True.

I'd rather see Meszaros stay. Prior to this last year and a half, he was an ironman, playing 81 or 82 games in all but one season, over 6 seasons.
- Jsaquella

Don't get me wrong, I like Mezaros. My fear is that as he moves into his late 20s he is all of a sudden getting hurt a lot and Im concerned it may the start of a trend.

I certainly wouldn't give him away, but if I can package him with some other assets and get a better and more durable defenseman, I would make the move.

Don't get me wrong, I like Mezaros. My fear is that as he moves into his late 20s he is all of a sudden getting hurt a lot and Im concerned it may the start of a trend.

I certainly would give him away, but if I can package him with some other assets and get a better and more durable defenseman, I would make the move.
- BiggE

I worry about that, too...But I do hold off on moving him this summer.

I like that Bill brought this up and I mentioned it yesterday.

The Flyers have been switching up their identity ever since the Hatcher/Rathje era.

If they fire Lava, which I think is a stupid move so be it. However build the team with a permanent identity in mind, and stick to it. Bill mentioned that they want them to be a grind it out team, or so it seems. I think he was exactly on par with saying a lot of the forwards have weaknesses in their defensive games. Brayden Schenn, Simmonds and Briere are iffy in the defensive zone. Hell you can throw in Giroux, Hartnell, Rinaldo and an aging Knuble into that mix.

The team as it is currently set up is set to be a hunt the puck offense, that unfortunately is going through growing pains and needs some more top level talent. The D core is not set up to support that kind of game. There are many valid approaches to winning games in the NHL. The Flyers need to stick to one.
- flyer_nutter

this be sage advice

Don't get me wrong, I like Mezaros. My fear is that as he moves into his late 20s he is all of a sudden getting hurt a lot and Im concerned it may the start of a trend.

I certainly would give him away, but if I can package him with some other assets and get a better and more durable defenseman, I would make the move.
- BiggE

In the last year Meszaros has suffered shoulder, achillies, and back injuries. Odds of him staying healthy are probably slim as he gets older.

Shelley's career is far from over, mascots can work well into their 60's.
- PLindbergh31

solid signing...just didn't work out due to unforeseen circumstances.

I think that the biggest problem is Lavi's system. Everything has been so predictable. Dump and chase. Why bother doing that when you are not winning the puck battles. Nobody is getting free with speed, so defenses just key on the dump ins. We don't get out of our end with any real momentum and so everyone forechecks the crap out of us, we turn it over and they get more chances. We have some guys with speed, but instead of using their strengths, they play dump and chase. I think Lavi has lost the team, personally. Kind of like Andy Reid's last year with the Eagles. I think if we get a new coach, we might bring some more energy.

If Lava gets fired do they bring in Murray for rest of year? If so who do they look for long term?

To some extent I think Lava has been dealt a tough hand this year. The team didn't get the d they needed in the off season, the young core is looking young and all the injuries. I know Lava needs to adapt, but some of this is out of his control.

As far as the team not showing up I'm putting that 50/50 on players and Lava.
- LJF

My thing is this. If they bring in Murray, who to me would preach more of a John Stevens kind of identity, then you will have problems for a few years as it is.

To me it simply comes down to a lot of the forwards on this team not being great in their own zone and for the most part also being undersized to play that real defensive two way grind it out game.

To me I would like them to stick the course. Make moves only if it makes sense. Obviously there is a need for a gritty scoring winger and a #1 d-man. You try and get those in the off-season. If a trade deal makes sense you do it.

People talk about the fans not being patient and panicking. To me, I see upper management panic a lot more. Stay the course, stay with the identity YOU have built, and attempt to fix the needs are you can.

Detriot lost lindstrom? Are they panicking and switching coaches, and an indetity? Did Phoenix when they lost Bryzgalov? Would Nashville if they lost Weber?

Let's not ignore Snider's influence.

Holmgren tried to land dynamic defensemen all summer. He didn't, despite offering over $200mm worth of contracts. We can argue that he should have just kept Carle or even traded for one if the free agency route didn't pan out or whatever. But the bottom line is, he didn't land a defenseman to replace Carle.

In a situation such as this, the coach has to make adjustments to the personnel he's given. It's not his fault that the GM couldn't land the pieces needed to run his system. But he has to deal with what he's got on hand.

In Laviolette's defense, he HAS made adjustments, but they haven't worked out too well. Execution has been a major issue, which isn't his fault.

As far as a coaching change, I'm on the fence. As far as a GM change, I'd like to see Holmgren stay.
- Jsaquella

Really as far as Coaching adjustments. Laviolette has made some very minor adjustments. In my opinion he is not going to change. This is what made him who he is, and has gotten him the success that he has had. This is his identity as Coach, and he is not going to change. It;s sink or swim with a Coach who plays the way he does. That was seen in Carolina, and it's being seen here.

When Laviolette was first hired, I talked about the double edged sword that his system and style of play is. Very difficult to maintain the energy level needed to play that way, night in a night out. Just watch the replays from last night and see how the team plays. They favor the offensive side of the puck in all situations. That is what he has preached and taught them to play that way. It is ingrained in the players head. Play it right and play it hard and it can be awesome. Like we've seen at times. First period of the Devils game. Game 6 against the Pens last year. Canes winning the Cup.

I wouldn't be completely against a GM change, provided it's not an Old Boy Network sort of hire.
- Jsaquella

I'd still want Jim Nill if any GM change is made. But if not I'll stick with riding out the rough patch this season.

I wouldn't be completely against a GM change, provided it's not an Old Boy Network sort of hire.
- Jsaquella

well, if you believe in the universal law of attraction...jim nill

I think that the biggest problem is Lavi's system. Everything has been so predictable. Dump and chase. Why bother doing that when you are not winning the puck battles. Nobody is getting free with speed, so defenses just key on the dump ins. We don't get out of our end with any real momentum and so everyone forechecks the crap out of us, we turn it over and they get more chances. We have some guys with speed, but instead of using their strengths, they play dump and chase. I think Lavi has lost the team, personally. Kind of like Andy Reid's last year with the Eagles. I think if we get a new coach, we might bring some more energy.
- watson1195

To be honest I was one of those who grew tired of John Stevens. I wanted him out because I felt the men on the team would better fit a more aggressive identity.

I am tired of seeing coaches being shipped out because the youth on the team need an energy infusion. If the Devils were slumping this season would they fire the HC? Or would they stay the course, and ask the players to play better.

Its true the team isn't really ideal to play an aggressive system right now. The D cant really push the pace and many of the young kids are going through growing pains.

I question some of Lava's decisions but who the hell would think this would be a solid aggressive team that hunts the puck looking at the D core and lineup in general.

I still believe this team hasn't played its best hockey yet, akin to last year's cup winner.
- JoeRussomanno

we don't have the stacked line up like them

solid signing...just didn't work out due to unforeseen circumstances.
- isaiah520

Jury is still out on the Richards, and Carter trades. As well as the JVR trade. Those are the moves that will define Holmgren's tenure.

But a bunch of the other stuff he has done makes little sense. Shelley, Lilja, Walker, the Kubina trade, the Leighton fascination, the swinging and missing this offseason, it goes on and on.

He's done some nice things as well, it hasn't all been bad. There seems to be a personnel disconnect between the GM and the coach. I would choose to keep the coach.

Laviolette has won a Cup as a coach. Firing him to bring in some retread would be foolish. Firing the guy who assembled this mess of a roster should be the way to go.
- PLindbergh31

Homer had a bad offseason, not for lack of effort, but he is still a good GM. Firing him is not the answer to me, either. I think part of the issue is that Homer knows that after striking out this past offseason, things were gonna be crappy. However, Snider and the fan base won't accept a lost season. So again, Homer has to balance long term success with short term success.

Never a dull moment.

Flyers draft pick Anthony Stolarz starting in net today for the London Knights against Niagara

His current stats 4-2-1-0

2.40 GAA & .919 save %

I don't entirely buy that. There is a lot of parity in the NHL, especially when you are talking about roughly 6th to 12th place in the regular season.

Even some of the best teams may not have eye-popping rosters on paper but they manage to be more than the sum of their parts. They have an identity. They have cohesion. The Devils are the ultimate example.

Have you looked at New Jersey's roster? How deep is their blueline on paper? How many high-end puck movers do they have? Apart from Kovalchuk, how many genuine "superstar" forwards -- not just good ones, but franchise caliber ones -- do they have? How good has Martin Brodeur looked each of the last two seasons when he's actually been tested?

What they DO have is a relentless forecheck, a good mix of veterans and young players, outstanding coaching, and above all a teamwide commitment to two-way hockey. The roster is set up to play a certain way, Pete DeBoer reinforces it through his system and the players execute it. No more and no less.

Let's say you could put David Clarkson on the Flyers. I bet you he wouldn't have 10 goals right now, even though he'd be on Giroux's line. He might have a couple more than Simmonds (let's say six or seven) doing the same role, but the team's record would not be markedly better.

Conversely, let's say we swapped all six of New Jersey's starting defenseman for all six of the Flyers' (Meszaros injury included). Might the team have a win or two fewer right now? Maybe, maybe not. But they wouldn't be markedly worse; I feel very confident in saying that.

Now where would the Flyers be if they had NJ's entire D corps? They'd probably still be 6-9-1 and people would be saying "you can't win with this defense!"

So it's NOT just the personnel here. It's also the assembly of said personnel and the usage of it. What is this year's team's "winning hockey identity"?

Are they a skating team? A wear-down-the-opposition cycling team? Are they a club that is comfortable in low-scoring games? Are they are a team that should be high-scoring (ala last season)? Really, they've been none of the above.

Peter Laviolette wants the team to play one way, although his blueline really isn't built to do it and they don't have blazing speed up front. Meanwhile, upper management made VERY clear they want the team to play grind-it-out, two-way hockey but the forward corps on the whole is a little undersized to do it and too many of the "scoring forwards" (Briere, Simmonds, Brayden Schenn come to mind) have some defensive deficiencies.

So this year's Flyers have kind of tried to be a hybrid team, and it hasn't really worked.
- bmeltzer

right. questionable mix and the looming specter of paddock and murray waiting in the wings. this is too predictable given the flyers history.

Flyers draft pick Anthony Stolarz starting in net today for the London Knights against Niagara

His current stats 4-2-1-0

2.40 GAA & .919 save %
- ob18

Give him the C now.

Laviolette has won a Cup as a coach. Firing him to bring in some retread would be foolish. Firing the guy who assembled this mess of a roster should be the way to go.
- PLindbergh31

You calling for Homers head?

You calling for Homers head?
- stveshdy

no never he never criticizes homer

Jury is still out on the Richards, and Carter trades. As well as the JVR trade. Those are the moves that will define Holmgren's tenure.

But a bunch of the other stuff he has done makes little sense. Shelley, Lilja, Walker, the Kubina trade, the Leighton fascination, the swinging and missing this offseason, it goes on and on.

He's done some nice things as well, it hasn't all been bad. There seems to be a personnel disconnect between the GM and the coach. I would choose to keep the coach.
- PLindbergh31

I dont know if its Snider or Holmgren. However they brought in a guy like Lava and for the most part had success with him. They sent out a group this season that to be completely (frank)ing honest I dont see excelling under any system. Thats the problem.

Flyers draft pick Anthony Stolarz starting in net today for the London Knights against Niagara

His current stats 4-2-1-0

2.40 GAA & .919 save %
- ob18

so is he the next brodeur?

Let's not ignore Snider's influence.

Holmgren tried to land dynamic defensemen all summer. He didn't, despite offering over $200mm worth of contracts. We can argue that he should have just kept Carle or even traded for one if the free agency route didn't pan out or whatever. But the bottom line is, he didn't land a defenseman to replace Carle.

In a situation such as this, the coach has to make adjustments to the personnel he's given. It's not his fault that the GM couldn't land the pieces needed to run his system. But he has to deal with what he's got on hand.

In Laviolette's defense, he HAS made adjustments, but they haven't worked out too well. Execution has been a major issue, which isn't his fault.

As far as a coaching change, I'm on the fence. As far as a GM change, I'd like to see Holmgren stay.
- Jsaquella

I'm for keeping Lavi for now.

He is playing the hand he was dealt the best he can, and it's been a lousy hand. I don't doubt he's given the team a blueprint to at least be competitive every game. The rest is up to the team to carry it out.

And I'd keep Homer for now also, but on a shorter leash.

It's time to start drafting players outside of the first round who can step up and be legitimate top line players. He needs to find d-men who can progress steadily up to the first and second pairings, and he needs to find a goaltender that he can develop who has a good chance to be a number 1.

The farm system is in shambles. The depth is non-existent. There are only a couple of junior players who have a chance of making a difference two or three years from now.

That's not close to good enough.

Homer had a bad offseason, not for lack of effort, but he is still a good GM. Firing him is not the answer to me, either. I think part of the issue is that Homer knows that after striking out this past offseason, things were gonna be crappy. However, Snider and the fan base won't accept a lost season. So again, Homer has to balance long term success with short term success.

Never a dull moment.
- feelingkettle

I understand what you are saying. While it is the coach's job to adapt to the personnel he's been given, I think Laviolette was given a bad hand to play. Throw in the injuries and it becomes worse.

The only thing that concerns me about the coach is there are too many games where the effort isn't there. I count three games already this season where the team hasn't showed up.

no never he never criticizes homer
- 2Real

How would you grade the job Homer did this past summer?

so is he the next brodeur?
- 2Real

No idea he's really probably just settling in to the OHL.