Whatever happened to Mcgin? is he injured?
- PhillaBully

He's played badly since he got his face smashed in.

Raffl has ABSOLUTELY done enough to make the roster.
- PLindbergh31

(I got this one.)

I know its only preseason and all, but watching these games and seeing the exact same issues no matter who is in the lineup gives me pause. I don't think they are just going to magically flip a switch and start playing the right way.

I'm just worried that after one period of watching botched home run passes, odd man rushes, failure to sustain a fore check, no defensive presence in the neutral zone, and forwards not helping out defensively, I am going to throw a brick through my TV.

I cant afford a new TV right now, I just CANT!
- MBFlyerfan

Honestly I dont even give a rats ass at this point who a new coach is.

Look at that previous "poem" I typed. Its all true, word for word. How can you expect anything with such a lack of consistent direction, and identity from up top.

Build a damn culture, and stick with it. Focus on players that first and foremost have a consistent work ethic. Thats the key to me. If its D-first, then stick to it for a while, and build a team thats designed to play it.

I agree with that, but man...I don't know that the Flyers don't need a DIFFERENT player, one who isn't already here.
- AllInForFlyers

Seems like more of a luxury than a need right now.

Talbot/Couturier/Read could be very good defensively, even if they're not scoring a ton.

Raffl has ABSOLUTELY done enough to make the roster.
- PLindbergh31

I saw a few days ago.

Nodl, Pyorala, Thoreson and Raffl.

All the same trash, which frankly I would rather have the speed and intensity of Thor. At least he stood out in something, the others are just walking bodies.

Honestly I dont even give a rats ass at this point who a new coach is.

Look at that previous "poem" I typed. Its all true, word for word. How can you expect anything with such a lack of consistent direction, and identity from up top.

Build a damn culture, and stick with it. Focus on players that first and foremost have a consistent work ethic. Thats the key to me. If its D-first, then stick to it for a while, and build a team thats designed to play it.
- flyer_nutter

to me, they have focused on building a culture based on work ethic.

while the richards/carter/jvr trades were all hockey-related... i think they also were made in part due to the things you mentioned

Seems like more of a luxury than a need right now.

Talbot/Couturier/Read could be very good defensively, even if they're not scoring a ton.
- bradleyc4

Yes. What you just typed is true. There is nothing wrong with what you typed, at all.

As a fan, I just hope the scoring is there.

That's all I'm questioning, that's all I'm concerned about. The talent level says it should be there, but then, again, if Couturier and Schenn don't progress and score and if Scott Hartnell doesn't bounce back...it looks a hell of a lot different then. Right?

I saw a few days ago.

Nodl, Pyorala, Thoreson and Raffl.

All the same trash, which frankly I would rather have the speed and intensity of Thor. At least he stood out in something, the others are just walking bodies.
- flyer_nutter

That's Euro-Trash sir.

I just think there's a very real danger in overrating the talent we have, based on what they have accomplished in the past or what we want them to accomplish now.

12 goals in six games...I'm sorry. I can't help but be a little worried. I can't be the only one, right?

I just think there's a very real danger in overrating the talent we have, based on what they have accomplished in the past or what we want them to accomplish now.

12 goals in six games...I'm sorry. I can't help but be a little worried. I can't be the only one, right?
- AllInForFlyers

Team bonding in Lake Placid! Do I believe in Miracles? Not just no... Ohhh hell nooooo....

Yes. What you just typed is true. There is nothing wrong with what you typed, at all.

As a fan, I just hope the scoring is there.

That's all I'm questioning, that's all I'm concerned about. The talent level says it should be there, but then, again, if Couturier and Schenn don't progress and score and if Scott Hartnell doesn't bounce back...it looks a hell of a lot different then. Right?
- AllInForFlyers

If not of that happens, it doesn't matter who the 3rd line LW is then.

Like I said, a luxury to have a better 2-way guy there.

to me, they have focused on building a culture based on work ethic.

while the richards/carter/jvr trades were all hockey-related... to me i think they also were made in part due to the things you mentioned
- Crimsoninja

The only direction is see here, is a continous change of direction.

Its frustrating to me for one reason, I used to be more of a fan. All this BS, is at this point almost laughable.

Since the "new nhl", we have switched from a hard-nosed D coach, to Stevens. Who was supposed to be softer. He became too soft, and a change was needed. At the same time a change in indentity happened to a completely aggressive team. Now we dont like that, so lets switch back to D-first.

In terms of players, we saw the club try to go big and intimidate. It was quickly realised they couldnt keep up in the new NHL. After that we went smaller and skilled, needing more grit. Give out huge contracts to a core, that was by all accounts wasnt properly evaluated. Try the cheap goalie route, to drastically shift course and sign the big name. That doesnt work, so lets go back to the cheap goalies.

Now some of these things, happen to all teams but frankly, this team has played just how it has been run. With no consistency, and a lack of consistent direction.

Now we may be going back to D-first. Identity shift, yet again. Round and round that marry-go round goes, and its far from just being the goaltenders.

I just think there's a very real danger in overrating the talent we have, based on what they have accomplished in the past or what we want them to accomplish now.

12 goals in six games...I'm sorry. I can't help but be a little worried. I can't be the only one, right?
- AllInForFlyers

I'm not worried about the scoring. At all.

It's basically everything else that scares me.

The only direction is see here, is a continous change of direction.

Its frustrating to me for one reason, I used to be more of a fan. All this BS, is at this point almost laughable.

Since the "new nhl", we have switched from a hard-nosed D coach, to Stevens. Who was supposed to be softer. He became too soft, and a change was needed. At the same time a change in indentity happened to a completely aggressive team. Now we dont like that, so lets switch back to D-first.

In terms of players, we saw the club try to go big and intimidate. It was quickly realised they couldnt keep up in the new NHL. After that we went smaller and skilled, needing more grit. Give out huge contracts to a core, that was by all accounts wasnt properly evaluated. Try the cheap goalie route, to drastically shift course and sign the big name. That doesnt work, so lets go back to the cheap goalies.

Now some of these things, happen to all teams but frankly, this team has played just how it has been run. With no consistency, and a lack of consistent direction.
- flyer_nutter

Teams change coaches. Happens all the time.

They haven't changed direction since Lavy was hired. I'd argue that's more of a fault than your perceived "they're too inconsistent/change all the time" argument.

Teams change coaches. Happens all the time.

They haven't changed direction since Lavy was hired. I'd argue that's more of a fault than your perceived "they're too inconsistent/change all the time" argument.
- bradleyc4

The GM and owner already changed directions... they just neglected to consult the coach.

I just think there's a very real danger in overrating the talent we have, based on what they have accomplished in the past or what we want them to accomplish now.

12 goals in six games...I'm sorry. I can't help but be a little worried. I can't be the only one, right?
- AllInForFlyers

You aren't the only one concerned. But I expect them to suck in pre-season cuz they are shaking out the kinks, trying line combos, giving kids a shot.
I'm ok waiting to see how we play tonight and even more importantly the next few weeks before I let it get to me.
And if we were more defensively sound 2 goals a game wouldn't be bad if our opponents had less. I'd be curious to see the spread for other teams pre-season games.

EDIT:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/standings
found this. Looks like Rangers and Jets didn't have a good pre-season...
We aren't near the top, but I'm ok for the moment.

Teams change coaches. Happens all the time.

They haven't changed direction since Lavy was hired. I'd argue that's more of a fault than your perceived "they're too inconsistent/change all the time" argument.
- bradleyc4

This will be Lavy's fifth season in charge of the Flyers

In his fifth season in Carolina he was fired after after the Hurricanes started out 12-11-2.

never said kalinski was anything more than a 4th line energy guy, while you were heralding nodl as a potential 20 goal scorer. kalinski had a gruesome injury and never made an impact after that. raffl's a bubble guy who may develop into a useful plyr who can be spotted on 3rd /4th lines. AHL time would likely help.

based on what i've seen this past summer, i think you should go back to replying w/o starting a new paragraph. it was a truer representation of your presence here. just start typing right after the "(/quote)".
- isaiah520

Kalinski was never a 4th line guy, nor did he make any impact in the NHL. He played about 20 NHL games as a call up. Nodl played over 180 NHL games, including a Season in which he scored 11 goals.
Raffl has had a solid pre season and has likely earned a spot on the team. And the fact that he's not only a rookie, but is playing for the first time in the small rink in North America, he shows a lot of promise as role player in the NHL. We'll see what happens.

Since he was talked about earlier...a Valeri Nichushkin gif:



So, yeah, he looks pretty good.

Since he was talked about earlier...a Valeri Nichushkin gif:



So, yeah, he looks pretty good.
- bradleyc4

can you imagine the outrage if he fell one more spot and the flyers took morin over him lol

Raffl to the Phantoms.....guess laughton is getting at least the first 9 games
- nastyflyergirl

Really surprised at that. I think he outplayd Laughton in the Pre Season.

OMG SIDNEY CROSBY ONLY HAS 1 GOAL THIS PRESEASON

TIME TO WORRY LIKE CRAZY ABOUT THIS OLD WASHED UP HAS-BEEN.

can you imagine the outrage if he fell one more spot and the flyers took morin over him lol
- Crimsoninja

I'm picturing my own rage.

Since he was talked about earlier...a Valeri Nichushkin gif:



So, yeah, he looks pretty good.
- bradleyc4

Yeah, Dan Carcillo scored a preseason goal that looked similar a few years back.