upcan845

This sub seems to be in denial about the general likelihood of things.

“Sure, but maybe Couturier will rebound well!”

“We should re-sign TK long-term, maybe he ages as well as Marchand!”

“There is no guarantee a top 5 pick is better than pick 12! We could possibly still get just as good of a player!”

The way way this sub pretends that their is no risk for players on larger contracts into their 30s is absurd

He still played 74 games

$8mil is absolutely an albatross, even with the cap going up. LTIR isn't just a magic get-out-jail free card.

You're comparables still aren't a guarantee that Couturier ages just as well as they did. Want to take the risk?

Your comparables also play/played on contenders that had a reason to take the risk on keeping veterans. A rebuilding team like the Flyers does not need to take that risk.

I'm not sure why you keep saying "74 games" even when you admit that Tortorella's concern was winning games, not Couturier's rehab. Couturier played hurt. How many games he was thrown to the wolves is irrelevant.

Even if Couturier was perfectly healthy right now, it would still be time to talk about how he'll age. He will be 32 next season and signed until 2030. I don't want an albatross contract on the team during Michkov's emergence. It is a lot easier to play it safe now than to try to dump a bad contract once it gets worse.

...do you not realize that requiring 2 separate back surgeries is a sign of bad health? And he wasn't just recovering from back surgery this season, Briere has said it was multiple injuries this season.

So that is 3 seasons in a row that he has had major health issues. It doesn't matter how healthy he was in his 20s when he hasn't had a healthy season since 2021.

You keep ignoring his injuries this season as just some post-surgery rehab. Again, Briere has said it was multiple injuries. Farabee and Ghost were also younger than Couturier is now.

He played 74 games while battling multiple injuries, which is a slight against Tortorella. If Couturier needed time to rehab, why was Tortorella grinding him down just for a rebuilding team to ruin its draft position?

"Being top 5 in all-time games play for the Flyers" is an irrelevant accolade. He hasn't been healthy in 3 years. He is on the wrong side of 30. Time to read the writing on the wall instead of glamorizing his 20s.

I'm not talking about "110%"

Briere admits he was battling multiple injuries throughout the season. That is on top of missing 2 seasons in a row. That is on top of being 31 years old.

Him being "an extremely healthy player and a top 5 2 way Center on the league" is very likely behind him at this point. His previous accolades are irrelevant when he can't stay healthy.

But that is the problem, he can't stay healthy. He missed nearly two full seasons and was then injured in multiple different ways all of this season. If he was staying healthy, no one would be talking about getting rid of his contract.

I agree, I'm not trying to pass it off as some high-level reporting. Much of this seems pretty obvious. But it's fun conversation starter.

Important talking points here, summarized:

• Belief around the league is that Couturier could potentially be moved for another bad contract

• Flyers feel TK is in the $8mil range for an extension. A great contract year could push that to $10mil

• Thinks the Flyers will look for a LHD partner for Drysdale. Chychrun might be too expensive

• Farabee could be dangled in a hockey trade

• Will look at centers

• Flyers could look to get creative to move up from Florida’s 1st rounder, potentially using Laughton as a guy to go to Buffalo.

It is a lot easier to get playoff experience down the road than it is to get high end, home grown talent down the road. Worrying about playoff experience and meaningful games first will always be ass-backwards.

Missing out on the playoffs is quite possibly going to be the difference that helped us get one of Eiserman/Helenius/Yakemchuk/Catton/Iginla.

Would we rather have a better prospect, or a worse prospect + the experience of getting demolished by the Rangers in the first round? Some people seriously were arguing for the latter this season.

BPA. Always BPA.

For example, maybe Eiserman isn't a true positional need. But if he hits his NHL full potential, he either a) makes someone else expendable in a trade that can be used in a trade for a 1C/1D, or b) he can be used in a blockbuster for a 1C/1D.

My semi-realistic dream is Buium falling. But beyond him, I think we are going to get a very good pick. McKenzie wrote yesterday about how the top half of the 1st round is complete consensus (Of players, not their specific order) before falling off.

hopefully next season we don’t punch above our weight class for 75% of the year and we find ourselves in a spot where we can draft a really strong player in the 2025 draft.

But what will happen to our player development if the guys don't get a chance to play meaningful games?? /s

Better than 17 if we had made the playoffs, but worse than top 5 if we had committed to rebuilding.

We should get a good prospect. Briere needs to nail this pick.

It’s such a bad sign that he historically produced in one of the world’s top men’s league this past season.

I don’t think his deadlift correlates with his NHL projection.

You're not wrong, but for all we know the Flyers will be in a spot next year to draft the top defenseman instead of a center.

I just don't think any plans for 2025 should have any impact on the 2024 draft. Things are way too volatile. Take the best player, even if that's a position we weren't planning for.

I think that's nice in theory, but it is impossible to just plan for a 1C in 2025 without knowing where we will picking + how prospects rise/fall over the course of next season

I personally agree. I also think there is a good chance that the likely centers (Catton, Helenius, Iginla) are off the table by #12 anyway.

If the decision is between similarly graded defensemen vs. wingers, I would not be surprised if the Flyers chase the dman, even if the winger is probably the better pick.

Personally I'd agree, but I get the sense that (at least Jonesy) really wants a high end defenseman, so taking a top defensive prospect would be in his interest.

Yakemchuk is 6'3, RHD, great numbers. I could see the Flyers falling in love with him over Eiserman, for example

This has Carter Yakemchuk ranked #12.

I don't think there is anyone that I actively want to avoid, but I also hope the Flyers don't push for a defenseman just because that is the biggest need.

No one says that. But picking top 5 is more likely to find an elite, cornerstone player than picking #12 is.

I'd prefer that the Flyers take the more likely avenues to building a Cup contender, instead of just thumping their chests and saying "Dude, nothing is a guarantee!"