My best guess is that if they don't pick up at least 2, and probably 3 points in the next 2 games, Lavy is toast.

Before I go on a tirade... Coburn was one of my choices for "C" prior to the season. I thought giving him that little bit of added leadership would be good for his head..

He was terrible over the first few weeks, but seemed to get a bit better when he was reunited with Grossmann... but over the past week or so he has driven me nuts.

Last night, by my count, (and yes I know its not always just the d-man's fault) Coburn had 8 failed clears. 4 of those failed clears resulted in scoring chances. One resulted in a goal, another gave the Rags a full minute + of off. zone time.

The Flyers were credited with 5 turnovers all game. That is laughable. I dont know who, or what, was watching that game, but there were easily 15 turnovers last night.. the whole team was guilty of it.

The reason I brought all this up was because I saw Bill's post about Coburn being the Flyers strongest d-man last night (his opinion), and becoming a whipping boy.... Bill, I hate to say it, but it has been deserved...

Right now Coburn leads ALL NHL players with 17 minor penalties.. he has 5 points and is a -9 (245th out of 256 d-men)... over a full season expanded that is 17 points and a -30. When should we truly start worrying about him?

Demoralizing.

I'm incredibly disappointed by Bryz last night. He seemed to be asleep on both Nash goals in the 3rd. There's no excuse for that.

If.... IF... they make a coaching change, I think Paddock would be named interim coach and then a different coach would take over next year.
- bmeltzer

Paddock wasn't exactly stellar during his time in Ottawa.

I simply don't think that they can make a trade without overpaying right now, and despite Laviolette's past accolades and accomplishments, they're a poorly run team.

Basic mistakes left and right. Continuous slow starts. Inability to adjust to teams that play a tight checking style, like New York and New Jersey. That last one has been going on even with a more talented defense corps.

There's just too many examples of less talented teams overcoming with better coaching.
- Jsaquella

What sucks is that you know they'll be right there at the deadline and will overpay in the deadline deal

- Winning

Looks like the unwanted love child of Pierre McGuire and Sinead O'Connor!

Demoralizing.

I'm incredibly disappointed by Bryz last night. He seemed to be asleep on both Nash goals in the 3rd. There's no excuse for that.
- NickTheKid87

I agree. He had a bad third period.. and there really is no excuse. Silver lining.. maybe the team knows how it feels to be Bryz now.. ya know, with them falling asleep and throwing him to the dogs over about 2/3rds of their games so far.

What sucks is that you know they'll be right there at the deadline and will overpay in the deadline deal
- Just5

I'm not so sure, if Grossmann is out for any length of time and Mez doesn't get back soon and play effectively, they are in serious trouble. Even more troubling is that Timonen has noticeably lost a step, just look at how many restraining penalties he has been taking, thats the proof.

If they can't keep ALL 5 of their top Dmen healthy, they will fall out of contention by the deadline and will most likely be sellers.

Callahan always seems to play his best against the Flyers.

Great player and captain.
- Marc D

Between Ryan Callahan and Tyler Kennedy from the Pens, I can't think of two players who seem to do nothing against the rest of the league, and yet consistently burn the Flyers.

I'm not so sure, if Grossmann is out for any length of time and Mez doesn't get back soon and play effectively, they are in serious trouble. Even more troubling is that Timonen has noticeably lost a step, just look at how many restraining penalties he has been taking, thats the proof.

If they can't keep ALL 5 of their top Dmen healthy, they will fall out of contention by the deadline and will most likely be sellers.
- BiggE

I dont know if they have much to sell though... Gags? Briere?

Fire Lavy if they go 0-3....Seriously something needs to change to improve the slop we see out there on the ice.

Between Ryan Callahan and Tyler Kennedy from the Pens, I can't think of two players who seem to do nothing against the rest of the league, and yet consistently burn the Flyers.
- johndewar

Ryan Callahan is a hell of an 82 game player. That guy goes 110% every game.. but I agree with Tyler "BatFace" Kennedy.

This is a short season and it would be crazy for the Flyers to panic.

This is a very young team. Last year all the kids had a great year. Expectations were raised. So, disappointment is high as the entire team struggles with what is essentially a sophomore slump.

Sometimes the best solution to tough times is to do nothing. They have to learn how to play their way through tough times.

Maybe there is a chance to acquire a puck moving Dman at the trade deadline. But they should not overpay. Better to wait to the off season and pay the price for a top #1.

Is there a problem in goal? There is a problem with the Bryzgalov contract and he does not seem to be able to handle the heavy workload without tiring. Perhaps a solid backup is all that is needed at this time.
- spatso

I agree. I've viewed this season as a wash for awhile now. A lot of fans want them to make a trade for this year but I don't think it will matter. I'm more worried about setting the team up for success in the future. We might just have to live with not being that great this year and come back strong next year.

As for goaltending, I think it might be time to give Lavy his walking papers a bring in a more defensive minded coach. We've seen what Bryz can do in Phoenix's system and the way I see it, if you're going to invest 9 years in a goalie, might as well put him in a system that will make him most effective. I like Laviolette but he just can't seem to adjust with this group of guys.

This is a short season and it would be crazy for the Flyers to panic.

This is a very young team. Last year all the kids had a great year. Expectations were raised. So, disappointment is high as the entire team struggles with what is essentially a sophomore slump.

Sometimes the best solution to tough times is to do nothing. They have to learn how to play their way through tough times.

Maybe there is a chance to acquire a puck moving Dman at the trade deadline. But they should not overpay. Better to wait to the off season and pay the price for a top #1.

Is there a problem in goal? There is a problem with the Bryzgalov contract and he does not seem to be able to handle the heavy workload without tiring. Perhaps a solid backup is all that is needed at this time.
- spatso

The same defensive issues that were a problem last year are still there....they just happened to score more last year.

Fire Lavy if they go 0-3....Seriously something needs to change to improve the slop we see out there on the ice.
- Philly1980

Starting to agree with this sentiment. Bring in a guy who will run a system that caters to Bryzgalov's strengths. He was a big part of Phoenix's success when he was there and the Flyers' core is 10x better than anything Phoenix ever had.

Fire Lavy if they go 0-3....Seriously something needs to change to improve the slop we see out there on the ice.
- Philly1980

Last night was an eminently winnable game against a team that was missing, arguable, their second best player after Hank.

Bad loss. And yeah, if they go 0 - 3 this week, I think Peter Laviolette is probably gone.

Last night was an eminently winnable game against a team that was missing, arguable, their second best player after Hank.

Bad loss. And yeah, if they go 0 - 3 this week, I think Peter Laviolette is probably gone.
- johndewar

If they lose, in the same fashion, on Thursday.. I wouldnt be surprised if they fired him.

I agree. I've viewed this season as a wash for awhile now. A lot of fans want them to make a trade for this year but I don't think it will matter. I'm more worried about setting the team up for success in the future. We might just have to live with not being that great this year and come back strong next year.

As for goaltending, I think it might be time to give Lavy his walking papers a bring in a more defensive minded coach. We've seen what Bryz can do in Phoenix's system and the way I see it, if you're going to invest 9 years in a goalie, might as well put him in a system that will make him most effective. I like Laviolette but he just can't seem to adjust with this group of guys.
- NickTheKid87

I dont think even Lundqvuist can succeed in this system

Ryan Callahan is a hell of an 82 game player. That guy goes 110% every game.. but I agree with Tyler "BatFace" Kennedy.
- jak521

I didn't mean to imply that Callahan doesn't put out effort every night, but if scored against the rest of the league the way he scores against the Flyers.......

I didn't mean to imply that Callahan doesn't put out effort every night, but if he scored against the rest of the league the way he scores against the Flyers.......
- johndewar

I agree. I've viewed this season as a wash for awhile now. A lot of fans want them to make a trade for this year but I don't think it will matter. I'm more worried about setting the team up for success in the future. We might just have to live with not being that great this year and come back strong next year.
- NickTheKid87

It seems that is the front offices view too. You haven't heard much from Luukko, Holmgren, or Snider this year. Usually when the Flyers are playing this poorly, there is more noise coming out of the front office.

I dont think even Lundqvuist can succeed in this system
- Philly1980

It sort of reminds me of the Eagles signing Nnamdi Asomugha. They gave him a big contract and then made him play zone when he was an All-pro playing man-to-man. Nnamdi wasn't utilized correctly and I'm starting to think the same for Bryz.

Starting to agree with this sentiment. Bring in a guy who will run a system that caters to Bryzgalov's strengths. He was a big part of Phoenix's success when he was there and the Flyers' core is 10x better than anything Phoenix ever had.
- NickTheKid87

If thats the case, you may as well give the job to Terry Murray, his style would be perfect for Bryz. Also Couturier and Schenn seemed to thrive under him with the Phantoms.

It seems that is the front offices view too. You haven't heard much from Luukko, Holmgren, or Snider this year. Usually when the Flyers are playing this poorly, there is more noise coming out of the front office.
- psuhockey

I give Lavy about a 35% chance at being the head coach come June. We've already seen them add Paddock to the staff and Holmgren & Snider wanted to tighten up defensively but Lavy seemed to want them to stay out of it. There's been a lot of questionable coaching decisions as well, which leads me to believe Laviolette has become desperate to get the team going so he can keep his job.