Do you honesty think they are talented enough to get themselves in the playoff hunt?

I didn't think they were coming into the season and they've been even worse than I thought.
- mayorofangrytown

I was hopeful coming in but seriously concerned that the blue-line wasn't addressed. I was shocked @ first w/the Streit deal.

Do you honesty think they are talented enough to get themselves in the playoff hunt?

I didn't think they were coming into the season and they've been even worse than I thought.
- mayorofangrytown

History shows that if you're out of the playoffs on November 1, you're overwhelmingly likely to be out of the playoffs at the end of the season.

This is not an odds-beating team.

Do you honesty think they are talented enough to get themselves in the playoff hunt?

I didn't think they were coming into the season and they've been even worse than I thought.
- mayorofangrytown

I thought majority of the concern coming into this season was defense related (lack of mobility, puck possession). There wasn't much talk about offensive issues, although 5 on 5 play was brought up.

Exactly my thoughts, too. When he just laid there after the tying goal I was thinking "wtf? get up and shake it off, dummy, there's still a game to play!!!!"

Doesn't change, or excuse, that it was stoppable.
- Scoob

it was, but i'm not blaming him for this loss in any way shape or form. still a breakaway. still a good chance, still a nicely placed shot. the L is squarely on the shoulders of every other player on the team.

Caps had less than 200 in 1975...

Edit: 181
- mayorofangrytown

that was the year they had 8 wins.

I thought majority of the concern coming into this season was defense related (lack of mobility, puck possession). There wasn't much talk about offensive issues, although 5 on 5 play was brought up.
- mcefalu

And that's why they are worse than I thought. I knew the D went largely unaddressed and the Goal was still a bit of a question mark but the offense... I figured they'd be fine.

it was, but i'm not blaming him for this loss in any way shape or form. still a breakaway. still a good chance, still a nicely placed shot. the L is squarely on the shoulders of every other player on the team.
- hammarby31

Blame is too strong a word for this case.

I kid you not. I kinda feel bad for the sales people. they are just doing their job calling people but man, good luck with that right now. the only way I would consider tickets is if they were 20.00 again. I kept them at 39.00 for a season but didn't take them this year. they are on stub hub between 10-20 every game so if I really want to go I will just buy them there.
- nastyflyergirl

brutal. i don't regret not going to any games last year except the rangers in march, which was free. can't see myself really spending any this year either.

I was hopeful coming in but seriously concerned that the blue-line wasn't addressed. I was shocked @ first w/the Streit deal.
- flyguy12

I didn't get the Streit or Lecavalier signing. Those are aging pieces you add to team with a short Cup window not a team out of the playoffs.

that was the year they had 8 wins.
- hammarby31

Yeah and 21 pts. I didn't even look up any other team, I figured that had to be it.

I didn't get the Streit or Lecavalier signing. Those are aging pieces you add to team with a short Cup window not a team out of the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

You have to admit (when not hurt) Lecavalier has been one of our better players. It's been a pleasant surprise for me cuz I wasn't sure I'd like him but he's won me over. And Streit has not looked nearly as bad as some of the other D. He is about what I was expecting we'd get.

Serious. DeBoer said the drought scares the crap out of him.
- Scoob

It's true though. I mean what this team suffers from the most right now, appears to be their own brains.

You have to admit (when not hurt) Lecavalier has been one of our better players. It's been a pleasant surprise for me cuz I wasn't sure I'd like him but he's won me over. And Streit has not looked nearly as bad as some of the other D. He is about what I was expecting we'd get.
- FlyersGrace

It's not their play that I was worried about, it's the logic of adding the pieces at that price point and term to a team that wasn't even in the playoffs last year. It seems like a patch to push back into the playoffs than an actual fix to what ails this club.

Sadly, it's turned out to be just that minus the playoffs.

Bill with being around the team do you sense anything coming in the way of a shake up? trade etc?

It's not their play that I was worried about, it's the logic of adding the pieces at that price point and term to a team that wasn't even in the playoffs last year. It seems like a patch to push back into the playoffs than an actual fix to what ails this club.

Sadly, it's turned out to be just that minus the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

I thought avoiding a rebuild at all costs was the plan? Always is in Philly?

so what is everyone's opinions of the scouting staff? I mean, I know homer gets the final say so he is accountable but aren't the scouts also accountable who have guided Homer towards the Klotz's of the world. If Holmgren goes, do we see changes all throughout?
- nastyflyergirl

The amateur scouts (at least a few) seem fine for the most part.

The pro-scouting, on the other hand... for every Ville Leino they do uncover, there's a half-dozen or so Kyle Calders that they didn't warn the GM's off from... or maybe Clarke/Homer just haven't been following their advice, who knows.

And that's why they are worse than I thought. I knew the D went largely unaddressed and the Goal was still a bit of a question mark but the offense... I figured they'd be fine.
- mayorofangrytown

Maybe I am wrong, but I see the lack of offense is largely due to the absence of skilled players on the back end able to quickly transition the puck to attack.

Also creating offense from the blue line and getting shots through to the net has been a huge problem for this team.

Also there are a number of forwards who are just not good with puck possession and when they get the puck the best result is a dump in, worst case is a turn over and transition the other way.

They are a team without an identity right now. Lavi was go attack all the time, and they had a record number of odd man rushes against.

Berube has them playing more responsible team D, but it has killed the offense.

Until they fix the top end of the D problem they won't be able to compete with the good teams.

One other thing that Tocchet mentioned on twitter today. They continue to have guys on D and on wing playing their wrong side. It comes back to bite them several times every game. It has been an ongoing problem for years. Hopefully Luke Schenn can come back from the press box a semblance of himself from late last season, because having a righty will help.

I didn't get the Streit or Lecavalier signing. Those are aging pieces you add to team with a short Cup window not a team out of the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

I was OK w/Vinny... but am still confused w/Streit. Not many options for them I guess.

You have to admit (when not hurt) Lecavalier has been one of our better players. It's been a pleasant surprise for me cuz I wasn't sure I'd like him but he's won me over. And Streit has not looked nearly as bad as some of the other D. He is about what I was expecting we'd get.
- FlyersGrace

He's been as guilty as the others w/the turnovers though. He's had some really bad ones.

I didn't get the Streit or Lecavalier signing. Those are aging pieces you add to team with a short Cup window not a team out of the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

I think the Vinny signing was fine, and they have ended up using him where he was needed on this team and that is wing...

I think Vinny has been the best player and the one who has most acted like the captain...and maybe that is just because that is how he is wired...it appears he needs to work with G a bit, as the rumors of partying everynight sound like Richie and Carts...and we saw how Homer handled that one...

The amateur scouts (at least a few) seem fine for the most part.

The pro-scouting, on the other hand... for every Ville Leino they do uncover, there's a half-dozen or so Kyle Calders that they didn't warn the GM's off from... or maybe Clarke/Homer just haven't been following their advice, who knows.
- Tomahawk

outside of the first round picks and finding Read, what has been fine about them?

I thought avoiding a rebuild at all costs was the plan? Always is in Philly?
- FlyersGrace

It is. I hate the term rebuild myself.

I think you should always add quality players to your lineup whenever possible. That said, you need to look at you team and not just think talent but chemistry. You have a truck load of kids up front who are two to four years from their prime. Adding Mason was a smart move because he fit the team make up. Adding Downie fits the team profile.

Adding vets who will be in severe decline in the last couple years of their contract isn't smart. It's a patch.

Well... if there is one thing we can be glad of, is that we picked up Mason, signed Emery and got rid of Bryzgalov. Our Goaltending has not been this strong in decades.

It is. I hate the term rebuild myself.

I think you should always add quality players to your lineup whenever possible. That said, you need to look at you team and not just think talent but chemistry. You have a truck load of kids up front who are two to four years from their prime. Adding Mason was a smart move because he fit the team make up. Adding Downie fits the team profile.

Adding vets who will be in severe decline in the last couple years of their contract isn't smart. It's a patch.
- mayorofangrytown

Mason was a ballsy gamble. Not many believed in him anymore. Which is why they got Emery as well... there would have been a ton of people saying "I told you so" if he wasn't playing so well...
The vets were to add consistency and solidity to the team to weather the down swings. You may not agree with it but I understand why they did it. It has to be a mix. I understand why they re-signed Timmonen. I just wish he was playing less like a shadow of himself.
Plain and simple the swagger isn't there... For any of them.

Maybe I am wrong, but I see the lack of offense is largely due to the absence of skilled players on the back end able to quickly transition the puck to attack.

Also creating offense from the blue line and getting shots through to the net has been a huge problem for this team.

Also there are a number of forwards who are just not good with puck possession and when they get the puck the best result is a dump in, worst case is a turn over and transition the other way.

They are a team without an identity right now. Lavi was go attack all the time, and they had a record number of odd man rushes against.

Berube has them playing more responsible team D, but it has killed the offense.

Until they fix the top end of the D problem they won't be able to compete with the good teams.

One other thing that Tocchet mentioned on twitter today. They continue to have guys on D and on wing playing their wrong side. It comes back to bite them several times every game. It has been an ongoing problem for years. Hopefully Luke Schenn can come back from the press box a semblance of himself from late last season, because having a righty will help.
- Marc D

They're averaging 26 shots per game. The defense and transition game isn't keeping the puck out of the net.