Do you find it surprising on the heels of that great comeback, something that should rally a team and build some momentum, the very next game they lay a colossal non-competitive egg against a team full of poop bags?
- PLindbergh31

i think you underestimate columbus a little bit, number 1, and number 2, said team also had plenty of motivation to beat the flyers, especially on home ice after the egg THEY laid in philly 2 nights prior. that has to be accounted for.

still...the flyers lack of ever really controlling a game, any game, is disturbing, especially when you'd think their previous effort might provide a boost moving forward.

Borderline playoff team. My guess is they finish one spot out of a playoff spot.
They will get the 13th pick in the draft and will select a player ready to do damage in 2019.
- PLindbergh31

One spot out of a playoff spot in the East, will still put them behind at least 2 or perhaps 3 teams who miss the playoffs out West. So if they miss the playoffs by finishing 9th or 10th in the East, you are looking at picking somewhere between 9th and 11th.
Unless a miracle happens and they win the draft lottery

One spot out of a playoff spot in the East, will still put them behind at least 2 or perhaps 3 teams who miss the playoffs out West. So if they miss the playoffs by finishing 9th or 10th in the East, you are looking at picking somewhere between 9th and 11th.
Unless a miracle happens and they win the draft lottery
- BiggE

this feels familiar. not sure why.

Mark streit personally generated three two on one's against the flyers. God he was so awful last night. This team is so useless without grossman, it's scary.
- FlyersSteve118

Holmgren had his second consecutive monster summer.

Do you find it surprising on the heels of that great comeback, something that should rally a team and build some momentum, the very next game they lay a colossal non-competitive egg against a team full of poop bags?
- PLindbergh31

Do you find it surprising that after being humiliated by blowing multiple leads, that Columbus would come out last night and play like it was the deciding game in a playoff series? Columbus may be a mediocre team, but they aren't Buffalo or Edmonton.

i think you underestimate columbus a little bit, number 1, and number 2, said team also had plenty of motivation to beat the flyers, especially on home ice after the egg THEY laid in philly 2 nights prior. that has to be accounted for.

still...the flyers lack of ever really controlling a game, any game, is disturbing, especially when you'd think their previous effort might provide a boost moving forward.
- hammarby31

I don't think Columbus is any good to be honest. Backup goalie, a bunch of injuries etc... You figure the injury to Gaborik would have deflated them.
Flyers didn't show up last night. Brutal performance.

this team is what it is: a .500 bubble team that will need to struggle for every point it gets. they need to replace half the back end and a couple of wingers, which isn't going to happen this year.

lucky to be even after 2, i'd like to see them play smart defensive hockey and eek out at least 1 valuable point on the road. instead they fall apart with sloppy, mistake-riddled play and get nothing. it'd disappointing but not unexpected. just more blown 3rd period points. that's probably around 10-12 for the season thus far.

hopefully downie's timetable is accurate. i wonder if his loss quietly pushed vinny back into the lineup.

why is hartnell still on the first pp unit?
- hammarby31

I agree with your bubble team comment. For this year Ill take it after it looked like wed have a long season ahead, then next year with more cap flexibility they can tinker here and there. I just want meaningful hockey come playoffs. A first round matchup with Pitt would be entertaining and a crapshoot.

One spot out of a playoff spot in the East, will still put them behind at least 2 or perhaps 3 teams who miss the playoffs out West. So if they miss the playoffs by finishing 9th or 10th in the East, you are looking at picking somewhere between 9th and 11th.
Unless a miracle happens and they win the draft lottery
- BiggE

They aren't winning any lottery. They will pick outside the top 10.

Holmgren had his second consecutive monster summer.


- PLindbergh31

I have to put a lot of the blame on the guy to the left of VL!

One spot out of a playoff spot in the East, will still put them behind at least 2 or perhaps 3 teams who miss the playoffs out West. So if they miss the playoffs by finishing 9th or 10th in the East, you are looking at picking somewhere between 9th and 11th.
Unless a miracle happens and they win the draft lottery
- BiggE

Luckily, our management seems like they're in a mode of serious reanalysis of our team and whether the one put together now is one that will be able to win (or win in a couple years). At least they aren't content to sit back and do nothing.

Do you find it surprising that after being humiliated by blowing multiple leads, that Columbus would come out last night and play like it was the deciding game in a playoff series? Columbus may be a mediocre team, but they aren't Buffalo or Edmonton.
- BiggE

Columbus stinks.

I have to put a lot of the blame on the guy to the left of VL!
- BiggE

Al Davis Jr.

I found Berube's comments very telling....
...that several of the Blue Jackets goals came on shots that forwards should have blocked. Missing Grossmann was downplayed but it clearly was felt.

It appeared to me...IMHO...from the TV coverage, that there were several cases of forwards (Giroux, Hartnell, & others) not back checking/skating back on players.

I don't think Columbus is any good to be honest. Backup goalie, a bunch of injuries etc... You figure the injury to Gaborik would have deflated them.
Flyers didn't show up last night. Brutal performance.
- PLindbergh31

i disagree about lumbus. the flyers showed up, but not when it mattered most. it is a team they SHOULD beat, and didn't, hence my location.

Luckily, our management seems like they're in a mode of serious reanalysis of our team and whether the one put together now is one that will be able to win (or win in a couple years). At least they aren't content to sit back and do nothing.
- JAKEw1234

What I really wish is that management would realize that there is NO WAY that this team can contend for a Cup this year, so they do the following:

Move VL at the deadline: Toronto and perhaps St. Louis should be interested. VL could get them a late 1st or at least a 2nd and a prospect. This would still leave them with Giroux, Couturier, Schenn and Laughton down the middle for 14-15

Move Timonen at the deadline: Anaheim and perhaps San Jose should have some interest. And, as I've said before, if Douglas frankin Murray can get you 2 2nds, Timonen should get em a late 1st and perhaps a 3rd in 2015.

Move Streit at the deadline if possible, if not, buy him out after the season.

Move Hartnell at the deadline: Vancouver or St. Louis may have interest, especially if the Flyers are willing to eat 1-1.5 million of the annual salary/cap hit.

Make a deal in the offseason for 1 good puck moving dman, if they do the above, they should have the picks to package with someone to get this done. The only untouchables should be Giroux, Voracek, Couturier and probably Mason.

With the now available cap room, sign one impact winger and one decent, mobile dman. If Schenn or Laughton has been moved for a dman, sign a solid 2-way center.

Without Grossman the defense is more Gross. Not too bad till the third then, boom.

What I really wish is that management would realize that there is NO WAY that this team can contend for a Cup this year, so they do the following:

Move VL at the deadline: Toronto and perhaps St. Louis should be interested. VL could get them a late 1st or at least a 2nd and a prospect. This would still leave them with Giroux, Couturier, Schenn and Laughton down the middle for 14-15

Move Timonen at the deadline: Anaheim and perhaps San Jose should have some interest. And, as I've said before, if Douglas frankin Murray can get you 2 2nds, Timonen should get em a late 1st and perhaps a 3rd in 2015.

Move Streit at the deadline if possible, if not, buy him out after the season.

Move Hartnell at the deadline: Vancouver or St. Louis may have interest, especially if the Flyers are willing to eat 1-1.5 million of the annual salary/cap hit.

Make a deal in the offseason for 1 good puck moving dman, if they do the above, they should have the picks to package with someone to get this done. The only untouchables should be Giroux, Voracek, Couturier and probably Mason.

With the now available cap room, sign one impact winger and one decent, mobile dman. If Schenn or Laughton has been moved for a dman, sign a solid 2-way center.
- BiggE

As of right now the UFA class appears to have plenty of young, decently mobile Dmen. If we're trading Vinny, I'd rather not have to give up too many assets on a Dman. Remember also that by trying to get rid of Vinny, Timmo, and Streit, you're losing 3 veteran captains from your team, and you have a bit of a leadership rift created.

Sure, Raffl is. But if can be a 40 point scorer next year, than he's a younger cheaper replacement player than Hartnell who brings the same production. If we eat 1 mil, Hartnell has a very cap-friendly hit.
- JAKEw1234

40 point season would put him ahead of Schenn on depth chart imo.

What I really wish is that management would realize that there is NO WAY that this team can contend for a Cup this year, so they do the following:

Move VL at the deadline: Toronto and perhaps St. Louis should be interested. VL could get them a late 1st or at least a 2nd and a prospect. This would still leave them with Giroux, Couturier, Schenn and Laughton down the middle for 14-15

Move Timonen at the deadline: Anaheim and perhaps San Jose should have some interest. And, as I've said before, if Douglas frankin Murray can get you 2 2nds, Timonen should get em a late 1st and perhaps a 3rd in 2015.

Move Streit at the deadline if possible, if not, buy him out after the season.

Move Hartnell at the deadline: Vancouver or St. Louis may have interest, especially if the Flyers are willing to eat 1-1.5 million of the annual salary/cap hit.

Make a deal in the offseason for 1 good puck moving dman, if they do the above, they should have the picks to package with someone to get this done. The only untouchables should be Giroux, Voracek, Couturier and probably Mason.

With the now available cap room, sign one impact winger and one decent, mobile dman. If Schenn or Laughton has been moved for a dman, sign a solid 2-way center.
- BiggE

Moving Vinny would be insulting to free agents everywhere. He just signed and has played great so far. One of our top 5 players this year. Trading one of our best value contracts makes little sense.

Makes more sense to move players who are weighing us down. I.E. Hartnell. His popularity makes it more difficult but I'd buy his ass out in the offseason and deal with dead cap space for the next 379 seasons. Side not, NHL buyout terms are really lame. Should be able to buy out contracts without penalties to the cap.

40 point season would put him ahead of Schenn on depth chart imo.
- Flyersgod

he's on pace for 31 right now, but considering he only had like 1 point in his first 15 games, I think above that is possible.

Moving Vinny would be insulting to free agents everywhere. He just signed and has played great so far. One of our top 5 players this year. Trading one of our best value contracts makes little sense.

Makes more sense to move players who are weighing us down. I.E. Hartnell. His popularity makes it more difficult but I'd buy his ass out in the offseason and deal with dead cap space for the next 379 seasons. Side not, NHL buyout terms are really lame. Should be able to buy out contracts without penalties to the cap.
- Flyersgod

nah, buyout cap penalties make sense.

nah, buyout cap penalties make sense.
- JAKEw1234

Why do you think that?

he's on pace for 31 right now, but considering he only had like 1 point in his first 15 games, I think above that is possible.
- JAKEw1234

Hey its possible. If it happens I wonder even more about Schenns developmeny or lack thereof.

Hey its possible. If it happens I wonder even more about Schenns developmeny or lack thereof.
- Flyersgod

To be fair, Raffl is almost 3 years older than Schenn.

Why do you think that?
- Flyersgod

It prevents rich teams like us from buying away their problems whenever they want. It protects the players.