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

Doubt? He looked defeated. That was horrible to see. Him just sitting there facing the net on his knees...the only thing missing was the Willem Defoe "arms in the air" pose from Platoon. Because that was what it reminded me of.

He's just further alienating the fine folks in Canada. He should have had a Toronto Argos tie on.
- PLindbergh31

He might be a drunk crackhead, but he's not stupid

They say that losing confidence is contagious... maybe getting it back is contagious too. If you saw the look on Hartsy's face after he scored.... He looked like the weight of the world had been lifted off him. Maybe that lighter attitude will catch on with the other players too.

He might be a drunk crackhead, but he's not stupid
- Jsaquella

He's no Marion Barry.

He might be a drunk crackhead, but he's not stupid
- Jsaquella

- PhillaBully

Fattest crack head ever?

Fattest crack head ever.

- PhillaBully

It's just fantastic. The only way it would be better is if he was wearing this

http://thehockeywriters.com/paul-holmgren-doesnt-deserve-lose-job/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheHockeyWriters+%28The+Hockey+Writers%29


- LeftCoaster

he was absent the day they taught writing at journalism school. "cool, calm and collective"? really....."scotch free"? plus about 20 other errors i noticed. c'mon man

So you didn't see Holmgren turn them from the worst team in the NHL in 2006-07 to a ECF team in 2008? Or a SCF team in 2010?

Even if they go outside the organization, and hire a Paul Fenton or Kevin McDonald, they still have to answer to Snider.

It wasn't Holmgren's declaration that led to the signing of Bryz. It allegedly wasn't Holmgren's desire to trade Frick & Frack. If you have a Fenton in place, and Snider says "Lose that guy", then what's Fenton going to do? Say no?
- Jsaquella

And if Snider makes a rash decision that won't ultimately be beneficial for the team, I'd imagine "one of his guys" would be more likely to be able to talk him out of it than someone else.

And if Snider makes a rash decision that won't ultimately be beneficial for the team, I'd imagine "one of his guys" would be more likely to be able to talk him out of it than someone else.
- eayost

I just want to see the rash of "knee jerk" moves stop.

I just want to see the rash of "knee jerk" moves stop.
- Jsaquella

i want the crappy, heartless, echl-level play to stop. how that happens is secondary to me

Bill, I was curious if you knew to what extent the flyers organization has worked with renowned sports psychologist Joel Fish? I know he's been listed as a consultant for the team, but have they really put his services to much use? Knowing how the Flyers "culture" is often perceived, and knowing that some other organizations have been a little hesitant, or perhaps resistant/skeptical of the idea using a sports psychologist to work with their players, I'm just curious as to where the Flyers stand on such a topic? As right now, with the funk this team is in, and all the pressure mounting on the team to produce, it would seem very beneficial to use a sports psychologist to help calm them, help restore confidence etc. A guy like Michael Gervais could do wonders for someone like Giroux right about now.
- Flyerfan2868

Interesting question. I don't know the answer to it.

- PhillaBully

Americans believe politics is serious and important business.

Canadians believe it is just entertainment. Everybody is watching the Rob Ford story. I never liked him before but have decided to become a supporter. Toronto deserves a huge show like Ford.

i want the crappy, heartless, echl-level play to stop. how that happens is secondary to me
- hogweed

The sad thing, as bad as they have played, they have been "in" every game, except maybe the Caps game, after two periods. Five of their losses have been by one goal.

Even games that look like bad beatings on paper, like the losses to Montreal and Pittsburgh, they were either tied or down one after 40 minutes.

http://thehockeywriters.com/paul-holmgren-doesnt-deserve-lose-job/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheHockeyWriters+%28The+Hockey+Writers%29


- LeftCoaster

that guy could use an editor

I just want to see the rash of "knee jerk" moves stop.
- Jsaquella

True.

I thought that they'd miss the playoffs again this season but this inability to score is head scratching. I certainly didn't see that coming. I don't see how it wouldn't be beneficial at this point to sit some of these forwards who think they're entrenched on the roster and rotate in some Phantoms players. Really, how much worse could it be?

You can't even fault the defense at this point. Other than the Caps game they've held their own with Mason behind them.

The sad thing, as bad as they have played, they have been "in" every game, except maybe the Caps game, after two periods. Five of their losses have been by one goal.

Even games that look like bad beatings on paper, like the losses to Montreal and Pittsburgh, they were either tied or down one after 40 minutes.
- Jsaquella

Usually that is a sign that your best players are not being your best players. Al McQuire use to say that coming down the stretch you need to get the ball into the hands of your star player.

But, if your star players are struggling.....so goes the team.

that guy could use an editor
- -davies-

That was bad. I thought Bill's editor had a bad day today but that was heinous.

he was absent the day they taught writing at journalism school. "cool, calm and collective"? really....."scotch free"? plus about 20 other errors i noticed. c'mon man
- hogweed

OMG that was painful to read.

Usually that is a sign that your best players are not being your best players. Al McQuire use to say that coming down the stretch you need to get the ball into the hands of your star player.

But, if your star plays are struggling.....so goes the team.
- spatso

That's definitely a problem. I do have faith Giroux is going to explode soon, because the talent is there. He's going to have a 3 or 4 point night, and take off from there.

If he gets going, the rest of the team will follow. It's not that he's not working, the lack of confidence is striking just from watching him.

Americans believe politics is serious and important business.

Canadians believe it is just entertainment. Everybody is watching the Rob Ford story. I never liked him before but have decided to become a supporter. Toronto deserves a huge show like Ford.
- spatso

This is as far as I'm going to go today, but I would rather Ford them ALL the politicians in America right now.

That's definitely a problem. I do have faith Giroux is going to explode soon, because the talent is there. He's going to have a 3 or 4 point night, and take off from there.

If he gets going, the rest of the team will follow. It's not that he's not working, the lack of confidence is striking just from watching him.
- Jsaquella

He definitely seems a bit reluctant to shoot the puck... teams are starting to be playing off of him, and his linemates haven't been able to do enough w/o the puck to bail him out.

That's definitely a problem. I do have faith Giroux is going to explode soon, because the talent is there. He's going to have a 3 or 4 point night, and take off from there.

If he gets going, the rest of the team will follow. It's not that he's not working, the lack of confidence is striking just from watching him.
- Jsaquella

I hope you are right. But the problem as I see it is that he has shown no signs of even being close to that happening.

He is working, but more like a cop who has been given "desk duty after an incident" working. He is there but not really doing what he should be doing.

I hope you are right. But the problem as I see it is that he has shown no signs of even being close to that happening.

He is working, but more like a cop who has been given "desk duty after an incident" working. He is there but not really doing what he should be doing.
- MBFlyerfan

He's unrecognizable on the ice right now. If you had told me last night we had traded him for Bob Giroux I would have believed you.