havent been able too see much of preseason but laughton did look pretty good on some plays. any thoughts?
- SMS4016

I think Hall is gonna win that 4th line spot, with Raffl as the third line winger.. I expected him to be a bit soft, but I have been pleasantly surprised with his physicality. Average sized, but uses his body very well. Dont expect him to be a 20-20 guy.. but has good offensive insticts as well.

My favorite line has easily been the Talbot-Couts-Read line... Couts playing strong hockey and has also been a pleasant surprise in the physical department.


Unfortunately I feel as though we are in for more of the same. They still cant play against a good defensive hockey team.

havent been able too see much of preseason but laughton did look pretty good on some plays. any thoughts?
- SMS4016

I thought he was head and shoulders better than he was in the other games.

I think Hall is gonna win that 4th line spot, with Raffl as the third line winger.. I expected him to be a bit soft, but I have been pleasantly surprised with his physicality. Average sized, but uses his body very well. Dont expect him to be a 20-20 guy.. but has good offensive insticts as well.

My favorite line has easily been the Talbot-Couts-Read line... Couts playing strong hockey and has also been a pleasant surprise in the physical department.


Unfortunately I feel as though we are in for more of the same. They still cant play against a good defensive hockey team.
- jak521

I agree, that line looked very strong. I hope they start the Season together. Also like Raffl. I think he's made the team. Flyers have the option of playing Hall at Wing, like they did last night. But we'll see.

Lot's of negatives from last night being talked about. One very good positive. Giroux, although slightly rusty, looks ready to play.

good point made on nhl network in between periods... they were saying philly defense was playing too soft in front of goaltending. any thoughts

good point made on nhl network in between periods... they were saying philly defense was playing too soft in front of goaltending. any thoughts
- SMS4016

Saw a lot of sweep checks in front, most noticeably on the 2nd goal.
Also, the Coburn haters were out in full effect last night.

good point made on nhl network in between periods... they were saying philly defense was playing too soft in front of goaltending. any thoughts
- SMS4016

Well, on both goals, a defenseman got caught flat footed. I'm more concerned with their breakout game, then I am with the defenseman.

That's what bugs me...too typical Flyers vs Devils.
- Jsaquella

problem is you have to be able to beat one of the rangers/devils to get into the playoffs....anyways might be to premature but fail for ekblad.

I hate to be "that guy" this early on, but I am just very unimpressed with Mark Streit. He looks like he's terrified of the puck. I've been hearing all offseason what a weapon he is on the PP, and he looks like he's afraid of considering a shot. He also looks slow compared to what i was expecting.

Maybe I have raised expectations, but he doesn't do it for me, at least not yet.

problem is you have to be able to beat one of the rangers/devils to get into the playoffs....anyways might be to premature but fail for ekblad.
- PhillaBully

Trade the #1 pick, for #2 +, pick Ekblad or Reinhart.

I hate to be "that guy" this early on, but I am just very unimpressed with Mark Streit. He looks like he's terrified of the puck. I've been hearing all offseason what a weapon he is on the PP, and he looks like he's afraid of considering a shot. He also looks slow compared to what i was expecting.

Maybe I have raised expectations, but he doesn't do it for me, at least not yet.
- jmatchett383

Well first of all, he's not a great skater, and he's not known for his speed. But look at the point totals he's put up in his career? Do you really think he's terrified of the puck? Flyers spent large parts of the game in their own zone, and had little sustained offensive attack. How good would you expect an offensive defenseman to look in that situation?

Streit is an experienced PP point man. He knows when to shoot, and when not to shoot.

good point made on nhl network in between periods... they were saying philly defense was playing too soft in front of goaltending. any thoughts
- SMS4016

Er, I don't know about that.

This is lazy analysis for "The Flyers don't have Chris Pronger anymore".

pretty much sums it up.. I was at the game and I cant tell you how frustrating it was to see Matt Read miss the net about 6 times, Devils blocking a ridiculous amount of shots (as usual), and clogging the middle of the ice. It was a very slow game thats for sure. I think the Flyers outshot the Devils but it was only a 24-19 total (correct me if im wrong). But Meszaros looked very bad I might add. Not helping his trade value any.
- justahockeyguy2

The point of the actual GIF is that the guy in yellow is repeatedly trying to score on the basket he's intended to defend. (Note, guy in black beginning sequence with free throw attempt.) I don't think that happened in the Flyers game last night, successfully or un.

problem is you have to be able to beat one of the rangers/devils to get into the playoffs....anyways might be to premature but fail for ekblad.
- PhillaBully

Last night was very typical of Flyers - Devils hockey, but I'm not gonna get too worked up just yet.

If the Flyers had beaten the Devils, I'm not sure we could have drawn a much different conclusion other than "it's still pre-season".

Well first of all, he's not a great skater, and he's not known for his speed. But look at the point totals he's put up in his career? Do you really think he's terrified of the puck? Flyers spent large parts of the game in their own zone, and had little sustained offensive attack. How good would you expect an offensive defenseman to look in that situation?

Streit is an experienced PP point man. He knows when to shoot, and when not to shoot.
- MJL

I know he's not known for his speed, but he just has a weird stride, as opposed to a guy like Carle who was a very smooth skater, and it just rubs me the wrong way.

Do I think he's literally terrified of the puck? Of course not, he's a veteran NHL player. But he's supposed to be this PP specialist, and I've yet to see any signs of that on the Flyers thus far. I'm not one of the "SHOOOOOOOOOT" guys, but he had at least 2 good looks last night and seemed to be very hesitant. Hopefully he scores 70 goals and lifts the Cup as a Flyer at the end of the year.

You watched it...it was the 2012 playoffs with some different players.
- Jsaquella

Reminded me of some of Lava's comments at the Town Hall. When asked about slow starts in games he said he didn't think it was a slow start if the team never got going during the whole game. Right Coach, so if you've got to do better do a little more than Andy Reid it and actually do something differently.

I agree, that line looked very strong. I hope they start the Season together. Also like Raffl. I think he's made the team. Flyers have the option of playing Hall at Wing, like they did last night. But we'll see.

Lot's of negatives from last night being talked about. One very good positive. Giroux, although slightly rusty, looks ready to play.
- MJL

Yup, I think Raffl makes the big club.

Any updates of Voracek and, more importantly, Rinaldo? I hear Voracek was lower back, "reportedly not serious."

Anyone know Zac Rinaldo's status?

Last night was very typical of Flyers - Devils hockey, but I'm not gonna get too worked up just yet.

If the Flyers had beaten the Devils, I'm not sure we could have drawn a much different conclusion other than "it's still pre-season".
- johndewar

Its not that they lost, its how they lost and how similar it is to every devils/rangers loss.

Anyone know Zac Rinaldo's status?
- johndewar

hes preparing for beast mode come wednesday

I know he's not known for his speed, but he just has a weird stride, as opposed to a guy like Carle who was a very smooth skater, and it just rubs me the wrong way.

Do I think he's literally terrified of the puck? Of course not, he's a veteran NHL player. But he's supposed to be this PP specialist, and I've yet to see any signs of that on the Flyers thus far. I'm not one of the "SHOOOOOOOOOT" guys, but he had at least 2 good looks last night and seemed to be very hesitant. Hopefully he scores 70 goals and lifts the Cup as a Flyer at the end of the year.
- jmatchett383

Im going to draw my own conclusions and say what the flyers need is a 5 on 5 specialist not a powerplay....power play and pk were good last year it was 5 on that killed them....for that i blame the coach

Its not that they lost, its how they lost and how similar it is to every devils/rangers loss.
- PhillaBully

on a plus note, thought emery looked pretty solid last night. feeling much much better going into season with him/mason than bryz

Any updates of Voracek and, more importantly, Rinaldo? I hear Voracek was lower back, "reportedly not serious."
- jmatchett383

they took him off life support this morning. it's over.

on a plus note, thought emery looked pretty solid last night. feeling much much better going into season with him/mason than bryz
- SMS4016

emery looked very good. mason didn't look as good to me in the action i've seen so far, but it was in the very beginning of camp.