Greetings ladies and gentlemen and to the kids in Flyerland! Hope you had a good weekend! So let’s cut to the chase, the Flyers had themselves a poor trade deadline according to the Flyer faithful. I’m here to help you dive in and break it down, hopefully possibly give you fan’s something to think about. Maybe enlighten you a bit, but I highly doubt that!!!!
LET’S GO..
The first trade that had happened. The Flyers traded Isaac Ratcliffe for future considerations to the Nashville Predators. Of course, on deadline day the first trade the Flyers made was acquiring Forward Brendan Lemieux and a 2024 fifth-round pick, in exchange for beloved fan favorite, Zack MacEwen. Some fans were upset about this, but let’s not disappoint. It has become clear that John Tortorella or the front office are seeking “Young Projects.” Lemieux is just the kind of player Tortorella wants, but Lemieux may just be a temporary fixture as they have two wingers in the system revved and ready to go. Also, Lemieux is on an expiring contracts, so he may test free agency in the Summer but who knows? We’ll know when we get there. One game at a time.
The game has changed over the year’s and as a result, so has the physicality but that hasn’t necessarily changed the pace of the game if anything the game has gotten more strategic. Proper stick checking and positioning is vital to the game. Just as it is for the goalie. Players have to be held accountable for their actions, just ask Kevin Hayes, Tony DeAngelo, Travis Sanheim, and Travis Konecny. But, hey they’re on ice, mistakes are bound to happen and sadly momentum can change at a moments notice. Unfortunately, for Joel Farabee he missed the hard rigors of training camp, as well as, the Pre-Season so naturally he’s a little rusty. Farabee also had no chance to work on his game, hence the demotion. But every day is a learning experience, so don’t take it on the chin Joel, you’ll get back in game shape in no time.
Tortorella is looking for players that require adjustments to their game. And to our beloved Flyers fans/media alike who always want quality hockey games let alone big names on the ice, sorry but you aren’t going to be getting that anytime soon and sadly, at the end of the day, this team may or may not be as exciting as you grew up on or are used to seeing. Gone are those days, so in exchange they are working with what they have! This team requires a rebuild, and I think it is long overdue!!
Patrick Brown was also traded. He was shipped off to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The Flyers are lacking draft picks in this year’s draft, so they will have to work within their means this offseason, but I don’t think that it’s a bad thing. With this recent move, Fletcher opens up opportunities for the young and upcoming centermen in Tanner Laczynski and/or Tyson Foerster respectively. And as fans or those in the media, we need to realize that Chuck did that. The GM. Not the assistant coaches or even Tortorella, Chuck effing Fletcher! These are all players that are new to the league persè and want to make an immediate impact. But let’s not forget they’re young and coachable. Just the players we require under the tutelage of our very own coach in Torts. These are all good qualities that successful people or our players, in this case, possess. The desire to succeed and willingness to help out in any way they can. Consistency is another good quality to have because, without it, it would just be messy, wouldn’t it? And that’s all that Torts wants. Is a model of consistency and a good image of the team so when teams come to Wells Fargo, they know who they’re messing with!!!!
And personally, Torts is right. Teams aren’t intimidated by the Philadelphia Flyers brand anymore. I mean even the fans aren’t as rowdy as they used to be, and that’s because the orange and black aren’t winning. This can change that with the right attitude towards the team, a team that may look very different in the Summer. Be loud, be proud, regardless, through the good and the bad. It’s been tough, but it could be so much worse. We can also be respectful about this, as opposed to the in-house fighting fans have done on Social Media.
As for JvR, his deal with the Detroit Red Wings fell through but that’s okay, as he hits free agency this Summer. This could lead to future signings of one of the top up-and-coming wingers/centers.
Some fans just don’t have any patience. Fletcher is doing a good job of shedding the unnecessary players that are signed. Granted the man has made some dumb signings too, but compared to Paul Holmgren or Bobby Clarke, I’d say Chuck Fletcher has done a pretty good job of not going out of the way and not getting unnecessary rentals, or signings that are just often too ridiculous to fathom. Especially in the long run, sure he’s made a few bonehead signings for lengthy terms, but these players need to get paid too. But every General Manager in sports inherits whatever the last GM dealt with before him, so maybe consider that too.
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The Flyers also have a couple talented wingers/centers in Cutter Gauthier and Elliot Desnoyers respectively. Elliot is closer to the NHL level than Cutter is obviously, as Cutter is currently playing for the NCAA’s Boston College Hockey Program. For one more season, Cutter may be staying in college hockey, but we don’t know for sure as the kid hasn’t made up his mind yet! As for Desnoyers, he has been active. Leading the farm team the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in points, he has had a pretty stellar season. Recently called up to play for the big club, the Philadelphia Flyers. Elliot hasn’t made much of an impact just yet, but as a fan of him I can tell you he is an excellent skater and he seems to find the lanes in the offensive zone. Time and patience are key factors in this rebuild, so as fans we should be watching our team with the utmost patience and respect for these young athletes as they will make mistakes. They are also learning the game at an NHL level, so their is a lot to learn as well make room for adjustments. The players themselves have been doing this for year’s yes, but to be consistent and keep your job at the NHL level.. now that’s another story!
It isn’t going to happen overnight with this rebuild obviously, but with the right mindset to have and less complaining from the fans themselves. We are in the same side here, we all want the same thing…to win. That concludes this Monday’s Motivator and just learn to enjoy the ride, see the sunset, smell the spring air, smell some flowers. Cherish the little moments and achievements that this team is doing with the youth infusion. It’s like they say, if you’re going through Hell, keep going!! Have a wonderful week and…
LET’S GO FLYERS
Your nuts!
Fletcher has not done anything right. It will be 10 years to fix the mess he made. I guess you are right about unneccessary rentals. He signed 10 players who are unneccessary to long term deals. His decision making has been horrible.
Patience, year right. They have not won a cup in over a half a century. They have been living off of 2 or 3 deep playoff runs due to luck. They have not been a legitimate contender since lindros.
The have no draft capital or cap space because fletcher is an idiot. The farm is barren except 1 player who may have a chance to be good in gauthier but that is no given either. Desnoyers is at best a 3rd line guy you found in the 5th round.
You are just as out of touch they are.