What a bunch of Debbie Downers after the two losses. They beat some of the best teams in the NHL recently and if it wasn't for their rough start, they'd be comfortably sitting in a playoff spot.
- TonyBazz

You're talking as if many of the recent wins haven't been by the skin of their teeth... giving up early leads habitually... relying on improbable comebacks and *gasp* shootouts to pull off some of these wins. And now that the goalies have cooled off some, the defense is fully exposed again.

The 7-2 loss at the hands of the 'Hawks is pretty indicative of how far behind this team is from winning a Stanley Cup this year. They've yet to even face the Bruins once.... and there's a steady diet of really good teams coming up on the schedule.

As a fan, it's good to be full of optimism and hope, but it still needs to be rooted in reality. Fact is, this team's best years are yet to come, and this season is most likey going to serve as a transitional step toward a brighter future.

Is Downie really scratched again?
- BulliesPhan87

Still injured is my guess

I'll always remember Lavi by "Typical Montreal".....

Man, was he PISSED!
- johndewar

That was great too

Still injured is my guess
- Marc D

If he's injured why is he practicing and being announced as a healthy scratch?

i still don't get the pigeon thing

seagulls like garbage but i've never noticed pigeons liking garbage
- -davies-

These are hockey players we are talking about
Not Nobel laureates

If he's injured why is he practicing and being announced as a healthy scratch?
- PLindbergh31

maybe he's trying to play hurt who knows what going on being the scenes

I don't think I'm being down on them. I just think they have some flaws, their margin for error (i.e.--losing streaks) isn't all that great, and they have a tough schedule coming.

Giving them a 50/50 shot is actually not bad, considering how they started.
- johndewar

The Flyers are in the 7th seed right now and that's after their awful 15 game start. Maybe I'm being biased, but I like the Flyers forwards as much as anybody's in the East besides Pittsburgh's and Boston's. The Maple Leafs are inferior, so are the Hurricanes, Ottawa, Devils, Columbus, etc. I'm not worried about those teams honestly. The Flyers will really show what they're made of coming up the next few weeks against the best. They can match up line for line against anybody and I think they'll do quite well down the stretch. If anything, I think they can move up ahead of the Rangers and Montreal can't score, so they'll drop too. I'm not only thinking playoffs, I'm hoping for a 3-4-5 seed, but I'll settle for any seed that doesn't play Boston or Pittsburgh in the first round.

If he's injured why is he practicing and being announced as a healthy scratch?
- PLindbergh31

Bill speculated that he was hiding his injury as its a contract year for him, but maybe it's something else. Maybe Berube is mad about something he said or did?

I don't really know of course.

The Flyers are in the 7th seed right now and that's after their awful 15 game start. Maybe I'm being biased, but I like the Flyers forwards as much as anybody's in the East besides Pittsburgh's and Boston's. The Maple Leafs are inferior, so are the Hurricanes, Ottawa, Devils, Columbus, etc. I'm not worried about those teams honestly. The Flyers will really show what they're made of coming up the next few weeks against the best. They can match up line for line against anybody and I think they'll do quite well down the stretch. If anything, I think they can move up ahead of the Rangers and Montreal can't score, so they'll drop too. I'm not only thinking playoffs, I'm hoping for a 3-4-5 seed, but I'll settle for any seed that doesn't play Boston or Pittsburgh in the first round.
- TonyBazz

Someone took their happy pills this morning.

Bill speculated that he was hiding his injury as its a contract year for him, but maybe it's something else. Maybe Berube is mad about something he said or did?

I don't really know of course.
- Marc D

I have no clue either. If he's injured they should just come out and say it.

His performance has dropped off a cliff, so something is wrong.

@Tonybazz

I'd be ecstatic if they make the playoffs and in the East they have a shot but I don't want them using draft picks for rentals at the TDL.

And if they could get back some picks for UFAs to be I'd be for it.
Even if they are fighting for a playoff spot.

These are hockey players we are talking about
Not Nobel laureates
- Marc D

@Tonybazz

I'd be ecstatic if they make the playoffs and in the East they have a shot but I don't want them using draft picks for rentals at the TDL.

And if they could get back some picks for UFAs to be I'd be for it.
Even if they are fighting for a playoff spot.
- Marc D

I'm talking like a 4th round pick for Manny Malholtra kind of deal. Not higher than a 3rd. A 3rd round pick or lower for a 4th line center. How is that a bad idea?

I'm talking like a 4th round pick for Manny Malholtra kind of deal. Not higher than a 3rd. A 3rd round pick or lower for a 4th line center. How is that a bad idea?
- TonyBazz

If its a guy they need and can re sign it makes sense.
It's not the time to go all in and sacrifice too much of the future for this years playoffs, imo.

I'm talking like a 4th round pick for Manny Malholtra kind of deal. Not higher than a 3rd. A 3rd round pick or lower for a 4th line center. How is that a bad idea?
- TonyBazz

If its for a younger guy that will be here long term, sure by all means.

No more overpaying for overrated players on the decline. More organic growth, and keep the kids.

You burn a few years off of Giroux's best years, but this all too familiar approach hasn't really worked out too well. Being a mediocre crew, relying on hot streaks isn't a great plan imo. Just a nutter's thoughts.

If its a guy they need and can re sign it makes sense.
It's not the time to go all in and sacrifice too much of the future for this years playoffs, imo.
- Marc D

A 3rd-4th rounder isn't anything. Is anybody else seeing this? I'm not talking about a young player or any player at all. I'm talking a 3rd-4th round pick for a fourth line center which they desperately need right now. That's a good deal if they can pull something like that off.

A 3rd-4th rounder isn't anything. Is anybody else seeing this? I'm not talking about a young player or any player at all. I'm talking a 3rd-4th round pick for a fourth line center which they desperately need right now. That's a good deal if they can pull something like that off.
- TonyBazz

Not when you use that pick to get a stud like Z2

If its for a younger guy that will be here long term, sure by all means.

No more overpaying for overrated players on the decline. More organic growth, and keep the kids.

You burn a few years off of Giroux's best years, but this all too familiar approach hasn't really worked out too well. Being a mediocre crew, relying on hot streaks isn't a great plan imo. Just a nutter's thoughts.
- flyer_nutter

As long as it's something like a 4th and 5th for a guy, then by all means go for it, as the chance on a 4th/5th rounder becoming even a fringe NHL player is probably about 150:1. I don't think anyone's suggesting they trade high picks or top prospects for a 4th liner who will be moving on. Unless you consider that "overpaying."

As long as it's something like a 4th and 5th for a guy, then by all means go for it, as the chance on a 4th/5th rounder becoming even a fringe NHL player is probably about 150:1. I don't think anyone's suggesting they trade high picks or top prospects for a 4th liner who will be moving on. Unless you consider that "overpaying."
- jmatchett383

I don't think the Flyers are a 4th line center away from being a contender. It would behoove them to hang on to their draft picks and address that spot through FA.

You're talking as if many of the recent wins haven't been by the skin of their teeth... giving up early leads habitually... relying on improbable comebacks and *gasp* shootouts to pull off some of these wins. And now that the goalies have cooled off some, the defense is fully exposed again.

The 7-2 loss at the hands of the 'Hawks is pretty indicative of how far behind this team is from winning a Stanley Cup this year. They've yet to even face the Bruins once.... and there's a steady diet of really good teams coming up on the schedule.

As a fan, it's good to be full of optimism and hope, but it still needs to be rooted in reality. Fact is, this team's best years are yet to come, and this season is most likey going to serve as a transitional step toward a brighter future.
- Tomahawk

well put. not a huge fan of power rankings but they have the flyers 19th (20th last week) and i would have a hard time ranking them above any team that is above them. pretty sobering that we have a team closer to the bottom third than the top.

well put. not a huge fan of power rankings but they have the flyers 19th (20th last week) and i would have a hard time ranking them above any team that is above them. pretty sobering that we have a team closer to the bottom third than the top.
- hogweed

I would have them higher than 19th. I would say their record is a fair assessment of where they are. You can put the Flyers, Rangers, Red Wings, Habs and Capitals all pretty close to each other.

If they are trading anything I want them to fix the D first, improve team speed second.

5-1 win tonight

I don't think the Flyers are a 4th line center away from being a contender. It would behoove them to hang on to their draft picks and address that spot through FA.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well the expectation is that Laughton fills that sport next year (assuming we still have at least 3 of Giroux, Schenn, Coots, Lecavalier). But for the most part, the 4th round is going to produce a guy like Tye McGinn more than a guy like Simmonds or even Bordon. Yes, every now and then, you find a diamond in the rough down there, but if you want to take a run this year (once you get in, anything can happen), I'm not opposed to trading a low pick for Malholtra type.

If they are trading anything I want them to fix the D first, improve team speed second.
- Marc D

The proper fix to those problems (short term) will require moving significant assets.