Big Game Hunting

[bauer]

All they should do is sign a stop gap goalie. Maybe Lyon or Allen.

Our forwards are mostly set. Still need a 1C/2C, which our top pick should net one of. Wingers are fine. Might be the only area that’s decent.

D is a mess. No chemistry there at all. I’d make a run at Dobson if he really wants out of NY. We got the cash and he’s still very young. Not sure who else is available out there that moves the needle.

 

[trostol]

They should sign no one...play out the season...try guys down in AHL and see what exactly they have in everyone ans prep for 26 draft

 

[GKJ]

We’re going to sign Donato to a stupid contract.

I think the Blackhawks will do that themselves

 

[BernieParent]

Offer sheet Reaves.

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

I think we're looking at a possible offer sheet for one of Bourque, Rossi or MacTavish. It might be easier to talk trade with Dallas and offer up one of the multiple seconds for Bourque.

 

[Magua]

I’d still be slightly surprised to see the gentlemanly, everyone-wins-trades Flyers to offer-sheet someone. If they want to do what the Blues did, I’m all for that. Upside + athleticism + cheap. Spending 1sts+ is another animal, especially if the Flyers make little progress. Bourque vs. Rossi/McTavish are way different contract tiers.

Are we even sure Bourque is a C and not a RW in the NHL? I’ve always been the low guy on him so .

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I’d still be slightly surprised to see the gentlemanly, everyone-wins-trades Flyers to offer-sheet someone. If they want to do what the Blues did, I’m all for that. Upside + athleticism + cheap. Spending 1sts+ is another animal, especially if the Flyers make little progress. Bourque vs. Rossi/McTavish are way different contract tiers.

I’m operating on the assumption that it would have to be a special player in their mind for them to sign an offer sheet. Everything they do is about starting at one particular high value asset, setting course, and only then figuring out how to get there. I’m probably the high person on the instructiveness of how they prioritize getting 1sts back in all of these trades.

I know I don’t have to tell you I’m not calling Mason Mctavish special. But you could tell me they think he’s a future 1st liner and I wouldn’t bat an eye.

The narrative will be that Anaheim was so bad that no one could look good there and they have the structure to make him a passable defender. They’ll pull that lever and it will come at the cost of offensive effectiveness. He’ll settle as a Middle 6 guy, get hot at the right time, sign a big contract, disappoint, get cut loose, then end up someone’s post-hype value Dylan Strome. The NHL never changes.

 

[Magua]

I’m operating on the assumption that it would have to be a special player in their mind for them to sign an offer sheet. Everything they do is about starting at one particular high value asset, setting course, and only then figuring out how to get there. I’m probably the high person on the instructiveness of how they prioritize getting 1sts back in all of these trades.

I know I don’t have to tell you I’m not calling Mason Mctavish special. But you could tell me they think he’s a future 1st liner and I wouldn’t bat an eye.

The narrative will be that Anaheim was so bad that no one could look good there and they have the structure to make him a passable defender. They’ll pull that lever and it will come at the cost of offensive effectiveness. He’ll settle as a Middle 6 guy, get hot at the right time, sign a big contract, disappoint, get cut loose, then end up someone’s post-hype value Dylan Strome. The NHL never changes.

Why wouldn’t Anaheim just match? It would have to be absurd. Second highest bracket certainly, and then it’s a Ducks value call. They probably just prefer the player on a 7x7 to a 1+2+3.

I don’t really know why almost all of these teams wouldn’t match. Most of them can afford it. They’re not getting Bouchard or Dobson unless it’s four 1sts (no). Bourque makes sense with the cap and price at least, if you like him.

Bad offer sheets are lazy matches or easy sells. The good ones are gambles. The money has to be projecting growth. The Flyers love love love bridge deals and minimizing risk. They’re Team Prophylaxis.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Why wouldn’t Anaheim just match? It would have to be absurd. Second highest bracket certainly, and then it’s a Ducks value call. They probably just prefer the player on a 7x7 to a 1+2+3.

I don’t really know why almost all of these teams wouldn’t match. Most of them can afford it. They’re not getting Bouchard or Dobson unless it’s four 1sts (no). Bourque makes sense with the cap and price at least, if you like him.

Bad offer sheets are lazy matches or easy sells. The good ones are gambles. The Flyers believe in bridge deals and minimizing risk. They’re Team Prophylaxis.

I do think they’ve gotten a little less risk averse. I’m just not sure it’s in good ways. Fletcher wasn’t making that indefensible Edmonton trade.

The only possible reason Anaheim wouldn’t match is the one thing we have no way of factoring — money. I don’t mean cap space. We never know which teams are on internal caps and Anaheim is typically not one to throw money around. Plus they have recent history of getting acrimonious in contract negotiations with young players.

I think they’d structure it as well into bracket 2 and on a shorter duration designed to express him to UFA. Something like 4/43. Yes, it’s completely absurd. It would have to be, which is why I think it’s only a possibility in extreme cases. They’re not doing this for a guy they just like.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

The most Flyers move is signing Bennett so that's what I expect.

Bennett and Ekblad would not surprise me. Also would not shock me to run the same goalies back.

 

[Taijuan Fedotov]

Briere will be under pressure to "improve" the team next season. His job depends on it. What will that be? Not sure on specifics but I'm assuming it will involve gifting long term contracts that will be immovable even before the ink dries, which in turn will handicap the next genius they hire in the GM position.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Make the best picks possible and do nothing else

In this case they have literally zero chance for McKenna. This core is mediocre, but not bad enough for last place.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

Why wouldn’t Anaheim just match? It would have to be absurd. Second highest bracket certainly, and then it’s a Ducks value call. They probably just prefer the player on a 7x7 to a 1+2+3.

I don’t really know why almost all of these teams wouldn’t match. Most of them can afford it. They’re not getting Bouchard or Dobson unless it’s four 1sts (no). Bourque makes sense with the cap and price at least, if you like him.

Bad offer sheets are lazy matches or easy sells. The good ones are gambles. The money has to be projecting growth. The Flyers love love love bridge deals and minimizing risk. They’re Team Prophylaxis.

I think if you are talking about a Flyers 2026 first in an offer sheet, not matching should be very on the table for any of these guys being mentioned. Teams are talking about a not insignificant chance at McKenna

Blowing their load early is almost exactly what I expect the Flyers to do, calling the rebuild done and claiming they don't want their next lottery pick. It would be a disaster

 

[BiggE]

In this case they have literally zero chance for McKenna. This core is mediocre, but not bad enough for last place.

They had the 4th worst record in the league this season. They don’t even have a quality 2C, let alone a #1 and their D is basically Sanheim and a prayer, but it’s still better than their goaltending.

Don’t sell their ineptitude short.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

A 2nd round offer sheet or trade for a young center is acceptable as long as the Flyers 1st isn’t on the table. Until the team signs overpriced free agents of the Hayes variety I believe the upper brass is realistic about the team. A bottom 6 signing or 2 is whatever

 

[pooch]

I would offer up TK to Boston (are they looking to retool or rebuild?) or Buffalo with their 2025 1st part of the package coming back and take 2 guys in the top 10. After that, I’d probably just run it back and hope for another high lottery pick in 26. Start making real moves after that.

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Alright. We all know what's going to happen. They're going to open the vault for and sign Mitch Marner just so they can move him to center in an experiment that will ultimately go wrong and then they'll have to move him back to the right wing and then they'll need to trade someone to accommodate Marner. Sounds about right, I think.

 

[Curufinwe]

Marner will have plenty of better places to go

 

[captainpaxil]

Ekblad and zegras would be ideal

 

[The Last Red]

They had the 4th worst record in the league this season. They don’t even have a quality 2C, let alone a #1 and their D is basically Sanheim and a prayer, but it’s still better than their goaltending.

Don’t sell their ineptitude short.

They will be “in da mix” for McKenna, it’s almost assured, along with SJ, Boston and maybe Chicago, although I can see the Hawks taking some big steps next season.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

Bennett and Ekblad would not surprise me. Also would not shock me to run the same goalies back.

If the Flyers decide to keep the goaltenders they have we have a serious run for McKenna coming.

 

[tymed]

Imo, going into next season with our current goaltenders is the ONLY chance that we have at a high pick again next year - it was always the hidden-in-plain-sight tank card for this season and damn did that ever pay off. Even then, I don't believe we'd have the fortune of finishing this low again.

I'd be slightly surprised if they left it as is, so I wouldn't be shocked to see them throwing a short contract at keeping the goalies above water, but don't believe they'll make their big move on it just yet unless something lands in their lap.

For the record, I'd love to see us stick with this abysmal group we have and hope to get lucky again.

On a related note, Ersson must have been a top goalie in the league for a quarter-season stretch from Dec 28 to Feb 25, posting a record of 12-5-1 and .923 sv% while looking as good as the numbers on the ice.

 

[Magua]

I think if you are talking about a Flyers 2026 first in an offer sheet, not matching should be very on the table for any of these guys being mentioned. Teams are talking about a not insignificant chance at McKenna

Blowing their load early is almost exactly what I expect the Flyers to do, calling the rebuild done and claiming they don't want their next lottery pick. It would be a disaster

You can’t underestimate how attached teams are to their own players. If a player goes 3rd overall (which was a bit of a reach on draft day), they’re one of the high guys on the player. Someone like McTavish has positives. Anaheim wants to take a step soon, they’re not a savvy front office, and I think they’d weigh more than a potential value gamble.

Also, if it’s two 1sts (seems unlikely), the Flyers can defer a year. The reality is if the Flyers start spending picks to win now, they’ll also spend money in free agency. That’s their plan — we all know it. If they get better goaltending, we might be back to the 10-15 doldrums in no time. Even next year.

 

[renberg]

On a related note, Ersson must have been a top goalie in the league for a quarter-season stretch from Dec 28 to Feb 25, posting a record of 12-5-1 and .923 sv% while looking as good as the numbers on the ice.

Ersson, like other Flyers, is hard to evaluate due to the Tortorella factor. He threw so many players under thes bus that we know about. You have to believe that he berated them more behind closed doors. It's hard to play well when the ass behind the bench is ripping you for bad play but doesn't tell you what you're doing wrong or right. It had to be a confidence killer.
As for Ersson's play, he showed well in his start For Sweden in the tournament. He's had stretches of good play during all of his seasons. Is Ersson an AS goalie at this point? No. Is he a capable guy who could do well in a tandem situation? Maybe so.

 

[DancingPanther]

Their big game trophy is going to be Dan Bylsma. This is a real prediction. No team runs PR for coaches like the Flyers, and they're going to run with that one. Stanley Cup and Jack Adams winner after all