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S2:Ep5 - FLYERS KIDS SHOCK AVALANCHE - Oct 19th,2026 · Hattrick's Unofficial Flyers Podcast

• Rick Mullen: Hey everybody, welcome to Hat Trick's Unofficial Flyers Podcast. I'm Rick Mullen, and we are going to be talking about the Red Hot Philadelphia Flyers who won their last two games. What a win. What a win last night. I'm still fired up about this win. And you know, let's talk. So the Flyers last we spoke were 0 6 3. They're currently now 2 6 3. They beat the Ottawa Senators 3 1. And they beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. And the Colorado Avalanche, hands down, is a Stanley Cup contending team, very gifted team. And the Flyers went into that game with a bunch of AHL players. Never saw this coming. Thought the Flyers were going to get wiped up. And guess what? They did not. The Flyers actually looked really good in that game. They opened a lot of eyes, I think, in this organization. I know it's just a small sample size. But I think they opened a lot of eyes in this organization with just how good or how much potential some of these kids have. The the Flyers were shorthanded. They lost Risto, TK, Tippett, Forster. None of them played. They had to bring up Nuble, Bump, Gauchier, and Bonk and fill them in throughout the lineup. When you looked at the lineup, yeah, you just looked at it and thought there's no way this lineup is going to compete tonight against the Colorado Avalanche and they they did. They took it to the Avalanche. They played so well. They for checked. They played in all the dirty areas. They they really, really did extremely better than I think most of us thought they were going to do. And that's kind of what I want to talk about right now. It watching that game, I I think I cheered harder that game than any other game this year, rightfully so. Because, you know, we were complete underdogs and we were taking it to the Aves. And not only were we taking it to the Aves, we were taking it to them with a bunch of kids. A bunch of kids. And I and I think I l I'd love to see more sample size on these kids. I get them, more games and more time on the ice just to see what we got. Because they could come out and play the other night and do real well. The next game they could come out and play and do terrible. So two games won't be enough. You need to see a few games out of them. don't know if they have the time there, if these vets come back. but would like to see a couple more games with these kids just to see how they can do and can they keep it up. Because I did not once look at that game last night and miss TK or tip it or forced or I didn't miss them. I didn't miss them, which is crazy because I thought I would, but there wasn't any opportunity to miss them. everyone on our team was doing great. They were getting shots. They were skating. They were four-checking. They were winning board battles. fantastic game. You definitely, definitely a good game. So with that said, that that kind of lit a fire out in social media. There's a tons of tons of podcasters and reports out there now that you know, with their kids coming up and playing like they did, that these vets are probably not needed as much as we think. And maybe we would be able to get rid of one or two of these guys and fill in like one of those center holes. So there's been a few articles with TK attached to Caleb De Noyere from The Mammoth. He's connect connected to Banaires over in with the Kraken. not not like a ton. It's not saying, hey, you know, it's TK and this and that for this one, it's or this one for TK, and none of that. Just basically general conversations are supposedly being done right now for a possible TK move. And then other articles are saying that. Certain teams are actually still looking at Tippett. They're more interested in Tippet and Forster. So there's a lot of there's a lot of smoke right now around a couple of these guys being moved. And there's so many forward wingers that the Flyers have to do something. They really do. If it's not this year, it's gotta be maybe the very end of this year, but definitely by next year, we have an overabundance. of wingers and Danny's gonna have to do something. Right now might be one of the best times to move people like this, players like this. now that the Flyers are winning a few games, maybe, maybe we don't look as desperate, possibly. But in the Colorado Avalanche game, there were I I think I read there was like eight to ten teams in the NHL that sent scouts out to that game. So they were looking at us heavily. So I think there's a lot of lot of smoke and and I think hopefully pretty soon that something's gonna give. And I'm on the record that I like TK, I always have. I think he did very well for us, but I think we're at that crossroads with him now with his age and his contract that it would be better to move him, get some help at the slots we need, and let these kids play because they obviously have shown right now so far that they can. And I'd like to see it. I I really would. So hang tight on that. I think we're gonna have a lot of different things happening over the next few maybe days or weeks. I think a lot of this stuff that's happening right now or or not happening with the Flyers is because of Larkin and the Quinn Hughes situation. I think Quinn's not gonna make a decision until they see how the wild ends up. I don't think anybody is going to come after like TK yet with an offer until Larkin's off the table. So I I think the the first nail to like get droven into a coffin here would be getting the Larkin trade out of the way. And then I think that would open the door for us to be able to move a TK Tippet or whoever that might be. So I'm anxiously waiting. I think we all are. I think we all know it has to be done. And we're I can I think we're kind of tired of talking about trying to get this one C or two C and it's it's time. I think it's time. I think doing it now, whoever we bring in, gives them this whole entire year to gel with this group of guys. So it puts us a little ahead of the game that instead of waiting till the end of the season and then bringing them in at the end of the season and then him starting at a job then. I I think we get a little bit of a jump start on on that process with these kids. So I'm really hoping something happens relatively soon. I I am. I I don't think I would mind seeing Veneers here at all. you know, Day Noye is something different. Like he's still down in the in the minors. He's not playing, I don't believe, in the NHL. So he would definitely have to come in here and earn his ice time. But what if we could get both of them? Wouldn't be too bad of a thing, right? Like maybe we do a TK for Denares, and then we do maybe a tip at plus or something or along those lines for Desnoyers. And that kind of puts us in a totally different position. Like we're we're now we're looking pretty good. We got a two three for sure, right away going into next year, and then there's still plenty of time in the offseason maybe to maybe to grab a one C finally. So I I think two quick moves could be made where we could fill that, one-two with maybe Bonair's Denoye, and then the third goes to one of our guys and the miners going into next year. So this could change quickly, just according to who they move and what they get back. This team could look completely different down the middle of the ice with two two trades if the Flyers choose to move on from TK and Tippet or Forrester. All right. So We are playing the Sabres tonight. We have a game tonight against the Sabres. it doesn't look like any of the guys are coming back. So it looks like we're gonna probably be rolling with that same lineup going into the game. So anxious to see what they do tonight against another team. I think it's one of those games where they had a good game. Now they can go back out there and show if it was just a fluke or if these kids got some skills. But it's nice that we have back the you know. again again half quickly just a day later to get these kids back on the ice and see what we got. So with that said, Let's talk about our goaltending. if you if you look at our goaltending right now, I I would 100% put out there that the Flyers have probably the best, if not, you know, the top three or four tandems on the market right now between Wall and Vladar. Wall had played last night against the Aves and he looked really, really good. I mean, really good. He played really strong. He controlled his rebounds. he was aggressive. He he did a Great job. You know, he got he got one blown past him because of it. I I think it was a screen and it was a hell of a shot. It was a really good shot. You know, the ch the what do they call it? The puckhead eyes. And and just found that top shelf. And, you know, that's hard. Like it's almost impossible to save shots like that. So but as a whole, you know, our our goalies look great this year. we don't have any kind of problem with like trying to play Vladar too much and then biting our fingernails every time we would put Urson in. It's really nice to actually watch games and see consistency out of our two goalies and and not have to worry about them, you know, at all. I I think that was a really good move on the offseason by Danny. I I think he got Wall pretty cheap. And, you know, Wall is actually a really, really good goal tagger. If he can stay healthy, I know he had a lot of problems up in Toronto staying healthy, but If he can stay healthy, this this guy can play. And it sounds like he fits right into the locker room. Him and Vladar are friendly. They're not having any issues. I think I think it's really, really a good thing for the Flyers fans, knowing that we have a really strong one two option here in case one doesn't do well one night. I think we have a a great backup. So I think that's one thing off our list that we have to worry about. And hope and I know the season's still early, but if they stay this way, I I don't foresee any issues having a one-two of Wall and Vladar or Vladar and Wall, however it shakes out. Rick Tocket. Let's let's jump into Rick Tocket conversations. So it's it to me, to me, it's harder to talk about. Rick Tockett and Matt Vame Mishkoff when we're winning. And hopefully this makes sense. Matt Van Mishkoff, hands down, right now, is the Flyers best player on the ice. No doubt about it. The kid is playing defense. He is the only one taking ice, open ice in the offensive zone. And he's not just going down the boards. He's cutting through the middle. He's creative. He's going behind the net. He's doing everything, everything that's being asked of him, plus, in my opinion. This kid is finding guys that are open. And the guys he's finding open are unable to score. like right now on a good team, he'd probably have at least seven or eight assists on top of the what, six goals that he has that he's leading our team with. So his points are a little down because his line mates aren't able to sink pucks. You see him and Martin gelling something incredible. So what do they call it? The MM line. And they're doing really well. really well. I I think they read off each other very well. I think Matt Vay has such a high IQ, hockey IQ, and Martone does too, that it's a good mix. Because there are other guys on this team that just can't read what Matt Vay's doing and they're not supporting him the way they should. Martone seems to get it some. And so I think it's a really good mix. It it would be fantastic to find a good center for them like a Binair's. I think that would help that line incredibly. just be that much better. And, you know, you don't know until they're on the ice. you know, I when I was playing through the years, it would make sense that you would gel with certain people when, when you got on the ice, it didn't. So anything can happen on the ice, but just from a a look in, Beneers is fast and speedy, s Mishkov can move inside that zone pretty well. Martone is a front net presence and a shooter. And Beneers is a a passer too. So he's pretty creative. So I think the three of them together would do really well. And and I'm anxious until we we get a center for them a true center you know cates is trying his best you know cates isn't the the best long term option here at all he's just filling a a stop gap until we get somebody so I'm hoping they get somebody soon and they don't waste these two kids. hopefully they get them soon and they can start working together as a line and learning how to gel with each other for as long as possible. But when you look at what Tock it's doing and this is where it's like a little picky, right? Mishkopf was getting barely any ice time when we were losing. And he looked like one of our best player. No, I'm sorry, he looked like our best player on the ice many nights. And he got short shifted. He was doing like twelve, thirteen minutes, something along those lines. And you know, Takett rightfully so was getting called out on it. They were asking him, like, you know, yeah, we're not winning, but you know, you see Mattfee creating and why not give him more ice time? Tock it even didn't put him on the power play one. he would put Bunning up there, and Mishkov was getting power play two, even though Mishkov has way more upside potential. Wasn't getting the chance. So jump ahead a few games now, especially last night against the Avs. Mishkov looked phenomenal. Like Mishkov was all over the place. He had two goals. he looked fantastic. Him and Martone are doing really well together. And you know, you look at it and you think. This is our best lines hand our best line hands down. There's nobody close to what they're doing out on the ice at all. And you look at the numbers at the end of the game, and I think Mishkov got like fourteen nine, something like that. I think Martone I think Martin came in just a little under maybe, or just a little over But for some reason I'm thinking Martone, I don't have the numbers right in front of me. But Martin was, I think, like right around thirteen something. But there's so many other guys that are getting more ice time than them and not contributing in any way, shape, or form. Like Achari's up there with ice time. I I don't understand it. I don't understand it. And when Talk was asked about it, Toc's answer was, you know, we're trying to shield him and put him out there. Mark I'm talking Mishkov. We're trying to shield him and put him out there, you know, when it makes the most sense. And you know, he got like fifteen, sixteen minutes. That's what Tox said. And and no, he didn't. He didn't get 15 or 16 minutes. He got 1409, I believe, right around there. So he was well under the other two minutes that talk said he got. And I don't I don't even think Matt Vay was shielded at all. I don't I don't think Tocket did any shielding from Matt Vay. Like when Matt Vay was out there, he was up against McKinnon and McCarr, and that's when he scored one of his goals. He skated through or McCarr. McCart was chasing him, and he skated around McKinnon and then threw a blind shot on the net because the goalie couldn't see it. There he had like a couple layers deep of screens. And he made a perfect wrist shot, floated it towards the right side of the net and and it went in. And that was against the Av's top line. So that that to me doesn't make any sense. I I I think I really think that Mishkov has proven what he is And he's only going to get better. He is going to get better. it's hard. I mean, it's unbelievable to think that. Like he was horrible last year, absolutely horrible, and still put up fifty-one points. And then he goes into this year, and he's in fantastic shape. He's got great legs and he's doing everything possible to win games. And he has put this team on his back and he's carrying them. And I think Rick Tocket needs to give him more time and stop making excuses. You know There comes a point in time when a a kid shows what he can do, not just says it, but shows it. And then once he shows it, then you can give him more responsibility. And he has been showing it. And it's his time to get more responsibility. And if you move him up and you get him 17, 18 minutes a night and he can't handle it, you can always bring him back down to 16. But he should not be getting anything less than 16 minutes of ice time. Nothing less. You know, thirteen, fourteen minutes isn't enough. Now There's other things going on here that I wanted to talk about. I don't I'm not sure if everyone's even seeing this, but there there's like a bunch of reports out there and no one no one said who it is or anything like that. There's just like these these reports out there that guys didn't want to play with Matheve Mishkov. And and I'm assuming this was last year because he was making mistakes and he was turning over the puck and I didn't want to play with him. And I don't see rookies saying things like that, you know, to the coach. I do I do feel there's certain guys like and I don't know I'm just speculating here but like your your captains and assistant captains like your TKs and Coots who could say something like that to a coach and maybe get away with it, right? But there's rumors that there's guys and and again they're not listed who they are. a lot of social media people are calling these people rats because they didn't want to play with Mishkov. And I think it's really sad. Like I get he was playing horrible last year and Tocket was all over him and Mishkov rightfully so admitted it was his fault. he didn't prepare the way he should have. It was his fault. He put himself in a bad position and he couldn't get out of it. But he lived up to his word. And this year he worked out hard. He trained hard. He lost like twenty, thirty pounds. He worked out with Pennerin and all over in Russia. They did everything he did everything he could to get better. And come back out here and show what he has this year. And he's showed it this whole season so far. He showed it. But what bugs me most is if there's any accuracy to these rumors that these guys were saying they didn't want to play with them. And if they are veterans on this team, like a TK or a Coots, I really hope to God that Danny Briere lets both of them go. Let them Both go because they are not the kind of leaders that this team needs. Now, I see things that say maybe it wasn't them. Like I do see TK talking about him and you know at the end of the year, how he would, you know, how how could he come over here? He can't speak English, it's hard for him, he's in a new country, he can't communicate. He said all the right things. Katourier said all the right things to the news as well. Katourier even think I had him on the ice a little bit, like doing drills with him last year. I'm not sure if he's still doing that this year or not, but he was. if behind the scenes these two guys were then saying, I don't want to be with him, then I really hope that Danny Brere moves these guys off the team because we don't need that on this team. No team needs that, especially from your veterans. These veterans should have done better, much better. So whoever they are, whoever they were. I hope they're moved because this team needs a new voice. Because if this stuff was happening and it wasn't Katourier or TK, then to Katourier and TK should have stood up and defended them, went to the coach, and they should have given him more time and and and fixed this problem internally. Maybe that did happen. Again, nobody knows. But in my opinion, any of the people who said they didn't want to play with him. shouldn't be on this team. And I hope they're moved. I think it's relevant to a healthy team. I think things like this internally are kind of leaked a little bit, like Tacit's saying the team's too comfortable, they're too this, they're too that. And a lot of times that comes from the the the veteran players because they're the ones that should be coming in and saying, you know, ready in camp, like. We gotta get in shape. We don't look good. If they see somebody who's not skating to the way they should be, they need to get all over them. Like, listen, you didn't work out hard enough. The season's like a week away. You gotta get into this right now and get your head straight. Yeah, you need that leadership from your vets. But it sounds like from like a lot of the talking interviews and a lot of what people are saying is this team was too comfortable. There's actually rumors out there that most of them came into camp out of shape, but no one wants to say it. because they can't, they can't say because of all the drama from last year with Mishkov. So any of these people, and I'm still I'm really mad about this because any of these guys that were vets for this team looked like absolute crap this year. They did. And they you know they did. They all look like crap to start this year off. If they were picking on Matt Vay Mishkov last year because he was out of shape and not ready to play, and said they didn't want to play with him, and then you jump into this year And they did the same thing and nobody's calling them out, that's terrible. That's terrible for this team. It sends a terrible message. If I was Mad May, I'd be like, why am I sitting here doing all this that I just got in trouble for last year? And these guys are doing it this year, and nothing's being said. And they're not getting benched, they're getting played, they're not being scratched. I don't get it. I I I think I think internally, when you look at the start this team had. I think that might have been the problem, that these guys were out of shape, they weren't ready to play. Take, however, made it worse because he was leaning on these guys and giving them a lot of ice time because of the vets. They're maybe they're the core of team. And they couldn't they couldn't compete because they weren't ready yet. Meanwhile, Mishkoff was ready. Martin was looking a little off, but when he went with Mishkoff, they looked better. And Takit didn't make that adjustment to give them more ice time. So terrible message is being sent in that locker room. Because there are some leaks coming out that it's possibly what we just talked about, that they weren't ready to play, they weren't in shape, they won't admit it. And yet those guys are getting nice time ahead of Mishkoff. It's a disgrace. It should never happen. And if I was Danny Briere, like I said, this drama seems to follow this team every year with every coach. You know, the players want the coach fired and they got torts fired, I guess rightfully so. They didn't play well for years, so they brought tort torts in because they wanted Torts to light them up and hold them accountable, which he did. And then they get rid of Torts. And then they go into last year, everyone's picking on Matt V. Mishkov. rightfully so. Again, Matt V Mishkov admitted it. And then they go into this year, and these soft players, veteran players, are the same thing. They're terrible, they're not in shape, they weren't pushed, and it's it's it's awful. So I would love to see this drama stopped and gone. And I think the only way to do that is to to move the two voices out of that room, which would be Katourier and TK, and have a reset on leadership on this team. Give these kids time to play. Give them ample time to play and learn to gel together. Bring in those pieces, those one C, two Cs if you can, with the trading of TK. but Katourier is probably somebody who I don't think they can get rid of. I wish they could. I I don't think anyone's gonna pay for him. I I watched him do a shift the other day and he he fell and he tried to get up and you could see he couldn't get up, so he had to stick his stick on his knee and push himself up because he couldn't get off the ice. he couldn't get up off the ice. he he's he's just he's old, he's washed, in my opinion. He doesn't have the legs or stamina. Maybe he gets better as the year goes by, but I doubt it. I think Ketourier needs needs to be moved. Definitely. Definitely. In my opinion, there's too much going on on the ice with Katourier and then too much happening in that locker room with Katourier as as captain. So that's just my two cents. I could be wrong, but if you look at everything as a whole and what happened, I think it makes a lot of sense that there's things happening there on this team internally that didn't need to happen and shouldn't have happened, but the leadership of this team let it. And they and they should be removed. And and we should get a new voice and leader in that locker room. All right. So anyhow, with that said, let let's look forward to tonight's game against the Boston. I'm sorry, the Buffalo Savers. anxious to see how they play against the the Sabres. The Sabres are like hot and cold. They could turn on really strong one game and then the next game they're struggling. their goaltending was it has been all has been somewhat okay. like fifty fifty. Some games are he's looking good. Uka pick a lot to in or whatever. He's looking pretty good. and then other games he's not. So there's definitely an opportunity here for the Flyers to get that third win of the year. I'm definitely going to be watching this game, cheering on the kids. I w I want to see another game and see how they do. And then we'll talk about it again later this week. So until then, go Flyers.