i have no clue...but if i have to lean good or bad, i'll choose bad. my gut says he won't rebound. i hope i'm wrong.
- hammarby31

Plenty of pessimism

Gotham has been very good so far.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes it has. Soon Grimm will be restarting as well, and Constantine will debut.

Plenty of pessimism
- eayost

Honestly, there's a lot to be pessimistic about. The Flyers have some talent, and could be a playoff team. But they will need a lot of things to go right for that to happen.

Also, saying that they might not be a playoff team this year isn't really a bad thing, because they have a long term plan in place and seem dedicated to it, rather than jumping into quick fixes and short term solutions.

If missing the playoffs doesn't result in a slew of short term, short sighted decisions, it's not the end of the world. As it is, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished 2nd in the Metro. Also wouldn't be amazed if they finished 7th. It's wide open. The same goes for both NY teams, the Caps, Jackets and Devils, too.

i think Pittsburgh will be 1st and Carolina last. Outside of them, pick 'em.

Honestly, there's a lot to be pessimistic about. The Flyers have some talent, and could be a playoff team. But they will need a lot of things to go right for that to happen.

Also, saying that they might not be a playoff team this year isn't really a bad thing, because they have a long term plan in place and seem dedicated to it, rather than jumping into quick fixes and short term solutions.

If missing the playoffs doesn't result in a slew of short term, short sighted decisions, it's not the end of the world. As it is, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished 2nd in the Metro. Also wouldn't be amazed if they finished 7th. It's wide open
- Jsaquella

Yeah, the 2-7 spots are pretty wide open, bookended by Pittsburgh and Carolina.

Yeah, the 2-7 spots are pretty wide open, bookended by Pittsburgh and Carolina.
- jmatchett383

I don't think Pittsburgh is a lock for the # 1 spot. MAF is a pretty big question mark.

Yeah, the 2-7 spots are pretty wide open, bookended by Pittsburgh and Carolina.
- jmatchett383

Yup, saying they might not be a playoff team isn't exactly saying they're bad...it's more saying that the division is so jammed with similar teams that there's no guarantee.

I don't think Pittsburgh is a lock for the # 1 spot. MAF is a pretty big question mark.
- PLindbergh31

He's really only a question mark when the playoffs roll around. If they're healthy they should win division.

that is a beaut. i love those eagle made mid-80s jerseys.
- hammarby31

Love the old darker orange road jerseys.. I've got quite a few in my collection.

Yeah, the 2-7 spots are pretty wide open, bookended by Pittsburgh and Carolina.
- jmatchett383

i'm probably being blindly optimistic, but I think the Flyers will score enough to make the playoffs despite their d. Mase is key.. if he has a solid year, I say we're in.

He's really only a question mark when the playoffs roll around. If they're healthy they should win division.
- Jsaquella

I wonder a bit about their D, but nearly as much as I wonder about ours...

I don't think Pittsburgh is a lock for the # 1 spot. MAF is a pretty big question mark.
- PLindbergh31

He's been nothing but steady in the regular season. A more than adequate goalie for the high powered offense. I'd be more worried about Malkin's health and how they'll adjust with the new coach and the loss of Neal and Niskanen.

He's really only a question mark when the playoffs roll around. If they're healthy they should win division.
- Jsaquella

I would say they are the favorite sure, but they have some holes. Their defense isn't great. And Crosby certainly isn't guaranteed to stay healthy. I agree that if they stay healthy they will likely win the Division. Which in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean much.

Yeah, the 2-7 spots are pretty wide open, bookended by Pittsburgh and Carolina.
- jmatchett383

Are we all sure Pittsburgh forward line depth is any good?

I still think they are going to win the division, but they are flawed, just like the rest of the Metro.

I wonder a bit about their D, but nearly as much as I wonder about ours...
- wolfhounds

I thnk Hexy needs to pull of a Coburn esque steal of a young promising dman at some point this season if he can to fix the d..

Yup, saying they might not be a playoff team isn't exactly saying they're bad...it's more saying that the division is so jammed with similar teams that there's no guarantee.
- Jsaquella

Personally, I think they'll just miss the playoffs. But I'm totally fine with that. There is one goal in the NHL and that's to win the Cup, not just to make the playoffs. The Flyers are positioning themselves to achieve that goal while before, it seemed like they were more worried about staying afloat with the off chance of winning the Cup. I think most fans get fooled by that and think making the playoffs constantly = Cup Contender. Obviously you can't win the Cup without being in the playoffs but just showing up is less than half the battle.

That being said, the Flyers have iced some good teams since 1975 with some real Cup Contenders among them but over the last 15 years or so, it's been mostly short term fixes and the like. Even the 2009-10 ECF champion team, you could argue a lot of luck was involved with how otherworldly Michael Leighton played. They got lucky with Giroux too.

He's been nothing but steady in the regular season. A more than adequate goalie for the high powered offense. I'd be more worried about Malkin's health and how they'll adjust with the new coach and the loss of Neal and Niskanen.
- NickTheKid87

They lost Niskanen, but replaced him with a better player in Ehrhoff. They lost Orpik, and replaced him with...well, it doesn't really matter, they replaced him.

They have a real, legitimate bottom-6 this year (Downie aside).

They had the most man-games lost to injury last year.

Not having Neal means Crosby can play his natural side on the PP, which is scary to think about.

Basically, they just got better all-around.

They lost Niskanen, but replaced him with a better player in Ehrhoff. They lost Orpik, and replaced him with...well, it doesn't really matter, they replaced him.

They have a real, legitimate bottom-6 this year (Downie aside).

They had the most man-games lost to injury last year.

Not having Neal means Crosby can play his natural side on the PP, which is scary to think about.

Basically, they just got better all-around.
- jmatchett383

I think the addition of Hornqvist will be big too but losing Neal hurts them. The new coach will be the biggest thing for them to adjust to. But the Metro division is pretty weak as is the entire Eastern Conference so I see them winning the division by about 10 points barring any big injuries or something like that.

I think the addition of Hornqvist will be big too but losing Neal hurts them. The new coach will be the biggest thing for them to adjust to. But the Metro division is pretty weak as is the entire Eastern Conference so I see them winning the division by about 10 points barring any big injuries or something like that.
- NickTheKid87

Kinda how I see it. They had to lose Bylsma, he got too comfortable with some of the players. Bringing in a new guy means there are no favorites, so he'll come in with a fair outlook.

They lost Niskanen, but replaced him with a better player in Ehrhoff. They lost Orpik, and replaced him with...well, it doesn't really matter, they replaced him.

They have a real, legitimate bottom-6 this year (Downie aside).

They had the most man-games lost to injury last year.

Not having Neal means Crosby can play his natural side on the PP, which is scary to think about.

Basically, they just got better all-around.
- jmatchett383

i sit and fantasize about this daily.

They lost Niskanen, but replaced him with a better player in Ehrhoff. They lost Orpik, and replaced him with...well, it doesn't really matter, they replaced him.

They have a real, legitimate bottom-6 this year (Downie aside).

They had the most man-games lost to injury last year.

Not having Neal means Crosby can play his natural side on the PP, which is scary to think about.

Basically, they just got better all-around.
- jmatchett383

Hey, you forgot my inevitable Norris caliber season.

i sit and fantasize about this daily.
- stayinthefnnet

Hey, I see you found 3 minutes of free time.

Hey, you forgot my inevitable Norris caliber season.
- Olli_Maatta

You'll be part of the top pair within 2 months.

Hey, I see you found 3 minutes of free time.
- jmatchett383

home with a stomach bug, so ive found at least a few!

home with a stomach bug, so ive found at least a few!
- stayinthefnnet

Well, that's...good?

But yeah, I still can't figure out how HCDB thought it was a good idea to play Neal in that spot over Crosby.

Well, that's...good?

But yeah, I still can't figure out how HCDB thought it was a good idea to play Neal in that spot over Crosby.
- jmatchett383

no idea. very excited for the upcoming season though.

how's it been around these parts?