Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Gameday: 9/27/13 @ Washington

Let the fire Lavy discussion begin, yet again!

Last week I watched the caps B team take the bruins A team to a shootout. It should be more competitive when you dress a bunch of bubble players in the preseason. This preseason has been worrisome on many levels

Send Laughton back to Juniors

Waffle hasn't stood out




Here comes, they still could sign Gagne

TGIF

Let the fire Lavy discussion begin, yet again!
- aantny88

A little early for that. I'm gonna give him a good 20 games to get this team going.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Preseason Gameday: 9/27/13 @ Washington
- bmeltzer

Bill what are some of the biggest positives from this pre season that the Flyers can take going into the regular season ( I know they haven't done well ) and I am not trying to be a smart ass. I just want to get a feel for what to watch from these guys going into the season. I was blown away by the play of Giroux. You would hardly know he was injured. I also didn't really notice Vinny that much in the one game I have seen him in. Were the Flyers expecting more from their NHLers last night even though there wasn't many of them.

Some alarming trends for sure. Hopefully when the games count, this team will start competing.

From what I've read and seen none of the Laughton, Raffl, VandeVelde trio have done anything to earn a roster spot. One of them will because there is no one else.

Posting again:


I'm not even going out on a limb here saying that I guarantee Laviolette is gone by November. This current roster obviously can not execute his system. We saw that last year. The Devils and Rangers wrote the book on how to beat this team and I will not be surprised to see other teams adjusting their strategies as well.

It was maddening watching the game the other night knowing that every breakout was going to be some long stretch pass up or across the ice, and if not handled cleanly or missed altogether resulted in the play going the other way. Or a dump in up the side boards that the forwards could not get to because they were skating sideways at the opposing blue line waiting for their under siege dman to get it out of trouble. Then still sending too many forecheckers in even though the opposing team has possession before they even reach the faceoff circle.......chip out the other way...easy out....odd man rush.

I cant count how many times I saw forwards turn tail and zip out of the defensive zone as soon as the dman gained possession only to leave that dman with no viable outlet pass.

Like a broken frakking record.

I am going to lose my mind if I have have to go through what we went through last season again.

Let the fire Lavy discussion begin, yet again!
- aantny88

Begin?For some it never ended.

Some alarming trends for sure. Hopefully when the games count, this team will start competing.

From what I've read and seen none of the Laughton, Raffl, VandeVelde trio have done anything to earn a roster spot. One of them will because there is no one else.
- PLindbergh31

I think Raffle has absolutely earned a roster spot. For a player who is an NHL rookie, and is playing in the small rink of the NA game for the first time, he's shown a lot of promise. He's a player that is going to need some adjustment time.

Begin?For some it never ended.
- PhillaBully

The Flyers know what type of system Laviolette employs. It is also incumbent upon the General Manager to mold the roster to fit the system. Not sure that has been done.

Posting again:


I'm not even going out on a limb here saying that I guarantee Laviolette is gone by November. This current roster obviously can not execute his system. We saw that last year. The Devils and Rangers wrote the book on how to beat this team and I will not be surprised to see other teams adjusting their strategies as well.

It was maddening watching the game the other night knowing that every breakout was going to be some long stretch pass up or across the ice, and if not handled cleanly or missed altogether resulted in the play going the other way. Or a dump in up the side boards that the forwards could not get to because they were skating sideways at the opposing blue line waiting for their under siege dman to get it out of trouble. Then still sending too many forecheckers in even though the opposing team has possession before they even reach the faceoff circle.......chip out the other way...easy out....odd man rush.

I cant count how many times I saw forwards turn tail and zip out of the defensive zone as soon as the dman gained possession only to leave that dman with no viable outlet pass.

Like a broken frakking record.

I am going to lose my mind if I have have to go through what we went through last season again.
- MBFlyerfan

They play NJ at home on November 7th. If that's another embarrassing defeat to the Devils and the Flyers are already under .500 it might be the last straw.

If they start really badly then there's a week long break after they play the Pens on October 17th.

Ugh, glad that game wasn't televised. HAHAHA...
We'll see how they do tonight. I won't freak until the games truly count.

A little early for that. I'm gonna give him a good 20 games to get this team going.
- MJL

Thanksgiving is my deadline..

I dont understand why people get so fired up about the idea of a coaching change... What exactly has Lava done here? He is certainly and interesting character... and shows plenty of emotion, but what exactly has he done that ensures him holding down his position?

The Flyers know what type of system Laviolette employs. It is also incumbent upon the General Manager to mold the roster to fit the system. Not sure that has been done.
- PLindbergh31

Here's the difference. The GM is limited to the players that are available. And he has to deal with variables such as other teams agreeing to trades, etc. The GM made adjustments over the offseason by bringing in Streit, Lecavalier, and Emery.

The Coach is not limited by anything other then his own stuborness in adjusting his system to fit the personell on hand.

I think Raffle has absolutely earned a roster spot. For a player who is an NHL rookie, and is playing in the small rink of the NA game for the first time, he's shown a lot of promise. He's a player that is going to need some adjustment time.
- MJL

You just outlined a pretty compelling case for why he should start in ADK.

Posting again:


I'm not even going out on a limb here saying that I guarantee Laviolette is gone by November. This current roster obviously can not execute his system. We saw that last year. The Devils and Rangers wrote the book on how to beat this team and I will not be surprised to see other teams adjusting their strategies as well.

It was maddening watching the game the other night knowing that every breakout was going to be some long stretch pass up or across the ice, and if not handled cleanly or missed altogether resulted in the play going the other way. Or a dump in up the side boards that the forwards could not get to because they were skating sideways at the opposing blue line waiting for their under siege dman to get it out of trouble. Then still sending too many forecheckers in even though the opposing team has possession before they even reach the faceoff circle.......chip out the other way...easy out....odd man rush.

I cant count how many times I saw forwards turn tail and zip out of the defensive zone as soon as the dman gained possession only to leave that dman with no viable outlet pass.

Like a broken frakking record.

I am going to lose my mind if I have have to go through what we went through last season again.
- MBFlyerfan

If the Flyers went undefeated, the cold water writers would (and should) be dumping on it as the story would be "it's only preseason".

The same take should be true of the Flyers' current record/play.

When games start counting, then I'll get nervous/annoyed/frustrated.

Bill what are some of the biggest positives from this pre season that the Flyers can take going into the regular season ( I know they haven't done well ) and I am not trying to be a smart ass. I just want to get a feel for what to watch from these guys going into the season. I was blown away by the play of Giroux. You would hardly know he was injured. I also didn't really notice Vinny that much in the one game I have seen him in. Were the Flyers expecting more from their NHLers last night even though there wasn't many of them.
- blizzzard

Honestly, I think the biggest preseason positive (up to this point) has been that there haven't been any injuries that would keep someone out long term. Most of the veterans look to ready to go. Couturier added muscle in the offseason and has been pretty consistently good in his preseason games. Emery played solidly overall in his starts to date.

The biggest negative: there have been no signs of improvement yet in the primary trouble areas that plagued the team last season.

As for Lecavalier, he has always been the type of player who goes stretches where you hardly notice him and then suddenly strikes. He had a strong first appearance in the preseason and then mostly just put in his time getting familiarized with the system and various teammates. In the game on Tuesday, he did have a pair of pretty good scoring chances, but just didn't finish them against Schneider (who played very well). Vinny is among the least of my concerns.

The Flyers know what type of system Laviolette employs. It is also incumbent upon the General Manager to mold the roster to fit the system. Not sure that has been done.
- PLindbergh31

Its much easier to change one man and a system than it is to change 21 guys. I dont blame Homer. Last year when they were decimated by injuries and changed the way the played, they went on a streak with a ahl defense. Im sorry for Lavy, but to try and force something that isnt working is maddening to the fans and must be intolerable to the players. Stuborness and ego go hand in hand. I fully expect the meltdown to happen by november. The earlier the better.

Let the fire Lavy discussion begin, yet again!
- aantny88

IMO, he gets until Christmas.

You just outlined a pretty compelling case for why he should start in ADK.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't be opposed to that. Probably would be good for him. But he hasn't looked out of place in the NHL in the pre season. And there doesn't seem like anyone else is challenging him for the roster spot. So let him play and see what happens. A move can always be made later.

Ugh, glad that game wasn't televised. HAHAHA...
We'll see how they do tonight. I won't freak until the games truly count.
- FlyersGrace

Agreed. Nothing to panic about yet. But it's hard to like anything that has happened this pre-season. The results of the games aren't important, but the team has looked listless, lethargic, and unable to adapt thus far.

A lot of talk about coaching in here. Who do you guys want to replace Lavy ? is there even much out there right now in terms of available coaches ? A guy like Boucher or maybe a softer guy like Kruger ?

The Flyers know what type of system Laviolette employs. It is also incumbent upon the General Manager to mold the roster to fit the system. Not sure that has been done.
- PLindbergh31

Hasnt he tried to do just that? We have a completely different roster (save 4 players) since Lava took over, we have gone out and attempted to get top end D-men... The GM sure as hell looks like he is trying to get players... but how does he know which players will be ok in this system?

Im sure the coach and he have talks about the types of players that work best. But then again, maybe the system is what needs some adjusting. Lava is a bit too bull headed. He is a very proud man, but that is eventually going to be his undoing...