It's Hockey. There is nothing earth shattering or new offensive strategy that any line is going to use that a team needs to see a bunch of video to finally figure out to play them defensively. Lines are together and successful together year after year. What the Giroux line was successful at hasn't been taken away from them. They aren't doing what they were doing when the were successful.

I have no problem switching up lines and seeing what happens. But it's not because the rest of the League has finally figured out how to play them. That's not the reality.
- MJL

Says who? Are you trying to say that scouting and defensive schemes play no role on how a team defends certain players? Thats completely FOOLISH. Teams create defensive match-ups and schemes baised on what they see.

For example Chris Therien was always on the ice with Jagr, and never gave him any space... They knew Jagr hated that, and so they used it. It's just like Spying Vick to take away his running game... If you dont think that happens in hockey, and can result in a line playing worse then your blind.

Bingo. Caught looking ahead to two big games this weekend. The Islanders were the worst possible opponent last night. A team that has been playing fairly well, with a hot goaltender, a team the Flyers have beaten 26 of the last 28 times they played them.
Doesn't excuse the effort, but that is the reason. Nothing more, nothing less.
- PLindbergh31

Bingo Bongo, Well this weekend will be big for Bryz. I hope he can shut a good amount of people up on his play

I agree as well. I dont think Homer will ruin this team or trade away more young prospects
- bigmookalookie

I don't think that trading for Weber is necessarily "ruining" the team. It's just not the path I'd take. I love Weber. He'd instantly be my favorite Flyer if he came here. But I don't think one guy fixes all the issues that easily.

Right now, they have about $3.7mm in LTIR cushion room-that's for a full season hit. So without trading a roster player they can fit a guy with around that cap hit.

Not a lot of room to fit a top line winger and defenseman with the existing space.

Granted you could trade roster players, but then you have to replace them in the line-up.

I'm not saying to simply stand pat, or write this year off. But be prudent. Don't shoot your wad to have a 10% better chance this year, when it hurts your chances next year.

Also, who knows what will be in the new CBA? What if there's a tweak that only allows a portion of a contract on LTIR? Then they might not be able to carry their prized new addition. Too many varibles right now. They have a good young team. let them grow together.
- Jsaquella

Actually with the demotion of Walker, it's at about 4.5M now.

Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan doesn't put them back in the race. That's the last thing they should do. Briere isn't close to being done. Jagr will pick his game back up again. Yes, I see JVR developing into a 30 goal scorer. He was on that pace before he got injured. Read is scoring at close to a 30 goal pace this Season. Voracek and Simmonds are solid depth Wingers. All of those players are going to get better and better. Did you really expect them to be a Cup team this year?
- MJL

Yeah I do. Trade Schenn and JVR and a 1st to Anahiem for Beauchemin and Bibby Ryan. This is just a theory. But yes this is a cup team...

Ryan-Giroux-Jagr
Hartnell-Briere-Voracek
Reed-Couturier-Simmonds
Zolnerchuk-Talbot-Shelley
Coburn-Timonen
Beauchemin-Meszaros
Carle-Bourdon
Bryzgalov
Bobrovsky

This looks like a much better team

i think overall the team is fine. We all want our team to win the cup and it's frustrated to see a lack of effort. But it's a marathon not a sprint...
- phi1671

You are correct. Anyways, I'd like to see this team work through adversity and rediscover their game, rather than hand them a solution (which isn't assured to offer more than limited efficacy).

Key to offense, in pretty much every team sport, is adapting to what the defense gives you.

The Giroux line isn't doing that. They're forcing things. They're trying to make high risk plays. Giroux seems like he's trying to will the puck to Jagr, despite the coverage. They're pressing, as well, which compounds the issue.

As for juggling lines, maybe playing with Voracek and Read allows Giroux to just focus on his game and not force things as much as he has been.
- Jsaquella

EXACTLY! Defense is adapting to what Giroux and Jagr are doing, and Giroux and Jagr are not adapting back.

I don't think that trading for Weber is necessarily "ruining" the team. It's just not the path I'd take. I love Weber. He'd instantly be my favorite Flyer if he came here. But I don't think one guy fixes all the issues that easily.
- Jsaquella

But as we all know Weber price will cost a good amount of depth that I dont want to part with. I think you get a young good dman now if you can for a good price and then try for Suter when he becomes a UFA.

Says who? Are you trying to say that scouting and defensive schemes play no role on how a team defends certain players? Thats completely FOOLISH. Teams create defensive match-ups and schemes baised on what they see.

For example Chris Therien was always on the ice with Jagr, and never gave him any space... They knew Jagr hated that, and so they used it. It's just like Spying Vick to take away his running game... If you dont think that happens in hockey, and can result in a line playing worse then your blind.
- RooNosHockey

You mean Therien took away time and space from Jagr? Wow, that's revolutionary and innovative defensive strategy probably developed from hours and hours of video tape and scouting of Jagr!
It's not a complicated game. Giroux isn't seeing anything that any other top player sees game in and game out. There's nothing special going on. Giroux and has line have to get back to playing the right way, playing better defensively, making the right decisions with the puck. and executing on the ice. And there is no amount of video tape, or scouting, that can do anything about it if they do that.

Actually with the demotion of Walker, it's at about 4.5M now.
- MJL

I totally forgot they sent him down. The point still stands, though. Nash's hit is north of $7mm. So is Weber's. They clear that much room, it opens up other holes.

Bingo Bongo, Well this weekend will be big for Bryz. I hope he can shut a good amount of people up on his play
- bigmookalookie

Hate to sound like a Debbie Downer, but I won't hold my breath on this. I don't have much confidence in Bryz right now and would feel a lot better playing Bob against the Bruins....but I know in order for this team to be successful, Bryz needs more games in order to get over this funk that he's in. In my opinion, if Bryz was playing last night, the score could have easily been 6 or 7-1. I don't see Bryz stopping those breakaways with what i've seen from him this year.

That being said, I am hopeful that he soon becomes the goalie we all expected him to be.

But as we all know Weber price will cost a good amount of depth that I dont want to part with. I think you get a young good dman now if you can for a good price and then try for Suter when he becomes a UFA.
- bigmookalookie

Precisely, wait for the option to come to you. Be as the frog in the pond: do not seek the fly, the fly will come to you.

EXACTLY! Defense is adapting to what Giroux and Jagr are doing, and Giroux and Jagr are not adapting back.
- RooNosHockey

The thing is, Giroux and Jagr are forcing things. Giroux is passing up open shots to pass to a covered Jagr. He wasn't doing that before. He was taking the shot. They're not taking the open plays, which they were before, when they were having a lot of success.

ahhhhhhhhhhh yeah the shelly horse lets beat that to death some more
- Duane B

Look had bad that horse has been beaten:

Yeah I do. Trade Schenn and JVR and a 1st to Anahiem for Beauchemin and Bibby Ryan. This is just a theory. But yes this is a cup team...

Ryan-Giroux-Jagr
Hartnell-Briere-Voracek
Reed-Couturier-Simmonds
Zolnerchuk-Talbot-Shelley
Coburn-Timonen
Beauchemin-Meszaros
Carle-Bourdon
Bryzgalov
Bobrovsky

This looks like a much better team



- TonyBazz

Not gonna lie that does look friggin nice

Yeah I do. Trade Schenn and JVR and a 1st to Anahiem for Beauchemin and Bibby Ryan. This is just a theory. But yes this is a cup team...

Ryan-Giroux-Jagr
Hartnell-Briere-Voracek
Reed-Couturier-Simmonds
Zolnerchuk-Talbot-Shelley
Coburn-Timonen
Beauchemin-Meszaros
Carle-Bourdon
Bryzgalov
Bobrovsky

This looks like a much better team



- TonyBazz

Considering that JvR, Schenn and a 1st was less than the asking price for Ryan alone, before the Ducks fired Carlyle, why would they give you Ryan and Beauchemin for it now?

You mean Therien took away time and space from Jagr? Wow, that's revolutionary and innovative defensive strategy probably developed from hours and hours of video tape and scouting of Jagr!
It's not a complicated game. Giroux isn't seeing anything that any other top player sees game in and game out. There's nothing special going on. Giroux and has line have to get back to playing the right way, playing better defensively, making the right decisions with the puck. and executing on the ice. And there is no amount of video tape, or scouting, that can do anything about it if they do that.
- MJL

You are so wrong its funny.

Hate to sound like a Debbie Downer, but I won't hold my breath on this. I don't have much confidence in Bryz right now and would feel a lot better playing Bob against the Bruins....but I know in order for this team to be successful, Bryz needs more games in order to get over this funk that he's in. In my opinion, if Bryz was playing last night, the score could have easily been 6 or 7-1. I don't see Bryz stopping those breakaways with what i've seen from him this year.

That being said, I am hopeful that he soon becomes the goalie we all expected him to be.
- Flyer_Nation71

Like I said Bryz can come out of this weekend looking like a champ. I hope everyone that stated that Bob was hung out to dry better say the same stuff when Bryz is playing instead of shredding him like cheddar cheese

Precisely, wait for the option to come to you. Be as the frog in the pond: do not seek the fly, the fly will come to you.
- BulliesPhan87

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

I wonder if the Flyers are going to spot 1 game for Schenn in the AHL to start next season just to drop his cap hit. This year it was justified as his camp wasn't so great, but I'd imagine next year he'll be penciled in as a regular out of the gate.

What a dumb bonus

our d-zone coverage and puck management are a mess.

LET'S GET RICK NASH IN HERE

Not gonna lie that does look friggin nice
- bigmookalookie

I dont like it, and I dont like the idea of giving up 2 guys who have Bobby Ryan like potential and a 1st for ultimately Bobby Ryan. Beauchamen (SP?) is old and not getting any younger.

If we stay the course.. let our guys develop and add a few other pieces without throwing away top prospects, we will be rewarded.

I wonder if the Flyers are going to spot 1 game for Schenn in the AHL to start next season just to drop his cap hit. This year it was justified as his camp wasn't so great, but I'd imagine next year he'll be penciled in as a regular out of the gate.

What a dumb bonus
- eayost

Next year there may well be a bonus cushion that will prevent having to do things like that. Since the CBA is expiring, there was no bonus cushion, which is why Schenn, Couturier and Bobrovsky's hits are so high.

I wonder if the Flyers are going to spot 1 game for Schenn in the AHL to start next season just to drop his cap hit. This year it was justified as his camp wasn't so great, but I'd imagine next year he'll be penciled in as a regular out of the gate.

What a dumb bonus
- eayost

yea his agent gave him the boom boom in the rumpsta

Like I said Bryz can come out of this weekend looking like a champ. I hope everyone that stated that Bob was hung out to dry better say the same stuff when Bryz is playing instead of shredding him like cheddar cheese
- bigmookalookie

Yes, but the difference between the two is that Bob actually stops pucks whereas Bryz makes lackadaisical efforts and flops around like a salmon swimming upstream to mate.