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Odds are, if you’re like most people reading this, you haven’t sat down to watch a full NHL hockey game in a significant number of years.
If, on the other hand, you’ve stuck by the NHL while it’s done everything to crater itself the last two decades, welcome to my TED Talk!
The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the league’s biggest brands and most prestigious franchises.
Their two Stanley Cups in the 1970s put the organization on the map and the Broadstreet Bullies became an international brand.Now, however, the Philadelphia Flyers are an abject disaster. They’re one of the worst teams in the NHL (again). They have no elite talent out of (maybe) goaltender Carter Hart, and they have absolutely no cap space thanks to massive long-term contracts given out to mediocre or outright bad (hello, Rasmus Ristolainen) players.
The only conceivable way forward for the franchise is to tank, and to do so for multiple seasons.
But general manager Chuck Fletcher, who only has a job in the NHL because of his famous father, opted against that. Instead, Fletcher tried something called “an aggressive retool.”
Surprise, surprise, that didn’t work. The Flyers are once again one of the league’s worst teams and Fletcher’s seat is searing hot.
Philly currently has the fifth-fewest points in the league in a year with one of the best NHL Draft classes in recent memory. At the head of that class is Canadian superstar Connor Bedard, who everybody wants.
Connor. Bedard. Wow.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/M6ie1gabqI
— TSN (@TSN_Sports)
Everybody, in this case, includes Flyers fans.
Philadelphia Flyers Fans Are Furious With Their Team For Being Awful At Tanking
While there are at least 3-4 clear top talents in the draft, Bedard is the crown jewel. And the lower you finish, the better your odds are of landing the top pick via the NHL Draft Lottery.
The Flyers headed west on Sunday night to face the San Jose Sharks, who are equally awful. San Jose entered the night with one less point than Philadelphia.
The Sharks raced out to a 3-1 lead in the contest, however, and looked set to come away with two big points. But then the Flyers chipped away. Philadelphia winger Owen Tippett cut the lead to 3-2 early in the third period. Then 2020 NHL All-Star Travis Konecny tied the game with 2:05 left in regulation after the Flyers had pulled their goaltender.
In the overtime period, free-agent acquisition Tony DeAngelo scored the game-winning goal for Philadelphia. It was the Flyers’ first overtime victory of the season after six prior attempts. And fans were livid…
The Flyers can’t even tank right…
— Torts Parody (@RagingTorts)
… Down 3-1 and can’t even TANK correctly to a team you need to pass you…. My God @ComcstSpectacor @Comcast #FueledByPhilly
— Distraught Flyers Fan (@DistraughtFlyer)
Flyers can’t even tank right, my hatred for this team burns so extremely deep lol all I want is Bedard
— maxeysznn – TOPPERPilled (@maxeysznn)
You guys seriously went for a meaningless W over building for the future??? pic.twitter.com/j5mwW1mqjb
— Snazzilla (@Snazzilla)
Real smart guys. Keep winning OT games so you can finish 27 and miss out on a top 3 pick this year. Great stuff. Please fire Chuck.
— Chucky Fletcher (Official) (@chilldron)
Can’t do anything right ugh
— Joey Tarlini (@Joey_Tarlini)
Again, the Philadelphia Flyers are an abject disaster.
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