Flyers Fans Already Failing To Understand What A Rebuild Is
I enjoyed attending the Flyers home opener on Saturday night despite the awful showing by the men in orange. The 3-0 defeat did little to spoil my overall optimism that…
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 17: Matvei Michkov #39 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena on October 17, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)I enjoyed attending the Flyers home opener on Saturday night despite the awful showing by the men in orange. The 3-0 defeat did little to spoil my overall optimism that the plan for a long-term rebuild “done right” is well underway. I’m not looking for a quick fix because after 50 years the numerous quick fixes landed this organization where they were a few years back.
They brought in Keith Jones and Danny Briere to slow-burn this thing. This isn’t a tear-down to the studs project. This is a bulldozing of the existing property and starting from the very foundation endeavor. Yet here we are with a large segment of the fan base already grousing over the slow start to the season. Let me share a few thoughts and I’ll try to be kind as many don’t seem to understand what a true rebuild entails.
Stop worrying about the Flyers record
I know many fans want a playoff berth as soon as possible and expect young players to immediately emerge as budding stars. It’s great to want that but it makes little sense if you have followed this league for a long time. It takes time and patience. It’s been 87 games of this “process” and the nonsense panic has set in with a segment of the fan base.
To the “Torts isn’t the guy crowd”
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)The man is a record holder for coaches in longest stretch of longevity with three franchises. I believe he will add a fourth to it here. Speak to others around the league (one in which I worked in over twelve seasons) and to people around the Flyers organization it’s clear that building a foundation is what Tortorella does best. He’s old school, but he’s also legendary at it. In three previous stops, he left the organizations far better than where he found them. This will be his fourth.
A few rebuild facts
Just a few pointers that will help you get through this time without losing your mind and sounding silly on social media.
- Catering to cherished veterans is not part of the agenda. In a true rebuild, they become coveted assets to deal. Playing them more is for nothing more than building up their value.
- The goaltending situation isn’t good enough for this team to “win” anything. It’s a talent issue and there are goaltenders in the pipeline that are higher rated than Ersson and Fedotov. Until they are ready, you can’t expect a team to accomplish much.
- The Flyers already would hold five picks in the first 70 players drafted in the 2025 NHL Draft, including two first-rounders and two second-rounders. They also will have lots of cap space opening this summer and next. I’ll read the tea leaves for you. It’s not about “winning” in 2024-25. In fact I expect them to unload some more veteran talent along the way to add more draft capital and financial flexibility.
- When they return Jett Luchanko to the Juniors understand what Tortorella did. They sent a message to all of their organization that hard work will be recognized and rewarded. Luchanko never expected to be a Flyer this season. This was a great pat on the back. Now go play with kids your age and hone your skill set. This kid will be a piece later.
As Aaron Rodgers famously said…R-E-L-A-X
Just a public service announcement so the dialogue on a rebuild can be more patient, thoughtful and informed. If you want to just be angry, the Flyers are going to provide you with plenty of ammo!
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Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers will still bring up losing Patrick Sharp, Justin Williams, or Sergei Bobrovsky before their prime NHL seasons. However, the conversations don’t include the best trades in Flyers history often enough.
The Flyers haven’t won a Stanley Cup in half a century. However, their competitive history in the top tier of the NHL has required some savvy moves.
Best Flyers Trades
Top NHL talent like Eric Lindros and John LeClair wore the orange and black during their prime seasons in the 1990s. Bobby Clarke also needed to add more talent around them, however, and some legendary trades did just that.
Some of the biggest contributors that helped the Flyers to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 came to the organization through savvy trades by Paul Holmgren. Two of those contributors, however, actually brought back more in the trades that sent them out of Philadelphia.
While Ron Hextall didn’t accomplish his goals after a sluggish rebuild, he still made at least one deal with major long-term benefits for the Flyers.
Danny Briere hasn’t made his mark on Flyers history just yet, but the young GM has an opportunity to land some future names on the list.
You know plenty about the worst, but what are the best trades the Flyers have made since 1990?
8. Landing Chris Pronger
June 26, 2009
Flyers Get: Chris Pronger, Ryan Dingle
Anaheim Ducks Get: Luca Sbisa, Joffrey Lupul, 1st-Round Pick in 2009 (John Moore), 1st-Round Pick in 2010 (Emerson Etum), future considerations
Full Breakdown of the Chris Pronger Trade
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images7. The Wildest Trade Tree You've Ever Seen
July 2, 2001
Flyers Get: 2nd-Round Pick in 2002 (sent to Tampa Bay Lightning), 1st-Round Pick in 2003 (Jeff Carter)
Phoenix Coyotes Get: Daymond Langkow
Full Breakdown of the Daymond Langkow Trade
Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport6. Ron Hextall's Savviest Set Of Moves
February 27, 2015
Flyers Get: 2nd-Round Pick in 2015, Conditional 4th-Round Pick in 2016
Chicago Blackhawks Get: Kimmo Timonen
March 2, 2015
Flyers Get: Radko Gudas, 1st-Round Pick in 2015, 3rd-Round Pick in 2015 (Matej Tomek)
Tampa Bay Lightning Get: Braydon Coburn
June 26, 2015
Flyers Get: 1st-Round Pick (Travis Konecny)
Toronto Maple Leafs Get: 1st Round Pick (from Braydon Coburn trade), 2nd-Round Pick (from Kimmo Timonen trade)
Full Breakdown of the Trades That Brought Travis Konecny to the Flyers
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images5. Rod The Bod
September 22, 1991
Flyers Get: Rod Brind’Amour, Dan Quinn
St. Louis Blues Get: Ron Sutter, Murray Baron
Full Breakdown of the Rod Brind’Amour Trade
Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport4. A Controversial Set Of Moves
June 23, 2011
Flyers Get: Jakub Voracek, 1st-Round Pick in 2011 (Sean Couturier), 3rd-Round Pick in 2011 (Nick Cousins)
Columbus Blue Jackets Get: Jeff Carter
June 23, 2011
Flyers Get: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, 2nd-Round Pick in 2012 (traded to Dallas Stars)
Los Angeles Kings: Mike Richards, Rob Bordson
Full Breakdown of the Jeff Carter & Mike Richards Saga
Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images3. Back With A Vengeance
February 15, 2007
Flyers Get: Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, 1st-Round Pick in 2007 (traded back to Nashville Predators), 3rd-Round Pick in 2007 (traded to Washington Capitals)
Nashville Predators Get: Peter Forsberg
June 18, 2007
Flyers Get: Rights to pending UFAs Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen
Nashville Predators Get: 1st-Round Pick in 2007 (sent to Flyers four months earlier)
Full Breakdown of the Retool That Brought the Flyers Back to Stanley Cup Contention
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images2. The Biggest Blockbuster in NHL History?
June 20, 1992
Flyers Get: Eric Lindros
Quebec Nordiques Get: Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, 1st-Round Pick in 1993 (Jocelyn Thibault), 1st-Round Pick in 1994 (Nolan Baumgartner), $15 million
Full Breakdown of the Eric Lindros Trade
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images1. Building the 1990s Core
February 9, 1995
Flyers Get: John LeClair, Eric Desjardins, Gilbert Dionne
Montreal Canadiens Get: Mark Recchi, 3rd-Round Pick in 1995 (Martin Hohenberger)
Full Breakdown of a Full-Circle Trade
Photos by Robert Laberge /Allsport; Len Redkoles/Getty Images
