Sitting Duck.
- PLindbergh31

I know I shouldn't have lol'd at something that like, but I did.

Read has played terribly. They need him to be a key contributor.

Read, Umberger, VLC, VDV, Rinaldo are 5 regulars and they've combined for 6 goals. That is ridiculously bad.
- PLindbergh31

You want to believe that's not sustainable -- Read and VLC can probably still score -- but the problem is that VLC's not getting any chances, and Read's not doing enough to get them or finish them when he does

The other three guys...they're not gonna score. They're just not.

The question that will be answered is how bad can you be at ES to sniff the playoffs. Right now, they are damn close to being so bad at ES that it's wasting elite production from a first line AND Top 10 goaltending

He's played on a terrible defensive team too, not that he's helped it, but if he played on a more responsible team with a more reliable partner, maybe he could become a legit top pairing puck mover. He's only 24.
- NickTheKid87

maybe, but if we're going to send two significant roster players (not to mention top trade pieces), I want more than a guy who maybe won't be bad.

Still fine with Hartnell/Umberger, because I understood the cap logic behind it

And I also thought Umberger would be able to help -- I said it then, and I own that

But here's the thing: He can't help them. He's done. Columbus was right, Todd Richards was right. He's done.

What you can't do is compound the error -- and all managers make them -- by continuing to try to jump-start the player. You swallow hard and bite the bullet and make a move, now and in the summer.

Because the minutes he is giving them are empty, below-replacement level. You have to look pretty hard to insert a player who would be worse than him right now, and you just have to move on.

At some point, the money just doesn't matter.
- AllInForFlyers

How hard do you bite the bullet?

Throw in a 2nd rounder to get rid of him?

Give me the specifics of what it would take.
I understand what a regular buyout would cost, is that what you would see them do?

I dont like maybe's
- jak521

Isn't that what half this trading stuff is built on?

You want to believe that's not sustainable -- Read and VLC can probably still score -- but the problem is that VLC's not getting any chances, and Read's not doing enough to get them or finish them when he does

The other three guys...they're not gonna score. They're just not.

The question that will be answered is how bad can you be at ES to sniff the playoffs. Right now, they are damn close to being so bad at ES that it's wasting elite production from a first line AND Top 10 goaltending
- AllInForFlyers

I agree. But if Umberger and VLC continue to provide nothing, and Read remains in a funk, you have half of the forwards not producing anything. Impossible to compete when half your forward core can't score goals.

I know I shouldn't have lol'd at something that like, but I did.
- Tomahawk

maybe, but if we're going to send two significant roster players (not to mention top trade pieces), I want more than a guy who maybe won't be bad.
- BulliesPhan87

There would be other things involved of course. Those four guys would be the framework. Depends on other offers too.

There would be other things involved of course. Those four guys would be the framework. Depends on other offers too.
- NickTheKid87

if I'm making a pitch for Schultz, I'm lowballing Edmonton. if I'm trading significant assets, I'm targeting an Eberle, not spare parts.

I agree to a certain extent. But it does not explain games where the Flyers have come out and had a lack of intensity from the opening puck drop. Or games like the Montreal game, where they were the better team and carried the play for 2 periods. Then come out in the 3rd without any intensity. Also some mental issues with this team.
- MJL

I personally believe lack of intensity is nearly always tertiary. Yes, there maybe some outliers, but IMO, it is almost always a mirage caused by lack of execution and poor puck possession.

Even last night.. the Flyers were dominated in pretty much every facet (faceoff's aside). I dont think it was because they didnt want enough, or they werent working hard enough. If that was the case they wouldnt have been exhausted. They were just not executing. Failed clear after failed clear, pucks "not settling down". Failure to exit their zone, failure to maintain puck possession (a side from a few shifts) outside of the G line. Those things mount on you, and then you look like you are not working hard.

if I'm making a pitch for Schultz, I'm lowballing Edmonton. if I'm trading significant assets, I'm targeting an Eberle, not spare parts.
- BulliesPhan87

Eberle is another RW though. I'm not sure he can play the left side. Eberle has got the offensive ability but I'm not sure I would want to give up what they'll get for him. Perron at least can play the left side. Preferably, I wouldn't want to move Coburn and/or BSchenn for Perron, Schultz or Eberle but it would depend on the plus and what not.

I'd have been fine with that. Umberger is a player who has been successful over his career playing down low on the PP. Berube is also trying to do everthing he can to try and get Umberger going. I'm not going to criticize him for that.
- MJL

Why is Berube's version of doing everything he can do to get RJ going so vastly different in how he's handling Akeson? I know one is a "vet" and one is a rookie, but the huge disparity between the minutes being heaped upon a consistently ineffective player with the worst +/- on the team and those being taken away from a rookie with upside, who hasn't played as bad, has a higher p/60 mins in his last 20 games vs. RJ, and actually scored on the PP as a Flyer, is unconscionable. Using 7 D instead of playing Akeson was a poor decision. I think I'm almost ready to join the fire Berube brigade.

P.S. This has been today's, daily Akeson mention...brought to you by, "The Walking Dead" on AMC.

Why is Berube's version of doing everything he can do to get RJ going so vastly different in how he's handling Akeson? I know one is a "vet" and one is a rookie, but the huge disparity between the minutes being heaped upon a consistently ineffective player with the worst +/- on the team and those being taken away from a rookie with upside, who hasn't played as bad, has a higher p/60 mins in his last 20 games vs. RJ, and actually scored on the PP as a Flyer, is unconscionable. Using 7 D instead of playing Akeson was a poor decision. I think I'm almost ready to join the fire Berube brigade.

P.S. This has been today's, daily Akeson mention...brought to you by, "The Walking Dead" on AMC.
- exlund

You go, Sisyphus!

Yeah, you never get a good prospect unless it's a top-5 pick. Let's just pull a Sixers and throw 4-5 seasons.
- jmatchett383

No, no, clearly what the Flyers are doing is working out just fine.

How hard do you bite the bullet?

Throw in a 2nd rounder to get rid of him?

Give me the specifics of what it would take.
I understand what a regular buyout would cost, is that what you would see them do?
- Marc D

I would absolutely put in a pick, as high as a third-rounder, plus eat 1.5 million in salary, in order to obtain a replacement player who could contribute.

But if you can't do that because it takes two to trade, I would waive Umberger to the Phantoms, find a player at 875k or less, and buy him out this summer

I would not hesitate to do either of those things

if I'm making a pitch for Schultz, I'm lowballing Edmonton. if I'm trading significant assets, I'm targeting an Eberle, not spare parts.
- BulliesPhan87

Ill be honest, I'm not really interested in Edmonton's players unless they make a great offer. This is a team that completely overvalues its players. They always talk about the potential and skill of their players, but the results never come to fruition. I'm not saying they need to contend for a conference title, but at least be a fringe playoff team. If their players were good, their results would be better.

Why is Berube's version of doing everything he can do to get RJ going so vastly different in how he's handling Akeson? I know one is a "vet" and one is a rookie, but the huge disparity between the minutes being heaped upon a consistently ineffective player with the worst +/- on the team and those being taken away from a rookie with upside, who hasn't played as bad, has a higher p/60 mins in his last 20 games vs. RJ, and actually scored on the PP as a Flyer, is unconscionable. Using 7 D instead of playing Akeson was a poor decision. I think I'm almost ready to join the fire Berube brigade.

P.S. This has been today's, daily Akeson mention...brought to you by, "The Walking Dead" on AMC.
- exlund

I'm about there too. I was optimistic when hearing him talk as soon as he took over... holding guys accountable and all that good stuff... but at this point in time, he's really beginning to get on my nerves.. Especially since he hasn't really done anything he said he would..

Ill be honest, I'm not really interested in Edmonton's players unless they make a great offer. This is a team that completely overvalues its players. They always talk about the potential and skill of their players, but the results never come to fruition. I'm not saying they need to contend for a conference title, but at least be a fringe team. If their players were good, their results would be better.
- PhillySportsGuy

agreed, they're just not an ideal trade partner. As for their failure to compete, they should have at least been pushing to almost compete for just missing the playoffs by now.

I'm about there too. I was optimistic when hearing him talk as soon as he took over... holding guys accountable and all that good stuff... but at this point in time, he's really beginning to get on my nerves.. Especially since he hasn't really done anything he said he would..
- WarriorHockey21

I'm not there yet. I think Hexy probably believes that there wasn't much chance of this team winning this season, at least to the point of firing a coach. But he does make some head scratching moves like putting RJ on the power play rather than Laughton. Though that may also have to do with who works with who in practice and maybe Laughton hasnt worked on the power play yet. I don't know.

But his insistence of playing Umberger.......lets see what happens when Raffl returns and then I will make a judgement based on how that plays out.

What is wrong with Matt Read? He just doesn't seem like the same player.

No, no, clearly what the Flyers are doing is working out just fine.
- wolfhounds

C'mon now...you know Uncle Eddie doesn't accept mediocrity

I personally believe lack of intensity is nearly always tertiary. Yes, there maybe some outliers, but IMO, it is almost always a mirage caused by lack of execution and poor puck possession.

Even last night.. the Flyers were dominated in pretty much every facet (faceoff's aside). I dont think it was because they didnt want enough, or they werent working hard enough. If that was the case they wouldnt have been exhausted. They were just not executing. Failed clear after failed clear, pucks "not settling down". Failure to exit their zone, failure to maintain puck possession (a side from a few shifts) outside of the G line. Those things mount on you, and then you look like you are not working hard.
- jak521

I can't agree with you there. I agree that lack of execution can lead to chasing the game, which can lead to losing energy. But the way they came out that last game against the Rangers, had zero to do with lack of execution. Hextall didn't go into the room to chew then out for lack of execution.

No, no, clearly what the Flyers are doing is working out just fine.
- wolfhounds

I love MvW and they've been calling McDavid to the Flyers since the end of last season. They referenced it again in yesterdays podcast. The fix is in. All the Flyers have to do is finish out of the playoffs.

I can't agree with you there. I agree that lack of execution can lead to chasing the game, which can lead to losing energy. But the way they came out that last game against the Rangers, had zero to do with lack of execution. Hextall didn't go into the room to chew then out for lack of execution.
- MJL

It absolutely started with lack of execution... and from there things just unraveled. They were skating, working hard, hitting, etc.. in the first period. They just couldnt complete passes, they couldnt get continued puck possession, and then they caved. I remember specifically because I tweeted about 15 minutes in that they were working hard, just not executing. The 2nd and 3rd periods were just garbage.

Why is Berube's version of doing everything he can do to get RJ going so vastly different in how he's handling Akeson? I know one is a "vet" and one is a rookie, but the huge disparity between the minutes being heaped upon a consistently ineffective player with the worst +/- on the team and those being taken away from a rookie with upside, who hasn't played as bad, has a higher p/60 mins in his last 20 games vs. RJ, and actually scored on the PP as a Flyer, is unconscionable. Using 7 D instead of playing Akeson was a poor decision. I think I'm almost ready to join the fire Berube brigade.

P.S. This has been today's, daily Akeson mention...brought to you by, "The Walking Dead" on AMC.
- exlund

Congrats on adding the sponsor. Always vital to a cause

I was literally yelling at the TV when I saw this...Simmonds was in the box for the fight and Chief puts him on the top PP unit! WTF!

- aantny88

Who should have taken Simmonds' spot for that powerplay?