honestly forgot he existed
- Crimsoninja

How? The Flyers fans were chanting for his firing Friday nigh-- oh. You meant Steve What's-his-name.

Ha! I figure when I get it, it's gonna be a hell of a lot longer than a week.

- AllInForFlyers

Are you aiming for the holy Grail... The pete rose ban

Looking back, and there were some fans who also questioned it at the time, was that he messed up the returns on Richards and Carter deal getting two centers in the end when he needed only one. How much different would this team be if it had Slava Voynov instead of B. Schenn? Schenn was the "better" player but Voynov was a higher need. And if you are going to get B. Schenn in the deal, then use the 8th overall on Hamilton or Brodin, the hugely needed two-way defensemen not the defensive dmen Siemens, instead of Couturier even though couturier was ranked higher. Holmgren has gone best player too often in both the draft and trades leaving huge holes to be filled.
- psuhockey

I always wonder about not picking up at least one promising defenseman in the Carter/Richards deals. It shows that even then, with two real talented blue chip players to trade, it was very difficult to pry away young top pair potential defenseman.

Picking Morin and Haag first and second shows they are getting it, but it may be too late for those two to play in their peak years with Giroux and Voracek.

OK. I'm gonna just say it, knowing full well this one's gonna bite me in the arse:

I think it's...not such a bad thing for Zac Rinaldo to be on the PK.

We talk a lot about the development of young players like Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, and how Luke Schenn needs to progress.

Rinaldo's...he can actually skate. And he's fearless. We all know those things. Isn't it fair to give him the opportunity to become a better hockey player? Just like the other young players?

I think...it is. He's a Flyers draft pick, too. And I say that fully realizing that there will likely be some...interesting...times ahead if he starts getting more PK minutes.

But he deserves chances to improve his ability to contribute to the team. One day, I'd love to have to write something different than "Zac Rinaldo shouldn't even be playing, because all he does is hit, and when you hit all the time, that simply means you don't have the puck."
- AllInForFlyers

He's undisciplined, regressed from last year and he's an awful possession player.

He terrifies me on the PK, because he lacks discipline.

Are you aiming for the holy Grail... The pete rose ban
- SMS4016

HA! That's awesome! No, I can honestly say that I've been picking my battles a LOT better since the mass warning, but I know how I get when trolls come in and start laying waste to everything they see after tough losses...and this season smells like there are going to be plenty of those to come.

come on man, you know better then that

one and done, low quality chances are the majority of those 26

they still spend way too much time trying to get out of their own end, by the time the get the puck out the forwards are gassed and have to go for a line change
- Marc D

They get enough quality chances that they should have more than a goal a game.

OK. I'm gonna just say it, knowing full well this one's gonna bite me in the arse:

I think it's...not such a bad thing for Zac Rinaldo to be on the PK.

We talk a lot about the development of young players like Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, and how Luke Schenn needs to progress.

Rinaldo's...he can actually skate. And he's fearless. We all know those things. Isn't it fair to give him the opportunity to become a better hockey player? Just like the other young players?

I think...it is. He's a Flyers draft pick, too. And I say that fully realizing that there will likely be some...interesting...times ahead if he starts getting more PK minutes.

But he deserves chances to improve his ability to contribute to the team. One day, I'd love to have to write something different than "Zac Rinaldo shouldn't even be playing, because all he does is hit, and when you hit all the time, that simply means you don't have the puck."
- AllInForFlyers

This is a good perspective.

I haven't seen much from Rinaldo's defensive game to get excited about, but it is obvious he works very hard and gives 100% when he gets a chance, so why not.

Last night when Berube shortened the bench I was disheartened to see Hall get pulled up to Cout's line and replace Raffl. I know Raffle got called holding in the offense zone, but to me it looked completely embellished, I mean the Cane player did a 360 degree pirouette out there. I hope that wasn't the reason Raffl got benched but I think it is.

And now the Iron Sheik has landed in Toronto to fight Mayor Rob Ford. This just keeps getting better and better

He's undisciplined, regressed from last year and he's an awful possession player.

He terrifies me on the PK, because he lacks discipline.
- Jsaquella

Every single thing you typed there is true. I don't deny any of it.

But if this season does go down the drain...the only thing that's worth doing is giving these younger players an opportunity to improve.

Rinaldo's the same draft year as Luke Schenn, you know? He's not old...he's younger than Giroux. If he can increase his ability to play the game, he could be here when this thing turns around.

well when you have crosby malkin and fleury all top picks it's easy
- 2Real

You think the Flyers would have been willing to put up w/ Fleury's struggles? Or not panicked and dealt half the team away for a replacement when Crosby was in danger of never playing again? Been happy that Orpik never developed offensively and Letang continues to struggle defensively? Or been able to get Dupuis and Kunitz signed to ridiculously sensible contracts?

I don't.

Sure, having the best players in the world doesn't hurt, but that team is managed well and has been kept together, and that makes all the difference in the world, IMO.

Coincidentally, I've been listening to Rush today.
- Flyskippy

Its always a good time to listen to Rush!

Are you near Lakeside Park?
- Jsaquella

Just started playing it & coworker asked me, "Is that Christmas music?"

Felt like I stepped into Butsy's World.

Just started playing it & coworker asked me, "Is that Christmas music?"

Felt like I stepped into Butsy's World.
- Flyskippy

Probably a lot less strippers where you are

what makes this day different from all others?

- Marc D

I'm blaming the Indian food from lunch. I hope that spicy really is a poor man's pain killer. Work blows!

They get enough quality chances that they should have more than a goal a game.
- mayorofangrytown

They should have more then a goal a game, but they suck at keeping the puck long enough to create scoring chances. They had very few real chances last night.

Couts should have buried his.
Kimmo's pass through the crease that handcuffed Schenn was another.

Maybe there were a few more. But Carolina, and even the game before the Devils had more 'real' chances then the Flyers.

Exactly. The "he must be injured" seems like people reaching for an excuse, and I understand the desire, but it makes no sense that he's been injured the entire season and the last few games of the pre-season. He's either A) the slowest healer in the world, B) should have been scratched to recover, or C) not hurt.

My money is on C.
- wolfhounds

The injured idea for me comes with he wasn't even supposed to be ready to practice til 2 wks into the season and suddenly he's playing opening night. It's not like it's that unusual they rush guys back.

Its always a good time to listen to Rush!

- BiggE

I was making a pun about rushing Downie back, but yes, you are correct. Been a fan since 1989 when I bought Presto. I'd heard some of their earlier stuff but I wanted to start "clean" and on my own with them. No one could tell me how good or bad Presto was as I was getting it when it came out. Still my favorite album, though Vapor Trails and especially Snakes & Arrows are close due to the subject matter.

They should have more then a goal a game, but they suck at keeping the puck long enough to create scoring chances. They had very few real chances last night.

Couts should have buried his.
Kimmo's pass through the crease that handcuffed Schenn was another.

Maybe there were a few more. But Carolina, and even the game before the Devils had more 'real' chances then the Flyers.
- Marc D

Yes. This. This is what happened last night, over the last few games.

Probably a lot less strippers where you are
- Jsaquella

Nnnnnnnnnnnow there are.

agree 100%

although I think Coburn is quietly having a pretty good start to this season, transitioning the puck better, and getting more shots through to the net. Coburn isn't a top pair guy but if they had a true top pair he (and Grossmann for the most part) would be very adequate 2nd pair guys. Unfortunately Berube has been forced to use Grossmann and Coburn way too much.
- Marc D

You hit the nail right on! Coburn and Grossmann make for a solid 2nd pair and they have more than enough 3rd pair types, however the lack of a legit top pair with speed and skill is just killing them.

I was making a pun about rushing Downie back, but yes, you are correct. Been a fan since 1989 when I bought Presto. I'd heard some of their earlier stuff but I wanted to start "clean" and on my own with them. No one could tell me how good or bad Presto was as I was getting it when it came out. Still my favorite album, though Vapor Trails and especially Snakes & Arrows are close due to the subject matter.
- Flyskippy

Man you make me feel old! The 1st new Rush album I bought was Permanent Waves! Moving Pictures is still my all time fave but I really dig Snakes & Arrows as well!

You hit the nail right on! Coburn and Grossmann make for a solid 2nd pair and they have more than enough 3rd pair types, however the lack of a legit top pair with speed and skill is just killing them.
- BiggE

They are between a rock and a hard place here, with no easy answers.

You can't go out and buy a top pair defenseman, or offer sheet one

To get one in trade would cost Giroux in a one for one deal, or Voracek/Couturier + a first rounder.

I'm sure everyone is down on Giroux right now, but #1 centers are damn hard to find too.

Maybe they can get a skilled speedy guy who has some warts to his game for one of their players, but they will likely have their own set of problems.

You think the Flyers would have been willing to put up w/ Fleury's struggles? Or not panicked and dealt half the team away for a replacement when Crosby was in danger of never playing again? Been happy that Orpik never developed offensively and Letang continues to struggle defensively? Or been able to get Dupuis and Kunitz signed to ridiculously sensible contracts?

I don't.

Sure, having the best players in the world doesn't hurt, but that team is managed well and has been kept together, and that makes all the difference in the world, IMO.
- Tomahawk

Lotta straw man up in here. If you like Ray Shero, you should just say so.

Having Crosby and Malkin, two strong generational talents on the same team, helps. A lot. It's not like it was some huge management decision, with hours of deliberation, to draft either of these guys.

And on your original list of Pens kept together, you wrongly included Scuderi. He had since left the Pens and only come back this year.

The injured idea for me comes with he wasn't even supposed to be ready to practice til 2 wks into the season and suddenly he's playing opening night. It's not like it's that unusual they rush guys back.
- bodiva88

For me, the injured idea comes from he doesn't look like the player I've seen since 2009-2010 right now.

His shot numbers bear that out as well.

For me, the injured idea comes from he doesn't look like the player I've seen since 2009-2010 right now.

His shot numbers bear that out as well.
- johndewar

Injured plus lack of confidence.

When they start winning/scoring goals the game will come easier.

Right now everything is a struggle.