Think their marketing department watches games? I got the pre-sale santa sacks info in my inbox today.
After last night there is no way I can convince my fiancee to a game.



I so want this team to do well, and I won't pretend to know the answer.
I'll just cheer them on...
Give Mason hugs. Whatever it takes.

The last thing this team needs is to stand pat. You can give these guys 10 years together to develop and it isn't going to get much better. You either need to make moves to get a top line scorer and top defenseman, or you need to sell what you currently have, and that includes also moving some of these young guys for other young guys.
- youarewrong

this team is light years away from being a contender so the last thing I want to see them do is trade for older players like a vanek or hemsky, etc. that is what I mean by stading pat. I want to see expiring contracts and vets go for young guys and picks and be patient. I can live with being bad for a few seasons and getting top picks if there is a plan in place.

If he could cook, they wouldn't call him "Chief", though...


- tangent_man

Great "seeing" you in here. Makes it a better place, TM.

Spaghetti says, "Hi." Well, he said, "Neigh," but I knew what he meant.

I hadn't worried about this until last night whey they paused the camera on Mason after the 3rd period goal. For a little bit there he just sat with his head down facing the net.....it looked like doubt to me. Not what I want to see.
- shekkie

Yup and you could see G doing the same, bent over and looking at his feet...both were totally defeated...

Have we become the Calgary of the East?

Old, un-tradable vets. A solid goalie. A young core that, every year, we convince ourselves will finally develop.


Even our logos are starting to look the same to me.

I am afraid.

Think their marketing department watches games? I got the pre-sale santa sacks info in my inbox today.
After last night there is no way I can convince my fiancee to a game.



I so want this team to do well, and I won't pretend to know the answer.
I'll just cheer them on...
Give Mason hugs. Whatever it takes.
- FlyersGrace

My wife stepped out of the room to attend to our younger son, who is teething and not sleeping well at present. She came back to the Canes celebrating the OT goal and she goes, "OhhhhHHHH! WTF is it with this team?!? I want to sell all of our season tickets now but it's talking someone else into sitting through this BS or *we* have to do it."

this team is light years away from being a contender so the last thing I want to see them do is trade for older players like a vanek or hemsky, etc. that is what I mean by stading pat. I want to see expiring contracts and vets go for young guys and picks and be patient. I can live with being bad for a few seasons and getting top picks if there is a plan in place.
- nastyflyergirl

I can live with the team being bad if I'm seeing progress or steps forward of some type. That just hasn't been the case with this team.

The Flyers being the Flyers, however, I suspect a major trade will be finalized by the end of the week.

With what I saw last night, what we've seen for the better part of two season...that really might be what they have to do.

When you can't score -- and they can't -- it isn't always effort or system or coaching, or the other team's goaltender.

Sometimes, it is talent. We need better skaters, passers, shooters, people who can think and create offense.

I hate to say it because I really want to believe in this roster. But they simply do not have enough skill in the lineup, enough pure talent, to score goals consistently in this league.
- AllInForFlyers

Thing is, they have guys who can skate, pass, and score. They just aren't doing it. Giroux, Voracek, Hartnell, Simmonds,... they've all pretty much been non-existent. The only guys who I'd say have shown up to every game are Mason, Lecavalier, and Read. Where are the rest of the guys?

I don't think it's a matter of having the talent, as much as getting the talent to produce. A few games this season they looked awesome... crisp passes, good scoring chances, good backchecking, getting in deep on the forecheck... etc. So how can they do it some games and not others?

I think it's all about attitude and work ethic. Doesn't seem like there's much on this team this season.

I can live with the team being bad if I'm seeing progress or steps forward of some type. That just hasn't been the case with this team.

The Flyers being the Flyers, however, I suspect a major trade will be finalized by the end of the week.
- johndewar

I think we're finding out it ain't the coach. Or that they didn't go far enough away from their usual MO by settling on their Assistant. They need a shakeup -- or to be blown up. Hard to do either in the cap era. I don't think the team will give Homer another chance to reboot a la 2007-08.

I can live with the team being bad if I'm seeing progress or steps forward of some type. That just hasn't been the case with this team.

The Flyers being the Flyers, however, I suspect a major trade will be finalized by the end of the week.
- johndewar

Think it will take that long?

Great "seeing" you in here. Makes it a better place, TM.

Spaghetti says, "Hi." Well, he said, "Neigh," but I knew what he meant.
- Flyskippy

I read Bill's blog daily. Whether or not I participate in the threads is up in the air.

You haven't sold Spaghetti to the Elmer's people yet?

Thing is, they have guys who can skate, pass, and score. They just aren't doing it. Giroux, Voracek, Hartnell, Simmonds,... they've all pretty much been non-existent. The only guys who I'd say have shown up to every game are Mason, Lecavalier, and Read. Where are the rest of the guys?

I don't think it's a matter of having the talent, as much as getting the talent to produce. A few games this season they looked awesome... crisp passes, good scoring chances, good backchecking, getting in deep on the forecheck... etc. So how can they do it some games and not others?

I think it's all about attitude and work ethic. Doesn't seem like there's much on this team this season.
- WarriorHockey21

+1

the inability to breakout of the zone against that Canes team, to repeatedly try the same ineffective maneuvers over and over again is maddening.

I hate to say it because I really want to believe in this roster. But they simply do not have enough skill in the lineup, enough pure talent, to score goals consistently in this league.
- AllInForFlyers

There's a lot of pure talent on this team, most of it's just either declining or emerging. There's not a single player on the team that is smack dab in his point-producing prime.... I'm talking about 26-30-year-old's with a proven track record of consistent scoring.

Okay for all of this but on the bright side...


We don't have to worry about Giroux getting hurt in Sochi.

I think we're finding out it ain't the coach. Or that they didn't go far enough away from their usual MO by settling on their Assistant. They need a shakeup -- or to be blown up. Hard to do either in the cap era. I don't think the team will give Homer another chance to reboot a la 2007-08.
- Flyskippy

I like Berube better than Lavi. He is willing to change, to try different things, and his focus is back to at least giving a poop about defense.
I like they made the change (not when they did it - but that they did it).
We always used to play better "on the road" over the last few seasons. They should go backpacking and find themselves... And if someone gets eaten by a bear then so be it.
The fact that Gill was one of our better defensemen last night is kinda scary. I love him, but really?
We all know they can do more!
Don't get me started on Mez, I have been one of his supporters but last night did not help his case. Almost like he knew he was getting scouted. Hell at this point you'd think people would want off this team!

END RANT

Okay for all of this but on the bright side...


We don't have to worry about Giroux getting hurt in Sochi.

- mayorofangrytown

Ugh, talk about a confidence destroyer though!
I want him to go to the olympics! Let him play and gain some momentum.

Okay for all of this but on the bright side...


We don't have to worry about Giroux getting hurt in Sochi.

- mayorofangrytown

maybe getting snubbed from the olympic roster will motivate him
oh hell it didn't do it to jeff carter so that's who he's like if he doesn't get his ass in gear

Ugh, talk about a confidence destroyer though!
I want him to go to the olympics! Let him play and gain some momentum.
- FlyersGrace

There's no way he goes at this point unless they need someone to carry Crosby's hockey bag.

I can live with the team being bad if I'm seeing progress or steps forward of some type. That just hasn't been the case with this team.

The Flyers being the Flyers, however, I suspect a major trade will be finalized by the end of the week.
- johndewar

and unless its for younger players and with a direction in mind, I think that is a mistake. I can live with moving Schenn or Couturier if they are getting young players in return who fit what they are missing. But I really prefer all of this to take place in the off season, esp if they are thinking of firing Homer.

I like Berube better than Lavi. He is willing to change, to try different things, and his focus is back to at least giving a poop about defense.
I like they made the change (not when they did it - but that they did it).
We always used to play better "on the road" over the last few seasons. They should go backpacking and find themselves... And if someone gets eaten by a bear then so be it.
The fact that Gill was one of our better defensemen last night is kinda scary. I love him, but really?
We all know they can do more!
Don't get me started on Mez, I have been one of his supporters but last night did not help his case. Almost like he knew he was getting scouted. Hell at this point you'd think people would want off this team!

END RANT
- FlyersGrace

Gill and Mez have ZERO chance of being part of this team moving forward. Schenn and Gus still could very well be here beyond this year. I want them playing, plain and simple

You could be right, but in order to be in a position of strength they would have to play better. If theyplay better we wwouldn't have to trade them.

That's how I see it at least.
- Flyersgod

Their time to make trades is the trade deadline, when other teams are eager to get pieces for the playoff run the Flyers won't be participating in. Then they go into the draft-related trade period in the same boat as every team. And into the free agency period knowing exactly where they stand.

Gill and Mez have ZERO chance of being part of this team moving forward. Schenn and Gus still could very well be here beyond this year. I want them playing, plain and simple
- nastyflyergirl

That's as good a reason as any.

Their time to make trades is the trade deadline, when other teams are eager to get pieces for the playoff run the Flyers won't be participating in. Then they go into the draft-related trade period in the same boat as every team. And into the free agency period knowing exactly where they stand.
- bodiva88

Agreed. I do hope they hold off massive trades until the trade deadline approaches. We'll get more for what we have if they wait.

Well, 2 says to approach. First.... Snider walks on the ice during practice, tells every player to take off thier jerseys and practice in just gear because they dont deserve to wear the FLyers crest until they earn it.

Or, and this the way I would go, I would ask a bunch of retired older player to come down for a day... Lindros, LeClair, Primeau, Jones, Desjardins, Therien, Pronger, Lappy, Berube, and take some shifts with these guys. Actually go back to playing some fun hockey. Then I would make a scrimmage of old Flyers vs new flyers, just for fun. Get Hexy out there, and Homer, Mullen.... Give these guys some pride. Let the older pros talk to these guys.... talk them through thier issues.... and then have a fun care free scrimmage.
- youarewrong

Mr Snider should never be in the same building with the Flyers ever again.

Late to the party but I don't care.

1. NFW this team comes within sniffing distance of a playoff spot.

2. Mason is starting to turn me. I'm not completely sold, or confident he can keep it up, but I must admit I've been pleasantly surprised thus far and do hope it continues.

3. That said, the OT goal was very stoppable.

4. As for the rest of the team, last night they were just terrible. They just looked inept just about all night. Carolina looked no better. I'd say it was a case of playing down to the level of your opponent but I really can't decide which team that would apply to.