Philadelphia Flyers
Suddenly, Flyers Have Lots of RW Talent; Trade in Works?
The Philadelphia Flyers, finishing off another playoff-less season, don’t have too many areas of strength.
But they are getting there.
Especially at right wing.
Tyson Foerster’s strong showing in his six games with the Flyers — and coach John Tortorella’s raves about him — make the right winger a good bet to be a regular next season.
“We’re beginning to build a foundation; it’s really encouraging to me,” Tortorella said after the Flyers defeated Florida, 6-3, on Tuesday. “And I’ve said it many times with this kid Tyson. I’m trying to be careful, but each time I watch him, I say, ‘Man, theres another piece that maybe falls into place next year for us.”
Foerster’s impressive NHL play (five points, plus-1 in six games) albeit in a small sample size, coupled with Owen Tippett’s emergence, suddenly has the Flyers loaded at right wing.
Will they trade one of them this summer to help other areas of need?
Deep group
Here is the deep group:
Travis Konecny: He still could return late in the season, but before being injured he had a career-high 27 goals in 52 games. The winger just turned 26 and is in his prime. Will the Flyers keep him or try to “sell high” to help their rebuild?
Cam Atkinson: The Flyers’ MVP after scoring 23 goals last season, Atkinson has missed the entire campaign and had neck surgery on Dec. 21. He will turn 34 on June 5, and his best days are behind him, but he is considered a valuable mentor to the young players.
Owen Tippett: He has had a breakout season with 21 goals, and his speed and shot make him a big part of the future, perhaps as a cornerstone if he keeps developing. Tippett is just 24 and coming into his own.
Tyson Foerster: Speaking of big shots, Foerster, 21, may have the hardest one in the organization. In his six games with the Flyers, Foerster has also displayed great poise with the puck and a penchant for blocking shots. The kid looks ready, and Tortorella is gloating about him.
Wade Allison: While Tortorella has been praising Foerster, he has been blunt about the 25-year-old Allison. “Always hurt,” he said the other day. He said it nine times. There’s no doubting Allison’s tenacity and his scoring ability, but he needs to be able to stay on the ice much more frequently.
Bobby Brink: The diminutive right winger has 19 points (8-11) in 31 games with the Phantoms this season, and he will battle for a job with the Philadelphia Flyers in training camp. Brink (5-foot-8, 166 pounds), who turns 22 in July, may get a look-see with Philly at some point in the final 12 games.
If the Flyers try to deal one of their right wingers, they need help at center, left wing and defense.
The center spot will be bolstered greatly if Sean Couturier returns from back surgery and is his productive self, and Cutter Gauthier is deemed ready to contribute after an outstanding freshman season at Boston College.
Next year’s goaltending looks set, with Carter Hart as the No. 1 — unless interim GM Danny Briere is given an offer he cannot refuse — and promising Sam Ersson as the likely No. 2.
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I don’t think Ersson is the backup next season. Sandstrom still has another year on his contract and Ersson is still waiver exempt. Let Ersson continue to develop in the AHL as the full time starter (assuming the new GM isn’t foolish enough to trade Carter Hart.
I’d be ok with trading Konecny as he should generate a lot of value, only has 2 years left on his contract, and will be a UFA after that. DO NOT even think of trading Tippett or Foerster. Both have size, speed and are young enough to keep around for “the rebuild” everyone has been screaming for.
Tippett has speed. Foerster not as much.
Trade Atkinson if he ever becomes healthy and Allison if possible.
I think Tippett, Foerster, and Cates are solid building blocks for the future. Lemieux was a throw-in on that trade but I’m liking what I am seeing from him so far, too.
I was not happy when they passed on Cole Caufield in the draft to take York and then Brink. Caufield has 26 goals in 46 games with a poor Montreal team this season. Brink has 8 goals in 31 AHL games. York may turn into a serviceable defenseman but if Brink is a bust that will be another poor drafting decision.
Mysterious Injury Atkinson (MIA) just needs to go away at this point. They won’t get anything for him. I’d rather not have to hear about him anymore.
Konecny breaks through with 27 goals in 52 games and he’s only 26 and there’s talk about trading him? He brings excitement, competitiveness, and scoring. Duh, I think we keep him.
Allison, Farabee, Frost – hold them into next season to see if there’s further development unless there’s a decent offer.
Hayes goes. JVR goes.
The miss IMO was Mathew Boldy, not Cole Caufield. To soon to say Brink is a bust. He had major surgery on his hip and missed half the season. He also has 11 assists in those 31 games but missing the entire summer and half the AHL season doesn’t help. That he’s stayed healthy since coming back is the big thing. I’ll wait to see how he performs in the playoffs assuming the Phantoms get in.
Yep. I’m not writing him off yet but Caufield is already quite productive. Boldy would have been a great pick also as he is scoring and has good size. At the time, Caufield was rated higher and was the expected pick.
You’re talking out of pocket but that’s only because you aren’t in the known. You only get to read about the overzealous Tort’s hyping TK up as if they have a good relationship… Reality starting with fans, you are in no shape or form worthy of using TK in future model’s. Internally he is gone, like Hart they don’t like Tort’s or his vision.
what a stupid thing to say; most of these guys are TOTALLY unproven; i am shicked and you lose credibility by saying this
I have been saying that Foerster should have made the team from the get-go. Tortorella is awful at analyzing young talent and chose to keep him off the team. Some players need time to develop in the AHL, but some need to be placed in NHL to show they can play at that speed. They don’t need to trade young talent. That is just stupid. Stop playing your centers on the wing, and you wouldn’t need centers. Coots, Gauthier, Frost, and Laughton next year. Maybe Jackson Cates or Tanner Laczynski play center next year as well. Whatever you do, do not trade young talent to bring in an older center, if this is a rebuild.