That's great and all. Which among those three Norris candidates is going to be available for trade? Even if LA or St Louis or Ottawa is struggling, those guys are young enough to be kept and used as cornerstones for those teams.

The one option might be Subban, and I'm all for trying to land him. But it's not going to be cheap and Montreal may not be willing to move him anyhow, despite the contract impasse.
- Jsaquella

I'd be all for trading for Subban as long as we didn't overpay, but I also think Montreal would be mad to let him go. Our best option IMO is a trade forwards for a Dman or suffer through this year and draft a dman.. No more of this draft the best player available even if it's a forward nonsense.

Give it 5 more games. If they continue to lose I think "selling" might not be the worst idea out there.
- hereticpride

I give it 10 games.. if we're at .500 great.. if we're 1-9 then start planning for next year.

Its ok we will have 5 or 6 more cups at that point. It is just a shame we havnt won one since 1975..... o wait.
- nbartley9

Whatta good guy you are. 5 0r 6 cups in 10 years? Thats pretty funny stuff.

I give it 10 games.. if we're at .500 great.. if we're 1-9 then start planning for next year.
- Hextall271

Ill be honest.. we really dont have that much we can sell without really hurting the team.

Some hockey systems..

1-2-2
2-1-2
3-2
1-1-3 (tampa uses this from time to time)

I honestly dont know what our system is. We normally have 1 guy forchecking and the other 4 wandering around imo..

Our d dont pinch, mostly bc I think they cant.

Our team doesnt move as a team. They move as two seperate units while on the ice. Nj/det move as a single unit.

Why dont you prove to me that you understand what a system is before we delve into this. So I know where your educational lvl is.

When I played hockey all the coach talked about was the system the system.. play our system.. for something that doesnt mean much coaches talk about it a lot
- Flyersgod

So if the Flyers were playing a different system, they would automatically be moving as a team Ths issues with breakdowns and players not being in position would automatically be fixed, and they automatically start scoring goals and winning games. What I know about systems is that regardless of which systems you play, it requires effort, determination, and execution from players. No system is worth squat without it.
A system is a group of strategies such as a forechecking scheme, where the team reacts and attacks the puck depending on what the team with the puck does. How they attack a D to D pass, a D reversal, A rim, side breakout, center breakout etc. All of these strategies are tied together. Forecheck, neutral zone, defensive zone, PP, PK.
The Flyers play a lot of 2-3 Press forecheck and weakside lock forecheck.

And if you don't know what system the Flyers play. How could you possibly know that they have to change it? I think regardless of what system the Flyers play, they simply need to play better. And chancing the system, isn't automatically going to solve that.

Remember when flyer players use to block shots with their faces? You never see anyone trying to block shots anymore. Feds did last night. Sacrifice is needed to win games.

These guys are always thinking offense..
- Flyersgod

I guess you missed Matt Read laying out to block a Point blast last night.

We still have tons of depth to pull off big deals. It just that no one wants to move B Schenn or Couturier in any deal.
- hereticpride

Because you get pennys on the dollar so to speak for them. Teams don't trade good young puck moving defensemen unless it is a drastic overpayment. So you end up with Couturier + for a 2nd tier dmen or an aging veteran. Look how much they gave up for Pronger, and he was 34 years old, about to turn 35.

Ill be honest.. we really dont have that much we can sell without really hurting the team.
- jak521

Breire (if you could find a taker) Schenn, or even Read would be starting points for me if I were the Flyers. You have a enourmous amount of talent that can play center. which tends to be a weakness on a lot of teams

I think we all know the team is capable of better execution. That can be taught. You cant make the D men any faster. You just cant. I think thats why it keeps getting brought up.
- hereticpride

From the 2nd period on last night, the Devils were the better team, and seemed like a much faster team getting to the puck, and checking the Flyers all over the ice. I'm wondering who are the speedsters on NJ Defense. Andy Greene, Volchenkov, Salvador?

I hope you are right. If im right we will lose one of the best coaches the flyers have had. Execution is def an issue. But does that explain not being able to beat tight defensive teams like boston/nyr/tbl
- Flyersgod

Yes it does explain it. Lokk back to game 6 agains the Pens in the playoffs last year. And how the Flyers suffocated the Pens and were on them all over the ice. They played the same system.

So if the Flyers were playing a different system, they would automatically be moving as a team Ths issues with breakdowns and players not being in position would automatically be fixed, and they automatically start scoring goals and winning games. What I know about systems is that regardless of which systems you play, it requires effort, determination, and execution from players. No system is worth squat without it.
A system is a group of strategies such as a forechecking scheme, where the team reacts and attacks the puck depending on what the team with the puck does. How they attack a D to D pass, a D reversal, A rim, side breakout, center breakout etc. All of these strategies are tied together. Forecheck, neutral zone, defensive zone, PP, PK.
The Flyers play a lot of 2-3 Press forecheck and weakside lock forecheck.

And if you don't know what system the Flyers play. How could you possibly know that they have to change it? I think regardless of what system the Flyers play, they simply need to play better. And chancing the system, isn't automatically going to solve that.
- MJL

Here's the thing, kids.

This team is a legitimate 0-3.

If you think the talent is good enough, it has to be the coaching. Call it a system. Call it a different voice. Whatever.

Saying they simply need to "play better" reflects as much on the coach who has to put the talent he has in a better position to be effective as it does the talent of the individual player.

If you can't see that, I can't help you.

So if the Flyers were playing a different system, they would automatically be moving as a team Ths issues with breakdowns and players not being in position would automatically be fixed, and they automatically start scoring goals and winning games. What I know about systems is that regardless of which systems you play, it requires effort, determination, and execution from players. No system is worth squat without it.
A system is a group of strategies such as a forechecking scheme, where the team reacts and attacks the puck depending on what the team with the puck does. How they attack a D to D pass, a D reversal, A rim, side breakout, center breakout etc. All of these strategies are tied together. Forecheck, neutral zone, defensive zone, PP, PK.
The Flyers play a lot of 2-3 Press forecheck and weakside lock forecheck.

And if you don't know what system the Flyers play. How could you possibly know that they have to change it? I think regardless of what system the Flyers play, they simply need to play better. And chancing the system, isn't automatically going to solve that.
- MJL

That's just plain dumb.

Do you really think a system provides success if you don't have the skill, talent or experience.

The Flyer D cannot skate fast enough or play the up tempo game necessary to support the highly talented forwards. Either they find a #1 D or they will need to start playing the trap to protect their own end.

He isnt making adjustments. Hitchcock was great at this.. making subtle changes to mess the other teams system up..

Lavy stucks to his guns and does his system. You have to adapt once other teams adapt.

In my opinion.. I by no means think you are erong and im right.. just debating
- Flyersgod

If he's not making adjustments-which I think he is-then who cares if he's fired?

I mean if a guy is truly a good coach, he'll adapt to the players he has. If Laviolette can't or won't, then he's not a good coach. Trouble is, I think he has made tweaks and the lousy play has made them irrelevant right now.

The trade deadline is also very late this season. Teams won't be ripping up there team until they are definitely out of the playoffs. So getting a good puck moving defensemen, hard under normal circumstances, will be even harder this season.

Here's the thing, kids.

This team is a legitimate 0-3.

If you think the talent is good enough, it has to be the coaching. Call it a system. Call it a different voice. Whatever.

Saying they simply need to "play better" reflects as much on the coach who has to put the talent he has in a better position to be effective as it does the talent of the individual player.

If you can't see that, I can't help you.
- johndewar

Talent does not automatically equate to cohesive play, effort, determination, etc. A Coach can prepare a team and teach them to be in the best position to succeed. The players still have to go out and do it on the ice. Talent or the Coach are not the only explanations.

I wish we could back to before Laviolette came on board. And just change the names from Stevens to Laviolette in the posts. And then go to what a great Coach Laviolette is. And how Stevens had no system, and how much better Laviolette's system is. Seems we have come full circle based on 3 games.

I hear Carter and Richards are enjoying LA, what a great captain you have. Wasnt he on the cover of a video game?!?!?! Wow he is so good, dare i say it best player in the world? Have fun paying Luongo to not help your team, and then booing him out of town. 5 4 3 2 1 strap yourself salary cap wise for the next 20 years!!
- nbartley9

(frank) off Troll....

Yes it does explain it. Lokk back to game 6 agains the Pens in the playoffs last year. And how the Flyers suffocated the Pens and were on them all over the ice. They played the same system.
- MJL

They also fell behind by 3 goals in game 1 and behind by 2-0 and 3-1 after the first period in game two. Comebacks from two and three goal deficits in the playoffs is very rare.

What systems do the flyers use?
- Flyersgod

the stinky one

That's just plain dumb.

Do you really think a system provides success if you don't have the skill, talent or experience.

The Flyer D cannot skate fast enough or play the up tempo game necessary to support the highly talented forwards. Either they find a #1 D or they will need to start playing the trap to protect their own end.
- spatso

You need to go back and read what is being said. Because you obviously didn't understand what is being said.

Who was the Flyers #1 defenseman going into last Season?

Breire (if you could find a taker) Schenn, or even Read would be starting points for me if I were the Flyers. You have a enourmous amount of talent that can play center. which tends to be a weakness on a lot of teams
- sbroads24

thats all Homer drafts

Breire (if you could find a taker) Schenn, or even Read would be starting points for me if I were the Flyers. You have a enourmous amount of talent that can play center. which tends to be a weakness on a lot of teams
- sbroads24

I just dont see teams giving up what we need without us gutting our team..

You need to go back and read what is being said. Because you obviously didn't understand what is being said.

Who was the Flyers #1 defenseman going into last Season?
- MJL

Chris Pronger

Here's the thing, kids.

This team is a legitimate 0-3.

If you think the talent is good enough, it has to be the coaching. Call it a system. Call it a different voice. Whatever.

Saying they simply need to "play better" reflects as much on the coach who has to put the talent he has in a better position to be effective as it does the talent of the individual player.

If you can't see that, I can't help you.
- johndewar

The problem is, there are other factors at work here. Take a guy like Kimmo Timonen. For years, you plug him in, hurt or fully healthy and you knew you could count on him to play well.

Now, after the lockout where he didn't play for 7 months, he's playing like crap. It's happened to other guys, too. Hell look at Giroux. He's made more bad & questionable passes in these three games than I recall in all of last season.

So how many games does Schenn get for the hit on Volchenkov?

As a Pens fan, i will put my hatred aside, and give you my objective thoughts on the Flyers, since i've watched all 3 games they've played:

-The Fyler's lack of speed on the blue line has been exposed and been taken advantage of. I don't know what the fix on this is, mabe going after a guy like Subban.

-The Flyers are struggling at the faceoff circle. Yes, they were better against the Devils, but it still seems like a weak point.

-The special teams are not clicking. The reason the Flyers owned the Pens in the playoffs last year is on both sides of a powerplay, they were making plays. Haven't seen anything like that yet.

-They aren't getting the bounces.

Bryz has been good, considering the defense infront of him. Going and getting Lou would be a mistake.