This is pretty much the reason why a mid-season coaching change is usually not the best idea... your pool of candidates is pretty much confined to in-house options or guys without a current job -- all the best NHL guys, AHL guys and CHL guys are spoken for.
- Tomahawk

This assumes your in-house guys are no good or the guys without a current job are schlubs. Both of these assumptions are cynical, at best, or completely wrongheaded at worst.

What GM's survive a contract like Bryzgalov's? I understand that decision was heavily made by the owner, but there lies the huge issue. You have an 80+ year old man making personnel decisions.
- PLindbergh31

Chicago didn't really turn a corner until Bill Wirtz croaked and his personnel meddling ended... maybe it's going to be the same here.

I'm not sure Hexy would enjoy any more autonomy than Clarkie or Homer did.

Some alarming trends for sure. Hopefully when the games count, this team will start competing.

From what I've read and seen none of the Laughton, Raffl, VandeVelde trio have done anything to earn a roster spot. One of them will because there is no one else.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think Schenn has earned a roster spot at this point. Talk about invisible. I see a B Schenn jersey out there on occasion, but I have to strain to find it. In the games he has played this preseason, I have found myself on more than one occasion asking myself if he actually was in the lineup...having to double check.

I hope he steps it up.

What GM's survive a contract like Bryzgalov's? I understand that decision was heavily made by the owner, but there lies the huge issue. You have an 80+ year old man making personnel decisions.
- PLindbergh31

So the GM is going to be fired because of a decision the Owner possibly made?
If Holmgren was going to be fired over the Bryzgalov deal, it already would've happened.

Thanksgiving is my deadline..

I dont understand why people get so fired up about the idea of a coaching change... What exactly has Lava done here? He is certainly and interesting character... and shows plenty of emotion, but what exactly has he done that ensures him holding down his position?
- jak521

Well let's see...in his first season with the Flyers, they make the playoffs and go to the sixth game of the finals. Second season they win the division, win the first round of the playoffs, then get waxed by the Bruin juggernaut (which won the Cup) in round 2. Season 3, most of the roster changed, in the playoffs again; a death cage matchup with the Penguins that was exciting as hell to watch, then lost in round 2 to a Devils team that went to the finals. Last season was a short one, boat loads of injuries and missed the playoffs. His overall Flyers record 145-95-29; a .604 winning percentage. 23-22 playoff record. I think people owe him the benefit of the doubt!

Yes, Voracek's expected back tonight. He wasn't slated to play last night even before his injury.
- jmatchett383

Thats good guy can fly and really create space for himself with that speed. You guys are a lot more dangerous with him in the line up but that goes without saying.

I don't think Schenn has earned a roster spot at this point. Talk about invisible. I see a B Schenn jersey out there on occasion, but I have to strain to find it. In the games he has played this preseason, I have found myself on more than one occasion asking myself if he actually was in the lineup...having to double check.

I hope he steps it up.
- MBFlyerfan

Very fair point. Schenn hasn't played well. The thing is there is zero competition pushing him for a roster spot.

How's Rinaldo playing so far?

Lots of momentum changing, bone crushing hits?

How's Rinaldo playing so far?

Lots of momentum changing, bone crushing hits?
- Pecafan Fan

Derp.

Bill thinks he looks like pyorala and while he's had his moments, i'd tend to agree. no one to get overly excited about.
- isaiah520

He's yet to play his first NHL game. What is the expectation? He's an undrafted UFA. Just need him to become a solid player, and he's shown flashes of that ability.

How's Rinaldo playing so far?

Lots of momentum changing, bone crushing hits?
- Pecafan Fan

He's been injured. I'm not sure if he played last night.

I don't think Schenn has earned a roster spot at this point. Talk about invisible. I see a B Schenn jersey out there on occasion, but I have to strain to find it. In the games he has played this preseason, I have found myself on more than one occasion asking myself if he actually was in the lineup...having to double check.

I hope he steps it up.
- MBFlyerfan

I know it is only preseason, but after his abysmal performance last year and showing nothing so far to indicate he has progressed, I would love to package him and Mez, plus maybe a pick for a top line winger to play with Vinny and Simmer.

This assumes your in-house guys are no good or the guys without a current job are schlubs. Both of these assumptions are cynical, at best, or completely wrongheaded at worst.
- johndewar

Berube as interim head coach?

I have my doubts that Snider would sign off on another turn for Murray after the way his first tenure ended.

There are some name coaches available, and some old-school guys in semi-retirement, but outside of that, are there any savants out there that would dramatically improve the Flyers chances of winning right now?

He's been injured. I'm not sure if he played last night.
- PLindbergh31

Well, that sucks.

Laviolette has seen his system win a Stanley Cup, and get to withing two games of winning another Stanley Cup. I understand why he is reluctant to change.
- PLindbergh31

Like I said before.. Lets just go out and get Mike Keenan.. he won a cup. But Barry Trotz would be a poopty coach to add... ya know.. cause he never won a cup.

The point is, that team was one shootout goal away from not making the playoffs. They had to battle back from a 3-0 series deficit, and then had the same issues they are having today, plague them in the Chicago series...


Since we lost to Chicago.. here is the losing teams GAA for the series..
Flyers-4.16
Nucks-3.2
Devils-2.6
Bruins-2.83

Even in that series, our inability to play sound two way hockey plagued us. We are a run and gun team.

I know it is only preseason, but after his abysmal performance last year and showing nothing so far to indicate he has progressed, I would love to package him and Mez, plus maybe a pick for a top line winger to play with Vinny and Simmer.
- aantny88

If you're going to trade B Schenn and Meszaros, it better be for a quality puck moving defenseman. The Flyers don't need another top line Winger.

Like I said before.. Lets just go out and get Mike Keenan.. he won a cup. But Barry Trotz would be a poopty coach to add... ya know.. cause he never won a cup.

The point is, that team was one shootout goal away from not making the playoffs. They had to battle back from a 3-0 series deficit, and then had the same issues they are having today, plague them in the Chicago series...


Since we lost to Chicago.. here is the losing teams GAA for the series..
Flyers-4.16
Nucks-3.2
Devils-2.6
Bruins-2.83

Even in that series, our inability to play sound two way hockey plagued us. We are a run and gun team.
- jak521

Flyers - Michael Leighton
Nucks - Roberto Luongo
Devils - Martin Brodeur
Bruins - Tuukka Rask

One of these is not like the others.

Well let's see...in his first season with the Flyers, they make the playoffs and go to the sixth game of the finals. Second season they win the division, win the first round of the playoffs, then get waxed by the Bruin juggernaut (which won the Cup) in round 2. Season 3, most of the roster changed, in the playoffs again; a death cage matchup with the Penguins that was exciting as hell to watch, then lost in round 2 to a Devils team that went to the finals. Last season was a short one, boat loads of injuries and missed the playoffs. His overall Flyers record 145-95-29; a .604 winning percentage. 23-22 playoff record. I think people owe him the benefit of the doubt!
- aantny88

Heres a pretty good question... who was more important during that Cup run.. Pronger or Lava. Im serious too. Look at our record pre-injury with Lava as coach, and post injury with Lava as coach... I have done it before. Pretty scary.

Berube as interim head coach?

I have my doubts that Snider would sign off on another turn for Murray after the way his first tenure ended.

There are some name coaches available, and some old-school guys in semi-retirement, but outside of that, are there any savants out there that would dramatically improve the Flyers chances of winning right now?
- Tomahawk

You really won't know until they get in here.

And frankly, neither do I, so I probably wouldn't be so quick or dismissive out of hand.

Heres a pretty good question... who was more important during that Cup run.. Pronger or Lava. Im serious too. Look at our record pre-injury with Lava as coach, and post injury with Lava as coach... I have done it before. Pretty scary.
- jak521

Easy answer.

Well let's see...in his first season with the Flyers, they make the playoffs and go to the sixth game of the finals. Second season they win the division, win the first round of the playoffs, then get waxed by the Bruin juggernaut (which won the Cup) in round 2. Season 3, most of the roster changed, in the playoffs again; a death cage matchup with the Penguins that was exciting as hell to watch, then lost in round 2 to a Devils team that went to the finals. Last season was a short one, boat loads of injuries and missed the playoffs. His overall Flyers record 145-95-29; a .604 winning percentage. 23-22 playoff record. I think people owe him the benefit of the doubt!
- aantny88

His benefit of the doubt was last season after getting dismantled by the devils....two seasons later he is still getting dismantled in the same way...no one is saying he is a bad coach, but he is employing the wrong system for the players he has....if i had a manager work for me that wasnt utilizing the strengths of his employees while minimizing the weakness he would be gone.

Heres a pretty good question... who was more important during that Cup run.. Pronger or Lava. Im serious too. Look at our record pre-injury with Lava as coach, and post injury with Lava as coach... I have done it before. Pretty scary.
- jak521

If you take a franchise d-man off any coach's roster of course the team won't be as good.

Flyers - Michael Leighton
Nucks - Roberto Luongo
Devils - Martin Brodeur
Bruins - Tuukka Rask
- jmatchett383

The funny thing about that, is that with out Leighton and Boosh playing out of their minds, it would have, and should have, been way worse. They were the least of the Flyers problems in that series. What happened was that the Flyers played RUN&GUN hockey (like they tend to do) and it killed them.

Very fair and I also love you're willingness to answer questions in the comments section even from fans of other teams and that is something I hold high. I am really hoping Schneider plays the majority of the games he could get us in the play offs I believe. Also is Voracek expected to play tonight ? I apologize if it's in the blog I haven't read it yet
- blizzzard

Voracek is possible for tonight and definite for the opener (barring some other sort of problem).

Like I said before.. Lets just go out and get Mike Keenan.. he won a cup. But Barry Trotz would be a poopty coach to add... ya know.. cause he never won a cup.

The point is, that team was one shootout goal away from not making the playoffs. They had to battle back from a 3-0 series deficit, and then had the same issues they are having today, plague them in the Chicago series...


Since we lost to Chicago.. here is the losing teams GAA for the series..
Flyers-4.16
Nucks-3.2
Devils-2.6
Bruins-2.83

Even in that series, our inability to play sound two way hockey plagued us. We are a run and gun team.
- jak521

Nah, fire Laviolette and bring Murray in. A guy that has been fired everywhere he has been, and has worked magic with the Phantoms. Problem solved.