Thank god we didn't trade the versatile read and a pick for bernier. We'd be the laughingstock of the league
- SMS4016

Link?

Thanks for the report Bill. Sounds like Chief knows what needs to be done. It makes me wonder why the team didn't listen to Lavy, if that was what he was preaching during practice. Hopefully, the team will respond tonight, and tomorrow. I am glad to see that Chief surrounded himself with some good assistants as well. Paddock did really well with the guys on the Phantoms, so he seems to have great communication, and motivation skills. Then, there is Lappy. I am happy to see him come aboard, and to see the changes that he has made to the Flyers program. For the first time this season, I am really excited to see the coaching situation. It's fresh, and motivating. I also wish Lavy all the best. I am hoping that this will light a fire under some of the guys, and it worries me that G is not on his game right now. Like Al said on Comcast Sports, he might not be the guy we thought he was. The team follows G, and if he doesn't have his head in the game, then maybe a change is needed. In my opinion, that is why you don't make a young guy wear the C or give him a long term contract. Vinny is better suited for the C right now.
Thanks for listening.

I'm fine with the Cheif, I think too much is made of his lack of head coaching experience and pedigree.

While Fred Shero had a ton of minor league coaching experience, the Rangers had passed on him for head coach on multiple occasions, nor did any other NHL team ever seriously consider him as well.

Pat Quinn was only a couple of years removed from being an active player when he took over the Flyers late in the 78-79 season. All he did the following year was coach them to a 35 game unbeaten streak, 118 points, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals (Frank you Leon Stickle!!)

While Mike Keenan had been successful at every level he had coached, at 34 years of age, most "experts" thought him to be too young and too inexperienced to succeed at the NHL level.

With all that being said, I am more than willing to give Berube a fair shake. I'm certainly fine with what he seems to be trying to accomplish so far.
- BiggE

Don't you know only great players can succeed as coaches? HOFers like Bill Barber and Wayne Gretzky are fantastic coaches, while role players like Dave Tippett, Joel Quenneville, and Dan Bylsma are usually lousy coaches.

Assuming Bissonette is in, Rosehill will be in for sure. Also, on a subconscious level, I think Chief is not about to let members of the media tell him whom to play and whom to scratch.
- bmeltzer

If Rosehill scores the game winner tonight, the media will wonder why he hasn't been put on the top line with G yet

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/11/13 vs. Phoenix
- bmeltzer

greiss could very well start because smith took a nasty stinger off his left wrist just above the cuff last night. finished the game, but he was clearly in pain. back to backs with travel, and of course greiss has played well against the flyers before. typical backup goalie syndrome that always haunts them.

Anyone else going to the game tonight? Wife and I are heading down.. Im pumped!

Thanks for the report Bill. Sounds like Chief knows what needs to be done. It makes me wonder why the team didn't listen to Lavy, if that was what he was preaching during practice. Hopefully, the team will respond tonight, and tomorrow. I am glad to see that Chief surrounded himself with some good assistants as well. Paddock did really well with the guys on the Phantoms, so he seems to have great communication, and motivation skills. Then, there is Lappy. I am happy to see him come aboard, and to see the changes that he has made to the Flyers program. For the first time this season, I am really excited to see the coaching situation. It's fresh, and motivating. I also wish Lavy all the best. I am hoping that this will light a fire under some of the guys, and it worries me that G is not on his game right now. Like Al said on Comcast Sports, he might not be the guy we thought he was. The team follows G, and if he doesn't have his head in the game, then maybe a change is needed. In my opinion, that is why you don't make a young guy wear the C or give him a long term contract. Vinny is better suited for the C right now.
Thanks for listening.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Why is it that when a player struggles, it's because his head isn't in the game or he's not trying hard enough.

IMO, Giroux is trying TOO hard to score. He tries to make the perfect play that will definitely result in a goal. I think G and the entire team just needs to simplify things, get the puck to the net and crash. Score ugly.

And giving the C to Vinny when he's been here for all of 4 games is asinine. If you want to give it to anyone else, it would be Kimmo at this point, but that really wouldn't do anything. It's Giroux's team.

Assuming Bissonette is in, Rosehill will be in for sure. Also, on a subconscious level, I think Chief is not about to let members of the media tell him whom to play and whom to scratch.
- bmeltzer

This makes perfect sense and what I wondered after your discussion the other day.

Link?
- johndewar

LA wanted a goalie backup and cap relief, not a winger with one year left before becoming a free agent.

And I would much rather have Read, Mason and the draft pick than just Bernier.

Philadelphia, where being the goalie or being the C gives you a target right in the middle of your forehead.

Why is it that when a player struggles, it's because his head isn't in the game or he's not trying hard enough.

IMO, Giroux is trying TOO hard to score. He tries to make the perfect play that will definitely result in a goal. I think G and the entire team just needs to simplify things, get the puck to the net and crash. Score ugly.

And giving the C to Vinny when he's been here for all of 4 games is asinine. If you want to give it to anyone else, it would be Kimmo at this point, but that really wouldn't do anything. It's Giroux's team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed. We had a run of short-lived captains (Primeau to Hatcher to Forsberg to Smith to Richards), so let's see if Giroux can bring some stability to it. No need to make a rash judgement after 4 games.

Quite jealous of that Phoenix defensive core.
- bradleyc4

Between Yandle and OEL they have 2 guys who are extremely good at the puck possession game that the Flyers clearly are sucking at with their current line up.

I have sometimes wished the Flyers bit the bullet and paid the ransome to get a Yandle trade done. I know I'm in the minority saying this but I think he would have made a huge difference for the Flyers and is the kind of player who would drive their offense attack. I hated the rumored asking price and if I had to make the decision would have done the same as Homer and held onto the young center and high draft pick it would have taken to pull it off, but I do have some regrets about it now. In the long run developing their own puck possession d man via the draft is much better, but we now have to suffer watching them struggle until they do it.

It is especially noticeable in games where the Yotes are behind a goal late, Yandle and Oel take over and they control the puck and generate good scoring chances. With the Flyers in the same situation generally there is an empty net goal against them.

LA wanted a goalie backup and cap relief, not a winger with one year left before becoming a free agent.

And I would much rather have Read, Mason and the draft pick than just Bernier.
- Feanor

What about Schneider?

LA wanted a goalie backup and cap relief, not a winger with one year left before becoming a free agent.

And I would much rather have Read, Mason and the draft pick than just Bernier.
- Feanor

And they got an AHL goalie, a bad winger, and a 2nd rounder. But I agree, I'd rather have Read and Mason.

What about Schneider?
- PhillySportsGuy

More overhyped than Bernier.

Agreed. We had a run of short-lived captains (Primeau to Hatcher to Forsberg to Smith to Richards), so let's see if Giroux can bring some stability to it. No need to make a rash judgement after 4 games.
- jmatchett383

I just don't understand why people blame the captain or the goalie when the team struggles.

I think G is a good captain. The players respect him, he will always sacrifice individual stats for the betterment of the team, he plays through injury...

He even talks with the media after losses. Something prior guys (not naming names) wouldn't do. This is part of being the captain/leader.

What about Schneider?
- PhillySportsGuy

If they had traded the 11th pick for Schneider I would have been OK with it. I think Vancouver could have got their guy Horvat there. But it would have made the cap situation this year even tighter, since Schneider makes $2.35 million more than Emery.

That trade seemed to come out of nowhere, though, so I don't know if they even got a chance to make an offer.

Between Yandle and OEL they have 2 guys who are extremely good at the puck possession game that the Flyers clearly are sucking at with their current line up.

I have sometimes wished the Flyers bit the bullet and paid the ransome to get a Yandle trade done. I know I'm in the minority saying this but I think he would have made a huge difference for the Flyers and is the kind of player who would drive their offense attack. I hated the rumored asking price and if I had to make the decision would have done the same as Homer and held onto the young center and high draft pick it would have taken to pull it off, but I do have some regrets about it now. In the long run developing their own puck possession d man via the draft is much better, but we now have to suffer watching them struggle until they do it.

It is especially noticeable in games where the Yotes are behind a goal late, Yandle and Oel take over and they control the puck and generate good scoring chances. With the Flyers in the same situation generally there is an empty net goal against them.
- Marc D

They were allegedly asking for Schenn and Couts. I don't think you can make that trade. If it was just Schenn + 2nd rounder then I would have pulled the trigger.

Remember how we all talk about being patient and not wanting the Flyers to sacrifice major young talent to solve a current need?

Im still not exactly jumping for joy with that first line...Simmonds and Hartnell are not exactly puck possession type players to play with Giroux, and with Giroux far from lighting it up so far I dont see them getting him going either imo.

Im kind of shocked to see Rosehill still in the line up....Why not insert Newbury after Rosehills dumb extra penalty last game and the fact who does the Yotes have as a true enforcer out there?

Philadelphia, where being the goalie or being the C gives you a target right in the middle of your forehead.
- bodiva88

The goalies are fine but G needs to pick it up. Still have tremendous faith in him. It's a shame he had that injury this summer. I was looking forward to a fired up G at full speed out of the gate. Let tonight be the night!

This makes perfect sense and what I wondered after your discussion the other day.
- bodiva88

Maybe I am waaaaay late or my mind is going which is possible, was Biznasty not suspended like 10 games in the preseason?

Maybe I am waaaaay late or my mind is going which is possible, was Biznasty not suspended like 10 games in the preseason?
- Buzzo

It was reduced to 3 games.

Im still not exactly jumping for joy with that first line...Simmonds and Hartnell are not exactly puck possession type players to play with Giroux, and with Giroux far from lighting it up so far I dont see them getting him going either imo.

Im kind of shocked to see Rosehill still in the line up....Why not insert Newbury after Rosehills dumb extra penalty last game and the fact who does the Yotes have as a true enforcer out there?
- Buzzo

I know. I'll never understand why they didn't make more of an effort to bring back Jagr. Jake and G piled up points together last year, but they didn't control play as well as Hart-G-Jagr.

G really needs a good veteran scorer to play with. I was hoping they went after Elias instead of Vinny.

I wouldn't mind seeing Vinny on the top line, but then we'd be moving Schenn all around again.

Maybe I am waaaaay late or my mind is going which is possible, was Biznasty not suspended like 10 games in the preseason?
- Buzzo

Yes, but it was reduced to 3. Apparently, when they originally spun the wheel of justice, it didn't make a full revolution, which is needed for the suspension to be formal. When they respun it, it made a full revolution and then landed on 3.

The goalies are fine but G needs to pick it up. Still have tremendous faith in him. It's a shame he had that injury this summer. I was looking forward to a fired up G at full speed out of the gate. Let tonight be the night!
- funmaster18

The part that really worries me now is Giroux's lack of production. I really want to see him have a nice 3 pt night to alleviate some of the pressure. New young captain, dealing with a tough start after a tough last season. Now a new coach and the injury.. it's got to be a lot and a test for him. A big night point wise along with a win I think could really help him get going.