Steve and Quigs talk about how the Philadelphia Flyers fell off a cliff in the month of January. The guys express their frustration with what looks to be another lost season, discussing what needs to change and the leadership of veterans like Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. The guys also talk about potential trade targets at center, including Elias Pettersson, Shane Wright, and Robert Thomas.
#nhl #hockey #flyers #letsgoflyers #philadelphia #sports #philadelphiaflyers
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0:00
Fly. [music]
0:15
Oh baby, we are back.
0:20
Yeah, let's go. Here we are. A new flyerbo. Maybe our second of the year. I
0:26
haven't even paid attention. I don't know. I'm a busy man. You're a busy man. You've got like
0:32
killer allergies coming up out of nowhere and you got to like do AI images of you in like Cowboys jerseys and [Β __Β ]
0:38
I don't know what's going on with your Are you okay? First things first. First things first, let me explain. Let me just get to the
0:45
bottom of this. The worst image I've ever seen. It was AI generated. It wasn't even real. So like
0:50
number one, that makes it worse in my opinion because you know AI's the devil. It is the devil. So and I didn't make it
0:56
either. One of my friends made it. But basically, we're in a fantasy football league together. I came in last cuz I I
1:01
suck at fantasy football. I am not good at fantasy football at all. Fantasy hockey, I'm a god. Fantasy football,
1:08
trash. So, I had I had two leagues. I came in last in one and second in the other. So,
1:14
wow. Okay. Yeah. The duality of your fantasy football league. Yeah. I'm blaming Lamar Jackson. I came
1:20
in last place and we were all trying to discuss what the penalty would be and then someone came up with the idea of
1:25
like you need to wear a Cowboys jersey and I was like you buying that because I ain't buying that. There's no way. And
1:32
uh they basically were like, "All right, instead we'll like make a photo of an
1:37
image of you wearing a Cowboys jersey and you have to post it on your IG for 24 hours." And then when you
1:45
delete it, that's when you can tell everyone, okay, hey, like if you're curious why I did that, this is why. So
1:51
yeah, that's what happened there. Um and I left one comment on it and I just said, "You're fired."
1:57
Yeah, I saw that. Yeah, clearly I wasn't allowed to respond to anyone. So, um,
2:02
and then in terms of allergies, I have gotten a new bottle of Flonese. So, [Β __Β ] I am back and ready to [Β __Β ]
2:09
There you go. There you go. Fllonise is a magical magical substance right there. I do love
2:14
It's the best allergy medicine. It's It's not an anti-histamine, so like you're I don't know. It's like
2:20
it goes in and it flushes everything. It's wonderful. It's wonderful. Yeah, it's absolutely wonderful. Uh, yeah.
2:25
Well, good. I'm glad you're back and I'm glad you're not in a Cowboys jersey. So, fantastic. You know, You see, the
2:32
penalty should have to be that you listen to a full Cole Beasley album [laughter]
2:38
in its entirety. United Hate of America. United Hate of America. 80s Stings. All the greatest. We haven't mentioned the
2:44
Beaser. He's not the Beaser. That's John Van Beastro. And he's a a racist. So, no, there's no good bezers. There's no
2:51
good bezers. Joel Faraby. Uh I never liked the Beaser nickname for him. And also, he's a Calgary flame now, so who
2:56
cares? But uh Cole Beasley used to be a flyerbo staple. We have not brought him
3:02
up in a while. Been a while. And there's a reason because he sucks. But it's one
3:08
of my favorite references because United Hate of America is so faking funny as a
3:13
title. Well, I want to get there's so much I want to get into. I mean, I don't
3:19
even know if we're going to get to talk on the fact that there's an image out there of Guy Fietti looking like a normal person that's probably teasing a
3:26
Super Bowl ad. I guess we'll see. I don't even think we have time to get into that because there's so much [Β __Β ] with the Philadelphia Flyers to
3:33
get into. I wanted to I'm kind of on just completely off that topic before we
3:39
really got into stuff. I did want to say a few words about a a really horrible
3:44
thing that happened this week and that was the passing of Dan Mcuade who if
3:50
you've been around on like Philly Twitter, Philly Blue Sky, just the
3:56
Philly sports scene in general or even Philadelphia in general, you probably have heard of Dan McQuade. Uh it's DHM
4:02
on Twitter. He is just a guy who he's been like a staple of the Philadelphia
4:08
online community and one of those guys who just got Philly in a way that few
4:13
other people have. You know, Dan wrote for Philly Mag. He wrote for uh Dead Spin before it turned into Scab Zombie
4:20
Dead uh Dead Spin. And he wrote for Defector and just an amazingly talented
4:26
guy. passed away earlier this week at the age of 43, which shook me to my core
4:32
as somebody right around that age. And it's such a bummer because like I I knew
4:38
Dan. I didn't get to hang out with him as much as a lot of people I know, but like the times I did were great times.
4:44
Like we went to I just remember a couple times I got to go to Oscars with him. Um
4:50
Philly Kelly, who's uh one of the the other Twitter staples from back in the day. I'm talking some old school Twitter
4:56
right here. But uh I don't know, Quigs, I know you're you're newer to the city of Philadelphia, but are you familiar with Oscars at all?
5:02
No, I haven't heard of that place. Oscars is such a glorious Philadelphia dive bar staple. It's right in the
5:10
center of Center City, like the heart of Center City. It's over on like Sansom Street near like 15th. And it's one of
5:17
those places that is so quintessentially Philadelphia because everybody goes there, all walks of life. You get the
5:23
lawyers, you get the businessmen, you get the scumbags, you get the average Joe's, everybody goes to Oscars, and
5:31
it's great. Uh, Oscars was notable for having I don't know what the specials
5:36
are now, but back in the day, you got a a very tall Yangling for like four bucks
5:42
or something like that. It was basically like a double beer and it was great. I mean, Yangling is not my favorite, but
5:48
you know what? I number one, when you're broke, a tall beer for four bucks is fantastic. Yeah. Number two, it's all
5:54
about the vibes and Oscars had fantastic vibes. It has fantastic vibes. But
6:00
Dan would go there frequently for happy hour. I He had a table. He had a whole setup. I went in, I got a couple free
6:07
shots the one time. Awesome time. just such a cool, fun guy to hang out with,
6:13
but also just like a genuinely great guy and and such a fantastic writer. Like
6:18
you might know him, I think he's probably best known for either the Wildwood Boardwalk t-shirt articles that
6:24
he put out every year where he'd run down the new Wildwood t-shirts that the
6:29
the Wildwood Boardwalk is infamous for just the dumbest, worst, hilariously bad t-shirts. and McUade would find the best
6:36
of them and publish it over on whatever site he was writing for. And I I know a lot of people know him for that. Uh, a
6:43
lot of people also know him for he wrote a great article, I believe it was on Philly Mag, where he was talking about
6:49
how insane Rocky's training route from Rocky 2 is because Rocky basically runs
6:56
over the entire city of Philadelphia in a way that makes zero sense. So, and now
7:02
they do a race around it. they do this like Rocky run and it's like very long
7:08
and [laughter] it's all because he wrote this article and it's it's such a good one. Uh please go check it out um if you haven't
7:15
already. But he just was so talented. He wrote so many great things and also just a great knowledge of of Philly sports
7:22
knowledge and weird Philadelphia stuff, just chronicling that stuff. Uh and it
7:28
just, you know, he's a guy that I think we're all going to really miss. It really shocked a lot of people. Uh, I
7:34
was really happy to see that the Sixers held a moment of silence for him before their game last night and the Flyers had
7:40
a little tribute at the beginning of their broadcast last night. That was really cool to see and I I didn't expect
7:45
it. So, it took me back and it really just a guy that's going to be missed and
7:51
you know, we the man was Philly and we lost a piece of our soul this week. So, you know, rest in peace Dan and uh we
7:58
will keep thinking about you and uh pay tribute to you as best as we can. Yeah, I'm I'm personally not familiar
8:05
with a ton of Dan's work. Obviously, I'm still pretty new to Philly, but um it definitely feels like he has touched a
8:11
lot of Philly sports fans lives and really just Philadelphiaian's lives in general and it's sad, especially at that
8:18
age, you know, like it's it's just a you hate hearing that stuff. And so, um
8:23
yeah, it's it's a shame to hear that, but um you know, it seems like he left
8:28
behind a pretty pretty cool legacy. So that's that's that's pretty cool. I guess
8:33
it is really cool and that's he's such a great example for taking advantage of the time you have and like really living
8:40
life to the fullest. And I I really feel like he lived life to the fullest and he made some great work and uh just an
8:46
awesome guy. So you know, rest in peace, Dan. We will definitely miss you. [sighs] Well, now we got to talk about the
8:52
Flyers, which is just not something I would rather not. Nobody wants to talk about the Flyers. I think we should just end the podcast
8:59
now. We could just end the podcast now. That's not a very, you know, inspir
9:05
weird place to end the podcast, but Oh, yeah, it would be. We're not going to. We're going to talk
9:11
it out. And I've had to do a lot of very overreactionary like postgame reactions
9:17
for stuff because I do a ton of post games for PHLY now. But it's a different vibe when I can come
9:24
and I can talk this out with you without the heat of just seeing a bad
9:29
loss. I I with a clearer head with an eye for the future, you know? Like it's
9:34
it's good to be able to talk about it in this regard as opposed to like in the heat. Like, don't get me wrong, I love
9:41
doing the post games, but like it's a different vibe entirely. And especially after some of the losses they've had
9:47
recently, it's a very frustrated vibe. But, you know, I'm sure our our fine
9:53
sponsors over at FanDuel, who the show is presented by, are are loving this right now. But, we can't control the
9:59
vibes. We can't control the team. We control the team. They would have won a million Stanley Cups, but we can't control the team. So, they've won zero
10:05
since 1975. That's where we're at. And they definitely we already knew they weren't
10:11
winning it this year, but it has been very much reinforced over the past month of Flyers hockey. So, let me run this
10:18
down for you. Let me run this past month down for you. So, in their last 10 games, the Flyers are 27 and one.
10:27
Awesome. Awesome. In the month of January, they are 48 and two. They're 10 points out of
10:34
a wild card spot. They're eight points out of the three spot in the Metro. So coming into this week, they were only a
10:40
couple points behind the Islanders. So they were in the hunt still coming into this week. And now they are very much in
10:48
the rearview mirror. It's looking real bad all of a sudden. And it's one of those things that is probably for the
10:55
best. It's they're very much improved. They are who we thought they were, but
11:00
it's super depressing because this team was playing really good hockey for a couple months. It was a team that we did
11:06
have very low aspirations about maybe making the playoffs, but it was something, you know, it was something to
11:11
hope for and it has been washed away over these past few weeks. So, they start the month right. They start the
11:18
month great. 5-2 wins over the Oilers and the Ducks. It's looking great. We're feeling good. We had a great time
11:24
watching that Oilers game. We went over to the Triangle Tavern. Awesome time. We ran into a a broad street hockey
11:30
follower who had actually won a TK jersey and was wearing his TK jersey at the bar.
11:35
So cool to see. And then the Ducks game, they go and they beat up on the Ducks.
11:41
Yeah, they beat that ass. Cutter Goautier went home crying again. It was awesome. And then since then they had
11:48
back-to-back blowout losses at home against the Lightning. Embarrassing, right? But the Lightning really
11:53
It's the Lightning. It's okay. It's the Lightning. It's whatever. But then that's when it goes really ary because
12:00
they had disastrous losses after that because if they had beaten any of the Penguins, any two of the Penguins,
12:07
Sabres, and Rangers would have been okay. They lose to all three. And the Rangers are so bad that Chris
12:15
the letter part two. Chris Drury sent a letter saying we give
12:20
up. It was basically a white flag saying, "Yep, it ain't happening. We're going to sell. So long. You guys deserve
12:28
better. So they lose to the Rangers like the day after that letter sent. So pretty hilariously bad. So we're feeling
12:35
bad. And then they went on a West Coast trip or not even the West Coast, like mountain time trip. And we're like, "All
12:40
right, this doesn't look good." They played Vegas, Utah, and Colorado. Like this looks real bad. They could get
12:47
buried this week. They had a great trip. Uh two out of three ain't bad. They
12:52
should have won all three. Yeah, they should have been. Travis Kknney single-handedly lifts the team. Well, I would say Sam
12:59
Harrison. That's the one game I have to give Sam Harrison credit for. Yeah. But TK and Sammy Harrison go and they
13:06
get that 2-1 victory over Vegas. Fantastic. They blow a lead against Utah. They
13:11
still get a loser point, but it's at least progress in the right direction. They were dominating that game. They
13:16
should have won that game. a hilarious series of errors involving an empty net and Travis Sanheim having the worst play
13:24
of his entire maybe career um lead to them blowing that game. But they do get the loser point. Then they blow away the
13:31
Colorado Avalanche. Second regulation loss at home for the Avalanche.
13:37
What? How does that happen? So they come into this week and all right, all right,
13:42
they got a little momentum. They got a little bit of their mojo mojo back. Danville Dar's coming back. Maybe we're
13:48
looking good. They play the Islanders. They play the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins. All teams around them
13:54
in the standings. Winnable games. Winnable games. All winnable games. All games that if
14:00
they win, they're back at a playoff spot. They're looking good again. And what do they do? They [Β __Β ] the bed on
14:07
every one of them. They get shut out by the Islanders four to nothing. They lose
14:13
five to three to the Columbus Blue Jackets. And don't get me wrong, the Blue Jackets are only they at that point
14:20
they were only a couple points behind the Flyers. So, it's not like it was a night and day difference between them,
14:25
but that's a game you got to win. You got to win it at that point. You absolutely have to. And then Boston last
14:31
night, the Flyers lose six to three. And it was just a game that the Flyers
14:37
outshot the Bruins the But it didn't feel like the Flyers had any business even being that close in the game.
14:44
Yeah. So, we now find ourselves yet again at the point where you're like, "This
14:52
[Β __Β ] team, man." Like, you basically, we signed on today and you're like, "I don't want to talk about this team."
14:57
Steve, I'm just going to be honest. like, you know, I I haven't felt this apathetic about the Flyers since I
15:04
started watching hockey. I'm just so I'm just so over it. I'm so over the
15:14
perpetual mediocrity. It's so defeating.
15:19
Year after year, game after game, it's the same. It's the same old song and dance. Aerosmith.
15:26
Where's Where's Where's uh what the hell's his name? Steve. What? Stephen Tyler. Steven Tyler.
15:31
Stephen Tyler. It's just, you know, they started off the year so strong. And
15:38
we saw this something very similar a couple years ago, the second torch season. They they were great through the
15:43
first half. They were so good. And then things it [Β __Β ] just hit the fan and they
15:49
crumble in the second half of the season. And that's exactly what's happening again. And again, they don't
15:56
have the talent to to put any everything together. And like listen, credit to TK,
16:01
credit to Travis Kne, he's been playing great lately. Um would love if he was a
16:07
little bit more consistent because he can be pretty hit or miss, but you know,
16:12
credit where it's due. He's been fantastic lately. Now the Flyers leader in points on the
16:18
team. It's funny because in the first quarter of the season, people were giving him a lot of crap. People were
16:25
basically like blaming Travis Kknney for the Flyers issues and like they weren't
16:31
having that many issues at that point. The team was actually playing really well and Trevor Ziggress in particular
16:36
was playing really well. And it was funny because I looked at it and at that point TK was only a couple points behind
16:42
Zegris and everybody was acting like Zegris was God and Travis Kenkne was just utter [Β __Β ] And then Travis
16:49
Connectnne now is the guy on top for the points. Uh he's been the one guy over
16:54
the past like two weeks of Flyers hockey that has been consistently going out there and putting forth a good effort.
17:01
He's been scoring goals. He has just been trying to will this team to win and the rest of them just ain't doing it.
17:08
And I don't know, there's so many things to break down as far as what the issue is, but I think the one thing we can say
17:15
is it ain't Travis Conknney. No, it's not Travis. There's a like you said,
17:20
there's a million things, but like you know, he's been good. Dan Vadar, when he's healthy, he's been great. I mean,
17:25
the the game against uh uh who was it a couple nights ago? Um Columbus, TK and
17:32
Dan Vadar were spectacular. Like TK scores every goal for the Flyers. He gets a hat-tick. Uh Dan Vadar makes two
17:40
of the most insane saves any goalie will make all year long. like in the same
17:46
night. It was incredible. He was absolutely fantastic. And his first game back from injury and then they totally
17:53
[Β __Β ] the bed again as we're used to them doing. Travis Sanheim, just like you mentioned, just gets absolutely worked
18:00
on that goal. Um, and it's just, you know, excuse me, I'm I'm sorry, I'm
18:05
thinking of the Utah game, but you're just mixing up all the bad games. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, there's so much bad.
18:11
Yeah. It's easy to get it all mixed up. And like Steve, it's just I'm I'm just I've
18:16
had it. I've had it, man. Like, and listen, I'm going to keep watching the games. I'm going to keep rooting for the Flyers. Like, there's no way I'm going
18:22
to just like abandon ship. That's not how I roll. But like, it's how can you
18:28
be enthusiastic about this team right now? It listen, it's the season's not over, right? Like, it is possible that
18:35
they could go on a heater and claw their way back into playoff contention. Am I
18:41
expecting that? No. Is that likely? Abso fuckingutely not. Like, it's just not
18:47
that's not gonna happen. We've seen this movie so many times. We know what's going to happen. We're all bringing out
18:53
Tankathon. Like, we're all like hoping to get some sort of top 10 pick. Hopefully top five. Like, maybe they get
19:00
McKenna. Who the hell knows? But like, you know, it even if that happens, people won't be happy because he's a
19:06
goddamn winger. It's a [Β __Β ] drama soap opera. Steve, this whole [Β __Β ]
19:11
thing, it's just my god, I've I've had it. It is so funny to me because I, as you
19:18
know, I've been doing this quite a while at this point to see when people hit their breaking points with this
19:24
iteration of the team because it seems like it hits people at different times. I feel like mine really hit in the Tony
19:30
D'Angelo, uh, you know, Nick Delore off seasonason. That one really got me. But
19:37
everybody kind of breaks at some point because that you have to because the
19:42
perpetual mediocrity, the uh just blunders, the errors, and it doesn't matter who the coach is, it seems like
19:48
it's going to happen. And I don't know how to fix it. They talk, you know, I it's funny because like I haven't been
19:54
as online as I used to be because I'm not on Twitter. Uh I'm mainly I, you
20:00
know, I do Blue Sky and I I don't do it as much as I used to do Twitter because I kind of broke the addiction, which is great. Uh, and it doesn't have as big a
20:06
hockey community. There are some great pe people on there that I do love talking puck with, but um, it doesn't have the same sheer number of people as
20:14
Twitter had. Uh, but it's good for mentally because I'm missing out on some just scorching hot takes that people
20:19
have. And apparently culture is back in the conversation as far as like, oh, see
20:24
what they did with the culture. And you know, I'm going to get into this conversation with Shan Couttoriier in a few minutes because I think that's an
20:31
interesting and a big part of, you know, I think the the struggles here and the
20:37
um attempt to turn the corner and change this team. But it's it's just so funny
20:43
because like they did try the culture thing with John Tortoella. That's when the culture thing was the big conversation there. They've tried to
20:50
change a few things but they just keep getting the same mediocre, you know,
20:55
just results out of this team and it's frustrating because you do just watch
21:00
the same [Β __Β ] different year and I just at this point I'm kind of feeling more
21:07
and it part of this might be just having to do the sheer number of post games that I've been doing but for me I'm just
21:13
like okay I guess they just they fooled us for a couple months But they've
21:19
resorted back to the mean. And in a lot of ways, it's better that they just don't get into the play. Like we said
21:25
this two years ago, too, where it's like when they just missed the playoffs, like, yeah, it's probably better they didn't make the playoffs so that they
21:31
get a better draft pick. Like I I went on a rant the other night where I I talked about how sick I am of hearing
21:38
about draft picks. Like, I hate knowing draft picks. Like, I I hate doing research on them. I like the days when
21:45
they would just trade the pick and I didn't have to think about it because they take these wild swings and you watch teams like Vegas, you take these
21:51
big swings. I've got a list of guys I'd love for them to take big swings on that I if we have time I'd love to talk
21:57
about. I'm not sure we're going to get to talk about it because there's so many just bad rotten things to talk about.
22:02
But I miss when this team did have the capability of taking these big swings
22:08
and made the playoffs routinely and we didn't just have to talk about this team being in the the 20 to 15 range as far
22:17
as the NHL standings go and just watching what has happened over the past three
22:23
weeks. It's like it's hard to point to one specific thing as the problem, but
22:29
there's definitely like a multitude of issues. But it it it the main thing is it sucks. It sucks to watch this every
22:37
year. At some point it just feels like even if they're doing good, the you know
22:42
Lucy's going to pull the football away from Charlie Brown. That's what it is. And if you know that's the hardest part is we got a
22:49
taste of what a competitive hockey team looked like earlier on in the season. They were legitimately good. Like really
22:55
really good. Um, they were I mean at one point they I think they had like the fourth best points percentage in the
23:01
entire league. Like they were a crush team and now they look like a shell of
23:07
that team. They look like the same old Flyers that we've known since the Chuck Fletcher days basically. And it's just
23:16
it's it's so frustrating. And I'm at the
23:21
point now where it's just like listen man like they've tried to shake things up. They've tried, they've tried, you
23:27
know, they traded Joel Farby, they traded Morgan Frost, they've, you know, they've made some moves.
23:33
I don't care, man. You got to start, you got to shake it up more. You got to shake it up more because it's not working. And we're hearing reports of
23:40
the locker room like it's super tight-knit and everything, but like guys are like they're not holding each each
23:45
other accountable. Something's got to change. What's going to like
23:51
So, what do you think? What do you think needs to change? Is there anything in particular you you really think needs to change here?
23:57
I mean, listen, they've been changing the coaches. They've been changing the general managers and it's been the same
24:03
result for 10 years, a decade. So, what is the roster is different like the only guy that's not different and
24:10
maybe this is part of it is Sean Couttori before this is a perfect transition to Couttoriier, but I do have
24:17
my due diligence to do here. And you know, Travis Connectney has also been here for a good portion of that. Yeah.
24:23
And I don't really think he's a guy to blame for this because I think he's fiery. I think he's a good leader. I
24:29
think he's been consistently good for this team. You can make an argument all day about whether they should have
24:34
traded him before they resigned him. But Travis Kney is a guy who consistently performs for this team. And I got to
24:40
say, Travis Kenkne, if there's one guy I am looking to, you're going to place a little bit of action this weekend on uh
24:46
old FanDuel in the game against the LA Kings. Travis Kenkne for an anytime goal
24:51
is plus 235. So, I like that a lot. Travis Kenki is the one guy producing
24:56
right now. Head on over to FanDuel. 235 odds for a TK goal. That'll net you a
25:01
few bucks. Go on and get that. But yeah, Sean Couttoriier has been a guy that
25:08
he's been bad for sure, but I didn't quite I wasn't pinning this all on him.
25:16
And it wasn't because I've been so removed from that Twitter conversation because I'm not really in like any
25:22
Discords. I'm really just in the BSH slack where people might be crazy, but
25:28
it's more my sort of crazy that I can relate to in the hockey talk, you know, and everybody will they have sound
25:35
reasoning for their arguments. And I don't think anybody's just a hot take artist in there, you know. We don't have
25:40
BSH is very good at not employing just a bunch of hot take artists. And it wasn't
25:46
until I saw some just chats when I was doing PHLY that I realized how much discourse was
25:53
out there around Shan Coutureier and his captaincy and also just in general this
25:59
this culture argument and people really do seem to be upset with Couttoriier in
26:06
particular and you know it's not fair to Shan Coutureier because from all
26:12
accounts Shan Couttori is a well-liked captain. People really do like him in the locker room. He's a well-liked
26:18
player historically throughout his career. But there is also the fact that and it's it's not his fault that Chuck
26:24
Fletcher offered him a huge contract and he suffered the injuries he did. Yeah.
26:29
But all of that said, Sean Couttori does wear the C. That is always the position
26:35
that is always what's going to get the most scrutiny on any hockey team, but especially one in Philadelphia. And
26:43
Shanquri also is just a a shell of his former self. You know, we see flashes every now and then of his former self,
26:49
but he just is not who he used to be. Uh Rick Tocket finally got to the point where he was like, "All right, I I think
26:56
I need to do something about this." And he put him on the fourth line for the game against the Bruins with Nick
27:01
Deloreier and Garnet Hathaway, which might as well be the dead zone. Like those guys are all like they could all
27:08
retire tomorrow and it would be fought as far as I'm concerned. And he hasn't scored since the day that we'll live in
27:15
infamy December 7th. So Shan Couttoriier really has just not been himself. And
27:22
what is himself anymore? What is Shan Couttoriier self? And what do you do about this? Because you can't I looked
27:29
at it. Buying him out is a nightmare. buying him out just makes no sense for
27:34
this team because you are going to have to deal with six plus million in dead calf space for many years to come which
27:40
is horrible. I don't know if you convince him to retire. I don't know if you can work out some sort of retention
27:46
deal with somebody but it does feel like at this point especially because the big position you need to upgrade is center
27:54
you got to do something about Shan Couttori at some point. At this point, Steve, he is a defensive
28:03
fourthline, maybe on a good day, third line setter. That's what he is. He shouldn't be playing higher up than that
28:09
in the lineup. That's just what he is. And if he's playing that role and he's playing sheltered minutes, that's where
28:14
we are right now, Steve. Like, we're talking about sheltering Shawn Couturier, the best center on the team,
28:20
the best like the captain of the team. I think it's Christian D'vorak [laughter] now. It might be, honestly. I think it
28:26
definitely is Christian D'vorak. Like Sean Couturier has to be sheltered now. He has to get 12 minutes a night. I
28:33
mean that that's where we are. And you know I'm not going to sit here and say it's his leadership that's the problem.
28:39
I'm not in the locker room. I don't know. I from what I have seen like you
28:46
know from ju just from his general demeanor um he does seem like kind of a
28:52
quietish guy. like he doesn't he doesn't strike me as a yeller and and screamer
28:58
or anything like that. I'm not sure they have any yellers or screamers on this team right now. And maybe that's part of the problem. Maybe
29:03
they do need because from my understanding in the Drew I wanted JT Miller on the team. I don't want No, no, no, no, no. But from my
29:10
understanding in the Drew days, Drew was more of the lead by example guy of the leadership group and Wayne Simmons was
29:16
more of the guy to confront you on playing like [Β __Β ] Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? Like and
29:22
who did they have before Wayne Simmons and Claude Jaru? Chris [Β __Β ] Pronger. Like they had they h and then before him
29:29
Mike Richards like they had these I think even back in the day like Rod the Bod was probably the guy to get in
29:34
your face and say like what are you doing out there? Rod Brendemore is one of those all-time competitors for this
29:39
team. So, they've always kind of had a guy who can be a just enough of a I don't want to say an [Β __Β ] but you
29:46
know, a guy who will call you out when you're not doing your thing. And you're right, there might not be a guy on this
29:53
roster currently that does this. I mean, they have like three best friends currently in Zegress, Trialeale, and
29:58
York. So, like they have some really like maybe connect like I KKN is the one
30:05
guy he's been leading by example recently and I appreciate the hell out of that. But yeah, Couttori I mean he
30:11
used to lead by example. He used to put the team on his back and just be an outstanding two-way player. Just there
30:18
is what he has done for this franchise is monumental. Like what he has done is is fantastic. But it really does feel
30:25
like at this point if you [snorts] got to work your way out of that contract and it feels like a big thing that has
30:31
to change because that's a lot of cap space right there. That's a lot of money that you could be paying to a future
30:36
star player. And I know things are bleak right now, but you do have like star players in the works. I know it's a
30:43
sophomore slump for Matt Vishkov. We know how special he can be though. I still have he'll be okay. Porter Martone
30:49
looks fantastic. I am so excit dampen my spirits reporter Martone no matter what I
30:54
I'm gonna be honest like we we got in a little uh we were just kind of like spitballing screwing around in the BSH
31:00
slack a couple days ago and I kind of admitted like dude I might be higher on
31:05
Martone than I am on Mishkov and now granted is it recency bias in terms of
31:11
like you know Mishkov hasn't been playing well this season he came to camp out of shape like how much does that
31:17
have to do with it but I just don't like Porter Martin doesn't strike me as the
31:22
kind of guy who would ever come to camp out of shape. Like he strikes me as a kind of heart and soul kind of guy. He's
31:28
been a captain on basically every team he's played. He played he was the captain at Bmpton. He was the cap he was
31:34
the captain for team Canada at the World Juniors. Like he's a leader. He's a legitimate leader. And you know I think
31:40
that's awesome. I I think the Flyers need someone like that even if it's this 19year-old kid. Um, and you know, I
31:48
just, and you know, it's funny now that we're talking about Mishkov and we're talking about, you know, who's going to be the guy in the locker room to call
31:55
other guys out. It's actually funny, Steve, because I think if there is one guy in the locker room who would do that, it would be Mishkov. Only problem
32:02
is is he barely speaks any [Β __Β ] English, so he can't do it. He doesn't know. We got to get him, we got to get him
32:07
those lessons, and we got to get him in shape. Yeah, I'm telling you, man. The team has to pay Yamir Jagger whatever the hell he
32:13
wants to just drag Ma Mishkov around for the entire off season. Teach him both English and how to properly work out
32:21
like a beast. If he can teach him those things, he's golden. But yeah, I mean I I go back and
32:27
forth on like the if I'm more excited for either player, but like I'm so pumped for Martone as a concept because
32:34
I really do think if they can figure out something at center, they are cooking
32:39
because I love I think they're really missing Tyson Forester right now. Like I do too. Yeah,
32:44
I was thinking about this last night because they've struggled on the power play since he got hurt. Uh Noah Kates
32:51
has not been the same since he got hurt. Tyson Forester and Noah Kates were the dynamic duo. They were Batman and Robin
32:57
with Bobby Brink being one of the 800 other people who hang around uh Gotham City over there. But they there was
33:04
something special about those two. And if you look at Noah Kates's offensive number, Noah Kate's currently sitting at
33:10
sixth on the Flyers and points behind me and D'vorak. And Kates just looking at
33:16
his game log. Uh so Tyson Forester gets hurt in early December, right?
33:21
Yeah. So, Noah Kate since then, he's had stretches uh one, two, three. So, like
33:28
he's had like five game stretches without points uh here and there. Uh he's really struggled lately
33:34
offensively. He really has, let's see, he had an assist against Colorado, had an assist against Buffalo, and he had
33:40
two assists against Anaheim. He hasn't scored a goal since December 30th at Vancouver. So, Kates is a guy he misses
33:48
his bud there. And Kates is a very good defensive player, but if he doesn't have a guy with that chemistry to get that
33:53
offense going, he's not the same. This team desperately, they need centers and
33:59
they need some guys with size and skill. Like I think Porter Marone is going to help a lot there, but they got to figure
34:05
something out at center. And I think if they're ever going to try and get to that next level, they're really going to
34:10
have to excel there because I like Christian D'vorak and I have accepted his deal better than a lot of people. I
34:17
it's two years too long for sure, but I think he's a fine player and I know for a lot of people that exemplifies the
34:23
media. They needed somebody to play center for the next few years. Yeah. Sean, again, just to really quick
34:29
quickly interject kind of to what we were talking about on the last time that we recorded, if Christian D'vorak's
34:35
contract contract is what breaks the Flyers, then I got some news for you.
34:40
That's not the problem. It's not the Christian D'vorak contract. So, I just want to say that. So, go ahead. That's a great statement. I 100% agree
34:47
with you there. It's way more than that. Yeah, we all know it's too long for sure. The money's fine. It's too long,
34:53
but that they they're going to need more than that anyway. And as much as I love
34:58
Noah Kates, they need an upgrade over Noah Kates. They absolutely do. They need a they need a center who can score.
35:05
That's the long and short of it. I'm so curious about Jack Bergland. I really like that he just captained a team that
35:11
won a medal. I think that's cool. I think he's shown strides. I don't know if he has any ceiling more than a 3C,
35:19
but I'm curious. I want to see him over here. You know what really pissed me off? When I was looking at the Boston
35:25
Bruins roster yesterday and I saw what Morgan Geeki has done with that team since they got him. I know.
35:31
And that's something I would love to see the Flyers do. I would love to get a Morgan Morgan Geeki has 30 goals for the
35:38
Bruins this year. Morgan Geeki who was a fine player with the Kraken. Like I
35:44
never really thought about him more than two seconds. The guy's having a career. He had 33 I think last year for the
35:49
Bruins. He's already has 30 for the Bruins this year. Morgan Geeky, where do
35:55
you get this from? There's And that's the thing I need. Danny Breier has been very good at finding a lot of these
36:01
guys. Trevor Ziggress based on what I've seen and again I think Tocket needs to give more of an extended look but based
36:06
on what I've seen Zagris ain't a center. I do not think he is based on what I've seen. I would like to see more but he
36:13
was really rough in that Bruins game and he's been rough every time I've seen him otherwise start at center this year.
36:19
But you know real quick about Ziggress. I mean this is I know right now he's going through a really rough slump but I
36:24
mean who on the team isn't frankly. And um you know, you look at Zegress and this season, this is the best he's ever
36:31
looked in his career. Really is. I know he's not doing the Michigan, he's not doing the dish, he's not doing anything
36:36
like that, but he's playing spectacular. This is easily the best he's looked as an NHL player. And he's doing it on the
36:43
wing. And I know he said in the offseason like, "Listen, I view myself as a center." Great. That's all well and
36:49
good. Love that for you. But you know what? Like, you're playing you're playing better at the wing than you were
36:55
at center. you're not winning faceoffs. So, um, yeah, I'm with you. I think right now he's a wing. You keep him
37:01
there because listen, he's not going to he's not going to fret about staying.
37:06
Like, he's already very heavily inferred that he's plans on being in Philly. So,
37:13
um, and he's more competitive than I I I did not know how fiery this guy could be. And I I I don't think he's quite had
37:19
that over the past month, but again, who has? They all look kind of defeated right now. I would like to see that
37:24
back. I'm hoping that Yeah, I'm hoping that Martone, man. And now that I think about it, like I'm hoping Martone could
37:29
be that guy to maybe hold them accountable when he comes up here. And he's a [Β __Β ] stirer, too, Steve. Like
37:35
we saw him at the at the World Junior smacking that ass as he scores as he goes by the bench. Good for him. I love
37:41
that. And then that's the other I I think they're great shiters, but they don't capitalize when they get on the power play. They have
37:47
literally the worst power play yet again in the league. And if they can figure out the f I'm now talking myself back
37:54
into like there are this team is not irreparably broken. There is definitely
38:00
great building blocks for the future. But yeah, they got to change some [Β __Β ] up and I really want to see them make a
38:06
try. And I know Danny Brier knows this is I I'm very aware he is aware of this. But I feel like they got to try for
38:13
somebody at center. Okay. I I've seen names floated out there. I don't know who's actually available. I don't know
38:19
who would be a great fit based and you know what to be honest I I don't know what to think about talking at this
38:24
point you know I I don't either man like and listen he's not going to get fired that's just not going to happen
38:30
no not in the first year no no but I mean listen things were well and good and dandy earlier on right now
38:38
this is awful I mean this team looks so this looks as bad as they looked at the
38:45
end of the John Tortoella era I mean this is horrible I think that's part of why everybody's despairing right now is
38:51
like the players look so disjointed. Like that Columbus game like how do you
38:57
not score more goals on MS Leakans? How do you not provide better defense against the Columbus Blue Jackets for Dan Var in his first game back? And
39:04
again, they have a they have good defensive players. Uh I am completely over I was never into Raasmus wristan
39:10
that much in the first place, but I'm completely over Rasmus wristinan. I would very much like to get off this
39:16
ride. Uh there are so many things here that are pro but like I I wasn't in on
39:21
Rick Tocket then I was and now I'm again like I don't know about this guy but
39:29
it's early who's to say I don't love his handling of Mishkov. I don't like some
39:35
of the juggling he's done or lack of juggling. M I thought it was a weird decision right now against a big team in Boston to put
39:43
Trevor Zegress between Matt Vishkov and Bobby Brink without like any big bodies
39:49
to to you know support them on there because I just saw Mishkov and Brink getting shoved to the side in that game
39:56
and I I don't some of the comments are they're not they've never been tors
40:02
level egregious for sure but there are definitely comments that make me go like a little bit
40:08
Huh? Yeah. You sure about that? Okay. One thing that I found interesting after
40:14
the Bruins game was uh Travis Kknney's media availability
40:20
after the game where he basically said, "Listen, man. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of losing. I'm tired of missing
40:26
the playoffs." Like, like he he he wants to go to the playoffs so bad. and he
40:31
basically said something in along the lines of listen all the leaders in the room we all know we got to be better
40:37
that starts with talk like you know he I don't think that was him taking us a shot at talk I don't
40:44
think that's what it was I think he literally means like yeah talk is one of our leaders and he knows that we need to
40:49
be better I think that's what he really meant but like it's you know
40:55
there's so much frustration on this team and you know honestly and if we're going to go back to this conversation about
41:01
the leadership and, you know, guys calling each other out again. TK clearly, he's fed up. He's pissed off.
41:08
He's the one who's saying, "I'm tired of this. I'm so tired of not going to the playoffs. I want to go to the [Β __Β ]
41:13
playoffs." And then you got Couturier who's just kind of saying the same old stuff like, "Yeah, you know, we got to
41:20
be better this and that." And it's just like, "Show some [Β __Β ] fire here, my man."
41:26
You know, like it's And TK, you never have to worry about that with TK. he's going to be fired. Like I've been in the
41:31
locker room with him after a loss before and like he may not say anything outlandish, but like he's pissed. He
41:38
walks into the media scrum, he's all he's all shitty and pouty, [laughter] which like which like listen, you should
41:44
be. You just lost. Like I get it. But like um it's it's funny like you know
41:49
it's just he seems to TK really seems to
41:55
be the one if someone's gonna be calling someone out like you know of the English- speakaking players on the team.
42:01
[laughter] I I don't I don't think he I don't think he refrains. Um, but yeah, man, it's just
42:08
there's so much that frustrates me. And I'm I do want to bring up, you know, you brought up how uh they got to get a
42:14
center and I'm Steve, that has to be the number one priority this off seasonason. Number one priority. I don't care what
42:20
it takes. Like, and you know what, listen, it's going to be hard to get a number
42:25
one center. Like the like everyone knows they don't grow on trees. They you can't they almost never go to free agency. um
42:33
you have to either trade for one or draft one. Well, the Flyers aren't really in a spot where they can draft
42:38
one and, you know, hope to God that he ends up being some superstar player. Um unless they absolutely luck out some way
42:45
somehow. This isn't even a great center draft. I was I have no idea who's in the draft outside. No good centers. All the best players in
42:51
this draft are wingers and defenseman, which like you're you're pinning hopes right now, if you're looking in the system, on
42:58
Berglin and Nesbbit, and it's going to be years. It's gonna be years before we see those guys. Luchenko, we've talked
43:04
about Lucheno to death. Lucheno is a three. I'm out. It's okay if he's a three. It's okay if
43:10
he's a three. I'm okay with that. Yeah. No, I'm cool with that. But I'm out as him. I'm out
43:15
in terms of thinking of him as a important player who must be on the next
43:23
great Flyers team. You Well, yeah. I never I don't think you ever should have thought of him as that. I think that was just
43:30
Well, some people are crazy, okay? Like I my favorite part about not being on
43:36
Twitter anymore is missing these takes because people get themselves so worked up over certain guys. The only people to
43:41
really work yourself up over right now are Porter Martone and Matt Fish. That's
43:46
it. Okay. And maybe Tyson Forester because you can see how good this team was with Tyson Forester and how bad they
43:52
are without him. Should he be the team captain? I think the team captain should be Travis Connecting.
43:59
I don't know, man. Tyson Forester goes away, whole thing falls apart, but that's not what the captain is. The captain is all about the locker room
44:06
leadership and everything. But I think Tyson Forester is an important part of the puzzle. That said, for the right
44:13
trade piece, I would certainly be willing to dish out Tyson Forester. I love Tyson Forester to bits, but like
44:20
So, let me throw I got three names here, okay, at seven. And I would like to I
44:26
don't know if we should rank them. We should talk about them because we got like 15 minutes left for what we got
44:31
allotted for this. So let's talk about these three guys that I have seen in different sorts of trade rumors out
44:37
there. And we're going to start with a guy that I don't think seems very likely but is a fascinating name. Okay. And
44:44
that's Elias Person who is one of the ultimate should have drafted flyers from back in the Nolan Patrick draft. Elias
44:51
Patterson got off to an amazing start in his career. He was just doing highlight reel stuff off the bat and he's pretty
44:58
much he's slowed down a lot since then. And part of that is just how bad the
45:03
Vancouver Conucks are. Uh literally the worst team in the league right now. And I I don't know if it's Person's fault,
45:11
but he had a famous I'm pretty sure it's not. Yeah. But he had a pretty famous,
45:16
at least in hockey circles, you know, rivalry with JT Miller last year. It
45:22
forced them to trade JT Miller. At one point they were talking about trading Person instead of Miller. And now they
45:28
might not have either because Person has come up. The potential of him getting traded has come up. 27 years old, he is
45:35
a guy who we've seen have amazing years. Back in 22 23 had 102 points. 23 24 he
45:43
had 89 points. But then he slowed down last year. He had 45 points in 64 games. This year he has 33 and 46, which that
45:51
ain't nothing but it's it's not 100 plus, you know, right? But but we know that that's in there with
45:56
him and we know that's in there and we know he has the skill and we know so I've talked with other
46:02
people. We talked to Thomas and some other people at BSH who have watched a little bit more Person than me, understand a little bit more fancy stats
46:08
than me and the guy can play defense. The guy can play the two-way game. Yeah. So considering he can do both on paper,
46:15
this seems like a great fit for the Flyers. They're going to have to give up a lot to get a guy like him, but it
46:21
seems worth it. Even though he does have a heavy cap hit, I believe it's 11 mil a season. But here's the big problem.
46:29
Yep. Our head coach, it seems, again, we don't know this for fact, but just based
46:35
on everything we've heard, it seemed like Person and Rick Tocket were not on very good terms.
46:43
What do you do? [sighs] What do you do if you're Danny Brier?
46:48
What do you say? Listen, we heard this all the time about um you know the John
46:54
Tortoella and um Vincent Lavalier situation where, you know, they hated
47:01
each other and then basically the GM came downstairs into the locker room and sat them down and said, "You two are
47:07
[Β __Β ] idiots. Figure your [Β __Β ] out. [laughter] Figure it out because neither one of you are going. So figure it out. Learn to
47:14
coexist because nothing's changing. Honestly, if I'm Danny Brier, I'm making
47:20
that move for Elias Patterson because guess what? You can get him for what he's worth. Like like we've seen
47:28
how good he can be. You can get that player for significantly less than he should get because he's just, you know,
47:36
he hasn't been playing to quite that level. But I know that he is that kind of caliber player. We've seen it several
47:42
times. Um, and he's a bonafide, no doubt about it, number one center. No
47:49
question. What do the Flyers need? A bonafide, no doubt about it, number one center. Shut up. Get this guy and make
47:58
him and [Β __Β ] Rick Tocket figure it out. I swear to God. Make them sit down,
48:03
hash it out, yell at each other, hit each other. I don't care. just figure it out and just let put all your cards out
48:09
on the table and just learn to coexist and make it happen. Honestly, if I'm
48:15
Dana Briier, that is what I'm doing. Will he do that? Probably not. But I think he's going to side with Rick
48:20
Tocket because I think he trusts Rick Tocket. Yeah, they were all in when they got Rick Tocket. They were enthusiastic
48:26
about that signing in a way that nobody in the fan base was because it was another Flyers retread, another guy. And
48:32
the other thing that we said about Rick Tocket when they made that hiring is Rick Tockett's never done anything that
48:39
significant in the NHL to warrant the excitement over hiring him as a head coach. He had one
48:44
stellar year with the Canucks where he won the Jack Adams and it was great. Didn't want to come and he had terrible years over with
48:51
Tampa Bay and the Coyotes. So, I I didn't know him. Yeah, Tampa and Coyotes. I don't really
48:58
They're bad situations, but like that's the that's his record, you know? It's like why are we so excited about this
49:04
guy when he's only ever really just had like a year of greatness with Tam with Vancouver
49:10
and then had a pretty good year and then it all fell apart. It just it struck me
49:15
as weird. But I again, I've liked some stuff from Takit. I have not liked some other
49:20
stuff. It's been a real mixed bag to this point. And I I just don't like the idea that the Flyers could miss out on a
49:26
player of this caliber because of Rick Tocket. Uh there there was a guy who won't be like I'm going to be
49:32
honest with you, Steve. I don't think he's going to be the head coach of the Flyers in four years. Once again, we are in this spot. No head coach for the Flyers lasts more
49:39
than four years. It just doesn't happen. Why are they like why side with a guy who's not going to be here in four
49:45
years? He's an old He's an older guy, too. It's not like he's like Yeah, he's like 60, 61, something like
49:51
that. like dude's going to want to retire, kick it up, you know, kick his feet up at the cottage in Ontario
49:57
somewhere. Um, but like why side with him and rob yourself of
50:03
the opportunity to get a star level number one center just because he and the head coach don't don't aren't best
50:10
buds. Yeah. Like I said before, Steve, [Β __Β ] figure it out. Figure it out.
50:16
Figure it out. I'm so serious. Like it's just it drives me nuts. Yeah. Absolutely. I was cracking up. I
50:23
was reading uh Kurs over the on the athletic the other day about this and
50:28
this is a little mini taking it to the taking it to the beat segment right here where Kers wrote about Person. The
50:35
Flyers are not interested. Full stop. That possibility was strongly denied to
50:40
me by multiple team sources. Essentially, the Flyers don't believe Person is the type of core player who
50:46
could eventually lead them to a championship. Full stop. Well, and and well, Steve, that's the thing. I believe
50:53
him. Oh, sure. I believe what Kurts is writing. I believe his report there. Um, and that's what makes me
50:58
running around saying, "Look, he ain't it." That's what makes That's what makes me furious is that I think the Flyers do
51:05
believe that. I feel like they do believe that you can't win with Elias Person, a number one center who has
51:11
scored 100 points in this league. Why would you be able to succeed with that? Well, I think one of the scary things,
51:16
like if I'm doing pros and cons of talket, one of the scary things right now is his his handling of skill guys
51:24
and of course the classic coach preference of gritty guys because Noah Jolson's only here because of Rick
51:29
Tocket. And I know for a couple days, maybe a couple weeks, we're like, "All right, Jules ain't that bad."
51:35
Jules is that bad. Jollesn is slow as [Β __Β ] He is just a dinosaur. We don't need any more Jules's on this team. You
51:42
look at who's that guy they traded away? I don't even remember his name anymore. They had another defenseman that like didn't even make it out of camp. They
51:47
traded away. Oh, Gilbertson. Gilbert's.
51:53
Uh, yes. Gilar. Gilber. Not Ryan Gilbert. Ryan Gilbert.
51:58
Dennis Gilbert. Ryan Gilbert's got a long reach. He's a a big time prospect right there. Dennis
52:04
Gilbert. Yeah. Dennis Gilbert. Like, and like you see Nick Deloreier in the
52:09
lineup as much as he's been. It's been a lot less lately, but for the first couple months of the season, Nick Deloreier was almost every night. So,
52:17
you know, that stuff worries you. And then you worry about like, oh, he sees Christian D'vorak, who again, I like
52:23
Christian D'vorak more than a lot of the fans, but he's the guy who advocates to bring in Christian D'vorak and then sign
52:29
him for a five-year deal where it's like, you want you telling me I got Patterson and not D'vorak? Like, give me
52:36
Patterson all day. Obviously, it's not a one for one with those two guys, but the fact of the matter is you think about
52:42
priorities and if he's saying don't get this guy, get this guy and this guy's ceiling is like here and this guy's
52:49
ceiling is like through the roof, what are we doing? I know. So, yeah. So, Person, uh, we're all in,
52:56
but we doubt it would can't happen. It won't happen. So, why even Yeah.
53:01
So, two more names for you. First one is a weird one and I'm not even sure how to
53:07
feel about this one, but I've seen pros and cons for this thrown around in broad street hockey. uh Shane Wright who was
53:14
at one point a pretty hot [Β __Β ] prospect and then he fell big time in the draft
53:19
and Seattle scooped him up and Seattle you know we're looking at the he was
53:25
number four on the athletics trade board this week and they wrote rival scouts started hearing Wright's name in the
53:31
rumor mill during World Juniors earlier this month the 2022 number four pick number four he fell way down I mean one
53:38
to four is pretty far you know but number four pick is still in the developmental phase, but has seen his offensive production dip from last
53:44
season's 19goal 44 point campaign. Right profiles is an intriguing two-way center
53:49
and will likely only be moved in a trade that sees a player with similar upside going back to Seattle. The Kraken like
53:55
their organizational depth down the middle and are looking for a gamebreaking winger. How we feel about Shane Wright? I'm I like that, but I
54:04
hope people wouldn't think that he would like solve their center issues. Like Person's one of those guys is like this
54:11
is a number one. He's in like no question number one. Shane Wright, we don't even know if he's if he's a number two for God's
54:17
sake. This is a project for sure. Yeah. And listen, I I am I would approve of them trading for Shane Wright. I
54:23
think that'd be exciting because he does have I think he has a very high ceiling truly. I especially like that they say
54:29
they're looking for a winger, right? And that's one thing the Flyers have. Like that's actually a trade that the Flyers
54:35
could fulfill and maybe out another team on because they have a lot of really good wingers right now. But
54:41
yeah, I I think it's a move that I would welcome, but it's not the move we
54:47
ultimately want. I think I like the next guy we're going to mention, and I think we've talked about him before, but I
54:52
think I like the next guy on the list more than him. And Person's like Person would be amazing, but I'm not holding my
54:59
breath. Shane Wright's a realistic move they could make, but you'd still need to trade for another guy, I think, on top
55:04
of that. Yeah. And it would be a smart move because I don't think it would cost a ton to get him. And he does have that I I think he has that star level
55:11
potential. Will he reach it? Can't tell you, but he has that potential. So, yeah. So, Wright's an interesting one.
55:18
The last guy I want to mention, I'm pretty sure we've mentioned him before, but I think he's worth mentioning again. Number five on the athletics trade
55:24
board, Robert Thomas. Rob Thomas. That's smooth mother. But the athletic wrote,
55:29
"Nothing's off the table in St. Louis, including a potential deal involving the team's topline center. How likely that
55:35
is depends on how you interpret the fact that his name has started to circulate again in chatter with rival teams.
55:41
Thomas has experienced a slight dip in production this season, but he's coming off consecutive campaigns where he exceeded 80 points. He possesses strong
55:48
puck skills and vision and can handle the challenge of facing tough competition every night. It would take a serious offer to land Thomas in the
55:54
prime of his career, but the Blues are open for business. I am big time in on
55:59
Rob Thomas. I think this is a realistic move for the Flyers and one that they could make and I think they should make
56:04
because I think this is a guy who can step in tomorrow and be your number one center. Considering the Flyers are I'm not even
56:11
considering them in the running for Elias Patterson. Um I'm just going to say
56:16
I think I'm all in on on Robert Thomas. Like he's 20. What is he? 26.
56:22
I think he's 27. Young. Okay. Still he's very he's in his prime right now is the thing. Yeah, he's very young. Um he is very
56:30
good. Um and I feel like he would play a style of game that Rick Tocket would probably like because he does kind of
56:36
have that two-way kind of, you know, ability. No, he's 26. He's 26. He was uh born
56:42
July 2nd, 1999. So he'll be 27 in July. So yeah, that's that's a good age. And
56:48
especially if you're looking to transition your team into that next phase, he's a guy who could really step
56:54
in and be a key part of that. Yeah. And listen, Steve, like with the Flyers just can't keep going on with
57:01
what they have at center. They have to do something. And when are you going to do something? Do it. Like I mean,
57:08
we're talking about selling. And you know what? I don't think they really have anybody to sell. So, you know what? [Β __Β ] it. I don't even consider it
57:14
buying. I just consider it smart moves for the future. If there are centers available now, go get them. Yes. Before
57:20
other teams can get in there because hockey trade, we we need to start seeing some more hockey trades like like
57:26
Well, especially because all the big names that were supposed to be on the board this off season resigned. So, you
57:31
can't wait around for them to be available. You have to go out and get somebody. Yeah. And you know, you snooze, you lose
57:38
in this. We've seen it like Yeah. And you know, the Flyers do have so many
57:44
players that they could trade in a hockey trade. I immediately go to Owen Tippet. I I do
57:49
Owen Tipp there. A winger or two or three have to go. There are too many cooks in this kitchen. You are You only
57:56
have so many guys for your top six. You can only pay so many of those guys. Owen Tippet, who I think is playing his best
58:03
hockey of his career this season. Owen Tippet has been way more consistent. He's getting more shots, more hits. He's
58:09
been really good this year. Mhm. Owen Tippet is like my number one easy like I should
58:15
No question. Owen Tippet and then I love him to bits but Bobby Brinks on that list for me too.
58:20
I know. Yeah. Those two guys because they're just they're really nice players but you need
58:26
centers and those are the guys that I'm not giving up Mishkov unless it's Conor
58:32
McDavid, you know, I'm not giving up Martonone for the same thing like you know guys elite guys. I would give those
58:38
up for elite guys or potential for elite, but I'm not giving them up for like a Shane Wright or something like
58:45
that. Whereas like if you're going to take a Wright, like maybe you can work a deal with like a Tippet or something like that. Like somebody with a high
58:51
upside who has great intangible skills. Like Tippet's speed is unbelievable.
58:58
He's I I swear he is the fastest flyer I've ever seen. He's so good. But, you know,
59:04
Tippet can't consistently put it together every night, but he's got speed and size and he's somebody you can work
59:09
in a deal. He's a valuable piece right there. Bobby Brink is super smart and he's a little tougher than you think he
59:15
is. Like, he gets in. Yeah. Yeah. So, Brink's another really good piece. Very
59:20
intelligent player. There's a reason he plays well with Kates and Forester. So,
59:26
those are guys and you're going to have to work one of them into a trade. So like I would love to and look as I said
59:31
before Sean Couttori nothing but respect for his Flyers career. He busted. He done he cooked.
59:37
He's a fourthline center in anthine center. In an ideal world that's what he is. Noah Kates. I love Noah Kates, right?
59:44
Very smart player, good defensive player. He is not the same offensive impact without Tyson Forester. I think
59:49
that's undeniable at this point. And he's another third line center on a good
59:55
team. Christian D'vorak's a third line center. Yeah. Christian Vorak has to be the first line center for this team because this team's
1:00:01
center depth is so bad. Rodrigo Abballs shouldn't even be in the league. He's in the
1:00:06
player. Yeah. Like so like not they don't they don't even have a second line center. I Christian
1:00:12
Vorak is like an acceptable second line center maybe, but like if you want to be a really good team, you got to upgrade.
1:00:20
Get one of these guys. And there's a good piece up on Broad Street Hockey right now about Shane Wright. Go check
1:00:26
that out. uh you know you know who uh D'vorah reminds me of a little bit like maybe not quite in play style but like
1:00:32
in terms of the level that they are like he would be so good as a third line center like akin to like the HBK line
1:00:41
Nick Bonino. Yeah. He like that's his ideal role I feel like is like a really really really good
1:00:47
third line center. I think that would be perfect. I like that. And if they're paying him like five mil to be a third line center
1:00:52
that's fine. Yeah. because I I don't think I think people have misinterpreted the signing
1:00:57
as the intention that he's their first line setter moving forward. It's not that they just need a warm body until
1:01:03
they figure it out. But you got if these guys are truly available, you got to work a deal out. And again, if it
1:01:10
doesn't include Mishkov, Marton, or Forester, I'm in. Yeah. I don't care. Yeah. No, seriously.
1:01:18
Like honestly, in terms of guys who I think are movable, um I think Owen
1:01:23
Tippet's up there. I think Bobby Brink's up there. Uh I think wrist linen's up there. Although people keep talking
1:01:29
about like they could get a significant return for them. No, they can't. Uh you can trade him. You're not getting you're
1:01:35
getting almost nothing for him. So rival GM. Yeah. Why in God's name would I want Rasmus to
1:01:40
line when every time he comes back he gets hurt again and he just disappears for months at a time? We've seen that
1:01:47
Rasmus versus the line can be a really good physical presence on the ice. Like he has had times this year where he's
1:01:53
he's had really good games. Last year he was really good, but he can't stay healthy. I'm not trading
1:01:58
for that. Yeah, exactly. And you know what? He only has one year left on his contract after this. Like just I can't wait. Whatever. It's over.
1:02:05
I can't wait. I wish like I wish there was a way to just magically get rid of the Risto contract, get rid of the
1:02:12
Hathaway contract, get rid of the Couttoriier contract because I think people I think you'd have a lot more
1:02:18
room to work and I think people would have just a lot less like fingerpointing with this team and everything like
1:02:25
Haway I was fine with the deal at the time. I didn't think he was going to fall off the cliff this year like he did. He did and he was never intended to
1:02:32
be more than a fourthline player. That was never the intention. He doesn't get paid a ton. I just wish he did a little
1:02:37
bit more. Having Delore and Hathaway is where my problem is because one of those
1:02:43
guys should be your press box guy who comes out occasionally to play. Having a line last night with Deloreier,
1:02:51
Coutureier, and Hathaway. And Ashley had an all right game all things considered, but it almost made me the Joker seeing
1:02:57
that combination. It was awful. Fat. It's just not a good They're just slow. They're They're relics. You know
1:03:04
who else I could see being a possible trade option? And it might be a little bit of a hot
1:03:10
take, but what's keeping the Flyers from trading Jamie Dale?
1:03:16
I mean, I'm in on that, too. He's a good player. I really like Jamie, but his offensive upside is not what you expected it to be
1:03:23
when you traded for him. Still a good player. Still a no. Now, he's a no doubt about it NHL defenseman.
1:03:28
Yes, I would trade him. I think he's a really good second pair guy. Uh, I would not hesitate to trade
1:03:33
him. I wouldn't tra hesitate to trade anybody on defense. And I I actually
1:03:39
really like a lot of the pieces on defense. Do I think they need a bonafide number one? Yes. Do I think they need a
1:03:45
nasty son of a [Β __Β ] Chris Pronger in there? Absolutely. Uh, but I would not
1:03:50
hesitate to trade a single soul on defense. Yeah, I love Travis Sanheim. He is a
1:03:56
workhorse. Plays well most nights. I think he's really good almost every night. I trade him a heartbeat.
1:04:03
I'm not even putting him in the conversation just because the no move clause, but the no move clause and also I mean he is a workhorse. He's going to be in there
1:04:09
every night and yeah, you're never gonna you might regret trading him. You probably won't, but
1:04:15
like you might. Whereas like I don't think you'd probably regret trading Jamie Dale. I don't think you'd
1:04:22
regret I really like Cam York. I don't think you'd regret trading Cam York. Uh you definitely wouldn't regret
1:04:27
trading Rasmusan. The one guy who you might regret trading if you don't really
1:04:32
get a lot in the deal with him might be Emil Andre because I could see Emil Andre going to the right team that
1:04:39
actually realizes how to use him. Allah Shane Gastaspare or something like that and see him taking off because that dude
1:04:44
has serious skills but everybody else man I don't care. They do need to
1:04:49
upgrade their defense but it's like lowest priority for me because they gota
1:04:55
this off season I need to see a replacement for Sam Harrison. can't do Sam Harrison ever again. No, no, he he's so he has to like he
1:05:02
cannot be back. No, that five hole goal man in the Bruins game was so brutal.
1:05:07
And like he he does this almost every game. He has at least like two goals a game where you're just like what are you
1:05:14
doing? Like yeah, you just got to step up and make some saves. Dan Vadar is legitimately an NHL
1:05:20
goalender and he might be a a good patchwork starter until Bjornna enters the Dragons ready. Sam Harrison ain't
1:05:27
it. I'm over with the Sam Harrison experiment. You got to upgrade center. And again, you've got three candidates
1:05:33
out there that you could work with. You probably have even more, but those are three guys that we identified that we like that we would really like them to
1:05:39
move in on. And I mean, it goes Person, Thomas, uh, right as far as order goes,
1:05:45
right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And again, Person I know is very unlikely just due to the Rick Tocket of it all. And it sucks. It sucks hard, but
1:05:53
it is what it is. Rob Thomas. Robert Thomas, let's go. Let's do it.
1:05:58
I would be I would love that. And listen, man. Owen Tippet, see you. Cam
1:06:04
York, see you. Let's bring him in. Let's get a one Let's get a 1C. I don't do I do not
1:06:10
care. They cannot go into next season with the same group of centers. That cannot happen, Steve. I swear to
1:06:15
God. It can't happen. It can't happen. And again, Noah Kates, great player. I I I don't care. I would trade Noah
1:06:22
Kates in a heartbeat, too. And I really like him. But yeah, anybody, you gotta upgrade. You can't do
1:06:27
this again. You can't do this to the fans. You can't do this to Travis Connectnne. I know. Poor guy.
1:06:32
His soul is getting sucked out of his body and he's giving like his all every night. I know.
1:06:38
You got to figure out Couttoriia. You got to upgrade center. And you can't like I I've heard rumblings about them like
1:06:45
maybe raising ticket prices again like next year. And these season ticket holders are some of the most dedicated
1:06:52
in sports. And you can't keep doing this to them if you're not going to upgrade the team. Like, you know what? I'm sure
1:06:57
nobody wants to pay an upgrade, especially with inflation and how expensive everything is anymore. But if
1:07:05
you're upgrading the team, if you're committed to actually like putting a great team out there, we'll accept that.
1:07:11
We'll at least like, all right, fine. At least they're trying. It doesn't feel like they're trying right now. And
1:07:17
people are pissed off. People are frustrated for a reason. No, we miss the playoffs. We want the Xbox or whatever
1:07:24
the hell you call it to be rocking every night. It ain't rocking. People barely care. You walk around the city, you see
1:07:31
a Flyers fan. You're surprised if you see Flyers gear. And somebody thought I was wearing a Flyers shirt the other day and uh I was
1:07:37
actually just wearing an orange shirt and uh they're like, "Oh, Flyers. Oh, no, it's not Flyers." I'm like, "Well,
1:07:42
don't get me started about the Flyers, my friend, because I [clears throat] could talk." And what you know what I
1:07:47
hear almost almost universally when people talk about the Flyers around Philadelphia that are not wearing like
1:07:52
Flyers gear? They go, "Yeah, I used to watch the Flyers a lot, but I really just dropped off in the past few years."
1:07:59
People don't care. People are apathetic. So my guys take a swing. Rescue us from
1:08:06
this obscurity, from this mediocrity, from this [Β __Β ] Please, for the love of God,
1:08:11
do something. Just do something. Just do something. Well, I think that's a great lovely note to leave things off
1:08:18
on. So, this was fun. I feel I felt very cathartic after this. This was like an
1:08:24
airing of grievances. I'm still mad at the world, but well, there's a lot of things to be mad at in the world. Katherine O'Hara passed
1:08:30
away today, too, which RIP Queen. RIP. Uh, who's just one of the great great sketch comedian, actress, Home
1:08:38
Alone, Beetlejuice, uh, Shitz Creek, Shitz Creek. She was doing some of the
1:08:44
best work of her career in the past like 10 years. I mean, she's amazing on the studio. She's
1:08:49
unbelievable at the studio and I thought the Beetlejuice sequel was just so so, but she's great in it. She's like really
1:08:56
good in it. So, Katherine O'Hara, that's a true tragedy right there. So, it's a it's a shame. And just, you know, I'm
1:09:02
sure I don't have to remind you all about what's going on in the world. We don't need to talk about that here. It's flyerbo. You don't need to hear that
1:09:07
here. But things are bad. Uh, it would be really nice if we had a hockey team to make things better. Sadly, we don't,
1:09:13
but hey, goals for next season. Let's get on it. Danny Brriier Porter Marone's coming. Let's give them some support.
1:09:21
[Β __Β ] yeah. Hell yeah. [Β __Β ] yeah. All right, we're going to head out of here, folks. If you have any feedback
1:09:26
for us, best places on socials, Squigs, where people find you on the socials. Oh, how about at RP Jesus, how about
1:09:32
Ryan Quig with the Z? Thank you very much. RIPD Quigs twitter.org. Uh, you can find me at
1:09:38
Flyerboy over at Blue Sky. You can also find at Flyerboy over on Instagram and Tik Tok. Oh, wow. How about that? I'll
1:09:45
try to get a clip out this week. I haven't gotten a clip in a little bit. I'm getting that clip out this week for sure. All right. And uh that's pretty
1:09:51
much it. Follow Broad Street Hockey. You can catch me on PHAS. Blah blah blah. All right. We are out of here. Until
1:09:56
next time, in the words of the great Jean Hart, good night and good hockey.
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