People generally respond to incentives... if you have have a 7-year deal paying you a ridiculous amount of money and a movement clause, what's your incentive to absolutely make sure you bring your best every night? Professional pride Winning? Yeah right.

It's no mystery why most players in contract years have big years... there's a very clear incentive there to bring it each and every shift... if you don't, it potentially takes food out of your mouth.

Flyers have given so many longer-term contracts to get AAVs to squeeze under the cap... and it's not surprising that many of these freshly signed players' performances take a dip after the ink on the contract dries.
- Tomahawk

there's a dynamic at work there they don't seem to understand. they also force-fed richie the captaincy as they did w/ lindros. in all of these situations they seemed to react viscerally when things didn't work out...there's a pattern there.

Not sure whats more painful, the 9 flyers losses or having to listen to Chico Resch for one of their wins

if there were going to be growing pains up front, why was the rest of the team built to win now? thats poor planning and team construction.


- isaiah520

No it's not poor planning. You always want to supplement youth with veterans for support. How many discussions were had on how good Jagr was a a role model for the young players? You don't want a team of all young players, with out any veterans.

i never said i loved the deals. i thought that G made richie expendable; richie was forcefed the captaincy and given big $$ and had an over-inflated sense of entitlement; i wanted to keep carter and thought the return for him was light; later i saw that jake and couts was fair compensation, but i had wanted hamilton because we needed a young dman to match the career arc of the young forwards; i was satisfied that we got enuf for richie and while the #'s indicate that's true, i'm starting to doubt b schenn and he was the key piece in return. i don't know whether richards could have changed his mindset to make it work here, but i must admit i would trade BS and WS for him if it was offered and $$ was not a factor...i hope i'm wrong, but BS looks like an avg plyr so far...and kinda slow.


- isaiah520

Loved, in favor of, like, whatever. The particular adjective used doesn't matter. I see no reason to doubt B Schenn. He's a good player who is only going to get better. In terms of games played, he is basically in his 2nd full NHL Season. There's the lack of patience again, rearing it's ugly head. GWG tonight for Schenn.

the word "rebuild" is an interesting one because that would obviously imply that the whole team was on a similar youth track and since that wasn't in the plan in goal or on D, it reinforces the notion that mgmt was flying by the seat of their pants. hence, the numerous back-and-forths we've had.
- isaiah520

That's incorrect. No team goes completely with youth throughout the entire team. That's not how you rebuild. Look at any NHL team that is young overall. They always have veterans mixed into the lineup. They signed a UFA Goalie to a 9 year deal. How long does a rebuild take? LOL The notion you have is false.

Heck, yes!

For the most part, they played smart hockey tonight. Smart decisions. Showed some...dare I say it...heart.

Doesn't erase the foul stench from last night, but...well. Two points is two points!

Ray Emery with the shutout -- screw you, NHL whiners!

Suck it, Phaneuf!
- AllInForFlyers

looks like the Flyers have smoked out one of the big issues on this team and his name is luke.

there's a dynamic at work there they don't seem to understand. they also force-fed richie the captaincy as they did w/ lindros. in all of these situations they seemed to react viscerally when things didn't work out...there's a pattern there.
- isaiah520

I do think Hartnell's gotten soft with his NMC. I do think Giroux was ready for the captaincy, personally, but I also believe that we have a few too many guys who aren't star players who have long-term deals -- and sometimes, you need to risk guys having huge years and going to free agency before you give them longer contracts.

There's no one way to do it...but unfortunately, the Flyers do seem to have a few too many guys who are a little too comfortable.

Not sure whats more painful, the 9 flyers losses or having to listen to Chico Resch for one of their wins
- Bayareaflyer

Chico's wig is too tight

I don't think the flyers ever saw this as rebuild like you mentioned and that was just the poster's opinion. Thats not factual based.
- Just5

When you trade your top 2 players for younger players and a #1 draft pick and completely change the core of your team, that's not a rebuild? It's definitely factual based.

will the Flyers score 100 goals this year?

decision was right, I thought ... he just needs to hit the net
- FlyerGuy

Agreed. Trying to be too fine. Hit the net, and two other players are in good position for a rebound.

So the Flyers are 4-9 and can't score goals and the Sixers are 3-0 and can't be beat...Help I've entered Bizarro Land and can't get out!!

The 76ers are 3-0. This absolutely has to be the biggest surprise in sports this year, no sarcasm.

The 76ers are 3-0. This absolutely has to be the biggest surprise in sports this year, no sarcasm.
- EducatedOpinion

I'll say. This kid Michael Carter-Williams seems like the real deal. I'll be over at Basketballbuzz!

I'll say. This kid Michael Carter-Williams seems like the real deal. I'll be over at Basketballbuzz!
- MJL

I missed a pretty exciting game eh?

Emery with a 14 save shut out. With our #1 shutdown Dman a healthy scratch? Nuts...

My 3 stars tonight:
3. Coburn - was real solid, composed and very strong on the PK

2. Emery - made the saves he needed to make and was able to control rebounds and freeze the puck when needed

1. Couturier - Great all around game and was a beast on the PK

I missed a pretty exciting game eh?

Emery with a 14 save shut out. With our #1 shutdown Dman a healthy scratch? Nuts...
- Flyersgod

"But I subscribe to the law of contrary public opinion. If everyone thinks one thing, then I say bet...the other way."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk-0fTNWEpw

Sixers 3-0! Beat the Bulls and the Heat haha unreal

My 3 stars tonight:
3. Coburn - was real solid, composed and very strong on the PK

2. Emery - made the saves he needed to make and was able to control rebounds and freeze the puck when needed

1. Couturier - Great all around game and was a beast on the PK
- BiggE

good choices ... I especially liked Coburn's willingness to carry the puck out of the zone more than he did under Lavy.

They cleared their own zone a bit better than in past games vs the Devils. That was also good to see.

My 3 stars tonight:
3. Coburn - was real solid, composed and very strong on the PK

2. Emery - made the saves he needed to make and was able to control rebounds and freeze the puck when needed

1. Couturier - Great all around game and was a beast on the PK
- BiggE

I thought Coburn was outstanding tonight. Couturier won a number of key draws. His defensive game is outstanding. I can't wait until the offensive game starts to come out.

My 3 stars tonight:
3. Coburn - was real solid, composed and very strong on the PK

2. Emery - made the saves he needed to make and was able to control rebounds and freeze the puck when needed

1. Couturier - Great all around game and was a beast on the PK
- BiggE

Total agreement -- Couturier looked good, and we needed something positive out of the youngsters.

Sixers 3-0! Beat the Bulls and the Heat haha unreal
- Just5

They must not have gotten the league memo they were already handed the number 1 pick for only winning 10 games all season...

there's a dynamic at work there they don't seem to understand. they also force-fed richie the captaincy as they did w/ lindros. in all of these situations they seemed to react viscerally when things didn't work out...there's a pattern there.
- isaiah520

I honestly can't wait until this team starts to mature, a few key moves are made, and this team is a very good team and is in the mix. Then the conversation will turn from all these bad deals they made, to boy isn't it great that they got this player locked up to a good deal. Giving the C to top players such as Lindros, Richards, Giroux, is a pattern. Many teams in the NHL have the same pattern.

They must not have gotten the league memo they were already handed the number 1 pick for only winning 10 games all season...
- JW98FlyerFan

A group of players besides maybe 2 or 3 that dont figure into the team's future have knocked off the 2 consensus favorite teams to come out of the east.

A team with a bunch of players that have nothing guaranteed to them.

hhhhmmmmm

berube looks like he's davening during these interviews












(inside Jewish joke)

Not sure whats more painful, the 9 flyers losses or having to listen to Chico Resch for one of their wins
- Bayareaflyer

Yeah he's up there with Craig Laughlin...