Whatever the Flyers do next season with personnel and success, I will be evaluating the season predominately based on their ability to transition in as many of these young players as they are able and are ready. Obviously making the POs is a part of that because it gives them experience. I think it is going to be a very exciting season in this regard.

Did I read/see correctly that we have 3 consecutive picks in the 4th round?
- arichardson22

- ob18

Jacob Tortora, Nick Henry, Jonah Gadjovich

Isn't saying VDV now more like beetlejuice...don't say his name 3 times or he will be back.
- Konalover

Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde





P.S. I just said his name out loud 3 times to be sure.

Why? Because there's a couple of you who always whine about VdV who I absolutely loathe and I would take great pleasure in seeing him return.

Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde





P.S. I just said his name out loud 3 times to be sure.

Why? Because there's a couple of you who always whine about VdV who I absolutely loathe and I would take great pleasure in seeing him return.
- Doc_Sarcasm

He's very bad, but I do agree. It's like having Andrew Knapp's struggles up there high on the female doging list on why the Phillies are so bad.

He's very bad, but he's irrelevant more than he is bad.

Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde





P.S. I just said his name out loud 3 times to be sure.

Why? Because there's a couple of you who always whine about VdV who I absolutely loathe and I would take great pleasure in seeing him return.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde


Chris VandeVelde





P.S. I just said his name out loud 3 times to be sure.

Why? Because there's a couple of you who always whine about VdV who I absolutely loathe and I would take great pleasure in seeing him return.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Lol a guy you loathe you want back cause of a blog? You are funny! Thanks for the laugh!

Lol a guy you loathe you want back cause of a blog? You are funny! Thanks for the laugh!
- Konalover

I also don't think he's as awful as some of you do. He's a legitimate 4th line guy. Nothing more. He's not the reason the Flyers are awful. The fact that they have 2.5 (roughly) lines worth of 4th line guys... THATs one of the major reasons why the Flyers are bad.

VdV coming back or not will change nothing on the Flyers. Whether or not they can make significant upgrades to the forward (and to the defensive) corp as a group will.

I also don't think he's as awful as some of you do. He's a legitimate 4th line guy. Nothing more. He's not the reason the Flyers are awful. The fact that they have 2.5 (roughly) lines worth of 4th line guys... THATs one of the major reasons why the Flyers are bad.

VdV coming back or not will change nothing on the Flyers. Whether or not they can make significant upgrades to the forward (and to the defensive) corp as a group will.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I think it was more the coach's unwillingness to scratch him when everyone else was a candidate for scratching that really got people mad.

Jacob Tortora, Nick Henry, Jonah Gadjovich
- Mordecai

maybe

I think it was more the coach's unwillingness to scratch him when everyone else was a candidate for scratching that really got people mad.
- jmatchett383

It doesnt matter the reason.. its silly. Raffl had 11 points in 52 games, and was in a top 6 role. Is anyone bringing out the pitchforks and torches for him? Why, no. They're not. But his Fenway Corgi was fantastical they say!


There's also the usage factor that works against both VdV and Bellemare. Neither one of them is a reliable face off guy. Why do you start them on defensive zone draws on the PK? Send out Giroux and some other reliable or semi-reliable guy.. get the puck out of the zone and then send out VdV and Bellemare. The odds of having a successful PK go up dramatically (or so I'm told) if you get that first clear.

It doesnt matter the reason.. its silly. Raffl had 11 points in 52 games, and was in a top 6 role. Is anyone bringing out the pitchforks and torches for him? Why, no. They're not. But his Fenway Corgi was fantastical they say!


There's also the usage factor that works against both VdV and Bellemare. Neither one of them is a reliable face off guy. Why do you start them on defensive zone draws on the PK? Send out Giroux and some other reliable or semi-reliable guy.. get the puck out of the zone and then send out VdV and Bellemare. The odds of having a successful PK go up dramatically (or so I'm told) if you get that first clear.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I think it's totally within reason to be relatively concerned about VDV's and Bellemare's usage but yes some people do take it too far.

The comparison between the Flyers rebuild and the Leafs and Oilers is vastly different. Both of those teams pretty much played forwards early. Neither brought in dmen or goalies without AHL experience. Reilly got a few games in the AHL, more then Ghost actually.

The Flyers philosophy to development and drafting is similar to Polie. Thankfully, luck has accelerated filling the center hole. I think we're going to look back in 3 years and say this is where the turn around really accelerated or the demise of Ron Hextall. I don't see a middle ground.

The comparison between the Flyers rebuild and the Leafs and Oilers is vastly different. Both of those teams pretty much played forwards early. Neither brought in dmen or goalies without AHL experience. Reilly got a few games in the AHL, more then Ghost actually.

The Flyers philosophy to development and drafting is similar to Polie. Thankfully, luck has accelerated filling the center hole. I think we're going to look back in 3 years and say this is where the turn around really accelerated or the demise of Ron Hextall. I don't see a middle ground.
- ravishingone

I think they're in better shape than most people do. Not that its necessarily going to be a totally smooth road ahead, but they just have so much depth at defense in the system, and they don't need ALL of the guys coming up to be superstars. They need one guy to be able to share 1st pair duties with Provorov and not look out of place. They need the rest of the guys who come in simply to be better than the guys they replace.

As for forwards, they simply need to be better. They need a legitimate 2nd line center and they'll probably have one going forward after the draft, though maybe not NHL ready this season. I think Konecny is an answer. I think he'll be better. I think Giroux will be better than last season although maybe not a point per game guy anymore. I'm not sure if Couturier can stay healthy. One thing, if the defense is better, and can make clean break outs, the offense by extension will get at least marginally better.

It doesnt matter the reason.. its silly. Raffl had 11 points in 52 games, and was in a top 6 role. Is anyone bringing out the pitchforks and torches for him? Why, no. They're not. But his Fenway Corgi was fantastical they say!


There's also the usage factor that works against both VdV and Bellemare. Neither one of them is a reliable face off guy. Why do you start them on defensive zone draws on the PK? Send out Giroux and some other reliable or semi-reliable guy.. get the puck out of the zone and then send out VdV and Bellemare. The odds of having a successful PK go up dramatically (or so I'm told) if you get that first clear.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Criticism of Belemare for his PK faceoff percentage of 39% is fair and legitimate. Many people don't want to give credence to the possibility that they always started because they were possibly the best PK forward duo on the team. Stats of players who play with different teammates, different competition, and in different situations are looked at and given too much weight. I understand the thought process of the PK has not been good so lets try something different, so what is there to lose. There is plenty to lose, it could be worse. I understand that the coaching staff breaks down every shift, and every player on that shift to know who is playing the best in that role and in that position on the PK. They aren't just randomly looking at team stats. They know each players performance broken down to a minute detail.

Criticism of Belemare for his PK faceoff percentage of 39% is fair and legitimate. Many people don't want to give credence to the possibility that they always started because they were possibly the best PK forward duo on the team. Stats of players who play with different teammates, different competition, and in different situations are looked at and given too much weight. I understand the thought process of the PK has not been good so lets try something different, so what is there to lose. There is plenty to lose, it could be worse. I understand that the coaching staff breaks down every shift, and every player on that shift to know who is playing the best in that role and in that position on the PK. They aren't just randomly looking at team stats. They know each players performance broken down to a minute detail.
- MJL

I believe that Dave Hakstol stated at least once that he wanted to keep Giroux off of the PK to keep his minutes manageable. So, I get his use of Bellemare and VdV on the PK. I don't get the defensive zone draw thing. I do get that if you're going to hire a guy to be a coach, you have to let him run his system and do things his way or it won't work at all. But, I'm still mystified at some of the decision making. That doesnt mean I'm a better coach or a better hockey mind... it just means that I don't get it. Any way you slice it, the Flyers PK was bad, and it needs to improve one way or another.

It doesnt matter the reason.. its silly. Raffl had 11 points in 52 games, and was in a top 6 role. Is anyone bringing out the pitchforks and torches for him? Why, no. They're not. But his Fenway Corgi was fantastical they say!


There's also the usage factor that works against both VdV and Bellemare. Neither one of them is a reliable face off guy. Why do you start them on defensive zone draws on the PK? Send out Giroux and some other reliable or semi-reliable guy.. get the puck out of the zone and then send out VdV and Bellemare. The odds of having a successful PK go up dramatically (or so I'm told) if you get that first clear.
- Doc_Sarcasm

And Raffl was healthy scratched a number of times the past 2 seasons.

by far still THE most amazing game I was at live as far as the electricity in the building

Wow - I envy you for having been at that game. The crowd reaction to the Flyers' back-to-back goals has to be the best ever example of the passion that Philly fans bring to the table in support of any of their teams.

Gene Hart: "... the Oilers to the point, Daigneault a shot... SCORRRRRRE!"

Ed Van Impe: "I tell you these people are going CRAZY!"

Man, were they ever.

Ed Van Impe: "I tell you these people are going CRAZY!"


- copelal

Van Impe?

Bobby Taylor. Please don't be offended by the correction.

I wish they would go back to the 80's style jersey.

Van Impe?

Bobby Taylor. Please don't be offended by the correction.

I wish they would go back to the 80's style jersey.

No offense taken. I have viewed that clip (Daigneault's goal and aftermath) at least 15-20 times, and I am pretty sure that was Van Impe. However, if I am incorrect on that, so be it... it should be the worst mistake I make.

I also don't think he's as awful as some of you do. He's a legitimate 4th line guy. Nothing more. He's not the reason the Flyers are awful. The fact that they have 2.5 (roughly) lines worth of 4th line guys... THATs one of the major reasons why the Flyers are bad.

VdV coming back or not will change nothing on the Flyers. Whether or not they can make significant upgrades to the forward (and to the defensive) corp as a group will.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Sure he is awesome!
So good he couldn't crack a cellar dwelling Oil team. Resign him now.

Sure he is awesome!
So good he couldn't crack a cellar dwelling Oil team. Resign him now.
- Konalover

I hope they do.

Game 6 in '87 was played on a Thursday night, if I am not mistaken. I was in high school then, and the next day (Friday) literally everyone (including people who weren't normally fans) was talking about the Flyers, and every classroom I went into that day had "Let's Go Flyers" written on the chalkboard in a prominent position.

I believe that Dave Hakstol stated at least once that he wanted to keep Giroux off of the PK to keep his minutes manageable. So, I get his use of Bellemare and VdV on the PK. I don't get the defensive zone draw thing. I do get that if you're going to hire a guy to be a coach, you have to let him run his system and do things his way or it won't work at all. But, I'm still mystified at some of the decision making. That doesnt mean I'm a better coach or a better hockey mind... it just means that I don't get it. Any way you slice it, the Flyers PK was bad, and it needs to improve one way or another.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I can understand not wanting to use Giroux on the PK, especially since he wasn't at 100% healthwise for much of the season.

What I can't understand is not starting Couturier, who is much better on faceoffs than Bellemare, on the PK. He's a regular PKer and should have been out there to start the kill. Just because coaches may have access to detailed shift by shift data, doesn't mean they don't make mistakes. Having PEB take the opening PK faceoff over Coots, IMO, was a mistake

Game 6 in '87 was played on a Thursday night, if I am not mistaken. I was in high school then, and the next day (Friday) literally everyone (including people who weren't normally fans) was talking about the Flyers, and every classroom I went into that day had "Let's Go Flyers" written on the chalkboard in a prominent position.
- copelal

I was at that game, section K, row 20. It was loud as hell and just (frank)ing crazy! We ended up closing some bars that night!