Some days I see what this team could be, with just a few moves, and I get excited

Then some days when I see them pass and puck-handle like they do far too often, it feels like it's gonna be forever

This (frank)ing season has been one of the least enjoyable seasons I can recall
- AllInForFlyers

That's the frustrating part. I wish it was effort or lack of heart. That can usually be fixed in short order with a deal or two to shuffle the deck. When you need talent, it's harder.

I also wish it was as simple as getting rid of Berube and suddenly be fine. It's not. They need fixing, alogn with a new coach

That's the frustrating part. I wish it was effort or lack of heart. That can usually be fixed in short order with a deal or two to shuffle the deck. When you need talent, it's harder.

I also wish it was as simple as getting rid of Berube and suddenly be fine. It's not. They need fixing, alogn with a new coach
- Jsaquella

In The Season Which Shall Not Be Named, they were just bad. You could see it. You knew they were in tough, with Forsberg gimped up, Hatcher on his last legs. When they started running The Ghost of Petr Nedved out there, you understood that they just didn't have the horses

What makes this season borderline unbearable is that this roster is supposed to have better pieces. It's OK that Brayden Schenn hasn't panned out like the best player outside of the NHL. That's totally fine.

But he doesn't even look like a first-rounder, sometimes. Same with Luke Schenn. On too many nights, Sean Couturier looks like the offensive zone is just a mystery.

Even when Del Zotto is (frank)ing up defensively, he still looks like a first-rounder, you know? You see the skating, the shot, the instincts. He LOOKS like a player, and because he does have talent, the points and production are there

The Flyers needed the Schenns and Coots to look like first-rounders, not necessarily Top 5/10 picks, but just first-rounders, guys with natural ability with skating and the puck and with their instincts

They just didn't get it, and that's what makes this season less enjoyable than the horror of 06/07

You know, he was a solidly above-average player once

Injured or no, it's fairly sad where he is now

The mileage those guys put on over time...Father Time just remains undefeated, and always will
- AllInForFlyers

i was an umberger fan when he was here the first time, and was in favor of the trade on paper. it hasn't worked out. it's disappointing for everyone. sucks.

True, praise isn't the right word. Berube defended Emery's play, after criticizing Mason for not fighting through a screen that was foolishly set by his teammate, that prevented Mason from seeing a shot.

Berube didn't criticize the teammate, Nick Schultz, for screening the goalie, which was an idiotic thing to do.
- Jsaquella

either way...defending him is just as bad in my view. he was poor in that game. bad rebounds led directly to that loss. not that the result really matters because it doesn't. i just don't like the double standard, regardless of who's #1 and #2.

In The Season Which Shall Not Be Named, they were just bad. You could see it. You knew they were in tough, with Forsberg gimped up, Hatcher on his last legs. When they started running The Ghost of Petr Nedved out there, you understood that they just didn't have the horses

What makes this season borderline unbearable is that this roster is supposed to have better pieces. It's OK that Brayden Schenn hasn't panned out like the best player outside of the NHL. That's totally fine.

But he doesn't even look like a first-rounder, sometimes. Same with Luke Schenn. On too many nights, Sean Couturier looks like the offensive zone is just a mystery.

Even when Del Zotto is (frank)ing up defensively, he still looks like a first-rounder, you know? You see the skating, the shot, the instincts. He LOOKS like a player, and because he does have talent, the points and production are there

The Flyers needed the Schenns and Coots to look like first-rounders, not necessarily Top 5/10 picks, but just first-rounders, guys with natural ability with skating and the puck and with their instincts

They just didn't get it, and that's what makes this season less enjoyable than the horror of 06/07
- AllInForFlyers

It's worrisome that none of the kids expected to take steps forward really did. Couturier remained an excellent defensive guy and chipped in modest offense, and Schenn is providing close to the production he did last year, but there's been a real stagnation of their play this year. Bump in the road? Perhaps, but worrisome just the same.

It's still too early to abandon either one, unless you get a good return that fills some significant holes. But disappointing season, in terms of taking the next step for them, for sure.

either way...defending him is just as bad in my view. he was poor in that game. bad rebounds led directly to that loss. not that the result really matters because it doesn't. i just don't like the double standard, regardless of who's #1 and #2.
- hammarby31

The double standard gives credence to Seravalli's writing, regardless of what the player & coach say publicly about a rift.

i was an umberger fan when he was here the first time, and was in favor of the trade on paper. it hasn't worked out. it's disappointing for everyone. sucks.
- hammarby31

I have long ago owned that I, too, was in favor of it on paper, and I honestly thought Umberger would do well in this system

I thought that, even knowing that Hartnell was likely gonna drop another 25 goal season, like he has. Wouldn't be surprised if he has another one in him next year, too

If Umberger can't skate any better than he showed this year after that hip is rehabbed...that is the nightmare scenario that even our worst enemies would want to see, because that takes a tough deal whose major benefit was cap space down the line and makes it just completely horrific until then

I have long ago owned that I, too, was in favor of it on paper, and I honestly thought Umberger would do well in this system

I thought that, even knowing that Hartnell was likely gonna drop another 25 goal season, like he has. Wouldn't be surprised if he has another one in him next year, too

If Umberger can't skate any better than he showed this year after that hip is rehabbed...that is the nightmare scenario that even our worst enemies would want to see, because that takes a tough deal whose major benefit was cap space down the line and makes it just completely horrific until then
- AllInForFlyers

I get the logic behind it, but man, it would have been so much better to just get the 4th rounder...

In a few years, when RJ is off the books and Hartnell is a 35 year old guy who has slowed a step and isn't as productive, maybe we can all smile.

Big Sammy ‏@BroadStBullpoop 3m3 minutes ago

Mark Arcobello has been on waiver 4 times this year, he scored his 15th goal of the season tonight. He'd be 5th on the flyers in goals.

I get the logic behind it, but man, it would have been so much better to just get the 4th rounder...

In a few years, when RJ is off the books and Hartnell is a 35 year old guy who has slowed a step and isn't as productive, maybe we can all smile.
- Jsaquella

Have to hope

True, praise isn't the right word. Berube defended Emery's play, after criticizing Mason for not fighting through a screen that was foolishly set by his teammate, that prevented Mason from seeing a shot.

Berube didn't criticize the teammate, Nick Schultz, for screening the goalie, which was an idiotic thing to do.
- Jsaquella

its hard to expect consistency from the players when the coaches flips like pancakes at ihop.

Big Sammy ‏@BroadStBullpoop 3m3 minutes ago

Mark Arcobello has been on waiver 4 times this year, he scored his 15th goal of the season tonight. He'd be 5th on the flyers in goals.
- Jsaquella

This just isn't the season they thought they were gonna have, at all

Maybe they knew they wouldn't be great, but they sure as hell didn't think Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier would each have fewer goals than Mark Arcobello

In The Season Which Shall Not Be Named, they were just bad. You could see it. You knew they were in tough, with Forsberg gimped up, Hatcher on his last legs. When they started running The Ghost of Petr Nedved out there, you understood that they just didn't have the horses

What makes this season borderline unbearable is that this roster is supposed to have better pieces. It's OK that Brayden Schenn hasn't panned out like the best player outside of the NHL. That's totally fine.

But he doesn't even look like a first-rounder, sometimes. Same with Luke Schenn. On too many nights, Sean Couturier looks like the offensive zone is just a mystery.

Even when Del Zotto is (frank)ing up defensively, he still looks like a first-rounder, you know? You see the skating, the shot, the instincts. He LOOKS like a player, and because he does have talent, the points and production are there

The Flyers needed the Schenns and Coots to look like first-rounders, not necessarily Top 5/10 picks, but just first-rounders, guys with natural ability with skating and the puck and with their instincts

They just didn't get it, and that's what makes this season less enjoyable than the horror of 06/07
- AllInForFlyers

i hate to scapegoat and simplify the vast problems if this team, but i really think and NHL caliber head coach, squeezes the most out of these players and puts them in better position to win.

its hard to expect consistency from the players when the coaches flips like pancakes at ihop.
- JoeRussomanno

That's a contributing factor. If Berube's system is sound and solid, his player usage is panicked and irregular. Some of that is also on the players, but I have a lot of issues with how he sets his lines, and how he uses various players.

The double standard gives credence to Seravalli's writing, regardless of what the player & coach say publicly about a rift.
- Jsaquella

i'm no fan of seravalli...and hate the way the media in general writes about and treats our players. well documented. nothing new. however, i've found his writing, the limited pieces of read to be of a much better quality, balanced etc...this season, and i don't think he's making up crap here just for site hits and drama. i think there's something there.

a team denying poop? no way.

i'm no fan of seravalli...and hate the way the media in general writes about and treats our players. well documented. nothing new. however, i've found his writing, the limited pieces of read to be of a much better quality, balanced etc...this season, and i don't think he's making up crap here just for site hits and drama. i think there's something there.

a team denying poop? no way.
- hammarby31

well when zepp got pulled in that game and mason inserted, did you do good ol' wtf?! cause i sure did, then to read what we're hearing, then see reese up and leave in that fashion, something is amiss... they say where there's smoke there's fire... may not be fire but there sure as hell is smoke.

I have long ago owned that I, too, was in favor of it on paper, and I honestly thought Umberger would do well in this system

I thought that, even knowing that Hartnell was likely gonna drop another 25 goal season, like he has. Wouldn't be surprised if he has another one in him next year, too

If Umberger can't skate any better than he showed this year after that hip is rehabbed...that is the nightmare scenario that even our worst enemies would want to see, because that takes a tough deal whose major benefit was cap space down the line and makes it just completely horrific until then
- AllInForFlyers

i don't think this team is a playoff team with hartnell on it. so i don't really have an issue with the move. it was made for certain reasons and it didn't pan out. it happens. i do have an issue with how umberger's been used this year given his performance. ton of ice time, in all situations, and has played poorly.

if he can't go next year, as you've said...it's a poopty situation. real poopty.

well when zepp got pulled in that game and mason inserted, did you do good ol' wtf?! cause i sure did, then to read what we're hearing, then see reese up and leave in that fashion, something is amiss... they say where there's smoke there's fire... may not be fire but there sure as hell is smoke.
- JoeRussomanno

of course i did. i was steaming...both for zepp and for mason. not fair to either of them. there was ZERO reason to pull zepp there, especially given that mason was clear that he didn't feel ready and that zepp has played extremely well for them.

that reese left was fired, whatever, at this time of the season and everyone all fort knox about it - not to mention the inside info i have from a legitimate, reliable source - tells me all i need to know. ultimately, it's a disservice to their #1 starting goalie. he's kind of an important player.

because flyers.

of course i did. i was steaming...both for zepp and for mason. not fair to either of them. there was ZERO reason to pull zepp there, especially given that mason was clear that he didn't feel ready and that zepp has played extremely well for them.

that reese left was fired, whatever, at this time of the season and everyone all fort knox about it - not to mention the inside info i have from a legitimate, reliable source - tells me all i need to know. ultimately, it's a disservice to their #1 starting goalie. he's kind of an important player.

because flyers.
- hammarby31

If a beer league team in New Mexico hires Jeff Reese...

Anthony Mingioni ‏@AnthonyMingioni
Per CBJs: Hartnell's hat trick is the first at Nationwide Arena since March 23, 2012. Who got it? The man he was traded for: R.J. Umberger.
- ob18

Can we all finally agree that this was a bad trade from day one regardless of the contract reasoning behind the deal? Hartnell is a good player right now. RJ Umberger isn't and wasn't last season. I've heard all season long with the lack of trades made since this one that Hextall shouldn't rush into make any types of trades, when this is exactly what this was.

curb is seinfeld on crack. it's (frank)ing awesome.
- hammarby31

george costanza is arguably one of the best tv characters ever which is why curb is incredible.

Can we all finally agree that it was a bad trade from day one regardless of the contract reasoning behind the deal? Hartnell is a good player right now. RJ Umberger isn't and wasn't last season. I've heard all season long with the lack of trade made since this one that Hextall shouldn't rush to make any types of trades, when this is exactly what this was.
- SuperSchennBros

i'll be pissed if the reason we got rid of hartnell (other than contract) was due to him not seeing eye to eye with berube. totally speculation but it seems like hartnell was of the "frick and frack" era and had more pull in the room with the younger players than berube. its almost as if berube was preaching "system, system system" like the school teacher and hartnell was the class clown that was held back a few years making fart noises in the back of the classroom. eliminating hartnell, in theory, showed a change of culture and would allow chief to be in charge..

...except that culture change resulted in a season fraught with shenanigans, tom-foolery and bad hockey.

again- all speculation.

not gonna lie, i didn't read any of this.

If a beer league team in New Mexico hires Jeff Reese...
- Jsaquella

hey now!

i'll be pissed if the reason we got rid of hartnell (other than contract) was due to him not seeing eye to eye with berube. totally speculation but it seems like hartnell was of the "frick and frack" era and had more pull in the room with the younger players than berube. its almost as if berube was preaching "system, system system" like the school teacher and hartnell was the class clown that was held back a few years making fart noises in the back of the classroom. eliminating hartnell, in theory, showed a change of culture and would allow chief to be in charge..

...except that culture change resulted in a season fraught with shenanigans, tom-foolery and bad hockey.

again- all speculation.

not gonna lie, i didn't read any of this.
- black_francis

I believe entering the season the Flyers were preaching "discipline" but for whatever reason Zac Rinaldo has more rope then he deserves and we've acquired Radko Gudas. One could ask both the GM and Coach, what's the real plan?

ive also considered the possibility that the reason umberger got so much playing time, even if injured, was possibly because the team and himself knew this was likely his final year(s) in the NHL. so as a gentleman's move the team said play out the year, see what you can do because we totally plan on buying you out ASAP and there is very little chance another team grabs you.

so maybe as professional courtesy the team let him play out a season with the team with little to no healthy scratches and PP time so he can soak in his final days before he gets shot off into the sun. i mean, we do have hard-ons for former flyers..