Tim Panaccio: Lappy on Former Flyers Turned Kings

Great to hear from Lappy; he's been gone from LA for many years and I still see a lot of Kings Lapperiere jerseys around.

Flyers fans should not be too down about the deals; Schenn, Simmonds and Couturier are special players, Giroux may be the best forward in the league and if they can give Coburn some help on the back line and get Brzygalev straightened out, they will be in the hunt for years to come......

That said, the fact is that Flyers management effectively said "we can't win with these guys" by trading them; and it's now been proven that they can and did win elsewhere. Until the Flyers bring home a Cup of their own, they will continue to be measured by the results of these deals.....

The Flyers would NOT have won the Cup with Carter and Richards still here this year.

Agreed. And the players received will hopefully benefit the Flyers for years to come.

They would not have had the $$ to sign Ilya Bryzgalov, either.

This, on the other hand...

Agreed. And the players received will hopefully benefit the Flyers for years to come.



This, on the other hand...
- atc

Bryz doesn't have the mental-makeup to win in the playoffs

I don't know ANY Flyers fans that liked the deals before and now don't like the deals because the Kings won. I don't know where that comes from, not here on hockey buzz or WIP or any other blogs I have seen. I will say this, it's tough watching Richards and Carter winning a Cup after they failed to do it here. I don't think it's any vindication for them either. Yes they won but as secondary players with less pressure, where as here in Philly they were the leaders and failed. No doubt they are winners but I wouldn't un do either trade.

Tim Panaccio: Lappy on Former Flyers Turned Kings
- tpanaccio

This is good piece of journalism. Interesting perspective from Lapierre.

I don't know ANY Flyers fans that liked the deals before and now don't like the deals because the Kings won. I don't know where that comes from, not here on hockey buzz or WIP or any other blogs I have seen. I will say this, it's tough watching Richards and Carter winning a Cup after they failed to do it here. I don't think it's any vindication for them either. Yes they won but as secondary players with less pressure, where as here in Philly they were the leaders and failed. No doubt they are winners but I wouldn't un do either trade.
- killercam

It certainly is vindication for both of them. Richards had 14 points in 20 playoff games, and Carter got a hat trick in the Conference Finals against PHX, had the OT winner in the finals of game 2, and got the cup winning goal last night.

You are saying Richards and Carter would not have lead you to a cup win. Well they did take you guys to the final, so it wasn't as if they "failed" as you say. I like the pieces the flyers got from both deals, but what is hurting them is Bryz. Also not having your captain Pronger hurt them as well. Richards is a great leader, he fit so well with the Kings. It's like the Kings had 2 captains. Brown showed what a great leader he is. And also, Carter played on the 2nd line in philly for a while as well. Congratz to the Kings, but the Flyers shouldn't feel too bad. They need to adress their defense, Timonen is aging as well. I became a fan of theirs while cheering for them against Pittsburgh.

It certainly is vindication for both of them. Richards had 14 points in 20 playoff games, and Carter got a hat trick in the Conference Finals against PHX, had the OT winner in the finals of game 2, and got the cup winning goal last night.
- bruinsbeer69

Agreed.

Agreed.
- Allstarzz

Pittsburgh and Boston are recent examples of teams that learned how to win it all after painfull losses in the playoffs.

I think Richards and Carter turned their loss to Chicago into motivation this year for their new team.

Tim Panaccio: Lappy on Former Flyers Turned Kings
- tpanaccio

Lappy pretty much nailed it. Giroux has stepped into Mike Richards role and surpassed what a Mike Richards can do. It's funny because I love the deals we made for Carter and Richards but I do believe we could use a Jeff Carter right now more then a Mike Richards. We have plenty of grinders and power forwards who can play a tough game but not enough snipers but we're still finding ways to score. I honestly believe Giroux and Schenn could grow to be a Forsberg and Sakic like duo. Wayne Simmonds is the perfect Flyer. The future is very bright in Philadelphia, I just think we need one final piece.

As for any blame that pretty much throws Bryzgalov under the bus is ridiculous. Bryz hasn't been perfect but he's had flashes of brilliance in his first go around as a Flyers' net minder. The problem is the D. Pronger needs to be replaced and Timonen is one year away from the end of his contract. Heck, I feel Timonen had a rough second half playing through back issues. I'm really hoping the little guy can even hold up another season.

This Cup Final should have been no less then a nightmare for Flyers fans and the organization itself. This Cup Final result should be used as a motivational tool to become the best of the best next season. Richards and Carter are second line players as Lappy pointed out. Players like Giroux, Schenn, van Riemsdyk and Couturier should end up being much more then that.

Lappy pretty much nailed it. Giroux has stepped into Mike Richards role and surpassed what a Mike Richards can do. It's funny because I love the deals we made for Carter and Richards but I do believe we could use a Jeff Carter right now more then a Mike Richards. We have plenty of grinders and power forwards who can play a tough game but not enough snipers but we're still finding ways to score. I honestly believe Giroux and Schenn could grow to be a Forsberg and Sakic like duo. Wayne Simmonds is the perfect Flyer. The future is very bright in Philadelphia, I just think we need one final piece.

As for any blame that pretty much throws Bryzgalov under the bus is ridiculous. Bryz hasn't been perfect but he's had flashes of brilliance in his first go around as a Flyers' net minder. The problem is the D. Pronger needs to be replaced and Timonen is one year away from the end of his contract. Heck, I feel Timonen had a rough second half playing through back issues. I'm really hoping the little guy can even hold up another season.

This Cup Final should have been no less then a nightmare for Flyers fans and the organization itself. This Cup Final result should be used as a motivational tool to become the best of the best next season. Richards and Carter are second line players as Lappy pointed out. Players like Giroux, Schenn, van Riemsdyk and Couturier should end up being much more then that.
- roenick97

How has Giroux surpassed Mike Richards? Richards led the Flyers to the Cup Finals. Richards and Carter are first line players on a lot of teams in this League.

How has Giroux surpassed Mike Richards? Richards led the Flyers to the Cup Finals. Richards and Carter are first line players on a lot of teams in this League.
- MJL

giroux is better than Richards...in fact, his emergence allowed homer to make the moves he did. I wanted to keep carter, as you know, but I certainly like couts' upside as an all- around plyr even more. let's see if he can fulfill that potential. jake I ended up liking, but I'm still not sure if he will be here L-T.

Great to hear from Lappy; he's been gone from LA for many years and I still see a lot of Kings Lapperiere jerseys around.

Flyers fans should not be too down about the deals; Schenn, Simmonds and Couturier are special players, Giroux may be the best forward in the league and if they can give Coburn some help on the back line and get Brzygalev straightened out, they will be in the hunt for years to come......

That said, the fact is that Flyers management effectively said "we can't win with these guys" by trading them; and it's now been proven that they can and did win elsewhere. Until the Flyers bring home a Cup of their own, they will continue to be measured by the results of these deals.....
- jkaflagg

Not saying that those two cant win, but they cant lead a team to win...

How has Giroux surpassed Mike Richards? Richards led the Flyers to the Cup Finals. Richards and Carter are first line players on a lot of teams in this League.
- MJL

No Dany B's, hartnel,leino's performance that year led them...They were invisible in the cup finals.

Pittsburgh and Boston are recent examples of teams that learned how to win it all after painfull losses in the playoffs.

I think Richards and Carter turned their loss to Chicago into motivation this year for their new team.
- bruinsbeer69

Lol unfortunately last year they were so motivated they let the bruins sweep them lol./

giroux is better than Richards...in fact, his emergence allowed homer to make the moves he did. I wanted to keep carter, as you know, but I certainly like couts' upside as an all- around plyr even more. let's see if he can fulfill that potential. jake I ended up liking, but I'm still not sure if he will be here L-T.
- isaiah520

I didn't say Giroux wasn't better then Richards. But in terms of surpassing a player, what's more important? Individual accomplishments or team accomplishments. The fact is that Richards was the Captain and led the team to the Cup Finals. It remains to be seen what Giroux and this team can do. I'm hopeful and fully believe that Giroux will lead this team to great things, as I think he has developed into a very special player. But Mike Richards is proven to be a winner on every level he has played. Giroux has not met, nor exceeded the accomplishments of Richards to this point.

No Dany B's, hartnel,leino's performance that year led them...They were invisible in the cup finals.
- Philly1980

Yea, your right, Richards had nothing to do with it! LOL

I didn't say Giroux wasn't better then Richards. But in terms of surpassing a player, what's more important? Individual accomplishments or team accomplishments. The fact is that Richards was the Captain and led the team to the Cup Finals. It remains to be seen what Giroux and this team can do. I'm hopeful and fully believe that Giroux will lead this team to great things, as I think he has developed into a very special player. But Mike Richards is proven to be a winner on every level he has played. Giroux has not met, nor exceeded the accomplishments of Richards to this point.
- MJL

I would give more credit to Pronger, Timo, and the Briere line that year. Loved Richards here but he didn't exactly carry the team. He had some moments.

Yea, your right, Richards had nothing to do with it! LOL
- MJL

I would give more credit to Pronger, Timo, and the Briere line that year. Loved Richards here but he didn't exactly carry the team. He had some moments.
- fnmjoe13

I would give credit to a lot of people that year. The Flyers were a poor defensive team for the most part this Season. Part of the reason why is the loss of Carter and Richards. And Richards was a huge part of that Cup run.

I would give credit to a lot of people that year. The Flyers were a poor defensive team for the most part this Season. Part of the reason why is the loss of Carter and Richards. And Richards was a huge part of that Cup run.
- MJL

I would say that a big reason why the Flyers were not as defensively sound this year is due in large part to the absence of Pronger. He has a way of making the guys on the ice accountable and more confident. Carter was not any better defensively than our forwards now. Richards on the other hand, better than what we have now.

I would say that a big reason why the Flyers were not as defensively sound this year is due in large part to the absence of Pronger. He has a way of making the guys on the ice accountable and more confident. Carter was not any better defensively than our forwards now. Richards on the other hand, better than what we have now.
- fnmjoe13

Pronger is a great leader/captain. His loss hurts but he hasnt played that much in the past two seasons. The Flyers will only win a cup when they decide to play as a team. Every single player has an important role and when they play the right way their chances of winning a cup are great.

IMO, its time to move forward...

I would say that a big reason why the Flyers were not as defensively sound this year is due in large part to the absence of Pronger. He has a way of making the guys on the ice accountable and more confident. Carter was not any better defensively than our forwards now. Richards on the other hand, better than what we have now.
- fnmjoe13

Carter is a very solid player defensively, and is much better than our forwards are now as a whole. You're mistaken there. Carter under Stevens was used as the main checking Center against other teams top lines in 5 on 5 play. He's a very solid player defensively. And Pronger certainly would have helped. But team defense is a 5 man game on the ice.

Carter is a very solid player defensively, and is much better than our forwards are now as a whole. You're mistaken there. Carter under Stevens was used as the main checking Center against other teams top lines in 5 on 5 play. He's a very solid player defensively. And Pronger certainly would have helped. But team defense is a 5 man game on the ice.
- MJL

Wasn't saying that Pronger on the ice was the biggest factor. Certainly helps but obviously he played only half a game at most. Talking leadership. I would imagine, as a forward, when Pronger calls you out for not backchecking properly, you respond with a better effort.

Stevens has been gone for quite some time. He was ok but we have guys doing just as well. I was not a big Carter fan. Certainly don't miss him coming down the wing and shooting a wrister from the circle.