“The smart money is still on Luchanko getting sent back eventually.”

Random pointless comment but I think this sentence should instead be that “Luchanko getting sent back eventually is still the betting favorite.” or something like that. Smart money being on this outcome says nothing about whether it’s the favorite or the underdog, but instead that there’s some edge to betting this outcome as compared to where the odds have it. Unless this sentence is meant to imply that fans are expecting the 9 game tryout more than is warranted and the less popular outcome is more likely than its popularity implies.

Anyway, I’m dumb money and betting on Luchanko. Love what I’m hearing about his work ethical, skating, and general fitness level. I feel like that’s a player who can handle the challenge of being in a checking role while learning and developing into a skill role.

The Tort quote about age highlighted something that stood out to me as well – Attard, Zamula, Ginning: if at the age of 25, they still havent become full time pros, then they are fringe NHLers / bottom of the lineup players. Something to care about if you are a contender looking to fill up holes at the bottom of your roster, but not particularly relevant to the Flyers future.

The one exception being if one of them can replace Risto as a 3rd paring D-man and allow the Flyers to trade him.