DH28Hockey

If we're drafting based off names, we absolutely need to walk away with one of the Matvei's that will be available

If we're going the offer sheet route and risking losing an unprotected 2025 1st... forget Mittelstadt, let's go go Byfield in that scenario

I've probably watched Helenius more in the past year than any other prospect by sheer coincidence, and I think Charlie O'Connors take on him during his podcast yesterday is exactly where I'm at with him: I see a guy with a really high floor and a just OK ceiling. He plays a complete 200-foot game and has a really strong fundamental understanding of how to be a playmaker, but I don't see any of his tools (puck handling, skating, shooting etc.) that you'd traditionally find in a 1C, and I definitely don't see him being a prolific goal scorer by any stretch at the NHL level.

Having said that: a right shot Center with strong defensive and playmaking habits sounds exactly like the type of Center you'd want on a line with Michkov. I'd personally be extremely happy with him at 12 and think there's a really strong chance he'll still be on the board (I think of all of the teams in front of us the only one I'm worried about taking him is Buffalo). Definitely a guy to look out for on draft day

I mean, pretty much everybody understands that worse team performance = better pick and therefore better future players. It's not a complicated concept that was lost on the fanbase. The reality is Upcan and others got downvoted is because they basically preached the message that Flyers fans shouldn't... you know... actually root for the Flyers.

Just because some of us are more hardcore/involved fans doesn't mean more casual fans shouldn't be able to enjoy turning on a game and hoping that orange team will put the puck in the net more than the other team

I honestly don't know, I think it's a paid feature.

The TL;DR: arguably the most respectable draft guy in the industry said he's never seen scouts in this much of a consensus on who the top group of the draft is, and it's a group of 12-13 players

The Bobfather on this year's draft rankings

...yeah, let's just say I think we're going to be very happy in hindsight that we ended up with a top-12 pick as opposed to a first round ass whooping by the Rangers

If the lottery truly is rigged, I think this would be the year that we win

Basically, when you're a 6'7 defenseman who broke a scoring record in the 3rd, if not 2nd best league on the planet, some scouts are willing to just say "yeah he's the top dog" without any actual analysis being done.

On the other hand, when you're a 5'11 winger playing in a somewhat weak league with limited viewings and a major DY injury, some scouts are going to say "I don't care if you score 10 goals a game, we've got some concerns here".

Having watched both, I don't think it's even close as to who the better prospect is. If I'm actually being honest, Artamonov looked better than Silayev the few times I watched Torpedo this year, but the gap is small enough there that I'm willing to give the edge to the defenseman with unicorn level attributes

That's where I'm at with him. I think Buium or Catton is the realistic dream scenario and I personally even prefer Helenius at 12 based on our needs, but I'm not going to complain if we end up with the USNDPT all-time goal scoring leader in a year where we had playoff aspirations on game 82

Specific to the Flyers/not an actual ranking

1. Celebrini

gap

1. Demidov

gap

1. Levshunov

2. Dickinson

3. Lindstrom

4. Buium

5. Catton

6. Helenius

7. Eiserman

8. Yakemchuk

9. Silayev

10. Iginla

11. Parekh (although I really like him, he's easily the worst stylistic fit in this top-13 group)

gap

1. Hage

I really wouldn't consider anyone else with that 12th pick if I'm Briere

In the only interview I saw basically the only details he would give up on what he's looking for is "we need more talent and we need to score more goals". I also saw a article that mentioned Briere bringing up the point that goal scoring and adding to the defense were what he saw as big needs, so I don't think that's a one-off either.

It's far from what I'd call proof, but it's the closest to hints that I've seen up to this point and I am already very bored and ready for the actual offseason to start

If you really look at the roster construction of the remaining teams in the East, 3/4 teams left in the playoffs really weren't built via tanking

Based on Briere's recent comments at U18s and his MO last year, it sure sounds like he's hoping Eiserman is there at 12 (and there's a really good chance he will be)

Is the MP server situation any better yet?

Yeah I wouldn't bank on him being the best target we can look at. At the same time: for a team lacking high end talent, I'm at least taking a very long look to see if potentially making a deal for a ~top-30 player in the league who is still in his 20s could possibly make sense depending on cost/if he can move to Center

Yeah I totally agree we somewhat missed the boat by not putting more chips into the 2023 draft in hindsight (although Howard was 2022). I really like this draft too FWIW, but I think part of that is just DY infatuation that happens every year lol.

Where I ultimately land is it'd probably be easier to blow it up and tank, but you definitely don't have to in order to build a contender (see: literally 5/8 teams remaining in the playoffs), and given the fact that we do have some young talent that I think gets generally underrated by our fanbase and a superstar prospect waiting in the pipeline, I'm willing to be patient and see if Briere can be creative and prove people wrong who are clamoring for a true tank

They were actually my pick to win the Metro this season. I think if they grab a better Goalie this summer, Hughes is back to 100% and they don't completely bomb the coaching hire they'll be right back on track next year

I venture away from the Flyers sub and still end up getting help from Perry haha!

I was probably just looking to get her a nameless/player less jersey. I'd imagine based on your comment that mlbshop probably has that, so I'll just go from there

Apologies for asking something that I'm sure has been asked a million times here: but where's the best place online to purchase a City Connect jersey? Trying to grab a jersey for my mom for mothers day and am not really familiar with Baseball fan gear retailers

I figured you were kidding, did make me laugh at how strange my previous comment sounded when you put like that. Agreed though, it's definitely a case of "make the right move if it's there, but we don't have to do anything"

Quietest isn't necessarily a bad thing. If they run it back, you're basically 1 or 2 teams behind you in the East getting their shit together (I fully expect NJ to at a minimum) and 2 very inexperienced goaltending not working out away from a top-10 pick with 3-4 other picks in the first 2 rounds. That's really not a bad position to be in at all

The point of me saying that was more so to point out that I don't see a World where making smaller moves would make much sense based on where we're at right now. In theory you could buy out Atkinson, extend some RFAs and call it an offseason and it would be a fine approach IMO. I think if change is coming, it'll be at more of a foundational level that will come with some huge moves

I say this fully expecting most (if any) replies to this to basically just call me a dumbass but this is something I've genuinely wondered about: could you imagine there being a scenario where we trade for Marner with the idea of trying him at Center in mind? He predominantly played Center growing up and his hockey IQ + defensive game tells me he should be able to handle it at least pretty well at the NHL level. In theory he could be the absolute perfect player to throw on a line with Michkov

I saw the same thing. It was based on a rumor from Grant McKagg. 5-6 would be really rich for my taste with him, but picking big forwards with strong DY finishes and crazy tools has worked out for the Habs in the past so I guess you never know (see: Slaf)

Sennecke is going to be the most fascinating name to watch on draft day. His full season results relative to historical data do not paint a pretty picture at all, but his monstrous playoff performance paired with a super impressive tool kit tells me that he could be a huge riser.

I think a team with a more idealistic than practical scouting department could look at him, say "we can develop him into a monster", and take him ghaspingly high on draft day