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
- mydoglicks

Good for him.

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
- Jsaquella

Hahah yeah he has.. I objected to that comment that anyone not blaming Bryz for all of our problems is a yes man.. BS. Read TSN comments and you will see the cookie cutter commentary from Canadian media has spun it to all fans in Canada that Bryz is the sole reason for the Flyers bad season... But the tandem of Reimer and Scrivens are akin to Parent and Dryden if you read Leafs fans comments...hahaha

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
- mydoglicks

If he didn't say that would you want him on the team? I wouldn't want a 24 year old former Calder Winner and Vezina runner up saying "I'm totally cool with caddying for Bryz"

I want a guy who wants to play and start, but I also want him to not make waves if he's not the guy

Hahah yeah he has.. I objected to that comment that anyone not blaming Bryz for all of our problems is a yes man.. BS. Read TSN comments and you will see the cookie cutter commentary from Canadian media has spun it to all fans in Canada that Bryz is the sole reason for the Flyers bad season... But the tandem of Reimer and Scrivens are akin to Parent and Dryden if you read Leafs fans comments...hahaha
- Hextall271

The Flyers goalie travails is quite possibly the laziest narrative in all of hockey media.

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.
- Jsaquella

Winning cures everything. It's amazing how when a team is not doing well, and one player is usually picked out by the fan base, and even the media, to single out. And that's when it starts. How he's a bad guy. How every little mannerism and reaction is looked at in the negative. Bad guy in the room, etc. But the same guy, with the same personality, if the team was playing well, and he was playing well. Nothing would be said. I'm personally wondering how long it's going to be before Giroux becomes the next victim.

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.
- Jsaquella

Honestly, it doesn't surprise me they didn't like eachother or talked much.


They seemed to have to very different personalities from what little we can tell, Bryz being the goofball who can be emotional at times and Bob as the even keeled quiet guy.

Some personalities just dont mesh.

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.
- FlyersGrace

But here's he difference. You're obviously looking at them reasonably. And not making it into something it's not.

Honestly, it doesn't surprise me they didn't like eachother or talked much.


They seemed to have to very different personalities from what little we can tell, Bryz being the goofball who can be emotional at times and Bob as the even keeled quiet guy.

Some personalities just dont mesh.
- Yosimar89

Yep, and there's nothing wrong with that.

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.
- FlyersGrace

The problem with these anecdotes and how they relate to on ice performance is that you have a 'chicken or the egg' situation, especially when things are going badly. When a team is winning, everybody is easier to like. When the goings get tough, even the nicest players can lose their temper. Is the off-ice situation causing the on-ice problems, or is it vice versa? We usually don't have the context to know.

Hahah yeah he has.. I objected to that comment that anyone not blaming Bryz for all of our problems is a yes man.. BS. Read TSN comments and you will see the cookie cutter commentary from Canadian media has spun it to all fans in Canada that Bryz is the sole reason for the Flyers bad season... But the tandem of Reimer and Scrivens are akin to Parent and Dryden if you read Leafs fans comments...hahaha
- Hextall271

I know. We have posters here who continuously point out Bryzgalov's struggles, yet accuse others of being Spin Doctors when he's given any kind of defense...and then shred people who criticize Laviolette in saying that they're laying all blame on the coach.

I just find it funny when people project their own tendencies onto others.

Bryzgalov gets the same old treatment from the Canadian media that Cechmanek used to get, or Esche, or Biron, Or Leighton, or Hextall.

Blaming the Flyers goalie is easy and it's like an old, comfy shoe. Bryzgalov's play has been an area of concern, but it's down the list. He has not played well for the commitment the team has made. But there's a lot of that going on.

I think misuse of assets and poor play by veteran skaters are the two biggest issues this season. I feel Laviolette waited too long to make meaningful adjustments and that compounded the poor play by vets like Coburn, Hartnell and Briere to name 3.

The problem with these anecdotes and how they relate to on ice performance is that you have a 'chicken or the egg' situation, especially when things are going badly. When a team is winning, everybody is easier to like. When the goings get tough, even the nicest players can lose their temper. Is the off-ice situation causing the on-ice problems, or is it vice versa? We usually don't have the context to know.
- BulliesPhan87

That's correct. For example. Let's say that Bryzgalov and Bobrovsky didn't get a long. Well if we take a vote of the fanbase, who do you think they're most likely to blame? And why? For all we know, Bobrovsky could've been the cause in that hyopthetical situation.

Honestly, it doesn't surprise me they didn't like eachother or talked much.


They seemed to have to very different personalities from what little we can tell, Bryz being the goofball who can be emotional at times and Bob as the even keeled quiet guy.

Some personalities just dont mesh.
- Yosimar89

Also very true. Bob is a focused, introspective kid, Bryz enjoys being an extrovert and clowning around.

Winning cures everything. It's amazing how when a team is not doing well, and one player is usually picked out by the fan base, and even the media, to single out. And that's when it starts. How he's a bad guy. How every little mannerism and reaction is looked at in the negative. Bad guy in the room, etc. But the same guy, with the same personality, if the team was playing well, and he was playing well. Nothing would be said. I'm personally wondering how long it's going to be before Giroux becomes the next victim.
- MJL

I already hear folks say they think Giroux should be stripped of the C. That it's a burden on him, it's holding him back, and that he's not giving the team the leadership it needs. It'll proceed to be questioning of his potential, whether he is or was overrated, and plenty of re-hashed talking points from the Richards captaincy. It's laughable. A few months ago, he was still the chosen one, earning even the admiration of opposing fans, and now he's not even good enough for a fabric C on his shirt.

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
- mydoglicks

Thats exactly what he should say. Hes a professional and should want to start where ever he is.

That's correct. For example. Let's say that Bryzgalov and Bobrovsky didn't get a long. Well if we take a vote of the fanbase, who do you think they're most likely to blame? And why? For all we know, Bobrovsky could've been the cause in that hyopthetical situation.
- MJL

For sure. Hell, maybe it wasn't a matter of the two not liking each other, but Bobrovsky not liking the situation he was in: fallen from grace on a team whose fans thought he'd be the end of their goaltending woes, he was now a door minder for a guy whose contract assured him the starting role through his (Bob's) prime. I wouldn't be rolling the carpet out for Bryz if I were Bob, either.

Or, y'know, maybe they just didn't have much to talk about. Also a stretch, I know.

For sure. Hell, maybe it wasn't a matter of the two not liking each other, but Bobrovsky not liking the situation he was in: fallen from grace on a team whose fans thought he'd be the end of their goaltending woes, he was now a door minder for a guy whose contract assured him the starting role through his (Bob's) prime. I wouldn't be rolling the carpet out for Bryz if I were Bob, either.

Or, y'know, maybe they just didn't have much to talk about. Also a stretch, I know.
- BulliesPhan87

The Flyers showed no patience with Bobrovsky though. He didn't even start in the playoffs if I remember correctly. Lavi did a poor job handling the kid imo.

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

No. I think Lava was the one who wanted Leighton. Homer got Boucher because he didn't. But then Lava wouldn't use either of them.

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
- Jsaquella

The flyers played him this year. He looked atrocious in net. Needless to say flyers still lost

Bob understood English OK a year ago. What I found interesting being around the locker room was that Bryzgalov and Bobrovsky used to completely ignore one another but Jagr frequently went over and talked (in Russian) with Bobrovsky. I didn't read too much into it -- you don't know what goes on the rest of the time. However, as it turned out from what has subsequently been said, the Bryzgalov-Bobrovsky relationship really was a pretty distant one.
- bmeltzer

I think I've established in my time here, Bill, that I know nothing.

No. I think Lava was the one who wanted Leighton. Homer got Boucher because he didn't. But then Lava wouldn't use either of them.
- bodiva88

In my opinion, it really didn't matter who the backup was. I don't think that Laviolette didn't play the backup more because he didn't trust the backup. I don't think it had anything to do with it. I think the Flyers got in a hole, and Laviolette was just going to rid the starter to get back in it. And the more the Flyers got behind, the more he was going to play the starter.

The Flyers showed no patience with Bobrovsky though. He didn't even start in the playoffs if I remember correctly. Lavi did a poor job handling the kid imo.
- stveshdy

That's exactly what I was getting at. The point isn't really the 'why' of Bobrovsky's situation though, but that I wouldn't be running out to shake Bryz's hand in his situation.

EDIT: As for starting in the playoffs, he was the playoffs starter before he wasn't. That is, until he was their last resort. Not very well handled at all.

That's exactly what I was getting at. The point isn't really the 'why' of Bobrovsky's situation though, but that I wouldn't be running out to shake Bryz's hand in his situation.
- BulliesPhan87

I totally agree.

Winning cures everything. It's amazing how when a team is not doing well, and one player is usually picked out by the fan base, and even the media, to single out. And that's when it starts. How he's a bad guy. How every little mannerism and reaction is looked at in the negative. Bad guy in the room, etc. But the same guy, with the same personality, if the team was playing well, and he was playing well. Nothing would be said. I'm personally wondering how long it's going to be before Giroux becomes the next victim.
- MJL

Winning cures everything and everyone except for zherdev

Winning cures everything and everyone except for zherdev
- Just5

he's never been the same since he was passed over for that critical playoff shootout attempt.

Winning cures everything and everyone except for zherdev
- Just5