if anyone is saying that laviolette is a bad coach, i'd take issue with that. hockey is a weird sport as it pertains to coaches, though. it seems like they can lose their control over a team very very quickly. and whatever he's preaching clearly hasn't been working. and honestly, i think you can say that's been true since the finals loss (since pronger's injury trouble?)

i won't kill the guy or anything, he's done a pretty good job. but sometimes it's just time for a change, i think
- FlyerMike18

I completely understand what your saying but at some point the players have to be held accountable also. Lavi has done a good job since being hired here. Making a change for one bad year doesnt make much sense to me.

I have never once denied that the Flyers haven't done a weak job at drafting or developing defenseman.
- MJL

Why do you have to be so negative?
/grammarjoke

Where are you getting this information from that none of them want to play Wing? And having depth up the middle at the Center position, is a good thing. Not a bad thing. One of the most important positions on a team. And do you know what can be done with that quality depth at a position. You can make trades to improve your team. An example would be how the Flyers trade Richards and Carter, that netted 4 quality players.
Every team has a glut of 3rd and 4th line muckers!
I'll make that Pronger trade every day of the week.
If the Flyers are doing so bad, how did they make it to the Cup Finals in 2010?
Look at the defense that the Flyers have put on the ice, up until this Season. Where has all this lack of mobility been? One Season where things didn't quite work out, and panic sets in. It's being vastly overblown.
- MJL

Bad choice of words on my part with "want". Carter, Briere, Richards and now Schenn. None of them were comfortable playing wing. They all preferred and were best suited to play center. All part of that chemistry thing

I hated the trade for Pronger then because of the likelihood of now. Of course I didn't thing concussion would be the reason, but to me it was giving up A LOT for an aging player that was likely to break down.

Yes, Holmgren did well in the Carter and Richards trades. He trades well from a position of strength; not as well from a position of weakness. Luke Schenn is a solid player but time will show that Toronto got the better player, and perhaps much better player. Why? Because the rest of the league learned that D was a more valuable and rarer commodity, and will not give up young talent as quickly. Do you think we didn't get any D back in the Carter and Richards deals because Homer didn't want any or because Other teams were not giving them up.

As for 2010, lets be honest with ourselves. We really got luck to get in and got hot at the right time. And even then it was luck more than anything. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut. And besides, always a brides maid....dint get the ring

Because he obviously doesn't have the personnel to play that way. Why do other Coaches change the way they play, not only during a Season, but during games? Like I said, I'd much prefer that Laviolette grow as a Coach and become more flexible in his philosophies. But he has shown no sign of being willing to do so. And it's not one bad Season. The issues the team has now have been around in previous Seasons also.
- MJL

Are you saying since Lavi has been hired or just in general with other coaches that have been in the organization?

I have never once denied that the Flyers haven't done a weak job at drafting or developing defenseman.
- MJL

I'm not accusing you. Just having a discussion about it.

if anyone is saying that laviolette is a bad coach, i'd take issue with that. hockey is a weird sport as it pertains to coaches, though. it seems like they can lose their control over a team very very quickly. and whatever he's preaching clearly hasn't been working. and honestly, i think you can say that's been true since the finals loss (since pronger's injury trouble?)

i won't kill the guy or anything, he's done a pretty good job. but sometimes it's just time for a change, i think
- FlyerMike18

He's not a bad Coach. He's been successful as a Coach obviously. He's just done a poor job this Season in my opinion. And his track record shows that it is sink or swim with Laviolette. His style of play just doesn't seem like a good fit with this team. So there's 3 options. Change the makeup of the team to better fit the Coach's style of play. Which means they need to add a different makeup of defenseman. Which is not going to be easy to do. Second is have the Coach adjust and adapt to the current personnel. Which he does not seem willing to do. Or fire the Coach and bring in somebody new.

Also heard once again the Flyers pushed hard for Byfuglien (Ek).

Whats the obsession with adding him?
- stveshdy

Getting Byflugien is like trading for TWO top-pairing dmen in one move:




All the Flyers' problems would be solved!

I completely understand what your saying but at some point the players have to be held accountable also. Lavi has done a good job since being hired here. Making a change for one bad year doesnt make much sense to me.
- stveshdy

I don't think anybody in favor of a coaching change isn't willing to give the players their just blame. But there's a bad track record of defensive teams feasting on Laviolette's style, and now other teams are following their lead. Is he going to wait until all 29 teams have his number? Or will he adjust? The same questions can be submitted regarding a coaching change.

I'm a Lava fan, I don't like the idea of showing him the door. If he's not willing to adjust when the book's out on him, though, what other choice is there?

I completely understand what your saying but at some point the players have to be held accountable also. Lavi has done a good job since being hired here. Making a change for one bad year doesnt make much sense to me.
- stveshdy

i hear ya. but these problems have persisted while (at the very least) a significant portion of the team has been changed. very different team from the one that got flattened by boston in 11, but they have all of the same deficiencies

He's a solid physical stay at home defenseman. But unless the team is moving Grossmann or L Schenn. He's not the type of defenseman the team needs. We need to add some more puck skilled defenseman to the back end.
- MJL

And that's why you don't break the bank for guys like Luke Schenn.

I don't think anybody in favor of a coaching change isn't willing to give the players their just blame. But there's a bad track record of defensive teams feasting on Laviolette's style, and now other teams are following their lead. Is he going to wait until all 29 teams have his number? Or will he adjust? The same questions can be submitted regarding a coaching change.

I'm a Lava fan, I don't like the idea of showing him the door. If he's not willing to adjust when the book's out on him, though, what other choice is there?
- BulliesPhan87

The Flyers had over 100 points last season. They knocked out the favorite Pittsburgh Penguins last year in Round 1.

This season the team has struggled and part of that has to do with coaching and the GM not getting the personnel needed. The players haven't been playing that well either if we go down the list.

i hear ya. but these problems have persisted while (at the very least) a significant portion of the team has been changed. very different team from the one that got flattened by boston in 11, but they have all of the same deficiencies
- FlyerMike18

I'm not giving Lavi a free pass b/c he has to take blame for his team. However, theres plenty to go around from the coach, players, GM and owner.

Because he obviously doesn't have the personnel to play that way. Why do other Coaches change the way they play, not only during a Season, but during games? Like I said, I'd much prefer that Laviolette grow as a Coach and become more flexible in his philosophies. But he has shown no sign of being willing to do so. And it's not one bad Season. The issues the team has now have been around in previous Seasons also.
- MJL

Berube pretty much said in a CSN interview that the team has been forced to downshift into a more defensive posture since the ES goal scoring has dried up.

While he's not blameless in this (who is), Lavi's getting a lot of blame from message board "analysts" for a lot of the questionable reads, rookie/sophomore mistakes, and plain suckage on the part of his players.

The Flyers had over 100 points last season. They knocked out the favorite Pittsburgh Penguins last year in Round 1.

This season the team has struggled and part of that has to do with coaching and the GM not getting the personnel needed. The players haven't been playing that well either if we go down the list.
- stveshdy

Right, there's blame to go around. But to say that those wanting a coaching change are simply laying all the blame at Lava's feet for this season is neither fair nor accurate.* There remains the ongoing inability to find an effective game against certain divisional rivals (a list that's going to grow), and major difficulties with holding leads. These issues are not new to this season, and even if/when the roster is rounded out will still need to be addressed. If they aren't, we're going to get smothered out of the playoffs by the Devilses, Bruinses, and Rangerses of the league. At some point, they have to be addressed, and if Laviolette won't do it then Holmgren will have to.

*I'm sure you can find some subset of fans out there that do lay all the blame at his feet, but you can probably find fans that'll blame Richards and Carter for this terrible season, too.

Getting Byflugien is like trading for TWO top-pairing dmen in one move:




All the Flyers' problems would be solved!
- Tomahawk

2 mins for bellying

He's not a bad Coach. He's been successful as a Coach obviously. He's just done a poor job this Season in my opinion. And his track record shows that it is sink or swim with Laviolette. His style of play just doesn't seem like a good fit with this team. So there's 3 options. Change the makeup of the team to better fit the Coach's style of play. Which means they need to add a different makeup of defenseman. Which is not going to be easy to do. Second is have the Coach adjust and adapt to the current personnel. Which he does not seem willing to do. Or fire the Coach and bring in somebody new.
- MJL

it definitely seems like the style he prefers to play requires very smart, disciplined, puck moving d men. maybe not so much "puck-moving" as in being quick skaters, but veteran d men that know how to quickly move the puck up the ice. more of an "awareness" kind of thing. and i agree, it's not easy to build that kind of defense (that's what everyone wants!)

the most frustrating thing is watching them get manhandled by a far less talented team. now i'm sure some of that is the players having their heads in their asses, but after 3 years you have to wonder if maybe what he wants from them is a bit too aspirational. because it seems like the teams that give them fits play very conservative, meat-and-potatoes styles

Bad choice of words on my part with "want". Carter, Briere, Richards and now Schenn. None of them were comfortable playing wing. They all preferred and were best suited to play center. All part of that chemistry thing


- TheGreat28

Richards was never asked to play Wing here. There was no reason for him to. What position is Jeff Carter currently playing in LA? He's currently tied for 3rd in the NHL in goals playing on the Wing. Brayden Schenn has played 92 NHL games. It's a little early to be labeling him as not being comfortable at a position. Briere prefers Center, and seems to play better there. There is no such thing as having too many quality players at a position. Especially at Center. And having that depth there is a very good thing. Not a bad thing. You can use that depth to bolster other positions.

I hated the trade for Pronger then because of the likelihood of now. Of course I didn't thing concussion would be the reason, but to me it was giving up A LOT for an aging player that was likely to break down.

Yes, Holmgren did well in the Carter and Richards trades. He trades well from a position of strength; not as well from a position of weakness. Luke Schenn is a solid player but time will show that Toronto got the better player, and perhaps much better player. Why? Because the rest of the league learned that D was a more valuable and rarer commodity, and will not give up young talent as quickly. Do you think we didn't get any D back in the Carter and Richards deals because Homer didn't want any or because Other teams were not giving them up.


- TheGreat28

What is the likelihood of now? What is now? The way I see it. This team is loaded with young, solid talent, and the future is very, very bright.

What GM trades well from a position of weakness?

Your statement that time will show that Toronto got the better player, is extremely premature. I'll take a top pairing stay at home physical defenseman over a goal scoring Winger. Your statement that D is a more rare and valuable commodity contradicts your stance that Toronto got the better player. As does the point you make on the return for Richards and Carter.

As for 2010, lets be honest with ourselves. We really got luck to get in and got hot at the right time. And even then it was luck more than anything. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut. And besides, always a brides maid....dint get the ring
- TheGreat28

LA got lucky to get in last year, and got hot at the right time. Happens quite frequently.

Right, there's blame to go around. But to say that those wanting a coaching change are simply laying all the blame at Lava's feet for this season is neither fair nor accurate.* There remains the ongoing inability to find an effective game against certain divisional rivals (a list that's going to grow), and major difficulties with holding leads. These issues are not new to this season, and even if/when the roster is rounded out will still need to be addressed. If they aren't, we're going to get smothered out of the playoffs by the Devilses, Bruinses, and Rangerses of the league. At some point, they have to be addressed, and if Laviolette won't do it then Holmgren will have to.

*I'm sure you can find some subset of fans out there that do lay all the blame at his feet, but you can probably find fans that'll blame Richards and Carter for this terrible season, too.
- BulliesPhan87

I still blame those damm lotto balls and Leighton

I'm not giving Lavi a free pass b/c he has to take blame for his team. However, theres plenty to go around from the coach, players, GM and owner.
- stveshdy

no doubt about it man. i think i'm on the record saying that i think they're gonna need quite a bit more than just a coaching change to be back among the heavyweights of the league

and a lot of it is going to be some major growing up by the young players on this team, but not all of it

Right, there's blame to go around. But to say that those wanting a coaching change are simply laying all the blame at Lava's feet for this season is neither fair nor accurate.* There remains the ongoing inability to find an effective game against certain divisional rivals (a list that's going to grow), and major difficulties with holding leads. These issues are not new to this season, and even if/when the roster is rounded out will still need to be addressed. If they aren't, we're going to get smothered out of the playoffs by the Devilses, Bruinses, and Rangerses of the league. At some point, they have to be addressed, and if Laviolette won't do it then Holmgren will have to.

*I'm sure you can find some subset of fans out there that do lay all the blame at his feet, but you can probably find fans that'll blame Richards and Carter for this terrible season, too.
- BulliesPhan87

The organization has issues b/c they can't decide on their style. They keep bringing in different coaches and changing their philosophy based on previous winners. They want to play more defensive oriented one year and then want more scoring the next year.

The Flyers know Lavi's style when hiring him and now want him to change it?

Thats like the Eagles hiring Chip Kelly to run the spread offense and then asking him to run the Wing-T.

I honestly don't know whats going on as far as adjustments b/c I am not at practice or in the locker room every day. What we see out on the ice "looks" like no adjustments are being made but I really dont know.

I still blame those damm lotto balls and Leighton
- vejim

I blame Clarence Campbell.

Are you saying since Lavi has been hired or just in general with other coaches that have been in the organization?
- stveshdy

I'm talking about the team defensive issues that plague the team this year. It was a problem last year. And Laviolette's style of play, greatly contributes to that.

I blame Clarence Campbell.
- BulliesPhan87

I blame Jay Snider

Bill,

Thanks for the update. With your hockey IQ and levelheaded ness, it would be really awesome to read an "If I were the the Flyers GM for the next 6 months I would..." Article By Bill Meltzer.

Assume that the other teams would make proposed deals, obviously no OEL for Rinaldo trades. Why you would make a deal, why they would? Who would you draft and why? Who would you keep and why? Who would you extend? What the team would look like when you are done? How would you structure the team and why? Who would coach and what style would you play?

Any interest?
- TheGreat28

When the season is over and we know where the Flyers are drafting, I plan to do something similar in the form of an off-season outlook blog.

no doubt about it man. i think i'm on the record saying that i think they're gonna need quite a bit more than just a coaching change to be back among the heavyweights of the league

and a lot of it is going to be some major growing up by the young players on this team, but not all of it
- FlyerMike18

If you ask me Homer has done as bad of a job during the offseason as Lavi has done in season.

Thats fine that he missed on "superstars" b/c you have to take a shot but the backup plan wasn't very good. Signing Foster (late) and Gervais.