Gervais was actually doing fine until Meszaros got hurt and Laviolette was forced to use him in a second pair role. When he was playing low minutes, he held his own.
- Jsaquella

This is not a bad defense when healthy.

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Grossmann
Mezaros-Gervais/Gus

put your hard hat on lots of jumpers on this morning

What do we need to do to get bruno out of the line up? Where is Mad Dog Manning?. Can't watch that guy be a minus 2 or three again. He has no hockey sense whats so ever and its putting way to much pressure on colburn who simply can't handle it.

Also its clear there is no fit for danny b on this team. I can't see how he's not bought out/traded.

Third thought - been comparing Forsburg- Gagne - Kunble to G- hartnell - ? : we need to find the 'gagne' for that line.
- mhbst7

Briere in his career as a Flyer has never come close to his Sabre's numbers which got him his huge contract. The only year he was over a point a game was his final year as a Sabre in which he recorded 95 points. The Flyers awarded him a monster contract based on that year. His best year as a Flyers he's recorded 72 points. He came close to the 72 points in 2010 but his other 4 regular seasons have basically been disasters in terms of how much he was paid vs production.

I also know that people throw out how great he is in the postseason as a goal scorer but people dismiss how bad the defensive side of his game is in the playoffs. If you are constantly looking for the long breakout pass instead of covering in your own zone your offensive stats will be inflated but it won't necessarily lead to more wins. Last posteason Danny scored 8 EV goals in the playoffs. Great huh? But he was on ice for 14 EV goals against. Is everything his fault when things go bad? No, but he is a contributor.

He is one reason the flyers can win high scoring games but lose low scoring games. For what it's worth, in the playoffs (for the Flyers) and using EV strength goals, Briere has been on the ice for 45 EV goals with a mind boggling 14 Goals against each of the last 2 seasons (14 goals scored, 28 goals scored while he was on the ice).

People keep justifying putting up with his poor regular seasons because he can score in the playoffs. I'm not sure that he has ever been that great in the playoffs if you look at his overall game and not just his goal scoring ability. He needs to be protected at even strength so he can focus on the single thing he does well. If he isn't producing regularly on the PP he's a liability.

Gervais was actually doing fine until Meszaros got hurt and Laviolette was forced to use him in a second pair role. When he was playing low minutes, he held his own.
- Jsaquella

yeah he was fine here when he was asked to only play a couple of minutes a game

Disagree. He is fine as a low minute 6th defenseman.
- MJL

Agree

Wish I was home celebrating President's Day.. My work computer cant view live game feed lol Please Win

Gervais was actually doing fine until Meszaros got hurt and Laviolette was forced to use him in a second pair role. When he was playing low minutes, he held his own.
- Jsaquella

Location: coitus

Briere in his career as a Flyer has never come close to his Sabre's numbers which got him his huge contract. The only year he was over a point a game was his final year as a Sabre in which he recorded 95 points. The Flyers awarded him a monster contract based on that year. His best year as a Flyers he's recorded 72 points. He came close to the 72 points in 2010 but his other 4 regular seasons have basically been disasters in terms of how much he was paid vs production.

I also know that people throw out how great he is in the postseason as a goal scorer but people dismiss how bad the defensive side of his game is in the playoffs. If you are constantly looking for the long breakout pass instead of covering in your own zone your offensive stats will be inflated but it won't necessarily lead to more wins. Last posteason Danny scored 8 EV goals in the playoffs. Great huh? But he was on ice for 14 EV goals against. Is everything his fault when things go bad? No, but he is a contributor.

He is one reason the flyers can win high scoring games but lose low scoring games. For what it's worth, in the playoffs (for the Flyers) and using EV strength goals, Briere has been on the ice for 45 EV goals with a mind boggling 14 Goals against each of the last 2 seasons (14 goals scored, 28 goals scored while he was on the ice).

People keep justifying putting up with his poor regular seasons because he can score in the playoffs. I'm not sure that he has ever been that great in the playoffs if you look at his overall game and not just his goal scoring ability. He needs to be protected at even strength so he can focus on the single thing he does well. If he isn't producing regularly on the PP he's a liability.
- Flyers_01

NMC

This is not a bad defense when healthy.

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Grossmann
Mezaros-Gervais/Gus
- Feanor

I agree. Even now, a good portion of the defensive trouble is due to the forwards not doing their job defensively.

The problem with the Flyers D is that due to injuries, players are being asked to do more than they are capable of.
For example, Foster is, at best, a #6 who can chip in on the 2nd team pp and be spotted against another teams 3rd or 4th line. Gervais is also a #6 who can give you 10-12 minutes a night against 3rd and 4th lines. Asking either of these guys to do any more and you are asking for trouble; furthermore, Gus at this point in his career is no better than a #6 too, and Lilja and Manning aren't even that good.

What makes it worse is that the remaining top 4 are also being asked to do too much. Timonen has not been a #1 for a few years now, and with his current injuries and lack of footspeed, he is probably no better than a #3. Coburn, paired with a good partner, is at best a #2; while Schenn and Grossmann are very similar players and second pairing types.

When you add a weak, banged up D corp to a group of young forwards, many of whom, are not very good defensively, you are going to have problems.

On top of their defensive woes, I'm also concerned about a lack of speed up front. A line of Fedotenko-Briere-Knuble is not going to win many foot races. The only forwards getting significant ice time who are top flight skaters are Read and Voracek. I think the Flyers could use both more size and speed up front and definitely more speed on D.

I don't like those Flyers Kool-Aid comments...
Maybe, they are missing the fact, that the Atlantic division is the touhgest one, and all rivals are far ahead with some games in hand..
- Ondrej F

As a rule of thumb, any comment about kool-aid drinking or (color) tinted glasses can confidently be ruled out of the 'intelligent' category.

I can't stand watching this team when gervais and/or foster are on the ice. They are both terrible.
- moylander

I hate watching every single player shy away from physical contact when the opposition is forechecking... I have seen so many freaking turnovers as a result of a guy being afraid to take a hit to make a play. We need to play with a serious physical edge in order to be successful. Dictate the play.. instead of letting other teams push you around.

I agree. Even now, a good portion of the defensive trouble is due to the forwards not doing their job defensively.
- Jsaquella

familiar issue.

This is not a bad defense when healthy.

Timonen-Schenn
Coburn-Grossmann
Mezaros-Gervais/Gus
- Feanor

It's solid, but nothing special. They still need, if not a number one, at least a 1A type like Desjardins or Timonen in his prime, if they are going to really contend.

I agree. Even now, a good portion of the defensive trouble is due to the forwards not doing their job defensively.
- Jsaquella

Like you and I have been saying.. Young forwards.

It's solid, but nothing special. They still need, if not a number one, at least a 1A type like Desjardins or Timonen in his prime, if they are going to really contend.
- BiggE

I compiled a list of teams top d-men... You would actually be surprised at how rare it is to have a true #1 d-man.

The fact that we have Meszy, Timonen, Coburn and Schenn is pretty impressive. Had we not lost Pronger we would have 3-4 guys on defense that could play on virtually any top d-pair in the league... with a few exceptions.

Like you and I have been saying.. Young forwards.
- jak521

That's part of it, but the other part is the vets haven't played well enough either. That's the disconcerting part. The veteran leader types haven't played very well, overall. Timonen was rounding into form when he got dinged in the Devils game. But Briere, Talbot, Knuble and even guys like Coburn haven't done what's needed.

That's part of it, but the other part is the vets haven't played well enough either. That's the disconcerting part. The veteran leader types haven't played very well, overall. Timonen was rounding into form when he got dinged in the Devils game. But Briere, Talbot, Knuble and even guys like Coburn haven't done what's needed.
- Jsaquella

Obviously way early even still, but can't help but wonder whether Briere becomes buyout fodder. Not really sure if he fits in their plans beyond this year.

I compiled a list of teams top d-men... You would actually be surprised at how rare it is to have a true #1 d-man.

The fact that we have Meszy, Timonen, Coburn and Schenn is pretty impressive. Had we not lost Pronger we would have 3-4 guys on defense that could play on virtually any top d-pair in the league... with a few exceptions.
- jak521

Totally agree

I know nobody in a decision making role is concerned with my opinion, but this afternoon game sucks. Not all of us are off from work

Obviously way early even still, but can't help but wonder whether Briere becomes buyout fodder. Not really sure if he fits in their plans beyond this year.
- OrangeBlack27

I lean that way for 2 reasons. First, it's becoming clear that Brayden Schenn is more comfortable as a center. That gives the team 3 young guys and Briere that are "cornerstone" pieces that are more comfortable at center. Keeping Briere means that he, or one of the kids, has to play a wing.

Second, with the upcoming cap drop, the Flyers have just north of $2.25mm in cap room. They can utilize the LTIR exemption for Pronger, but even then they face future cap penalties if bonuses are achieved. Having Brirere's $6.5mm could allow them to target a top scoring line winger-I'd say top defenseman, but there's none of them available in FA

I know nobody in a decision making role is concerned with my opinion, but this afternoon game sucks. Not all of us are off from work
- BulliesPhan87

I just decided to have a cup of coffee and I think you're a whiner.

The biggest problem in the last game was nobody showed up.
Best to forget it and move on.

I just decided to have a cup of coffee and I think you're a whiner.
- Jsaquella

Keep drinking that Presidents Day kool-aid, Dude.

The biggest problem in the last game was nobody showed up.
Best to forget it and move on.
- strongsupporter

Yeah, not much to take from the last game, aside from "don't completely suck".