It didn't because the team was largely successful. Coming to this team, now...Really easy to see confidence issues creeping in, because of how badly the team is playing. There's no solid vets that they can pair them with, and help them, because the vets are struggling with their own games.
- Jsaquella

I'm not saying they should bring all 3 up, or put them in over any of our vets. You some people are making too much of this "confidence" issue.

If this team doesnt improve soon, then they should think about trading players for assets. When you bring up the kids you tell them this is you chance to come in and learn, that is the important thing. Dont mind the struggles. We expect it to happen, just use this time to improve your game. And boom, confidence issue fixed.

Not when 50% of our Cap on D is under performing (and not really good) and we are probably at the ceiling of what this team will achieve this year, Nope I don't see it...but I would suspect you see a strong playoff run out of this team too...

Take away mason, and you will see how bad this D really is...wait til he goes in a funk...
- JW98FlyerFan

So why aren't teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, NJ, etc. just playing their AHL defense? Why don't teams that are in the bottom-5 halfway through the season scratch their NHL defense put in their AHL defense (barring injuries)? Is every NHL GM just stupid and short-sighted?

They might be scratching him for the same reasons, regardless of time spend with the team.

But it could just be for a kick in the ass... maybe Toronto lost faith in him whereas the Flyers are using it for motivation.
- mikel33

Yeah, Scratch a guy on his birthday! Yup I am all in for that treatment when I watch Kimmo suck it up every night for 6M this year...

They might be scratching him for the same reasons, regardless of time spend with the team.

But it could just be for a kick in the ass... maybe Toronto lost faith in him whereas the Flyers are using it for motivation.
- mikel33

I think that is what it is, indeed...I just disagree with it.

NJ waives Rostislav Olesz...had no idea he was a Devil
- Jsaquella

haha

A lot of fan bases will say the same if we waived Hall.

NJ waives Rostislav Olesz...had no idea he was a Devil
- Jsaquella

Neither did a lot of spectators at the Rock, I'd wager.

So why aren't teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, NJ, etc. just playing their AHL defense? Why don't teams that are in the bottom-5 halfway through the season scratch their NHL defense put in their AHL defense (barring injuries)? Is every NHL GM just stupid and short-sighted?
- jmatchett383

Becasue they don't have guys like Alt, Gus and Oliver on thier AHL team...

That's true enough...still given how badly the rest of the defense has looked, I;d rather see the kid try to play through his funk than drag out the Harold Priestly Gill's of the world
- Jsaquella

As long as it's only for a game or two, I get the idea behind a healthy scratch. It does send a message.

But I don't think that message should be "we're going to bury you until we have no choice but to play you".

I missed the Devil's game and they won. I'm beginning to wonder if I should stop watching to give them some hope...

I assume that there is no update on Downie or Vinny yet?

The fiancee doesn't want Simmonds to go but I'd be shopping Simmonds and Hartnell to teams who need some grit... And yes I know Hartnell has a NTC - I'd have to check to see if Simmonds does.

I'm a sucker for the D-men and I have to agree that Kimmo has been hurting us. Say what you will I still like Schenn and haven't seen anything worse out of his play than Gus or Mez. So this whole doghouse thing confuses me.

I think our D is about on par with what it was last season. Problem is our offense has been so poor we haven't been getting the points. I like the system change. We just have to begin scoring...

At this point I don't know the answers. I can just cheer them on.

I'm not saying they should bring all 3 up, or put them in over any of our vets. You some people are making too much of this "confidence" issue.

If this team doesnt improve soon, then they should think about trading players for assets. When you bring up the kids you tell them this is you chance to come in and learn, that is the important thing. Dont mind the struggles. We expect it to happen, just use this time to improve your game. And boom, confidence issue fixed.
- youarewrong

Easier said than done. If you just throw young players to the wolves, you get what the Oilers are dealing with.

Even if you tell a kid, oh, it's not important, a lot of times getting burned will cause a kid to lose his self confidence.

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

Or, more logically, he's not actually on the block.

I missed the Devil's game and they won. I'm beginning to wonder if I should stop watching to give them some hope...

I assume that there is no update on Downie or Vinny yet?

The fiancee doesn't want Simmonds to go but I'd be shopping Simmonds and Hartnell to teams who need some grit... And yes I know Hartnell has a NTC - I'd have to check to see if Simmonds does.

I'm a sucker for the D-men and I have to agree that Kimmo has been hurting us. Say what you will I still like Schenn and haven't seen anything worse out of his play than Gus or Mez. So this whole doghouse thing confuses me.

I think our D is about on par with what it was last season. Problem is our offense has been so poor we haven't been getting the points. I like the system change. We just have to begin scoring...

At this point I don't know the answers. I can just cheer them on.
- FlyersGrace

Vinny is playing tomorrow, Downie is out of the hospital and per Vinny, in good spirits

Becasue they don't have guys like Alt, Gus and Oliver on thier AHL team...
- JW98FlyerFan

You mean a guy who fell out of favor was was traded for Michael Leighton and has 0 NHL games, a guy who's been scratched in favor of Hall Gill, a horrible Luke Schenn and a crippled Andrei Meszaros, and a slow-footed 7th round pick with 15 games of NHL expereince? Most teams don't have players that fit that mold?

Or, more logically, he's not actually on the block.
- bradleyc4

Yes. It was a joke...amazed how many people misunderstood that.

Or, more logically, he's not actually on the block.
- bradleyc4

Get logic out of here. We need panic and immediate action. Do not let other factors besides speculation come into play.

"We don't need a thinker, we need a doer. Someone who will think without considering the consequences."

Easier said than done. If you just throw young players to the wolves, you get what the Oilers are dealing with.

Even if you tell a kid, oh, it's not important, a lot of times getting burned will cause a kid to lose his self confidence.
- Jsaquella

So your saying we have the wrong coach to make sure this doesn't happen?

So your saying we have the wrong coach to make sure this doesn't happen?
- JW98FlyerFan

No. He's saying there's a reason young players are given a chance to develop. If you don't do that, then you get what the Oilers have, or what Buffalo is getting.

I missed the Devil's game and they won. I'm beginning to wonder if I should stop watching to give them some hope...

I assume that there is no update on Downie or Vinny yet?

The fiancee doesn't want Simmonds to go but I'd be shopping Simmonds and Hartnell to teams who need some grit... And yes I know Hartnell has a NTC - I'd have to check to see if Simmonds does.

I'm a sucker for the D-men and I have to agree that Kimmo has been hurting us. Say what you will I still like Schenn and haven't seen anything worse out of his play than Gus or Mez. So this whole doghouse thing confuses me.

I think our D is about on par with what it was last season. Problem is our offense has been so poor we haven't been getting the points. I like the system change. We just have to begin scoring...

At this point I don't know the answers. I can just cheer them on.
- FlyersGrace

Modified NMC on Simmonds...The Homer special...

Yes. It was a joke...amazed how many people misunderstood that.
- Jsaquella

Yeah right. You know you meant it. And you know I know you know. Now we both know.

Modified NMC on Simmonds...The Homer special...
- JW98FlyerFan

The Homer Special is the full NMC. The modified is the Diet Homer.

No. He's saying there's a reason young players are given a chance to develop. If you don't do that, then you get what the Oilers have, or what Buffalo is getting.
- jmatchett383

Oh, so we have to suck for a few years to get better draft picks, to draft our way back to a good team, vice over paying for old timers...SOLD!

Yeah right. You know you meant it. And you know I know you know. Now we both know.
- jmatchett383

I'm pretty sure I have no friggin clue though...

No. He's saying there's a reason young players are given a chance to develop. If you don't do that, then you get what the Oilers have, or what Buffalo is getting.
- jmatchett383

You also want to avoid bringing up guys until they're ready, because you start burning games/seasons off their period of waiver-exemption.

So your saying we have the wrong coach to make sure this doesn't happen?
- JW98FlyerFan

Not at all. The coach is immaterial. If you put a young guy into a bad situation and he struggles, it's likely his confidence will suffer from it.

It's like people who feel Couturier should be an offensive dynamo, despite spending two years stuck with pluggers and goons. Now that he's playing regularly with better skilled players, he's showing signs of progress offensively.

No. He's saying there's a reason young players are given a chance to develop. If you don't do that, then you get what the Oilers have, or what Buffalo is getting.
- jmatchett383

How are those exposed young players working out in Colorodo? That 20 year Captain sure is clueless out there...

Same old Flyers logic...Old Man Ed has become the Al Davis of Hockey...I love what he did to put a team here, and all he has done to support it, but it has been 40 years...