1. Pick up a UFA goalie of the $10M/3 yr variety.
- phillydentist

Khabibulin (40 years old)
Nabakov (37 years old)
Jimmy Howard (young, but will probably get a bigger deal than your range)
Mike Smith (no thanks)
Theodore (double no thanks)
Chris Mason (okay, now we're just getting silly)

2. The days of Bryzgalov being the team's best player and most consistent are over. He has been average or spotty for at least the last 15 games.

The whole team has been spotty or below-average during that same time frame.

It's strange the league wants a faster game and calls everything but now it's sort of clutchy and grabby again. A lot of subtle interference and stick infractions uncalled. At least they were consistent for the most part sans the Talbot stick lift, I mean 'hooking' call that led to TO's 2nd goal.
- Pixote Andolini

It's not a coincidence that Ken Hitchcock is back coaching in the league.

1. Theodore
2. He's been average since he got there.
- Orpik44

Sad that it takes a non-Flyers fan to see objectively.

Philadelphia Flyers ‏@NHLFlyers
#Flyers report to Skate Zone at 11 am. No on-ice practice time has been confirmed

If there is practice today, the first drill should be tackling practice. Timonen has picture perfect technique. Nnamdi Asomugha should take notes.
- PLindbergh31

nnamdi is reportedly outside the skatezone, in his car having lunch....

I know, which is why it's important to take into context his play and numbers, and how they're not entirely correlated or truly reflective of his play. He has been NOTICEABLY better. Our team just sucks balls right now
- Flyers_V88

Exactly. His numbers don't tell the story. He's been mostly consistent this year, his play has dropped off lately, but it could be due to fatigue.

if you are going to bank on scoring more than one PP goal a game, you are going to lose a ton of games.

The play at ES is what has to improve.
- PLindbergh31

Understood, of course.
I stand by my opinion that the PP is too inconsistent. Far too often they don't even get a shot off.

1. Pick up a UFA goalie of the $10M/3 yr variety.
2. The days of Bryzgalov being the team's best player and most consistent are over. He has been average or spotty for at least the last 15 games.
- phillydentist

First 11 games he had a save percentage of .921. In his last 8 games he's only had over a .900 SV% 3 times. (.923, .919, 1.000). Some games he's been bad, others he's been a victim of horrible breakdowns especially in the 1st Toronto game. I consider the Pittsburgh game a wash too because of the uncharacteristic emotion of a Flyers-Pens meeting.

Edit: Also what you're asking for is a return to the goalie carousel.

an inch lower and giroux's short handed shot ties the game. instead, it hits the bar, skitters through, the leafs go the other way and make it 3-1. the game is often one of inches, and the difference between winning and losing.
- hammarby31

For sure, just sucks we're not getting these bounces that seemed to be with us a bit more last year. There's an old saying that holds true in any sport, and it's something I think the team as a whole is lacking now, the saying goes like this:

"the harder you work, the luckier you get"

That's pretty much the blueprint for beating the 2013 Flyers: Don't give them any respect. Pressure the puck in all manpower situations, and eventually they will crack.

Bill, I think you nailed with this and frankly, teams that have been successful against the Flyers going back to last year have been doing this (most famously, the Devils in the playoffs).

Question now is, what is to be done about it? Is this on the coach or the personnel?

Khabibulin (40 years old)
Nabakov (37 years old)
Jimmy Howard (young, but will probably get a bigger deal than your range)
Mike Smith (no thanks)
Theodore (double no thanks)
Chris Mason (okay, now we're just getting silly)



The whole team has been spotty or below-average during that same time frame.
- Scoob

Seriously, Bryz is not better than any of those guys considering the length of his contract and cap hit.

He might be the answer for a Cup contender on the cusp and that's a stretch but he's no answer for this Flyers team that needs to fill so many holes.

nnamdi is reportedly outside the skatezone, in his car having lunch....
- isaiah520

Kimmo Tacklenen

Understood, of course.
I stand by my opinion that the PP is too inconsistent. Far too often they don't even get a shot off.
- Scoob

When Giroux isn't on the ice, the PP has no clue. I think we all agree with that.

Seriously, Bryz is not better than any of those guys considering the length of his contract and cap hit.

He might be the answer for a Cup contender on the cusp and that's a stretch but he's no answer for this Flyers team that needs to fill so many holes.
- phillydentist

Barkann?

Seriously, Bryz is not better than any of those guys considering the length of his contract and cap hit.

He might be the answer for a Cup contender on the cusp and that's a stretch but he's no answer for this Flyers team that needs to fill so many holes.
- phillydentist

And if you get rid of Bryz now then all you're doing is adding another hole.

Seriously, where are you going to get another #1 goaltender? I would love an answer for this. A legitimate answer. Don't throw out Jose Theodore for God's sake.

Understood, of course.
I stand by my opinion that the PP is too inconsistent. Far too often they don't even get a shot off.
- Scoob

right. it gives the other team momentum and a lift by killing the PP so easily, and deflates the flyers. cumulative effect. they could wear the other team down, pepper the goalie, keep the mo going even if they don't score.

Exactly. His numbers don't tell the story. He's been mostly consistent this year, his play has dropped off lately, but it could be due to fatigue.
- PLindbergh31

I gurantee it's fatigue... And remember, Bryz is an intellect and is very aware of the pressure and expectation to win in this city. Couple that pressure with the travel, fatigue, poopty play by the team as a whole, and it all adds up. We don't have the depth or overall talent to slide through games last year...

Understood, of course.
I stand by my opinion that the PP is too inconsistent. Far too often they don't even get a shot off.
- Scoob

Timonen...to Giroux on the wall...back to Timonen...back to Giroux...pass/shot into a stick/legs...

1. With who in goal?
2. They're out of sync because, quite frankly, they're (frank)ing him over. With the recent exception of JV, he's the only one who has come to play on a consistent basis this year. He gets worked really hard every game.
- Scoob

When Giroux isn't on the ice, the PP has no clue. I think we all agree with that.
- PLindbergh31

Yes, the first unit great thanks to G.

Simply too many guys not doing anything positive out there...Talbot, Couturier, Fedotenko, Knuble, Gervais, Coburn, et al. I understand how brutal the schedule has been, but when you make simple plays you conserve energy. Right now that isn't happening.

Simply too many guys not doing anything positive out there...Talbot, Couturier, Fedotenko, Knuble, Gervais, Coburn, et al. I understand how brutal the schedule has been, but when you make simple plays you conserve energy. Right now that isn't happening.
- aantny88

Which goes directly back to a comment I made earlier, are we honestly trying to squeeze too much out of Couturier right now, given the team as a whole? I truly don't think he's ready to take on the role we're trying to put him in. He's still so lanky and has virtually no upper-body strength, and he needs to work on his faceoffs and skating quite a bit still.

I'm loving seeing people start to see bryz is an average goalie. Like I've said many times, bryz at his absolute best is slightly better than average, which is fine on a mature experienced team but on a young core team and with that albatross contract he has to be bought out or traded. Briere is definitely Getting bought out or traded. He's useless on the wing and only stunts development of our younger players. Think he is only owed like 5 mil next 2 years in Actual salary

Simply too many guys not doing anything positive out there...Talbot, Couturier, Fedotenko, Knuble, Gervais, Coburn, et al. I understand how brutal the schedule has been, but when you make simple plays you conserve energy. Right now that isn't happening.
- aantny88

Couturier has been fine defensively but has struggled to finish offensively. Fedotenko, Knuble, Talbot and Coburn need to be more consistent, agreed. Gervais has been inconsistent but what did you expect?

And if you get rid of Bryz now then all you're doing is adding another hole.

Seriously, where are you going to get another #1 goaltender? I would love an answer for this. A legitimate answer. Don't throw out Jose Theodore for God's sake.
- KGBflyers10

I didn't say get rid of him now. I said the FO needs to consider buying him out in either of the next 2 offseasons. Meaning if there is no good G options in 2013, re-evaluate in 2014. But don't take it off the table because he was the Flyers best player the first 10 games of the season or so which does not say much.

Understood, of course.
I stand by my opinion that the PP is too inconsistent. Far too often they don't even get a shot off.
- Scoob

Inconsistent maybe, but the second unit is simply pitiful. My question is to Lavy...when I watched the Pitt/Philly game the other night, when the Pens were on the PP Crosby, Malkin, Letang, et al were out for almost the entire PP. Why don't the Flyers use that same strategy? And I don't buy the fatigue issue either as the Flyers have only played 2 more games than the Penqueens!