I actually think they will make the playoffs.
- J35Bacher

I think if they run with the kids, both at forward and at defense, there will be some excitement and an energy infusion this team sorely needs.

We don't have Marner and Matthews, but I am hoping for a similar amount of excitement.

This team can make the playoffs if Giroux comes back to a decent form, the goalies play up to their career averages, and the youth movement does not completely implode.

Konecny, Lindblom, Weal, Patrick, Morin, Hagg, Provorov, Ghost, Laughton, Vecchione.....if most of them at least show they BELONG in the NHL I think this team can improve greatly.

That is a good point. We were subjected to 5 years of that.
I know the prospect pool is being built up, but there has to be progress made at the NHL level soon. In year one of Hextall's tenure they were a playoff bubble team, this is year 4 now and they are in the same boat. I don't see anything changing next year either with this goaltending tandem that is in place.
- PLindbergh31

Whats the right way to fix that and seriously develop into a contender?

Look at the teams that have been dominant the past 6-7 years. All of them have started at the bottom. The Pens tanked for years, were nothing close to a bubble team, and still took nearly a decade to really become a powerhouse. The Hawks were bad for a long time, and then through the draft we able to change their course. The Kings, now you are seeing Toronto and Edmonton turning that page.

In all honesty, we have been spoiled as fans. For the longest time we were not just a playoff team, but true contenders. Year after year.. then came the salary cap era and things changed. We had a string of good luck following the year that wont be mentioned, but then after we sold our future away and entered the win now window, we were forced to start from scratch. Hextall has done a wonderful job at keeping the team somewhat competitive without mortgaging the future. He has done a phenomenal job at drafting.. He has made a few very savvy signings, and has done pretty well in the trade market as well.. Yes it has been a process, but in todays NHL thats pretty much par for the course if you wanna be a power house. Patience is an absolute must.

The next two years are gonna be very telling.. and ultimately will determine Hexy's level of success.

He is bound this season. That's why they'd have to trade his rights. Next year he apparently doesn't have to. I don't remember enough about what happened when they terminated his contract to know exactly why. It was also kinda shady anyway
- YuenglingJagr

It's because he'll be 35 next year. His status with the NHL is technically that he retired during his contract with NJ. If a player under 35 retires and after a year or more of retirement want to come of retirement, the team they played for still owns their rights. If they're 35 or older, as long as they were out one full season they are a UFA.

It's going to be important to see the big picture. If the young players can come in and play well, they've got a real good chance of making the playoffs. Adding two rookie defenseman can lead to struggles. Who knows how Lindblom, Weal, and Konecny will do? A player like Konecny could make a big jump in production. We'll just have to see.
- MJL

Exactly. They need to see steps forward in the youth. Also if you get improvements from your stars like Giroux and Voracek that will go a long way.

I am not too worried about Lindblom because he played against men already. Weal worries me a little because it was a small sample size. but he NEEDS to contribute offensively to stay in the lineup because I don't see him being a 4th line option.

I think you could see offensive steps forward from both Konecny and Provorov.

Whats the right way to fix that and seriously develop into a contender?

Look at the teams that have been dominant the past 6-7 years. All of them have started at the bottom. The Pens tanked for years, were nothing close to a bubble team, and still took nearly a decade to really become a powerhouse. The Hawks were bad for a long time, and then through the draft we able to change their course. The Kings, now you are seeing Toronto and Edmonton turning that page.

In all honesty, we have been spoiled as fans. For the longest time we were not just a playoff team, but true contenders. Year after year.. then came the salary cap era and things changed. We had a string of good luck following the year that wont be mentioned, but then after we sold our future away and entered the win now window, we were forced to start from scratch. Hextall has done a wonderful job at keeping the team somewhat competitive without mortgaging the future. He has done a phenomenal job at drafting.. He has made a few very savvy signings, and has done pretty well in the trade market as well.. Yes it has been a process, but in todays NHL thats pretty much par for the course if you wanna be a power house. Patience is an absolute must.

The next two years are gonna be very telling.. and ultimately will determine Hexy's level of success.
- jak521

I agree with some of this. To say we are spoiled as fans when 95% have never seen this team win a Championship is kind of an outlandish statement.

A lot of the scoring last year was generated by the first unit PP. Schenn was a big part of that. The second PP unit was dreadful. I think they are going to struggle to score at ES again, and I don't think the goaltending will be consistent enough.
- PLindbergh31

Even with Schenn, the Flyers PP had gotten stale. They ended the season close to middle of the pack. Once you factor in the ungodly number of short-handed goals they allowed, they were actually one of the weaker PP units. They're due for a change in structure and Schenn was likely due for a PP regression if he wasn't going to be used in the center of the diamond.

I believe this team has the pieces in place to make the playoffs. They just need to be coached up and utilized better. That's my opinion on the matter.

I agree with some of this. To say we are spoiled as fans when 95% have never seen this team win a Championship is kind of an outlandish statement.
- PLindbergh31

I kind of took it as we were always given a team that competed. They never purposely tanked to try and land high picks(ala 76er's). They were always trying to give fans something.

Once hextall cam in he put the on a different path. He still tries to be competitive but there is a big emphasis on the future.

Even with Schenn, the Flyers PP had gotten stale. They ended the season close to middle of the pack. Once you factor in the ungodly number of short-handed goals they allowed, they were actually one of the weaker PP units. They're due for a change in structure and Schenn was likely due for a PP regression if he wasn't going to be used in the center of the diamond.

I believe this team has the pieces in place to make the playoffs. They just need to be coached up and utilized better. That's my opinion on the matter.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree they have to be coached better. No doubt.
Vandevelde played an average of 75 games or so the last 3 seasons. What team will he be doing that with going forward? Or will the guy be out of the NHL?

I kind of took it as we were always given a team that competed. They never purposely tanked to try and land high picks(ala 76er's). They were always trying to give fans something.

Once hextall cam in he put the on a different path. He still tries to be competitive but there is a big emphasis on the future.
- J35Bacher

I get it. They were never cheap. They spent a lot of money trying to win. Thing is a lot of that was money ill spent on players not worthy of the contracts they received. Prior to the cap, the Flyers had a pretty significant financial advantage on a good % of the NHL. You have to be able to take advantage of that.

I agree with some of this. To say we are spoiled as fans when 95% have never seen this team win a Championship is kind of an outlandish statement.
- PLindbergh31

It is absolutely outlandish and yet at the same time entirely true.

Yes, the ultimate goal is to win a Cup, but at what cost.

Imagine being the worst team in the league for 8 years, then you win a cup, and then dont win another and then go back to being bad... Is that a lucky org? Are those fans spoiled?

I am 30 years old and I have only seen the team make it to two cup finals. But I have seen them ice an extremely competitive team for probably 20 of my 30 years... Thats pretty spoiled...

I kind of took it as we were always given a team that competed. They never purposely tanked to try and land high picks(ala 76er's). They were always trying to give fans something.

Once hextall cam in he put the on a different path. He still tries to be competitive but there is a big emphasis on the future.
- J35Bacher

BINGO

We ll never know exactly what happened to Mike Richards, but it s safe to assume he had issues off the ice that ultimately effected his career. The eye injury to Pronger added to the situation. Over the years, they ve made some savvy trades to make up for their lack of ability to replenish the roster through the draft. If Ray Emery s hip doesn't disintegrate, I wonder if 10 would have been different. I understand there is some luck in the Boston series, but they weren't getting great goalie play from Boosh to start that series.

It is absolutely outlandish and yet at the same time entirely true.

Yes, the ultimate goal is to win a Cup, but at what cost.

Imagine being the worst team in the league for 8 years, then you win a cup, and then dont win another and then go back to being bad... Is that a lucky org? Are those fans spoiled?

I am 30 years old and I have only seen the team make it to two cup finals. But I have seen them ice an extremely competitive team for probably 20 of my 30 years... Thats pretty spoiled...
- jak521

No I wouldn't say one championship surrounded by years of non competitive hockey would be classified as spoiled. Who has done that?

The Penguins have won 5 Cups in the last 25 years. Yes, their fan base is extremely spoiled.

No I wouldn't say one championship surrounded by years of non competitive hockey would be classified as spoiled. Who has done that?

The Penguins have won 5 Cups in the last 25 years. Yes, their fan base is extremely spoiled.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah but have you looked at historical regular AND preseason head to head records?

Trust me. Penguins fans are on their knees kissing our feet and I'm loving every second of it

From now on, whenever I write something, assume it's for everyone on the board except you
- PhillySportsGuy

No I wouldn't say one championship surrounded by years of non competitive hockey would be classified as spoiled. Who has done that?

The Penguins have won 5 Cups in the last 25 years. Yes, their fan base is extremely spoiled.
- PLindbergh31

here is the thing, Snider always had the Flyers competitive. Pre-cap the Flyers rarely missed the playoffs and most seasons iced good teams. Yes the Pens have won 5 and that is the bottom line but lets be real, they did A LOT of sucking to get those 5. Getting Mario, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin was all about them sucking. I bet Flyers fans would have been up in arms throughout that many years of being horrid. well I am on board with building thru the draft now.

I really hope Markov does not sign with the Flyers. 2 year deal and that cap hit is not worth it IMO. Also I think Markov has shown signs of decline and is not a legitimate 1/2 dman but more of a 3/4 to be kept on the PP and limited to about 17-18 minutes of TOI – which doesn't compute to $6M/yr to me.

here is the thing, Snider always had the Flyers competitive. Pre-cap the Flyers rarely missed the playoffs and most seasons iced good teams. Yes the Pens have won 5 and that is the bottom line but lets be real, they did A LOT of sucking to get those 5. Getting Mario, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin was all about them sucking. I bet Flyers fans would have been up in arms throughout that many years of being horrid. well I am on board with building thru the draft now.
- nastyflyergirl

Wait a minute... The Penguins have missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990. And have won 5 Cups during that period. How do you figure they did a "whole lot of sucking"?

During the same period of time the Flyers have missed the playoffs 8 times and won zero Cups.

here is the thing, Snider always had the Flyers competitive. Pre-cap the Flyers rarely missed the playoffs and most seasons iced good teams. Yes the Pens have won 5 and that is the bottom line but lets be real, they did A LOT of sucking to get those 5. Getting Mario, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin was all about them sucking. I bet Flyers fans would have been up in arms throughout that many years of being horrid. well I am on board with building thru the draft now.
- nastyflyergirl

The only problem is the Flyers keep missing at crucial moments in NHL draft history. They landed JvR instead of the generational player Kane. Obviously the jury is still out on Nolan Patrick but they're 1 year removed from landing Laine - and 2 years removed from landing Eichel - both of which could indeed, turn out to be generational players.

The Penguins have won 5 Cups in the last 25 years.
- PLindbergh31

Indisputable fact

Yes, the Flyers have had some great years, and all of those great years frustratingly ended in the wrong place. For all of my Flyers rooting years (since 1972) they have mostly been a joy.

Bottom line is that the Penguins have won more Cups in their 50 years than have the Flyers.

Would I still rather be a Flyers fan? Of course. Without hesitation or question.

But facts are facts.

I don't even know why this pissing contest is happening today (or ever, really).

Indisputable fact

Yes, the Flyers have had some great years, and all of those great years frustratingly ended in the wrong place. For all of my Flyers rooting years (since 1972) they have mostly been a joy.

Bottom line is that the Penguins have won more Cups in their 50 years than have the Flyers.

Would I still rather be a Flyers fan? Of course. Without hesitation or question.

But facts are facts.
- Scoob

I wouldnt want to be a fan of any other franchise. Not the Pens, not the Canadiens, not the Red Wings, not the Oilers, not the Black Hawks, not the Kings, not the Leafs and certainly not the Devils.

and (frank) the Rangers.

I really don't care how many championships the Penguins have won

I really hope Markov does not sign with the Flyers. 2 year deal and that cap hit is not worth it IMO. Also I think Markov has shown signs of decline and is not a legitimate 1/2 dman but more of a 3/4 to be kept on the PP and limited to about 17-18 minutes of TOI – which doesn't compute to $6M/yr to me.
- Pixote Andolini

I agree with Bill. If, and it's a big if they could find a way to clear out the necessary cap space by moving veterans and take on Markov on a two year deal, that would be a significant upgrade for the Flyers. They also wouldn't be giving up any of the future to do it, so I'd be thrilled if they could pull that off. I wouldn't worry though, not very likely.

I really don't care how many championships the Penguins have won
- Mordecai

Same here. I really don't give two you know what's!

Indisputable fact

Yes, the Flyers have had some great years, and all of those great years frustratingly ended in the wrong place. For all of my Flyers rooting years (since 1972) they have mostly been a joy.

Bottom line is that the Penguins have won more Cups in their 50 years than have the Flyers.

Would I still rather be a Flyers fan? Of course. Without hesitation or question.

But facts are facts.

I don't even know why this pissing contest is happening today (or ever, really).
- Scoob

Didn't make it a pissing contest. I replied to a post that said Flyers fans are spoiled. If you agree with that then fine. I don't. Sorry.