Rumor: Things Not Left Unsaid: Flyers Rumors & Media Mentions

[deadhead]

They've made it clear this is a 3-5 year process (at some point it stops b/c you run out of players to trade, it's pointless to be trading 20-22 year old players to draft 18 year olds!). So they're probably not in the same hurry that fans on this board are to clear out everyone. They may well want to keep a few players this year and move them next summer after some more prospects arrive.

Chicago got lucky, they had a 11% change of getting Bedard, if they end up picking 4th3rd, I doubt anyone would be pointing at them as a role model. NJ got the 1st pick twice. You can't count on that, especially the Flyers, who tanked once and got lucky once and ended up with JVR and Patrick.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

Apple is saying Celebrini would have been taken 2-3 in this year’s draft. That’s damn good

thats next years CHI. pick..

just sayin.

 

[Magua]

Until their actions prove otherwise, I think they're gunning for a playoff spot. When it fails they will just say "oh we're rebuilding". They want a playoff spot with none of the pressure or downside when they don't achieve it.

I don't think that scam would work longer than a season or two though.

They've been upfront saying they don't expect to make the playoffs for 3 years (they've repeated this about 10x). I believe they believe in that pulled out their ass timeline. Long-term I think you're right: they have no plan to contend. When they get tired of being bottom 10ish, while still having no stars (of their own doing) and not even reaching the criteria of half-measures, they'll pivot back to gunning for the 8th seed. Someone here said this today, but Tortorella's ego also cannot handle putrid seasons, and I doubt the good ol' boys front office can either. The guy took 2 weeks off coaching at the end of year 1. He's just savvy at politicking and selling himself, hence positioning himself as a voice of reason to not get lost in a front office swap.

 

[TheKingPin]

NYR saw something of a bump, but they also were a good team and matters less that they aren’t as good players as they thought.

Might be why they keep firing coaches.

Yea so they saw a bump. And you’ll get a bump when you’re good. Best way to do that is be bad for awhile, draft well, develop well. If you’re going to be at the 14 OA spot, may as well be at the 3OA spot. No prize for just missing.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Toews & Kane had little to no trade value last summer though because of their contracts & play up to that point. If anything Kane probably get a bit more valuable deadline because his caphit was easier to fit for a potential trading team. Toews just never got healthy.

So it’s not like fans were put in a position to really weigh a good return vs. keeping a player for sentimental reasons.

 

[The Rage Kage]

It's not a rebuild if you only trade away players that your coach has soured on and keep all the players with actual value just because the coach likes them.

 

[deadhead]

They've been upfront saying they don't expect to make the playoffs for 3 years (they've repeated this about 10x). I believe they believe in that pulled out their ass timeline. Long-term I think you're right: they have no plan to contend. When they get tired of being bottom 10ish, while still having no stars (of their own doing) and not even reaching the criteria of half-measures, they'll pivot back to gunning for the 8th seed. Someone here said this today, but Tortorella's ego also cannot handle putrid seasons, and I doubt the good ol' boys front office can either. The guy took 2 weeks off coaching at the end of year 1. He's just savvy at politicking and selling himself, hence positioning himself as a voice of reason to not get lost in a front office swap.

If they miss the playoffs three more years, that's 3 more lottery picks (maybe 4 if Florida implodes) the next three years on top of Gauthier and #7.
Odds are they'll find a couple stars out of that group.

 

[Rebels57]

SN must said Wash thought they could get Mich at 8 but that appears to not be the case now. So is trying to move up.

I can live with Washington being forced to move up and the Flyers taking Benson at 7.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

I think some people here assume that rebuild is equivalent to tanking.
So far they've traded a 27 year old for numerous assets, including 3 high picks, dumped a 29 and 31 year old and regained $6M in cap room.
So that's certainly rebuilding.
Peterson is a cap dump, but Walker has a good chance of garnering another asset at the TDL.

Let's see what else they do, but if you expected a full scale tank, you weren't listening.

You don't have to tank to rebuild, but there is zero reason to turn down such a good offer on a player like Laughton, which is signaling the fact that they aren't actually rebuilding

 

[Evergreen]

There are high end players every year. I’m sure the NYR saw a bump for their non generational lotto win picks. Fans won’t wait and see a few years, they will be pumped and hopeful.

And it’s not like you don’t draft if you aren’t 1OA. Chances are, a better pick will get you a better player.



Says who? Boston has a bunch of elite level players drafted late. Laughton is around 30. This team can’t be good for at least 3 years. Probably 5+. literally no point.

Says the statistics. You aren’t going to get a guy who is already a star like Zegras or a prospect currently projected to be a star. Sure, you could luck out and draft a guy who could end up being a star with a late first, but that is exceedingly rare.

 

[freakydallas13]

It's not a rebuild if you only trade away players that your coach has soured on and keep all the players with actual value just because the coach likes them.

Well put.

 

[Evergreen]

I want skilled, creative, exciting players. Zegras is just an example. I know they're probably not getting a similar player out of a Laughton trade, however getting a number of high picks increases those odds. The point is, no one is buying tickets to see Scott Laughton play.

I’m with you on that.

 

[TheKingPin]

Says the statistics. You aren’t going to get a guy who is already a star like Zegras or a prospect currently projected to be a star. Sure, you could luck out and draft a guy who could end up being a star with a late first, but that is exceedingly rare.

So don’t try? Don’t hold on to late 1sts or 2nds? The flyers have tried that and it hasn’t ended well. I’ll take a lotto shot for a Marchand, Robertson, Pasta, Point, etc. You need a few thing to be a contender. That is one of them.

 

[Tripod]

I can live with Washington being forced to move up and the Flyers taking Benson at 7.

Except they will take leonard, Rein, or that D dude

 

[Magua]

A single one? I don’t agree. People may have been on board with what they did - and they did want to trade them - but fans who actually were there also definitely appreciated that they stayed as long as possible. People underestimate the level of devotion those kinds of fans have or believe they have to the players they’ve invested in, and they’re the ones you’re making money off of now.

I’ll give you another - the Flyers business connections obviously deteriorated to the point where the new chairman was hired specifically for the purpose of ‘he’s a guy with Philly business connections’ and we have a team who many people believe, with good reason, has an egomaniac head coach as the face of the franchise. When the corporate and the charity people call, you need players to send them. They don’t know who Nick Seeler is. Laughton has been their guy fur this, probably gets the A to raise his profile for it. When all the Provorov pride shit was happening, and Torts going about how proud he was of him, who was the guy on the other side everyone looked at?

As much as I’d like to just get the best package and move on - and I do - these are things that as business people they have to take into account, because they’re not nothing roles, and when they leave someone else has to do it. And yes, you have Atkinson and other veteran guys still but they’re also only allowed to do so much too.

I'm sure there's a few fans who cried into their pillows about Kane being traded on the last year of his deal -- it was hyperbole. By and large? I'd wager they're fine with it. They want a rebuild, they got one, and it's looking mighty fine.

The elephant in the room is this: they're not good business people, not in this realm anyway. They're too emotional, too insular, too fanboy-ish, too unwilling to admit what they don't know. I'll repeat myself: is it good business long-term to turn off an entire generation of Flyers fans because of rotted expired pride? You'd think every other team in every league doesn't have the same issues when they go through a rebuild -- that it's only the Flyers. They have their bad contract, good vets they can parade. They have young players. Someone who isn't a die hard Flyers fan doesn't know who the f*** Scott Laughton is. And a majority of us don't even care. Are we also saying the business end has roster control (or should)? I doubt it -- I think hockey ops is stupid enough to do this on their own.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

When will the poor flyers get some luck?

 

[Evergreen]

So don’t try? Don’t hold on to late 1sts or 2nds? The flyers have tried that and it hasn’t ended well. I’ll take a lotto shot for a Marchand, Robertson, Pasta, Point, etc. You need a few thing to be a contender. That is one of them.

I’m pretty sure Pasta was a top ten pick. Regardless, I agree with you that we should be acquiring as many high picks as we can. And I’d be more than okay with trading Laughton if he could net us a pick like that. But if we don’t move him now I think we have a chance to do so and get the same return (although the puck might be a year later) at the deadline. And I do think there is value in having a guy like Laughton around the younger guys and establishing a good locker room.

 

[The Rage Kage]

I’m pretty sure Pasta was a top ten pick. Regardless, I agree with you that we should be acquiring as many high picks as we can. And I’d be more than okay with trading Laughton if he could net us a pick like that. But if we don’t move him now I think we have a chance to do so and get the same return (although the puck might be a year later) at the deadline. And I do think there is value in having a guy like Laughton around the younger guys and establishing a good locker room.

Pastrnak was 25th overall in 2014

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

How many more window opportunities is this organization gonna piss away with Laughton before they ultimately end up trading him at the end of his deal for like a mid round pick while the team accomplishes nothing of note during that entire time?

At first it was because they weren’t rebuilding. Now we supposedly are rebuilding but still cannot trade him because reasons. This is great an example of how the Flyers truly don’t understand how to run a modern front office. You’re treating a depth player like he’s a major difference maker which still isn’t a great sign for projecting this team going forward if that mindset is still prevalent.

 

[TheKingPin]

I’m pretty sure Pasta was a top ten pick. Regardless, I agree with you that we should be acquiring as many high picks as we can. And I’d be more than okay with trading Laughton if he could net us a pick like that. But if we don’t move him now I think we have a chance to do so and get the same return (although the puck might be a year later) at the deadline. And I do think there is value in having a guy like Laughton around the younger guys and establishing a good locker room.

He was 25 OA. Literally a pick the Blues have for sale.

The move is to make now in 2023. The draft is strong. You also have more options. Like you get that late first this year and move up from 22 if someone drops.

If you have 3 1sts for a few years like the Blackhawks have then you’re going to be in a good spot. You are just setting yourself up the best you can.

The young guys need to be away from the old imo. These aren’t other sport players that have socioeconomic issues and risk of gun violence and street racing. At least not as much. I want these young guys to step in and be given an opportunity. We have seen that with Seattle and Vegas. Get people out of the way to see what you really have.

 

[deadhead]

You don't have to tank to rebuild, but there is zero reason to turn down such a good offer on a player like Laughton, which is signaling the fact that they aren't actually rebuilding

We don't what the offer was, rumors is late first #29 and Toronto's 2nd in 2024, 50+.
But that hasn't been confirmed, and a lot of these rumors turn out to be false.

He was 25 OA. Literally a pick the Blues have for sale.

The move is to make now in 2023. The draft is strong. You also have more options. Like you get that late first this year and move up from 22 if someone drops.

If you have 3 1sts for a few years like the Blackhawks have then you’re going to be in a good spot. You are just setting yourself up the best you can.

The young guys need to be away from the old imo. These aren’t other sport players that have socioeconomic issues and risk of gun violence and street racing. At least not as much. I want these young guys to step in and be given an opportunity. We have seen that with Seattle and Vegas. Get people out of the way to see what you really have.

The "young" players in Seattle and Vegas were in their early to mid-20s, i.e., Farabee, Tippett, Frost, Cates, Foerster, types.
Those teams were not lead by a bunch of 19-20 year high draft picks.

 

[Tripod]

Can't believe we are debating the value of keeping Laughton in the 1st year of a "rebuild".....when a 1st and 2nd appear to be on the table.

What f***ed up era is this?

 

[Columbus Hockey Dad]

We don't what the offer was, rumors is late first #29 and Toronto's 2nd in 2024, 50+.
But that hasn't been confirmed, and a lot of these rumors turn out to be false.

Which is more than fair for Laughton and should be acted upon IF you are truly rebuilding.

 

[Rebels57]

At first it was because they weren’t rebuilding. Now we supposedly are rebuilding but still cannot trade him because reasons. This is great an example of how the Flyers truly don’t understand how to run a modern front office. You’re treating a depth player like he’s a major difference maker which still isn’t a great sign for projecting this team going forward if that mindset is still prevalent.

His value is unlikely to ever be higher than it is this season. If he's not moved this summer or by the deadline at the latest, it's a mistake.

Can't believe we are debating the value of keeping Laughton in the 1st year of a "rebuild".....when a 1st and 2nd appear to be on the table.

What f***ed up era is this?

#DarkestTimeline

 

[GKJ]

Yea so they saw a bump. And you’ll get a bump when you’re good. Best way to do that is be bad for awhile, draft well, develop well. If you’re going to be at the 14 OA spot, may as well be at the 3OA spot. No prize for just missing.

The Rangers weren’t bad for a while though. They got Lafreniere making a similar jump that we did.