Of the offensive young talents, lets reappraise how they have fared relative to last year.

Baby Schenn: last year 26 pts in 47 games this year 39 points in 77 games. Verdict: slight down
Simmonds: last year 32 pts in 45 games this year 56 points in 77 games Verdict: about same
Couturier: 15 pts in 46 games last year this year 36 points in 77. Verdict: up
Read: 24 points in 42 games last year now 36 points in 70. Verdict slight down
Voracek: 46 points in 48 games last year this year 56 points in 77 games. Verdict sharp down

I know they sent more forwards in forecheck last year and forwards rarely backchecked, but at the same time, we have better team defense this year and less time pinned in our zone so that should cancel out.
And what overall this portrays is not much improvement. I know its early days yet and they are young and its just 2 years, but its still disappointing that not a single player emerged as a genuine threat nor did any line establish any degree of consistent pressure outside the Giroux line.
- PT21

Comparing players scoring totals to last year, does not determine who is a threat offensively. The bottom line is that the Flyers have one of the deepest corps of forwards offensively in the NHL.
When the Flyers are on their game, they can play with anyone.

That's true. The Flyers are inconsistent, but they have shown that they can be a very strong 5 on 5 team. And isn't that what's really going to matter? How they play when the playoffs start?
- MJL

So you think this team is just going to "turn it on" when the puck drops in game 1?

So you think this team is just going to "turn it on" when the puck drops in game 1?
- Daveflyers36

No, I think this team is capable of playing at a high level. We'll see how they play. And what do you mean turn it on? They've had a few bad games recently, but they have overall been playing strong Hockey down the stretch.

Comparing players scoring totals to last year, does not determine who is a threat offensively. The bottom line is that the Flyers have one of the deepest corps of forwards offensively in the NHL.
When the Flyers are on their game, they can play with anyone.
- MJL

That last sentence is what is said about inconsistant mediocre teams. That is what isn't said about true contending teams, which the Flyers are not.

That last sentence is what is said about inconsistant mediocre teams. That is what isn't said about true contending teams, which the Flyers are not.
- Daveflyers36

I never once thought at any point this Season that the Flyers were a true contender. Only that they were a developing team that should make the playoffs. And is heading in the right direction. And that when playing well, can be competitive against any team. I think they're going to make the playoffs. And then we'll see what team shows up.

So you think this team is just going to "turn it on" when the puck drops in game 1?
- Daveflyers36

Yeah, I do. Anything can happen in the playoffs. People need to relax.

That's def a weird stat.

The team is hot/cold all year.

They are a first round out except of they play Pittsburgh

They are who we thought they were all along
- Just5

weird stat? maybe.

fact is the hot streaks came with him in the lineup and the cold streaks were when he was out of the lineup.

I never once thought at any point this Season that the Flyers were a true contender. Only that they were a developing team that should make the playoffs. And is heading in the right direction. And that when playing well, can be competitive against any team. I think they're going to make the playoffs. And then we'll see what team shows up.
- MJL

I am just not one of those fans that are content and happy with "competitive" The truth is that this franchise does not know how to build a solid championship caliber team. Every year they think they are just a piece or two away and when they lose, they blow it up and start over. Sign over the hill free agents, trade away draft picks at the deadline, hire and fire coaches etc.....

Wouldn't a carefree team put themselves in a position to be down in the 3rd period often?

A team that isn't carefree plays more than 15-20 minutes a game.
- Flyersgod

Score effects have just as much, if not more, to do with all these 3rd period comebacks as caring (or not) does.

I'm more concerned with the idea that this team often doesn't seem to be good enough at ES to compete until the other team begins to sit on a lead, letting them back in to the game.

I am just not one of those fans that are content and happy with "competitive" The truth is that this franchise does not know how to build a solid championship caliber team. Every year they think they are just a piece or two away and when they lose, they blow it up and start over. Sign over the hill free agents, trade away draft picks at the deadline, hire and fire coaches etc.....
- Daveflyers36

This team went to the Cup Finals in 2010, so it is false that they do not know how to build a solid championship caliber team. And the keys words are they blew it up. And they did that when they made the Richards and Carter moves. And then Pronger went down. So patience is part of what is needed, with where the team is at. I think they're headed in the right direction. Time will tell. Today's loss doesn't change anything for me.

Comparing players scoring totals to last year, does not determine who is a threat offensively. The bottom line is that the Flyers have one of the deepest corps of forwards offensively in the NHL.
When the Flyers are on their game, they can play with anyone.
- MJL

You said the team is average now and the future is bright. Well the bright future could arrive like a flash of lightning or gradually, like daybreak. And I am saying that there is insufficient evidence of gradual progress on the young offensive talent front. They could suddenly dazzle or they could stay where they are now: a collection of B+/A- players and Giroux. I am not sure the latter is going to do it to become true contenders.

Having said that, I hope they hang on to B. Schenn. We would just exchange one gamble for another, so might as well see if the kid strikes it big in an environment he is familiar with.

Score effects have just as much, if not more, to do with all these 3rd period comebacks as caring (or not) does.

I'm more concerned with the idea that this team often doesn't seem to be good enough at ES to compete until the other team begins to sit on a lead, letting them back in to the game.
- Tomahawk

This seems to state that the only reason the Flyers can come back in a game, is because the other team is letting them back in the game, due to sitting on the lead. That is false. And all you have to do to know that is false is look at the records of teams in the NHL, when leading after 2 periods. It is not easy to do.

You said the team is average now and the future is bright. Well the bright future could arrive like a flash of lightning or gradually, like daybreak. And I am saying that there is insufficient evidence of gradual progress on the young offensive talent front. They could suddenly dazzle or they could stay where they are now: a collection of B+/A- players and Giroux. I am not sure the latter is going to do it to become true contenders.

Having said that, I hope they hang on to B. Schenn. We would just exchange one gamble for another, so might as well see if the kid strikes it big in an environment he is familiar with.
- PT21

No one is ever sure if a team is going to do that. They're inconsistency is what makes them average. When they play to the level that they are capable of, they're a very good team. There are some young players that still have some growing to do. They have to take the next step.

This team went to the Cup Finals in 2010, so it is false that they do not know how to build a solid championship caliber team. And the keys words are they blew it up. And they did that when they made the Richards and Carter moves. And then Pronger went down. So patience is part of what is needed, with where the team is at. I think they're headed in the right direction. Time will tell. Today's loss doesn't change anything for me.
- MJL

Patience is vinny lecavalier

So Ville Leino with the game winning goal tomorrow right?
His first of the season RIIIIIIGGGGGHTTTTTTTT????!!!!!


- PLindbergh31

you just had to, didn't you.

This team went to the Cup Finals in 2010, so it is false that they do not know how to build a solid championship caliber team. And the keys words are they blew it up. And they did that when they made the Richards and Carter moves. And then Pronger went down. So patience is part of what is needed, with where the team is at. I think they're headed in the right direction. Time will tell. Today's loss doesn't change anything for me.
- MJL

WRONG. Count how many players this current team has that was on the 2010 team. Now count how many players that Chicago has on the current team that was on the 2010 championship team. The Flyers haven't even gotten close to making it back to the finals and Chicago now has 2. This is not even close to the same team that made a MIRACLE run to the finals so what is false is your opinion that this franchise can build a solid championship caliber team.

WRONG. Count how many players this current team has that was on the 2010 team. Now count how many players that Chicago has on the current team that was on the 2010 championship team. The Flyers haven't even gotten close to making it back to the finals and Chicago now has 2. This is not even close to the same team that made a MIRACLE run to the finals so what is false is your opinion that this franchise can build a solid championship caliber team.
- Daveflyers36

There isn't a single thing in my comment that is wrong!


Who said it was the same team? In fact I clearly stated that they blew the team up and traded Richards and Carter.

Goals scored on the PP count the same at goals scored at ES. Goals scored are goals scored. Flyers have the deepest corps of forwards offensively in the NHL.

I look at the entire picture. And don't eliminate something to suit my premise.

Put it in perspective. How many players in the top 100 do other teams have?
- MJL

That would be a question you would need to answer.

Boston was in a slump and they clowned us
- 2Real

they didn't clown them. stop it. it was a 2-2 game with 6 minutes left and they scored directly off a faceoff shot through a screen. the final 5 minutes didn't matter.

That would be a question you would need to answer.
- Flyersgod

I know how deep the Flyers are offensively.

There isn't a single thing in my comment that is wrong!


Who said it was the same team? In fact I clearly stated that they blew the team up and traded Richards and Carter.
- MJL

Yea there is. Having one lucky season isn't building anything. The Flyers were lucky that season. Plain and simple.

Yea there is. Having one lucky season isn't building anything. The Flyers were lucky that season. Plain and simple.
- Daveflyers36

So let me get this straight. The Flyers are not capable of building a championship caliber team, because when they went to the Cup Finals in 2010, it was just luck. Got it!

So let me get this straight....

The flyers are currently in a playoff spot, yes?

They just went 6-4-2 during the "murderers row" portion of their schedule, a record most people said they would be happy with if the flyers did that well.

And yet no one is happy?

Gotta love this place
- fecondo

nobody's happy because they're skidding at the wrong time, the offense is drying up, and they're best players are not being they're best players. it's irritating. do you expect anything less?

i think most in here believe the flyers will make the playoffs despite the losing streak, including me.

There isn't a single thing in my comment that is wrong!


Who said it was the same team? In fact I clearly stated that they blew the team up and traded Richards and Carter.
- MJL

This team went to the Cup Finals in 2010, so it is false that they do not know how to build a solid championship caliber team

This team didn't go the the cup finals.

'10 team had...

Richards
Carter
Pronger
Carle
Asham
JVR
Carcillo
Betts
Lappy
Gagne
Briere
Krajicek
Leighton
Boucher
Leino

4 current flyers I believe were on that team.

Giroux
Hartnell
Timonen
Coburn

get this, I just looked up Downie's game log and compared it to the game results for the flyers and I got 33-13-6 with him IN the lineup versus 6-13-6 without him
- flyerscup2011

their current slump started when he went out of the lineup. fact.