ROB BYAN
- jak521

would be a nice pick up when and if he hits UFA.

they don't have enough pieces to make a trade worthwhile

We miss Pronger. His leadership, his holding players accountable, his snarl on the ice, his ability to hand the media their A-holes.
We need a goalie out team can believe in. Bryz doesn’t trust our D. I think a lot of his “soft goals” have been him cheating the angle cuz he knows the guy in front of him is gonna screw up. The only D he seemed to trust was Grossmann who is currently injured.
We need to figure out if Lavi has lost the ear of the room and the reason we are all over the place with his offensive style is because he has had such limited time in this short season to correct errors or if he has refused to adjust to other teams. And why he can’t seem to beat the Devils or Rangers not just from this season but from previous ones.
We need forwards who can actually pass… Who can support each other and can learn to get open for a friggin outlet pass from the D. Some back-checking might be nice occasionally as well. This would include someone on G’s wing who can finish.
We need a defensive core that isn’t getting destroyed blocking shots, is another team’s cast offs or is on their first time up in the NHL.
And that’s just off the top of my head.
- FlyersGrace

Yeah I figured pronger would be a big miss, there really isn't anyone that you can replace the guy with that's available , jagr was great for you guys last year too .... who would you go after in free agency to fill those voids ?

I get that people like Lava because he is emotional, seems like a good guy, and calls good time outs, but come on. He doesnt skate, he doesnt hustle, he doesnt score?

His job is to do whats best for the team he has... He hasnt been able to change his ways. The gap between the forwards and the d-men has been an issue his whole time here in Philly. He needs to change, but has been very reluctant to do so. Right now were are the 6th worst team in the league.
- jak521

I also blame him for the handling of Bob when he was here as well the handling of Couturier.

If somehow they get another winger to mesh with G and Hartnell on the top line then
Czechie on a second line spot would give them two real scoring lines.

Fixing the top end defense is a much bigger need, and Read and Simmer can play top six for now. Expecting the team to be an offensive juggernaut with these players, and no playmakers on D is a big stretch.
- Marc D

I view it as finding a guy on the left side to play with G and Voracek. Hopefully Hartnell bounces back into that player.

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.

Yeah I figured pronger would be a big miss, there really isn't anyone that you can replace the guy with that's available , jagr was great for you guys last year too .... who would you go after in free agency to fill those voids ?
- Redmile247

there is really no one D man to fix things that are available

they went for the Weber home run but it failed

I think Homer will trade a forward (which in reality is not all that deep anymore) to get a puck moving offensive defenseman.

the UFA defenseman this season is pretty slim pickings

I also blame him for the handling of Bob when he was here as well the handling of Couturier.
- nastyflyergirl

No doubt. Frustrating to think about it...

I view it as finding a guy on the left side to play with G and Voracek. Hopefully Hartnell bounces back into that player.
- bradleyc4

That is the best and most likely scenario, because he has shown after a bad season he is capable of coming back and scoring 25 goals.

Or a team might want Hartnell in a trade and over pay and give the Flyers a talented top end young defenseman. (hmm, not likely).

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.
- isaiah520

bryz needed a moment to fix up a nice hot thermos of earl grey tea

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5,
- isaiah520

stopped reading right there

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.
- isaiah520

If you look at his face Bryz appears to be a guy who never quite gets enough sleep. Like when you really need 8 hours, but end up getting maybe 5.

He probably wakes up several times a night from nightmares of the Flyers defensive zone coverage.

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.
- isaiah520

Okay, terrific.

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.
- isaiah520

It's stuff like this that's going to keep Danny Briere around another year longer.

bryz needed a moment to fix up a nice hot thermos of earl grey tea
- Marc D

In Bryz's defense, Earl Grey is a delightful tea.

So if we had a leader on the team... all our worries would be better.

This is probably one of the heaviest vet laden teams we have had in a few years.. Leadership isnt the issue.

Briere, Gags, Rusty, Huskins, Timonen, Hartnell, Talbot. Having a general isnt gonna make this team a contender.
- jak521

I agree with him...we definitely lack leadership. And veteran does not equal leader.

We're missing a guy like Pronger, Hatcher, Smith, Lindros, Primeau, etc.

It's not our only problem - we don't have a single problem but a big mixture resulting in a molotov cocktail - but it is definitely a problem.

In Bryz's defense, Earl Grey is a delightful tea.
- johndewar

great for those outdoor games when you are sitting on the bench

As many have said, coaching may be a problem on this team but it is not the only problem.

They need to do a lot more, and I really hope they shift away from the chronically stupid and inconsistent players. Especially veterans who play that way.

I agree Lava needs to go, but this will not be a quick fix imo. They simply to me, in a lot of areas, are not good enough consistently. At the same time, its a lot of the older players who fail this team time and time again.

Shift the culture, ignite the change, stay the course with a new found identity, and eliminate those who do not fit. The time has come, for this team to frankly stop being a laughing stock. Which they are.

If you fire the coach, you bettter do other things as well. From the top of the organization down. Personally, I would love to see Coburn, Briere, Hartnell and Bryzgalov have played their last season here. Start fresh, and do it right for one (frank)ing time.

I agree with him...we definitely lack leadership. And veteran does not equal leader.

We're missing a guy like Pronger, Hatcher, Smith, Lindros, Primeau, etc.

It's not our only problem - we don't have a single problem but a big mixture resulting in a molotov cocktail - but it is definitely a problem.
- wolfhounds

I think Timonen is every bit as good a leader as all of those guys.

In Bryz's defense, Earl Grey is a delightful tea.
- johndewar

As many have said, coaching may be a problem on this team but it is not the only problem.

They need to do a lot more, and I really hope they shift away from the chronically stupid and inconsistent players. Especially veterans who play that way.

I agree Lava needs to go, but this will not be a quick fix imo. They simply to me, in a lot of areas, are not good enough consistently. At the same time, its a lot of the older players who fail this team time and time again.

Shift the culture, ignite the change, stay the course with a new found identity, and eliminate those who do not fit. The time has come, for this team to frankly stop being a laughing stock. Which they are.

If you fire the coach, you bettter do other things as well. From the top of the organization down. Personally, I would love to see Coburn, Briere, Hartnell and Bryzgalov have played their last season here. Start fresh, and do it right for one (frank)ing time.
- flyer_nutter

You need to be able to replace those players....

So why did Mason really start last nite?

According to 97.5, citing a "solid source", mason was given the start because bryz fell asleep at a team meeting.
- isaiah520

In Bryz's defense, Earl Grey is a delightful tea.
- johndewar

Delightful.

More tea, Vicar?

I think Timonen is every bit as good a leader as all of those guys.
- jak521

imo, kimmo should have been captain

I agree with him...we definitely lack leadership. And veteran does not equal leader.

We're missing a guy like Pronger, Hatcher, Smith, Lindros, Primeau, etc.

It's not our only problem - we don't have a single problem but a big mixture resulting in a molotov cocktail - but it is definitely a problem.
- wolfhounds

My approach to FA in the summer would be to keep most of the youth on this team. Continue drafting youth.

Sorround those kids with the kind of players you listed. Sorround them with players who may not be the "shiny pieces" this organization always seems to go after, sorround them with players that will infuse what was lost with the departures of Primeau, Pronger, Lappy and Jagr. Who the hell do these kids or even Giroux have to look to?

I respect Timonen and Briere but frankly this leadership core has failed.

imo, kimmo should have been captain
- mydoglicks

I agree