Now, now that's a bit harsh. Leighton is a serviceable back-up option for a doorman. "Welcome to the Wells Fargo center - here's the back of the net. Please enjoy your stay."
Everyone has a talent!

- FlyersGrace

Hahah poor Leights. Of note, Hextall won game 6 of the 87 finals at home, but Leighton has the last 2 SCF wins for the franchise. hahah

My issue is from the asset management side of things.

Why give up a future 3rd round pick just to sign the guy to a $1.5 million deal? He would have been a free agent this summer (no way he would've been tendered by CBJ) and they could have signed this deal in July.

And still had the 3rd round pick.
- bradleyc4

I agree. Its obvious that they wanted to ensure they didn't face any sort other bidding(how likely that is is up for debate) and maybe felt another team would swoop in and claim Mason as their own reclamation project.

Hahah poor Leights. Of note, Hextall won game 6 of the 87 finals at home, but Leighton has the last 2 SCF wins for the franchise. hahah
- Hextall271

Sure seemed like Holmgren was the sole guy in the organization that had faith in Leighton.

Sure seemed like Holmgren was the sole guy in the organization that had faith in Leighton.
- Jsaquella

He looked like a genius in 2010. I give him a bad rap, but I think that a lot of it had to do with the fact he's a tweener. He plays really well in the A, but other than 2010 where he caught lightning in a bottle, he lacks the mobility to be a real NHL starter.. This year he looked horrible vs Tampa in his only start.

i'm a beer leaguer, so what do I know, but I use them and they don't feel any different to me than other skate socks.
- wilsonecho91

Not to say a serious injury isn't important but lets see some numbers on how many injuries these socks would have prevented. Face shields to me see like a no brainer. These socks? Sure, but why not have the players all wear knee braces, neck guards, spinal cord protection, STOP punching each other in the face, etc...

I actually don't have a strong opinion. I would like to see some injury numbers. I guess that's just where I'm at with it.

Sure seemed like Holmgren was the sole guy in the organization that had faith in Leighton.
- Jsaquella

Including the fans!

Sure seemed like Holmgren was the sole guy in the organization that had faith in Leighton.
- Jsaquella

Lavi certainly didn't and if the coach won't play a player he seems a bit redundant... I like my cheerleaders with a touch less padding and a much lower cap hit.

Lavi certainly didn't and if the coach won't play a player he seems a bit redundant... I like my cheerleaders with a touch less padding and a much lower cap hit.
- FlyersGrace

Laviolette had no faith in either backup, which is probably a part of the reason they acted pre-emptively in landing Mason, and supposedly were asking about Bishop.

Laviolette had no faith in either backup, which is probably a part of the reason they acted pre-emptively in landing Mason, and supposedly were asking about Bishop.
- Jsaquella

To me that's just a sign that the GM and the coach aren't necessarily on the same page. That communication needs to be more effective in the off season and when Homer is in full swing and not well into the season when Homer's hands are tied.

To me that's just a sign that the GM and the coach aren't necessarily on the same page. That communication needs to be more effective in the off season and when Homer is in full swing and not well into the season when Homer's hands are tied.
- FlyersGrace

I think that the severe way the schedule in general-and the Flyers schedule in particular-was compressed it sort of fed the troubles.

At one point the Flyers had played 6 back to backs counting as 12 games, while Boston had played 14 games total.

That compounded the lack of an effective back up.

I like my cheerleaders with a touch less padding...
- FlyersGrace

Ummm...I guess this is better than the horse fetish stuff from last week, so there's that.

I think that the severe way the schedule in general-and the Flyers schedule in particular-was compressed it sort of fed the troubles.

At one point the Flyers had played 6 back to backs counting as 12 games, while Boston had played 14 games total.

That compounded the lack of an effective back up.
- Jsaquella

True, I'll give ya that, but I'd be curious if Holmgren would have signed either one if he knew Lavi wouldn't play them...

Laviolette had no faith in either backup, which is probably a part of the reason they acted pre-emptively in landing Mason, and supposedly were asking about Bishop.
- Jsaquella

Speaking of Bishop, he won his first start in spectacular fashion, then has lost his last 2 and given up 8 goals.. A goaltender can't overcome a weak team defense all by himself..

Ummm...I guess this is better than the horse fetish stuff from last week, so there's that.
- BringBack25

um, yeah I guess so... Although as I was writing it I almost included that I figured it would be a given that Leighton would have nice legs, lmao....

Bryz sounds like an A-hole all the way around. I can see he was really popular in PHX too from what they said after he was gone. Won't be surprised to hear the same sentiments from the Flyers once he's bought out.
- phillydentist

This is why I hate when little anecdotes from the locker room is made public. It tends ot cause overreation. There's a lot of personalities in a locker room. To expect everyone to be buddy-buddy is unrealistic.

This is why I hate when little anecdotes from the locker room is made public. It tends ot cause overreation. There's a lot of personalities in a locker room. To expect everyone to be buddy-buddy is unrealistic.
- MJL

agreed
however you'd think a veteran russian goaltender and a young russian goaltender adjusting to a new league and country would have more of a relationship

just odd that they despised each other

Speaking of Bishop, he won his first start in spectacular fashion, then has lost his last 2 and given up 8 goals.. A goaltender can't overcome a weak team defense all by himself..
- Hextall271

Just as 38 games does not a hall of famer make, neither do 3 games make a guy a bum.

I think that's in the Bible

agreed
however you'd think a veteran russian goaltender and a young russian goaltender adjusting to a new league and country would have more of a relationship

just odd that they despised each other
- Crimsoninja

I don't know that they despised in each other. Taking what Bill said, is that it was a distant relationship. Meaning they didn't talk much.

Just as 38 games does not a hall of famer make, neither do 3 games make a guy a bum.

I think that's in the Bible
- Jsaquella

I think he's a solid tender actually, and a good pickup for T bay, but point is that no tender can do it himself.

I don't know that they despised in each other. Taking what Bill said, is that it was a distant relationship. Meaning they didn't talk much.
- MJL

last part was a joke

agreed
however you'd think a veteran russian goaltender and a young russian goaltender adjusting to a new league and country would have more of a relationship

just odd that they despised each other
- Crimsoninja

I blame Bryzgalov. I mean, he's 40th in the NHL in save percentage.


But seriously, perhaps they simply didn't like one another? I think a lot fo that stuff is overrated. Look at the 1980 Phillies. Hated each other, until they won.

Just as 38 games does not a hall of famer make, neither do 3 games make a guy a bum.

I think that's in the Bible
- Jsaquella

I agree. I checked Bishops stats and was very surprised that he had only played 39 games since 2008. So far an unwritten book.

I think he's a solid tender actually, and a good pickup for T bay, but point is that no tender can do it himself.
- Hextall271

I know that, and you know that, but if we admitted it, we'd stop being yes men or spin doctors or whatever.

It is odd, though. Lindback went to Tampa Bay with 38 games of experience and a good looking body of work and now we have Bishop.

I haven't seen him with the Bolts, but I know Lindback has had games where he looked like a drunken Octopus

This is why I hate when little anecdotes from the locker room is made public. It tends ot cause overreation. There's a lot of personalities in a locker room. To expect everyone to be buddy-buddy is unrealistic.
- MJL

I actually like them, not becasue I'm a rumor monger but becasue it helps explain things about what's happening on the ice that just leave me scrtaching my head. I do take them with a grain of salt but neither do I toss them out the window.

People perform better under different situations. Some people need that competitive edge, others play better when they have a supportive atmosphere. You can't tell me that Hartnell doesn't lighten the mood cuz it hurts his play. It's obvious he likes to be in an aggressive and witty (but overall happy) mindset off the ice so he can stay loose and mean on the ice. Jake standing up for G the other night isn't because he has to defend his captain but because he wants to... That's his friend. Yes this is professional sports and maybe I'm just naive but teams play better as a team when they get along.

That said I'm not promoting trust falls and kum-ba-yah or community coke lines on the bathroom cabinets together after every game, but liking your teammates helps you lock into them. You begin to know and trust where they are going to be on the ice, forgive when they do something stupid and lock you up on a dumb pass. That kind of thing.

mason said in todays interview about his contract ext that he wants to work hard and become the best he can to become the starter next season