Raffl could be a decent player if he was capable of putting one of his shots on net. The guy misses wide every time he has a shot.
- hereticpride

yes he does. even when he has time and space that sucker goes off into orbit.

Agreed. They should be a playoff team.

As far as tradeable assets, they have quite a few. Orlov, MDZ and Gardiner are struggling and in and out of the line-up. Orlov has demanded a trade, the Rangers are shopping MDZ and the Leafs are supposedly listening to offers for Gardiner.
- Jsaquella

Goals are coming at a better pace now, but do they trade someone that scores? That would concern me, they need all the goals they can get.

Goals are coming at a better pace now, but do they trade someone that scores? That would concern me, they need all the goals they can get.
- LJF

The offense would be better as a whole if they added a defenseman that excels at the transition game. They have plenty of guys that can score 20 goals, they need a guy-desperately-that can help them in transition.

Mason signed a one yr contract right? If that is the case I hope he re-ups and wants to stay here.

The offense would be better as a whole if they added a defenseman that excels at the transition game. They have plenty of guys that can score 20 goals, they need a guy-desperately-that can help them in transition.
- Jsaquella

True, and a magic wand that will make this team more consistent.

Mason signed a one yr contract right? If that is the case I hope he re-ups and wants to stay here.
- LJF

He will stay. Unless he's dead set on playing in Alberta. There is no market for goalies right now.

Regardless, Flyers havent had a good, consistant goalie since Hextall/Pelle. They wont let Mason walk.

i was wishing mcginn was out there yesterday instead of raffl. i am still entirely of the opinion that he is not an nhl player.
- -davies-

I like Raffl and thought he played quite well last night after sitting for the previous 6 or 7 games. He had that nice steal on the PK, played 2:21 while we were short-handed, made a nice pass for a one-timer (can't remember which defenseman took the shot), had 2 shots himself (plus the one he cranked and missed the net...), and played more than 16 minutes total.

http://www.nhl.com/gamece...en/boxscore?id=2013020371

I think that's pretty good for a guy who's played 12 total games in the NHL and not many more than that in North America. I think he could be a very solid 3rd line player when he gets more experience under his belt.

But when Read comes back, I think Raffl or McGinn should play for Rosehill.

Mason signed a one yr contract right? If that is the case I hope he re-ups and wants to stay here.
- LJF

Both Mason and Emery are on cheap 1 year contracts.

And we still have cap problems.

Both Mason and Emery are on cheap 1 year contracts.

And we still have cap problems.
- wolfhounds

Cap going up. Kimmo leaving town. Plenty of room.

True, and a magic wand that will make this team more consistent.
- LJF

The biggest issue they have is that they can't consistently attack with speed, they get bogged down and easily discouraged. When they can't exit their own end by passing, there's no defenseman-outside of the struggling Gustafsson & maybe Timonen, who has lost a step and a half-who can skate the puck up ice.

The biggest issue they have is that they can't consistently attack with speed, they get bogged down and easily discouraged. When they can't exit their own end by passing, there's no defenseman-outside of the struggling Gustafsson & maybe Timonen, who has lost a step and a half-who can skate the puck up ice.
- Jsaquella

Coburn can as well but it seems like he only turns on the jets when the rest of the team has already given up.

I like Raffl and thought he played quite well last night after sitting for the previous 6 or 7 games. He had that nice steal on the PK, played 2:21 while we were short-handed, made a nice pass for a one-timer (can't remember which defenseman took the shot), had 2 shots himself (plus the one he cranked and missed the net...), and played more than 16 minutes total.

http://www.nhl.com/gamece...en/boxscore?id=2013020371

I think that's pretty good for a guy who's played 12 total games in the NHL and not many more than that in North America. I think he could be a very solid 3rd line player when he gets more experience under his belt.

But when Read comes back, I think Raffl or McGinn should play for Rosehill.
- wolfhounds

maybe i'm too hard on him i'm just not a fan. but i'd still rather play him than rosehill.

The problem with the Flyers is simple: The list of guys who play hard every shift, every game is WAY too short.
Timonen
Grossmann
Lacavalier
Simmonds
Read
Downie
Couturier

Perhaps a few 4th liners belong on the list, but out of the key players, these 7 are it.

Until players like Giroux, Hartnell, Voracek, the Schenns, Coburn, Streit and Gus get on this list the Fyers will remain a mediocre team.

Heres a scary thought: Imagine where theyd be if they hadnt gotten excellent goaltending nearly every game; it wouldn't be pretty

Cap going up. Kimmo leaving town. Plenty of room.
- hereticpride

And Mesz is gone as well.

Give Mason a solid 3-5 year deal.

The problem with the Flyers is simple: The list of guys who play hard every shift, every game is WAY too short.
Timonen
Grossmann
Lacavalier
Simmonds
Read
Downie
Couturier

Perhaps a few 4th liners belong on the list, but out of the key players, these 7 are it.

Until players like Giroux, Hartnell, Voracek, the Schenns, Coburn, Streit and Gus get on this list the Fyers will remain a mediocre team.

Heres a scary thought: Imagine where theyd be if they hadnt gotten excellent goaltending nearly every game; it wouldn't be pretty
- BiggE

Coburn's been solid - one of the best players behind Mason - the entire season, imo.

If I'm building a list of under-achievers, it definitely starts with the G and the top line.

I blame the in laws for those character traits
- JoeRussomanno

its always on them!

I'm not giving up on this team yet. They showed me a lot over that win streak and they annually blow against Florida teams. Let's see how they close the month out.

Enjoy your turkey everybody. I'm wishing everyone here a safe and happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving, as well as a happy Hanukkah for those that celebrate!

Bill! When are you going to tell me where you live down here! Are you in Coppell? I wear my Flyers stuff at the Coppell Diner off of Denton Tap and the ladies there tell me they have a regular who's a Flyer diehard. Flyer's fans aren't common down here.

Yes, he failed to back check hard enough, no question. But these issues happened with Pronger wearing the C, as well as Richards and Jason Smith.

The team executed poorly, and didn't work hard enough. That's not just on one guy, there's three former team captains on the roster who are there to provide leadership, too.

They failed as well as Giroux. Far too much gets made out of the stupid (frank)ing letter on his jersey
- Jsaquella

lol.

it isn't just about the letter. The team, management, has pointed to Giroux as the guy they want the team to emulate, clearly we can see they do.

Fingers can be pointed at needing this type of D-man or that type of winger. I look at teams like NJ, they make up for lack of talent or all the rite type of players, with team play and players with a makeup that put forward a style of play that management demands.

The Flyers and the fans continue to look for a different piece or player to cure all the issues. To much is made out of the stupid type of player type instead of type of effort a team puts forth.

I am not saying skill isn't needed, I am saying a want or hustle is something we as fans and the team management should look for first, not a type of player.

Any team can have "all the rite pieces" and still not deliver the desired results without effort, hustle, will.

Agreed. They should be a playoff team.

As far as tradeable assets, they have quite a few. Orlov, MDZ and Gardiner are struggling and in and out of the line-up. Orlov has demanded a trade, the Rangers are shopping MDZ and the Leafs are supposedly listening to offers for Gardiner.
- Jsaquella

Id be interested in Orlov. I think that if Holmgren played his cards right he could have Mcphee over a barrel. What do you think is an appropriate price for Orlov?

lol.

it isn't just about the letter. The team, management, has pointed to Giroux as the guy they want the team to emulate, clearly we can see they do.

Fingers can be pointed at needing this type of D-man or that type of winger. I look at teams like NJ, they make up for lack of talent or all the rite type of players, with team play and players with a makeup that put forward a style of play that management demands.

The Flyers and the fans continue to look for a different piece or player to cure all the issues. To much is made out of the stupid type of player type instead of type of effort a team puts forth.

I am not saying skill isn't needed, I am saying a want or hustle is something we as fans and the team management should look for first, not a type of player.

Any team can have "all the rite pieces" and still not deliver the desired results without effort, hustle, will.
- ggunky

The type of effort has been an issue since Hitchcock was the coach. Every team in the NHL has games where the effort simply isn't there.

If you read all the blogs, you'd see fans of every team bemoaning the effort after a rough loss.

We've all seen Giroux bust his ass during games, it's not as if this is a player that is Petr Klima.

Id be interested in Orlov. I think that if Holmgren played his cards right he could have Mcphee over a barrel. What do you think is an appropriate price for Orlov?
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

I'd call Sather right now and offer Luke Schenn for Del Zotto, straight up. Fills needs for both teams, despite the divisional rivalry.

For Orlov, it'd probably take a package of Cousins and another prospect, maybe Hagg or Gostisbehere.

The type of effort has been an issue since Hitchcock was the coach. Every team in the NHL has games where the effort simply isn't there.

If you read all the blogs, you'd see fans of every team bemoaning the effort after a rough loss.

We've all seen Giroux bust his ass during games, it's not as if this is a player that is Petr Klima.
- Jsaquella

we do see Giroux bust his hump, not consistently. I simply expect more from the team in the effort department. This is a team that was awful last year and outside the playoff picture as we type. To mail it in is inexcusable to me.

Playing a top team in the East should be a huge motivating factor for a team like the Flyers. A measuring stick game , if you will.

It was a measuring stick game and we clearly saw the difference between a top team and a bottom dweller.

we do see Giroux bust his hump, not consistently. I simply expect more from the team in the effort department. This is a team that was awful last year and outside the playoff picture as we type. To mail it in is inexcusable to me.

Playing a top team in the East should be a huge motivating factor for a team like the Flyers. A measuring stick game , if you will.

It was a measuring stick game and we clearly saw the difference between a top team and a bottom dweller.
- ggunky

his game is flat and if you add last year's start to this years start that is 2/3 of a season of pretty below average play. not what you would expect from a guy who was just given $8 mil/yr.
i would have hated to see that game if stamkos was in there

edit: i wouldn't care about his dogging it at all if he would finish his chances, like the open look in the slot he shot right into lindback

Bill! When are you going to tell me where you live down here! Are you in Coppell? I wear my Flyers stuff at the Coppell Diner off of Denton Tap and the ladies there tell me they have a regular who's a Flyer diehard. Flyer's fans aren't common down here.
- Boyer83

I give up. I'm going to go stalk Keith Jones instead.