all great ones. I would add Alexander Perezhogin ending Primeau's career. (frank)er.

Saw a quote from Clarke last week where he said one of his biggest mistakes was not signing Cujo
- nastyflyergirl

Greenberg mentions that in his book. Oh well, hindsight 20/20 and all that.

You can make that statement about almost any guy on any team.

My problem is at 8million cap hit he should be the best player for the Flyers most nights either in production or effort.
- J35Bacher

Can you make the statement that any guy on the team is a 60+ point player? If we sorround him with better players, that will help him raise his game. Thats my point. You can win with a player like that.

I agree we should and need more out of him then were getting now.

I agree completely that we need more out of Giroux, and his defensive effort lately is inexcusable. With that said, I'd be willing to bet that if a stronger team was put around Giroux, we'd get more out of him. He's just no longer a player that can put a team on his back and carry them, but I bet he could still be a top player on a good team.
- MJL

I wonder if he just needs to be unleashed, so to speak. Last year, before the Penguins hired Sullivan, Johnston's system had basically neutered Crosby and Malkin because they were sacrificing most of their offensive prowess for defense. I feel that the same thing is true of the systems employed by both Berube and Hakstol. I'm not saying their systems are right or wrong, simply that I think the offensive is being a bit suffocated by the system in place.

Right now, the "defensively responsible" system, if you will, is not working, and Giroux is basically a passenger at 5v5. I know that Lavi's system depended on a strong top-4 D and good 2-way players, and the Flyers don't have those elements, so that won't work. But maybe tell Giroux to go for it offensively and live with the consequences for a handful of games and see what he can do.

The craziest thing about that whole scenario was that he was in the box for everything. His buttend on Recchi in the previous meeting was what set everything in motion. Then he gets to sit in the box while pretty much every other person fought. That game was insane. I was a junior in high school and my uncle took me that night. We may have lost most of the fights (some in bad fashion) but imagine if our regulars were healthy... Wooo buddy.
- jak521

I was at the game. The Senators were pretty meek and mild until Brashear got tossed, then they all of a sudden grew some testes. It really takes guts to go after established NHL tough guys like Timander and Somik! They didn't lose all the fights though, both Sharp and Recchi each won a bout.

I was at the game. The Senators were pretty meek and mild until Brashear got tossed, then they all of a sudden grew some testes. It really takes guts to go after established NHL tough guys like Timander and Somik! They didn't lose all the fights though, both Sharp and Recchi each won a bout.
- BiggE

I still don't get why they all went after Brashear. He fought (frank)ing Rob Ray, who only has more career NHL fights than almost everyone ever.

I think I remember throwing up in my throat a bit when I saw that hit...I was at Game 5 of that series and the Devils took it to the Flyers all game. When I heard Big E was coming back, I thought they'd win it all. I wanted to kill Stevens for that shi! that he pulled...

- aantny88

I was at game 6 in NJ. My boss was a Devils season ticket holder and he brought me to that game. #88 was back, and the Flyers had a chance to clinch a trip to the Finals. I was actually optimistic going into that game. That blown 3-1 series lead is what programmed me to always expect the worst when it comes to this team.

I still don't get why they all went after Brashear. He fought (frank)ing Rob Ray, who only has more career NHL fights than almost everyone ever.
- jmatchett383

They didn't really go after Brashear, they went after everyone else once he got tossed. Outside of Ray, none of them seemed willing to mix it up with Brash during the earlier part of the game.

I wonder if he just needs to be unleashed, so to speak. Last year, before the Penguins hired Sullivan, Johnston's system had basically neutered Crosby and Malkin because they were sacrificing most of their offensive prowess for defense. I feel that the same thing is true of the systems employed by both Berube and Hakstol. I'm not saying their systems are right or wrong, simply that I think the offensive is being a bit suffocated by the system in place.

Right now, the "defensively responsible" system, if you will, is not working, and Giroux is basically a passenger at 5v5. I know that Lavi's system depended on a strong top-4 D and good 2-way players, and the Flyers don't have those elements, so that won't work. But maybe tell Giroux to go for it offensively and live with the consequences for a handful of games and see what he can do.
- jmatchett383

I think there could be some validity there. Although Giroux is not.exactly sacrificing offense for defense lately. Hes hasnt been playing much defense.

I was watching that game at bar on South street with a few Flyers fans and one Devils fan. I could have stabbed him after the hit
- nastyflyergirl

It was really hard to watch that. I really despise Scott Stevens.

They didn't really go after Brashear, they went after everyone else once he got tossed.
- BiggE

No, as he was going to the box, the Seantors went after him (while he was being restrained by a ref), which is what started the initial brawl.

Neither was Eric Lindros, especially if you ask Paul Stewart.
- jmatchett383

Different. Much different.

Frank that scumbag.

Another tremendous article by Bill Meltzer. I was a teenager who "grew up" in hockey with those mid-80's Flyers teams, and I loved them too. And I cried too after game 7 in 1987. I think I still remember most of the players on the '87 team by uniform #, without looking them up:

#2 Mark Howe, D, Alt-Captain... #3 Doug Crossman, D... #8 Brad Marsh, D... #9 Pelle Eklund, forward... #10 Brad McCrimmon ("Beast") D, #12 Tim Kerr, LW, #14 Ron Sutter, C... #15 JJ Daigneault, D... #18 Lindsay Carson, forward... #19 Scott Mellanby, C... #20 Dave Poulin, C, Captain... #21 Dave Brown, forward, #22 Rick Tocchet, #23 Ilkka Sinisalo, forward (remember Sign Man's "Ilkka Score-a-goala"?)... #24 Derrick Smith, forward... #25 Peter Zezel, C... #26 Brian Propp, RW (the "Brandon Bopper"), #27 Ron Hextall, G... #28 Kjell Samuelsson, D... #30 Glen "Chico" Resch, G... #32 Murray "Crafty" Craven, forward

The fivesome of Kerr, Propp, Poulin, McCrimmon, and Howe has to be one of the best ever the Flyers have iced, as well as one of the NHL's best in the 1980's. To the whole team from that era... cheers, and thank you for the great hockey and memories.

Bad defense excuses didn't work for Bryz, and they won't work for any other Flyers goalie who plays close to 40 games at .900 or below.
- Feanor

great comparison

I think there could be some validity there. Although Giroux is not.exactly sacrificing offense for defense lately. Hes hasnt been playing much defense.
- MJL

His defense has been lacking recently, no doubt, but I was speaking more to the system that he's in. But that would be even more of a reason to just go for it all-out of offense, and deal with the results later. Nothing else seems to be working well. I'd also consider sitting him, more for his effort than his production.

I'm not saying do a full 180 like the Penguins did, because we don't have the depth. But maybe just tell guys like Giroux, Jake, and Ghost to be more assertive offensively and let the defense fall where it will.

I wonder if he just needs to be unleashed, so to speak. Last year, before the Penguins hired Sullivan, Johnston's system had basically neutered Crosby and Malkin because they were sacrificing most of their offensive prowess for defense. I feel that the same thing is true of the systems employed by both Berube and Hakstol. I'm not saying their systems are right or wrong, simply that I think the offensive is being a bit suffocated by the system in place.

Right now, the "defensively responsible" system, if you will, is not working, and Giroux is basically a passenger at 5v5. I know that Lavi's system depended on a strong top-4 D and good 2-way players, and the Flyers don't have those elements, so that won't work. But maybe tell Giroux to go for it offensively and live with the consequences for a handful of games and see what he can do.
- jmatchett383

If any player is neutered under this system it is Ghost. I don't see Hakstol's system as "defensively responsible" though. There is a ton of accountability, but it is really built on the entire team playing as one unit, and defensemen are encouraged to join the play and pinch often. For whatever reason, they just cant seem to get on the same page though.

What bothers me is when I see Ghost getting minutes with Vandevelde and PEB

Different. Much different.

Frank that scumbag.
- Scoob

Paul Stewart or Eric Lindros?

Paul Stewart or Eric Lindros?
- YuenglingJagr

lol Kane

lol Kane
- Scoob

yeah I think you have a case there...Wonder if people would sing a different tune if he were a Flyer

great comparison
- YuenglingJagr

The truth hurts. Mason is just as leaky this season as Bryz was in his final season here.

yeah I think you have a case there...Wonder if people would sing a different tune if he were a Flyer
- YuenglingJagr

We never Brett Myers defend players Jason Smith who have off-field Michael Vick issues in this city.

Yes, and he was actually pretty good at it last year.
- jmatchett383

He's been on and off this season I know

Different. Much different.

Frank that scumbag.
- Scoob

Spitting on ladies at bars isn't a "scumbag" move?

Keep in minds, by all accounts, the whole rape charge was made up, especially when the plaintiff's mother was caught tampering with evidence.

yeah I think you have a case there...Wonder if people would sing a different tune if he were a Flyer
- YuenglingJagr

Not me. He went way beyond the line imho.

The truth hurts.
- Feanor

Only truth that I see is that you're not a fan of Steve Mason. Nothing new around here. This month could be the first Neuvirth has over .900 since February of last year. But at least he played well against the capitals!

Spitting on ladies at bars isn't a "scumbag" move?
- jmatchett383

Who did that?