how was his hit any different that the big hit on Briere?
- Dkos

Personally I thought the contact itself was clean, but that it was a bit late. The hit on Briere was clean as well, and he had the puck from what I could tell.

I don't think anything comes of it and am actually surprised there is a hearing at all.

Timonen is an interesting case. He's been the most visibly and vocally frustrated player on the team of late, and despite his NMC, might be open to a move.

If he does intend to retire back to Finland when his deal is up, and is serious about winning a Stanley Cup before he does, He may agree to waive his clause to go to a team like Detroit.

If, and this is all hypothetical, that does happen, I'd expect a significant return. You're not trading Timonen without getting something really decent in return. Right now he's your most consistent defenseman and important voice of leadership. Trading Timonen sends a bad message, especially if it's a deadline deal.
- Jsaquella

I think if Timonen asks to be traded the Flyers should do it. He has earned that respect around the league and deserves a chance at winning the stanley cup. The return would be decent cause teams would love to have him. I dont think it sends a bad message unless the Flyers ask him to waive it, imo.

Not sure if Lavy teaches this but the flyers pass back to the defensemen far to much in the dzone.
Even with clear outs the forwards pass back to the D. This resulted in at least one goal by detroit last night.
I hate the hard arounds the flyers d makes also. The wingers usually are to high up on the wall and the other team usually gets behind the forwards and makes a play on the puck.
- bird_dog

I'v been screaming at the TV about this all season.

Personally I thought the contact itself was clean, but that it was a bit late. The hit on Briere was clean as well, and he had the puck from what I could tell.

I don't think anything comes of it and am actually surprised there is a hearing at all.
- MBFlyerfan

The announcers called Rinaldo's hit "hunting". Hunting? Most hits are hunting.

Wish I could agree with you there. I don't see this team going far in the playoffs at all. One and done very possibly depending on who they play.
It's not a criticism but a realistic view of the team.

I really think the flyers need a physical beat the poop (not fighting) out of the other team defenseman Pronger used to be that guy but he isn't playing and may not play again.

Schenn has been stepping it up in parts due to his earlier injuries. That may have benefited him to potentially be in the race for the calder trophy. Also having experience in the AHL can't hurt with the amount of games played and the marathon that is the NHL regular season.
Couturier's play has tailed off a bit. Last night I saw him hesitant to take charge in the offensive zone. Of course he doesn't have much help but I didn't see the confidence to make plays there.

Not sure if Lavy teaches this but the flyers pass back to the defensemen far to much in the dzone.
Even with clear outs the forwards pass back to the D. This resulted in at least one goal by detroit last night.
I hate the hard arounds the flyers d makes also. The wingers usually are to high up on the wall and the other team usually gets behind the forwards and makes a play on the puck.
If I can see this and other teams can see this I am sure the coaching staff can see this.

If we had real beat writer guys maybe they could ask hockey fundamental or system based questions.
Instead we get the obvious like it seems like your PK has been struggling or how did today's loss make you feel? Or what did you think of the compete level?
How about a, your dmen are getting put in bad situations in the dzone with the passes back to them from the forwards. Is this a designed play? Where and what are the forwards responsibility on the breakout?

Ok Novel done.
- bird_dog

I think they are in a slump and could very easily get hot again heading into the playoffs. Not sure it'll happen, but I'm not understanding how all if a sudden we aren't going to win a playoff round and as other have said, be sellers at the TDL.

I know this is gonna have peeps want me sent out to get my head checked but here we go. As of right now despite a sudden rash of losses, I personally feel good about this team going forward. Yes they are struggling, yes the goalies have not always looked good, yes lavy has me shaking my head at times etc etc.

Here's the thing guys. This is a YOUNG team. It was accepted before the start of the season that they would go through growing pains. Despite all these losses they still sit in 4th place of the Eastern Conference. They are on pace to still hit 100 points. We have some very talented players on this team that with time will be perennial allstars. Right now the biggest problem is PK and overall team defense. These two things could easily get fixed in a hurry. No trades aren't going to be the end all.

I got aggravated on the other thread because a poster made the remark that this team took both weekends off. I'm sorry but if you feel that way go jump on NY's bandwagon. This team battled hard in these games. Maybe Timmonen was right that there were guys that half assed it out there but overall this team gave a full effort.

We keep railing about missing Pronger but I think another guy this team could use in a big way right now is Blair Betts. Couturier having to center for Sestito and Rinaldo is not in this team's best interest imo. That's not knocking cooter either. He's going to be an elite center. For goodness sakes he's 18 y/o and holding his own in the NHL that has to make you feel good. But getting back to the 4th line they can't keep rolling all rookies on that line. Maybe Homer can pick up a center at the deadline to fill that gap. Then you have the issue of where to put couturier, I'm not sure but as this season goes on it's looking more and more like Danny Briere is oddman out at center to me. If he could play wing I think that utilizes some of the other players a lot better.

This team is built to compete now but win for the future. IF you can't understand that then don't watch the game and go play XBOX. The Flyers front office has done a terrific job accumulating this amount of young talent and being able to compete with them. I know it sucks right now to watch them lose. But you have to see the silver lining with this team. This isn't the team from last year that was favored to win the cup at midseason and swan dived in the second half. The adversity this young group is going through will temper them into a championship caliber team down the line. Will it be this year? Probably not but going forward you have to feel good about, Giroux, Schenn, Couturier, Read etc. I mean even Rinaldo and Sestito are going to be top-notch in their roles. Coburn, Carle and Mezy are all still young too. Maybe Kimo isn't the guy to lead that D-corps. I know when Pronger is in there they look better, just saying.

Keep your head up flyer fans this team has tremendous upside you even had a wings fan pop in to tell you as much.
- JoeRussomanno

I endorse this post.

Im going to be honest though, if Crosby comes back (I know, I know) and Malkin continues to play like he is, the Penguins will be just as tough. I like their defense unit better and Fleury is not much of a downgrade from Lundqvist.
- Gunner Staal

The Pens should be the favorite in the East come playoff time. It's tough to repeat, the Rags need to win a round, we aren't ready and the caps....All things considered it should be the Pen's SCF spot to loose.

The announcers called Rinaldo's hit "hunting". Hunting? Most hits are hunting.
- Dkos

It was like a dwarf running into a giant and they call it hunting?

Im going to be honest though, if Crosby comes back (I know, I know) and Malkin continues to play like he is, the Penguins will be just as tough. I like their defense unit better and Fleury is not much of a downgrade from Lundqvist.
- Gunner Staal

I agree. With a healthy Sid the Pens are right there on paper with the Rangers. I think that if the Flyers suddenly remember to play team defense, they could be at least a thorn in the side of the Rangers, too.

That's the thing that people miss with the Flyers. They simply need to refocus and play better in their own end. They have shown they can do it, they need to make it much more consistent.

And as much as everyone wants to see them get a defenseman, they need the forwards to be a lot better, too.

Personally I thought the contact itself was clean, but that it was a bit late. The hit on Briere was clean as well, and he had the puck from what I could tell.

I don't think anything comes of it and am actually surprised there is a hearing at all.
- MBFlyerfan

If there is a hearing, something is going to come of it.

It was like a dwarf running into a giant and they call it hunting?
- funmaster18

The redwings don't carry an enforcer even though Beruzzi almost killed someone on the ice it wasn't as a redwing so if you hit a redwing and they go boom and their bonnet gets rattled Shanny spanks the fanny.

It was like a dwarf running into a giant and they call it hunting?
- funmaster18

They said he left his feet and I actually thought he did not. When you hit at a high rate of speed, the contact will force you off the ice... and I think that happens a lot with Rinaldo.

I think if Timonen asks to be traded the Flyers should do it. He has earned that respect around the league and deserves a chance at winning the stanley cup. The return would be decent cause teams would love to have him. I dont think it sends a bad message unless the Flyers ask him to waive it, imo.
- stveshdy

Trading Timonen, especially at the TDL, screams that you are selling. That hurts the confidence of the rest of the team, because they're being told you don't think they can win.

Even if Timonen asks for a trade-which I think is unlikely before summer, if at all-the team has to come first.

I think they are in a slump and could very easily get hot again heading into the playoffs. Not sure it'll happen, but I'm not understanding how all if a sudden we aren't going to win a playoff round and as other have said, be sellers at the TDL.
- funmaster18

Typical overreaction to a couple of losses.

If there is a hearing, something is going to come of it.
- MJL

Hopefully Voracek is ready to go then.

I agree. With a healthy Sid the Pens are right there on paper with the Rangers. I think that if the Flyers suddenly remember to play team defense, they could be at least a thorn in the side of the Rangers, too.

That's the thing that people miss with the Flyers. They simply need to refocus and play better in their own end. They have shown they can do it, they need to make it much more consistent.

And as much as everyone wants to see them get a defenseman, they need the forwards to be a lot better, too.
- Jsaquella

When you look at the series between the Flyers it seems it's either been soft as poop goals or blown ass coverage leading to the Rangers scoring. When the flyers have scored it's come usually of a break away or just good old driving the net.

Clean the poop up in the defensive zone and they could force a 7 game series with that team and in game 7 its anyone's guess. Flyers are better on the road and looks like Rags have the home ice.

If there is a hearing, something is going to come of it.
- MJL

Coming off his double fine game, I wouldn't be amazed.

I think it was a borderline penalty at worst, but I haven't seen a full angle replay, so I can't be sure if he left his feet or not. I think it was close to being late, but not dreadfully so.

Lets see how they hold up in the playoffs before we start planning the parade shall we? Like Hex said piquing right now is one thing, can they keep this up through June?
- JoeRussomanno

If anything their style of play should translate better in a playoff setting.

Typical overreaction to a couple of losses.
- bradleyc4

2 wins this week and they'll be Cup favourites in here again

Trading Timonen, especially at the TDL, screams that you are selling. That hurts the confidence of the rest of the team, because they're being told you don't think they can win.

Even if Timonen asks for a trade-which I think is unlikely before summer, if at all-the team has to come first.
- Jsaquella

loosing 5 in a row to the smurfs and getting spanked by the bruins says otherwise...this defense is overrated. My biggest problem is that they dont make the other team pay when entering the zone. NO ONE ON THIS DAMN DEFENSE HITS!.

Coming off his double fine game, I wouldn't be amazed.

I think it was a borderline penalty at worst, but I haven't seen a full angle replay, so I can't be sure if he left his feet or not. I think it was close to being late, but not dreadfully so.
- Jsaquella

I am curious what the reasoning will be.

It surely wasn't a head shot because Rinaldo would need to jump off a min tamp to get high enough to hit Ericsson in the head.

Typical overreaction to a couple of losses.
- bradleyc4

Exactly and against the best teams in the league.

"Flyers are an undisciplined, poor defensive team, with leaky goaltending" -B. Melrose

Ouch. Tough to argue with. Doesn't sound like a great formula.

2 wins this week and they'll be Cup favourites in here again
- Buts16

At least the weber/Suter trade proposals have quieted.

"Flyers are an undisciplined, poor defensive team, with leaky goaltending" -B. Melrose

Ouch. Tough to argue with. Doesn't sound like a great formula.
- PLindbergh31

sad but true