I'm curious to see how teams react to the divisional changes. I think some teams are gonna skate in easy to the play-offs and others are going to have a rude awakening *cough* Caps *cough*.
- FlyersGrace

The Caps arent going to stroll in and be the top team, but they are definately a playoff team, and better then NJ, NYI, Car, and Cmb. Might be even to equal to Flyers.

Anyone else check out the Penguins blog about Vokoun? Ugh sounds horrendous? Clots from his thigh halfway to his heart?
Man I wish him a good recovery I had no idea though that it might end his career.

Here is the issue. Your franchise is Broke. They made a horrible decision in drafting at 29 2 drafts ago. If they had money they would have waited 1 more season and just signed one of the many above average goalies to hit the market, from Miller to Lundquist, to hiller, Halak.... However, since they cant afford to pay UFA prices, and they dont have a pick in 2014, they had to trade the 9th overall for an average goalie that wont break the bank. Your going to kick yourself for not keeping the pick and taking an future perrenial all-star in Nichushkin.
- youarewrong

Really man broke ? Look at who our owner is. I thought you would already know seeing as he owns the 76ers. The guy is worth 2.1 Billion. If anything we finally have financial stability to spend with the big boys. We still have one of the best active GMs in the League and even though we might be lacking the stars Like Crosby,Tavares, Giroux,Nash, that the rest of the teams boast we can roll 3 2nd lines and a solid 4th line. I am also not agreeing that taking Matteau was the right move but I doubt the guy we would of drafter this year wouldn't be ready to play on the big club next year like Matteau who will have 3 years of development under his belt come next season.

i wish him well. maybe he'll be another nodl, who also showed flashes.
- isaiah520

Or maybe he won't run into the injury issues that Nodl did, and develop further. But it shouldn't be too hard to surpass Kalinski as a player!

Name a Coach that hasn't been fired, including Laviolette? And I'll tell you they haven't been coaching very long. And I'll bet at some point he'll be fired by the Flyers. How are you coming to a conclusion on what Murray has done with the Phantoms? Win/loss record? I know what Murray did for the LA Kings. He built the foundation that they won on.
- MJL

Couldnt have said it better my self.

Do Chicago and Pittsburgh not play run and gun?
- youarewrong

Chicago definitely doesn't. Pens do at times, when they play a sound 2 way game, they're very good. Not so much when they lose discipline.

Chicago definitely doesn't. Pens do at times, when they play a sound 2 way game, they're very good. Not so much when they lose discipline.
- MJL

Think they make muzzles for Malkin? Might help them with discipline...

Sorry, sorry. Just warming up for the season.

Yeah I was jumping up and down on the couch. The fiancee had to give me a hug when Dallas got him...

- FlyersGrace

Well I though NJ would pick him and when they traded the pick, I said.... Dallas might go for a D-man, we could get him..... and then.... I was so..... and then Morin..... and I was like...What? I went from we mght get Nichsuhkin to, WHO? I drove 3 hours and spent all this money on parking ect for this? lol

The problem is that there doesn't seem to really be a surefire 3rd line winger. I really wish they'd let Talbot play there and would have started McGinn on the 4th line wing. But that's not gonna happen, at least not from the start.

Any word on whether or not Akeson's earned that 1st line wing spot?
- jmatchett383

You're being a tool about something that was never said, but don't tell me that Jason Akeson's looking any worse as an option for a team that's scored 12 goals in six preseason games.

Somebody named Mike Sislo scored on our NHL-roster on Tuesday night. So maybe instead of pretending like mocking a young player who's done nothing to deserve it is funny, maybe it'd be nice to know who you think has done better, considering one forward has scored against the Devils in the last 120 minutes played.

Really man broke ? Look at who our owner is. I thought you would already know seeing as he owns the 76ers. The guy is worth 2.1 Billion. If anything we finally have financial stability to spend with the big boys. We still have one of the best active GMs in the League and even though we might be lacking the stars Like Crosby,Tavares, Giroux,Nash, that the rest of the teams boast we can roll 3 2nd lines and a solid 4th line. I am also not agreeing that taking Matteau was the right move but I doubt the guy we would of drafter this year wouldn't be ready to play on the big club next year like Matteau who will have 3 years of development under his belt come next season.
- blizzzard

Cause the Sixers are big spenders? But I did forget they bought the Devils. Regardless at the time, he was not the owner and the decisions were made because of budget.

You would have taken Nichushkin at 9. Your telling me you think Matteau is better then Nichushkin?

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.
- PhillaBully

Completely agree. There was some noise last season about not having time to implement changes due to the compressed schedule. So okay, you got your preseason, where are the changes? Maybe the team could have spent time bonding over how to get the puck out of the D zone.

You're being a tool about something that was never said, but don't tell me that Jason Akeson's looking any worse as an option for a team that's scored 12 goals in six preseason games.

Somebody named Mike Sislo scored on our NHL-roster on Tuesday night. So maybe instead of pretending like mocking a young player who's done nothing to deserve it is funny, maybe it'd be nice to know who you think has done better, considering one forward has scored against the Devils in the last 120 minutes played.
- AllInForFlyers

I would select Hartnell, Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, and Read as all better choices for a top line wing spot, over an AHL playerlike Akeson.

Cause the Sixers are big spenders? But I did forget they bought the Devils. Regardless at the time, he was not the owner and the decisions were made because of budget.

You would have taken Nichushkin at 9. Your telling me you think Matteau is better then Nichushkin?
- youarewrong

Sixers are also under new ownership. Josh Harris is looking to turn a buck. He is strictly a businessman...

NJ absolutely has a better chance to spend money now.

I would select Hartnell, Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, and Read as all better choices for a top line wing spot, over an AHL playerlike Akeson.
- MJL

I'm curious to see how Cousins develops. I'm actually excited to see Cousins and Alt fight for a serious spot next season.
Cousins looked pretty good in his pre-season games.

You're being a tool about something that was never said, but don't tell me that Jason Akeson's looking any worse as an option for a team that's scored 12 goals in six preseason games.

Somebody named Mike Sislo scored on our NHL-roster on Tuesday night. So maybe instead of pretending like mocking a young player who's done nothing to deserve it is funny, maybe it'd be nice to know who you think has done better, considering one forward has scored against the Devils in the last 120 minutes played.
- AllInForFlyers

Are we seriously back to Akeson again? I mentioned him as a joke but...come on man.

I was at the game last night, and the flyers looked slow. Slow decision making, slow foot speed, slow everything. I realize they didn't have a lot of starters in last night, but I would like to see a little more jump. B Schenn needs to show more because he didn't do a thing last night. Flyers would dump the puck and the Devils would get it right back out with ease. It was embarrassing to watch honestly. I just started laughing and couldn't believe how easy it was for the Devils. Mason had a rocky start even though two goals were defensive lapses. What I did like is that after that he had a pretty solid night, made some good saves to keep the score where it was. I mean Rafl played ok but he might be our best option. I haven't minded his play this offseason but I also think it would be good for him to play in the AHL for a bit but we might not have a better option right now. I like Lavi, I really do but it seems like he cant make in game changes or doesn't change to accommodate to other teams. Im not going to push the panic button because it is preseason, but flyers have a lot of questions to answer. If not, who knows what will happen

I'm curious to see how Cousins develops. I'm actually excited to see Cousins and Alt fight for a serious spot next season.
Cousins looked pretty good in his pre-season games.
- FlyersGrace

Cousins was impressive. I'm thinking, if Raffl (or Vandenbuckshotintyre) struggle and Cousins looks good, he might get a call-up. Definitely needs AT LEAST 1/2 season in the AHL, though.

I would select Hartnell, Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn, and Read as all better choices for a top line wing spot, over an AHL playerlike Akeson.
- MJL

Yeah, well, maybe they should score, every once in a while.

I've watched at least four preseason games this week, including New York-Vancouver last night. In any one of those games, you saw the leaders of those teams, the Top 6 forwards, doing what they get paid to do: Score goals.

Well, except one. Guess which team that was?

Yeah, well, maybe they should score, every once in a while.

I've watched at least four preseason games this week, including New York-Vancouver last night. In any one of those games, you saw the leaders of those teams, the Top 6 forwards, doing what they get paid to do: Score goals.

Well, except one. Guess which team that was?
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed. Akeson's a proven NHL sniper unlike those bums.

Bill out of curiosity, how is Nichushkin doing in Dallas? Bet he would have looked good in Jersey.
- youarewrong

He's had a very good preseason. Likely to start the season on the third line (centered by Shawn Horcoff) but could see time in the top six as well.

Sixers are also under new ownership. Josh Harris is looking to turn a buck. He is strictly a businessman...

NJ absolutely has a better chance to spend money now.
- jak521

Yea, like I said I forgot they were sold, but that doesnt change the fact that the Devils made the decisions they did because of financial reasons.

First because they didnt forfiet the 29th pick in 2012, they had to decide between 2013 and 2014. They decided to keep 2013 because it was a high pick. Then they decided that they couldnt afford a UFA goalie in 2014 and didn't have the 2014 pick to trade, they went and got Schneider.

IMO if they gave up that 2012 pick, they would have traded the 2014 pick for Schneider and would have drafted Nichushkin. Then I would start to think NJ would be turning the corner.

Cause the Sixers are big spenders? But I did forget they bought the Devils. Regardless at the time, he was not the owner and the decisions were made because of budget.

You would have taken Nichushkin at 9. Your telling me you think Matteau is better then Nichushkin?
- youarewrong

That is not what I am telling you. I am telling you the thought process behind taking Matteau was he would be ready to join the club by the time we had to forfeit the pick. Where if we forfeited the 29 pick ( which I think should of been done ) the players taken in the next few years wouldn't be as NHL ready as him. Lou might of known about Kovy wanting to leave but that was also pre lockout before Kovy went to Russia and really made his decision he wasn't staying with us after this season. So I think he figured he might still stay and with Parise constantly telling everyone his main goal was to resign with us Lou thought he could of resigned him but he decided last minute to home to the Wild with Suter. All in all he did what he could of and everything that could of went wrong did. But with that said if we are as bad as you think we will be then why not be really bad next season when a lot of contracts are up and we can tank for MacDavid who in my mind is and will be better then any top ten player taken in this years draft !

I would have taken Gagne back at 1 year $1 million like Raymond signed for in Toronto.
- Feanor

The Gagne thing is another black mark on Homer's reputation. Gagne earned a re-up with the way he performed when he came back last season, and to be tossed aside for somebody who never even showed up? He brought back career backup Boucher THREE TIMES. Simon grew up with the Flyers, and deserved better, and would have been better for the team, as well. By way of comparison, cheaper than Jagr, faster, better on D.

Agreed. Akeson's a proven NHL sniper unlike those bums.
- jmatchett383

Again: You harp on Akeson. But when was the last time a Top 6 forward on this team scored a goal?

It's always excuses -- like Bill said in the blog. There's always excuses.

But expecting Top 6 forwards on this team to actually put the puck in the net -- just like every other team in the preseason -- isn't too much to ask.

They're 1-4-1 in the preseason. Other teams have had breaks, other teams have dressed AHL rosters.

We're the only team that's falling all over ourselves to find a way to get Scott Laughton onto the roster with absolutely no production to back it up.

Yea, like I said I forgot they were sold, but that doesnt change the fact that the Devils made the decisions they did because of financial reasons.

First because they didnt forfiet the 29th pick in 2012, they had to decide between 2013 and 2014. They decided to keep 2013 because it was a high pick. Then they decided that they couldnt afford a UFA goalie in 2014 and didn't have the 2014 pick to trade, they went and got Schneider.

IMO if they gave up that 2012 pick, they would have traded the 2014 pick for Schneider and would have drafted Nichushkin. Then I would start to think NJ would be turning the corner.
- youarewrong

You're assuming Vancouver would trade him for that pick.