...and yet Raffl is on the first line and Read on the second line. Nobody should be happy with this situation. The Flyers should have been happy with their too line of Giroux, Voracek and Hartnell. It was legitmate.
- SuperSchennBros

Raffl has moved up and down the lineup. Read and Couturier have made a strong pair, to play against top lines, and continue to make up a solid line.

I think they've asked Simmonds not to fight...he probably should. He's at his best when the juices are flowing.
- SuperSchennBros

I think a huge focus ever since Craig took over and it has carried over to now has been not taking penalties.

They hit as a club, but they are pushed around too often, along with Mason or other players being run with the guys doing nothing after.

Need to stand up for each other. Consistently. Not Voracek going crazy on Scuderi once a year or Emery.

I think a huge focus ever since Craig took over and it has carried over to now has been not taking penalties.

They hit as a club, but they are pushed around too often, along with Mason or other players being run with the guys doing nothing after.

Need to stand up for each other. Consistently. Not Voracek going crazy on Scuderi once a year or Emery.
- flyer_nutter

I personally agree that I'd like to see more emotion and urgency, in the Flyers play, but you can do that smartly and not take penalties. Funny that you mention standing up for one another. In the just the last two games, Gagner fought to stand up for Laughton, and last night, Bellemare went after and fought the guy who took out Gagner!

Raffl has moved up and down the lineup. Read and Couturier have made a strong pair, to play against top lines, and continue to make up a solid line.
- MJL

Hints why we're so great? Couturier and Read made for a great pair on the 3rd line and PK. They're unsuccessfully being asked to be a second line duo.

Hints why we're so great? Couturier and Read made for a great pair on the 3rd line and PK. They're unsuccessfully being asked to be a second line duo.
- SuperSchennBros

They have been very successful in the past. I'm not saying the Flyers don't need to make some changes, they do. I don't see where the issue of looking at all areas for talent is. Drafting and developing should be first and foremost, but they should not overlook college and undrafted free agents either. Good players are found that way.

I think a huge focus ever since Craig took over and it has carried over to now has been not taking penalties.

They hit as a club, but they are pushed around too often, along with Mason or other players being run with the guys doing nothing after.

Need to stand up for each other. Consistently. Not Voracek going crazy on Scuderi once a year or Emery.
- flyer_nutter

I'm not gonna say we miss Rinaldo but we should roll over guys as a group. What Ray Emery did to Brayden Holtby was the most amazing "Enough" I've ever seen. I think that alone earned him a second deal. Classic! Historic! Poor me another glass!!

They have been very successful in the past. I'm not saying the Flyers don't need to make some changes, they do. I don't see where the issue of looking at all areas for talent is. Drafting and developing should be first and foremost, but they should not overlook college and undrafted free agents either. Good players are found that way.
- MJL

We've become cheap. Get real depth.

We've become cheap. Get real depth.
- SuperSchennBros

Seriously? Flyers are in the top 10 in salary paid out in the NHL.

http://www.generalfanager.com/teams

I am not sure what the numbers are, but would be curious.

Seems at least from a fan outside of the city, that the arena seems more empty. I dont think its too crazy to say profits are down. Although perhaps not as it seems more and more these days advertising is being shoved down our throats. So there has to be money coming in from that angle.

What I am getting at is it seems the fanbase has shown it will not blindly stay to follow a subpar product. Would think losing profits would provoke even corporate ownership.

Who knows.
- flyer_nutter

Of course there are fewer people in the stands. There were in the season that must not be named, too. And tickets are a lot more expensive than they were then. The thing is, they come back immediately when things improve. There are no hard feelings because of any intentionally fan unfriendly things (as there were in Chicago until Bill Wirtz died).

Corporate ownerships always want to make money, but they don't always realize the way to do that is to win, or they can't figure out what to do (and not to do on the interference end) to make that happen.

Of course there are fewer people in the stands. There were in the season that must not be named, too. And tickets are a lot more expensive than they were then. The thing is, they come back immediately when things improve. There are no hard feelings because of any intentionally fan unfriendly things (as there were in Chicago until Bill Wirtz died).

Corporate ownerships always want to make money, but they don't always realize the way to do that is to win, or they can't figure out what to do (and not to do on the interference end) to make that happen.
- bodiva88

The other factor is, a lot of the issues are born out of ownership trying to win and stay competitive every year. Without ownership willing to foot the bill, there's no Lecavalier contract taking up cap, there's not a huge deal to land and sign Pronger. There's no big deals to guys like Briere, Timonen, Hartnell and others, for good or bad.

Right now Hextall is faced with doing a quickie rebuild that is probably not sustainable, or an in depth one that will stock the team with young talent and cap flexibility and allow them to sustain their competitiveness.

The rub is, when you do the latter, there's going to be growing pains. That's what we see now. Subpar product or not, the foundation is being laid. The plan is a good one and if it's executed well, there won't be any worry of a subpar product in a few years

After a mid-day break, the rage came back this afternoon, hey? This has been one of the oddest days I have seen on HB, and I haven't fought with a soul

The other factor is, a lot of the issues are born out of ownership trying to win and stay competitive every year. Without ownership willing to foot the bill, there's no Lecavalier contract taking up cap, there's not a huge deal to land and sign Pronger. There's no big deals to guys like Briere, Timonen, Hartnell and others, for good or bad.

Right now Hextall is faced with doing a quickie rebuild that is probably not sustainable, or an in depth one that will stock the team with young talent and cap flexibility and allow them to sustain their competitiveness.

The rub is, when you do the latter, there's going to be growing pains. That's what we see now. Subpar product or not, the foundation is being laid. The plan is a good one and if it's executed well, there won't be any worry of a subpar product in a few years
- Jsaquella

I appreciate the Flyers going for it year after year but the reality is, in a cap system, you have to draft well and build from within. The cup teams and the teams from the 80's that we all love were all built thru the draft and added to with trades. I believe that is the way to go.

After a mid-day break, the rage came back this afternoon, hey? This has been one of the oddest days I have seen on HB, and I haven't fought with a soul
- AllInForFlyers

Getting the team where it needs to be is going to be a process. It's likely a 2-3 year process if not longer. Hopefully there is some excitement along the way, and hopefully if they instill some consistency, they can sustain it. Fans say they're going to be patient, but I doubt it. Most can't handle it now. This is going to be an interesting place.

The big point by Nutter anyway, that there shouldnt be great fear of losing or replacing Snider.

Did a lot of good things? Hell yeah.

The days of glory are dead. Since the new NHL and since he hasn't been able to buy a team, his clubs have either ridden streaks of 'lightning in a bottle' or have floundered. Been one step behind the evolving trends of the game, and not only the cap.

(frank) him. He has done a great job in the past, and nobody can take that away. Time for new blood.
- flyer_nutter

everyone get your pitchforks

Getting the team where it needs to be is going to be a process. It's likely a 2-3 year process if not longer. Hopefully there is some excitement along the way, and hopefully if they instill some consistency, they can sustain it. Fans say they're going to be patient, but I doubt it. Most can't handle it now. This is going to be an interesting place.
- MJL

What amazed me the most about today is that they won last night

They aren't the best team in the league, not even close. I don't want to underestimate the capacity for rage around here, but there are 61 games to go

No need to stroke out just yet

Call me crazy, signing guys to long term deals and dealing them early in those deals is not loyalty.

Again, I agree with making all those trades. Carter is a debate but I doubt he matures as a player if he stays in Philadelphia.

Are you arguing the Flyers are a loyal organization? I think the are to the old guard. Also wouldnt want them not making a move just to be loyal.

What are you arguing again?
- flyer_nutter

You dont think they gave those two players numerous chances to clean up their act and hit a point at which they didnt believe they would. They can be loyal and pragmatic at the same time.

Getting the team where it needs to be is going to be a process. It's likely a 2-3 year process if not longer. Hopefully there is some excitement along the way, and hopefully if they instill some consistency, they can sustain it. Fans say they're going to be patient, but I doubt it. Most can't handle it now. This is going to be an interesting place.
- MJL

theres not a lot to like about a tank year. But there's gold at the end of the rainbow. So if you can make it through the charred bodies and barbed wire you'll be rewarded handsomely

theres not a lot to like about a tank year.
- Just5

You honestly think this season is deliberate and that they're purposely trying to be bad?

You honestly think this season is deliberate and that they're purposely trying to be bad?
- Scoob

I hope so

What amazed me the most about today is that they won last night

They aren't the best team in the league, not even close. I don't want to underestimate the capacity for rage around here, but there are 61 games to go

No need to stroke out just yet
- AllInForFlyers

I think when you have a two goal lead entering into the 3rd period, and you give up 2 goals, it almost feels like a loss. Compared to what's been happening, I'll take it. Still, have to be alarmed that they didn't score at ES, and actually lost the ES goal battle 2-0 to a poor team.

You honestly think this season is deliberate and that they're purposely trying to be bad?
- Scoob

That's one of the most foolish things ever said on HB.

What amazed me the most about today is that they won last night

They aren't the best team in the league, not even close. I don't want to underestimate the capacity for rage around here, but there are 61 games to go

No need to stroke out just yet
- AllInForFlyers

61 games to go? We saw this 82 times last year. And now without medvedev. We are the exact same team almost. Worse on d. Better in net.

I think when you have a two goal lead entering into the 3rd period, and you give up 2 goals, it almost feels like a loss. Compared to what's been happening, I'll take it. Still, have to be alarmed that they didn't score at ES, and actually lost the ES goal battle 2-0 to a poor team.
- MJL

It was really frustrating to see two fairly solid periods of hockey all but obliterated by a poor 3rd, and this against a team that has serious issues of its own. So yeah, its like a win with an asterisk in my book.

I'm glad they won. I'm glad Ghost is looking better than I thought he would, but I'm still extremely pessimistic about where this team will be at the end of the season.

That's one of the most foolish things ever said on HB.
- MJL

sorry, my bad

It was really frustrating to see two fairly solid periods of hockey all but obliterated by a poor 3rd, and this against a team that has serious issues of its own. So yeah, its like a win with an asterisk in my book.

I'm glad they won. I'm glad Ghost is looking better than I thought he would, but I'm still extremely pessimistic about where this team will be at the end of the season.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Even though it is early still, historically, they don't have a lot of time to get it together. If they continue playing at this pace, then I think eventually there will be a shift in how the season will be treated, and the roster turnover will be advanced.