If you're facing a Boston team, with three deep lines who can score or an Islanders team that is basically carried by one line, then it DOES make a bit of a difference.

It's not a knock on Bob, it's a call to get Bob more starts against good teams to see how he handles facing a team with 3 lines that can finish, rather than the Islanders where, if you can keep Tavares off the scoresheet, you likely win the game.
- Jsaquella

Fair point. I guess Laviolette's thinking since Bryzgalov is the starter, he gets the marquee games against the top teams. I wouldn't have a problem with Bob starting more games against teams higher in the standings. Bob was rewarded by his play getting two of the 3 starts vs. the Rangers. He lost both games, but he played fairly well.

So Eklund is reporting the Flyers are looking at Nabokov? The Flyers don't want to get burned by not having 3 goalies ready to go for the playoffs? And I saw a bleacher report that the Flyers could trade Bryz to Edmonton for Khabibulin (sp?) and Andy Sutton.

Can't wait to hear what else comes up as we approach the deadline.
- funmaster18

Maybe they're pretty sure there will be amnesty buyouts in the new CBA and they buy out Bryz and re-sign Nabokov.

I still wonder if Bryz isn't use to a heavier workload and that's how he's gotten out of these funks in the past. Also, it's probably a lot different atmosphere with the press, and attention he gets in Philly. It would definitely be an adjustment.
- Hextall271

He's definately in a whole new world in Philly. Phoenix was a team committed to team defense because they had no choice. The expectations were lower as well. The media much more laid back.

I would bet that he's given up more 5 goal games as a Flyer than he did in 2 seasons as a Coyote.

I think I said that Bob has better quickness and reflexes than Bryz which allows him to recover faster when the shot comes from the unexpected angle. He is much better going post to post than Bryz. He's definately more comfortable in net than Bryz. For the defense the Flyers have, Bob is the better fit at this time.
- Flyers_01

He looks like the better goaltender in all facets imo. And the team seems to play with more confidence when he is in the cage.

Fair point. I guess Laviolette's thinking since Bryzgalov is the starter, he gets the marquee games against the top teams. I wouldn't have a problem with Bob starting more games against teams higher in the standings. Bob was rewarded by his play getting two of the 3 starts vs. the Rangers. He lost both games, but he played fairly well.
- PLindbergh31

My point was, I'm not knocking Bob. I have said that I would be looking to get him a few starts against better teams before simply handing it off to Bryzgalov to sink or swim.

Not crazy about just handing it off to Bobrovsky if he's ice cold at the end of the year.

It's not an easy problem.

It's just stupid. One person saying the Flyers want to get a 3rd goalie and another wants to get rid of one. Just leave our damn goalies alone! Can't anyone find something new to talk about?


- funmaster18

It doesn't make any sense to me. The Flyers are not going to give up on Bryzgalov after 32 starts, and there is zero reason to trade Bobrovsky.

Maybe they're pretty sure there will be amnesty buyouts in the new CBA and they buy out Bryz and re-sign Nabokov.
- Jsaquella

The only way Bryzgalov gets traded is if he wants out and the other GM is Garth Snow.

It doesn't make any sense to me. The Flyers are not going to give up on Bryzgalov after 32 starts, and there is zero reason to trade Bobrovsky.
- PLindbergh31

They don't want to trade BOB, they want to get Nabokov so we can have a 3 goalie tandem in the playoffs again

my solution...play them each a period per game and then flip a coin for the third period.
Problem solved.

my solution...play them each a period per game and then flip a coin for the third period.
Problem solved.
- phi1671

Nah they can just make line changes like the rest of the team, why do they get to be treated special?

He looks like the better goaltender in all facets imo. And the team seems to play with more confidence when he is in the cage.
- PLindbergh31

He definately has the better post game dance to date.

The only way Bryzgalov gets traded is if he wants out and the other GM is Garth Snow.
- funmaster18

Even then, not likely.

Snow's not Slick Sammy Pollock, but his biggest issue is Wang.

My point was, I'm not knocking Bob. I have said that I would be looking to get him a few starts against better teams before simply handing it off to Bryzgalov to sink or swim.

Not crazy about just handing it off to Bobrovsky if he's ice cold at the end of the year.

It's not an easy problem.
- Jsaquella

These things have a way of sorting themselves out. The simple solution would be for Bryzgalov to perform better, if that doesn't happen Laviolette will have an interesting decision on his hands.

Nah they can just make line changes like the rest of the team, why do they get to be treated special?
- funmaster18

maybe that will add a little bit more jam to the team

They don't want to trade BOB, they want to get Nabokov so we can have a 3 goalie tandem in the playoffs again
- funmaster18

So stash Nabakov in Adirondack until the playoffs, then unleash him in game 5 of a playoff series.

These things have a way of sorting themselves out. The simple solution would be for Bryzgalov to perform better, if that doesn't happen Laviolette will have an interesting decision on his hands.
- PLindbergh31

duct tape most of the media. provide them vanilla quotes and ban Bryz from reading the paper.
The internet is humongus so he should be able to find other stuff to read.

These things have a way of sorting themselves out. The simple solution would be for Bryzgalov to perform better, if that doesn't happen Laviolette will have an interesting decision on his hands.
- PLindbergh31

I'm just thinking that there's a school of thought that Bryzgalov needs to be handed the ball and run with it for a stretch to get better. So far Laviolette has been pretty consistent with going back to Bob when Bryzgalov has a rough go.

I don't envy him.

So stash Nabakov in Adirondack until the playoffs, then unleash him in game 5 of a playoff series.
- PLindbergh31

From Ek's blog, it's priceless:

*The Flyers have been burned before by not having three goalies ready for the playoffs and there are rumors this afternoon that they are interested in Nabokov.

duct tape most of the media. provide them vanilla quotes and ban Bryz from reading the paper.
The internet is humongus so he should be able to find other stuff to read.
- phi1671

The media is a flat out embarrassment. I loved what Bryzgalov said after the NJ game. Leave me alone and let me play the hockey. If only this was possible.

The media is a flat out embarrassment. I loved what Bryzgalov said after the NJ game. Leave me alone and let me play the hockey. If only this was possible.
- PLindbergh31

The Philadelphia hockey media is a (frank)ing joke.

maybe that will add a little bit more jam to the team
- phi1671

Having Hextall be the goalie coach would add more jam to the goalie position :p. He'd demonstrate the proper form on how to clear opposing players out of your crease with your stick.

It's been a long time since i've seen a Flyers goalie go nuts on a guy crashing the crease. I miss it. I think Hexy put the fear of god in the opposing players heading towards the blue paint.

From Ek's blog, it's priceless:

*The Flyers have been burned before by not having three goalies ready for the playoffs and there are rumors this afternoon that they are interested in Nabokov.


- funmaster18

It's comical. What NHL team has 3 goaltenders capable of performing at high level in the playoffs? An argument can be made the Flyers are actually best suited to do that. What NHL team has a third guy in the minors with some playoff success like Leighton has?

Having Hextall be the goalie coach would add more jam to the goalie position :p. He'd demonstrate the proper form on how to clear opposing players out of your crease with your stick.

It's been a long time since i've seen a Flyers goalie go nuts on a guy crashing the crease. I miss it. I think Hexy put the fear of god in the opposing players heading towards the blue paint.
- Flyers_01

Giving up 45 foot, unscreened 5 hole goals also kept guys away from the crease.

It's comical. What NHL team has 3 goaltenders capable of performing at high level in the playoffs? An argument can be made the Flyers are actually best suited to do that. What NHL team has a third guy in the minors with some playoff success like Leighton has?
- PLindbergh31

Eklund just got around to reading Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts from a few weeks ago that praised the Flyers, and said if they felt neither Bob or Bryz could get it done they wouldn't hesitate to go after a third goalie

It's comical. What NHL team has 3 goaltenders capable of performing at high level in the playoffs? An argument can be made the Flyers are actually best suited to do that. What NHL team has a third guy in the minors with some playoff success like Leighton has?
- PLindbergh31

I don't know, but with Nabokov and Leighton pushing each other down the stretch the Flyers are going to be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time. They will dress 3 goalies and rotate them throughout the period to keep team's guessing since "the book is out" on BOB and Bryz.