Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Weekly Mailbag: Wayne Simmonds Trade Rumors & The Carter Hart Show

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How bout themmmmmm Philadelphia Flyers!!!! They got a much-needed hard-nosed victory against the New York Rangers before the holiday break, and the orange and black climbed their way back to steal a point against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road last night. To be down 5-2, and fight their way back against a cup contender to steal a point is impressive.

What a whirlwind of a few weeks it has been for this proud franchise. Head Coach Scott Gordon has the Flyers flying high in all facets of the game, to include the Penalty Kill. Yes, I said it the PK!!!!!! A tandem in the one, the only Carter Hart and Michal Neuvirth are giving the Flyers life. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions.

I believe Carter Hart will be the main fixture for the Flyers in Goal for the 2019-20 season. However, I do see the Flyers bringing in a capable Veteran to provide Hart with some leadership, and to keep his head right from the rigors of the game. This is the Carter Hart show, and this young man has earned it. Hart will be the starting Goaltender next season.

If the Flyers elect not to sign Gordon to an extension as Head Coach. I think Gordon coaches elsewhere in the NHL. This was his shot at getting back to the big stage, and boy has it worked thus far. I believe that Gordon will get scooped up by another club in the off-season. There could be a ton of options for him to choose from that’s for sure, possibly to include the Flyers.

Flyers thanks so much. Have a great New Year, and stay safe.

I love this fun question. Carter Hart will be a very good Goaltender for this franchise that’s for sure, however I cannot place him higher than Lindros or with Lindros at the moment. Ask this same question in ten years and I might have a different answer. Hart is the man, and will be for sometime trust me.

Carter I hope you and your family have a great New Year. Thanks for all Your support.

I personally believe the Flyers will acquire a top four Defenseman. The Flyers have been active on the market since Chuck Fletcher took the reigns as General Manager. In particular Fletcher is looking to add a Veteran Goaltender to help aid the growth of Carter Hart. Honestly, there’s not much out there in terms of a stop-gap Goaltender at the moment, and that’s why I believe Plan B is acquiring a much-needed top four Defenseman.

Thanks so much for your continued support. God bless you and your family, and have a great New Year.

I do not foresee Andrew MacDonald out of this lineup at the moment. The way the top brass talks of him, and the way he’s being utilized I just don’t see it at the moment. They are playing better in front of Carter Hart, but the Defense is still inconsistent at times. We shall see where this goes, but I don’t see it at the moment.

Anthony thanks for your continued support. Have a great New Year, and I look forward to seeing you soon in the press box.

https://twitter.com/kgil29/status/1077964607321530368?s=19

Nolan Patrick was feeling quite good after that big shootout goal against the New York Rangers. He has played well Defensively this year, and he sort of reminds me like Sean Couturier with shutting his opponents down. However, it’s a darn shame for Patrick to suffer this unfortunate upper body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Everytime Patrick looks to right the ship an unfortunate injury arises. Hopefully, this isn’t a serious injury, and he can come back 100%. Just a darn shame…unfortunate luck.

Lindros is most definitely on the Flyers Mount Rushmore 100%. He’s the man.

Kevin thanks for your continued support. God bless you and your family. Have a great Happy, and healthy New Year.

Scott Gordon has done a remarkable job with this young Flyers team in just 5 games that he’s coached (3-1-1). I mean the orange and black fought their way back for a point last night against the Lightning. Whatever Gordon said between the second intermission really hit home, as the Flyers were down 5-2. They climbed back to lose 6-5 in overtime, a cup contender. What more can Flyers fans ask for. Moreover, the Penalty Kill is more aggressive. Yes, it’s a work in progress still, but I like the heart the players are showing.

Gordon is pressing the right buttons with this club it appears. I think if the Flyers right the ship and make the playoffs, they will have no other choice but to consider Gordon long-term, especially if the Flyers win a playoff round. However, in the back of my mind I remember Craig Berube doing the same thing years back. Joel Quenneville is a once in a lifetime opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity to snag a great coach. I’ll leave it at that.

Lou God bless your family. Have a great and safe New Year, thanks so much for the support.

I do not foresee Wayne Simmonds in the long-term plans of the Flyers franchise. Moreover, I think Wayne Simmonds will be traded, and a perfect trading partner is the Boston Bruins. Maybe the Flyers could get lucky and receive Jesse Gabrielle (LW) or Zach Senyshyn (RW) in return. I just don’t see Simmonds, who is slowing down due to his style of play for the past few years, lasting past the trade deadline with the Flyers. Sad to say as I love the guy for everything he has done, but I just don’t see it.

Brian thanks so much for your support. God bless you and your family. Have a great New Year.

Travis Sanheim and Oskar Lindblom.

Lindblom is not a fourth liner, and I think Gordon will see that eventually. It’s a travesty that he is currently stuck on the fourth line. Oh well it is what it is.

Sanheim should have been playing close to 20 minutes a night before Dave Hakstol was fired. He has been the most consistent Flyers Defenseman this season. Moreover, Sanheim should have been at least on the second power play unit under Hakstol. Now that Hakstol is gone, Sanheim has been averaging 20 minutes of ice time per game under Coach Gordon. He’s earned it, so good for him.

Stevie thanks for your support. Have a great New year.

I think Wayne Simmonds will be the first traded, and a perfect trading partner is the Boston Bruins. Maybe the Flyers could get lucky and receive Jesse Gabrielle (LW) or Zach Senyshyn (RW) in return. I just don’t see Simmonds, who is slowing down due to his style of play for the past few years, lasting with this organization. Sad to say as I love the guy for everything he has done, but I just don’t see it.

Barry thanks so much for your continued support. Have a great New Year my friend.

If there’s no wiggle room for a solid stop-gap Goaltender, then I would like to see Fletcher add a top 4 Defenseman. I think Fletcher definitely inquires about Colton Parayko, I mean how could he not. I’m sure of it 100% that he at the very least will inquire about his services.

Some Offensive players that are available:

Milan Lucic

Artemi Panarin

Jordan Eberle

Jeff Skinner (Possibly as contract expires at year’s end)

Joe Pavelski

Other Notable Defensive players that may be available:

Jake Gardiner

Tyler Myers

Alec Martinez (Close to returning from IR)

Colton Parayko (Possibly)

Anthony thanks so much for your continued support. Have a great New Year.

I think Wayne Simmonds will be traded, and a perfect trading partner is the Boston Bruins. Maybe the Flyers could get lucky and receive Jesse Gabrielle (LW) or Zach Senyshyn (RW) in return. I just don’t see Simmonds, who is slowing down due to his style of play for the past few years, lasting with this organization. Sad to say as I love the guy for everything he has done, but I just don’t see it.

I think it will take multiple prospects, a pick, and Simmonds to grab a Center or Top 4 Defenseman. It depends on what player Fletcher is going after, as that team may want an immediate NHL’er, as well. Great question though. Trust me I cannot see Simmonds with the Flyers past the trade deadline.

Barry thanks so much for your continued support. Have a great New Year my friend.

My expectations for Morgan Frost is to have a heck of WJC tournament. Frost looked tired during the WJC showcase this past Summer, and I think that had a lot to do with the amount of games played with the Soo, to include playoffs. After Frost’s first game where he tallied 3g, and 2a against Denmark. You can tell that Frost looks very determined to have a great tournament. Frost looks like a man on the mission.

What I would like to see out of Frost is to drive the play, as opposed to chasing the play during a major tournament. The Flyers told him he had to get better in this area in the Summer, so I would like him to do this consistently. In the 2 games played for Team Canada thus far he has done just that, which is great to see.

Daniel thanks for your support. It means a lot. Have a great New Year.

Samuel Morin is scheduled to return in February. He has traveled with the team on this road trip to Florida to practice, but Morin is still slated to return in February. Now Morin will have to do a conditioning stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms first, which I could see being close to ten games. But, the fact he is still on schedule to return in February is great news for the young prospect.

Tom thanks so much for your continued support. You’re the man my friend. Have a great New Year.

I think JVR’s ice time has been appropriate in Gordon’s short tenure. However, I do believe he should have been utilized in the overtime session on Sunday, but I don’t disagree with Gordon for not using JVR in the shootout. Sometimes JVR is slow at practice for whatever reason. Maybe this is one reason why he hasn’t been rewarded with extra ice time.

JVR did end up with 15:33 of ice time against the Lightning, with :59 seconds of that being Power Play time. So that’s good to see, and he appears to be trending in the right direction. I hope from here on out JVR becomes consistent with the orange and black, and becomes that perennial 30 goal scorer we know him to be, when he was acquired in free agency from the Toronto Maple Leafs this past off-season.

Dave thanks for your support. Have a great New Year, and God bless you and your family.

I have heard of Wayne Simmonds being dealt to multiple teams, but I can confirm 100% that the Flyers are currently active on the market for a stop-gap Goaltender. Whether, they can snag a Goaltender or not remains to be seen. If there’s no wiggle room for a solid stop-gap Goaltender, then I would like to see Fletcher add a top 4 Defenseman. Other than that, I have not heard a solid rumor that I would stick my name behind, like I did with Hakstol getting terminated.

Benjamin thanks for your continued support. Have a safe and Happy New Year.

https://twitter.com/NAARobertWilson/status/1077936533787852800

If Carter Hart plays lights out until Anthony Stolarz and Brian Elliott are healthy, then the Flyers would have no other choice but to consider his services for the rest of the season. Elliott is a little ways away from returning, so this doesn’t have to be addressed now. “Moose,” is currently rehabbing for a return, with no return date mentioned yet.

Lappy is here for the rest of the season. It’s highly unlikely that Lappy id fired as the Flyers are approaching the mid-point of their season. The Penalty Kill has improved, and become more aggressive these past few weeks, as well.

Phil Varone is permanent. He is playing well, so there is no reason to send him back down. However, when Corban Knight returns, what do the Flyers do? I think Varone is here to stay for the rest of the season to be honest.

Rob thanks so much for your support. God bless you and your family. Have a great healthy New Year.

Joe Cush (Facebook)- With Fletcher’s horrendous trade record, does that scare you? Do you think he does something idiotic like trading for Quick, or something great and gets Parayko?

My only concern for Chuck Fletcher making trades is trading the house. Hopefully, we don’t trade away a lot of our assets on the farm. I think Fletcher knows this team better than what most of us think. Moreover, I think Fletcher will make the right trades, starting with Wayne Simmonds himself.

I think Fletcher definitely inquires about Colton Parayko, I mean how could he not. I’m sure of it 100% that he at the very least will inquire about his services. If he’s able to grab him that would be awesome.  I say let’s see how this all pans out, and let’s be kind to Fletcher until we see some of the moves he makes to make this team better.

Joe thanks for your support. God bless you and your family. Have a great New Year.

Happy New Year To All

If you would like to see your questions submitted in our weekly mailbag. Just submit your question on our Facebook page or on Twitter using #Flyersmail. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers. Without your support we wouldn’t be here today.

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