So it's a rebuilding year. And Bryz has shown signs of steering the ship back into a positive direction, only to have a poor performance against one of the NHL's top team. So if we put all of our eggs in a 9-year contract, why are people jumping off bridges after 1/18th of the contract? As you stated, it's a rebuild year; where is the patience?

And no player "earns" the right to single out ONE player to the media, of all people. I don't care if it was Pronger or Kapanen or Laperierre. It just shouldn't happen. Bryz was wrong to do it; so is Kimmo.

And don't mistake me sticking up for Bryz as my endorsement of his MVP-calibre season. He has fallen grossly under everyone's expectations. I get on him all the time for his soft goals and turtle-like reflexes. However, I'm not ready to buy out his contract yet, and I'm certainly not ready to say that he is the reason this team lost on Sunday.
- steelydan

if it's a rebuild year why are we aiming for the playoffs?
tank and get a top pick or even the top pick

An honest team Captain leads by example, an argument can be made that Timonen is the Flyers best player, he brings it every night, and has earned the right to speak his peace. When he calls someone out, that player should realize he isn't doing HIS job.
- PLindbergh31

That's fine. Really, leading by example always has a place in the locker-room. Calling your teammate out can even be justified in certain scenarios and certain manners. If you have a bad apple that is ignoring his coach and teammates should be thrown to the wolves, so he can see how much of an idiot he is really being.

Bryz, on the other hand, doesn't need Kimmo giving backhanded comments to the reporters. Talk about providing ammo for reporters to attack a player that is already fragile in terms of confidence. If he's a leader, why doesn't he take Bryz aside and talk to him as a leader? What benefit is there to throwing that out there for the reporters to yuk up and use against Bryz?

I'll say it again. Calling out a teammate to the media (if that's in fact what he did) is a cowardly action and there really is no dressing up that action. If his motive for calling out Bryz is to motivate him to play better, his actions are counter-productive because it's painfully obvious to the whole team that Bryz is not the guy you want answering questions in front of cameras. Kimmo played it wrong.

And I love Kimmo. In the same group as Simmonds, Couts, Talbot; I feel like they bring 100% every game and leave it out there.

So it's a rebuilding year. And Bryz has shown signs of steering the ship back into a positive direction, only to have a poor performance against one of the NHL's top team. So if we put all of our eggs in a 9-year contract, why are people jumping off bridges after 1/18th of the contract? As you stated, it's a rebuild year; where is the patience?

And no player "earns" the right to single out ONE player to the media, of all people. I don't care if it was Pronger or Kapanen or Laperierre. It just shouldn't happen. Bryz was wrong to do it; so is Kimmo.

And don't mistake me sticking up for Bryz as my endorsement of his MVP-calibre season. He has fallen grossly under everyone's expectations. I get on him all the time for his soft goals and turtle-like reflexes. However, I'm not ready to buy out his contract yet, and I'm certainly not ready to say that he is the reason this team lost on Sunday.
- steelydan

I hope Homer has patience after this weekend and doesn't overpay for an aging D man.

I hope no one is jumping off bridges, but I get what you mean.

The fans on here are very passionate and quick to blame after losses, especially after loss number four to a hated rival.

Bryz did string 4-5 solid performances together before yesterday. And he was very good until the Gaborik wrap around travesty.

Once he wins a few more games, the reaction will swing back just as quickly.
Although it won't be as loud, because its always a little bit quieter here after wins.

I think players like Kimmo and Pronger do have the right to say what they want.
Its never good to talk about one player. I think his comments can be read as praising the Ranger goalie as being difference maker. The reader can take it any way he chooses, and that is how I read it.

if it's a rebuild year why are we aiming for the playoffs?
tank and get a top pick or even the top pick

- 2Real

Because the experience that younger players would gain from playing in the playoffs is something that cannot be taught, only experienced. You really couldn't have figured out this one on your own?

Hasn't Simmonds been awesome? He's just so much better than I expected at this point. It really does point out how it takes any guy a bit to become accustomed to a new team.

Because the experience that younger players would gain from playing in the playoffs is something that cannot be taught, only experienced. You really couldn't have figured out this one on your own?
- steelydan

I think the was him saying that he was being sarcastic.

After the Flyers atrocious goalie carousel last year, the Free-Agent goalies and their agents has the Flyers bent over a table during the off-season. The Flyers would have gotten crucified if they didn't upgrade, even with a promising Bob waiting in the wings (Kimmo/Pronger/Briere all getting old). Because of that, Bryz and his agent likely dictated all of the terms to the deal.
- steelydan

The Flyers goalie carousel of last year falls soley on the shoulders of the coach who decided it was a great idea to start in an elimination game a guy who had 1 NHL game for the year under his belt.

The fact is he pulled Bob far to quickly in that series and there was no need barring injury to use 3 guys in 1 series. None.

We have Bryz and it is what it is but the Flyers put themselves over the table by having the owner basically come out and demand they go out and get the best guy on the market.

They could have very easily resigned Boucher to continue to give them inconsistant goaltending that Bryz has given them (to date) for a lot cheaper $$.

That's fine. Really, leading by example always has a place in the locker-room. Calling your teammate out can even be justified in certain scenarios and certain manners. If you have a bad apple that is ignoring his coach and teammates should be thrown to the wolves, so he can see how much of an idiot he is really being.

Bryz, on the other hand, doesn't need Kimmo giving backhanded comments to the reporters. Talk about providing ammo for reporters to attack a player that is already fragile in terms of confidence. If he's a leader, why doesn't he take Bryz aside and talk to him as a leader? What benefit is there to throwing that out there for the reporters to yuk up and use against Bryz?

I'll say it again. Calling out a teammate to the media (if that's in fact what he did) is a cowardly action and there really is no dressing up that action. If his motive for calling out Bryz is to motivate him to play better, his actions are counter-productive because it's painfully obvious to the whole team that Bryz is not the guy you want answering questions in front of cameras. Kimmo played it wrong.

And I love Kimmo. In the same group as Simmonds, Couts, Talbot; I feel like they bring 100% every game and leave it out there.
- steelydan

I'm sure Timonen has spoken to Bryzgalov numerous occasions behind closed doors. Do I know this to be 100% fact? No, but it's a pretty good assumption. Sometimes a player needs a kick in the pants to get himself going, maybe Timonen figured this was the approach to take. A tough love kind of thing.

The media thing I don't worry about, if Bryzgalov doesn't have enough of a thick skin to handle that aspect, he came to the wrong place.

I think the was him saying that he was being sarcastic.
- bodiva88

Yeah, I know. Just trying to match up to the intellectual insight he put into his answer.

Hasn't Simmonds been awesome? He's just so much better than I expected at this point. It really does point out how it takes any guy a bit to become accustomed to a new team.
- bodiva88

i love Night Train. started strong and then he had a dip about a quarter of the way into the season, but he's put together and oustanding campaign overall. career high in goals with yesterday's tally to boot. he brings it every night.

LOL @ the Bryz haters. When Bryz blamed his teammates for deflections, etc.; I am sure you guys were crying foul and upset that he threw his teammates under the bus. Kimmo does the same thing and gets congratulated for being a hero? STFU....... It's embarrassing how much people are willing to overlook the hypocrisy when it serves their purpose of crying about the goaltending. The day the Flyers shore up their goaltending is the day that they lose 50% of the fanbase because there's nothing left to b*tch about.....
- steelydan

Are you trying to say Bryz is playing good? Kimmo is exactly right and he's getting sick of playing his ass off for weak goals to go in. He has the right to be pissed

I'm sure Timonen has spoken to Bryzgalov numerous occasions behind closed doors. Do I know this to be 100% fact? No, but it's a pretty good assumption. Sometimes a player needs a kick in the pants to get himself going, maybe Timonen figured this was the approach to take. A tough love kind of thing.

The media thing I don't worry about, if Bryzgalov doesn't have enough of a thick skin to handle that aspect, he came to the wrong place.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah, that's the thing though. Bryz didn't come here to handle the media; he came here to save pucks and win games (which he's clearly not doing). I don't care if he's bad at handling the media. Some people just don't deal with controversy well. I DO care if Kimmo knowingly puts him in this position, speaking out of frustration and not intellect.

Are you trying to say Bryz is playing good? Kimmo is exactly right and he's getting sick of playing his ass off for weak goals to go in. He has the right to be pissed
- Richieattack18

I'm not trying to say anything of the sort. I'm sure if you look at a couple of my last few posts, you'll find me saying quite the opposite.

Are you trying to say Bryz is playing good?
- Richieattack18

I think he pretty clearly spelled out he was neither applauding nor excusing Bryzgalov's lack of performance.

Hasn't Simmonds been awesome? He's just so much better than I expected at this point. It really does point out how it takes any guy a bit to become accustomed to a new team.
- bodiva88

only 4 and 4 through november. 13 and 10 in 29 games since. he's shooting a little higher than his career average right now, but not astronomically so. he's probably somewhere in between a 14-goal scorer (his oct/nov pace) and a 36-goal scorer (pace since), but still, they've definitely gotten more out of him offensively than LA was and probably more than they expected from him this year.

After the Flyers atrocious goalie carousel last year, the Free-Agent goalies and their agents has the Flyers bent over a table during the off-season. The Flyers would have gotten crucified if they didn't upgrade, even with a promising Bob waiting in the wings (Kimmo/Pronger/Briere all getting old). Because of that, Bryz and his agent likely dictated all of the terms to the deal.
- steelydan

This was a bad decision.
They can always walk away if they don't like the terms an agent dictates to them.

To me they have been very schizophrenic in their off season moves.

OK I get Pronger, he has always been a difference maker and Homer wanted to role the dice. it almost worked, too.

Then the Carter and Richards deal for youth goes the other direction.
Lets re structure the team, get younger, re stock the prospects and draft picks.

Then they go for the goalie which is fine, I mean the owner makes a statement to the press and there is no choice.

Still 9 years and a NTC after what happened with #18 and #17 seems like a very bad move. Especially after trading the team's core guys in the summer.

Yeah, that's the thing though. Bryz didn't come here to handle the media; he came here to save pucks and win games (which he's clearly not doing). I don't care if he's bad at handling the media. Some people just don't deal with controversy well. I DO care if Kimmo knowingly puts him in this position, speaking out of frustration and not intellect.
- steelydan

I agree with you there, the media is an absolute pariah, and I wish the Flyers could make players not accessible, unfortunately that isn't possible. You are correct though Bryzgalov was brought to Philly to stop the puck, he isn't doing it, until he does the media is going to be all over him regardless of what Timonen says.

i love Night Train. started strong and then he had a dip about a quarter of the way into the season, but he's put together and oustanding campaign overall. career high in goals with yesterday's tally to boot. he brings it every night.
- hammarby31

Even during his dip he was putting in the effort every shift.
I am very surprised about his scoring touch and hands around the net, and how big he plays along the walls for a slim 185 lbs.

99% don't hate Bryz. They just want to see him play consistently.
I think more people are upset that even after the Flyers traded their two cornerstone players and clearly decided to go for a rebuild, they put a lot of eggs in one basket with the 9 year goalie deal. That isn't Bryz's fault, but he gets blamed for it wrongly.

The last two Rangers games the Flyer's goalies (both of them) were the main reason they lost.
Not the only reason, but certainly the biggest one.

And Kimmo has earned the right to say what he wants.
He is always a straight shooter.
- Marc D

indeed

BallHock @BallHock
#Leafs and #Flyers still trying to pull of a JVR/Schenn swap

This was a bad decision.
They can always walk away if they don't like the terms an agent dictates to them.

To me they have been very schizophrenic in their off season moves.

OK I get Pronger, he has always been a difference maker and Homer wanted to role the dice. it almost worked, too.

Then the Carter and Richards deal for youth goes the other direction.
Lets re structure the team, get younger, re stock the prospects and draft picks.

Then they go for the goalie which is fine, I mean the owner makes a statement to the press and there is no choice.

Still 9 years and a NTC after what happened with #18 and #17 seems like a very bad move. Especially after trading the team's core guys in the summer.
- Marc D

That, and signing Jody S. were the biggest head scratchers for me.

This was a bad decision.
They can always walk away if they don't like the terms an agent dictates to them.

To me they have been very schizophrenic in their off season moves.

OK I get Pronger, he has always been a difference maker and Homer wanted to role the dice. it almost worked, too.

Then the Carter and Richards deal for youth goes the other direction.
Lets re structure the team, get younger, re stock the prospects and draft picks.

Then they go for the goalie which is fine, I mean the owner makes a statement to the press and there is no choice.

Still 9 years and a NTC after what happened with #18 and #17 seems like a very bad move. Especially after trading the team's core guys in the summer.
- Marc D

Agreed on all points. Contract terms are horrid. Let's hope he rebounds this year or next year and makes the deal look fair.

Is it wrong that I'm dreading Saturday. ANOTHER 1 pm start and against the Rangers, who don't believe in taking periods off?
- bodiva88

Afternoon fights

BallHock @BallHock
#Leafs and #Flyers still trying to pull of a JVR/Schenn swap
- Sink.

DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST

BallHock @BallHock
#Leafs and #Flyers still trying to pull of a JVR/Schenn swap
- Sink.

I feel like this is the 10th time I've seen this guy quoted for a JVR/Schenn dealie. Is he historically accurate?