Photo Credit: NHL.com
Disappointment, frustrated, angry these are some of the words that are used when Flyers fans have described the team for the past few seasons. It was important for Chuck Fletcher to nail the 2023 trade deadline to prove that he is worthy and capable of leading this rebuild, while selling off what appeared to be assets at the time. However, the 2023 trade deadline will not only go down as one of the biggest botches in Flyers trade deadline history, but it has turned out to be the last straw that Flyers can take with Fletcher’s mishaps and verbiages in the past.
There are no more excuses, whether it be Covid, injuries, lack of talent, or no cap space. Yes, they are improved from the year prior (Effort and being tougher to play against), but they have since come down to Earth as a bottom feeder in the league, that’s just reality. What doesn’t help the Flyers top regime are the current successes of the other Philly teams throughout the city and surrounding area, with the likes of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Union.
Chuck Fletcher, while sitting at the podium in Voorhees, NJ explained to us (Media) that he could not find a suitor for a player that has netted more than 300 goals in his career, “I didn’t have any offers at all until about 1:40. I got a call from a team, and they had a concept that if they were able to move a forward off of their team, then they had interest in in acquiring JVR,” Chuck Fletcher said. “We talked about the parameters of what the deal would look like. It made sense from that standpoint, but all along, it was conditional on the other trade going through. Eventually the other deal fell through.”
Yesterday, John Tortorella backed his General Manager, which he should, as he was not around for the verbiages and some excuses that both Fletcher and Dave Scott have spewed over and over again to Flyers fans, “Do you not think he tried to move him? Are you guys kidding me, he tried like hell to move him,” Tortorella said. “I just don’t get the criticism of James being here. Chuck tried, but everyone wants to pile on.”
The most notable verbiages that Tortorella missed are “Aggressive Retool” and issuing “Blank Checks” last Summer. Both of these verbiages were spewed over and over again to Flyers fans BEFORE Tortorella was hired. Nic Deslauriers and re-signing Justin Braun became the black checks (Sarcasm), but he then he re-signed Travis Sanheim to an eight-year deal that kicks in next season with a full no trade clause throughout the first four years of the contract, to a M-NTC for the last four years.
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Before the 2023 trade deadline commenced, Flyers fans were told “We are selling” to which it didn’t transpire. These excuses of non-actions at some point have to catch up with a person, and they finally did for Fletcher. Fans are fed up, and are angry at the lack of action or backing up what has been said time and time again.
Furthermore, using picks to plug holes has been sort of “Fletcher’s Thing” while being the General Manager of the Flyers. For instance, trading Shayne Gostisbehere, along with a second and seventh round picks in 2022 with no return, to only acquire a Gostisbehere back in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes in Tony DeAngelo made little sense. Fletcher sent the Hurricanes three picks: a 2024 second, a 2023 third, and a 2022 fourth to obtain DeAngelo. This was a bit mind boggling while thinking DeAngelo could be a top pairing defenseman in the event Ryan Ellis couldn’t play, when his game screams Forward. These are just a few prime examples of such, but he did the same thing to acquire Rasmus Ristolainen, as well. It just screams lack of creativity on a GM’s behalf.
Fans can only tolerate so much, especially Flyers fans. This organization has preached patience for it feels like the last 10 seasons, with the lone exception beings the 2019-20 season. However, it appears this organization is at rock bottom right now, and fans have lost faith that it can be turned around with Chuck Fletcher leading the way.
Exactly why we did not renew our season tickets.