Are we winning or losing the playoffs now that Patrick is signed?
- opeth_pa

Fold the damn tram already.

I don't think anyone has done a perfect job in the last couple years. I mean, I was never in the camp of Steve Mason being a top ten goalie in the league but he's a starter. I think a team can win with him. The problem for me is, Mason has been a constant the past four seasons and the results show he's been one our best goaltender in franchise history and look how he's being rewarded. Look beyond recent comments by a frustrated player. How about Ron Hextall signing Neuvirth two seasons ago and Mason having to split time, rather than be the clear cut number one.

It wasn't that long ago, an outsider in Jeremy Roenick passes judgement on Mason for not being all that special. I think those comments upset many around here. Suddenly Hextall cuts ties and magically it's the right thing to do because it's Ron Hextall. The departure of Schenn and Mason tells me we've thrown in the towel on the coming season. Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds shouldn't be happy about this. We might not be a contender with Schenn and Mason but at least we would be a better team. At least we might see positive steps forward by adding Patrick, Morin and Hagg to the mix or whatever youth works hard and makes the team.

Until we reach contender status, nobody deserves the benefit of the doubt. The future is brought. Hextall has had three seasons. It's time to see results. It's time to earn these ticket prices.
- SuperSchennBros

Nobody should crown Hextall at this point, but the team is on more stable ground then it was.....Hextall has cleared out some dead wood and it appears we will start to see some of the young talent arrive.....true the Flyers have been very patient with some of the kids, but sometimes a young guy does need a bit more time....last year there was Provorov and Konecny arriving. I thought Cousins played well.....obviously mgmt disagreed. This year there really should be an influx of youth. With the salary cap era here, you really need the youth to be good, as those 925,000 contracts are very valuable.
As far as Mason, I thought he had some really good spells, but seem to wear down mentally after good stretches and simply gave the net back up....I'm fine with the move, as Elliot to me is no better or worse....just my 2cents.

Nobody should crown Hextall at this point, but the team is on more stable ground then it was.....Hextall has cleared out some dead wood and it appears we will start to see some of the young talent arrive.....true the Flyers have been very patient with some of the kids, but sometimes a young guy does need a bit more time....last year there was Provorov and Konecny arriving. I thought Cousins played well.....obviously mgmt disagreed. This year there really should be an influx of youth. With the salary cap era here, you really need the youth to be good, as those 925,000 contracts are very valuable.
As far as Mason, I thought he had some really good spells, but seem to wear down mentally after good stretches and simply gave the net back up....I'm fine with the move, as Elliot to me is no better or worse....just my 2cents.
- landros 2

Agree 100%. Obviously with the team still in the midst of the rebuild/retool, the jury is still out on Hextall. However, so far, he seems to be doing a pretty good job. The prospect pool is arguably deeper than any point in team history, the cap situation is in good shape and, with the hire of Knoblauch I believe the coaching staff has been upgraded as well. I think they are well on their way to once again being a Cup contender.

Agree 100%. Obviously with the team still in the midst of the rebuild/retool, the jury is still out on Hextall. However, so far, he seems to be doing a pretty good job. The prospect pool is arguably deeper than any point in team history, the cap situation is in good shape and, with the hire of Knoblauch I believe the coaching staff has been upgraded as well. I think they are well on their way to once again being a Cup contender.
- BiggE

But but but...HE TRADED SCHENN!!! Obviously he's giving up on the season.

I think the Flyers will be pretty good this year, folks

I think the Flyers will be pretty good this year, folks
- YuenglingJagr

If by pretty good, you mean finishing somewhere between 95-100 points and getting in as a wildcard, then I agree.

If by pretty good, you mean finishing somewhere between 95-100 points and getting in as a wildcard, then I agree.
- BiggE

I am good with that

If by pretty good, you mean finishing somewhere between 95-100 points and getting in as a wildcard, then I agree.
- BiggE

Keys to a successful season:


A-mac to the Phantoms.

Hello
- PhillySportsGuy

Is that you Adele?

Hi

I think/hope Giroux will score in the low 60s

Coots will score 45-51 pts

Patrick will score in the 40s

Lehtera will score in the 20s

As I responded earlier, I think the Flyers will finish with 95-100 points and make the playoffs as a wildcard team. Here are my reasons why:

The goaltending will be better: Before you jump all over me and scream how Mason is a better goalie than Elliott, please note that I am only looking at the goaltending the Flyers received during the 16-17 season. For much of that year, the goaltending was woefully inconsistent and quite a few soft goals were given up by both goalies. I don't think it's a stretch to say that they should benefit from at least a slight upgrade in goal in 17-18.

The D will be more mobile, deeper and talented: Provorov is a legit top pair guy and at age 20 and Gudas has worked hard to become a reliable 2/3 guy. Ghost should also be better than he was for most of last season. AMac is, for all his faults, still a solid NHL Dman too. Now add to that some combo of Morin, Hagg, Myers and Sanheim along with a solid 3rd pair guy in Manning and you should have a better overall group than you had last year.

The forward group should be deeper and better at ES: The loss of Schenn could impact the PP, but replacing his 8 goals at ES should be easily doable. The likely additions of Patrick and Lindblom, a more experienced Konecny and full seasons of Weal and Filpulla should improve this group. I also feel that a healthy from day 1 Claude Giroux will also give this group a boost as well.

They added a smart, young voice to the coaching staff: Knoblauch should bring some new ideas to the staff as a whole and I'm glad to see them hiring from outside the organization. I also think that Hakstol should also to continue to improve as a head coach as he continues to gain more experience behind the bench.

All in all, as long as most of the key players stay healthy, I don't see any reason why this team can't improve 10 points on last year's finish which would bring them up to 98 points and a likely playoff berth.

Keys to a successful season:


A-mac to the Phantoms.
- jak521

If enough kids are ready, I'd rather see Manning off the roster before AMac. For all his faults, he's still a better all around player than Manning.

Fold the damn tram already.
- jmatchett383

Watch the tram car please...

The goaltending will be better: Before you jump all over me and scream how Mason is a better goalie than Elliott, please note that I am only looking at the goaltending the Flyers received during the 16-17 season. For much of that year, the goaltending was woefully inconsistent and quite a few soft goals were given up by both goalies. I don't think it's a stretch to say that they should benefit from at least a slight upgrade in goal in 17-18.
- BiggE

As long as it is around 915-918 I think they will make the playoffs

If enough kids are ready, I'd rather see Manning off the roster before AMac. For all his faults, he's still a better all around player than Manning.
- BiggE

I'm hoping for a reason to have both off. I know it'll be a miracle but a man can hope can't he?

I think/hope Giroux will score in the low 60s

Coots will score 45-51 pts

Patrick will score in the 40s

Lehtera will score in the 20s
- YuenglingJagr

Agree with you on Giroux. Coots total will depend on pp time, I'm not sure with a new pp coach if he will be getting that time, especially since I think he will end up leading the team in SH ice time and being in the top 2 in ES ice time. If he isn't getting pp time, I doubt he breaks 35 points max, if he is getting pp time, than your numbers sound about right. I think Patrick, also depending on usage and linemates will end up somewhere between 35-45 points. Lehtera is a tough call, I'm not sure he's even a regular in the lineup. If he is then yeah, somewhere around 20 points is probably reasonable.

I'm hoping for a reason to have both off. I know it'll be a miracle but a man can hope can't he?
- dragonoffrost

Maybe, but I'd be pretty surprised if they were carrying 7 D, with 4 rookies, Provorov, Ghost and Gudas. I don't think they want any of the kids being a 7th man rather than playing regularly in LHV. No matter what, I still think AMac or Manning will at least be around to fill that role.

I think/hope Giroux will score in the low 60s

Coots will score 45-51 pts

Patrick will score in the 40s

Lehtera will score in the 20s
- YuenglingJagr

Giroux mid-60s to low 70s
Couturier low-mid 40s
Patrick low 50s
Lehtera upper 20s low 30s

IMHO!

If enough kids are ready, I'd rather see Manning off the roster before AMac. For all his faults, he's still a better all around player than Manning.
- BiggE

While I agree to an extent, I fear that if A-Mac is on the roster in any capacity, he will be paired with Provorov again. Thats my nightmare.

While I agree to an extent, I fear that if A-Mac is on the roster in any capacity, he will be paired with Provorov again. Thats my nightmare.
- jak521

I hear ya. I'd really like to see a top pairing of Provorov/Gudas

Agree with you on Giroux. Coots total will depend on pp time, I'm not sure with a new pp coach if he will be getting that time, especially since I think he will end up leading the team in SH ice time and being in the top 2 in ES ice time. If he isn't getting pp time, I doubt he breaks 35 points max, if he is getting pp time, than your numbers sound about right. I think Patrick, also depending on usage and linemates will end up somewhere between 35-45 points. Lehtera is a tough call, I'm not sure he's even a regular in the lineup. If he is then yeah, somewhere around 20 points is probably reasonable.
- BiggE

fwiw I expect Coots to score around 40-42 pts at even strength

Agree with you on Giroux. Coots total will depend on pp time, I'm not sure with a new pp coach if he will be getting that time, especially since I think he will end up leading the team in SH ice time and being in the top 2 in ES ice time. If he isn't getting pp time, I doubt he breaks 35 points max, if he is getting pp time, than your numbers sound about right. I think Patrick, also depending on usage and linemates will end up somewhere between 35-45 points. Lehtera is a tough call, I'm not sure he's even a regular in the lineup. If he is then yeah, somewhere around 20 points is probably reasonable.
- BiggE

Couts had 34 points in 66 games last year. 2 of those points were PP points and 1 was SH.

He shouldn't have a problem hitting 35 points, provided he stays healthy.

fwiw I expect Coots to score around 40-42 pts at even strength
- YuenglingJagr

Agreed, I believe we had this conversation a few months ago.

Couts had 34 points in 66 games last year. 2 of those points were PP points and 1 was SH.

He shouldn't have a problem hitting 35 points, provided he stays healthy.
- VladDrag

Good point, though with a (hopefully) fully healthy Giroux and Patrick added to the mix, he may actually see a bit less ice time at ES and much more when the team is shorthanded. With PEB and VdV gone (YAY!), I have to think that he is their number 1 PKer right now and may see 2.5 to 3 minutes per game on the kill.