Look at Raffl up on the top line... I like it.

odds that Cam Talbot shuts the Flyers out tomorrow?
- wilsonecho91

Odds are gonna be hard when they dont play them tomorrow

Look at Raffl up on the top line... I like it.
- wolfhounds

Raffl and Mcginn in the top 6.

Wow.

I agree with Berube, let the guys that are busting their ass out there rise to the top. Except for Rinaldo people, yes he belongs on the 4th line.

odds that Cam Talbot shuts the Flyers out tomorrow?
- wilsonecho91

I will bet anyone on here $20,000 that this does not happen.

Interesting comments about some dmen in the rumour mill...

http://www.edmontonjourna...monton/9063804/story.html

Berube may not have many solutions for this team, but he deserves credit for nailing what the problems are...

The difference between surgeons and hockey players, is that hockey players' performance is inconsequential in the scheme of things... they don't get paid a ton of money because they hold the balance of life and death in their hands... they're merely entertainers in a society that places way too much value on entertainment.

Actors, musicians and other entertainers are hardly expected to not enjoy the trappings of fame... why the double-standard when it comes to athletes? As long as they show up to work in a reasonably functional state, and their bosses don't have any complaints about their performance, we as fans should be fine with whatever they choose to do with their free time.
- Tomahawk

Sports is also one of the few entertainment industries where someone is actively competing against another person. The outcome is not entirely dependent on one player or one team's effort/talent, but also on the other team's, and the other players on the player's team.

Imagine if a surgeon had to deal with another doctor slapping the tools out of his hand every time he tried to make an incision.

As for the actors, musicians, and entertainers not having high expectations when it comes to enjoying fame, they are also not representing a city or a franchise. I guess if every time Justin Bieber did something dumb, and they started calling him Canada's Justin Bieber or something like that, people would think a lot differently.

Sports is a pretty unique thing in the entertainment industry. No matter who plays well or who doesn't, there's always a winner and a loser. How much you enjoy it depends on which side you fall on when the game's over.

Sports is also one of the few entertainment industries where someone is actively competing against another person. The outcome is not entirely dependent on one player or one team's effort/talent, but also on the other team's, and the other players on the player's team.

Imagine if a surgeon had to deal with another doctor slapping the tools out of his hand every time he tried to make an incision.As for the actors, musicians, and entertainers not having high expectations when it comes to enjoying fame, they are also not representing a city or a franchise. I guess if every time Justin Bieber did something dumb, and they started calling him Canada's Justin Bieber or something like that, people would think a lot differently.

Sports is a pretty unique thing in the entertainment industry. No matter who plays well or who doesn't, there's always a winner and a loser. How much you enjoy it depends on which side you fall on when the game's over.
- feelingkettle

With nursing grad next September, I will have every opportunity to do this

With nursing grad next September, I will have every opportunity to do this
- flyer_nutter

if it's graphic or lewd- you're there

Sports is also one of the few entertainment industries where someone is actively competing against another person. The outcome is not entirely dependent on one player or one team's effort/talent, but also on the other team's, and the other players on the player's team.

Imagine if a surgeon had to deal with another doctor slapping the tools out of his hand every time he tried to make an incision.

As for the actors, musicians, and entertainers not having high expectations when it comes to enjoying fame, they are also not representing a city or a franchise. I guess if every time Justin Bieber did something dumb, and they started calling him Canada's Justin Bieber or something like that, people would think a lot differently.

Sports is a pretty unique thing in the entertainment industry. No matter who plays well or who doesn't, there's always a winner and a loser. How much you enjoy it depends on which side you fall on when the game's over.
- feelingkettle

Great points and and provides some perspective that I was not considering. Well done.

Berube may not have many solutions for this team, but he deserves credit for nailing what the problems are...
- isaiah520

What the problems are, is simple to identify. Any knowledgeable fan knows what the problems are. I hope Berube has solutions.

Holy cow. Man, Phil Kessel just scored a goal that epitomizes what I'm talking about when I talk about the value of pure skill. WOW.

Check out the highlights if you get a chance; it's the Leafs' third goal. That shot...wow.

Holy cow. Man, Phil Kessel just scored a goal that epitomizes what I'm talking about when I talk about the value of pure skill. WOW.

Check out the highlights if you get a chance; it's the Leafs' third goal. That shot...wow.
- AllInForFlyers

There's no sound argument that this team doesnt need more skill up front and on the blueline. Streit and Gus are nice but I miss having a rocket from the point. As for the forwards they need some more skill at the wing. Carrying Hartnell and Simmonds on the top six really asks the other 4 guys to go above and beyond as playmakers.

Holy cow. Man, Phil Kessel just scored a goal that epitomizes what I'm talking about when I talk about the value of pure skill. WOW.

Check out the highlights if you get a chance; it's the Leafs' third goal. That shot...wow.
- AllInForFlyers

I get the center ice package every year but have been hedging for this season.....so here I sit watching Nash vs Minn while there are several other games I rather be watching. meh

There's no sound argument that this team doesnt need more skill up front and on the blueline. Streit and Gus are nice but I miss having a rocket from the point. As for the forwards they need some more skill at the wing. Carrying Hartnell and Simmonds on the top six really asks the other 4 guys to go above and beyond as playmakers.
- hereticpride

Every player on the top 6 doesn't need to be a playmaker. You need a mix of players. You need players like Hartnell and Simmonds that can work the corners and go hard to the net. Most teams have 4-6 good offensive forwards, some have less. While the Flyers don't have a true sniper, they have plenty of offensive talent. They just need to start doing the things that scores goals in the NHL. Streit has a strong point shot.

There's no sound argument that this team doesnt need more skill up front and on the blueline. Streit and Gus are nice but I miss having a rocket from the point. As for the forwards they need some more skill at the wing. Carrying Hartnell and Simmonds on the top six really asks the other 4 guys to go above and beyond as playmakers.
- hereticpride

Watching other teams...it's interesting. Comparing them to the Flyers...I think that the Flyers will play better in the next stretch, barring more injuries. I don't think they are as bad as they've looked -- at least, I hope not -- and I've been as critical of some of the roster decisions as anyone around. But I do think they can, and will, play better than this.

But at the same time...man, I don't care what people say about guys like Phil Kessel. That guy had a hole about the size of a puck and a half to get that shot through; he put it there, under the bar, off the rush. Jonas Hiller had NO CHANCE.

That kind of skill, that kind of elite skill...I've said it before: We discount it, say we don't need it, because we don't have it. You have to lose a lot of games to draft guys who can shoot a puck like that, at the speed he did it. And no one, including me, wants to lose that many games.

But I'll tell you what: It's sure as hell a lot easier to win hockey games when you have that kind of skill, one-flick-of-the-wrist-and-it's-in-the-net kind of skill.

Watching other teams...it's interesting. Comparing them to the Flyers...I think that the Flyers will play better in the next stretch, barring more injuries. I don't think they are as bad as they've looked -- at least, I hope not -- and I've been as critical of some of the roster decisions as anyone around. But I do think they can, and will, play better than this.

But at the same time...man, I don't care what people say about guys like Phil Kessel. That guy had a hole about the size of a puck and a half to get that shot through; he put it there, under the bar, off the rush. Jonas Hiller had NO CHANCE.

That kind of skill, that kind of elite skill...I've said it before: We discount it, say we don't need it, because we don't have it. You have to lose a lot of games to draft guys who can shoot a puck like that, at the speed he did it. And no one, including me, wants to lose that many games.

But I'll tell you what: It's sure as hell a lot easier to win hockey games when you have that kind of skill, one-flick-of-the-wrist-and-it's-in-the-net kind of skill.
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers really don't have a Forward that comes down hard on the rush and score on a wrist shot from distance. The last player they had that could do that was Carter. Having a player with that ability would add a nice element to the Flyers offensive attack. But it's certainly not why this team is inept at scoring goals currently. If they start doing the things that create quality chances, I'm confident that the puck will start going in the net for this team.

I get the center ice package every year but have been hedging for this season.....so here I sit watching Nash vs Minn while there are several other games I rather be watching. meh
- nastyflyergirl

Same here but with the Flyers playing the way they are, glad im not spending the $40 a month for it.

I get the center ice package every year but have been hedging for this season.....so here I sit watching Nash vs Minn while there are several other games I rather be watching. meh
- nastyflyergirl

Ha! Yeah -- I never love paying for it, but I have for a long time now. I'm watching Edmonton-Montreal from TSN, too -- lot of speed on display in that one, though the Oilers aren't very good.

Ha! Yeah -- I never love paying for it, but I have for a long time now. I'm watching Edmonton-Montreal from TSN, too -- lot of speed on display in that one, though the Oilers aren't very good.
- AllInForFlyers

right, according to Eller, they play like a Junior team

right, according to Eller, they play like a Junior team
- wilsonecho91

I saw he said that -- that was kinda one reason I wanted to tune in, to see if Edmonton raised their game a bit. Because while he probably shouldn't have said it, he's not exactly...being dishonest.

Edmonton hadn't early; they were getting crushed. But to their credit, with Taylor Hall out, they've got it to 2-2. Give them credit for showing a little backbone after getting called out, on the road.

watching the Panthers and I swear they are the Flyers

Oh, my goodness.

JVR to Kessel off a 2-on-1, Kessel buries it for the hat trick.

Oh, my.

Is it too early for "being bad for Ekblad"??

watching the Panthers and I swear they are the Flyers
- vejim

They're one of the teams I've watched this year that I simply didn't enjoy any aspect of what they're doing. But since I don't follow them, I really don't know why they look like they do, as far as prospects they might have and how they're developing.

But I can honestly say that they were one team that I am in no hurry to watch again.