It's funny, but I still don't think they're ready to pull that trigger -- think they're gonna try and get him a center who is better than Bozak

Now, where you get that from, I don't know, but I think that's what they''re gonna try to do first
- AllInForFlyers

One of Carlyle's biggest things is that he refused to use Kadri on that line. People have been wondering why not for years, since he's a better player than Bozak. Maybe they'll try that now.

Will they take L. Schenn back?
- PLindbergh31

ftfy

Dunno... why was a rookie goalie, who had never had a goaltending coach before crossing the pond, could barely speak any English, and had technical problems up the wazoo, being tasked with carrying the hopes of a team w/ clear Cup-aspirations?

I don't think it would have ended up well, no matter who the coach was. He was going to get exposed sooner or later. They really dropped the ball by rushing him. Luckily the Jackets straightened him out.
- Tomahawk

i disagree there, but agree with your general pov. what happened with him has to be taken into some context with the leighton injury and boucher circus. that said, it's not like young rookie goalies have never taken a team deep before. just because he had a rough start didn't mean it would end that way.

they had what was clearly a very promising talent and threw him away because of a coach who panicked and an aging, desperate owner. it sucks, but at least they get mason in return.

had a dream last night that l schenn got traded back to the leafs, not sure what the Flyers got in return. I'm know it wasn't JVR.

had a dream last night that l schenn got traded back to the leafs, not sure what the Flyers got in return. I'm know it wasn't JVR.
- LJF

the hamburglar's hat

Great pic of Fat Phil and RJ
- 3flyerkids

It is.. Kessel strikes me as a player who plays hockey because he's good not because he loves it. Zero passion from that guy.

had a dream last night that l schenn got traded back to the leafs, not sure what the Flyers got in return. I'm know it wasn't JVR.
- LJF

Was it Tie Domi's vagina?

I don't blame Holmgren for not being able to replace a hall of fame d-man. But getting rid of Richards and Carter for a bunch of forwards and cap space for a lunatic goalie isn't the way to go about doing it. If you are going to get rid of what was the core of your team at the time, you get good d-men as part of those moves. That easily replaces Carle and does better for your franchise.
- Daveflyers36

Again, you're missing my point. I'm not just blaming Laviolette. I'm placing plenty of blame on Holmgren and the players, as well. I'm not absolving anyone, because they all share the blame.

Like the current situation. The players share blame, as do Berube and Holmgren. To an extent, Hextall deserves a bit of blame, too. No gun to his head to add Umberger.

Great pic of Fat Phil and RJ
- 3flyerkids

it blows my mind the scoring ability that guy has.

really, i still just cant comprehend he is a professional athlete. let alone a good one.

I just think it's crazy to always look at the coach, no matter what, when a team starts to go sour.

Laviolette wasn't perfect -- I don't dispute the flaws that have been brought up.

But at the same time, look at the roster he wound up with. Just look at it.

From the playoff team in 2012, to the lockout season, Jagr wasn't replaced adequately. Carle wasn't replaced adequately. JVR wasn't replaced adequately.

Briere's decline had clearly begun. Meszaros never made it back to being a player.

Then, they asked him to win in the lockout season with well-past-their-prime guys like Ruslan Fedotenko and Mike Knuble and young/developing players like Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier in bigger roles. With a defense that featured Bruno Gervais and Kurtis Foster.

Now, again, yes, you can blame the coach. But to my way of thinking, WTF was any coach going to do with that? Scotty Bowman wasn't winning with that.

I just think it's crazy to always look at the coach, no matter what, when a team starts to go sour.

Laviolette wasn't perfect -- I don't dispute the flaws that have been brought up.

But at the same time, look at the roster he wound up with. Just look at it.

From the playoff team in 2012, to the lockout season, Jagr wasn't replaced adequately. Carle wasn't replaced adequately. JVR wasn't replaced adequately.

Briere's decline had clearly begun. Meszaros never made it back to being a player.

Then, they asked him to win in the lockout season with well-past-their-prime guys like Ruslan Fedotenko and Mike Knuble and young/developing players like Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier in bigger roles. With a defense that featured Bruno Gervais and Kurtis Foster.

Now, again, yes, you can blame the coach. But to my way of thinking, WTF was any coach going to do with that? Scotty Bowman wasn't winning with that.
- AllInForFlyers

Last I checked, not a single person was blaming the coach alone.

it blows my mind the scoring ability that guy has.

really, i still just cant comprehend he is a professional athlete. let alone a good one.
- stayinthefnnet

At the start of the season, there was a photo of him circulating as a meme, you'd show it to people and ask them what do you think this guy's job is.

I did it to my wife, mom, mother in law, and other non hockey fans. Most said drug dealer or pornographer. My mom thought that he was Zack Galifinakas' brother after being arrested with a mountain of drugs

Last I checked, not a single person was blaming the coach alone.
- Jsaquella

When you say, "he deserved to get fired," man -- that's just not right. He was given a poop roster in the lockout season, got that team to .500 by the end of it even with a ton of injuries on defense, got no help that summer from the front office, and then got gassed three games in.

It wasn't right, and he didn't deserve that. Yeah, they can fire him and no, he wasn't perfect, but Laviolette wasn't nearly the biggest problem then and Berube isn't nearly the biggest problem now

Last I checked, not a single person was blaming the coach alone.
- Jsaquella

ctrl+f "alone"

0 results

When you say, "he deserved to get fired," man -- that's just not right. He was given a poop roster in the lockout season, got that team to .500 by the end of it even with a ton of injuries on defense, got no help that summer from the front office, and then got gassed three games in.

It wasn't right, and he didn't deserve that. Yeah, they can fire him and no, he wasn't perfect, but Laviolette wasn't nearly the biggest problem then and Berube isn't nearly the biggest problem now
- AllInForFlyers

deserve's got nothin to do with it.

When you say, "he deserved to get fired," man -- that's just not right. He was given a poop roster in the lockout season, got that team to .500 by the end of it even with a ton of injuries on defense, got no help that summer from the front office, and then got gassed three games in.

It wasn't right, and he didn't deserve that. Yeah, they can fire him and no, he wasn't perfect, but Laviolette wasn't nearly the biggest problem then and Berube isn't nearly the biggest problem now
- AllInForFlyers

I actually think they had a roster capable of making the playoffs that year. Felt the same last year. This is actually the first year that I felt they weren't going to be a playoff team heading into the season.

As I said, IMO, they should have removed both Holmgren and Laviolette after the 2013 season.

It is.. Kessel strikes me as a player who plays hockey because he's good not because he loves it. Zero passion from that guy.
- Hextall271

That is him . I would want no part of this guy on my team. He can score in streaks and that is it. " Invisible Phil" is a common name among Leaf fans.

I actually think they had a roster capable of making the playoffs that year. Felt the same last year. This is actually the first year that I felt they weren't going to be a playoff team heading into the season.

As I said, IMO, they should have removed both Holmgren and Laviolette after the 2013 season.
- Jsaquella

You thought they should've made it the lockout season? That was clearly a weaker team than the 2011-12 playoff team, to me.

Last year I thought they would make it, because I presumed growth for the young players and thought the goaltending had stabilized. But really, last year was a mirage, with Giroux doing some otherworldly poop and the PP and PK covering up for a weakening defense and shoddy ES play

And that's really the thing: When Laviolette had talent, they weren't abysmal at ES. This team is exactly where it deserves to be -- unfortunately -- because they just aren't talented enough to score consistently at ES, and haven't been since the 2011-12 season

One of Carlyle's biggest things is that he refused to use Kadri on that line. People have been wondering why not for years, since he's a better player than Bozak. Maybe they'll try that now.
- Tomahawk

I'm curious to see if Kadri can hold that down defensively

I won't be surprised at anything that happens up there. I could even see JVR getting moved if they don't improve their team defense

You thought they should've made it the lockout season? That was clearly a weaker team than the 2011-12 playoff team, to me.

Last year I thought they would make it, because I presumed growth for the young players and thought the goaltending had stabilized. But really, last year was a mirage, with Giroux doing some otherworldly poop and the PP and PK covering up for a weakening defense and shoddy ES play

And that's really the thing: When Laviolette had talent, they weren't abysmal at ES. This team is exactly where it deserves to be -- unfortunately -- because they just aren't talented enough to score consistently at ES, and haven't been since the 2011-12 season
- AllInForFlyers

Yes they were a slightly weaker team in 2013 than in 2011-12. Still felt they were a playoff caliber team. Felt they were a playoff team last year for same reasons you did. Also expected the PP/PK to be good.

This year, I expected the special teams to take a bit of a hit, but the PK has been awful. Losing Timonen was a fatal blow. Lot of younger guys have stagnated.

I'm curious to see if Kadri can hold that down defensively

I won't be surprised at anything that happens up there. I could even see JVR getting moved if they don't improve their team defense
- AllInForFlyers

JVR for Mike Richards

i hate his face so much. he looks like an out of shape, poop head, beer leaguer whom i want to hextall in the crotchular region.
- hammarby31

that has to be photoshopped

it blows my mind the scoring ability that guy has.

really, i still just cant comprehend he is a professional athlete. let alone a good one.
- stayinthefnnet

He looks like Bobcat Goldwhaite but moves like Bob Fosse.

- Tomahawk

That's pretty awesome.