A lot of guys are struggling. But I wonder why nobody is calling out the Captain?
- MJL

I think most of us call him out...it's a glaring problem. And he's been quite bad on faceoffs. But to me, no forward has looked quite as bad, quite as awkward, or been quite as horrible with the puck in both ends of the ice as Simmonds.

he is always going to be a slow guy, and never going to be the greatest defender. in the moments in which he does his game, he has looked good. he got one on the powerplay, can call it fluky or what but still, thats what you need when you are slumping. he almost had another parked in front of fleury. im just unsure as to why he deviates from that power game.

id give you guys niskanen for read in a heartbeat
- stayinthefnnet

you could trade crosby for rosehill and somehow it would work out for you. crosby would go into a career long funk and rosehill would become an animal. gotta love philly

what? that it was a poor value trade. i know that was your initial reaction and it was the correct one...and you and i were carle advocates, so that argument is DOA.

just draft a guy like hamilton and this team would be in better shape. imagine him, JVR, carle and maybe laughton here...
- isaiah520

My initial reaction and what my objective analysis over time is, are different. I disagree with you. And you may be the judge of your argument, but your not of mine. And if you want to rehash what my thoughts were on letting Carle walk, we can do that. If those players were here during the last year with Laviolette, they'd be part of the same thing that is happening. I'm amazed at how you think that Hamilton is the answer to everything. As if the Flyers Organization was devastated because they didn't draft Hamilton.

I think most of us call him out...it's a glaring problem. And he's been quite bad on faceoffs. But to me, no forward has looked quite as bad, quite as awkward, or been quite as horrible with the puck in both ends of the ice as Simmonds.
- wolfhounds

He was good on faceoffs tonight, but that's about it.

I think most of us call him out...it's a glaring problem. And he's been quite bad on faceoffs. But to me, no forward has looked quite as bad, quite as awkward, or been quite as horrible with the puck in both ends of the ice as Simmonds.
- wolfhounds

i just think they should be held to different standards. yes maybe simmonds has been worse, but its not relatively as much of a disappointment. simmonds is the type of guy that really doesnt create as much on his own. he is dependent on other guys to get him the puck in his wheelhouse position. giroux is the one who sold be able to generate on hi own

i just think they should be held to different standards. yes maybe simmonds has been worse, but its not relatively as much of a disappointment. simmonds is the type of guy that really doesnt create as much on his own. he is dependent on other guys to get him the puck in his wheelhouse position. giroux is the one who sold be able to generate on hi own
- stayinthefnnet

Agreed.

he is always going to be a slow guy, and never going to be the greatest defender. in the moments in which he does his game, he has looked good. he got one on the powerplay, can call it fluky or what but still, thats what you need when you are slumping. he almost had another parked in front of fleury. im just unsure as to why he deviates from that power game.

id give you guys niskanen for read in a heartbeat
- stayinthefnnet

Yup, incredibly slow. And Simmonds should, quite literally, never carry the friggin' puck. It's a hot potato for him and he needs to cover it up and shield it, then move it to someone else immediately.

Nah, we aren't trading Read...he just needs to get out of his own head. It's like him, G, Jake, Simmonds, and Couts all have the same virus that kills all their offensive abilities...

you could trade crosby for rosehill and somehow it would work out for you. crosby would go into a career long funk and rosehill would become an animal. gotta love philly
- hogweed

that may be worth it just to see thousands of proclaimed crosby haters all of a sudden hail him as the best.

My initial reaction and what my objective analysis over time is, are different. I disagree with you. And you may be the judge of your argument, but your not with mine. And if you want to rehash what my thoughts were on letting Carle walk, we can do that. If those players were here during the last year with Laviolette, they'd be part of the same thing that is happening. I'm amazed at how you think that Hamilton is the answer to everything. As if the Flyers Organization was devastated because they didn't draft Hamilton.
- MJL

complete distortion of my point- discussion over

complete distortion of my point- discussion over
- isaiah520

No it's not a distortion. It the same mantra over and over. The Flyers should have drafted Hamilton. And it doesn't really matter that it's Hamilton. If it wasn't him, it would be Matta, or any other young defenseman. Over and over. As if that would change anything now.

Yup, incredibly slow. And Simmonds should, quite literally, never carry the friggin' puck. It's a hot potato for him and he needs to cover it up and shield it, then move it to someone else immediately.

Nah, we aren't trading Read...he just needs to get out of his own head. It's like him, G, Jake, Simmonds, and Couts all have the same virus that kills all their offensive abilities...
- wolfhounds

i totally agree with you. simmonds should never under any circumstances be bringing it up the ice. he should permanently set up residence in the crease and wreak havoc. he should try to become a poor mans lucic. too big for smaller defenders, but still has decent enough hands to cash in.

and yeah i wouldnt move read either. i love him. even if he isnt contributing directly on the score sheet, i love his 2 way ability.

He was good on faceoffs tonight, but that's about it.
- MJL

Is there a place that we can see offensive vs defensive zone and PP vs PK draws? Cause that's really when we see who is winning the faceoff when it matters most.

From what I've seen, G has been seriously struggling this year on o zone draws, especially on the PP, so the puck is sent out and they spend that time re-entering and getting set up. Definitely part of the reason the PP has struggled so much this season.

that may be worth it just to see thousands of proclaimed crosby haters all of a sudden hail him as the best.
- stayinthefnnet

He is hated because he is the face of the teams biggest rival. that doesn't mean any objective fan can't see he is one of the elite players in the league

A lot of guys are struggling. But I wonder why nobody is calling out the Captain?
- MJL

He gets a pass because he took a hometown discount.

i totally agree with you. simmonds should never under any circumstances be bringing it up the ice. he should permanently set up residence in the crease and wreak havoc. he should try to become a poor mans lucic. too big for smaller defenders, but still has decent enough hands to cash in.

and yeah i wouldnt move read either. i love him. even if he isnt contributing directly on the score sheet, i love his 2 way ability.
- stayinthefnnet

If he could turn into a skinnier, slightly darker Lucic, that would be sweet.

Either way, you guys are off to a hell of a start, and you're missing 2 big pieces. Good for your squad.

If he could turn into a skinnier, slightly darker Lucic, that would be sweet.

Either way, you guys are off to a hell of a start, and you're missing 2 big pieces. Good for your squad.
- wolfhounds

thanks. definitely still early though.

it is however extremely refreshing to have scuderi back.

You guys see Hall's goals...8 seconds apart?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...687306&navid=nhl:topheads

If he could turn into a skinnier, slightly darker Lucic, that would be sweet.

Either way, you guys are off to a hell of a start, and you're missing 2 big pieces. Good for your squad.
- wolfhounds

i dont know why mentally it doesnt seem like thats the mold he is striving to be though. i have no doubts that he could physically do it, and be an anchor on the second line/powerplay.

He is hated because he is the face of the teams biggest rival. that doesn't mean any objective fan can't see he is one of the elite players in the league
- nastyflyergirl

im totally fine with that rational approach.

thanks. definitely still early though.

it is however extremely refreshing to have scuderi back.
- stayinthefnnet

Building a cushion now is the way to do it. As they say, it's better to have something and not need it instead of needing something and not having it. Or so I've heard.

i dont know why mentally it doesnt seem like thats the mold he is striving to be though. i have no doubts that he could physically do it, and be an anchor on the second line/powerplay.
- stayinthefnnet

I have no idea what Simmonds is doing right now, or what the coaches are asking him to do. I do know, however, that something in his game needs to change.

Building a cushion now is the way to do it. As they say, it's better to have something and not need it instead of needing something and not having it. Or so I've heard.
- wolfhounds

it will be very interesting when letang comes back. yes he infuses a ton of talent, but i have been appreciating the simple plays from the back end from guys like scuderi and martin, even if it lacks the end to end flare. i know it sounds crazy to worry about your best defender coming back, but in a way i am. i dont want them to deviate from what has been working

it will be very interesting when letang comes back. yes he infuses a ton of talent, but i have been appreciating the simple plays from the back end from guys like scuderi and martin, even if it lacks the end to end flare. i know it sounds crazy to worry about your best defender coming back, but in a way i am. i dont want them to deviate from what has been working
- stayinthefnnet

Letang is more a 4th forward than a true defender, and that can definitely throw the team off, especially Fleury. Still, it's a good problem to have.

You going to school in Philly? Temple?

I have no idea what Simmonds is doing right now, or what the coaches are asking him to do. I do know, however, that something in his game needs to change.
- wolfhounds

he needs to just be holmstrom lite and just park his ass in front, box out, and bang away.

voracek is struggling. he has a ton of talent. if giroux isnt going to score himself, he needs to create room for him. getting him going would open up a ton of things

Letang is more a 4th forward than a true defender, and that can definitely throw the team off, especially Fleury. Still, it's a good problem to have.

You going to school in Philly? Temple?
- wolfhounds

yeah its frustrating, because he has the talent to be an absolutely incredible defender. that speed that he uses to become out of position so much can make him impossible to get behind if he uses it correctly. we shall see though. fleury has benefited a ton from the predictability in front of him i think. he hasnt by and large been asked to overcompensate for the guys in front of him, which has kept him mentally calmer to just make the saves as they come.

and yeah at temple. it is brutal haha i have never continuously been so tired.