In doing some fantasy research today, I came across this preseason Sleepers and Busts forecast from the worldwide leader in sports not called hockey, ESPN.

Sure enough, leading the way in the 'busts' category -

Bust Forwards

Claude Giroux, RW/C, Philadelphia Flyers: Someone has to replace Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and that task will fall to Giroux, who certainly deserves the shot on the heels of his team-leading 76-point season. Certainly, Giroux has a scorer's pedigree from his days with Gatineau of the QMJHL. But the Flyers are a team in transition, and joining Giroux on the top line will be someone vaguely resembling Jaromir Jagr (mullet length undetermined at press time), and that's a long way from skating with Jeff Carter on a regular basis. Perhaps we've already seen Giroux's ceiling, as there's no guarantee his point total can improve simply because half the guys he used to share his points with aren't in town anymore. Better hope they didn't take half his production along with them. -- Pierre Becquey

...and, to finish things off -

Jakub Voracek, RW, Philadelphia Flyers: Despite dealing away Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and allowing Ville Leino to sign with the Buffalo Sabres over the summer, the Flyers remain balanced and in above-average shape in terms of talented forwards. And unfortunately for recent Columbus Blue Jackets' export Voracek, that could result in an undesirable third-line role. Assuming Jaromir Jagr plays on the Flyers' top line with Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, one winger will have a chance to fight for a spot on the second line alongside Daniel Briere and Scott Hartnell. At the very least, Voracek will have to battle Wayne Simmonds for the position. And that's presuming Brayden Schenn doesn't merit the second-line center's job, moving Giroux to the wing. Plus there's the chance -- however slim -- that training camp invitee Michael Nylander could earn a gig as Jagr's centerman (they have a pleasant history), and Voracek's chances of skating as a top-six forward take an additional hit. There are too many variables at play here. Voracek has a very promising future in the NHL, but perhaps not immediately, and certainly less so with the elderly Jagr kicking about. -- Victoria Matiash

Funny how they both mention Jagr with a dash of 'over the hill' thrown in. Little did they know.

http://sports.espn.go.com...e=nhldk2k11_sleepersbusts
- tangent_man

what a joke

Horrible game. Flyers wasted a stellar performance from Bryz. But let's not get carried away, it's was as much the way the Flyers played as the Devils that resulted in that clunker - the Devils were On, the Flyers were definitely Off.

The Flyers are still the better team.
- wolfhounds

agree 100%

In doing some fantasy research today, I came across this preseason Sleepers and Busts forecast from the worldwide leader in sports not called hockey, ESPN.

Sure enough, leading the way in the 'busts' category -

Bust Forwards

Claude Giroux, RW/C, Philadelphia Flyers: Someone has to replace Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and that task will fall to Giroux, who certainly deserves the shot on the heels of his team-leading 76-point season. Certainly, Giroux has a scorer's pedigree from his days with Gatineau of the QMJHL. But the Flyers are a team in transition, and joining Giroux on the top line will be someone vaguely resembling Jaromir Jagr (mullet length undetermined at press time), and that's a long way from skating with Jeff Carter on a regular basis. Perhaps we've already seen Giroux's ceiling, as there's no guarantee his point total can improve simply because half the guys he used to share his points with aren't in town anymore. Better hope they didn't take half his production along with them. -- Pierre Becquey

...and, to finish things off -

Jakub Voracek, RW, Philadelphia Flyers: Despite dealing away Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and allowing Ville Leino to sign with the Buffalo Sabres over the summer, the Flyers remain balanced and in above-average shape in terms of talented forwards. And unfortunately for recent Columbus Blue Jackets' export Voracek, that could result in an undesirable third-line role. Assuming Jaromir Jagr plays on the Flyers' top line with Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, one winger will have a chance to fight for a spot on the second line alongside Daniel Briere and Scott Hartnell. At the very least, Voracek will have to battle Wayne Simmonds for the position. And that's presuming Brayden Schenn doesn't merit the second-line center's job, moving Giroux to the wing. Plus there's the chance -- however slim -- that training camp invitee Michael Nylander could earn a gig as Jagr's centerman (they have a pleasant history), and Voracek's chances of skating as a top-six forward take an additional hit. There are too many variables at play here. Voracek has a very promising future in the NHL, but perhaps not immediately, and certainly less so with the elderly Jagr kicking about. -- Victoria Matiash

Funny how they both mention Jagr with a dash of 'over the hill' thrown in. Little did they know.

http://sports.espn.go.com...e=nhldk2k11_sleepersbusts
- tangent_man

Controversial lambastic opinions? Somebody needs clicks. Yawn.

EDIT: Err, poor reading comprehension on my part? Yawn. Didn't see the 'preseason' part. Still, putting 'Claude Giroux' and 'bust' in the same sentence still comes across as, "Hey, everybody! Pay attention to me!"

Speaking of Jagr I am starting to not like having him on the top line. I feel its wasting Giroux's efforts.

Jagr looks dirt slow out there and I feel someone else with more speed could contribute more.

Wouldn't be against throwing Simmonds up there.

Speaking of Jagr I am starting to not like having him on the top line. I feel its wasting Giroux's efforts.

Jagr looks dirt slow out there and I feel someone else with more speed could contribute more.

Wouldn't be against throwing Simmonds up there.
- flyer_nutter

He also seems to whiff -- at least partially -- on a lot of shots.

Speaking of Jagr I am starting to not like having him on the top line. I feel its wasting Giroux's efforts.

Jagr looks dirt slow out there and I feel someone else with more speed could contribute more.

Wouldn't be against throwing Simmonds up there.
- flyer_nutter

Age is catching up. He does look very slow out there.

Speaking of Jagr I am starting to not like having him on the top line. I feel its wasting Giroux's efforts.

Jagr looks dirt slow out there and I feel someone else with more speed could contribute more.

Wouldn't be against throwing Simmonds up there.
- flyer_nutter

Jags looked slow from the start yesterday. I wouldn't mind seeing them swap up the lines a bit on thursday.

btw - anyone else going to the game?

He also seems to whiff -- at least partially -- on a lot of shots.
- MrBuzzcut

He doesnt even seem to be taking a lot of them out there. He is chasing the play constantly and his skating is hurting him big time.

On a PP he could still be valuable but I take him off the top line.

Someone like Schenn or Simmonds could greatly benefit and provide more imo.

Jags looked slow from the start yesterday. I wouldn't mind seeing them swap up the lines a bit on thursday.

btw - anyone else going to the game?
- deligirl83

Not to say he is the goat of the game, I am only pointing him out as I see it as a possible change the team could make to improve.

He hasn't been effective for most of the playoffs.

Flyers need to bring it on Thursday.

I would also like to say that this series seems to be very low emotion.

The Flyers are a team that thrives on the chippy play. There has been very little physicality in either of the first two games. It's a way for the guys to get into it and they simply arent punishing the Devils enough.

Jersey should be a tired team and the Flyers need to give them no breaks.

Grossman in particular looks nothing like his former self. Still making some good plays but he is missing that anger he seemed to have. If he is still feeling something from the concussion that is understandable, but doesnt excuse the other players.

Well written Bill. I really like what Eric Wellwood brings to the team, problem is when he's your best forward they team is in trouble.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bedeviled
- bmeltzer

i must have watched a different game than everyone. while certainly not their best effort, i though the flyers had their feet moving with plenty of effort through 30 minutes. despite the devils having some excellent chances themselves in the first half, i feel the game changed at the halfway mark, and even then the flyers still had plenty of movement up the ice, they just never got anything on goal - poor execution in passing and shooting, and credit the devils active sticks and getting in lanes. they broke up a lot of passes and blocked shots. the flyers missed the net a bit as well.

danny was a defensive goat on the 1st and 3rd goals. nothing new here.

the pp was one of the bigger issues, as well as some d zone coverage breakdowns.

bryz was great, and if the flyers had connected on a couple of their early chances - like briere's crossbar, the game very well may have ended differently.

either way, not a huge deal. no team is going to be lights out every game through the playoffs. they started great, got the goal, but couldn't continue the effort, much like NJ in game 1. the flyers still have the depth to win the series. i don't think it's such a terrible thing for them to be 1-1. if anything it keeps them honest going into game 3 knowing they have to continue to work hard if they want to win.

best takeaway from the game was bryz. overall he's been getting better each game since the blowout. he was very locked in last night.

moving on.

Well written Bill. I really like what Eric Wellwood brings to the team, problem is when he's your best forward they team is in trouble.
- flyguy12

Reminds me a lot of Powe.

best takeaway from the game was bryz. overall he's been getting better each game since the blowout. he was very locked in last night.

moving on.
- hammarby31

+1

i must have watched a different game than everyone. while certainly not their best effort, i though the flyers had their feet moving with plenty of effort through 30 minutes. despite the devils having some excellent chances themselves in the first half, i feel the game changed at the halfway mark, and even then the flyers still had plenty of movement up the ice, they just never got anything on goal - poor execution in passing and shooting, and credit the devils active sticks and getting in lanes. they broke up a lot of passes and blocked shots. the flyers missed the net a bit as well.

danny was a defensive goat on the 1st and 3rd goals. nothing new here.

the pp was one of the bigger issues, as well as some d zone coverage breakdowns.

bryz was great, and if the flyers had connected on a couple of their early chances - like briere's crossbar, the game very well may have ended differently.

either way, not a huge deal. no team is going to be lights out every game through the playoffs. they started great, got the goal, but couldn't continue the effort, much like NJ in game 1. the flyers still have the depth to win the series. i don't think it's such a terrible thing for them to be 1-1. if anything it keeps them honest going into game 3 knowing they have to continue to work hard if they want to win.

best takeaway from the game was bryz. overall he's been getting better each game since the blowout. he was very locked in last night.

moving on.
- hammarby31

I feel they got over confident. By the time it was 1-1 and they started to wake up it was hard to stop the train that kept coming and coming at them.

They got far too cute with the puck in the offensive zone. There were a few times even in that 2nd period where they had a good chance to shoot the puck or take it to the net and the team chose the pretty play that didnt work.

On a side note more direct in your face play could greatly help Harts get back on the scoresheet. He needs to get it going as well.

i must have watched a different game than everyone. while certainly not their best effort, i though the flyers had their feet moving with plenty of effort through 30 minutes. despite the devils having some excellent chances themselves in the first half, i feel the game changed at the halfway mark, and even then the flyers still had plenty of movement up the ice, they just never got anything on goal - poor execution in passing and shooting, and credit the devils active sticks and getting in lanes. they broke up a lot of passes and blocked shots. the flyers missed the net a bit as well.

danny was a defensive goat on the 1st and 3rd goals. nothing new here.

the pp was one of the bigger issues, as well as some d zone coverage breakdowns.

bryz was great, and if the flyers had connected on a couple of their early chances - like briere's crossbar, the game very well may have ended differently.

either way, not a huge deal. no team is going to be lights out every game through the playoffs. they started great, got the goal, but couldn't continue the effort, much like NJ in game 1. the flyers still have the depth to win the series. i don't think it's such a terrible thing for them to be 1-1. if anything it keeps them honest going into game 3 knowing they have to continue to work hard if they want to win.

best takeaway from the game was bryz. overall he's been getting better each game since the blowout. he was very locked in last night.

moving on.
- hammarby31

Speaking of Jagr I am starting to not like having him on the top line. I feel its wasting Giroux's efforts.

Jagr looks dirt slow out there and I feel someone else with more speed could contribute more.

Wouldn't be against throwing Simmonds up there.
- flyer_nutter

Pretty sure Jagr's ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone is vastly more important than the speed of any other winger that could take his place.

they need to play a MUCH more physical game in g3. get involved.

so who's the eagles back up QB this year? anyone know?

Pretty sure Jagr's ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone is vastly more important than the speed of any other winger that could take his place.
- bradleyc4

I'd agree with you here, but he is barely even getting a chance to get that puck on his stick.

He is getting beat to the puck far too often by faster players and is losing board battles too often.

I'd really like to see some kind of breakdown for how many shots he has taken in these playoffs. I think it would be pretty low.

they need to play a MUCH more physical game in g3. get involved.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Someone already mentioned this, but the more chippier the game is--the more likely the Flyers are going to be playing their style of game.

they need to play a MUCH more physical game in g3. get involved.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I'd agree with you here, but he is barely even getting a chance to get that puck on his stick.

He is getting beat to the puck far too often by faster players and is losing board battles too often.

I'd really like to see some kind of breakdown for how many shots he has taken in these playoffs. I think it would be pretty low.
- flyer_nutter

third on the flyers with 2.6 shots per game

lowest shot % however among those who have scored at least 1 goal


http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...Game&viewName=shootingAll

Who cares about the size of their fan base, they have 3 more cups than us since 95. Hopefully the flyers don't feel like giving them a shot at 4. Need to have a strong game 3.

Where has Hartnell been?
- funmaster18

Maybe they'll find him after they find Jagr.

third on the flyers with 2.6 shots per game

lowest shot % however among those who have scored at least 1 goal


http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...Game&viewName=shootingAll
- Don'tForgetTocchet

ty

he's just been unlucky. goal scorers go into slumps.