Tim Panaccio: Timonen Rips Flyers after Loss to NYR

Timonen speaks the truth.

In more ways than one. He points out that the Rangers play a system. This infers that the Flyers a) have no system and b) don't play one even if they did have one.

Kimmo didn't show up today

This team is pretty young, they have had injuries and guys in and out of the line-up all year, and lost their captain and top defenseman for the year, plus the goaltending has been suspect against good teams. This year was never about winning the Cup it was a retooling year. No team in NHL history has turned over half the roster, brought in rookies at key positions then loses it's captain and top defenseman and won a cup. That the Flyers are this good this year is great and with Carle becoming a UFA and maybe putting pronger on the LTI for the rest of his contract the can retool the defense over the summer. I think it's about the future not this year.

I know the coach is not not to blame for all problem on a team but I do think it would have been wise for Lavy to have instituted a defense first system for this team. With all the key injuries, the sheer amount of rookies, and the inconsistency in goal tending a defensive system would allow this team to compete better.

The simple fact is the Flyers did show up today. They tried to do what they could early to goon this game up a bit and try and throw the Rangers off their game. Too bad the refs and the Rangers were too smart for that. The Flyers breakdowns in their own end was on full display. The Rangers cooly and calmly executed their game plan AGAIN. They cannot go toe to toe with this team no matter what system they play. Play defense first? Lose 3-1 like most teams in the league do to them.

The Flyers aren't as good a team, I'm sure Timonen doesn't want to discuss that.

This team is pretty young, they have had injuries and guys in and out of the line-up all year, and lost their captain and top defenseman for the year, plus the goaltending has been suspect against good teams. This year was never about winning the Cup it was a retooling year. No team in NHL history has turned over half the roster, brought in rookies at key positions then loses it's captain and top defenseman and won a cup. That the Flyers are this good this year is great and with Carle becoming a UFA and maybe putting pronger on the LTI for the rest of his contract the can retool the defense over the summer. I think it's about the future not this year.
- killercam

A retooling year? We signed Bryzgalov and Jagr to help us retool? Guess that makes sense...

Even though only 4 pts seperated these two teams before the game...Rangers are a much better team than the Flyers. I HATE the Rangers with a passion but they have solid goaltending (must be nice) and good D pairings from 1 through 6. I will not give up on this team but realistically dont see how they can go far in playoffs even if they make it. I think you are seeing youth show up on this team down the stretch.

N

A retooling year? We signed Bryzgalov and Jagr to help us retool? Guess that makes sense...
- The_Universe

your right, bryzgalov and a 39 year old Jagr were going to lead this team to the cup. I forgot young teams never sign vets for experience.

N your right, bryzgalov and a 39 year old Jagr were going to lead this team to the cup. I forgot young teams never sign vets for experience.
- killercam

No they sign players to win games. Im sure at the beginning of the season Homer and Lavy gave the players a speech along the lines of "try your hardest out there. Just know that we don't expect much because we are retooling."

No they sign players to win games. Im sure at the beginning of the season Homer and Lavy gave the players a speech along the lines of "try your hardest out there. Just know that we don't expect much because we are retooling."
- The_Universe[/quote]

thats a joke right....!?!?!

A retooling year? We signed Bryzgalov and Jagr to help us retool? Guess that makes sense...
- The_Universe

Yeah, when you lose Pronger and end up having to rely on playing as many as 9 rookies, it's a retooling year

No they sign players to win games. Im sure at the beginning of the season Homer and Lavy gave the players a speech along the lines of "try your hardest out there. Just know that we don't expect much because we are retooling."
- The_Universe

Buddy they werent going for the cup this year. If they were then they wouldnt have traded Richards and Carter. (thank god they are gone) Its a retooling year

Well all of what Timonen spoke about was to supposed to be gone from this team, with the so called culture change they had. This team was supposed to give it's all every game. Doesn't seem to be the case. And the perfect locker room might have some tension in it now. Like I've always said, losing creates problems in the room. That's the way it's always been.

This team is pretty young, they have had injuries and guys in and out of the line-up all year, and lost their captain and top defenseman for the year, plus the goaltending has been suspect against good teams. This year was never about winning the Cup it was a retooling year. No team in NHL history has turned over half the roster, brought in rookies at key positions then loses it's captain and top defenseman and won a cup. That the Flyers are this good this year is great and with Carle becoming a UFA and maybe putting pronger on the LTI for the rest of his contract the can retool the defense over the summer. I think it's about the future not this year.
- killercam

This year was not a retooling year for the Flyers.

N your right, bryzgalov and a 39 year old Jagr were going to lead this team to the cup. I forgot young teams never sign vets for experience.
- killercam

Not to 9 year, $50M contracts.

Not to 9 year, $50M contracts.
- isles10289

As soon as Pronger went down, it pretty much became a retooling year. Add in the fact that the Flyers have used as many as 10 rookies at any given time, and it sure as Hell is a retooling year.

And despite that, they still are right in the thick of the playoff race in the East

I have no doubt in my mind that we can make a long cup run .IF.. we grab 1 or 2 more decent Dmen, maybe another pure goal scorer, and get one of the russkies on a hot streak. We have the youth, heart, experience, and talent to do it.

I believe in my team through the good , the bad, and the ugly. Through the ups and the downs ..real fans have the'yre teams backs through thick and thin.

Well all of what Timonen spoke about was to supposed to be gone from this team, with the so called culture change they had. This team was supposed to give it's all every game. Doesn't seem to be the case. And the perfect locker room might have some tension in it now. Like I've always said, losing creates problems in the room. That's the way it's always been.
- MJL

The team generally does give it's all on a nightly basis. They are prone to rookie mistakes and the core of this defense is not holding up without Pronger.

2 reactions: 1 kimmo is going to be a heck of a hockey coach one day and 2. the flyers just have way too many coverage breakdowns in front of their own net. it seemed like everytime the rangers had the puck in our end they had a guy wide open in front of the net. if the flyers don't get MUCH better defensively, this will be another bannerless year.

Seriously, how many ways can a reporter ask the same (frank)in question?

We take too many penalties and our PK sucks...recipe for disaster.

And our D just isn't that good.

And our PP is inconsistent.

Ugh.

This year was not a retooling year for the Flyers.
- isles10289

And you are an Islanders fan which makes your opinion not matter.

As soon as Pronger went down, it pretty much became a retooling year. Add in the fact that the Flyers have used as many as 10 rookies at any given time, and it sure as Hell is a retooling year.

And despite that, they still are right in the thick of the playoff race in the East
- Jsaquella

I don't think you can justify injuries during the year as calling it a retooling year, since the GM, team, coach, etc. wasn't in that mindset at the beginning of the year.

I don't think you can justify injuries during the year as calling it a retooling year, since the GM, team, coach, etc. wasn't in that mindset at the beginning of the year.
- nhindian

When you trade the two guys considered to be the faces of your franchise over the summer, what else would you call it?

Retooling doesn't mean throwing in the towel. At the same time, had Pronger not gotten hurt, it's very likely the Flyers would be more aggressive in making moves to augment the team for this season.