I don't miss three forwards below the goal line and Grossmann with the green light to pinch.
- Feanor

Now it's 2D and 1F behind the goal line in the dzone, with the slot and entire weak side open.

I still miss Lavi. Hell of a coach, despite his flaws.
- Tomahawk

I liked Lavvy, but I admit that I was a big fan of Ken Hitchcock's return to the NHL.

I didn't like how he handled younger players when he was here, though. But tactically, I thought he was sound (if boring).

Listen, we have Umberger, Bellemare, Jones, Schultz, Del Zotto and Akeson. Those are the kind of additions that push a bubble team straight up the standings. Players that can grow into major pieces on a Championship team given time. These aren't patches you just discard in a few years while stumbling through several seasons of lottery picks.


- mayorofangrytown

Okay, this made me actually lol.

No Art Ross Akeson???


- johndewar

Now it's 2D and 1F behind the goal line in the dzone, with the slot and entire weak side open.
- Tomahawk

I think I saw Andy MacDonald back his way into his own zone and up the ramp where the zamboni exits.

Now it's 2D and 1F behind the goal line in the dzone, with the slot and entire weak side open.
- Tomahawk

I'm more of a fan of the 1 forward caught up ice, 2 forwards covering no one in a corner, 1 defenseman overcommitting down low, and the 2nd defender chasing wild geese behind the net.

I think I saw Andy MacDonald back his way into his own zone and up the ramp where the zamboni exits.
- johndewar

But man, are these guys in GREAT shape this year!

I think I saw Andy MacDonald back his way into his own zone and up the ramp where the zamboni exits.
- johndewar

Come on now, this is ridiculous.
It's more of a hallway than a ramp.

Come on now, this is ridiculous.
It's more of a hallway than a ramp.
- jmatchett383

Do you ever wonder if Hextall looks at Holmgren, Snider and Berube and thinks to himself "I left LA for this?"

- BiggE

What you talking about Willis?

Holmgren left Hextall the keys to a Ferrari. All Hexy has to do is put on his sunglasses, put the keys in the ignition and open that sumfemale dog up!

It depends if it's a home game or away game.
- jmatchett383

and people say he doesn't adapt his game

Not sure how any of us know what Berube's approach is behind the bench.
- MJL

There was an article/video last season with Lappy bringing up that point, but maybe that was just his approach. I can't find it now.

What I did find were some articles that said Berube was 'full of piss and vinegar' and would tell you straight up if you did something wrong.

I like that description better than the one I laid out earlier.

Okay, so everyone, in all seriousness:

This team is at best a playoff bubble team who may surprise a team in round one. That's about the cap, whether Akeson becomes a shutdown player, B Schenn becomes the next Mikael Renberg, and Luke Schenn becomes the next Dan McGillis or not.

That said, would you trade young assets for a "name" player like Buff, Yakupov, etc. or stay the course, grit your teeth through the next year or two, and let the team build from within?

But man, are these guys in GREAT shape this year!
- Tomahawk

Better shape than the team that scored 11 goals in its first 8 games and only got a win because they had the luck to play the Panthers in one of them.

I still miss Lavi. Hell of a coach, despite his flaws.
- Tomahawk

He is a Helluva coach, but I don't miss him. His time was up here. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen if the guy who replaced him can be as good or better.

and people say he doesn't adapt his game
- BulliesPhan87

Well, he does seem to value consistency. I feel like he may want to start walking backwards during away games so that he always turns the same way (relative to himself).

Better shape than the team that scored 11 goals in its first 8 games and only got a win because they had the luck to play the Panthers in one of them.
- Feanor

Not only that, but Tim Thomas decided to play a game of jump rope and hopscotch on a point shot.

Line combos and who plays with who, and the system a team plays, are two different things. Do you even know what system Brube uses and the intracacies of it?
- MJL

From what I've seen, Berube's system is pretty simple, which is not a criticism, as a simple system can work if the players execute it properly. Basically he is using a 2 man forecheck with the 3rd forward remaining high in the zone. The D can freely pinch, but the winger on that side needs to rotate back when they do so. Odd man rushes against will and have occurred when forwards fail to do this. Also the system works better when the attacking player carries the puck into the zone, rather than dumps it in which has been one of the Flyers problems this season.

Also, I can spell intricacies, LOL.

Okay, so everyone, in all seriousness:

This team is at best a playoff bubble team who may surprise a team in round one. That's about the cap, whether Akeson becomes a shutdown player, B Schenn becomes the next Mikael Renberg, and Luke Schenn becomes the next Dan McGillis or not.

That said, would you trade young assets for a "name" player like Buff, Yakupov, etc. or stay the course, grit your teeth through the next year or two, and let the team build from within?
- jmatchett383

I would be more open to trading for a young name player like Yakupov than a veteran name player like Byfuglien. If you trade a 22 year old Schenn for a 20 year old Yakupov, you've made a lateral move, in terms of age.

The Flyers are at the point where the future has to trump the present in any trade.


That said, if it's not a young player like Rinaldo, who gets chance after chance because he's gritty and works hard, is Berube going to utilize him in a role that lends to his strengths?

That's my whole issue with guys like Akeson or Gustafsson. Bigger, grittier guys of all ages get more rope from Berube. Is it a bias due to the kind of player Berube was?

What you talking about Willis?

Holmgren left Hextall the keys to a Ferrari. All Hexy has to do is put on his sunglasses, put the keys in the ignition and open that sumfemale dog up!
- PLindbergh31

From what I've seen, Berube's system is pretty simple, which is not a criticism, as a simple system can work if the players execute it properly. Basically he is using a 2 man forecheck with the 3rd forward remaining high in the zone. The D can freely pinch, but the winger on that side needs to rotate back when they do so. Odd man rushes against will and have occurred when forwards fail to do this. Also the system works better when the attacking player carries the puck into the zone, rather than dumps it in which has been one of the Flyers problems this season.

Also, I can spell intricacies, LOL.
- BiggE

The Flyers are a very good dump team, but a poor chase team.

Wish we could find the next Scotty Bowman to be our next coach.

Very successful with the Blues in the late 60's playing a physical brand of defense first hockey

Very successful in Montreal in the mid and late 70s playing an uptempo game.

Very successful with Pittsburgh in 91-92, had enough sense not to tinker much with Johnson's already existing and winning system while managing a team loaded with superstars

Very successful with Detroit in the late 90s, seamlessly incorporated a very Russian/European style into their game and was able to adapt to the newer breed of NHL players.

Obviously, coaches like Bowman are few and far between, but I'm just tired of one dimensional coaches like Lavy and Berube who seem clueless when it comes to getting the most out of the talent on their rosters.
- BiggE

Keenan 2.0 then?

I would be more open to trading for a young name player like Yakupov than a veteran name player like Byfuglien. If you trade a 22 year old Schenn for a 20 year old Yakupov, you've made a lateral move, in terms of age.

The Flyers are at the point where the future has to trump the present in any trade
- Jsaquella

I can't tell if Berube is about to sneeze or being physically pleasured in your avatar.

From what I've seen, Berube's system is pretty simple, which is not a criticism, as a simple system can work if the players execute it properly. Basically he is using a 2 man forecheck with the 3rd forward remaining high in the zone. The D can freely pinch, but the winger on that side needs to rotate back when they do so. Odd man rushes against will and have occurred when forwards fail to do this. Also the system works better when the attacking player carries the puck into the zone, rather than dumps it in which has been one of the Flyers problems this season.

Also, I can spell intricacies, LOL.
- BiggE

Center lock, layers, blah blah blah incoming.

Okay, so everyone, in all seriousness:

This team is at best a playoff bubble team who may surprise a team in round one. That's about the cap, whether Akeson becomes a shutdown player, B Schenn becomes the next Mikael Renberg, and Luke Schenn becomes the next Dan McGillis or not.

That said, would you trade young assets for a "name" player like Buff, Yakupov, etc. or stay the course, grit your teeth through the next year or two, and let the team build from within?
- jmatchett383

I think I'm on team "build from within". Mostly because, I just don't think good deals are out there to be made. I think we'd be selling low on our young assets if we were to make a deal.