, or there is a trade.

Then he ends with some trade speculation.

Trade Winds a-blowin?​

Briere wasn't with the team in St, Louis on Saturday. Instead, he made the trip to watch Lehigh Valley play Laval in the AHL. I'm told he wanted to check in on Anthony Richard, who was recently sent down, and also see Samu Tuomaala, who has been playing well for the Phantoms. They rallied to beat the Canadiens farm team. Richard had a goal. Tuomaala had a primary assist on another goal.

It's no secret that Torts liked Richard's play when he was with the Flyers and feels he can help their sometimes-stagnant offense. Tuomaala might also be able to provide some scoring depth as other forwards have been struggling to find the back of the net.

If the Flyers are considering giving these guys a shot, something has to give. A player needs to be waived or moved. Briere is talking to every GM in the league. He was weighing options on several players. Rasmus Ristolainen is a top target by other teams. Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink have been asked about. Scott Laughton's name constantly comes up as the trade deadline gets closer and closer. Briere is going to be active. He likes where this team is developing in several areas, but it is sorely lacking centers at the moment and that needs to change.

So, what to do?

There have been meetings recently among the Flyers brass to decide how they want to go about this. How much change to a close-knit locker room do they really want to make? Extracting a guy or two makes sense, but which ones? If they do more than that, will it completely upset the apple cart?

There are players knocking on the door. There are other close to being pushed out. But who will be the first shoe to drop? And when? If I'm a betting man I think it's Morgan Frost and at this point I'm thinking it might happen before the new year, but I'm speculating there.

Briere recognizes that he needs to give this team some runway now because they have positioned themselves in a good spot for the time being, but that doesn't mean he's taking his eye off the targeted timeline. It's not go-time yet for the Flyers. But Briere knows that he needs to let the team's play dictate when the difficult decisions have to be made. And some could be coming sooner than others.

It's incredible a team with such a galling roster can struggle so mightily to find space for promising youth.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Only one player could be moved without easily disrupting this team. Breathtaking example of what's rotten to the core.

 

[deadhead]

Only one player could be moved without easily disrupting this team. Breathtaking example of what's rotten to the core.

Who are you going to trade for what?

It's one thing to move a 30+ year old veteran in his last season for draft picks. If they're leaving anyway, might as well get something.

Flyers have three groups of players

1) veterans on big contracts who'd be hard to move for equivalent value, Couts, Sanheim, TK, and are the veteran core a few years down the road.

2) marginal veterans who won't bring much back if anything, Hathaway, Seeler, Johnson, DeLo.

3) young players close to their prime (23-25 years old), who have value. Do you trade them for late 1st rd picks who won't play for 3-4 years? Trading guys like Farabee, Frost, etc. are usually package deals to upgrade. But there are only a few trades like this every season, b/c there are limited numbers of upgrades available.

Laughton and Risto are the most likely candidates, still have value, too old to have value to the Flyers in 3 years. Fedotov this summer if he builds up his value (age and crowded position).

 

[Beef Invictus]

Only one player could be moved without easily disrupting this team. Breathtaking example of what's rotten to the core.

God forbid we disrupt this year's particular march to non-contention!

 

[ponder719]

Only one player could be moved without easily disrupting this team. Breathtaking example of what's rotten to the core.

And, of course, that one player plays the one position that everyone on the planet has identified as this team's primary weakness to begin with. No thought of actually strengthening a weakness, we've got deck chairs to rearrange!

 

[Beef Invictus]

Who are you going to trade for what?

It's one thing to move a 30+ year old veteran in his last season for draft picks. If they're leaving anyway, might as well get something.

Flyers have three groups of players

1) veterans on big contracts who'd be hard to move for equivalent value, Couts, Sanheim, TK, and are the veteran core a few years down the road.

2) marginal veterans who won't bring much back if anything, Hathaway, Seeler, Johnson, DeLo.

3) young players close to their prime (23-25 years old), who have value. Do you trade them for late 1st rd picks who won't play for 3-4 years? Trading guys like Farabee, Frost, etc. are usually package deals to upgrade. But there are only a few trades like this every season, b/c there are limited numbers of upgrades available.

Laughton and Risto are the most likely candidates, still have value, too old to have value to the Flyers in 3 years. Fedotov this summer if he builds up his value (age and crowded position).

Ah yes truly as usual there is nothing our GM can do. This is the best things can possibly get, in the present or future.


Might as well fold the team.

 

[Beef Invictus]

And, of course, that one player plays the one position that everyone on the planet has identified as this team's primary weakness to begin with. No thought of actually strengthening a weakness, we've got deck chairs to rearrange!

The problem being that they are deciding that Frost is a 3C. But he's too skilled to be a 3C! So we must downgrade to fulfill the role. What we need, clearly, is another Cates or two.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Who are you going to trade for what?

It's one thing to move a 30+ year old veteran in his last season for draft picks. If they're leaving anyway, might as well get something.

Flyers have three groups of players

1) veterans on big contracts who'd be hard to move for equivalent value, Couts, Sanheim, TK, and are the veteran core a few years down the road.

2) marginal veterans who won't bring much back if anything, Hathaway, Seeler, Johnson, DeLo.

3) young players close to their prime (23-25 years old), who have value. Do you trade them for late 1st rd picks who won't play for 3-4 years? Trading guys like Farabee, Frost, etc. are usually package deals to upgrade. But there are only a few trades like this every season, b/c there are limited numbers of upgrades available.

Laughton and Risto are the most likely candidates, still have value, too old to have value to the Flyers in 3 years. Fedotov this summer if he builds up his value (age and crowded position).

I just don’t understand how you make this post when I’ve spent the last 6+ years begging everyone to see that the lesson from the Hextall years is to grade GMs by the difficult decisions instead of the easy ones. If a move is obvious, I’m not impressed. I can get a humble chimp to do that.

 

[dragonoffrost]

Who are you going to trade for what?

It's one thing to move a 30+ year old veteran in his last season for draft picks. If they're leaving anyway, might as well get something.

Flyers have three groups of players

1) veterans on big contracts who'd be hard to move for equivalent value, Couts, Sanheim, TK, and are the veteran core a few years down the road.

2) marginal veterans who won't bring much back if anything, Hathaway, Seeler, Johnson, DeLo.

3) young players close to their prime (23-25 years old), who have value. Do you trade them for late 1st rd picks who won't play for 3-4 years? Trading guys like Farabee, Frost, etc. are usually package deals to upgrade. But there are only a few trades like this every season, b/c there are limited numbers of upgrades available.

Laughton and Risto are the most likely candidates, still have value, too old to have value to the Flyers in 3 years. Fedotov this summer if he builds up his value (age and crowded position).

Not bringing anything back is not a reason to not move someone. How hard is that to understand?

Those should be the first to go as the youth coming in is going to have a higher chance to have an impact than what could be received in a deal.

If you aren't getting value back waive and send to LHV and call someone up which might even give a little cap flexibility.

 

[deadhead]

I just don’t understand how you make this post when I’ve spent the last 6+ years begging everyone to see that the lesson from the Hextall years is to grade GMs by the difficult decisions instead of the easy ones. If a move is obvious, I’m not impressed. I can get a humble chimp to do that.

More franchises are deep sixed by ambitious GMs trying to outsmart the league than patient GMs waiting for value to fall to them.

If you're on a 3 year schedule ('ll contend that Briere has been focused on 2027-28 since he took the job and didn't expect Michkov to arrive until 2026), the last thing you should do is force the issue.

I'm not sure there are a lot of good moves out there. They finally can field 18 NHL caliber players and have some in LHV who have shown they can step in. With (3) 1st and (3) 2nds this summer, you're not looking for volume, you're looking for quality upgrades. You rarely see a quality player under 25 move in trades, and Flyers shouldn't look at older players for a few years.

 

[deadhead]

Not bringing anything back is not a reason to not move someone. How hard is that to understand?

Those should be the first to go as the youth coming in is going to have a higher chance to have an impact than what could be received in a deal.

If you aren't getting value back waive and send to LHV and call someone up which might even give a little cap flexibility.

Why rush kids? The AHL is a good place for them to develop, and contrary to popular belief, players like York, Andrae, Grans, Zamula seemed to have emerged unharmed.

Tuomaala is a good example, he's shown he can score, he's improving 5x5, but he's still goes MIA. I'm looking forward to seeing him twice this week to see how far he's progressed. But he's not going to play ahead of Michkov, TK or Brink. So he's better off in LHV for now.