What's excel? Winning a Cup? They're need some more pieces for that realistically. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a team that plays the right way. That maximizes it's talent. That plays all 3 zones and both ends of the ice. It starts with the Coach. He isn't getting done. Repeated errors are not being corrected. This team has the wrong mindset. And that starts with Laviolette.
- MJL

Perhaps excel was a poor choice of words. I don't think they can reach their full potential playing this style, and possibly not playing under this coach. I see two paths...

1. Ride it out with Lavy and try to adjust the roster in the offseason to bring in more speed and skill up front, and a more mobile D. (not sure how they do all that given what's available in FA).

2. Change the coach and bring in someone who can get more wins out of the current roster. This doesn't mean they won't tinker with the roster if they do change the coach. I think some of that will happen either way. But Lavy is not getting the most out of this roster right now, that's for sure.

Seriously? Solid team defense doesn't limit quality scoring chances, forcing the other team to take shots from lower percentage scoring areas?
- eayost

They allow a boatload of scoring chances nearly every game.

They are not.

They arent built to have any identity as of now imo.

I dont mind anger and frustration, I just dont like the panic. The team needs to be improved in terms of overall players first and foremost.

This was an evulation year after the failure to improve the back end in the summer.

How is Jersey doing playing a defensive minded system right now? How are the Hawks doing playing a truly aggressive system?
- flyer_nutter

You can improve the talent all you want. If you don't improve the team game, you better be bringing in Wayne Gretzky.

How are the Hawks doing? There is a perfect example of how you can play an aggressive system and style, and still take care of your own end of the ice, and play well in all areas of the ice.

I just watched the Nash goal in slow motion, Bryzgalov barely moved. Wasn't screened or anything. I have no idea what he was doing there.

The attempted half hearted poke checks are silly, and the inability to stop a single breakaway is a farce.
- PLindbergh31

He basically looked like he gave up and didn't try and save it. Looked to me like he quit on his team for a minute. Roman Cechmanek type fun here

The Flyers were doing fine in puck battles in the game. You're putting the cart before the horse here. This team's lack of a solid fundamental team game, is why you think they're not built right. And you seem to think that you can't play an uptempo and aggressive style, while also playing well defensively. Paying attention to detail in all 3 zones. And checking all over the ice. You absolutely can. Ottawa gave the Flyers all they could handle with half the talent. Why is that? Because they play the right way.
- MJL

I saw them destroyed along the wall all game. The rangers won the majority of all the battles.

Look at the Hawks. They play aggressive first and foremost, but why are they all over other teams in the own zone?

They back-check with ferocity and dont even come close to making the stupid mistakes players on this team make time after time. Fundamental hockey IQ mistakes.

You talk about this team needing to play the right way. I agree with that. At its root, I believe that comes with continous hard work, something this team lacks big time.

Perhaps excel was a poor choice of words. I don't think they can reach their full potential playing this style, and possibly not playing under this coach. I see two paths...

1. Ride it out with Lavy and try to adjust the roster in the offseason to bring in more speed and skill up front, and a more mobile D. (not sure how they do all that given what's available in FA).

2. Change the coach and bring in someone who can get more wins out of the current roster. This doesn't mean they won't tinker with the roster if they do change the coach. I think some of that will happen either way. But Lavy is not getting the most out of this roster right now, that's for sure.
- BringBack25

It's true Lavy doesn't have the mobile d but there are too many fundamental mistakes game in and game out

Does Briere's projected buyout free up cap space or is that eaten up by drop in salary cap?

They need to fire lavy And bring in Murray... Hopefully he can get them to play the right way by next year

You can improve the talent all you want. If you don't improve the team game, you better be bringing in Wayne Gretzky.

How are the Hawks doing? There is a perfect example of how you can play an aggressive system and style, and still take care of your own end of the ice, and play well in all areas of the ice.
- MJL

The Hawks have Keith and Seabrooke. Two legit top pairing d-men. The Flyers have no one even in the same stratosphere.

Team play has nothing to do with Anderson posting a .952 save %
- PLindbergh31

Of course it does. He is a very good goalie, but any goalie who faces the majority of shots from the outside will save more than one who has to stop 4 rebounds with 3 guys camped in the crease. Clearing the crease and limiting quality scoring chances is absolutely part of good team defense.

I just watched the Nash goal in slow motion, Bryzgalov barely moved. Wasn't screened or anything. I have no idea what he was doing there.

The attempted half hearted poke checks are silly, and the inability to stop a single breakaway is a farce.
- PLindbergh31

His inconsistency is sneaking back in. The big saves have been decreasing and he is making me wonder a little bit again.

Hard to judge because he constantly plays, but he needs to pick it up, as does everyone else.

A rabid fan as always. Not our year with all the injuries. Play it out but do not sacrafice the future.

He basically looked like he gave up and didn't try and save it. Looked to me like he quit on his team for a minute. Roman Cechmanek type fun here
- Winning

He has played well this year by in large. I don't understand why he didn't move on a shot where he wasn't screened. He looked like a statue.

I just watched the Nash goal in slow motion, Bryzgalov barely moved. Wasn't screened or anything. I have no idea what he was doing there.

The attempted half hearted poke checks are silly, and the inability to stop a single breakaway is a farce.
- PLindbergh31

He had a bad game and his team gave little help... Wanna condemn him be my guest but I'd rather look at the body of work as a whole. Last game he's a hero now he's a zero

They allow a boatload of scoring chances nearly every game.
- PLindbergh31

Do you think Anderson would have a .952% playing for the Flyers? I sure doubt it

I saw them destroyed along the wall all game. The rangers won the majority of all the battles.

Look at the Hawks. They play aggressive first and foremost, but why are they all over other teams in the own zone?

They back-check with ferocity and dont even come close to making the stupid mistakes players on this team make time after time. Fundamental hockey IQ mistakes.

You talk about this team needing to play the right way. I agree with that. At its root, I believe that comes with continous hard work, something this team lacks big time.
- flyer_nutter

Every post, you mention back-checking. There is far more to it then just skating back hard on the back-check. The Hawks are all over other teams all over the ice, because Quenneville demands it.

Did you see Ottawa check the Flyers all over the ice, and make the Flyers fight for every inch of ice? How are they doing that with the lack of talent they have, and the injuries they have? The answer is simple.

He had a bad game and his team gave little help... Wanna condemn him be my guest but I'd rather look at the body of work as a whole. Last game he's a hero now he's a zero
- JoeRussomanno

Not condemning him Joe. He's played well this year for this most part. I have gave him props all year. But he has some flaws that he needs to improve upon.

And as you stated, the entire time does as well.

The Hawks have Keith and Seabrooke. Two legit top pairing d-men. The Flyers have no one even in the same stratosphere.
- PLindbergh31

The d-core on this team tonight. How many other teams in the league would be willing to swap theirs with it?

Its a sack of poop, and needs to be overhauled. Holmgren tried to get Weber/Suter/Parise last summer.

This is not the team that was supposed to be on the ice. I dont believe any coach, or different system would fix the core issues of this team. They simply need to be improved, starting with the guys on the ice.

Gervais, Guss, Foster and Lilja wouldnt even sniff the ice for a team like Boston, Chicago, etc.

He basically looked like he gave up and didn't try and save it. Looked to me like he quit on his team for a minute. Roman Cechmanek type fun here
- Winning

You mean the same Chechmanek that put up the best Flyers goalie numbers of like the past 800 years over the 3 seasons he started?

2000-01: 2.01 GAA and 921 Save%
01-02: 2.05 and 921%
02-03: 1.83 and 925%

Yup..I would take him 100% times over Bryz or any goalie the Flyers have had since then.

The Hawks have Keith and Seabrooke. Two legit top pairing d-men. The Flyers have no one even in the same stratosphere.
- PLindbergh31

Two studs. Must be nice.

Since our miraculous 0-3 comeback the record against Boston hasn't been pretty, seeing how nj and ny have had their way with us playing a similar style, I'd say its a safe bet playing them won't be much different.
- JoeRussomanno

you are free to think that, but not yet free to cry about it yet until it has happened


imo

Do you think Anderson would have a .952% playing for the Flyers? I sure doubt it
- eayost

Or:

Robert Lehner .951
Ben Bishop .938

The Hawks have Keith and Seabrooke. Two legit top pairing d-men. The Flyers have no one even in the same stratosphere.
- PLindbergh31

You're right. But it takes more then just good players. Who were the top defenseman for Ottawa that gave the Flyers all they could handle?

Flyers have the personnel to be much better then they are.

He had a bad game and his team gave little help... Wanna condemn him be my guest but I'd rather look at the body of work as a whole. Last game he's a hero now he's a zero
- JoeRussomanno

Regarding myself at least, I dont blame him for the loss.

However goaltending is huge in games against tight checking teams. Against the top teams of the league especially.

He needs to get back to a stronger form. He is not paid to be average. Everyone needs to play better however.

Do you think Anderson would have a .952% playing for the Flyers? I sure doubt it
- eayost

Probably not. But Ottawa does allow an enormous amount of scoring chances. I watch almost all of their games. I have a friend who works for their Organization.

Do the Blackhawks play a superior team game to Ottawa? Why is Anderson's save % better than the Hawks goalies?