I feel sorry for the Flower. He is an easy target for taking the heat for the Pens problems. I personally wouldn't sign him to a long term deal, since he isn't a playoff goalie of choice for me. He seems to show signs of being a quality goalie, but falls short when it counts. He reminds me of an early Price, but Price was able to overcome his psychological challenges. I would even compare him to Romo of the Dallas Cowboys; he maybe good, but isn't great.
That being said, who do they have to turn to if they don't sign him? Do they have anyone in the minors that could fill his shoes? If so, why did they sign Greiss?
I realize that being a Flyers fan that I am one to talk about goal tending, but I was curious about life after "The Flower."
Thanks.
- OrangeAndBlack1

He's the best solution for the Penguins both present and in the near future. He's possibly the most athletically gifted goalie in the league. In last year's playoffs, he was not the problem (aside from Rd 1 game 4). If they lose, it likely won't be all him.

I don't know if you've watched the Flyers this season. Even if they play to the best of their abilities (which is laughable to expect), they just do not possess a talented roster. Individually they have talent, but the mix does not work. They will get picked apart in their own zone tonight.
- jmatchett383

Losing Timmonen really hurt them. He was old, but played big minutes & did it well.

What are your thoughts on their remaining D? Streit, MacDonald, Coburn, Schenn, Grossman, Del Zotto, & Schultz.

Losing Timmonen really hurt them. He was old, but played big minutes & did it well.

What are your thoughts on their remaining D? Streit, MacDonald, Coburn, Schenn, Grossman, Del Zotto, & Schultz.
- s0rcerer1984

4-5 of them, in a vacuum, are good. As a collective, their weakness are exposed.

Open question, all time most hated Flyer and why?

Mine is Rod Brind'Amour, 97' SHG's and the look of joy he brought to the crowd in Philly will haunt me forever. Also he looks like Frankenstein.


Honorable mention Kate Smith.



FTF

Open question, all time most hated Flyer and why?

Mine is Rod Brind'Amour, 97' SHG's and the look of joy he brought to the crowd in Philly will haunt me forever. Also he looks like Frankenstein.


Honorable mention Kate Smith.



FTF
- nbartley9

That's just blatantly disrespectful. I mean, it really is.

Open question, all time most hated Flyer and why?

Mine is Rod Brind'Amour, 97' SHG's and the look of joy he brought to the crowd in Philly will haunt me forever. Also he looks like Frankenstein.


Honorable mention Kate Smith.



FTF
- nbartley9

Tim Kerr... I used to dread him in those days where the Pens could never win at the Spectrum. Also, he looks like a criminal.

Open question, all time most hated Flyer and why?

Mine is Rod Brind'Amour, 97' SHG's and the look of joy he brought to the crowd in Philly will haunt me forever. Also he looks like Frankenstein.


Honorable mention Kate Smith.



FTF
- nbartley9

Tim Kerr. Without a doubt. Not because he was necessarily a dirty player, but he was like 10 feet wide and couldn't be moved. He'd set up in front of the goalie and score heart crushing goals. He'd swat our D away like gnats.

Tim Kerr... I used to dread him in those days where the Pens could never win at the Spectrum. Also, he looks like a criminal.
- rival22

Ha! Beat me to it.

It blows my mind that Penguins fans are so down on MAF. I am a Flyers fan yes, but being from Western PA i watch just as many Penguins games.(On mute with the radio playing most of the time bc Errey/Steigerwald could be the worst in the league, while Mike Lange is left doing radio...CRIME!) Jarry is the only thing even close to an NHL goaltender in their system and he is like many have said at least 3 years away, not to mention he is certainly no sure thing. MAF has kept this team in the top tier along with their stars up front for the past 5 years. Goalies dont grow on trees and Im willing to bet that if polled the NHL GM's rank him in the top 10 of NHL goalies. 5/year is not a bad contract at this point and will not handcuff them. Letangs deal is the biggest handcuff that they have with him never going to be able to live up to the expecations that came with it. Overall I think the Penguins fans should be happy to have MAF and hope that a system change and possibly a culture change can move them past their recent playoff shortcomings.

That's just blatantly disrespectful. I mean, it really is.
- jmatchett383

Primeau. I hate every single time that 5OT game gets brought up--its like the only meaningful thing he ever did in his career. Im sure people in D.C. feel the same way about Nedved.

Primeau. I hate every single time that 5OT game gets brought up--its like the only meaningful thing he ever did in his career. Im sure people in D.C. feel the same way about Nedved.
- Rawdog9755

Primeau almost single-handedly led the Flyers to the Finals in 2004. But yes, he was a fairly run-of-the-mill power forward for the bulk of his career.

Primeau. I hate every single time that 5OT game gets brought up--its like the only meaningful thing he ever did in his career. Im sure people in D.C. feel the same way about Nedved.
- Rawdog9755

Primeau was arguably one of the best captains the team has had. Stats arent the end all be all. The man was a leader and a huge playoff performer. A shutdown 2 way player. But i dont disagree with you hating him, i would too.

Primeau almost single-handedly led the Flyers to the Finals in 2004. But yes, he was a fairly run-of-the-mill power forward for the bulk of his career.
- jmatchett383

Other than the 5OT goal, "almost" is the story of Primeau's hockey life. Could also be applied generally to the Flyers as a whole.

Other than the 5OT goal, "almost" is the story of Primeau's hockey life. Could also be applied generally to the Flyers as a whole.
- Rawdog9755

And here I thought we could actually have a rational conversation. Asking tyoo much on game day, I guess.

Primeau was arguably one of the best captains the team has had. Stats arent the end all be all. The man was a leader and a huge playoff performer. A shutdown 2 way player. But i dont disagree with you hating him, i would too.
- did109

He was a leader and playoff performer once. Until the 2004 playoff run, he was actually viewed as a pretty bad captain. His 2004 run endeared him to the fanbase, but a lot of fans forget what it was like prior to that.

And here I thought we could actually have a rational conversation. Asking tyoo much on game day, I guess.
- jmatchett383

Pretty much. Today is a steady dose of hate and boiling blood. Tomorrow we return to rational conversation and regularly scheduled programming.

Just got done watching the last two periods of Wilkes-Barre's game in Albany. Pens got beat 4-0 in an pretty uninspired game. A few notes...

Pouliot - Gets a pass because it's his first live action, but he didn't look great. Good vision and seems to have good hands, but much slower than I thought. He got completely toasted by Paul Thompson, and Reid Boucher snuck in behind him for a breakaway that ended with Zatkoff likely blowing out his knee.

Megna - He's that really fast guy in your men's league who can probably do trick shots in warmups, but can't control a puck to save his life in a game.

Uher - I've always liked him since he was drafted, but he's not a good hockey player. Looked like Craig Adams out there.

Matt Murray - Came in in relief of injured Zatkoff. Looks big in net.. seems pretty quick, but let a floater in late from the top of the circle... visions of Tom Barrasso.

Scott Harrington - Not a great game.... probably some rust there too, but didn't look all that sharp

Bryan Rust - Reminds me of Tyler Kennedy. Fast, goes to the net, always around the puck, but not much happened with it. Could be a good energy player.

Scott Wilson - I liked him... nifty looking player. Didn't get any great scoring chances, but generated some offense. Him and Rust out there together always ended up their shifts with an offensive zone faceoff.

Samuelsson - Reminds me of a better skating Scuderi (the good version). Not great vision, always made the safe play to get the puck out, but didn't really generate any offense.

Bobby Farnham - A joke... Went right for Darcy Zajac with a minute left and then proceeded to get his ass beat... Soundly.

Chorney - Liked his game... good skater, good with puck, solid depth guy. Very nice pick up for organization.

Dumoulin - Hands down best player of the night for me. Likes to shoot & has a good shot. Fast skater for a big guy. Made a lot of very smart little plays all night both with and away from the puck.

Team looked like a Dan Bylsma team... Small, fast, and not all that skilled. Not sure why they didn't dress Dea or Zlobin, but that team could have used some talent up front.
- rival22

Keep your eye on him. As he gets use to the level of competition he will improve. Throughout his amateur career he has always risen to the occasion when duty calls. Rust will be a mainstay on our fourth line in three years.

Harrington and Ebbett have been recalled apparently?

Back to MAF, what to do with Scuds is the most pressing issue for the Pens right now.

Pens issues:
1. Scuds contract
2. Top 6 need
3. Keep Martin or trade him
4. MAF

Pretty much. Today is a steady dose of hate and boiling blood. Tomorrow we return to rational conversation and regularly scheduled programming.
- Rawdog9755

I really don't get it. You guys are top dog right now, and the Flyers are arguably the 2nd worst team in the division. It's not like the Flyers got all riled up for every game in 03/04 against the Penguins, even with our barbaric, blood-thirsty fans. You guys will win, it will be a walkover, and you'll likely get not fight (literally and figuratively) from the Flyers. So why get so worked up and take jabs like that?

I love Fleury as a player to cheer for, but there are a lot other G's out there who I would rather have in so far as it comes to the package of their play & contract.

However, the major issue I have is that the coming offseason does not have a strong crop of UFA goalies. So if not Fleury, then who? Just as I do not want to overpay for Fleury, I do not want to overpay for some other underperforming UFA goalie with a $6M/yr contract.

Here are what seem to be the top UFA goalies heading to UFA this offseason in no particular order: Fleury, Niemi, Neuvirth, Enroth, Harding

Other than Harding (whose injury concerns, at least in my mind, disqualify him), I'm not sure any one of the other four listed are any better or worse than the next.

Neurvith and Enroth are both younger guys playing for a bad Buffalo team, so maybe they'd be cheaper w/ some upsdie? Niemi hasn't done any better on a stong SJ team so would he be an upgrade? Just not sure there are any good options out there.

Pretty much. Today is a steady dose of hate and boiling blood. Tomorrow we return to rational conversation and regularly scheduled programming.
- Rawdog9755

Eloquently stated, O I forgot I hate Mr. and Mrs. Lindros pretty badly as well.


FTF

He was a leader and playoff performer once. Until the 2004 playoff run, he was actually viewed as a pretty bad captain. His 2004 run endeared him to the fanbase, but a lot of fans forget what it was like prior to that.
- jmatchett383

Speaking of captains, on the flip side of most hated Flyer, I was always a big fan of Desjardins. Very much liked the way he played, just a solid steady Dman. Leclair is another Flyer I always wanted on the Pens; until we got him and he was old, slow, and mostly useless.

Eloquently stated, O I forgot I hate Mr. and Mrs. Lindros pretty badly as well.


FTF
- nbartley9

You hate Bonnie Lindros?

Speaking of captains, on the flip side of most hated Flyer, I was always a big fan of Desjardins. Very much liked the way he played, just a solid steady Dman. Leclair is another Flyer I always wanted on the Pens; until we got him and he was old, slow, and mostly useless.
- Rawdog9755

Yeah, you definitely got the wrong end of LeClair's career. How do you feel about Timonen?

I really don't get it. You guys are top dog right now, and the Flyers are arguably the 2nd worst team in the division. It's not like the Flyers got all riled up for every game in 03/04 against the Penguins, even with our barbaric, blood-thirsty fans. You guys will win, it will be a walkover, and you'll likely get not fight (literally and figuratively) from the Flyers. So why get so worked up and take jabs like that?
- jmatchett383

I grew up in the 90's. There is more than enough material from that decade to last for a lifetime of hating your team. Watching 66 retire the first time was difficult enough; having your cross state rival be the team that knocked us out and put him into retirement was salt in the wound. I will never hate any teams as much as I do the Flyers and Patriots.