I think a part of it is him learning to adjust to teams crowding him whenever he is on the ice. The other guys on the team need to realise it too, and not make everything so predictable.

Throw in some surgeries, a weird start to the season due to the lockout, unstable and inconsistent linemates and you have what you have now.

He needs to be better, but he is still fairly young. I refuse to believe the guy who has pretty steadily improved ever since he joined the team, and flat out dominated last season is the player we are seeing today. I think he will be better, but obviously it would be better if he did not wait till next season.
- flyer_nutter

Yep... Well said.

I think a part of it is him learning to adjust to teams crowding him whenever he is on the ice. The other guys on the team need to realise it too, and not make everything so predictable.

Throw in some surgeries, a weird start to the season due to the lockout, unstable and inconsistent linemates and you have what you have now.

He needs to be better, but he is still fairly young. I refuse to believe the guy who has pretty steadily improved ever since he joined the team, and flat out dominated last season is the player we are seeing today. I think he will be better, but obviously it would be better if he did not wait till next season.
- flyer_nutter

he needs a couple of wacks on the wrists from Crosby to wake him up

This team just doesn't care. I think they quit on Lava.

This team just doesn't care. I think they quit on Lava.
- LJF

Coach wont make a difference , I personally think the lack of talent is hurting them more.

Right now they have a lot of young players with potential.

Coach wont make a difference , I personally think the lack of talent is hurting them more.

Right now they have a lot of young players with potential.
- opeth_pa

If they've written Lava off it would makes a huge difference.

If they've written Lava off it would makes a huge difference.
- LJF

Well let them try a different coach at least then they will only lose 2-1 as they still dont have enough to score any goals.

Maybe Hartnell is the true heart of this team. The personality and offense they need..Need him back at least to see

a 5th
- vejim

I like Wellwood, but I'll take a 5th or use him as a chip since he's been passed over. Playoffs or not.

I like Wellwood, but I'll take a 5th or use him as a chip since he's been passed over. Playoffs or not.
- jstross

I'd rather keep the player in the system for depth.

Laughton jersey auction...........well if you want to top this bid

http://www.ebay.com/itm/O...ain_2&hash=item2a29221cb3

Well let them try a different coach at least then they will only lose 2-1 as they still dont have enough to score any goals.

Maybe Hartnell is the true heart of this team. The personality and offense they need..Need him back at least to see
- opeth_pa

There is plenty of talent to score goals, they just haven't been doing it.

Trade Briere and get Jones. I'm all for sucking this season. Just get some picks in this draft
- Richieattack18

Re: Jones, even if he does become a franchise D man someday, he's going to have all the usual ups and downs over his first 3-5 pro seasons if he goes straight to the NHL.

This organization -- and quite frankly, much of its fanbase -- are not prepared to wait for several years on a player. He'd be allowed one year of "well, he's a rookie". Any hint of sophomore slump would be met by grumblings. Any inconsistency beyond year two will become "he's a bust -- trade him."

The organization needs a radical shift in its approach to drafting and developing defensemen. It has been a problem for virtually the entire history of the organization.

It's pretty bad when this is a rough top 10 list of homegrown defensemen in the franchise history in terms of their impact and/or longevity while in Philly:

1) Jimmy Watson
2) Tom Bladon
3) Behn Wilson
4) Joni Pitkanen
5) Chris Therien
6) Janne Niinimaa
7) Dmitry Yushkevich
8) Glen Cochrane
9) Thomas Eriksson
10) Kevin McCarthy

Honorable mention: Miroslav Dvorak (he was 31 years old and an established international star but did have to get drafted by Flyers and arrangements made for him to get permission from the communist Czech government to play here).

I'd rather keep the player in the system for depth.
- MJL

So they keep Wellwood, Sestito, McGinn, Rinaldo, Z and whatever (fedd, KNubs and shelly's) they pick up? If you're not going to pick up any new forwards then fine, but I'd like to sign 1 or 2 solid forwards and get picks for forward 14, 15..

So who played well?

i'm focused on this team and their prospects for success today. i enjoyed the 2 successful cup runs, but i also enjoyed all of the great hockey in between then and now. if this org had shown more patience, they might have cashed in by now, but i can't walk around thinking 38 yrs, 38 (frank)in' yrs - (frank) that.
- isaiah520

Exactly.

So they keep Wellwood, Sestito, McGinn, Rinaldo, Z and whatever (fedd, KNubs and shelly's) they pick up? If you're not going to pick up any new forwards then fine, but I'd like to sign 1 or 2 solid forwards and get picks for forward 14, 15..
- jstross

What do you think the odds are of getting a player better then Wellwood with a 5th round pick?

It's pretty bad when this is a rough top 10 list of homegrown defensemen in the franchise history in terms of their impact and/or longevity while in Philly:

1) Jimmy Watson
2) Tom Bladon
3) Behn Wilson
4) Joni Pitkanen
5) Chris Therien
6) Janne Niinimaa
7) Dmitry Yushkevich
8) Glen Cochrane
9) Thomas Eriksson
10) Kevin McCarthy

- bmeltzer

Bill makes it hurt so bad...

poopshow

Re: Jones, even if he does become a franchise D man someday, he's going to have all the usual ups and downs over his first 3-5 pro seasons if he goes straight to the NHL.

This organization -- and quite frankly, much of its fanbase -- are not prepared to wait for several years on a player. He'd be allowed one year of "well, he's a rookie". Any hint of sophomore slump would be met by grumblings. Any inconsistency beyond year two will become "he's a bust -- trade him."

The organization needs a radical shift in its approach to drafting and developing defensemen. It has been a problem for virtually the entire history of the organization.

It's pretty bad when this is a rough top 10 list of homegrown defensemen in the franchise history in terms of their impact and/or longevity while in Philly:

1) Jimmy Watson
2) Tom Bladon
3) Behn Wilson
4) Joni Pitkanen
5) Chris Therien
6) Janne Niinimaa
7) Dmitry Yushkevich
8) Glen Cochrane
9) Thomas Eriksson
10) Kevin McCarthy

Honorable mention: Miroslav Dvorak (he was 31 years old and an established international star but did have to get drafted by Flyers and arrangements made for him to get permission from the communist Czech government to play here).
- bmeltzer

Have you read Breakaway? Reading it now. Cool stories, but not deep enough in some areas. Maybe it's me but I wish the book was 500 pages long.

Have you read Breakaway? Reading it now. Cool stories, but not deep enough in some areas.
- wilsonecho91

I saw the movie but I'm not really into cycling...

Re: Jones, even if he does become a franchise D man someday, he's going to have all the usual ups and downs over his first 3-5 pro seasons if he goes straight to the NHL.

This organization -- and quite frankly, much of its fanbase -- are not prepared to wait for several years on a player. He'd be allowed one year of "well, he's a rookie". Any hint of sophomore slump would be met by grumblings. Any inconsistency beyond year two will become "he's a bust -- trade him."

The organization needs a radical shift in its approach to drafting and developing defensemen. It has been a problem for virtually the entire history of the organization.

It's pretty bad when this is a rough top 10 list of homegrown defensemen in the franchise history in terms of their impact and/or longevity while in Philly:

1) Jimmy Watson
2) Tom Bladon
3) Behn Wilson
4) Joni Pitkanen
5) Chris Therien
6) Janne Niinimaa
7) Dmitry Yushkevich
8) Glen Cochrane
9) Thomas Eriksson
10) Kevin McCarthy

Honorable mention: Miroslav Dvorak (he was 31 years old and an established international star but did have to get drafted by Flyers and arrangements made for him to get permission from the communist Czech government to play here).
- bmeltzer

there should be a major overhaul of scouting in this area. i don't know how often scouts are poached from one team to another, but if these shifts occur in the NFL, i see no reason they can't in this case.

So did you guys fix the team yet?

Couturier still untouchable?

Luke still adjusting but the trade was just what we needed?

Having we started teaching the rest of the D the flop on your face and sprawl your arms and legs technique that Coburn and Schenn have perfected?

Fired the coach?

How about the GM?

How many years has it been again? Someone must know...

there should be a major overhaul of scouting in this area. i don't know how often scouts are poached from one team to another, but if these shifts occur in the NFL, i see no reason they can't in this case.
- isaiah520

Didn't we just poach Buffalo a couple years ago?

What do you think the odds are of getting a player better then Wellwood with a 5th round pick?
- MJL

Not sure, but I'd honestly be looking at more package deals. There has to be team Wellwood could play for. I honestly was just trying to ascertain the excess forwards value. That value could be combined in other possible deals. Too early anyway.

Knuble postgame:

” The league’s not going to wait around. Nobody’s happy about it. That’s unacceptable for our group, from our last player to our top guy. You don’t have time to practice your way out of it, you don’t have time to play your way out of it. The urgency, it’s got to be there. You’ve got 60 possible points left to get. Other teams are going to win their share of games, it’s going to get harder and harder to climb your way up the ladder.”

I think facebook is down...