If you take Bryzgalov out of the equation then, yes, there are any number of other directions the Flyers could have gone. But to have all three -- Bryzgalov, Richards and Carter -- they would have been severely hamstrung by the cap. Once Pronger and JVR went down, it could very well have an ugly season.
- bmeltzer

Sure it could of. But it's all just speculation. Same as who knows what could've happened if this team stayed healthy. They could've beaten NJ, and gone onto the Finals.

I can respect this, but don't tell that Flyers fans everywhere didn't cringe a little to see Carter and Richards hoisting the cup together and thinking a little of what could have been...
- As_I_See_It

Richards and Carter did NOT lead LA to the Cup. We are in a better position to win now than we were with them. Sure it can be bitter sweet to see two guys who used to be the core win a Cup but at the end of the day it made the TEAM better to ship them out. This is Claude Giroux's team now and he is far better than Richards and Carter are, have been or will be.

Sure it could of. But it's all just speculation. Same as who knows what could've happened if this team stayed healthy. They could've beaten NJ, and gone onto the Finals.
- MJL

lol could of then could've. you're a maverick.

I always will wonder what if the Flyers had the same patience with Bob that LA had with Quick. Maybe a few rough years, but could he be as good as Quick someday?
- Jimmygrazz

Keeping in mind that Quick as a late second round pick (with a 1st round pick breathing down his neck) and that his first playoff run produced an .884 sv% and 3.50 gaa (playing every game) it's a fair question. Quick also had the confidence of his coach and was allowed to take his lumps and develop.

I'm sure there were instances of what you're describing, but as a whole, the team pursued the puck in all three zones as well as most other teams.

IMO, the problem has to do with trust between the players on the ice. If all six guys on the ice are where they need to be, and are reacting the way they should, the system should take care of the rest. When you see guys constantly chasing the play or chasing the puck around, you can bet that some element of trust is missing -- a turnover, a mistake, guys out of position, D gave up the blueline too early, guys sagging around the goaltender because they think every puck is going in, etc.

IMO, a lot of it should be improved if they manage to limit their mistakes and become a bit more patient with puck management... and, of course, the goaltending needs to hold up its end of the bargain.
- Tomahawk

Your on the money today!

It's like a snowball rolling downhill. It just get's bigger and bigger.

And that's exactly what you saw in the Kings play. That cohesiveness and support and team play. For out Star Trek fans, they're like the Borg. They played as a collective.

I can respect this, but don't tell that Flyers fans everywhere didn't cringe a little to see Carter and Richards hoisting the cup together and thinking a little of what could have been...
- As_I_See_It

I cringed. Not when Gags got it though! I was so happy for him. But with Richards and Carter, I wasn't thinking of what could have been. The Richards/Carter Flyers team is not as good as the one we have right now. Plain and simple. I'm very happy with this team we have. There's no "what could have been"s. Only what will be.

I can respect this, but don't tell that Flyers fans everywhere didn't cringe a little to see Carter and Richards hoisting the cup together and thinking a little of what could have been...
- As_I_See_It

I didn't realize that either Richards or Carter could wear goalie pads or play D.

I cringed. Not when Gags got it though! I was so happy for him. But with Richards and Carter, I wasn't thinking of what could have been. The Richards/Carter Flyers team is not as good as the one we have right now. Plain and simple. I'm very happy with this team we have. There's no "what could have been"s. Only what will be.
- Giroux_Is_God

+1

I was so happy for Gags when he lifted to Cup. A very emotional moment for me. I thought I might be a little "uneasy" when Richie and Carts raised it but I was more indifferent.

There's no other way to take it. He makes legitimate points about the difficulty that the Flyers would have had as far as the Cap is concerned, and adding Bryzgalov. As that was one of the main reasons why the trades were made. But in my opinion you can't make a blanket statement that they wouldn't have done better if they had kept them and gone in a different direction as far as other moves. The actual data if they had kept Richards and Carter is non existant.
- MJL

lol the coke....................a.........cola dealers here would have been much happier....thats a fact.

Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, and John Stevens all just took a picture in front of the Cup mooning and sent it to Paul Holmgren.
Steve Dangle Glynn
2 days ago
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I can respect this, but don't tell that Flyers fans everywhere didn't cringe a little to see Carter and Richards hoisting the cup together and thinking a little of what could have been...
- As_I_See_It

You mean I was supposed to be bereft to see Richards carry the cup just a couple of months after rumors had him fighting Brown for control of the room at the time he himself wasn't exactly contributing (wondering if he'd ever score another goal, he said). Brown won, and the team won, and Richards seems to have figured out that he's just one cog in the wheel. I'm not sure he was ever going to figure that out here.

And I'm glad for Carter. That he had a relatively healthy postseason and showed that he isn't a playoff bust. I can't really feel bad for any Flyers fan who spent a few years dogging the guy for not being a cyborg warrior. That doesn't mean I don't think less of him for being so completely unprofessional about the trade, even though I certainly understand not wanting to go to Columbus in the first place.

The only thing that had me cringing was knowing that people who don't know a puck is made from vulcanized rubber, including the so-called sports media here, were going to make ridiculous statements about their "leading" the Kings to a cup and the Flyers having made a mistake getting rid of them. I don't see it as a mistake. And most knowledgeable hockey fans (and media, like Bill) don't either.

Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, and John Stevens all just took a picture in front of the Cup mooning and sent it to Paul Holmgren.
Steve Dangle Glynn
2 days ago
ReplyRetweet
- Feeling_Glucky

Wouldn't Gagne have sent it to Yzerman?

Wouldn't Gagne have sent it to Yzerman?
- bodiva88

Trolls don't know these things.

Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, and John Stevens all just took a picture in front of the Cup mooning and sent it to Paul Holmgren.
Steve Dangle Glynn
2 days ago
ReplyRetweet
- Feeling_Glucky

http://youtu.be/dA32i2MVT9E

Wouldn't Gagne have sent it to Yzerman?
- bodiva88

Holmgren traded him to TB..

http://youtu.be/dA32i2MVT9E
- aightwebang17

embed it - don't click utube lnks

Comparing Bryzgalov to Quick and "sticking with them" doesnt mean much when Bryzgalov is 31, soon ot be 32 and Quick was 24 and 25 in '10,'11.

Quick was still developing, Bryzgalov is pretty much at the stage of his career where you know what you are going to get.

Holmgren traded him to TB..
- Feeling_Glucky

But he got Matt Walker back!

Take that!

so Carter and Richards combined for 3 points in 20 games but still won the Cup - glad they did nothing whatsoever to help LA win..

Your on the money today!

It's like a snowball rolling downhill. It just get's bigger and bigger.

And that's exactly what you saw in the Kings play. That cohesiveness and support and team play. For out Star Trek fans, they're like the Borg. They played as a collective.
- MJL

What team that wins the Stanley Cup doesn't play that way? So much is overblown when a team wins a championship. That team does so many thing right that our team doesn't. All about execution, catching some breaks, getting hot at the right time, and staying healthy.

lol the coke....................a.........cola dealers here would have been much happier....thats a fact.
- Philly1980

Oh, absolutely a fact!

embed it - don't click utube lnks
- Feeling_Glucky

click it, i don't embed

Comparing Bryzgalov to Quick and "sticking with them" doesnt mean much when Bryzgalov is 31, soon ot be 32 and Quick was 24 and 25 in '10,'11.

Quick was still developing, Bryzgalov is pretty much at the stage of his career where you know what you are going to get.
- deader2818

Sticking with the plan is what Bill means. The Flyers have a ton of young players on the team to be patient with. Bryz is obviously not one of them.

What team that wins the Stanley Cup doesn't play that way? So much is overblown when a team wins a championship. That team does so many thing right that our team doesn't. All about execution, catching some breaks, getting hot at the right time, and staying healthy.
- stveshdy

I don't think it's overblown at all. That's what it takes. And it is true, especially on the defensive side and with goaltending, that the Kings did a lot of things right that our team didn't. But that can change.

What team that wins the Stanley Cup doesn't play that way? So much is overblown when a team wins a championship. That team does so many thing right that our team doesn't. All about execution, catching some breaks, getting hot at the right time, and staying healthy.
- stveshdy

Spot on. Everything has to fall into place.