Getting Streit hasn't fixed the breakout, but getting the younger version of him will? I just don't see it.
- Feanor

The problem is that their mobility and puck skills are so limited...anyone who can skate, retrieve the puck quickly, and then actually make a skillful pass with it or carry it himself will help immensely.

Streit has helped. But they need another mobile person, badly. Very little will change until this is addressed, IMO.

Remember, the person you add takes the minutes of someone who likely has really struggled with this area. You strengthen the entire unit just by lessening the amount of pressure that person subjects the five-man unit to when they are on the ice.

The only thing holding our breakout back is how it's run and practiced.
- JAKEw1234

I think that's the main issue and it won't be fixed overnight. Other teams also have limited talent on the blueline and manage to pass their way out of the zone better than the Flyers have for the last 18 months.

The only thing holding our breakout back is how it's run and practiced.
- JAKEw1234

The only thing holding our team back from playing hockey well is playing hockey well.

The problem is that their mobility and puck skills are so limited...anyone who can skate, retrieve the puck quickly, and then actually make a skillful pass with it or carry it himself will help immensely.

Streit has helped. But they need another mobile person, badly. Very little will change until this is addressed, IMO.
- AllInForFlyers

I totally agree on the need. They could use another two way defenseman with better puck skills, that is also solid defensively. But I couldn't disagree more that little will change until that is addressed. There is a hell of a lot that can change without adding a single player. A hell of a lot.

I think that's the main issue and it won't be fixed overnight. Other teams also have limited talent on the blueline and manage to pass their way out of the zone better than the Flyers have for the last 18 months.
- Feanor

No question about it. The NJ Devils aren't exactly loaded with puck movers on defense.

I would love for a week for NJ and the Flyers to switch defenseman. And see how good the Flyers defenseman look playing with the Devils, and vice versa.

The 5-man units in D-zone role had trouble breaking out of zone against its own forecheckers today in the 5-on-5 simulations at morning skate. Hoping things only go uphill from here.
- bmeltzer

wonderful.

No question about it. The NJ Devils aren't exactly loaded with puck movers on defense.

I would love for a week for NJ and the Flyers to switch defenseman. And see how good the Flyers defenseman look playing with the Devils, and vice versa.
- MJL

Marek Zidlicky, Peter Harrold and Andy Greene all skate better than anyone on the defense not named Braydon Coburn and move the puck better than all of them except Timonen and Streit.

We're not losing because we have the most talented team in the NHL that has been mismanaged.

We have the players to have a good breakout they just need to work out a plan for a break out. forwards need to get lower and need to support each other. Everyone always wants a big trade why don't we just see how everything works out they are not going to know berube's system for a bit, it will take time. I do think that they will be more energetic tonight and will player better since they know that their jobs are on the line. If they don't pick it up after a while then we will see trades happen but honestly they have the right players to have a strong team.

Marek Zidlicky, Peter Harrold and Andy Greene all skate better than anyone on the defense not named Braydon Coburn and move the puck better than all of them except Timonen and Streit.

We're not losing because we have the most talented team in the NHL that has been mismanaged.
- AllInForFlyers

All 3 are average puck movers. And none of them have close to the puck skills that Streit and Timonen possess.

Talent is not why the Flyers are losing. They have plenty of talent to be a winning team, and a playoff team.

I agree. Number one issue to address is upping the compete level of the team.
- MJL

I wish I had seats behind the goal like I had years ago at the Spectrum. From that vantage point you can really tell what the breakout issues were.

Watching from the couch only tells you so much. Without a wide view watching simultaneously what each d-man and forward are doing while coming out of their own zone, it's hard to say with any certainty where the deficiencies are, who should've passed it up quicker, what side they should've come up, who didn't lend enough support in transition through the neutral zone...

sad that all those meaningless wins at the end of last season only helped us to miss out on seth jones and prolong laviolette's career here by 3 games

They have to know that this season is only going to be slightly different shades of grey until they get a puck-mover back there.

It's like football, when your offensive line is terrible. You can't evaluate a single position on the team properly on the offense until you get the line fixed.

This team is crippled until it does something about the mobility and puck skills on the back end. The ceiling...the ceiling is clear, and it isn't that high.
- AllInForFlyers

There are rumblings in T.O. Any interest in Gardiner?

We have the players to have a good breakout they just need to work out a plan for a break out. forwards need to get lower and need to support each other. Everyone always wants a big trade why don't we just see how everything works out they are not going to know berube's system for a bit, it will take time. I do think that they will be more energetic tonight and will player better since they know that their jobs are on the line. If they don't pick it up after a while then we will see trades happen but honestly they have the right players to have a strong team.
- steveromanowski

They have good players, we've yet to see if they're the right players. I'd point to the 2002/2003 NY Rangers as a team with good players that was not a good team.

I expect lots of energy but very little direction tonight. I imagine they will look like this

Adam Kimelman ‏@NHLAdamK 2m
This bears repeating: Tim Thomas career in Philly: 8 games, 8-0, 1.86 GAA, .947 save percentage.

There are rumblings in T.O. Any interest in Gardiner?
- mayorofangrytown

Yes. Stick him in the top 4. But I wouldn't trade Couturier for him.

All 3 are average puck movers. And none of them have close to the puck skills that Streit and Timonen possess.

Talent is not why the Flyers are losing. They have plenty of talent to be a winning team, and a playoff team.
- MJL

I repeat: We're not losing because we have the most talented team in the NHL that has been mismanaged.

Disagree if you want. Time will tell.

sad that all those meaningless wins at the end of last season only helped us to miss out on seth jones and prolong laviolette's career here by 3 games
- hogweed

We would not have gotten Seth Jones. We would have gotten Darnell Nurse and I would have been even more upset with the pick.

Yes. Stick him in the top 4. But I wouldn't trade Couturier for him.
- jmatchett383

I'd trade B. Schenn

There are rumblings in T.O. Any interest in Gardiner?
- mayorofangrytown

He's exactly the kind of defenseman we need right now.

sad that all those meaningless wins at the end of last season only helped us to miss out on seth jones and prolong laviolette's career here by 3 games
- hogweed

It was all about team building and carry over remember...

I'd trade B. Schenn
- PhillySportsGuy

I probably would. Granted, he'd go on to pot 30/45/75 in his first full year there and all, but it's a pretty even trade at present.

Yes. Stick him in the top 4. But I wouldn't trade Couturier for him.
- jmatchett383

Maybe they'll give us a break after the JVR trade. There's got to be a little guilt there don't ya think?

I wish I had seats behind the goal like I had years ago at the Spectrum. From that vantage point you can really tell what the breakout issues were.

Watching from the couch only tells you so much. Without a wide view watching simultaneously what each d-man and forward are doing while coming out of their own zone, it's hard to say with any certainty where the deficiencies are, who should've passed it up quicker, what side they should've come up, who didn't lend enough support in transition through the neutral zone...
- 77rams

yes, we had sets on the glass at the goal line and you really can see a lot from that vantage point. i think when you see all the Dmen trying 50-60 foot passes it tells me that the forwards are too far up ice waiting for the home run pass. its like in football where a team must keep the defense honest with short passes and running the ball; if they just drop back and try to throw bombs all game it won't work

We would not have gotten Seth Jones. We would have gotten Darnell Nurse and I would have been even more upset with the pick.
- jmatchett383

I think they had Risto and Morin ahead of Nurse