Lol exactly! I honestly like him, he brings enough bully to the flyers, he reminds me a lot like Kronwall. He knows when the right time to hit someone hard and clean.
- Flyers-All-Day

I'm a big fan of his and think he's the least of our worries

I'm a big fan of his and think he's the least of our worries
- wilsonecho91

I agree, my worries were vented previously on this blog.

you can find more cheer at a funeral

Maybe Bryz wasn't the problem after all........
- Sheppy99

The part I could never figure out is that they still had another full year to exercise the buy out option on Bryzgalov.

Goaltending is so important. Young teams have fragile identities and when a goaltender gives up a soft goal it impacts on everyone's confidence.

So far this year, it looks like all of Holmgren's past mistakes are coming home to roost all at one time.

Hopefully they don't do any panic trades. If they do a 2-1 or a 3-1 trade, who do the Flyers call up? The farm team has the worst depth in the league and what little there is has been called up.

If he trades picks for immediate help i hope he is fired on the spot.

There should be no help coming. This group either figures it out or goes down spectacularly.

The thing that worries me the most is the Flyers defense and next year it figures to get much much worse.

Next year both Timmo and Mesz are gone which frees an amazing $10 mill off the salary cap but even so, you have to find good defensemen willing to take your money that don't require picks and players to acquire.

Grossman has missed in the last 3 years 23, 8, 18 games with various injuries. His style of play, while admirable, leads to him getting very banged up. Particularly with concussions and knee injuries. These are not going to improve as he gets older.

Coburn is inconsistant. He can be very good or very clueless, all within a short period of time.

Streit will be 2 months short of 37 years old at the start of next year. This is the guy that the Islanders tried to hide from the more potent lines they faced.


Maybe playing against Pittsburgh will wake them up. Maybe not. I think it'll be a long 7 day layoff either way. At least the Flyers can't throw money at the problem this year, they have already maxed out their credit cards.

In all honesty, the flyers should think about moving some players specially the way these young players are playing and putting up points... Tye McGinn does the job Simmonds and Hartnell do but IMO he does it much better for way less pay... Gus has been playing some great Deff, he is going to have some bad games but over all i think its safe to say hes going to have way more better ones then bad ones... Raffl was able to create some chances... Laughton needs a chance to shine yet but again for being a top prospect in the league id take a risk and give him the chance to play. At this rate we dont have much to lose... Also IMO the flyers need another big name scorer... Giroux is a passer... he needs a top notch scorer on his line. Im not spending chump change on some dangler, they need to go out drop some of this over payed players they got (Mesz, Hartnell, Coby, Simmonds) and spend some money on young proven skill... Should have signed Gags for cheap, and instead of Mark Streit they should have used that money to get Bobby Ryan... I think that in itself would have changed scoring. Im a fan of picking up Lecavalier even though he is hurt. - I know im probably going to hear grief about this post but lets be honest here what other A+ scorer do they have? I cant even say they have a strictly goal scorer... Look at all the successful teams around the league and who they have... Chicago - Kane, Sharp, Toews, Hossa.... Pitt - Crosby, Malkin, Neal.... Kings - Carter, Richards, Kopitar, Brown... Canucks - Sedin twins, Kesler... Detroit - Datsyuk, Zetter... Ducks - Perry, Ryan (had), Selanne, Getzlaf... I mean all these teams have had more then one All star caliber scorer.. I guess im a disgruntled season ticket holder....
- Flyers-All-Day

The Flyers have 6 proven 20+ goal goal scorers on the roster. There is the potential for B. Schenn to score 20 goals, that would make 7. They don't have a player that would be considered a true sniper. But tell me, who is the sniper on Boston? TB has Stamkos and St. Louis. They missed the playoffs last year. And this talk of McGinn doing it better is the same talk we heard last year with Lauridsen. Get rid of the proven NHL defenseman to play Lauridsen based on a small sample of games. Adding a top scorer would add to the team, but it's not the miracle cure all.

I see a move coming this week. There is no one on the Phantoms to bring up sans Akeson, who frankly isn't going to make much of a difference.

To tell the truth I would not be surprised to see the move happen before the Pens game. If the Pens game ends up being a blow out then watch out, wholesale moves coming.
- hereticpride

I'd be absolutely shocked if that happens.

Did it seem like everything went down the poopter when you guys got Luke Schenn?

Not saying there is any direct correlation but kind of odd......
- Sheppy99

Coburn & Grossman not covering anyone in front of the net had what to do with Luke Schenn?

this team is still winless without Mason

what happens when Berube goes 2-10? Then what?

what a mess!

The part I could never figure out is that they still had another full year to exercise the buy out option on Bryzgalov.

Goaltending is so important. Young teams have fragile identities and when a goaltender gives up a soft goal it impacts on everyone's confidence.
- spatso

Soft goals, horrible against a shooter 1 on 1, fights with the media, distraction in locker room. I'm not going to defend the Philly media but he made it easy for them to stir up controversy.

Rift with the coach :

Dreger: Pierre LeBrun spoke with Flyers GM Paul Holmgren and was informed that Bryzgalov wouldn't be bought out this off-season. There is a rift between coach Peter Laviolette and Bryzgalov, but there doesn't appear to be a coaching change so it's up to both men to work out their issues.

Guess Dreger was wrong about the buyout.

Rumors that Bryz didn't get along with teammates. Rift with Bobrovsky when he was here. etc, etc.

Randy Miller
‏@RandyJMiller
By the way ... I heard Bryz had 4 blowouts last season with Lavy. And I heard players couldn't stand him.

It just goes on and on and on. Obviously none of us were there but i've never seen so many negative things continuously come out about one player who is still playing.

If only 10 percent of what was reported about him (going all the way back to phoenix) was true, it's better off that he was off the team.

Coburn & Grossman not covering anyone in front of the net had what to do with Luke Schenn?

this team is still winless without Mason

what happens when Berube goes 2-10? Then what?

what a mess!
- puckhead17

i thought that coburn had his worst game of the season last night on the game tying goal he was just standing there not covering anyone... on the game winning goal he had him right behinfd the net had him zoned out... he then spun off leaving him for grossman... that time it took for then to switch allowed the play that ended in the game winning goal....it was just horrible play... the flyers had this game and completely let it slip away ... come on how do you let sedin one of the best passers in the league just stand there with all the time he needs to make a pass it was hard to watch....

i thought that coburn had his worst game of the season last night on the game tying goal he was just standing there not covering anyone... on the game winning goal he had him right behinfd the net had him zoned out... he then spun off leaving him for grossman... that time it took for then to switch allowed the play that ended in the game winning goal....it was just horrible play... the flyers had this game and completely let it slip away ... come on how do you let sedin one of the best passers in the league just stand there with all the time he needs to make a pass it was hard to watch....
- flyer186

Actually on the GW goal, both Coburn and Grossmann had their coverages. Cobrun switched off correctly because Kesler went to Grossmann's side.The problem was that Talbot blew his coverage on Higgins and allowed him to walk in a get a point blank chance. The rebound went out to where Kesler and Grossmann were, and Grossmann had him tightly marked, but he just swatted at it and it went in the net. I can't blame either defenseman on that goal.

at this point get Alt, Amoroso, Hagg, Morin and Ghost in the lineup

Matt Damon

We've ticked off the hockey gods...

I am not about to toss in the towel yet, since Chief taking over I am seeing a big difference in this team...forechekcing is looking better, skating harder etc. Remember LA I think two years ago...they were pretty much dead last, just squeaked into the Playoffs and ended up winning the whole thing. I am NOT saying this team can do that as is...but you never know.

We need to sacrifice a live chicken

at this point get Alt, Amoroso, Hagg, Morin and Ghost in the lineup
- vejim

Ghostibehere is playing College Hockey, and isn't even signed to a contract. Morin is in Juniors. Haag is not signed to a contract. Amoroso?

And lastly, you can't be serious?

did giroux really think/say there was nothing that could have been done about the canuck's first goal??? there's the problem right there because there was! it's called backchecking and/or defensive responsibility.
if you'd like to see an example look at the play in the third period when luongo is trying to play the puck behind the net and has it get past him; voracek pounces on the puck and centers it to the slot before lu can get back, but a vancouver player was skating hard, backchecking to break up the pass on what would have been an easy goal (to put us up 3-1) had he not been there.
freaking unreal.....

I wonder if being the laughing stock of the NHL through the first few weeks of the season has tempered Eddie's excitement.

Actually on the GW goal, both Coburn and Grossmann had their coverages. Cobrun switched off correctly because Kesler went to Grossmann's side.The problem was that Talbot blew his coverage on Higgins and allowed him to walk in a get a point blank chance. The rebound went out to where Kesler and Grossmann were, and Grossmann had him tightly marked, but he just swatted at it and it went in the net. I can't blame either defenseman on that goal.
- MJL

that goal, like so many others, happens because of a failed clear. honestly, i've never seen a team that was so bad at simply clearing the puck. as the van D worked back to the point to accept the pass from the half wall he had his back to the play for a second and all reid had to do was force him more and the puck is out. but he plays off and the rest is history

Now that I've had a chance to sleep on it, here are some observations from last night, and some suggestions for going forward.

Overall, except for one bad breakdown by the Coburn/Grossman pairing, the D played pretty well. They kept their feet moving and made smart, accurate passes to start the breakout. I thought Timonen looked better and that Streit and Gustafsson in particular had very strong games.

The forwards are doing a much better job of backchecking and shortening the gaps, and that makes the defense's job much easier. However Giroux needs to focus better in the D zone and Simmonds and Voracek need to stop making bad decisions with the puck high in the offensive zone.

Mason was terrific.

The pp still needs work and the team obviously lacks confidence. This will hopefully come with time. I have to hope that Pittsburgh will get under their skin and get some emotion out of this team

Suggestions:
Don't make a panic move, give Berube at least 20 games to work with the current lineup. When Vinnie and Hartnell return, assuming no one else is injured, I would go with the following forward lines:

Hartnell or McGinn-G-Voracek
Schenn-VL-Simmonds
McGinn or Hartnell-Couturier-Read
Talbot-Hall-Rinaldo

We've ticked off the hockey gods...

I am not about to toss in the towel yet, since Chief taking over I am seeing a big difference in this team...forechekcing is looking better, skating harder etc. Remember LA I think two years ago...they were pretty much dead last, just squeaked into the Playoffs and ended up winning the whole thing. I am NOT saying this team can do that as is...but you never know.

We need to sacrifice a live chicken
- Flyers24

that goal, like so many others, happens because of a failed clear. honestly, i've never seen a team that was so bad at simply clearing the puck. as the van D worked back to the point to accept the pass from the half wall he had his back to the play for a second and all reid had to do was force him more and the puck is out. but he plays off and the rest is history
- hogweed

oh no, i spelled his name like andy's....that is obviously a harbinger of more doom and gloom

It's like Bill said in his last blog; bad teams find ways to lose. That's exactly what they did last night; they found a way to lose. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I'm not as rash as most people on here. That said, what exactly has Wayne Simmonds done this year to prove he's good? His skating isn't there. His stickhandling was never there. He's not getting into good scoring positions, and his board work is shot to hell. Sadly, if there is a trade, I think he's the one that goes.

Oh, and I forgot the obligatory COBURN YOU SUCK TRADE HIM NOW HE'S AWFUL WHAT'S HE EVER DONE TRADE HIM FOR PICKS!

It's like Bill said in his last blog; bad teams find ways to lose. That's exactly what they did last night; they found a way to lose. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I'm not as rash as most people on here. That said, what exactly has Wayne Simmonds done this year to prove he's good? His skating isn't there. His stickhandling was never there. He's not getting into good scoring positions, and his board work is shot to hell. Sadly, if there is a trade, I think he's the one that goes.

Oh, and I forgot the obligatory COBURN YOU SUCK TRADE HIM NOW HE'S AWFUL WHAT'S HE EVER DONE TRADE HIM FOR PICKS!
- jmatchett383

I feel the same way about B-Schenn, to me at times, it looks as though he isn't even trying. Just coasts into corners with no heart or that pitbull style of play i've heard referenced to him so often. However, I think I like him at center vs. wing. What have you guys seen so far?

I feel the same way about B-Schenn, to me at times, it looks as though he isn't even trying. Just coasts into corners with no heart or that pitbull style of play i've heard referenced to him so often. However, I think I like him at center vs. wing. What have you guys seen so far?
- iroc4me2

In fairness, I guess you could say that about pretty much the entire lineup, minus a few names.

I feel the same way about B-Schenn, to me at times, it looks as though he isn't even trying. Just coasts into corners with no heart or that pitbull style of play i've heard referenced to him so often. However, I think I like him at center vs. wing. What have you guys seen so far?
- iroc4me2

I wasn't a big fan of him the first game, but I thought that he was one of the more driven players coming into last night. Seems to be willing to drive the net, and isn't afraid of doing the dirty work. I wouldn't cry if he were traded if it helped the team, but I'd want a solid return.