Because maybe he's not interested in going out to the highest bidder. And he's happy in Philly and just wants a fair deal for both sides.
- MJL

what a novel thought that a guy can like his situation and take a little less for the betterment of the team and to stay where he is happy. Love that.

Truth be told the Flyers did need to address the goalie situation. It had been too many years with marginal starters IMO, and Snider putting his foot down was the right thing, maybe at the wrong time. But there is no point boo-hoo ing about it. Bryz is our guy. He is a solid starter in the NHL, and when he is on his game a top goalie. Flyers need to work a system that takes advantage of Bryz's style.
- RooNosHockey

One year doesn't make Bryzgalov a bad signing. Not sure anyone has reached that phase yet.

Yes the Flyers need to be better around Bryzgalov, but he also needs to be better. It's a two way street.

This team was built thinking they would have Chris Pronger on D for the whole season. There was nothing to make them think otherwise. Don't you think the GAA would have been better with him? That was something the team had no controll over.
- Jimmygrazz

Pronger's absence was a factor, but that shouldn't erase the obvious need for team defense to improve. Simply replacing Pronger doesn't automatically improve the defensive play of the forwards, it makes it easier, but the team has to buy in and play the system well

oh well...
instead of comparing the SC teams to the Flyers, the Flyers will do what is best to help their team.

I think they will add both, some on defesne and some on offense...
July 1st is right around the corner.

Kudo's to the team out west...
we all have our own opinions about who we rooted for and who we rooted against.

I will do the trades again, and again, and again.
All players may need a change of scenery in their careers.

Absolutely a huge factor. Jeff Carter as far as I know was healthy. And he produced. Coincidence?
- MJL

Well, he wasn't shooting pucks like this either...


http://www.youtube.com/wa...=U_803biLoDg&noredirect=1

I might be alone in this, but I was happy for Richards and Carter too. They didn't ask to be traded. Their whole lives were turned upside down, and they were lucky enough to end up on a stanley cup winning team. It was bitter sweet to watch them raise the cup. Sweet because I still like them as players, and bitter because it wasnt with the Flyers. I have always liked LA as my second team, "Flyers West".

Congrats boys, cant wait to see you in the finals next season and take the title from you.
- RooNosHockey

Richards said some very nice things about the Flyers organization to Pierre.

This team was built thinking they would have Chris Pronger on D for the whole season. There was nothing to make them think otherwise. Don't you think the GAA would have been better with him? That was something the team had no controll over.
- Jimmygrazz

It definately played a factor not having Pronger. My only issue with that is that Pronger hasnt really played much for this team in the past two seasons. The Flyers have had time to adjust without Pronger. Are they going to be able to replace him probably not. The Flyers knew he was going to miss most of the season this year so you would think they would tweek their style of play and give more support in their own end but they didnt. I question that decision.

That's the fun, you don't know how much they will improve in one year or in three years. It took the Kings several years of being patient and letting their kids grow into very good players, and then augmenting those kids when they reached the right spot.

They also had great luck. That's part of the game, too
- Jsaquella

True.
I'm going to be patient but at the same time I would like to see some sort of improvement defensively.

Well, he wasn't shooting pucks like this either...


http://www.youtube.com/wa...=U_803biLoDg&noredirect=1
- Jimmygrazz

And Defenseman such as Brian Campbell didn't make great plays and block the shot!

Pronger's absence was a factor, but that shouldn't erase the obvious need for team defense to improve. Simply replacing Pronger doesn't automatically improve the defensive play of the forwards, it makes it easier, but the team has to buy in and play the system well
- Jsaquella

Correct, but don't you think the system that was implemented was built around him? Kinda tough to change you D system halfway through the year.

Richards said some very nice things about the Flyers organization to Pierre.
- nastyflyergirl

I saw that. Richards could have puffed his chest out and basically said I told you so. The way he carried himself in LA from what I saw was pure class. Players mature, he didn't trade himself to LA, I won't lie I was actually happy to see Richards win last night. Say what you want about him, but he's a winner. He's won at every level.

It definately played a factor not having Pronger. My only issue with that is that Pronger hasnt really played much for this team in the past two seasons. The Flyers have had time to adjust without Pronger. Are they going to be able to replace him probably not. The Flyers knew he was going to miss most of the season this year so you would think they would tweek their style of play and give more support in their own end but they didnt. I question that decision.
- stveshdy

Their style of play had nothing to do with Pronger. It's how Laviolette wanted to attack the opposition's offensive zone.

And Defenseman such as Brian Campbell didn't make great plays and block the shot!
- MJL

Why do you have to ruin my Carter bashing??

And prior to this year, both had been ripped for playoff struggles. Like Tim Thomas was before 2011. That was kind of the point. Despite Quick's struggles in past postseasons, LA had faith and Quick delivered. The Bruins had faith and Thomas delivered.
- Jsaquella

In addition, LA has Jonathan Bernier -- on whom they used a first-round draft pick -- while Quick was never very highly touted until he made it to the NHL. There had to be a lot of temptation to give Bernier the reigns after Quick struggled something awful in the 2010 playoffs and had poor stats (although his actual play wasn't that bad) last year.

If Quick and Bernier had been the Flyers goalie tandem, it is hard to dispute that people would have been screaming to run Quick out of town after his playoff struggles and skewering management and the coaches for not making Bernier the starter and "seeing what the kid can do."

If Quick had followed up his awful 2010 playoff performance with the same 3.16 GAA he had in last year's playoffs -- nevermind the fact of how badly the entire team got outplayed and there were only maybe two goals where Quick was primarily to blame -- Ed Snider would have made the same decree to "solve the goaltending problem once and for all."

So, yes, there is absolutely a lesson here that the Flyers can learn about patience with young players who have had some bumps in the road as well as patience with their goaltending.

Correct, but don't you think the system that was implemented was built around him? Kinda tough to change you D system halfway through the year.
- Jimmygrazz

No the defensive system was not built around Pronger. The Flyers play a basic defensive zone coverage and hybrid lock in the neutral zone. Components of defensive play that have been around forever.

Philadelphia Media is to blame.

By the way I think both players are more than role player (just my opinion).
- stveshdy

I don't know why people view that comment as a slap to the players. I think Carter and Richards and very talented players. Very important cogs to the wheel. I love Ritchie's drive. but that said, I think they are better support players. that is not a slap at them at all.

Their style of play had nothing to do with Pronger. It's how Laviolette wanted to attack the opposition's offensive zone.
- bradleyc4

When you lose your best defenseman its the coaches job to make adjustments to his game plan. Is it realistic to think this defense was going to be the same? I question the fact that the Flyers didnt scale back the attack in the offensive zone and try to be more supportive in their own end. You dont have to agree but its something that I think you look into.

I thinks it pretty simple to see that the Kings were the best team. They did everything well, but also had luck on their side. Here is a crazy fact.. They used the same 6 d-men the entire playoffs and only 22 guys total. Let's see them stay that healthy next year.
- jak521

aye carumba.

Name me a young #1 D-man with a low cap hit?
- Jimmygrazz

To me, we dont need him to be a number 1 right now... especially if Carle is resigning below 5 million.

Fowler, Myers, E.Johnson, J.Johnson, Gudbranson, Subban, Staal, McDonagh, Del Zotto, Karlsson, Yandle, Ekman-Larsson, Letang, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Hedman, Carlson, Enstrom, Bogosian.

They may not all me number 1s but most will be in the next 2-3 years, or they have exactly the type of style the Flyers need. And all are below 6 million, and most are below 4 million.

One year doesn't make Bryzgalov a bad signing. Not sure anyone has reached that phase yet.

Yes the Flyers need to be better around Bryzgalov, but he also needs to be better. It's a two way street.
- PLindbergh31

I thought he was the best player in the Devils series...and despite the numbers in the Pitt series he made the key saves when they needed to be made.

I don't know why people view that comment as a slap to the players. I think Carter and Richards and very talented players. Very important cogs to the wheel. I love Ritchie's drive. but that said, I think they are better support players. that is not a slap at them at all.
- nastyflyergirl

what is expected on one team from a player can be different to what is expected of them on another team. It's all about role.
Plus, playing in Philly is tough. Some players can handle it and some cannot.

Each player that is drummed up in a possible trade to Philly may melt under the pressure. The idea of the trade is great but in the big picture will it work out? This is the crap shoot any team is under when the try to build a team.

I saw that. Richards could have puffed his chest out and basically said I told you so. The way he carried himself in LA from what I saw was pure class. Players mature, he didn't trade himself to LA, I won't lie I was actually happy to see Richards win last night. Say what you want about him, but he's a winner. He's won at every level.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah i guess the problems he was causing with brown during the season are now forgotten

Well, he wasn't shooting pucks like this either...


http://www.youtube.com/wa...=U_803biLoDg&noredirect=1
- Jimmygrazz

I'll be the first to admit I cursed Carter for top shelfing one last night (well two if you want to count the redirect) thinking about that shot hitting Niemi in the face

I thought he was the best player in the Devils series...and despite the numbers in the Pitt series he made the key saves when they needed to be made.
- Philly1980

Bryzgalov did play well in the NJ series, but no one else did. So that is akin to being the tallest midget. He also allowed some soft goals, the game tying goal in game 1 by Petr "healthy scratch" Sykora was simply a goal that cannot be allowed. And I don't even have to bring up the series clinching goal.

Flyers were beaten from pillar to post by the Devils, Bryzgalov was the last player to blame for that series.

When you lose your best defenseman its the coaches job to make adjustments to his game plan. Is it realistic to think this defense was going to be the same? I question the fact that the Flyers didnt scale back the attack in the offensive zone and try to be more supportive in their own end. You dont have to agree but its something that I think you look into.
- stveshdy

There's such a need for continuity and chemistry in this sport. The coaches spend the entire preseason and beginning of the year trying to get the team to buy into a style of play and to have it become second nature on the ice.

It's usually more counter-productive to try to change course mid-season, especially under the same coach. They had to roll with the system they worked on all year, boom or bust.

Changes can be implemented this preseason.