The thing i most look forward to this season is lavy getting fired and murray coming in and building the foundation that will make this team a cup contender in two years.
- PhillaBully

So you're looking forward to the Flyers sucking for 2 months out of the gate?

The thing i most look forward to this season is lavy getting fired and murray coming in and building the foundation that will make this team a cup contender in two years.
- PhillaBully

Why Murray? If Lavy does get replaced, let's look at someone else. Look at the job Deboer does in NJ? The Panthers brought him in from Kitchener I think? and now he's a great NHL coach. Maybe look off the board instead of Murray again.

All in all I'm ok with this line-up.

In my opinion Holmgren did the best he could with the market the way it is. He'll keep his eyes and ears open for further transactions but I think it's time for Lavi to put up or shut up. We all know the spotlight moves over to him to make something with these pieces.
Are there question?
Sure.
I have them every opener...
But I'll prove I'm a fan by going out and rooting for them each and every game. (I promise to not jinx Coburn any more on the thread).
I am mentally preparing myself for a rough, hard fought, injury filled season. My heart on the other hand knows they can do it.

I've proactively bummed myself out already to prepare for the announcement that they've traded Mez and Hall for the second coming of the "Dan Line".

- BringBack25

you get me

I see things haven't changes much around here. Damn, new job keeps me too busy! However, I am ready for the season. I expect them to be rust and sloppy like most teams starting the season. It's when they come out too fast and good that makes me wonder when and how hard the wheels fall off the bus. I like this team. I like this team a lot. I miss Danny some, however, I love what Couterier and Schenn can become.

you complete me
- -davies-

FTFY

I've proactively bummed myself out already to prepare for the announcement that they've traded Mez and Hall for the second coming of the "Dan Line".

- BringBack25

...and the Flyers have signed defenseman Denis Gauthier and winger Roman Vopat to 6-year deals...

Douglas Murray is out for 4-6 weeks with a UBI...Flyers better lock up Hal Gill before the Habs snatch him up
- Jsaquella

Someone asked this the other day, and I thought about it. I was extremely bullish on this team after draft day, for what they would accomplish this season.

I've been a little...horrified...by how they've performed in the preseason. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous that this thing couldn't get sideways, in a hurry.

But here are five things that I am happy about heading into this season, and I hope like hell that it's enough:

1. Our special teams are elite. It's OK. We can say that without reservation. The PP and PK have been good for a few years now, and I don't care what anybody says, if your SECOND PP unit is Schenn-Lecavalier-Read-Meszaros-Streit (and the Flyers' is exactly that), then that aspect of the team is good to go.

2. The goaltending on the ice, not the goaltender off it, will be the focus of that position. Maybe that won't mean anything against Steven Stamkos on a breakaway. But I'm one of those people who believes team camaraderie means something.

3. Scott Hartnell looks like he's in really good shape, and Jakub Voracek looked faster (and his shot a little harder) before he was banged up. Add the fact that Claude Giroux looked like himself and was able to practice and play in two preseason games, and the Flyers have an honest-to-goodness No. 1 line.

4. Sean Couturier and Matt Read look like they are truly ready to do good things. Read's contract status is now a non-issue, and Couturier is simply maturing physically. Those are both good things.

5. Personally, I thought Mark Streit looks mobile and fluid, with a high skill level in moving the puck. Since I am aware of his limitations defensively, I was totally fine with how he looked in the preseason and I honestly believe a Streit-Luke Schenn pairing is going to be good for the Flyers.

Sooooo...not all is lost after a truly awful preseason. They still have the opportunity to get this thing off on the right foot on Wednesday, and I'm hoping they'll do just that.
- AllInForFlyers

I completely agree and would add:

6. Both Timonen and Grossmann seem healthy and look good to go!

All in all I'm ok with this line-up.

In my opinion Holmgren did the best he could with the market the way it is. He'll keep his eyes and ears open for further transactions but I think it's time for Lavi to put up or shut up. We all know the spotlight moves over to him to make something with these pieces.
Are there question?
Sure.
I have them every opener...
But I'll prove I'm a fan by going out and rooting for them each and every game. (I promise to not jinx Coburn any more on the thread).
I am mentally preparing myself for a rough, hard fought, injury filled season. My heart on the other hand knows they can do it.

- FlyersGrace

+1

The thing i most look forward to this season is lavy getting fired and murray coming in and building the foundation that will make this team a cup contender in two years.
- PhillaBully

That's where I am. They blew their chance to get a new coach in over the summer, so Murray will have to be the guy to come in and teach this team the basics of defensive responsibility and set the table for the next long term coach.

Why Murray? If Lavy does get replaced, let's look at someone else. Look at the job Deboer does in NJ? The Panthers brought him in from Kitchener I think? and now he's a great NHL coach. Maybe look off the board instead of Murray again.
- Hextall271

I don't like replacing a coach mid season for just this reason. You aren't going to go off the board for a replacement. That's done in the off season when coaches can opt out of contracts. Mid season replacements are almost always in house or out of work.

I completely agree and would add:

6. Both Timonen and Grossmann seem healthy and look good to go!
- BiggE

Any reports of lingering effects from Grossmann being hurt in the last preseason game? I remember people saying they thought he had a concussion.

I don't like replacing a coach mid season for just this reason. You aren't going to go off the board for a replacement. That's done in the off season when coaches can opt out of contracts. Mid season replacements are almost always in house or out of work.
- mayorofangrytown

If we get more of the same crap this year as last, and Lavy gets fired, then you have to look at Homer as well. It will have been a mistake to not replace Lavy after last season.

If we get more of the same crap this year as last, and Lavy gets fired, then you have to look at Homer as well. It will have been a mistake to not replace Lavy after last season.
- Hextall271

I thought so myself. I'm personally burned out on Laviolette. He's done several things coaching wise over the last three years that I strongly disagreed with. I really wanted them to talk to Dallas Eakins this off season. We'll all see how it turns out. I have a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong.

Any reports of lingering effects from Grossmann being hurt in the last preseason game? I remember people saying they thought he had a concussion.
- Hextall271

By all appearances, at least, he's fine. Finished the game and has practiced normally since then.

Any reports of lingering effects from Grossmann being hurt in the last preseason game? I remember people saying they thought he had a concussion.
- Hextall271

As far as I know he's practiced the last couple of days and been fine.

I thought so myself. I'm personally burned out on Laviolette. He's done several things coaching wise over the last three years that I strongly disagreed with. I really wanted them to talk to Dallas Eakins this off season. We'll all see how it turns out. I have a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong.
- mayorofangrytown

I felt the same way. I think Lavy is a good coach, but I think he's reached his shelf life in Philly.

By all appearances, at least, he's fine. Finished the game and has practiced normally since then.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill. Good to hear. I didn't see it, but people were talking about it on here.. I was worried for a bit.

Thanks Bill. Good to hear. I didn't see it, but people were talking about it on here.. I was worried for a bit.
- Hextall271

Definitely looked like a head hit. But since he didn't go down in a heap, clean hit.

I thought so myself. I'm personally burned out on Laviolette. He's done several things coaching wise over the last three years that I strongly disagreed with. I really wanted them to talk to Dallas Eakins this off season. We'll all see how it turns out. I have a bad feeling about this season. I hope I'm wrong.
- mayorofangrytown

I have the same feeling, but hope I am wrong. I remember Carolina fans talking about Lavy's shelf life when he got here in 2009/10. He coached the team to the finals, and I said he's great, but looks like they might be correct.

Definitely looked like a head hit. But since he didn't go down in a heap, clean hit.
- jmatchett383

It's lot of effort to get that big body off the ice.
Grossmann is anything but a primadonna diver...

I don't like replacing a coach mid season for just this reason. You aren't going to go off the board for a replacement. That's done in the off season when coaches can opt out of contracts. Mid season replacements are almost always in house or out of work.
- mayorofangrytown

This.

As for the in-house replacement, let's be honest, it's more likely going to be Berube than Murray. Flyers have no history of re-hashing past coaches, and Murray's tenure ended amidst a very public controversery, as well as leaving a locker room that was allegedly dysfunctional. Not to mention, new Asst. GM Hexy didn't exactly appreciate the way Murray yanked him (and Snow) in and out of the net during the PO's.

This.

As for the in-house replacement, let's be honest, it's more likely going to be Berube than Murray. Flyers have no history of re-hashing past coaches, and Murray's tenure ended amidst a very public controversery, as well as leaving a locker room that was allegedly dysfunctional. Not to mention, new Asst. GM Hexy didn't exactly appreciate the way Murray yanked him (and Snow) in and out of the net during the PO's.
- Tomahawk

Hahah hadn't even thought of the Hextall Murray thing. I can just see Hexy calling Murray into his office and say, the Phantoms are 0-2 so far,...tell me why I shouldn't fire you without using the letter E.. go!

This.

As for the in-house replacement, let's be honest, it's more likely going to be Berube than Murray. Flyers have no history of re-hashing past coaches, and Murray's tenure ended amidst a very public controversery, as well as leaving a locker room that was allegedly dysfunctional. Not to mention, new Asst. GM Hexy didn't exactly appreciate the way Murray yanked him (and Snow) in and out of the net during the PO's.
- Tomahawk

Murrary's tenure ended because some players couldn't handle the fact that their coach was giving an honest assessment on their performance in the SCF.