Todd Nelson
Sheldon Keefe
Darryl Sutter (If they can pry him out of retirement)
Dan Bylsma
Dave Tippett
Alain Vigenault
Scott Gordon
I believe the Flyers want a Defensive minded Coach, but a Coach that is familiar with winning. Bylsma of course won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. Sutter won 2 Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Both coaches had a taste of winning, and wouldn’t it be great if they can coerce Sutter out of retirement. Vigneault needs no introduction.
Fletcher wants to first off hire the right Head Coach to groom all this young talent. All this young talent that currently sits on their roster, but with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Fletcher wants a Head Coach that is familiar with winning, to bring that winning culture back into the locker room.
This Flyers team lacked an identity, and as a matter of fact, they have lacked an identity for the past 4-5 years. This is what the new Head Coach has to do. They have to get off to faster starts, have toughness again, grit, bring effort night in and night out. Too many times within the past 4-5 seasons some Flyers players lacked effort. In the past, if you lack effort, then you lose ice time. This is the culture that Fletcher speaks of, passion.
The Flyers lacked that voice in the locker room following the Wayne Simmonds trade. That was evident in the exit interviews this past weekend. As a matter of fact, Jakub Voracek touched a little bit on that. Fletcher needs to find a player(s) that can bring this locker room together. Claude Giroux stated this past weekend that he doesn’t take losing easy, and they weren’t “Consistent enough.” The Flyers need that Chris Pronger in the locker room, and right now it appears they don’t have that.
They will add this season for sure, but one thing Fletcher will do is bring this winning formula back to the orange and black. Go out hard every shift, show that passion, donning that Flyers sweater is an honor, this is what Fletcher will try to do this off-season.
Todd Nelson
Sheldon Keefe
Darryl Sutter (If they can pry him out of retirement)
Dan Bylsma
Dave Tippett
Alain Vigenault
Scott Gordon
2C:
Brock Nelson
Matt Duchene
Kevin Hayes
Joe Pavelski
Defencemen:
Tyler Myers
Erik Karlsson
Marc Methot
Jacob Trouba- Make an offer sheet as he’s an RFA
Jared Spurgeon- To acquire via trade
Hart’s backup Goaltender will be either Brian Elliott or Cam Talbot. Your exact questions are the blueprint for the Flyers off-season, as set forth by Fletcher in his closing presser. The Flyers will acquire some pieces for sure, but these 3 needs are the biggest ones to get right this off-season. Fletcher could snag a sniper at the trade deadline next season if need be.
The biggest need, in my opinion, is acquiring a Veteran Top 4 Defenseman, and one that hopefully is vocal on and off the ice. The locker room needs that voice, and this could go a long way in making this team a consistent hockey team again. The orange and black haven’t had that since the Chris Pronger days.
The most important part of the off-season is nailing the right coach. They need a coach that is a no non-sense coach that is a good communicator and gets along with their players. This is to include holding players accountable when need be. Hopefully, the new coach will implement a system of faster starts, better breakouts at even strength, and allows their Defencemen to join the rush.
There are two coaches I could see the Flyers grab and that is Alain Vigneault or Darryl Sutter. A free agent I would like is Kevin Hayes, and I personally would like Fletcher to go after an RFA in Jacob Trouba for a Top 4 Defenseman.
There are lots of options at pick 11. I would like to see Peyton Krebs fall to them, but Victor Soderstrom, Cole Caulfield, Arthur Kaliyev, Cam York, or Ryan Suzuki would be nice too. To me, the Wing position is of need, and I say the Flyers draft Caulfield at #11. Soderstrom and York are right behind that pick, as the Flyers have to restock the D pool. The Flyers will keep the pick, but make a trade at the draft.
I have not heard about any issues involving Catsen Twarynski. As a matter of fact he netted a goal in the Phantoms last game.
There are two coaches I could see the Flyers grab and that is Alain Vigneault or Darryl Sutter. I think Sutter is the next Head Coach of the Flyers. Sutter is a proven winner.
Top 4 Defencemen:
Tyler Myers
Erik Karlsson
Marc Methot
Anton Stralman
RFA: Jacob Trouba
2C:
Kevin Hayes
Brock Nelson
Matt Duchene
Joe Pavelski
Some possible draft targets at #11 are Victor Soderstrom, Ryan Suzuki, Cole Caulfield, Peyton Krebs, Arthur Kaliyev, or Cam York.
There is one player that comes to mind to be moved on the current roster, and that is no other than Shayne Gostisbehere. He could be moved to add a Top 4 Dman. To me, there are not many free agent Defencemen that scream “Get me.” Karlsson will want a ton of money, and he’s been injury prone the past few years, that is too much of a risk to take for me anyways.
Fletcher wants to first off hire the right Head Coach to groom all this young talent. All this young talent that currently sits on their roster, but with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Fletcher wants a Head Coach that is familiar with winning, to bring that winning culture back into the locker room.
This Flyers team lacked an identity, and as a matter of fact, they have lacked an identity for the past 4-5 years. This is what the new Head Coach has to do. They have to get off to faster starts, have toughness again, grit, bring effort night in and night out. Too many times within the past 4-5 seasons some Flyers players lacked effort. In the past, if you lack effort, then you lose ice time. This is the culture that Fletcher speaks of, passion.
The Flyers need a no non-sense Coach, that can communicate effectively, but get along with the players, as well. They need a Coach that has control of the room, a Defensive minded Coach. Communication is the key here.
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