200+ NHL games at this point.

Can you clarify what his skill set actually consists of?
- johndewar

A lot of potential

Getzlaf and Perry were taken 19th and 28th respectively and Bergeron was selected 45th but these guys, especially Bergeron, are exceptions, not the rule.
- NickTheKid87

Those guys were in the same draft. In every draft was like 2003, then the Flyers would be not be hurt by being stuck drafting in the teens year after year.

Would love to see Simmer w/ G and Jake w/ Schenn.
- Tomahawk

Absolutely agree. G and Jake are really the other real creative forwards we have. I think putting Jake on the 2nd line would really create more balance. The problem is...they just don't have that 1st line sniper they desperately need.

I think Hexy knows this team is a poop sandwich and frankly, it doesn't matter (yet) who the coach is when you have a roster full of misfit toys.
- johndewar

I hope he can unload the Schenns maybe at the draft

So. Do you think he is better than Stamkos? Or Crosby? Or Patrick Kane? How bout Toews?
- psuhockey

Those players are all better than Claude Giroux. But the gap is very small. Giroux's a top talent in the league, unfortunately, the past couple of years he hasn't had that 2nd line center or high flight winger that some of those other players have.

Would love to see Simmer w/ G and Jake w/ Schenn.
- Tomahawk

Voracek is not getting enough ES ice time as it is. If you drop him down to the 3rd line (in terms of ES ice time) that would only get worse.

God, not Torts. Although maybe this team does need a screamer.
- TheGreat28

Yea they're all out of jam

Some general observations and comments on the season to date:

Yes, the Flyers had an awful start last year, and still bounced back to make the playoffs. Here is why that is very unlikely to happen again this season.

1. That team had Kimmo Timonen on D and Scott Hartnell up front. There is no way that you can reasonably state that MDZ and Umberger are equivalents to those 2 players.

2. Last years team was able to stay remarkably healthy. The odds of that
happening again are astronomical, especially when you consider that
both Coburn and VLC have missed and are still missing time with injuries.

3. The conference overall has gotten a little stronger. IMO, the following teams
are all as good or better than they were last year: Tampa, Montreal,
NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Columbus. Also,
while, the Rangers and Bruins may have regressed somewhat, both, IMO,
are still better teams than the Flyers.

The Flyers D is just ugly without Coburn and mediocre with him. IMO, there is no quick fix available without moving 1st round picks and top prospects, so we are just going to have to be patient until the kids develop.

The forwards could use some more skill and size up front. Also, while he works hard and is a good skater, Raffl clearly does not belong on an NHL first line. Finding a legit 1st line LW either this season or in the offseason is a must.

The goaltending is fine.

The special teams are very good, but 5 on 5 play is still a big issue and until they upgrade the D and add some more skill throughout the lineup and a little more size up front it will continue to be an issue.

MDZ is not gifted enough offensively to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Believe it or not, I'm usually optimistic and I'm really trying here guys. However, there is simply no way I can see this team finishing with more than 90 points and I just don't see that getting them a playoff spot.

200+ NHL games at this point.

Can you clarify what his skill set actually consists of?
- johndewar

He doesn't have 200+ games. He is at 196. I guess if you count playoffs he is.

Good shot, decent vision, good size, average skating, hard-nosed, tough.

In my opinion a lot of his inconsistencies are due to improper player management by the coaching staff. They have yet to stick him somewhere and let him develop. Even this year in pre season, when G when down, he went to center, but when VLC goes down he stays on the wing. This kind of treament will mess with a young players head.

Sandy McCarthy
- jmatchett383

Riley Cote says what??

Voracek is not getting enough ES ice time as it is. If you drop him down to the 3rd line (in terms of ES ice time) that would only get worse.
- Feanor

As long as Chief is slavishly line-matching Coots versus the other team's 16-20min players, Jake's not going to get more ES time no matter which line he ends up on -- unless it's Coots'.

Umberger looks like an embalmed corpse skating around out there.

He's shot.

He did average 70 points over the four seasons of his prime, though. Age 22-26.
- Feanor

Yea, I really should have said "rediscover" instead of find. But the major difference is lack of powerplay time. If you look at his stats from that 2 or 3 year period, he's PP assists were off the charts, and he chipped in some goals as well. With LA's lineup he's not going to get those opportunities.

Richards is still trying to find his offensive game
- TheGreat28

Mike Richards was finding ways to score on the PK being two men down when he was a rookie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJe1vin9VNI

Umberger looks like an embalmed corpse skating around out there.

He's shot.
- PLindbergh31

Umberger looks like Ryan Howard

Some general observations and comments on the season to date:

Yes, the Flyers had an awful start last year, and still bounced back to make the playoffs. Here is why that is very unlikely to happen again this season.

1. That team had Kimmo Timonen on D and Scott Hartnell up front. There is no way that you can reasonably state that MDZ and Umberger are equivalents to those 2 players.

2. Last years team was able to stay remarkably healthy. The odds of that
happening again are astronomical, especially when you consider that
both Coburn and VLC have missed and are still missing time with injuries.

3. The conference overall has gotten a little stronger. IMO, the following teams
are all as good or better than they were last year: Tampa, Montreal,
NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Columbus. Also,
while, the Rangers and Bruins may have regressed somewhat, both, IMO,
are still better teams than the Flyers.

The Flyers D is just ugly without Coburn and mediocre with him. IMO, there is no quick fix available without moving 1st round picks and top prospects, so we are just going to have to be patient until the kids develop.

The forwards could use some more skill and size up front. Also, while he works hard and is a good skater, Raffl clearly does not belong on an NHL first line. Finding a legit 1st line LW either this season or in the offseason is a must.

The goaltending is fine.

The special teams are very good, but 5 on 5 play is still a big issue and until they upgrade the D and add some more skill throughout the lineup and a little more size up front it will continue to be an issue.

MDZ is not gifted enough offensively to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Believe it or not, I'm usually optimistic and I'm really trying here guys. However, there is simply no way I can see this team finishing with more than 90 points and I just don't see that getting them a playoff spot.
- BiggE

1agreed

2 addition might be obtained through subtraction

3 too early to tell

4 cougars don't play games

5 this beginning to be a daily amusement, is the scotch helping?

Umberger looks like an embalmed corpse skating around out there.

He's shot.
- PLindbergh31

I thought he looked pretty good against Boston--that's about it.

200+ NHL games at this point.

Can you clarify what his skill set actually consists of?
- johndewar

Re B. Schenn:

Average skater, plays physical in spurts but not consistently, average playmaker, average hockey sense, average at best defensively, above average, but not exceptional shot.

If he goes all out each shift and plays a consistent physical game, I think he can be a 2nd line player, but that is likely his ceiling. He's not going to land you a quality dman, but I'd have no problem moving him in a deal for a legit top 6 LW as long as the guy you are getting is 27 or younger.

He doesn't have 200+ games. He is at 196. I guess if you count playoffs he is.

.

In my opinion a lot of his inconsistencies are due to improper player management by the coaching staff. They have yet to stick him somewhere and let him develop. Even this year in pre season, when G when down, he went to center, but when VLC goes down he stays on the wing. This kind of treament will mess with a young players head.
- VladDrag

Ftfy

Absolutely agree. G and Jake are really the other real creative forwards we have. I think putting Jake on the 2nd line would really create more balance. The problem is...they just don't have that 1st line sniper they desperately need.
- TheGreat28

Simmer could be the LeClair to G's Lindros, though. Not sniping goals, but still goals in abundance.

He doesn't have 200+ games. He is at 196. I guess if you count playoffs he is.

Good shot, decent vision, good size, average skating, hard-nosed, tough.

In my opinion a lot of his inconsistencies are due to improper player management by the coaching staff. They have yet to stick him somewhere and let him develop. Even this year in pre season, when G when down, he went to center, but when VLC goes down he stays on the wing. This kind of treament will mess with a young players head.
- VladDrag

Yes, I'm counting playoff games.

His shot is good, but he can't make his own shot. He skates like his brother (that's seriously not a compliment). He's an OK passer. And I'll give you that he's a tough kid. He's not soft.

The coaching staff has sent a very clear message that he's not going to play center in this organization. He needs to get over it and be productive.

Some general observations and comments on the season to date:

Yes, the Flyers had an awful start last year, and still bounced back to make the playoffs. Here is why that is very unlikely to happen again this season.

1. That team had Kimmo Timonen on D and Scott Hartnell up front. There is no way that you can reasonably state that MDZ and Umberger are equivalents to those 2 players.

2. Last years team was able to stay remarkably healthy. The odds of that
happening again are astronomical, especially when you consider that
both Coburn and VLC have missed and are still missing time with injuries.

3. The conference overall has gotten a little stronger. IMO, the following teams
are all as good or better than they were last year: Tampa, Montreal,
NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Columbus. Also,
while, the Rangers and Bruins may have regressed somewhat, both, IMO,
are still better teams than the Flyers.

The Flyers D is just ugly without Coburn and mediocre with him. IMO, there is no quick fix available without moving 1st round picks and top prospects, so we are just going to have to be patient until the kids develop.

The forwards could use some more skill and size up front. Also, while he works hard and is a good skater, Raffl clearly does not belong on an NHL first line. Finding a legit 1st line LW either this season or in the offseason is a must.

The goaltending is fine.

The special teams are very good, but 5 on 5 play is still a big issue and until they upgrade the D and add some more skill throughout the lineup and a little more size up front it will continue to be an issue.

MDZ is not gifted enough offensively to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Believe it or not, I'm usually optimistic and I'm really trying here guys. However, there is simply no way I can see this team finishing with more than 90 points and I just don't see that getting them a playoff spot.
- BiggE

I pretty much agree with your points. In terms of conclusion, given the schedule they have, I am mostly worried that after 20 games or so they have a very lackluster 15-16 points and make a huge panic move.

I really don't think they're good enough to make the playoffs. But sadly they're not bottom 5 bad either. My prediction before training camp was they'd pick 8th or 9th. Still sticking with that.

Some general observations and comments on the season to date:

Yes, the Flyers had an awful start last year, and still bounced back to make the playoffs. Here is why that is very unlikely to happen again this season.

1. That team had Kimmo Timonen on D and Scott Hartnell up front. There is no way that you can reasonably state that MDZ and Umberger are equivalents to those 2 players.

2. Last years team was able to stay remarkably healthy. The odds of that
happening again are astronomical, especially when you consider that
both Coburn and VLC have missed and are still missing time with injuries.

3. The conference overall has gotten a little stronger. IMO, the following teams
are all as good or better than they were last year: Tampa, Montreal,
NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Columbus. Also,
while, the Rangers and Bruins may have regressed somewhat, both, IMO,
are still better teams than the Flyers.

The Flyers D is just ugly without Coburn and mediocre with him. IMO, there is no quick fix available without moving 1st round picks and top prospects, so we are just going to have to be patient until the kids develop.

The forwards could use some more skill and size up front. Also, while he works hard and is a good skater, Raffl clearly does not belong on an NHL first line. Finding a legit 1st line LW either this season or in the offseason is a must.

The goaltending is fine.

The special teams are very good, but 5 on 5 play is still a big issue and until they upgrade the D and add some more skill throughout the lineup and a little more size up front it will continue to be an issue.

MDZ is not gifted enough offensively to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Believe it or not, I'm usually optimistic and I'm really trying here guys. However, there is simply no way I can see this team finishing with more than 90 points and I just don't see that getting them a playoff spot.
- BiggE

Pretty much

Those guys were in the same draft. In every draft was like 2003, then the Flyers would be not be hurt by being stuck drafting in the teens year after year.
- psuhockey

The chances of getting elite level talent in the mid-teens to late-20s is a lot lower than picking in the top 10 but you can still get good NHL players. Erik Karlsson was picked 15th, Jordan Eberle was picked 22nd and John Carlson was picked 27th in 2008. Ryan McDonagh was picked 12th, Kevin Shattenkirk 14th, Max Pacioretty 22nd, and David Perron 26th in 2007. Bryan Little 12th, Chris Stewart 18th, Giroux 22nd and Semyon Varlamov 23rd in 2006. Marc Staal 12th, Tuukka Rask 21st, TJ Oshie 24th and Matt Niskanen 28th in 2005. Travis Zajac 20th, Cory Schneider 26th and Mike Green 29th in 2004.

Most of the better goalies in the league were taken after the 1st round and a lot of the best defensemen were as well. That being said, I wouldn't mind the Flyers not being able to figure things out plus some bad luck leading to the 1st or 2nd pick in the 2015 draft.

Also, while he works hard and is a good skater, Raffl clearly does not belong on an NHL first line. Finding a legit 1st line LW either this season or in the offseason is a must.

- BiggE

The stats don't back up that claim.