Love how B. Schenn is only 21, has had many more downs than ups this year, but has still managed to post 22 points in 38 games.

Yet it's being debated if he's a bust? Rich.

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.
- flyer_nutter

Not for nothing... but we said the same thing when Richards was named captain.. and we had Pronger at the time.

[quote=WarriorHockey21]And again - can Laviolette hustle for a loose puck? Can he not ice the puck? Can he score a goal for them? Can he make a defensive play?

Laviolette can coach these guys to the worlds end... it's up to them to play. People complain about his system... but let's look at what they're doing wrong most of the time: Bunching up along the boards in the offensive zone - Laviolette and Berube yell at them constantly not to bunch up, and yet they do it. Turnovers - Really? A bunch of pro hockey players needs to be coached on turnovers? Inexcusable. Lack of defense from everyone - Pro hockey players should know that it's everyone's job to play defense. Again, no excuse. Lack of offense - As a pro hockey player, mainly speaking of the forwards, it's your job to either provide pressure and keep the puck in the O-zone, to be a playmaker, or to score. ........

wa......wa..waaa..woooonnn.....wooon.....waa.........waaaa...waaaa....(Think Charlie Brown)


And that is how Lava sounds to the players. They have tuned him out. I wasn't rying to poke fun at you or dismiss any valid points you made. It is just that the team has tuned him out.

Lava, perhaps, should have been let go after the Devils series. Relatively simple strategies employed by the Devils and there were no apparent adjustments, suggesting:
1) The coaching staff saw no problems;
2) The coaching staff saw the problems and had no solutions; or
3) The coaching staff saw the problems, had solutions but the players could not, or refused, to execute.

All of those options are bad news for the coach. This season has been a prolonged example of the Devils series.

Let them play out the string, get a high pick, fire Lava and see what they can do via trades and free agency to address some of needs. Oh, and let us all chalk up Couturier's and Braydon Schenn's seasons to the sophomore slump.

Also, does anyone know what the consequences would be to having Bryz, um..."retire" and sail off into the sunset in the KHL?

Love how B. Schenn is only 21, has had many more downs than ups this year, but has still managed to post 22 points in 38 games.

Yet it's being debated if he's a bust? Rich.
- bradleyc4

Not only is a he bust.. but we should probably trade him... but only if we can get Pietreangleo or the ilk.

You need to be able to replace those players....
- jak521

Why?

Because the organization and its fans cant take a couple of years to build this thing right?

Because the stastical production lost may (god forbid) have them miss the playoffs for 1-2 more seasons?

People complain about patience with the organization yet want immediate replacements for players. Its time for a culture change, and I want the Flyers to move away from the kind of players I listed. Smart trades, smart drafting and sorrounding the kids with solid veteran leadership. Or continue bringing in guys with inconsistent talent, which hasnt worked out too well.

he seems fine to me for a 21 year old, the only problem i see is his decision making with the puck, that will improve.

Why?

Because the organization and its fans cant take a couple of years to build this thing right?

Because the stastical production lost may (god forbid) have them miss the playoffs for 1-2 more seasons?

People complain about patience with the organization yet want immediate replacements for players. Its time for a culture change, and I want the Flyers to move away from the kind of players I listed. Smart trades, smart drafting and sorrounding the kids with solid veteran leadership. Or continue bringing in guys with inconsistent talent, which hasnt worked out too well.
- flyer_nutter

No.. you literally need to replace those players.

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

agreed.

Not only is a he bust.. but we should probably trade him... but only if we can get Pietreangleo or the ilk.
- jak521

I'd still trade him if it brought back a top pairing defenseman.

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

Ok. It's subjective. But I disagree.

Timonen is a very good defenseman, but have you ever seen him drop the gloves? Rock the big hit? Play angry and with some serious 'snarl'?

Timonen, imo, lacks the presence those other guys possess. In fact, most players lack presence and authority, which is why there are so few true leaders in hockey and life.

I'd still trade him if it brought back a top pairing defenseman.
- bradleyc4

Oh no doubt about it, but I was referring to them labeling him a bust in one breath, and only trading him for the best young d-man in the game in the next...

Claude Giroux's age 21 season: 27 points in 42 games

Love how B. Schenn is only 21, has had many more downs than ups this year, but has still managed to post 22 points in 38 games.

Yet it's being debated if he's a bust? Rich.
- bradleyc4

With Brayden Schenn to me it isn't the points. Its the defensive play.

Why the hell does this organization have such a dream to continously employ players who to BEGIN WITH have questionable defensive games?

Many kids who are drafted, do not come into the league with questionable defensive games on their resume.

Oh no doubt about it, but I was referring to them labeling him a bust in one breath, and only trading him for the best young d-man in the game in the next...
- jak521

I knew what you meant. "He sucks, but trade him for OEL" is moronic.

Just also wanted to clarify my stance.

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

Fixed.

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but has anyone read the TSN article of Bryzgalov "sounding off" on the Flyer's goaltending future?
All he did was say, "I don't care, I can't control it," and make fun of LI's beach. But I'm sure Toronto fans are loving it.

Claude Giroux's age 21 season: 27 points in 42 games
- bradleyc4

Brad, I usually respect your poop, but even Zherdev put up points.

A lot of players do. If it was just about points and goals the Flyers would have won a cup or two in the last 5 years.

When it is all said and done, the whole thing will probably be spun (not all that inaccurately) that the team had a good young goalie but where unwilling to play through the growing pains associated with him. Going so far as to get in their own young goalie's head with talk about the playoffs and how tough they were, culminating in his benching after a bad period in game 2 of a playoff series. The ensuing, and EMBARRASSING goalie carousel that followed for the rest of the series caused the owner to make public statements that had to be backed up in a forceful manner.

Organizational impatience from the owner on down caused the them to vastly overpay in money and years for an above average/not elite goaltender.

The signing, designed to put to rest the goalie issues for this team once and for all, instead did the exact opposite and made the whole thing worse. The controversy is now worse than ever, the goalie is unpopular among the media and a very vocal section of the fan base.

Does that about sum it up?
- MBFlyerfan

Love how B. Schenn is only 21, has had many more downs than ups this year, but has still managed to post 22 points in 38 games.

Yet it's being debated if he's a bust? Rich.
- bradleyc4

He's fine. If we're going to get rid of players who haven't performed this season, we are quite literally getting rid of the whole damn team.

Love how B. Schenn is only 21, has had many more downs than ups this year, but has still managed to post 22 points in 38 games.

Yet it's being debated if he's a bust? Rich.
- bradleyc4

I don't know where it's said that he's a bust. If you can provide a link, I'd be interested in reading it. I can't answer for calling him a bust because I didn't call him that.

But I think it's fair to say that I think more was expected out of BSchenn, offensively speaking. He's been pretty inconsistent.

Claude Giroux's age 21 season: 27 points in 42 games
- bradleyc4

Almost certain Giroux was not playing a Top 6 role when he was 21.

Brad, I usually respect your poop, but even Zherdev put up points.

A lot of players do. If it was just about points and goals the Flyers would have won a cup or two in the last 5 years.
- flyer_nutter

I don't understand your last statement, but Schenn has plenty of time to become a decent defensive player.

Ok. It's subjective. But I disagree.

Timonen is a very good defenseman, but have you ever seen him drop the gloves? Rock the big hit? Play angry and with some serious 'snarl'?

Timonen, imo, lacks the presence those other guys possess. In fact, most players lack presence and authority, which is why there are so few true leaders in hockey and life.


- wolfhounds

Timonen plays with serious snarl every single shift.

I think you are seriously confusing "leadership" with "pugilism"

Some of the greatest captains to ever play the game were also some of the finest gentlemen. Sackic, Yzerman, Borque, Alfredson, Sundin...

No.. you literally need to replace those players.
- jak521

Right. With bringing in veteran guys who will infuse the right attitude into this team.

I've said it nearly in every post.

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but has anyone read the TSN article of Bryzgalov "sounding off" on the Flyer's goaltending future?
All he did was say, "I don't care, I can't control it," and make fun of LI's beach. But I'm sure Toronto fans are loving it.
- jmatchett383

Flyers goaltending woes: It's longest running, laziest narrative in hockey journalism.