So Gregory Campbell broke his leg blocking that shot and then kept doing his best to block shots and interrupt passes with a broken leg.

What a performance.

I'm fine sticking with the defense that is there for next year, but long term looks a little scary. Even drafting a good young puck mover will take a few years to benefit from. Stop-gaps might have to be the answer for the next little while.

On a draft related note (I'm sure this has been beaten to death... sorry), what would it take to get the 14th and 27th (or even 19th) picks from Columbus? Our 1st + ??

I think Poluck might still be around at 14, plus Fucale might even still be on the board in the late first...
- Coleman

I think the only way CBS moves those picks is if they can move up into the top 5. I think they'll be quite content picking right where they are. They'd love to get a player who can broach their lineup and contribute.

Their first priority should be securing Bobrovsky at a reasonable salary.

What scares me more is them betting to hard on Mason to carry this team. He's still a little fragile mentally. The only move that makes sense to me with letting Bryz go now is for Homer to sign Backstrom to a deal for 2-4 years under what Bryz is making. But I'd be loathe to sign a less talented or proven netminder or to take on another contract like Bryz's. Right now we have an out, and if Mason can shoulder the load, we'd know more by the end of next season, and also about whether Bryz CAN live upto his deal. But if we Buyout Bryz and inherit say Luongo's deal and he doesn't pan out either we are now stuck with a goalie contract we CAN'T get rid of. Either way it is measured and deliberate moves that Homer needs to make.
- flyler

I can't see them trading for Bobby Lou. If he's bought out I'm sure they'd be interested in signing him though.

I think Gus has more than proven himself for the 6th spot. But I think the best thing our Blueline can do is get healthy. A healthy Kimmo, Meszaros & Gus make a pretty good set of puckmovers.
- flyler

^^ this.

I haven't watch any of the playoffs until 2 nights ago and last night and I must say that it seems to me the Flyers are light years behind the Bruins, Kings, and Hawks. From strategy to execution, to overall swagger, the Flyers would not stand a chance against these 3 teams.
- Jimmygrazz

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.

Remember when people were thoughtful enough to post in the old thread "New blog up!"

This world is going to hell.
- mayorofangrytown

New blog up!

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.
- Tomahawk

If Chara had suffered a freak, career ending eye injury instead of Pronger things would be very different.

So Gregory Campbell broke his leg blocking that shot and then kept doing his best to block shots and interrupt passes with a broken leg.

What a performance.
- Marc D

that was awesome.

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.
- Tomahawk

Agreed. I think I am of the mindset that it may be time to let a couple of these young guys develop and MEzaros isn't old. As opposed to what is available as free agent D like Andrew Alberts? No, Id rather not.
- edmac812

Agreed, Mez is like 3 years older than Gus and has 8 years of NHL experience (7 if you don't count the measly 11 games he played this year). We talk about guys like Schenn who are young and have been learning in the NHL for 5 years and how tough that is to be consistent? It's easy to forget Mez came in a first round pick just like Schenn and has been very consistent. I don't know if he's going to be a two-way guy in Kimmo's league but I would rate him on the same level as a Christian Ehrhoff. Maybe with more hitting power & Defense and a little less offensive creativity.

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.
- Tomahawk

This is true, but the one thing I'll say about that is this: "We," as in the overall fanbase and/or the media, aren't exactly guiltless in this regard.

In 2010, Boston gave up the ghost to the Flyers in a fashion that has only been done three times in NHL history.

If that had happened in Philadelphia, fans would've stormed Claude Julien's house with torches and pitchforks. Peter Chiarelli, too.

We can't even pretend that wouldn't be the case, because Peter Laviolette -- who has accomplished just as much in his coaching career as Claude Julien now, and had done more than Claude Julien as of 2010...the majority of us want him fired.

We want Paul Holmgren fired.

We believe Scott Hartnell, who has averaged 25-ish goals for his Flyers career, should be traded.

We want Braydon Coburn, who is clearly a Top 4 defenseman with a great cap hit for that role, traded.

As a whole, there have been so many times where the fanbase or media just can't be just patient enough to let any particular set of Flyers key players to fail, grow and succeed together.

Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't wrong when he said that the Philadelphia media, for example, is always looking for a scapegoat and that it's usually the goalie.

Does that mean that Peter Laviolette and Paul Holmgren and Bob Clarke and Ken Hitchcock and John Stevens, etc., are blameless? Of course not. When you don't win, there should always be introspection.

But introspection...it doesn't always have to be firings or trades. Claude Julien didn't get gassed in 2010, got to come back in 2011 and win.

On the other hand, the Peter Laviolette deathwatch is on after one missed season of the playoffs, in a shortened season, when the guy posted a 103-point season just last year.

Philadelphia..it's tough. At times, I don't know if we, as a fanbase, have the patience it requires to win.

This is true, but the one thing I'll say about that is this: "We," as in the overall fanbase and/or the media, aren't exactly guiltless in this regard.

In 2010, Boston gave up the ghost to the Flyers in a fashion that has only been done three times in NHL history.

If that had happened in Philadelphia, fans would've stormed Claude Julien's house with torches and pitchforks. Peter Chiarelli, too.

We can't even pretend that wouldn't be the case, because Peter Laviolette -- who has accomplished just as much in his coaching career as Claude Julien now, and had done more than Claude Julien as of 2010...the majority of us want him fired.

We want Paul Holmgren fired.

We believe Scott Hartnell, who has averaged 25-ish goals for his Flyers career, should be traded.

We want Braydon Coburn, who is clearly a Top 4 defenseman with a great cap hit for that role, traded.

As a whole, there have been so many times where the fanbase or media just can't be just patient enough to let any particular set of Flyers key players to fail, grow and succeed together.

Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't wrong when he said that the Philadelphia media, for example, is always looking for a scapegoat and that it's usually the goalie.

Does that mean that Peter Laviolette and Paul Holmgren and Bob Clarke and Ken Hitchcock and John Stevens, etc., are blameless? Of course not. When you don't win, there should always be introspection.

But introspection...it doesn't always have to be firings or trades. Claude Julien didn't get gassed in 2010, got to come back in 2011 and win.

On the other hand, the Peter Laviolette deathwatch is on after one missed season of the playoffs, in a shortened season, when the guy posted a 103-point season just last year.

Philadelphia..it's tough. At times, I don't know if we, as a fanbase, have the patience it requires to win.
- AllInForFlyers

well i certainly hope the flyers brass aren't listening to the fans on how to manage the team

It wouldn't surprise me if they let Cooke walk.

I'm wondering how many of Iginla, Morrow and Murray they decide to bring back. I'd resign Morrow but the rest could find new homes as they see fit.
- mayorofangrytown

Yet nobody touches Ray Shero and his "golden" moves.

This is true, but the one thing I'll say about that is this: "We," as in the overall fanbase and/or the media, aren't exactly guiltless in this regard.

In 2010, Boston gave up the ghost to the Flyers in a fashion that has only been done three times in NHL history.

If that had happened in Philadelphia, fans would've stormed Claude Julien's house with torches and pitchforks. Peter Chiarelli, too.

We can't even pretend that wouldn't be the case, because Peter Laviolette -- who has accomplished just as much in his coaching career as Claude Julien now, and had done more than Claude Julien as of 2010...the majority of us want him fired.

We want Paul Holmgren fired.

We believe Scott Hartnell, who has averaged 25-ish goals for his Flyers career, should be traded.

We want Braydon Coburn, who is clearly a Top 4 defenseman with a great cap hit for that role, traded.

As a whole, there have been so many times where the fanbase or media just can't be just patient enough to let any particular set of Flyers key players to fail, grow and succeed together.

Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't wrong when he said that the Philadelphia media, for example, is always looking for a scapegoat and that it's usually the goalie.

Does that mean that Peter Laviolette and Paul Holmgren and Bob Clarke and Ken Hitchcock and John Stevens, etc., are blameless? Of course not. When you don't win, there should always be introspection.

But introspection...it doesn't always have to be firings or trades. Claude Julien didn't get gassed in 2010, got to come back in 2011 and win.

On the other hand, the Peter Laviolette deathwatch is on after one missed season of the playoffs, in a shortened season, when the guy posted a 103-point season just last year.

Philadelphia..it's tough. At times, I don't know if we, as a fanbase, have the patience it requires to win.
- AllInForFlyers

This guy needs his own blog.

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.
- Tomahawk

The Forsberg, Hatcher, Smith, Rathje remake was always destined to be remade in the short term.

The first wave of kid rebuilds with Richards, Carter, Umberger, Lupul, Coburn, Upshall, Carle along with Timmonen and Hartnell was given 5 yrs. As they advanced they attempted to tweak the team and got them to the finals. We all know what those pieces were traded for and why. Then the fateful 30 minute remake that shook the entire team. Thought that was all a chemistry move. Wouldn't surprise me if Prongers exit interview that year along with Laviolette's assessment didn't have something to do with that. Throw in the Bryzgalof acquisition and BOOM! New Team.

It's painful watching them shed the players from the second rebuild who meant so much to the club like Briere and Timonen but I think this core will get a good chance to grow together.

I understand the perception but the Bruins had no reason to bail as the team took home a cup and a lot of the issues, short of Thomas, weren't part of their make up.

well i certainly hope the flyers brass aren't listening to the fans on how to manage the team
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Certainly they aren't, because they kept Laviolette, but did you see how much rage/frustration that prompted in some quarters?

Is Neil Little still with the organization? If so, how is Nitty's role different from Neil Little's (whom I thought was the "goalie scout")?

The thing to note is just how many core players they still have left from when the Flyers came back from 0-3 against them in 2010 -- about a dozen or so players (and almost all their core players) survived that epic meltdown and they were given the opportunity to stay together and build off that nasty experience. The Flyers? Just 4 players left from that 2010 team that had swagger in spades and made the Finals, not counting Gagne who was dumped and then came back and Briere who is about to get CBO'd.

Team building and chemistry and experience and swagger are terms that are oft thrown around in Flyerland, but the reality is that ever-constant turnover/rollover of the core and the greater lineup has made it almost impossible for any of that to come together. Single failures are almost always followed by makeovers and splashy changes... it's not surprising that the Bruins have played and learned as a unit, while the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels going nowhere fast.
- Tomahawk

I disagree completely that the Flyers are still just spinning their wheels and going no where fast. Let's look at some facts. First of all there is the inury to Pronger. In reference to Boston, let's remove Chara from that team with a career ending injury, and how do you think it would affect them?
Secondly, when the Flyers make the drastic move to change dierection, and trade their two top players and build the team around Giroux, it was known that it would be taking a step back in the immediate future. We've seen the continued growth of players such as Giroux and Voracek. And young players such as Couturier and Schenn are primed to step out. So to characterize this team as going nowhere fast, is shortsighted in my opinion. With a few key moves, this team has a very bright future in my opinion.

New blog up!
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Thanks, you hold a very special place in my heart.

This is true, but the one thing I'll say about that is this: "We," as in the overall fanbase and/or the media, aren't exactly guiltless in this regard.

In 2010, Boston gave up the ghost to the Flyers in a fashion that has only been done three times in NHL history.

If that had happened in Philadelphia, fans would've stormed Claude Julien's house with torches and pitchforks. Peter Chiarelli, too.


We believe Scott Hartnell, who has averaged 25-ish goals for his Flyers career, should be traded for a top pair defenseman, rather then trading away from the younger core to fill that huge hole they have in their line up.


Philadelphia..it's tough. At times, I don't know if we, as a fanbase, have the patience it requires to win.
- AllInForFlyers

fixed one part of that for you

the rest I don't know... Lavi needs to adapt his system better to his players and if he can't I think most would agree he should go

This is true, but the one thing I'll say about that is this: "We," as in the overall fanbase and/or the media, aren't exactly guiltless in this regard.

In 2010, Boston gave up the ghost to the Flyers in a fashion that has only been done three times in NHL history.

If that had happened in Philadelphia, fans would've stormed Claude Julien's house with torches and pitchforks. Peter Chiarelli, too.

We can't even pretend that wouldn't be the case, because Peter Laviolette -- who has accomplished just as much in his coaching career as Claude Julien now, and had done more than Claude Julien as of 2010...the majority of us want him fired.

We want Paul Holmgren fired.

We believe Scott Hartnell, who has averaged 25-ish goals for his Flyers career, should be traded.

We want Braydon Coburn, who is clearly a Top 4 defenseman with a great cap hit for that role, traded.

As a whole, there have been so many times where the fanbase or media just can't be just patient enough to let any particular set of Flyers key players to fail, grow and succeed together.

Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't wrong when he said that the Philadelphia media, for example, is always looking for a scapegoat and that it's usually the goalie.

Does that mean that Peter Laviolette and Paul Holmgren and Bob Clarke and Ken Hitchcock and John Stevens, etc., are blameless? Of course not. When you don't win, there should always be introspection.

But introspection...it doesn't always have to be firings or trades. Claude Julien didn't get gassed in 2010, got to come back in 2011 and win.

On the other hand, the Peter Laviolette deathwatch is on after one missed season of the playoffs, in a shortened season, when the guy posted a 103-point season just last year.

Philadelphia..it's tough. At times, I don't know if we, as a fanbase, have the patience it requires to win.
- AllInForFlyers

Boston fans aren't that different from Philly fans and I saw more than one want Julien gone when the team was faltering down the stretch and trying to find their footing against Toronto.

And I've read Chicago fans baying for Quenneville's blood at various times in the years since their Cup win.

Is Neil Little still with the organization? If so, how is Nitty's role different from Neil Little's (whom I thought was the "goalie scout")?
- johndewar

Little's in North America, Nitty is in Europe.

Yet nobody touches Ray Shero and his "golden" moves.
- bradleyc4

Hes going to need to make some golden moves to keep that team under the cap in the next couple years.

Is Neil Little still with the organization? If so, how is Nitty's role different from Neil Little's (whom I thought was the "goalie scout")?
- johndewar

Niitty will be focusing on European goaltenders

I for one, hope they don't buy out Bryz. No way I want part of his contract sticking around for the next 14 years. Then 4 years from now, people will be b*tching that his hanging cap is "bogging us down" from making other moves.

If it was a 100% buyout, and the cap was negated completely, I'd go along with it. But I just don't see any way you can justify having him on the books for that long, essentially just dead space.

Briere, however, could probably be dealt with for a few years.

Bryz, I wouldn't label a #1 concern. He wasn't worth the money this season, but he was certainly solid enough to give them chances. If anything, try to pry him from his NMC, and find someone to pull a fast one on a trade for practically no return.

I just don't see carrying that dead weight in cap is the best choice right now. Especially since they're always at the very top line of cap space anyway...