I honestly think that when certain players get their payday with a NMC they tend to slack off and hope other pick up their slack. Happens in baseball a lot.
- Jimmygrazz

Fair point. Once these guys are set for life they lose their work ethic.

But like mjl says " we need to be patient, can't trade from a point of weakness" sarcasm of course. I'm curious if he still feels no trade needed. I've said since 3 weeks into last season this team doesn't have the elite level talent or even close to it. Now with every game that passes we will get less and less in a trade for these plaYers. Ive been warning people of this for the past 11 months. Not trying to be negative just realistic. This team is full of some decent younger players that are years away and only support players. I say at this point just keep team and key them play us into a top 3 pick. And how the hell are we worse than Calgary? We all laugh at feaster but homer is worse. Joke is on us
- SMS4016

Did you see last night? They clearly didn't give a $hit, no one went to the net, it doesn't matter if your a 3rd sting goalie from Carolina, or a 41 year old Aarp card goalie from NJ, they do not care anymore & they have quit playing.
Has anyone went into the crease at all? Just a little to disturb the opposing goalie?
No, no disruption, no screens, nothing.

No way they can sit a guy just signed to a 8 year 66 million dollar extension
- Jimmygrazz

Absolutely they can. It shouldn't be a multi-game decision, but I'd park his butt in the press box for a game or 2.

I think I have the solution. Snider can bring this guy into the locker room to straighten these guys out!

How many goals does Raffl have, what about Fraud? He at least goes to the dirty areas to get goals. What has anyone on this team done to deserve to be out there, at least he has shown he can score. Not many others have shown that. How does it hurt having him out there vs Raffl?
- LJF

Why do we need either? Haven't seen much out of Raffl lately.

Why do we need either? Haven't seen much out of Raffl lately.
- funmaster18

Who's a better option for a bottom-6 winger?

I honestly think that when certain players get their payday with a NMC they tend to slack off and hope other pick up their slack. Happens in baseball a lot.
- Jimmygrazz

I remember when Daryl Strawberry signed his big deal with the Mets, and I watched the very next game to see how he played. A batter hits a ground ball between 1st and 2nd, and Strawberry casually trots up to it in right field, and throws a lob to 2nd base, which the batter beat with ease.

A little effort and he holds the guy to a single. The fans in the bleachers in right were letting him have it.

That was the first huge contract I remember, and you see the same thing happen even now, you're right.

Why do we need either? Haven't seen much out of Raffl lately.
- funmaster18

Fine who are they bringing up?

All NTC/NMC on this team

Hartnell
Lecavalier
Simmonds
Giroux
Timonen
Coburn
Schenn
Grossmann
- Jimmygrazz

AS bad as they are playing i see some of them waive to go somewhere else.

Who's a better option for a bottom-6 winger?
- jmatchett383

Raffl, but I don't think he's done anything to lock up his position.

I remember when Daryl Strawberry signed his big deal with the Mets, and I watched the very next game to see how he played. A batter hits a ground ball between 1st and 2nd, and Strawberry casually trots up to it in right field, and throws a lob to 2nd base, which the batter beat with ease.

A little effort and he holds the guy to a single. The fans in the bleachers in right were letting him have it.

That was the first huge contract I remember, and you see the same thing happen even now, you're right.
- tangent_man

Other teams don't have that problem, the Leafs gave out a lot of $ contracts & don't have any Strawberry's.

Fine who are they bringing up?
- LJF

I don't have any answers for you. My only point was I don't get the clamoring for McGinn, that's all.

AS bad as they are playing i see some of them waive to go somewhere else.
- PhillaBully

Yeah, that shouldn't be an issue, waive it & move on, it's done, the confidence thing doesn't work anymore.

that's funny, but Bobby Knight had no business doing any of that, this is a real problem, I can't see how "playing through it" will help, they need to start offering the best pieces around & see what they can do to change things up, It can't get any worse.
Imagine tanking it & building with youth & the draft, we would have to have patience for 4-5 years, it wouldn't happen.
- puckhead17

Knight was a bit unbalanced, for sure, and I was being facetious. Something's gotta give, though.

We're 15 games in. It's the first week of November. We're going to stop trying to win games?

Who are we going to develop that's not already seeing ice time? Luke Schenn and Eric Gustafsson? They're the answer? They're the difference? That's the fallow field we need to sow? How much of a long term difference are those two players going to make?

This team needs to find a system and will to win games NOW!!! You don't toss away 67 games.

They need to make moves to get even younger but that's not a development issue. Some of these players need to be moved. Some old and possibly some young but it's not about casting away the rest of this season to develop what we have.
- mayorofangrytown

I have not a clue how keeping Mez and Gill in the lineup make this team any better. Or how they will magically get it and be competitive. Really the tired old cliches need to be reiterated. Do the simple things and do them right.
Of course some compete would be nice.
The mental part of the game is most definitely the monkey on their backs right now. The lack of confidence has them thinking not playing.
With that they are not a contender by any means but they should be a better team than this.
Trades are not the answer IMO. At or near the trade deadline some of the vets need to go for whatever the gm can get. I vote for draft picks.
This is not throwing 67 games away. It's evaluating what you have and don't have. Who will stay and who will go.
A malaise has gotten into this team and they are lost in the woods.

If I am Berube I go in to practice and tell them that careers are on the line and until they decide to be professional hockey players there isn't a thing he or the coaches can do. I let them know the fix is up to them. Have a good day and skate off the ice leaving them standing there.
Hopefully someone steps up and leads the team through practice.

Flyers fans are past getting angry. They're starting to get apathetic. The Flyers are turning into the Oakland Raiders of the NHL.
- Jsaquella

"Just win baby."

First, McGinn's been sent down because, aside from driving the net (which, granted, not many are doing), Raffl has been much better at every facet of the game.
- jmatchett383

Love how the system is so barren we only have Tye McGinn available to save the day.

If you feel the need to strip Giroux of the C, then you better just trade him for picks right now, because you're basically letting him know you've lost faith in him.
- jmatchett383

Captain stripping would just be shameless fan-service... introducing an additional layer of drama and discord in the room isn't going to make them a better hockey team... it's just going to perpetuate the joke that this franchise has become.

I don't want a rehash of the whole Lindros/Desjardins thing.

Fair point. Once these guys are set for life they lose their work ethic.
- PLindbergh31

Makes sense when your job is playing a game

Knight was a bit unbalanced, for sure, and I was being facetious. Something's gotta give, though.
- tangent_man

I know, I seriously want to see some moves, this is enough, what confidence do you need to screen a goalie?
really, they need to reshape

I don't have any answers for you. My only point was I don't get the clamoring for McGinn, that's all.
- funmaster18

I'd think that, at some point, they'll give Straka or Cousins a cup of coffee there. I know Cousins is a natural C, but he may well fit better as a bottom-6 wing. But neither one is ready for full-time duty right now, and shouldn't be rushed onto a team in a bad position.

Other teams don't have that problem, the Leafs gave out a lot of $ contracts & don't have any Strawberry's.
- puckhead17

It's really not that hard. You offer the guy and extra year instead of a NMC. Homer does both..lol

Captain stripping would just be shameless fan-service... introducing an additional layer of drama and discord in the room isn't going to make them a better hockey team... it's just going to perpetuate the joke that this franchise has become.

I don't want a rehash of the whole Lindros/Desjardins thing.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. I believe (truly) that's why they traded Richards, or at least part of it. They wanted Pronger as the captain, but knew they couldn't strip Richards outright.

By the way, unless there's a MAJOR change, I'll make the only statement I can and will not renew.

I'd think that, at some point, they'll give Straka or Cousins a cup of coffee there. I know Cousins is a natural C, but he may well fit better as a bottom-6 wing. But neither one is ready for full-time duty right now, and shouldn't be rushed onto a team in a bad position.
- jmatchett383

I'm not sure we see them until the season is lost and towards the end of the year. Right now they shouldn't be thinking about tanking or giving up. Though I don't see t happening, they can still turn it around. If this team packs it in 15 games in during the first week of November then everyone should go after this year.

I'm not sure we see them until the season is lost and towards the end of the year. Right now they shouldn't be thinking about tanking or giving up. Though I don't see t happening, they can still turn it around. If this team packs it in 15 games in during the first week of November then everyone should go after this year.
- funmaster18

That's why I said at some point. They're still basically 2 kids learning to play against men. I see them as guys who might play in February or so, even if it's just for a taste moving forward. I have a feeling that, IF things continue like this, there may be some open slots for next year.