No Giroux on the World Cup
- KINGKENZO

Yeah, but that's just his "First 16". There will probably be 8 more slots.

Yeah, but that's just his "First 16". There will probably be 8 more slots.
- Jsaquella

(frank) him

Guys, what if we trade for Drouin and then sign Stamkos? Would Yzerman have to commit ritual suicide out of shame?

(I don't want the Flyers to get either)

Guys, what if we trade for Drouin and then sign Stamkos? Would Yzerman have to commit ritual suicide out of shame?

(I don't want the Flyers to get either)
- Mononoke

we will end up with matt carle part two

Yeah, but that's just his "First 16". There will probably be 8 more slots.
- Jsaquella

No Olympic Invite = No World Cup Invite

No Olympic Invite = No World Cup Invite
- penguininnevada

Nice game last night

Nice game last night
- funmaster18

haha i dont really know what defcon 5 looks like over there in pensland but it sounds like its at least defcon 3 or 4 right now

haha i dont really know what defcon 5 looks like over there in pensland but it sounds like its at least defcon 3 or 4 right now
- YuenglingJagr

I'd love to see the flyers get in so we can laugh at the rags fans and devil fan that told us we weren't making the playoffs. we can laugh at pens fans too.

I agree with you 100%, but at the same time, I think a PK coach is pretty overrated. Yes,, you have to have a system in place and players have to know their responsibilities, but a lot of it is anticipation. It's what made Mike Richards such a SH threat; he knew where the puck was going, and knew exactly when to step into the lanes. Now, the ultimate key to a PK is to not get scored on, not scoring a goal, but being able to read and react quickly is what you need, and we lack a defenseman who can do both (read and react) at a high quality.
- jmatchett383

This is exactly why I feel a few "specialists" are necessary on any team, which we currently lack. In decent years we've scouted players over seas who look like they can keep up in the NHL or recalled youth from the minors because these players can fill in and they can fill in cheap. There is a lot to be said for a team willing to pay a little extra to address needs (PK, Faceoffs, shootout etc). We have never once tried to address the shootout, so we continue to fail at it.

I'd love to see the flyers get in so we can laugh at the rags fans and devil fan that told us we weren't making the playoffs. we can laugh at pens fans too.
- funmaster18

i just want to get in to watch playoff hockey that i really care about. there is still a very small chance it happens but each time the pens lose it is more and more in the Flyers own hands

i just want to get in to watch playoff hockey that i really care about. there is still a very small chance it happens but each time the pens lose it is more and more in the Flyers own hands
- YuenglingJagr

Red Wings have trouble scoring and really only seemed focus on "The Streak" rather than a legitimate run in the playoffs. Maybe it's time for Detroit to miss.

This is exactly why I feel a few "specialists" are necessary on any team, which we currently lack. In decent years we've scouted players over seas who look like they can keep up in the NHL or recalled youth from the minors because these players can fill in and they can fill in cheap. There is a lot to be said for a team willing to pay a little extra to address needs (PK, Faceoffs, shootout etc). We have never once tried to address the shootout, so we continue to fail at it.
- SuperSchennBros

while you and others notice shootout failures and something like faceoffs, the majority of the game is played at 5v5 and that is the most important thing to be good at. It leads to the most points in the standings as well.

What teams have these specialists you are talking about and what teams "address the shootout?" with any tangible success?

Red Wings have trouble scoring and really only seemed focus on "The Streak" rather than a legitimate run in the playoffs. Maybe it's time for Detroit to miss.
- SuperSchennBros

doesnt seem like the year to me. mrazek is fantastic. nothing will surprise me at this point though. I would be less surprised if the Devils finished ahead of the Flyers than if the Flyers made the playoffs. but with the 3 games remaining...there is a head to head way to jump the penguins which makes them the pretty obvious point of discussion

while you and others notice shootout failures and something like faceoffs, the majority of the game is played at 5v5 and that is the most important thing to be good at. It leads to the most points in the standings as well.

What teams have these specialists you are talking about and what teams "address the shootout?" with any tangible success?
- YuenglingJagr

The Rangers did in 09/10, which is why they had Erik Christensen around to help them win shootouts.

To me, any team that takes up a roster spot for one "shootout specialist" is making a mistake because:

1) only a small fraction of games go to a shootout. What does the player do the other 65 minutes?

2) Last time I checked, you have 3 shooters taking the shootout per team. Are you going to carry 3 "specialists?" Why not focus some of the goaltending to stopping breakways in practice?

i just want to get in to watch playoff hockey that i really care about. there is still a very small chance it happens but each time the pens lose it is more and more in the Flyers own hands
- YuenglingJagr

Plenty of games left against them too

The Rangers did in 09/10, which is why they had Erik Christensen around to help them win shootouts.

To me, any team that takes up a roster spot for one "shootout specialist" is making a mistake because:

1) only a small fraction of games go to a shootout. What does the player do the other 65 minutes?

2) Last time I checked, you have 3 shooters taking the shootout per team. Are you going to carry 3 "specialists?" Why not focus some of the goaltending to stopping breakways in practice?
- jmatchett383

Christensen is the only one I can remember as well. That rangers team had PAP as well and oh look at that they lost

while you and others notice shootout failures and something like faceoffs, the majority of the game is played at 5v5 and that is the most important thing to be good at. It leads to the most points in the standings as well.

What teams have these specialists you are talking about and what teams "address the shootout?" with any tangible success?
- YuenglingJagr

Would be nice to find a Frans Nielsen... good at 5V5... straight murder in SO's.

Would be nice to find a Frans Nielsen... good at 5V5... straight murder in SO's.
- Tomahawk

Certainly would be nice...but hopefully he wears his visor correctly

while you and others notice shootout failures and something like faceoffs, the majority of the game is played at 5v5 and that is the most important thing to be good at. It leads to the most points in the standings as well.

What teams have these specialists you are talking about and what teams "address the shootout?" with any tangible success?
- YuenglingJagr

In 5 on 5 play, you have to win faceoffs with consistency to gain posession. This team at times has struggled to win faceoffs, which leads to using Giroux perhaps too often because he's easily our best faceoff man. Just an example to not undervalue how important it is have at least 3 centers strong on the draw.

It doesn't matter what other teams have done to improve in the shootout, what should be noticed by every Flyers fan is we've been by far the worst shooutout team since the shootout was installed into the game. The focus should be on the Flyers, not what other teams have done.

I look at past Flyers team and I'll use 2010 as example. Mike Richards was a defensive forward and a specialist on the PK. Blair Betts' speciality was the PK, faceoffs and trusted in his own zone at all times. A number 1 defenseman like Chris Pronger was pretty much a specialist from ever aspect of the game from his position, which we currently lack.

The Rangers did in 09/10, which is why they had Erik Christensen around to help them win shootouts.

To me, any team that takes up a roster spot for one "shootout specialist" is making a mistake because:

1) only a small fraction of games go to a shootout. What does the player do the other 65 minutes?

2) Last time I checked, you have 3 shooters taking the shootout per team. Are you going to carry 3 "specialists?" Why not focus some of the goaltending to stopping breakways in practice?
- jmatchett383

James van Riemsdyk is actually great in the shootout. A year ago I don't think he missed once. Problem is, we had him, we just didn't use him in this area.

With the addition of 3v3 is a SO specialist as important?

Christensen is the only one I can remember as well. That rangers team had PAP as well and oh look at that they lost
- YuenglingJagr

You are correct, they did lose. Since then however, they've been able to add to their roster, win games, make the playoffs and go on deep runs. We however have lost depth.

No Giroux on the World Cup
- KINGKENZO

I'm fine with it. I don't want him getting hurt anyway and it just makes it easier (than it already is) to root against Canada.

In 5 on 5 play, you have to win faceoffs with consistency to gain posession. This team at times has struggled to win faceoffs, which leads to using Giroux perhaps too often because he's easily our best faceoff man. Just an example to not undervalue how important it is have at least 3 centers strong on the draw.

It doesn't matter what other teams have done to improve in the shootout, what should be noticed by every Flyers fan is we've been by far the worst shooutout team since the shootout was installed into the game. The focus should be on the Flyers, not what other teams have done.

I look at past Flyers team and I'll use 2010 as example. Mike Richards was a defensive forward and a specialist on the PK. Blair Betts' speciality was the PK, faceoffs and trusted in his own zone at all times. A number 1 defenseman like Chris Pronger was pretty much a specialist from ever aspect of the game from his position, which we currently lack.
- SuperSchennBros

so when you say "specialist" you really just mean "someone that is really good at something"

faceoffs are not the only way to gain possession and although I dont have the numbers, I highly doubt they are even the most common way possession changes. There are players who are very good at faceoffs that get handled in possession metrics. how could that be?

you arent wrong with what you want the result to be, but I dont think you are right in how you get there. You dont go looking for a guy who is good at faceoffs or shootouts...you get good players who happen to excel in those areas as well

With the addition of 3v3 is a SO specialist as important?
- J35Bacher

I think 3v3 comes from the cries of Ken Holland who manages a team also bad in the shooutout.