The last table here is the thing that really hold me back from fully buying into all these numbers that are out there. When the gap between the expected & the actual is that large for some guys it makes me question what the expected formula is & how valuable that number is. Like the Tippett chance from the end of the Leafs game probably had a very high expect goal attached. I do agree that if given a lot of chance Tippett probably hits the net a large majority of the time, but the Flyers don’t get a lot of chances they get one. I know the goaltending is the biggest issue currently but long term I think their ability to turn possession & chances into actual real goals is even bigger.

Accidental tank is the best kind of tank, and we need more high end talent.

It does seem like the best way to re-talent the Flyers while building team culture IS to have poor goaltending.
I suspect that isn’t what Briere and Jones drew up, but it may work out for them that way

I can’t help wonder if continuing to ‘outplay’ teams of Toronto’s ilk and failing to collect wins will eventually wear on the psyche of the skaters and result in a 2nd half deterioration of play.

As a fan, I do think that this is actually the idea scenario for the Flyers, atleast for now – continue to build structure, continue to develop the young ‘uns but lose due to goal-tending. Obviously, 2 caveats:
– the goaltending will need to be fixed at some point
– as mentioned, hopefully it doesn’t affect the psyche of the team. Competitive athletes dont like to lose, and it’s hard to play the hard Torts system when you aren’t as motivated.

I kinda get the bitterness of the people who are still having a hissy fit because the Flyers aren’t tanking (I dont think that mindset makes any sense, but I understand where they are coming from, atleast). What I dont get is the people who are complaining about losses now or the Flyers not “doing anything”. What part of “rebuilding requires patience” and “they have no cap space thanks to Fletch” is so confusing? Then they wonder why the Flyers have historically chosen the short term band-aid over long term team building.

As an aside, I thought Fedotov didn’t have a bad game against Toronto. He did make a couple of big-time saves and while he could have stopped the Tavares shot, it wasn’t a super soft goal: that was a crazy hard angle to take, especially with a defender trying to block that side of the goal.

An no mention of putrid power play?

Great article as always, thanks Charlie.

It’s undoubtedly true that the goaltending has been poor and is dragging the team down this year. I think it’s worth remembering however just how young/inexperienced Kolosov and Fedotov are. They each should have spent at least a full season in the AHL before being thrust into the big leagues. And even Ersson was thrust into being a number one goalie before he’d earned it or was ready for it (and is still only 25). It can’t be understated how destructive the loss of Carter Hart was in terms of the organizational development of goaltenders. I still think despite the current play in the ice that goaltending is actually an organizational strength in terms of prospect depth. Briere’s inability or unwillingness to get a serviceable veteran goalie to stabilize things is glaring.

Fantastic piece Charlie – this is why I pay for premium.

If they were truly interested in making the playoffs, the move should have been for Fluery a month ago. He is the back up in Minnie and we probably could have got him for a fair deal. Just my two cents. I don’t think the Rangers would move Quick within the division. Both options are short term help for sure. Pending list of goalie UFA’s next year is not great. Even if we drafted 3 goalies in the first round (sarcasm) this year, they are 4 years away from the NHL. We have Carter Bjarssen coming but no guarantee he will be a starter either. To think we are in the state we are because someone thought it was a good idea to have 20 nineteen year old kids attend an unchaperoned golf tournament is crazy.

The Flyers are going about this rebuild all wrong. Anyone who studies sports knows the way to rebuild a franchise into a champion, from either mediocrity or the basement, is to go get the pillars, the tentpoles, the key superstars first, then fill in around the edges. But not just any superstars. A franchise needs superstars with snarl and skill, with strength, size, smarts, leadership ability, to “lead” the franchise to success. Case in point is the Phils. Harper and Wheeler. They are the key superstars. Result: one World Series appearance and multiple playoff runs. But here is the key. The franchise must be willing to overpay to acquire those pillars. In the case of Phils it was money. But look at the Eagles. In their case it was trading up for top draft pick positions to get Carter and Devonta Smith, along with overpaying in $ for Barkley, and a trade for Brown. Pillars. The guys who speak up or lead by example, with top shelf elite skill. Who do the Flyers have as pillars? Nobody. Konecny is along the lines of Phil’s Nola. Good solid support for an elite pillar but is not a pillar. Michkov may end up being a depth pillar in a few year, or maybe just another Konecny, but is not a pillar. How did the Flyers rebuild their franchise in the past with success? They went out and got the elite leaders to take them to the cup. Clarke and Bernie Parent. Howe, Lindros and LeClair, Hextall, these were leaders with skill.
For the past decade, Flyers have not had enough pillars. Maybe Giroux, but they need a Limieuz, an Ovechkin, a Crosby, a Stud to build around. Danny Briere needs to go out and overpay in a trade to land a stud young pillar to set this rebuild in the right direction. They also need to tank for a couple of years to get top five picks, or do what Howie Roseman does, trade into the top five or top ten to go get studs. Torts is not the right coach at this time. You want Torts after the talent is acquired, not before or during. He is too good a coach and they will always land in area 15 to 25 in the draft with him as the coach.
Key needs: A stud young goalie, a stud center, and a stud defenseman. They do not have any of these. Build by acquiring three all-star elites for these three spots. Overpay in money and trades players for player, and trading up in the draft, but acquire them first. Then build around the edges with the draft picks from spots 15 to 25, or marginal trades or signings, after they get these three key players. Its time for a fresh approach used throughout sports and throughout the Flyers own past. The current approach is a waste of time.