Since the 1-7-0 start, this team is 15-8-4.

I have hope for continued success as long as they can be more consistent from an effort standpoint.
- MBFlyerfan

pretty good. and i'd bet at least half of those losses they were leading by 1 or tied going into the 3rd period and came away with nothing or a loser point. frustrating, but with the top line producing and streit coming around a bit offensively, things are starting to get better. they need vinny back, hartnell to get his head out of his ass, and most important for mason to clean things up a bit.

I don't like the combination of 19-10-17 anyway. Not enough diversity of abilities on that line.
- bmeltzer

I don't either, but until Vinny is healthy I think putting those three together on a line and limiting their minutes is the best option.

I wouldn't waive Gill. I know he's barely played but if Grossmann goes down, he is the perfect replacement, especially in the playoffs.
- BiggE

i'd keep gill too.

Doing the little things and being willing to grind got him on lines with good players... he put up some good numbers and now he seems to have gotten it into his head that he's a skill player who can set up in soft spots and no-look-pass his way to success.

Classic Ryan Clowe syndrome.
- Tomahawk

he's soft on the wall, and pretty much loses every puck battle. if he's not scoring, or making life tough for the goalie and dmen, he needs to be at least doing the dirty work to create opportunity.

And yet Hartnell and Simmonds still sit on the first PP unit.....both Guys handle the puck like a granade in the offensive zone....one of them on the unit in front of the net...ok...both is just a bad sceme.
- landros 2

Hartnell used to drift back in the slot for a one timer, ala Cam Neely, teams started closing that lane option, they need to take him off the first unit, let Simmonds jam the crease, and maybe get Read or Downie on the first unit, Read should have, (you would think), more goals, with the wrist shot he has.

Strange how Hartnell has gone to crap so quickly

Lecavalier needs to be on the 1st PP unit when he's fit. He hast he best shot on the team.

I don't think Phaneuf is going anywhere ... Leafs are trying to lock him up long term!
- Cable2k

we wont have a shot, guys that are worth keeping are getting resigned before market, only the ones that are marginal it (Streit), make it to market.
The only way we can get another another defenseman to help this team every night is by trade.

Enstrom isn't playing very well in Winnipeg, (whereas he was considered they're best).
so who knows?

Lecavalier needs to be on the 1st PP unit when he's fit. He hast he best shot on the team.
- Feanor

His back issues & wear & tear were inevitable, no offense, but I don't see him as the answer, he's missed significant time each of the last 3 seasons, this comes as no surprise, and with his age, & all the seasons he's played, to have a serious back issue?
We've seen this before.
I still don't understand his signing to this day, we draft centers, hold on to each one of them, when we need better defense, & then they sign him?

I don't like the combination of 19-10-17 anyway. Not enough diversity of abilities on that line.
- bmeltzer

I agree completely Bill. Simmonds and Hartnell are just not talented enough to be on a line together. We have a pretty solid Power Play but I'm still not crazy about Hartnell and Simmonds down low together. Regardless of how the season turns out, the Flyers are within a transition period where Timonen will not be available next year. I think I would start changing things up once the next big slump begins and try to work Lecavalier and Streit on to that first unit.

And now the forwards

C-Claude Giroux: B
3 weeks ago this would have been a C-. However since then he's playing at an "A" level and that raised him up to a B. If the Captain keeps playing like this he will easily finish the season with an A.

W-Jake Voracek: B
Basically the same story as Giroux. Crappy start, awesome the last couple of weeks. Apparently Jake finally realized that he IS allowed to shoot the puck and he's been lights out ever since

W-Michael Raffl: A-
Looked meh for much of the season, but since moving to the top line he's looked phenomenal. Some may consider his grade a little high, but when you factor in that he was considered maybe a 3rd liner at best, you have to up the grade some.

C-Vinnie Lacalvier: A-
I think most of us can't wait for VL to get back in the lineup, especially since it should get Hartnell off the top line! Vinnie has been a class act from day one of camp and his wicked one timer was basically the Flyer's entire offense the month of October. I would really like to see him replace Hartnell on the top pp unit.

C/W-Brayden Schenn: C+
The inconsistency kid. He's either one of the best players on the ice or basically invisible. However he is only 22 and you can see enough to still have hope that he can be an impact player. I would still like to see him get a bit stronger and maybe add 5-8lbs of muscle before next season.

W-Scott Hartnell: D-
Hartnell has been bad, there is no other way to say it. His numbers are weak and whats worse is on most nights he has not played the hard physical style he needs to play to be successful. Add that to his tendency to take really stupid penalties and he has, IMHO, been the Flyers biggest disappointment this season.

W-Wayne Simmonds: B
He can sometimes handle the puck like a hand grenade, and I would like to see a little more consistency in his game, but Simmer is the ONLY player on this team who always crashes the net. He's also fearless, will stand up for his teammates, and never takes a shift off.

C-Sean Couturier: A
Another guy who had a slow start, but since put on a line with Read and Downie, he has arguably been the Flyer's best all around player. For a kid who just turned 21 to be his club's best defensive forward is a testament to his hockey IQ. Now that his offensive game is starting to development, I don't think it will be long before he becomes a perennial contender for the Selke Trophy.

W-Matt Read: A-
Matt has played very well and is a fantastic all around player. However he will sometimes disappear for a large stretch here and there and thats why the minus. A bit more consistency on every shift and he can easily pull his grade up to an "A"

W-Steve Downie: A-
Forget his on ice play, which for the most part has been solid to very good. All I know is since he arrived the Flyers have been a much better club and Downie gets at least some of the credit for that. Hopefully they can re-sign him at a reasonable rate.

C-Adam Hall: B+
Much like Grossmann on D, Hall is what he is. A faceoff winning machine, who can kill penalties and when needed drop the dukes as well. If he had just a smidge of offense in his game it would be nice but he performs his role very well.

W-Zac Rinaldo: C-
Up til the last couple games, Zac was hovering around D,D-, but he finally seemed to get back to being the hard hitting, effective pest he needs to be the last 2 games. In his defense, he is often victimized by Refs who call infractions on him due more to his reputation than reality, but he's just going to have learn to adjust to that. Much like Hall, it would be nice to see at least a smidge of offense too.

W-Jay Rosehill: C
I know a lot of people can't stand Rosehill, but I would direct your anger more at Holmgren than the player. Rosehill was signed to fight and skate up and down his wing for 5 mins or so a night. He has adequately filled his role. Plus after Shelley and Cote, it is nice to see a Flyer enforcer actually win a fight once in a while!

Others: VDV, McGinn etc...
The rest all get incompletes. Not enough sample size to warrant a grade.

I agree completely Bill. Simmonds and Hartnell are just not talented enough to be on a line together. We have a pretty solid Power Play but I'm still not crazy about Hartnell and Simmonds down low together. Regardless of how the season turns out, the Flyers are within a transition period where Timonen will not be available next year. I think I would start changing things up once the next big slump begins and try to work Lecavalier and Streit on to that first unit.
- Schenn2shine

combined age of 70?

His back issues & wear & tear were inevitable, no offense, but I don't see him as the answer, he's missed significant time each of the last 3 seasons, this comes as no surprise, and with his age, & all the seasons he's played, to have a serious back issue?
We've seen this before.
I still don't understand his signing to this day, we draft centers, hold on to each one of them, when we need better defense, & then they sign him?
- puckhead17

Lecavalier has nine goals this season even with his "wear and tear". He's 33, not 38. When Vinny is healthy, he's a difference maker. He easily has the best shot on the team, so as long as he is here, you use what he has to offer to the best of his ability.

Lecavalier has nine goals this season even with his "wear and tear". He's 33, not 38. When Vinny is healthy, he's a difference maker. He easily has the best shot on the team, so as long as he is here, you use what he has to offer to the best of his ability.
- Schenn2shine

16 years in the league with back issues, and, he's not healthy. He's an old 33.
We need to stop handing 4/5 year contracts to stars that are past their collective primes, Roenick, Pronger, Amonte, Streit, lecavalier, etc, even though a few of them was far back, the culture remains the same.

combined age of 70?
- puckhead17

Danny Briere was only three months away from turning age 33 when he was leading in scoring during the Stanley Cup playoffs of 2010 with 30. Briere was undersized, terrible defensively and had injury issues of his own but at this point of the season isn't the time to gamble with a player's health.

16 years in the league with back issues, and, he's not healthy. He's an old 33.
We need to stop handing 4/5 year contracts to stars that are past their collective primes, Roenick, Pronger, Amonte, Streit, lecavalier, etc, even though a few of them was far back, the culture remains the same.
- puckhead17

In a pre-salary cap era, I have no prob with their signing of Roenick. He was very effective for the most part and played very well in big games.

Amonte was acquired via trade and I don't recall them signing him to a long extension

Pronger IMHO was a good pickup, I don't think you can compare a Hall of Fame Norris Trophy candidate 34 year old to the typical 34 year old player. There was no way the Flyers could forsee him taking a puck to the eye and having his career cut short. Also many top dmen such as Potvin, Robinson, Bourque, MacInnis and Lidstrom continued to play extremely well in their late 30s

When it comes to Streit I completely agree with you. Too much money and too many years. 3 years, 4 million per I could just about live with, 2 years, 4.5 per would have been better.

In VL's case, I'm ok with it. Signing a 33 year old to a 5 year deal is not horrible and with the way the cap ceiling is skyrocketing, a 4.5 mil cap hit is not that bad either.

16 years in the league with back issues, and, he's not healthy. He's an old 33.
We need to stop handing 4/5 year contracts to stars that are past their collective primes, Roenick, Pronger, Amonte, Streit, lecavalier, etc, even though a few of them was far back, the culture remains the same.
- puckhead17

An old 33 year old would suggest he's lost his touch around the net. He hasn't. This isn't a team over flowing with players over the age of 30, this is actually a very young team. This culture change you demand has already happened. Gone are 30 year olds named Roenick, Amonte, LeClair, Primeau, Recchi, Desjardins, Kapanen and Zhamnov. There is nothing wrong with adding seasoned leadership to guide these young players. We have one of the best young Captains in the game. I don't think you have an argument here.

Danny Briere was only three months away from turning age 33 when he was leading in scoring during the Stanley Cup playoffs of 2010 with 30. Briere was undersized, terrible defensively and had injury issues of his own but at this point of the season isn't the time to gamble with a player's health.
- Schenn2shine

All valid points, but, who is gambling with who's health?
Lecavalier was another bad signing by a GM that needs to but up a divider in Clark's office & take a seat.
Sorry, I was rolling on the ground the other night when we came back & won, but we are bad in our own zone on most nights, the bad signings are not helping this team move forward. You say Vinny is only 33, only 33, he's a beaten up 33, that isn't oh just 33, we didn't need him, we needed to pool our resources into building our blue line with quality, not quantity.

In a pre-salary cap era, I have no prob with their signing of Roenick. He was very effective for the most part and played very well in big games.

Amonte was acquired via trade and I don't recall them signing him to a long extension

Pronger IMHO was a good pickup, I don't think you can compare a Hall of Fame Norris Trophy candidate 34 year old to the typical 34 year old player. There was no way the Flyers could forsee him taking a puck to the eye and having his career cut short. Also many top dmen such as Potvin, Robinson, Bourque, MacInnis and Lidstrom continued to play extremely well in their late 30s

When it comes to Streit I completely agree with you. Too much money and too many years. 3 years, 4 million per I could just about live with, 2 years, 4.5 per would have been better.

In VL's case, I'm ok with it. Signing a 33 year old to a 5 year deal is not horrible and with the way the cap ceiling is skyrocketing, a 4.5 mil cap hit is not that bad either.
- BiggE

Vincent Lecavalier's deal is a steal compared to a guy like David Clarkson's deal.

In a pre-salary cap era, I have no prob with their signing of Roenick. He was very effective for the most part and played very well in big games.

Amonte was acquired via trade and I don't recall them signing him to a long extension

Pronger IMHO was a good pickup, I don't think you can compare a Hall of Fame Norris Trophy candidate 34 year old to the typical 34 year old player. There was no way the Flyers could forsee him taking a puck to the eye and having his career cut short. Also many top dmen such as Potvin, Robinson, Bourque, MacInnis and Lidstrom continued to play extremely well in their late 30s

When it comes to Streit I completely agree with you. Too much money and too many years. 3 years, 4 million per I could just about live with, 2 years, 4.5 per would have been better.

In VL's case, I'm ok with it. Signing a 33 year old to a 5 year deal is not horrible and with the way the cap ceiling is skyrocketing, a 4.5 mil cap hit is not that bad either.
- BiggE

How you feeling about our D?
Or better yet, how does it look in 2014?

Vincent Lecavalier's deal is a steal compared to a guy like David Clarkson's deal.
- Schenn2shine

Who's making that comparison?

Doing the little things and being willing to grind got him on lines with good players... he put up some good numbers and now he seems to have gotten it into his head that he's a skill player who can set up in soft spots and no-look-pass his way to success.

Classic Ryan Clowe syndrome.
- Tomahawk

can you put that in his christmas card?

In a pre-salary cap era, I have no prob with their signing of Roenick. He was very effective for the most part and played very well in big games.

Amonte was acquired via trade and I don't recall them signing him to a long extension

Pronger IMHO was a good pickup, I don't think you can compare a Hall of Fame Norris Trophy candidate 34 year old to the typical 34 year old player. There was no way the Flyers could forsee him taking a puck to the eye and having his career cut short. Also many top dmen such as Potvin, Robinson, Bourque, MacInnis and Lidstrom continued to play extremely well in their late 30s

When it comes to Streit I completely agree with you. Too much money and too many years. 3 years, 4 million per I could just about live with, 2 years, 4.5 per would have been better.

In VL's case, I'm ok with it. Signing a 33 year old to a 5 year deal is not horrible and with the way the cap ceiling is skyrocketing, a 4.5 mil cap hit is not that bad either.
- BiggE

agree with all of this except i think the jury is still out on streit. as a side, i take issue when people (not you) act as if the final year(s) of the contract trumps all else and forget to consider the here and now. I'd gladly take 3 strong seasons from streit for instance even if that means 1 bad season when he is 39. Or take the shea weber contract I would rather have 10 great years with weber now if thats what it will take to sign him even if it meant 4 bad years on the back end. jmo.

An old 33 year old would suggest he's lost his touch around the net. He hasn't. This isn't a team over flowing with players over the age of 30, this is actually a very young team. This culture change you demand has already happened. Gone are 30 year olds named Roenick, Amonte, LeClair, Primeau, Recchi, Desjardins, Kapanen and Zhamnov. There is nothing wrong with adding seasoned leadership to guide these young players. We have one of the best young Captains in the game. I don't think you have an argument here.
- Schenn2shine

You had seasoned leadership, Hartnell kimmo, talbot,

Edit, we should have been looking at Gardner or Franson, a younger defense for when kimmo hangs it up.
I just think that's a priority with all the young forwards & keystone cop coverage in our own zone, more than signing old players til they are 40.

All valid points, but, who is gambling with who's health?
Lecavalier was another bad signing by a GM that needs to but up a divider in Clark's office & take a seat.
Sorry, I was rolling on the ground the other night when we came back & won, but we are bad in our own zone on most nights, the bad signings are not helping this team move forward. You say Vinny is only 33, only 33, he's a beaten up 33, that isn't oh just 33, we didn't need him, we needed to pool our resources into building our blue line with quality, not quantity.
- puckhead17

Actually we do need Lecavalier. We were very poor at the face off dot last season. Claude Giroux was the only player above 50 percent, which saw Giroux taking most of the draws. Lecavalier is a very good faceoff man, while Couturier is only now getting better. Brayden Schenn isn't very good defensively, so by moving him to the wing, he could focus more of his offensive abilities. I could argue Schenn slumping could have more to do with him playing center than anything else.

Actually we do need Lecavalier. We were very poor at the face off dot last season. Claude Giroux was the only player above 50 percent, which saw Giroux taking most of the draws. Lecavalier is a very good faceoff man, while Couturier is only now getting better. Brayden Schenn isn't very good defensively, so by moving him to the wing, he could focus more of his offensive abilities. I could argue Schenn slumping could have more to do with him playing center than anything else.
- Schenn2shine

Your forgetting Adam hall