either Giroux or briere they are supposed to be the offensive leaders i no Danny had the wrist injury and may not be 100% but he needs to bury his chances. giroux is getting good chances but not converting. He just seems a little off.
- flyer186

I didn't see Giroux get any chances last night. And Briere was coming off a game where he was the best offensive player coming into last night, where he had 10 shots on net. He did very little last night. The vets re more disappointing then the young players. I didn't see any of the Flyers leaders step up and try to lift the team. That is disturbing.

Apples and oranges. Devils play a trap. All the forwards and the D dominate the neutral zone. Do the Flyers have the players to play that style of game? Perhaps. Dale Hunter did it to theCaps last year and they had some success in the second half and in the playoffs. In my opinion, it would be a hockey tragedy to stymie the free flowing play of the Flyers. Would it not be better to give them the Dman who can keep up.
- spatso

A good coach will adapt his system to fit the parts he has on his roster. The coach's job is to win with the tools he has. The tragedy is losing, not making sure that the team get style points.

I am sure Giroux is under a little pressure with the C and the way the team is playing, his haircut took away his strength
- vejim

I figure if this keeps up, it won't be long before the media gets involved, and we start reading and hearing a lot of the same things we've heard before with other players. And then the fans will get involved and speculation will again, become the truth.

I didn't see Giroux get any chances last night. And Briere was coming off a game where he was the best offensive player coming into last night, where he had 10 shots on net. He did very little last night. The vets re more disappointing then the young players. I didn't see any of the Flyers leaders step up and try to lift the team. That is disturbing.
- MJL

they really miss Hartnell

so when do we trade kimmo and danny boy for a couple of 1st round picks?lavy and homer need to go.bring in hextall as gm and dallas eakins as coach.

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.
- spatso

the flyers dont have the assets to acquire the type of dman they need unless a #1 draft pick is included...and with the new cap figure nxt yr, that would be a mistake.

this team just needs to start scoring, play better and build up the value of certain plyrs for later in the yr. they came into the season lacking a scoring winger and a top pairing dman and their best prospects didn't address these areas of need.

the trades of richards/carter needed to yield a top flight dman and when they didn't, there was still an opp to trade one of the newly acquired assets for that plyr. the perceived value of those assets, esp schenn, was never higher.

the best the team could do is take a flyer on a guy like paajarvi and hope he can turn his career around to inject some life up front. in the off season, try to trade for a young dman an org has soured on and by all means, hang on to their #1 pick.

edit: buyouts of bryz and briere are essential as well. iow, this team needs a re-tool because of cap issues and failure to procure the type of dman they needed.

so when do we trade kimmo and danny boy for a couple of 1st round picks?lavy and homer need to go.bring in hextall as gm and dallas eakins as coach.
- richiewinthecup

who the (frank) is dallas eakins?

who the (frank) is dallas eakins?
- KGBflyers10

He coaches the Toronto Marlies, he's done a solid job there.

I didn't see Giroux get any chances last night. And Briere was coming off a game where he was the best offensive player coming into last night, where he had 10 shots on net. He did very little last night. The vets re more disappointing then the young players. I didn't see any of the Flyers leaders step up and try to lift the team. That is disturbing.
- MJL

i wasn't just referring to last night i was referring to over all . the one thing that bothers me is the lack of adjustment on the power play . the plan seems to be get the puck to giroux (understandably as he is supposed to be our best player), but the other teams have figured that out you watch the power-plays they all cysle the puck to Giroux he gets swarmed and dost have time to get off a good shot. Giroux is a great passer and set up guy not just a scorer and i think they need to exploit that more . a two headed snake is always better every power-play it seems like you no who is going to take the shot. it unfortunately is not working right now

The Flys stole yet another loss last night.

A good coach will adapt his system to fit the parts he has on his roster. The coach's job is to win with the tools he has. The tragedy is losing, not making sure that the team get style points.
- Jsaquella

Logically I cannot disagree with what your saying. But, my hockey soul rebels. There is so much great young offensive talent on this team. Don't try and turn them into slugs. Get the guy who can support the up tempo game and get the puck up ice so these young race horses can do what they do so well.

You will notice that Matt Read played defense during a 5 on 5 situation towards the end of the game. This tells you everything you need to know about the deficiencies in the on ice presence of the Flyers. They need a #1 Dman. The price is high but the Flyers have the assets to get a deal done.

This is not something that will fix itself. It takes a few years for a top Dman to develop. I think Holmgren pays the price and sends Couturier to his place of birth in exchange for a top Dman.
- spatso

They flyers have often used the 1-3-1 in the 3rd period... noticed it during the Tampa game when we were down 4-1... we went into the 1-3-1 to keep the score down... that was all i needed to see to be worried

the flyers dont have the assets to acquire the type of dman they need unless a #1 draft pick is included...and with the new cap figure nxt yr, that would be a mistake.

this team just needs to start scoring, play better and build up the value of certain plyrs for later in the yr. they came into the season lacking a scoring winger and a top pairing dman and their best prospects didn't address these areas of need.

the trades of richards/carter needed to yield a top flight dman and when they didn't, there was still an opp to trade one of the newly acquired assets for that plyr. the perceived value of those assets, esp schenn, was never higher.

the best the team could do is take a flyer on a guy like paajarvi and hope he can turn his career around to inject some life up front. in the off season, try to trade for a young dman an org has soured on and by all means, hang on to their #1 pick.

edit: buyouts of bryz and briere are essential as well. iow, this team needs a re-tool because of cap issues and failure to procure the type of dman they needed.
- isaiah520

I agree with a lot of this. But if Bryzgalov continues to play this well. I don;t see how a buyout of him is essential. I think it's essential to have a very good Goalie. And if he proves to be that this year, you keep him.

I thinkt he players think like this... we use to call it a switch... now i think its a button...

He coaches the Toronto Marlies, he's done a solid job there.
- Jsaquella

he is eakin his way to the NHL

Logically I cannot disagree with what your saying. But, my hockey soul rebels. There is so much great young offensive talent on this team. Don't try and turn them into slugs. Get the guy who can support the up tempo game and get the puck up ice so these young race horses can do what they do so well.
- spatso

My sole concern is winning games. If they need to change systemically, then that's what they need to do.

I agree with MJL. I wouldn't trade Couturier for Yandle. I'd consider other players for Yandle, but not Couturier. If that's a deal breaker, then the coach has to adjust

Not trading Couturier for Yandle.
- MJL

i would wait to see what pick we get because if we end up with the #1 pick i would be willing to trade coots because we could replace him with mckinnon

so when do we trade kimmo and danny boy for a couple of 1st round picks?lavy and homer need to go.bring in hextall as gm and dallas eakins as coach.
- richiewinthecup

I'd love to see Hexy back where he belongs. I think he'd do a great job.

My sole concern is winning games. If they need to change systemically, then that's what they need to do.

I agree with MJL. I wouldn't trade Couturier for Yandle. I'd consider other players for Yandle, but not Couturier. If that's a deal breaker, then the coach has to adjust
- Jsaquella

Yea, you don't trade Couturier for a slight upgrade over Matt Carle. And I don't even know if it's an upgrade. Yandle is more dynamic offensively for sure. But Carle is a better all around player. And I don't want to anchor my defense for the future around either of them.

My sole concern is winning games. If they need to change systemically, then that's what they need to do.

I agree with MJL. I wouldn't trade Couturier for Yandle. I'd consider other players for Yandle, but not Couturier. If that's a deal breaker, then the coach has to adjust
- Jsaquella

Simply as a matter of context. Would you do Couturier for any one of OEL, Pietrangelo, Doughty or Karlsson?

Simply as a matter of context. Would you do Couturier for any one of OEL, Pietrangelo, Doughty or Karlsson?
- spatso

Yes, in a heartbeat. The first 3 are better all around defensemen than Yandle, and Karlsson is the best offensive defenseman in the game and has a Norris on his shelf.

Regardless of any injury speculation, it seems to me Giroux doesn't have any answer for the increased coverage on him right now. He needs to elevate his game, he's been a big non-factor lately.

I agree with a lot of this. But if Bryzgalov continues to play this well. I don;t see how a buyout of him is essential. I think it's essential to have a very good Goalie. And if he proves to be that this year, you keep him.
- MJL

wish we could, but unless he looks like he's going to master the position for the nxt 5 yrs, it's an awful contract they'll never have another chance to get out of...unless they want to delay that decision 1 more yr. bottom line, he'll need to get bought out at some point. G, couts, schenn, read and mez need new contracts in 14-15 and most will get signif raises. mez if not resigned will be yet another dman needing to be replaced.

homer has to have some foresight here. the old way of squandering assets and praying for a ufa to solve problems could result in a giroux/couts version of richards/ carter.

Simply as a matter of context. Would you do Couturier for any one of OEL, Pietrangelo, Doughty or Karlsson?
- spatso

The last 3, absolutely. Maybe for OEL, but probably so. But I personally would be looking to keep Couturier, and find another way to get a top defenseman.

But this is fantasy Hockey anyway. Name me a top defenseman that you think is available, and can be traded for right now. You've stated numerous times that Holmgren is going to pull the trigger soon.

wish we could, but unless he looks like he's going to master the position for the nxt 5 yrs, it's an awful contract they'll never have another chance to get out of...unless they want to delay that decision 1 more yr. bottom line, he'll need to get bought out at some point. G, couts, schenn, read and mez need new contracts in 14-15 and most will get signif raises. mez if not resigned will be yet another dman needing to be replaced.

homer has to have some foresight here. the old way of squandering assets and praying for a ufa to solve problems could result in a giroux/couts version of richards/ carter.
- isaiah520

I disagree that it's known that he'll need to be brought out at some point. Here's what will happen if he is. We'll go right back to Goalie being the Achilles heel of the team. If he plays to a high level, you keep him, and build around him. Most important position on the ice