specifically talking about breakaways. the way bryz has been trending lately, i'm surprised boosh wasn't given the call. even joe wanted him rested last nite.
- isaiah520

I think the focus there should be on how the breakaways are happening, and why. That to me is the bigger issue. Because it's symptomatic of most of the Flyers issues.

I'm pretty much convinced Danny is getting bought out unless he averages a point per game from here on out and has a huge playoffs (which they might not even be in).
- NickTheKid87

One of the beat writers (I forget who) was going on about the organizational turn over at center since about '03. He was basically speculating that with Laughton and Cousins knocking at the door that Briere was history. Take that for what it is.

I'm not sure rushing Laughton and Cousins is the right answer, either. Forward-wise, this team is actually rather young.

wow, you guys are so sensitive when it comes to Homer
- vejim

Some people are. Not everyone. Holmgren like most GM's has made some mistakes, he's also done some good things. Goes with the territory. He's a better GM than Clarke was.

it is still quite possible that bryz could play his way outta town depending on what happens the rest of the way. i'd like to see the team in front of him give him the best chance to succeed...they need to tighten things up.
- isaiah520

IMO, I don't think he lasts past next season unless he puts up Vezina type numbers only because of the cap reformulation penalty. Wouldn't mind buying him out this year if Jimmy Howard is available either. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Bryz but his contract and the new rules make for a sketchy situation.

I'm pretty much convinced Danny is getting bought out unless he averages a point per game from here on out and has a huge playoffs (which they might not even be in).
- NickTheKid87

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.

He might also lead the OHL in felony charges. Not gonna get my hopes up.
- hereticpride

dont be negative

I thought they had some jump. They just played a really stupid, undisciplined, poor game. Does that mean a trap game? Or does it mean this team is just inconsistent? A case can be made for both.

I wonder if the news about Read kinda shell shocked the team.
- PLindbergh31

I agree totally. It was simply a stupid and poorly played game. I saw plenty of jump in their legs. They just played plain badly. Inconsistent is the word I'd look for. And you know what, the same problems were evident in the Pittsburgh game. They just happened to outscore the Pens.

IMO, I don't think he lasts past next season unless he puts up Vezina type numbers only because of the cap reformulation penalty. Wouldn't mind buying him out this year if Jimmy Howard is available either. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Bryz but his contract and the new rules make for a sketchy situation.
- NickTheKid87

The number of quality chances he faces currently will never have him contending for a Vezina here in Philly. Unless things drastically change.

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.
- Jsaquella

all centers and no Dmen...go figure?

I agree totally. It was simply a stupid and poorly played game. I saw plenty of jump in their legs. They just played plain badly. Inconsistent is the word I'd look for. And you know what, the same problems were evident in the Pittsburgh game. They just happened to outscore the Pens.
- MJL

No question about it.

wow, you guys are so sensitive when it comes to Homer
- vejim

I think if there is a good criticism to lay on Homer, it's the lack of organizational depth. The Phantoms aren't very good.

Not that it's Holmgren's job to make the Phantoms a good team, but they aren't exactly stocked with a ton of NHL ready talent.

Bryzgalov does need to get back on track quickly. If he can't get himself re-focused, it won't matter if the Flyers get healthy at all. It's vital that he returns to the form he showed the first 12 games or so.
- Jsaquella

I think Bryz, more than anyone on this team, is simply worn out. I'm pretty sure that as of this morning, he leads ALL NHL goalies in minutes played. I know he likes to and needs to play a lot, but this is getting ridiculous. Boucher should start Saturday against Winnipeg, and Lavy and Jeff Reese should take Bryz aside and make sure he understands that it is not a reflection on his play, but instead just a chance for him to recharge his batteries and that he will start on Monday.

Finally, if Lavy and his staff don't have the confidence in Bouch or Leighton to play them once in a while, then make a damned trade for a better backup. Even with a win last night, Florida is going nowhere this year and a guy like Clemmenson could be acquired without giving up anything significant, same with Giguere in Colorado.

One of the beat writers (I forget who) was going on about the organizational turn over at center since about '03. He was basically speculating that with Laughton and Cousins knocking at the door that Briere was history. Take that for what it is.

I'm not sure rushing Laughton and Cousins is the right answer, either. Forward-wise, this team is actually rather young.
- johndewar

I think most scouts project Cousins as a winger in the NHL.

And it's not a knock on Danny's abilities, it's more on his contract and role with the team. He is a lot less effective on the wing (same seems to be true of BSchenn) and you don't want to move Couturier back to the 4th line. With the cap dropping, you'd free up a lot more space by buying out Briere.

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.
- Jsaquella

Well, Giroux's going to get between a $4 and $5M/year raise. Schenn's salary will probably be higher, but without the bonuses. With the Timonen resigning, it will be hard to keep this team together if you keep both. I'm not advocating buying either out, but it's just hard to figure out.

I'm pretty much convinced Danny is getting bought out unless he averages a point per game from here on out and has a huge playoffs (which they might not even be in).
- NickTheKid87

I love the guy, but he is just not at or near a game changing level anymore. He literally will be invisible for 18 minutes and then tap one in and be the star. I hate that.

I grew up playing soccer, lacrosse and hockey. In soccer (my first sport and longest active sport) I played defense. The mindset and game of a defender in soccer crafted me as a person (I like to believe). I could care less about spotlight and the glamour. A forward could be having the worst game ever. Literally doing EVERYTHING wrong.. but the ball rolls to his foot and he buries a shot and immediately everybody forgets about the rest.

A defender is the opposite. He could be having the best game of his life... doing everything that was needed or asked of him... yet, with one tough break he gets beat and the other team scores.. and people hate him. Thats what I love about defense. You have to be at the top of your game at all times... I have taken that mind set and put it to use in both the way I play hockey, and the way I coach soccer. You cant be invisible only to pop in a goal here or there. Do those goals help at times? Absolutely, but the fact that you are a ghost all of the other times has a bigger effect on the big picture.

Danny needs to stop being a Ghost.

One of the beat writers (I forget who) was going on about the organizational turn over at center since about '03. He was basically speculating that with Laughton and Cousins knocking at the door that Briere was history. Take that for what it is.

I'm not sure rushing Laughton and Cousins is the right answer, either. Forward-wise, this team is actually rather young.
- johndewar

Well, you're either gonna have to move guys to the wing or move guys out of town. With Giroux, Briere, Coots & Schenn that's already more depth than a team needs. Not to mention Laughton most likely being full time next year and Read and Talbot who can play the position if need be. Just given the depth at the position and what Danny makes it makes perfect sense. I don't think everyone understands his family situation tho. That would be a tough phonevcall for Homer to make.

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.
- Jsaquella

Let's be honest, if the Flyers are going to buyout Briere, I'm sure they're going to try and use that money to acquire another top player. So I don't know if it's going to creat tagging space.

dont be negative
- vejim

Not being negative. Despite the jersey he wears I hope he gets whatever it is he deserves. Some things are more important than hockey.

I've been in discussions on twitter that suggest that they won't utilize the buyout, because it's a bad business decision. I pointed out that the Flyers utilized two compliance buyouts back in 2006(LeClair & Amonte) and also had more money in one way contracts rotting in Adirondack than they're be paying Briere on a buyout.

It makes pure hockey sense. You can slot Giroux, Schenn and Couturier as your top 3 centers, then have Laughton, Cousins or whomever else in the mix for the 4th spot. The freed up cap space can be used to add pieces, and it creates tagging room to get a jump on re-signing Giroux, Couturier, Schenn & Read.
- Jsaquella

The way I see it, the Flyers have plenty of money to pay Briere, so it's solely about getting his cap hit off the books. They aren't a small market so I don't think it's a bad business decision at all or at least I think the benefits of it out way the costs.

Yeah, he'd bring a strange magic to the team.
- tangent_man

Get on that Telephone Line, holmlomlgler

Let's be honest, if the Flyers are going to buyout Briere, I'm sure they're going to try and use that money to acquire another top player. So I don't know if it's going to creat tagging space.
- MJL

The thing with Briere is, when he's not scoring, he offers very little else. He's a very poor defensive player. So when he goes into a scoring drought, he can't help the team in any other areas.

The danger in buying him out is, missing out on a replacement.

The number of quality chances he faces currently will never have him contending for a Vezina here in Philly. Unless things drastically change.
- PLindbergh31

Exactly my point. I don't think they'll want to risk incurring a cap reformulation penalty unless it was with a top 5 goalie in the league.

all centers and no Dmen...go figure?
- vejim

Since he's been hired, Holmgren has brought in the following defensemen:

Braydon Coburn
Kimmo Timonen
Matt Carle
Chris Pronger
Nik Grossmann
Andrej Meszaros
Luke Schenn

He's very capable of acquiring defensemen. It'd be nice if they could draft one that comes up through the system, but at the same time, I agree with the organizational policy of taking the best player on the board, whether he's a center or defenseman

Let's be honest, if the Flyers are going to buyout Briere, I'm sure they're going to try and use that money to acquire another top player. So I don't know if it's going to creat tagging space.
- MJL

Thats the only way I see them going after a guy like Perry..

when the flyers win the cup this year I will apologize to Homer, just so freakin frustrated listening to the panthers idiots
- vejim

wow, there are no panther fans here...lol
- vejim

This man knows the sound of one no hand clapping