I have my doubts, and I place so much blame on Holmgren.

The issues that have remained with this team, have also remained under his tenure.

I dont fall to the belief of this being a good team that is just run poorly, and that alone. Holmgren to me, has continously failed to ignore the fact that he employs talent that is too inconsistent in its work ethic, and most of all is poor in its defensive game/awareness to begin with.
- flyer_nutter

He's made mistakes, too...but the team has a talented group of players that should be better than they have been.

And I can't get past how well the team did when Laviolette adjusted after the injuries last season and demanded better 200 foot play from the forwards.

Only saw the last five minutes of the game, but I guess by the score and the comments, it wasn't pretty. Just reading through, I wanted to make a comment about a so called offensive identity versus a defensive identity. It's not one or the other. There is another choice. And that's a solid all around identity. And make no mistake about it. Every good team out there including Detroit and Chicago, their Coaches stress defensive play and demand it. And they provide the team with the structure to do so. A top Coach wants his team to be a hard team to play against in all 3 zones. On the offensive and defensive side of the puck. It's not a choice between being an offensive or defensive team. Good teams choose both!
- MJL

That's been a rock in my shoe since the Mike Keenan years.

No identity.

What would their record have to be at the 20 game mark to justify a coaching move?
- 77rams

If the direction is neutral or down and they have less than 20 points I'd dismiss him. That's a quick rough and dirty.

Would Mr. Snyder consider a Clarke/Hitchcock sweep if they're swooning at the 20 game mark?
- 77rams

Well, considering Clarke had to force Snider to accept his resignation, no.

But I do think that if they miss the playoffs, Holmgren walks the plank. I think that if they're struggling at the 20 game mark, Laviolette gets fired in an attempt to right the ship.

Of course, if the bottom drops out completely...maybe Snider does clean house.

If the forwards don;t help out on defense, it doesn'tt matter who you have back there.

That's why the Devils with Marek Zdlicky, Andy Greene and Peter Herold can get the the SCF in 2012, and why the Flyers get creamed by them.

The defense corps should be adequate. But if you don't have the forwards doing a good job backchekcing, it's going to look awful.
- Jsaquella

I like Lavy and think he's a good coach but every coach has a shelf life. This team has been hemorrhaging goals for 2+ seasons now. They will go nowhere until that is addressed. Your point about the Devils and Flyers D corps is well taken. This group should be adequate.

Voracek will play in Season opener, for any who doubted it

I like Lavy and think he's a good coach but every coach has a shelf life. This team has been hemorrhaging goals for 2+ seasons now. They will go nowhere until that is addressed. Your point about the Devils and Flyers D corps is well taken. This group should be adequate.
- BOSS_TWEED

I like Laviolette, too...my stated preference is that he adjust and have success here. He will get another job if fired, and he will do well there. It's not that he's a bad coach as much as perhaps a stubborn one.

Not sure what to say. The second period was good, otherwise way too mistakes. They just aren't playing like a team, just like last year. Hopefully it's because they've been trying so many players and that settles as they get chemistry. Overall this looks like it could be a very long season. Everyone was jumpy. No way was Rinaldo's hit worth a game.

One positive I liked the way Hall played. He needs to stay.

Not sure what to say. The second period was good, otherwise way too mistakes. They just aren't playing like a team, just like last year. Hopefully it's because they've been trying so many players and that settles as they get chemistry. Overall this looks like it could be a very long season. Everyone was jumpy. No way was Rinaldo's hit worth a game.

One positive I liked the way Hall played. He needs to stay.
- LJF

hall's a waste. just holding back laughton...

I like Laviolette, too...my stated preference is that he adjust and have success here. He will get another job if fired, and he will do well there. It's not that he's a bad coach as much as perhaps a stubborn one.
- Jsaquella

I might be wrong here but I believe that Lavy will eclipse 4 full seasons with the team sometime in Feb/Mar. Should he make it that far, he would become the longest tenured Flyers coach since Freddy. That is a long time to be a hockey coach in this city.

hall's a waste. just holding back laughton...





- isaiah520

Got it

hall's a waste. just holding back laughton...








- isaiah520

Laughton is holding back Laughton.. LOL It's sad that our best player in this game was a guy like Hall. Where are the top players so far? I hope Lavy's got a switch to flip.

I might be wrong here but I believe that Lavy will eclipse 4 full seasons with the team sometime in Feb/Mar. Should he make it that far, he would become the longest tenured Flyers coach since Freddy. That is a long time to be a hockey coach in this city.
- BOSS_TWEED

I am pretty sure you are correct...actually, December is 4 years, and that will be the longest tenure since The Fog.

Laughton is holding back Laughton.. LOL It's sad that our best player in this game was a guy like Hall. Where are the top players so far? I hope Lavy's got a switch to flip.
- Hextall271

I mean, Giroux, Hartnell, Vinny, and Read all had good games.

I still think this team made a mistake by not retaining Jagr

Last year and so far this preseason there just seems to be chemistry with the team. Last year injuries and this is preseason, but Lava better get working on this. I thought maybe the team building last week would be the start of it.

A lot of leaders on the team, so they need to pull this team together.

I still think this team made a mistake by not retaining Jagr
- KGBflyers10

I think that ship has sailed.

I still think this team made a mistake by not retaining Jagr
- KGBflyers10

wasn't he last seen upchucking embalming fluid in the SCF?

I still think this team made a mistake by not retaining Jagr
- KGBflyers10

Just my opinion, but the pattern with how this Flyers team has been getting beat does date back to when Jagr was on the team.

I'm not saying Jagr wouldn't help; I just don't think he's a panacea.

Let's see where this team is on Black Friday. If they are under .500, I think it's time to look into replacing the coach.

I am pretty sure you are correct...actually, December is 4 years, and that will be the longest tenure since The Fog.
- Jsaquella

I only extended it to feb/mar because of the lockout and to eclipse Hitch, who coached 4 full seasons + 10 games of the 5th if memory serves.

I only extended it to feb/mar because of the lockout. Hitch coached 4 full seasons + 10 games of the 5th if memory serves.
- BOSS_TWEED

Ah, yes... I was only going chronologically

He's made mistakes, too...but the team has a talented group of players that should be better than they have been.

And I can't get past how well the team did when Laviolette adjusted after the injuries last season and demanded better 200 foot play from the forwards.
- Jsaquella

So how come Lava can't realize this.

So how come Lava can't realize this.
- LJF

Because he hasn't been traded yet

Mad Max needs to show up. Great his first year with the Flyers since most so much.

I'm not reluctant to call for a coaching change. There IS no identity. There has been nothing done to counter the poor results against teams that attack them like the Devils and Rangers do. Some of that is on the players, but it's mostly on the coach for not devising a way to beat those teams.

You have to coach your team to it's abilities. This team doesn't have guys that can lace a 25 foot outlet pass through 2 opposing forwards. So stop asking them to.

I look at a 1-4-1 preseason and I'm more troubled by the ongoing trends. No fire at the start of the game. Horrible transitional play. No adjustments made to counteract a team that traps and has a hard forecheck. Getting badly out played in the first and third periods of games. Coverage breakdowns from undisciplined play...we've all seen this movie, it;s been playing for a couple years now
- Jsaquella

you know what insanity is

trying the same thing over and expecting different results