Why? Is that your nephew or something?
- mayorofangrytown

yeah he is 16 still playing midget league

Young rich atheletes eschew the work ethic and talent that got them rich and laid in the first place?
Let me know how long that cycle stays positive. Ohhh right, we're dead last in the conference with no goals out of a guy who is promised 8.25 for the foreseeable future. You're right. I'm being silly..........
- Ferrarimn7

His $500K car will get him whatever he needs.

The Flyers are trying the novel approach of increasing Luke Schenn's trade value by benching him.
- Jsaquella

Hey, it worked for Toronto.

Good, points, but what about the Kimmo holding and hooking penaties that are totally uncalled for? They are a result of his diminished skills and hurt the team...Should he be "learning" the same way Schen and gus are?
- JW98FlyerFan

Timonen should be playing better, no arguments here. Unfortunately Berube cannot sit every defenceman who is not playing well at the same time. So if I'm the coach, and I have decide who is more likely to improve his play while being left in the lineup vs. who might be better off watching a few games, I'd probably go with leaving the guy who has historically been my best defenseman in the lineup.

Does that mean I'm happy with his play? No. It just means that I think he has a better chance of playing his way out of his issues than the young guys. If Gus and LSchenn start playing better and Kimmo is still foundering, then he can take his turn in the Cote suite with (hopefully) Rosehill.

Not writing this year off as much as I am saying not to rush guys just because the team is struggling.

I think Alt is probably a couple years away. Konan is a fringe guy, Lauridsen probably a. 6th defenseman..I have much higher hopes for Morin, Hagg, Ghostisbehere & Alt than Lauridsen & Konan
- Jsaquella

So what happens when Homer starts shipping guys off and if you look at the NTC/NMCs these are not necessarily the guys that should be moved...

Timonen should be playing better, no arguments here. Unfortunately Berube cannot sit every defenceman who is not playing well at the same time. So if I'm the coach, and I have decide who is more likely to improve his play while being left in the lineup vs. who might be better off watching a few games, I'd probably go with leaving the guy who has historically been my best defenseman in the lineup.

Does that mean I'm happy with his play? No. It just means that I think he has a better chance of playing his way out of his issues than the young guys. If Gus and LSchenn start playing better and Kimmo is still foundering, then he can take his turn in the Cote suite with (hopefully) Rosehill.
- BringBack25

His issues are not skill...Old age has caught up to him...you can't "will" that to get better, and even playing "smarter" hockey is not good enough for his drop off in his speed...He can't get better with playing...Schennn and Gus can....they don't learn as much watching as they do on the bench being coached...

Cousin.
- youarewrong

Good for him.

So what happens when Homer starts shipping guys off and if you look at the NTC/NMCs these are not necessarily the guys that should be moved...
- JW98FlyerFan

I dont know what the hell you do with Hartnell. Cant even waive the guy. Can't trade him. For now though I put him on the 4th line.

Whether or not the flyers are out drinking every night is true, there is a huge whole in leadership on this team. It has been that way for awhile due to the high turnover. Look at the Red Wings and you can see why they haven't miss the playoffs in some 20+ year: Yzerman to Lidstrom to Zetterberg. The wings have had 3 captains since 1986. Is it a coincidence that the two longest runs the Flyers have had in the playoffs in last 6 years coincided with having its two strongest veteran leaders: Jason Smith and Chris Pronger.

Whether or not the flyers are out drinking every night is true, there is a huge whole in leadership on this team. It has been that way for awhile due to the high turnover. Look at the Red Wings and you can see why they haven't miss the playoffs in some 20+ year: Yzerman to Lidstrom to Zetterberg. The wings have had 3 captains since 1986. Is it a coincidence that the two longest runs the Flyers have had in the playoffs in last 6 years coincided with having its two strongest veteran leaders: Jason Smith and Chris Pronger.
- psuhockey

For the first about 7-8 years, Yzerman was actually viewed as a pretty weak captain. Just sayin.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...lped-bring-them-together/


Can't make this stuff up. Hartnell's quote is a beauty. At least he gets that when you are down big all you have to do is brawl to appease the owner and STH's brat kids. Hartnell gets the culture

yeah he is 16 still playing midget league
- mydoglicks

He is actually playing for a prep school in Conneticut on a full scholarship. Not too many options here in Delaware.

http://www.cbury.org/

Very prestigious...

yeah he is 16 still playing midget league
- mydoglicks

He is actually playing for a prep school in Conneticut on a full scholarship. Not too many options here in Delaware.

http://www.cbury.org/

Very prestigious...

Whether or not the flyers are out drinking every night is true, there is a huge whole in leadership on this team. It has been that way for awhile due to the high turnover. Look at the Red Wings and you can see why they haven't miss the playoffs in some 20+ year: Yzerman to Lidstrom to Zetterberg. The wings have had 3 captains since 1986. Is it a coincidence that the two longest runs the Flyers have had in the playoffs in last 6 years coincided with having its two strongest veteran leaders: Jason Smith and Chris Pronger.
- psuhockey

Which is why I've always been dead against the best player being named captain just because he's the best player.

That is always an easy, but too often, a very shortsighted decision on management's part.

Whether or not the flyers are out drinking every night is true, there is a huge whole in leadership on this team. It has been that way for awhile due to the high turnover. Look at the Red Wings and you can see why they haven't miss the playoffs in some 20+ year: Yzerman to Lidstrom to Zetterberg. The wings have had 3 captains since 1986. Is it a coincidence that the two longest runs the Flyers have had in the playoffs in last 6 years coincided with having its two strongest veteran leaders: Jason Smith and Chris Pronger.
- psuhockey

Pronger was really here for 2 years, and we have been to the playoffs for almost 20 years sans 2 with the captain rotating...so i don't think the number hurts us, it is the quality...This was the dig on Richardson and Carter...they partied too hard...this team has been a wreck since pronger got hurt...his stability on and off the ice was a key to holding this team together...Still our D should be able to get the puck out of our zone better to allow the Offense a chance, then the O needs to bury some pucks, not bad shots, but really quality scoring chances...maybe there are some guys that are more hurt than we know, but something is wrong with thier offensive mindset when the puck enters the zone...

He is actually playing for a prep school in Conneticut on a full scholarship. Not too many options here in Delaware.

http://www.cbury.org/

Very prestigious...
- youarewrong

Amoroso part deux?

For the first about 7-8 years, Yzerman was actually viewed as a pretty weak captain. Just sayin.
- jmatchett383

By Who? Two years after becoming captain he put up 102 pts in 64 games....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Yzerman

Then they got two cups.


I got it. You're thinking of GM, he was viewed as a weak GM. nowwwww it makes sense.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/04/flyers-say-brawl-helped-bring-them-together/


Can't make this stuff up. Hartnell's quote is a beauty. At least he gets that when you are down big all you have to do is brawl to appease the owner and STH's brat kids. Hartnell gets the culture
- Just5

Hasn't Hartnell gone something ridiculous like 28 straight games without an assist? The back end of his contract is a real wing dinger. Another Homey Da Clown special.

The Flyers have scored two goals or less in 12 of 13 games, luckily this is a small sample size.

His issues are not skill...Old age has caught up to him...you can't "will" that to get better, and even playing "smarter" hockey is not good enough for his drop off in his speed...He can't get better with playing...Schennn and Gus can....they don't learn as much watching as they do on the bench being coached...
- JW98FlyerFan

Timonen's issues are at least as much mental as they are "old age catching up with him". From what I've seen, it's more about bad judgement and poor timing than it is about his being ready for the rest home. But even that is partly mental as well. As your speed/skill decline with age, it's a mental adjustment to recognize your limitations and play accordingly. Timonen has not done that (yet).

Again, he has limited options for benching d-men. Berube is choosing to leave his most experience, historically best d-man in the lineup and bench some younger, far less proven guys. Hard to fault that logic imo. If we get to the point where Kimmo is the only d-man still playing poorly and he's still in the lineup every night, then I'll criticize Berube for not benching him.

Timonen's issues are at least as much mental as they are "old age catching up with him". From what I've seen, it's more about bad judgement and poor timing than it is about his being ready for the rest home. But even that is partly mental as well. As your speed/skill decline with age, it's a mental adjustment to recognize your limitations and play accordingly. Timonen has not done that (yet).

Again, he has limited options for benching d-men. Berube is choosing to leave his most experience, historically best d-man in the lineup and bench some younger, far less proven guys. Hard to fault that logic imo. If we get to the point where Kimmo is the only d-man still playing poorly and he's still in the lineup every night, then I'll criticize Berube for not benching him.
- BringBack25

In the grand scheme of things what is the purpose of benching Luke Schenn in favor of a journeyman like Hal Gill? Does absolutely no good imo. Schenn has to play himself out of the funk he's in. Sitting up in the press box does no one any good.

In the grand scheme of things what is the purpose of benching Luke Schenn in favor of a journeyman like Hal Gill? Does absolutely no good imo. Schenn has to play himself out of the funk he's in. Sitting up in the press box does no one any good.
- PLindbergh31

Wake up call, let him see the game from up top. I'm fine with it if it's a one time trip. If it happens again, let alone becomes a pattern, I'll be concerned.

Wake up call, let him see the game from up top. I'm fine with it if it's a one time trip. If it happens again, let alone becomes a pattern, I'll be concerned.
- BulliesPhan87

It's not a one time trip. He's not playing tomorrow.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/04/flyers-say-brawl-helped-bring-them-together/


Can't make this stuff up. Hartnell's quote is a beauty. At least he gets that when you are down big all you have to do is brawl to appease the owner and STH's brat kids. Hartnell gets the culture
- Just5

As per the author:

It still wasn’t the most popular opinion. But three days later, and a 1-0 win over New Jersey later, and — hey, would you look at that? — Flyers players are saying the brawl did, indeed, give them a spark.

One goal was the positive result of a brawl? Would would it take from this point on to rack up, say, a four spot? Reincarnate the finale from Slapshot?

It's not a one time trip. He's not playing tomorrow.
- PLindbergh31

I meant more in terms of if he find himself back in the pressbox for another round after he returns to the ice. Not that I'm glad to see he's scratched tonight.

In the grand scheme of things what is the purpose of benching Luke Schenn in favor of a journeyman like Hal Gill? Does absolutely no good imo. Schenn has to play himself out of the funk he's in. Sitting up in the press box does no one any good.
- PLindbergh31

That's certainly one school of thought. But I think it's a pretty well accepted idea that around the league that sitting a guy and letting him watch a few games is a good way to help a player see the game from a different perspective and correct his mental mistakes. You may not agree, but this is hardly a novel approach.

Also, as to the benefit of playing Gill, I think the benefit is that he won't make mental mistakes. So even if he isn't the fastest skater or the best passer, he knows how to play within himself and avoid mental mistakes. That's what we want Schenn and Gus to learn. So it doesn't seem that far fetched to think that watching a guy like Gill go out there and play a solid game despite his physical limitations is a good way for them to learn how to do it. Hell, at this point, Gill may be the only d-man we have who is not making a ton of mental mistakes every game.