Are you saying you don't enjoy the fights where each guy grabs the other guys sweater to keep them at arms length, which taking turns throwing wildly over the top, until they both lose their balance and fall to the ice?
- MJL

As enjoyable as that is, yes, that's the direction I'm steering.

Truthfully, I could see the Jets coming after Coburn -- totally serious.

They think they're a playoff contender and you have to wonder if the GM realizes he's already fired a coach and the time might be now
- AllInForFlyers

I'd think the Jets would be more worried about solidifying their forward group, as their defense is at least upper-half on a spot-by-spot basis.

Edit: when healthy

Only if we can then move Umberger to left out
- BiggE

Ren Lavoie says Lecavalier missed practice with a LBI

Ren Lavoie says Lecavalier missed practice with a LBI
- Jsaquella

This just doesn't seem like it's going to end well

This just doesn't seem like it's going to end well
- PhillySportsGuy

Told ya, he has splinters in his ass

Ren Lavoie says Lecavalier missed practice with a LBI
- Jsaquella

He blew out a knee exiting the press box?

This just doesn't seem like it's going to end well
- PhillySportsGuy

Are you at all surprised?

Are you at all surprised?
- BiggE

He has 3.5 seasons left on the deal though. How do they expect to resolve this?

Are you at all surprised?
- BiggE

Not really. Once you scratched him, there was no going back, really

It had to be done, though

Told ya, he has splinters in his ass
- Jsaquella

I bet he finally snapped at Berube

He blew out a knee exiting the press box?
- BiggE

Positional vertigo like Jeff Hackett, career ending. We can only hope
Go buy a house in a few more continents with your buyout and retire VL...
or go play in the KHL or Swiss League

He has 3.5 seasons left on the deal though. How do they expect to resolve this?
- PhillySportsGuy

I honestly don't know if there's a good way to do it. Hard to see either side getting what they want

Not really. Once you scratched him, there was no going back, really

It had to be done, though
- AllInForFlyers

IMO and im sure its others too, Flyers are trying to force his hand to retire or maybe mutually terminate contract like Kovy did.

I honestly don't know if there's a good way to do it. Hard to see either side getting what they want
- AllInForFlyers

I can't imagine it's comfortable being around that team right now with the way Berube issues benchings.

IMO and im sure its others too, Flyers are trying to force his hand to retire or maybe mutually terminate contract like Kovy did.
- flyerfan28

Let's just say that I would think that a competent management team would have discussed what are the options that might present themselves should they scratch a player like Lecavalier

Told ya, he has splinters in his ass
- Jsaquella

Sounds like LTIR to me.

I can't imagine it's comfortable being around that team right now with the way Berube issues benchings.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's odd -- they're 2-1-2 in the last five, which is six of 10 points. That's not bad

But it does almost feel like there's a shoe that's going to drop

Let's just say that I would think that a competent management team would have discussed what are the options that might present themselves should they scratch a player like Lecavalier
- AllInForFlyers

Yeap makes sense, doesnt sound like they have any intention to insert him back in the lineup either.

Yeap makes sense, doesnt sound like they have any intention to insert him back in the lineup either.
- flyerfan28

There's no reason to do so -- Laughton's not scoring at ES, true, but he does nearly everything else better as a hockey player at this stage of his career and, more importantly to me, Simmonds looks like he's a threat at ES more consistently with Laughton as his center -- Simmonds hadn't had a 10-bell chance like he did last night at evens, off a play from a center, for as long as I can remember

It's odd -- they're 2-1-2 in the last five, which is six of 10 points. That's not bad

But it does almost feel like there's a shoe that's going to drop
- AllInForFlyers

They've been outplayed in all of those games with the exception of last night. I wouldn't call last nights win impressive either. They outplayed a depleted NJ team that isn't very good to begin with.

How many games have they outplayed the opposition since that 5 day layoff? Maybe 3? Columbus once, Minnesota and NJ.

When they went on that California road trip last year, they played really well against San Jose and Anaheim then stole the LA game. There were reasons for optimism. I just don't see that with this team. They still have the same issues. Their wins come against bad teams or when Mason steals one.

They're not a pretty team right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had another ugly streak of games at some point

But I also feel like if this team can just settle the (frank) down on lines 2-4 and get consistent play, if not scoring every night but at least hold their own at ES, then they just might be able to make a sustained run for the rest of the season

Probably can't fix the defense in-season, and yeah, maybe they should sell at the TDL. Maybe they should. But if Read's finally awake, then you can see what Couturier looks like with an NHL winger doing what they're supposed to be doing...there's reasons for me to believe that they're as likely to go on a good run than there are for them to bottom out, not the least of which is that they have a legit No. 1 goalie and a backup who can absolutely win games

They've been outplayed in all of those games with the exception of last night. I wouldn't call last nights win impressive either. They outplayed a depleted NJ team that isn't very good to begin with.

How many games have they outplayed the opposition since that 5 day layoff? Maybe 3? Columbus once, Minnesota and NJ.

When they went on that California road trip last year, they played really well against San Jose and Anaheim then stole the LA game. There were reasons for optimism. I just don't see that with this team. They still have the same issues. Their wins come against bad teams or when Mason steals one.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't dispute what you're saying. Just think that if Read plays better, then Couturier plays better...Laughton helps Simmonds...it could get better as more games are played.

They need to make sure whatever went wrong with the PK gets fixed, pronto, but I do think they're on the fence for how this season could go. Had to win last night, almost, but they did

I can't imagine it's comfortable being around that team right now with the way Berube issues benchings.
- PhillySportsGuy

I personally don't think there is an issue among the players, concerning the scrtatches that have been made. In my opinion, it's more of an issue with some fans then it is the players.

They're not a pretty team right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had another ugly streak of games at some point

But I also feel like if this team can just settle the (frank) down on lines 2-4 and get consistent play, if not scoring every night but at least hold their own at ES, then they just might be able to make a sustained run for the rest of the season

Probably can't fix the defense in-season, and yeah, maybe they should sell at the TDL. Maybe they should. But if Read's finally awake, then you can see what Couturier looks like with an NHL winger doing what they're supposed to be doing...there's reasons for me to believe that they're as likely to go on a good run than there are for them to bottom out, not the least of which is that they have a legit No. 1 goalie and a backup who can absolutely win games
- AllInForFlyers

I know it's been tough and the team hasn't looked great, but there are a lot of nice pieces up front. If they can start scoring like they are capable of, the mediocre defense may not be as big an issue. The division is weak overall, so I'm not ready to tank just yet. I think if the forward lines can build off of last night, this will look like a different team. With lecavalier out, the top three lines look much better, IMO and even though it was a weak devils line up, the top 3 lines looked much more balanced than they have in a while. Scoring threats on all three.