re: Playoffs?

The metro is insanely good. It is going to be really tough to finish at least 5th in this division. Flyers weren't good against the metro last year either. It is a weird division in a lot of ways, because I think all the teams better than the Flyers got a little worse and all the teams not (or) as good as the Flyers got a little better.

There are a ton of big names still in the division, but a lot of youth as well. The Caps had to get younger (and aren't as deep), the Pens got weaker within their forwards (3rd line), Columbus has a lot rookies and they had a bunch of "overachievers" last year. Rangers got better on defense, but weaker without Stepan. Isles, Devils, Canes, Rangers, Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Flyers all have multiple rookies.

What I do know is this. There are a lot of reasons the Flyers should be a better team at 5v5 and on the PK. PP2 looked improved. Their save% and shooting% were embarrassing last year to the point where it is almost unthinkable to not expect it to be better. With everything else out of their control, they should be able to compete for a playoff spot. If nothing else, they are trending in the right direction.
- YuenglingJagr

Mason's final 17 starts last season (10-5-2 record, 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%, and two shutouts plus a regulation shutout) pulled both his and and the team numbers back toward respectability, but overall last season, neither the team defense nor the goaltending were good enough.

no lines posted anywhere yet?
- nastyflyergirl

i dont think theyve done their morning skate yet

Mason's final 17 starts last season (10-5-2 record, 2.14 GAA, .926 SV%, and two shutouts plus a regulation shutout) pulled both his and and the team numbers back toward respectability, but overall last season, neither the team defense nor the goaltending were good enough.
- bmeltzer

Yep...everything seemed to end up in the back of their net and they couldn't buy a goal for a large portion of the season. They are built to better compete at ES. Any movement back toward averages for most of the players should add up to a playoff spot.

Yep...everything seemed to end up in the back of their net and they couldn't buy a goal for a large portion of the season. They are built to better compete at ES. Any movement back toward averages for most of the players should add up to a playoff spot.
- YuenglingJagr

like i said...we're looking at 5 games to put them in. is it unreasonable to think they can't win 5 more games?

re: Playoffs?

The metro is insanely good. It is going to be really tough to finish at least 5th in this division. Flyers weren't good against the metro last year either. It is a weird division in a lot of ways, because I think all the teams better than the Flyers got a little worse and all the teams not (or) as good as the Flyers got a little better.

There are a ton of big names still in the division, but a lot of youth as well. The Caps had to get younger (and aren't as deep), the Pens got weaker within their forwards (3rd line), Columbus has a lot rookies and they had a bunch of "overachievers" last year. Rangers got better on defense, but weaker without Stepan. Isles, Devils, Canes, Rangers, Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Flyers all have multiple rookies.

What I do know is this. There are a lot of reasons the Flyers should be a better team at 5v5 and on the PK. PP2 looked improved. Their save% and shooting% were embarrassing last year to the point where it is almost unthinkable to not expect it to be better. With everything else out of their control, they should be able to compete for a playoff spot. If nothing else, they are trending in the right direction.
- YuenglingJagr

Well said!

like i said...we're looking at 5 games to put them in. is it unreasonable to think they can't win 5 more games?
- hammarby31

How confident are you that the goaltending is going to be appreciably better this season?

I'm not at all confident. I have questions.

I also question how the Caps, Rangers, Pens, and 'Jackets will fare this year compared to last. Are they all going to regress? If two or more of them do, then the Flyers chances would appear to be better.

Are the Canes and Islanders going to be for realsies? I don't know.

If they arent, clearly that helps the Flyers case.

Camp was fun until they gave out the assistant Captaincies to two players who have zero shot at a future here and/or not that great. Plus one of our prizes and more exciting rookies won't play.
- SuperSchennBros

Or the players voted for 2 players that the majority of this message board may just be a little critical about?

Flyers will have 3-4 rookies & 2 promising sophomores in the line up. There is plenty to be excited about.

But go ahead and focus on a players vote and who's not playing.

alright boys it begins tonight
will giroux finally score a goal?

First Month: 6 AWAY, 6 HOME

How many points do you expect?

I'm thinking 10 pts
- mayorofangrytown

Twelve would be good. It's a tough early schedule. They can make up the points later in the season. Ten would be OK, I think 14 would be a major accomplishment.

alright boys it begins tonight
will giroux finally score a goal?
- 2Real

Giroux will score 2 goals tonight. 1 on the PP and 1 EN.

Yep...everything seemed to end up in the back of their net and they couldn't buy a goal for a large portion of the season. They are built to better compete at ES. Any movement back toward averages for most of the players should add up to a playoff spot.
- YuenglingJagr

PP1 may have downgraded if they can't effectively replace Schenn. However, PP2 finally looks like it can be legit.

i can see that. the good news is that we have an injection of youth/skill, and a few banging on the door to get in. it puts pressure on them AND the vets clinging to jobs.

i want to see the goalies and key previously slumping vets contribute what they should..shoulder the load so the rookies can find their way. i also want to see overall better ES and road play. the former will produce the latter.

i need the playoffs this year.
- hammarby31

I think this season is the first that neither goalie that I thought would be on the team is actually on the team. I hope Elliott can return to his mean average and not continuing a downward trend.

There were several disconcerting things about Sunday's game. Being that it was labeled by the management team as a dress rehearsal for the season the goalie play was sub par and they scratched both Morin and Sanheim for MacDonald and Manning. These things are what they left me with coming into tonight's game and I can't say I'm pleased with the decision making.

If they expect to start the season scratching rookies and Elliott's play is going to loom large over their fortunes I just don't see the playoffs in the picture. I'm apprehensive that the promise of the preseason will atrophy through poor team management.

This could spiral into a top 10 pick with just a few mishandled players. It's that fragile of a playoff bubble for them.

re: Playoffs?

The metro is insanely good. It is going to be really tough to finish at least 5th in this division. Flyers weren't good against the metro last year either. It is a weird division in a lot of ways, because I think all the teams better than the Flyers got a little worse and all the teams not (or) as good as the Flyers got a little better.

There are a ton of big names still in the division, but a lot of youth as well. The Caps had to get younger (and aren't as deep), the Pens got weaker within their forwards (3rd line), Columbus has a lot rookies and they had a bunch of "overachievers" last year. Rangers got better on defense, but weaker without Stepan. Isles, Devils, Canes, Rangers, Blue Jackets, Capitals, and Flyers all have multiple rookies.

What I do know is this. There are a lot of reasons the Flyers should be a better team at 5v5 and on the PK. PP2 looked improved. Their save% and shooting% were embarrassing last year to the point where it is almost unthinkable to not expect it to be better. With everything else out of their control, they should be able to compete for a playoff spot. If nothing else, they are trending in the right direction.
- YuenglingJagr

Gagner was a "little Urban overacheiver" last year.

Which of the prizes will you miss the most? You can pick two if you'd like.

Lindblom - Sanheim - Morin
- mayorofangrytown

Lindblum wasn't all that impressive to me.

You realize that this was a players' vote? They decided on Filp and MacDonald, not management or the coaching staff. I'm sure as hell certain they don't give a damn about your opinion regarding locker room leadership.
- KGBflyers10

I don't care if all of America voted and there is a possibly recount in Florida. There was a time when the "A" really meant something.

How confident are you that the goaltending is going to be appreciably better this season?
- Doc_Sarcasm

It'll have to be appreciably better with all the rookies on defen...what?...wait...oh, scratch that...

new season, always a great time of year. I have to admit the last two season, if wasn't that excited. But this one I am. I don't think this team wins the cup, more excited to get a glimpse of what the future holds for the Flyers.

This season I want to see a team that puts in a good effort every game. There were times over the past two seasons were to me it didn't seem they were working hard. I know this team will struggle at times, just show that care and are trying.

I think this season is the first that neither goalie that I thought would be on the team is actually on the team. I hope Elliott can return to his mean average and not continuing a downward trend.

There were several disconcerting things about Sunday's game. Being that it was labeled by the management team as a dress rehearsal for the season the goalie play was sub par and they scratched both Morin and Sanheim for MacDonald and Manning. These things are what they left me with coming into tonight's game and I can't say I'm pleased with the decision making.

If they expect to start the season scratching rookies and Elliott's play is going to loom large over their fortunes I just don't see the playoffs in the picture. I'm apprehensive that the promise of the preseason will atrophy through poor team management.

This could spiral into a top 10 pick with just a few mishandled players. It's that fragile of a playoff bubble for them.
- mayorofangrytown

I'm still salty that they said Lindblom needed to produce, but he scored a goal in the last game he played.

I view this team as a bubble team no matter what they did with the roster. The metro is just really tough at the moment. Lindblom, Sanheim, and Morin are all ready IMO. They are a bubble team with or without them. That being said, with them, this roster would have really high upside. Sanheim could have an effect similar to Ghost's rookie year. I just don't know how the team doesn't see this when it was not very long ago.

Since the argument seems to be that the vets give this team the best chance to win, they better make the playoffs this year.

Their lack of talent evaluation at the NHL level has me really concerned for when the time comes to make some deals to put them over the top.

Lindblum wasn't all that impressive to me.
- SuperSchennBros

What chance did he really have to impress you? He scored a goal then was scratched for 4 games and sent to Lehigh.

It'll have to be appreciably better with all the rookies on defen...what?...wait...oh, scratch that...
- Scoob

and we still might make the playoffs. it could happen.

I don't care if all of America voted and there is a possibly recount in Florida. There was a time when the "A" really meant something.
- SuperSchennBros

So it doesn't mean anything because the players it should actually mean something to decided to vote for 2 guys you have no respect for?

What chance did he really have to impress you? He scored a goal then was scratched for 4 games and sent to Lehigh.
- mayorofangrytown

Almost zero. It seems as though it was predetermined that 8/9 top 9 spots were filled prior to camp. Lindblom lost to Patrick for that last spot.

I'm still salty that they said Lindblom needed to produce, but he scored a goal in the last game he played.

I view this team as a bubble team no matter what they did with the roster. The metro is just really tough at the moment. Lindblom, Sanheim, and Morin are all ready IMO. They are a bubble team with or without them. That being said, with them, this roster would have really high upside. Sanheim could have an effect similar to Ghost's rookie year. I just don't know how the team doesn't see this when it was not very long ago.

Since the argument seems to be that the vets give this team the best chance to win, they better make the playoffs this year.

Their lack of talent evaluation at the NHL level has me really concerned for when the time comes to make some deals to put them over the top.
- JFlyers00

They really seem to over value the fringe players on the team over the rookies and in the place they occupy in the NHL cup race this just doesn't seem prudent. It's like the value the less than average play above rookie potential. Manning is what he is. His up side is negligible. Why not Sanheim or Morin?

Don't even get me started on the third forward line. Gods!

I don't care if all of America voted and there is a possibly recount in Florida. There was a time when the "A" really meant something.
- SuperSchennBros

So, because the players voted for Amac and Flip it doesn't mean anything?

Almost zero. It seems as though it was predetermined that 8/9 top 9 spots were filled prior to camp. Lindblom lost to Patrick for that last spot.
- JFlyers00

Weise and his recency bias... Those last 10-15 games to end the season bought him that third line spot.