yup not VDV's fault that the coach loves him. Hak is an idiot for sitting out raffl over him, it's not giving the team the best chance to win
- Nucker101

Is Raff hurt or something?

Agreed. Besides seeing team easiest minutes and having a team-worst GoalsFor% of 22% and being a scoring and possession black hole...for over 2 years...and being our top unit PKer on our bottom PK he's been really really good. People are just unfair.

We don't hate the player. We hate the game.
- Mononoke

It was comedic to see the Leaf announcers praising the Bellemare and VDV PK duo. That they've been doing it as a pair for a long time. That would be nice if they were good at it.

T-Kone is a beautiful boy btw

If Vandevelde were the only issue on this team or even one of the few issues on this team, I could see being disgruntled about it, but Good Lord... this board has become the echo-chamber of over-reaction whenever his name comes up. I mean, yeah.. he's a marginal NHL'er, but you know what? Every team has them. Hell, Chicago has a bunch of them.

This team has far, far greater issues than whether or not VDV is in the lineup.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Thank you. This is all I've been trying to say.

You'd think the only thing keeping this team from the Cup is Chris VandeVelde. It's embarrassing how everyone is so hyper focused on a dude making 700k.

If Vandevelde were the only issue on this team or even one of the few issues on this team, I could see being disgruntled about it, but Good Lord... this board has become the echo-chamber of over-reaction whenever his name comes up. I mean, yeah.. he's a marginal NHL'er, but you know what? Every team has them. Hell, Chicago has a bunch of them.

This team has far, far greater issues than whether or not VDV is in the lineup.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Where is Michael Raffl right now?

Speaking of 3C. I do wonder how Konecny would do there. Little worried about the size factor but I do think he has enough skill to be a catalyst.

Honestly doesn't matter much though when your wingers would be poopty. Weise is infuriating. Supposed to have been a spark plug and I can't tell if he's breathing.

According to the MS society, MS is not a fatal disease, and someone with MS has the same life expectancy as anyone else.
- MJL

yea i'm going to believe nutter on this one

Thank you. This is all I've been trying to say.

You'd think the only thing keeping this team from the Cup is Chris VandeVelde. It's embarrassing how everyone is so hyper focused on a dude making 700k.
- johndewar

That's a lame excuse imo.

Every player matters. Hell why not have a bottom 9 of VDV's. That's the dream. Net neutral.

T-Kone is a beautiful boy btw
- Mononoke

TKO

yea i'm going to believe nutter on this one
- 2Real

Excuse me sir. Did you know that MS isn't fatal and you can live just as long as anyone else? Now get out of that wheelchair and put a smile on that face.

That's a lame excuse imo.

Every player matters. Hell why not have a bottom 9 of VDV's. That's the dream. Net neutral.
- flyer_nutter

Its not an excuse. He's one guy, and he's not what is killing this team. He is quite literally, the least of the Flyers' problems right now.

See, you actually get it.

I have no idea why Michael Raffl is sitting tonight. I'm a Raffl fan. His entire game is solid. Is he hurt or something? I was embroiled in work drama and now, I'm in a Miller Lite/Jameson haze.
- johndewar

Healthy scratch, no other comment given. Alchohol is always a good idea when watching this team

That's a lame excuse imo.

Every player matters. Hell why not have a bottom 9 of VDV's. That's the dream. Net neutral.
- flyer_nutter

Bottom 9?

Serious question: Where did Chris VandeVelde touch you? What did he do?

He's a 4th line player and a marginal NHLer. But somehow, he's talked about like he's keeping us from a parade.

yup not VDV's fault that the coach loves him. Hak is an idiot for sitting out raffl over him, it's not giving the team the best chance to win
- Nucker101

There is no reason that anyone shouldn't be upset about this. Manning has arguably our best defenseman in all three zones and he's scratched after a single bad game against Detroit. One bad game after a solid start to the season for Nick Schultz. Michael Raffl for better or worse can play on all three lines and he's scratched for a player lucky to be in the NHL.

This is not an over reaction.

Its not an excuse. He's one guy, and he's not what is killing this team. He is quite literally, the least of the Flyers' problems right now.
- Doc_Sarcasm

He's the top unit penalty killer on the team the last 2 years. He's a contributor to how bad it has been. That's a big deal. Yes, as a 4th liner he isn't cataclysmic, but significantly better players sit every game to keep his spot in the lineup safe. I'm sorry but if Raffl is healthy, that's a big problem. It's trickle down effect too. If Raffl is in and bumps another player down to strengthen another line, etc.. No, this team has bigger issues. But no issue is easier to fix.

Healthy scratch, no other comment given. Alchohol is always a good idea when watching this team
- BiggE

Weird. Raffl is an honest player. I wonder if there was some off ice nonsense.

Bottom 9?

Serious question: Where did Chris VandeVelde touch you? What did he do?

He's a 4th line player and a marginal NHLer. But somehow, he's talked about like he's keeping us from a parade.
- johndewar

The NHL already has such strong parity nowadays, so every possible thing you can do to increase your chances of winning matters. Like playing Raffl(assuming healthy) over VDV.

People can't female dog about how bad our bottom 6 is and how important the bottom 6 is to competing in today's NHL and then get crabby when people get frustrated that we aren't icing the best bottom 6 we can.

Bottom 9?

Serious question: Where did Chris VandeVelde touch you? What did he do?

He's a 4th line player and a marginal NHLer. But somehow, he's talked about like he's keeping us from a parade.
- johndewar

He's just an easy guy to dislike. I'm not crazy enough to think he is why they are losing. I do think they could get more from say a Leier, or another AHL guy. I do also think he's pretty poopty on the PK and should never play more than 4th line.

Fans need something to vent about that's all.

There is no logical explanation to not play Raffl over Vandevelde tonight.

Raffl is healthy fyi. Confirmed by Hextall.

Raffl is healthy fyi. Confirmed by Hextall.
- Mononoke

He's just an easy guy to dislike. I'm not crazy enough to think he is why they are losing. I do think they could get more from say a Leier, or another AHL guy. I do also think he's pretty poopty on the PK and should never play more than 4th line.

Fans need something to vent about that's all.
- flyer_nutter

Thank you for not taking my post personally, btw. I tapped that out and thought "was that a bit much?".

I think you get my point.

Thank you for not taking my post personally, btw. I tapped that out and thought "was that a bit much?".

I think you get my point.
- johndewar

All good man. We are all fans. Think that's sometimes forgotten here.

and the parade to the box continues