Nice breakdown. The #1 need (aside from the goaltending conundrum) is a 1C. Michkov needs to play with someone who can push him to new heights, not keep whiffing on his elite passes. Do what it takes to get that player, and the team will get to the next level.

I started watching this team religiously when Dave Poulin was the captain. We need some high draft picks, relying on the 12-16th pick to be great is a fool’s errand and historically hasn’t worked. Our scouting staff hasn’t shown they can unearth late round hidden gems on a regular basis. Our late round gems seem to have come from pure luck, way more misses than hits and our recent first round draft picks other than MM aren’t looking like stars.

Hi Charlie,
Nice job summarizing the Flyers current situation and putting some context around where they stand and their options. Do you have any thoughts on whether the players could possibly be in “Torts always gets overachievement out of a group, until he doesn’t” over the next year or so (it’s hard to play that way continuously, and he seems to wear on a team after a while)? How might that impact any moves the FO might make?

I don’t see the goaltending to be as critical an issue as you do, Charlie. I agree that the risk of the structure getting undermined by bad goaltending is real – but there is also benefit to letting both Kolosov and Fedotov keep playing. With both of them, a lot of the weak goals that they are letting in seem to be due to lack of familiarity with the NHL game (speed, shot angles, etc – stiff that might improve with more games). FWIW, I think Briere and Jones do have a very good handle on that part and if they think that the benefit of hsving the goalies gain experience is worth the risk, I have no real basis to gainsay that.

As for the big moves – the 2025 deadline that you have brought up is at odds with what team management have repeatedly said (2026 is when they get out of salary cap hell and look to make major moves).

It would be nice to see them get a 1C for Michkov for sure – and also better 2C than Frost for TK (I miss playoff hockey!).

But I am also ok if they start stacking the deck for a big moves in 2026. And so should most fans. By all means go for the playoffs in 2025-2026, but not at the expense of the long term. In other words, they better not make moves just to make fans – and sportswriters – happy.

Charlie – any idea why Andrae is not playing at LV? He hasn’t played since 1/11.

Great article. One question regarding a possible all-in scenario. If the team’s play-driving ability recently continues, and the recent improvements in Drysdale and Zamula are new normals, then if they had a healthier Errson and a better #2/tandem goalie, but the rest of the lineup stayed as is, how many teams in the Eastern Conference would they lose to in a 7-game series? I’d argue probably to Florida and Carolina, maybe (or maybe not) to Tampa, Washington, and NJ. And if Errson stays healthy, meaning they pick between 7 and 13 next draft as you suggest, would it be worth seeing what it would cost to get a reasonable tandem goalie now? What do you see as the downside of giving up a draft pick for such a team need?

Great article. Second Round picks are essentially worthless for a team that needs to acquire another 3 to 4 elite prospects (Michkov being the only one they have). Gotta tank to get a top five pick. Trading Risto for a 1st rounder is a fine move. Eat a small amount of salary to get the first round pick if necessary, or send back a 2nd rounder with the deal and have the buyer eat the full salary plus surrender a first rounder. Let the goalies lose games. Ask Torts to sit upstairs or take a vacation for the rest of the year so there are no more “Torts” wins. He is too good a coach to land them where they need to be, bottom five. They need an elite 1C, an elite 1D, and an elite G. That has to happen soon, or just trade Konecny for a bunch of first rounders and push back the playoff goal a few years. Goal should be a cup, not the playoffs. I agree, Danny needs to act like a real GM this off season and win a trade for an elite young player, and not sure if the cap is there yet, but if so, maybe get an elite in FA the following year. But first round picks are crucial, to either trade up in the first round like Howie does for the Eagles to get elite prospects, or if they come in the top 10 positions of the draft, even better. Picks Picks Picks. Not second rounders. Those are only good as sweeteners to facilitate getting first round picks and studs in trades. But was a fun article, keep this overall GM type articles coming Charlie. Enjoyed it.

Good breakdown Charlie. I agree with getting rid of Risto. I’ll go check the Flyers sub at HF Boards and see what the smartest guys in the room have to say about it (hahahaha).

Danny Brierre, a GM needs to acquire elite talent in order to build a champion. That largely comes from the draft and mostly in the top third, top ten picks, of the first round. With perpetual picks in the mediocre 15 to 30 range, as GM, you cannot sit on your hands and hope you get lucky. You must be aggressive, make trades, move up in the draft’s top 10 or top five, tank a season or two. Learn Brierre. Be a GM, enough sitting on your hands. Take a look at the Phils Dombroski and Eagles Howie Roseman. Meet with them. Study them. Study how to build champs. Your GM works looks very junior at this point, Matt Klentakish. Just look at what Howie has done in the last three years with clever trades and wise picks:
In the last three years, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman formed a nucleus that now consists of Carter, Cam Jurgens, Quinyon Mitchell, Nolan Smith, Cooper DeJean, and Jordan Davis. The year before that, he took DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Milton Williams with successive picks. Jonesy, Get Brierre to start acting like a GM. Make something happen. Get an elite 1C, 1D, and Goalie. Three more studs to go with Michkov. You may have to trade Konecny to get top picks to accomplish this.