yes, yes it has. some nights the team makes me want to shoot both my eyes out.
- hammarby31

The Flyers missed the playoffs for a reason last year. They are in transition mode (system and coaching wise) this year. BE PATIENT. This isnt just some switch that will be flipped where the team will be back to top team form game in and game out.

I like the progress they have made in some of the games of late. The first period and a half of last nights game was great. They need to focus on that, and build off of that.
- jak521

I agree... but they also have to know how to close out games. Again, keep in mind that they've entered the third period of all 11 games this year in position to come away with one or two points if they had won the final stanza.

Do you have confidence that even if they are playing from ahead against the Caps on Friday that they won't resort to standstill/ throw away the puck in panic mode come crunch time? Right now, I don't.

That brings me to an interesting question: if G isn't going to be a top defensive forward, and if he isn't expected to score a lot of goals but rather assist them, why is he about to enter into a contract that pays him like one of the elite players in the league?

Has he been over-valued by this team and its fans?
- wolfhounds

Definitely by the team. I felt and still feel he is not an 8 million dollar player and never was.

One thing Ryan Getzlaf gets to do, though, is consistently play with another all-star/MVP-caliber player in Corey Perry -- they always play together -- and/or ANOTHER consistent 30-goal scorer, before Bobby Ryan was traded.

Let's give Giroux those every single season and see if he's worth that $8 million.
- AllInForFlyers

JV.....DOH!

When you look at teams' records leaguewide when leading after two periods, it is absolutely inexcusable for the Flyers to have already lost two in regulation when they've taken leads in the third. You can live with the odd OT loss or tie/skills competition loss but it's crucial not to come away with zero points.
- bmeltzer

I fear that they will end up making a panic trade if they keep up this way.

The Flyers missed the playoffs for a reason last year. They are in transition mode (system and coaching wise) this year. BE PATIENT. This isnt just some switch that will be flipped where the team will be back to top team form game in and game out.

I like the progress they have made in some of the games of late. The first period and a half of last nights game was great. They need to focus on that, and build off of that.
- jak521

What happened was the Ducks knew the Fyers sucked going into the game and maybe they could half ass a win on the road. The Flyers showed them that hey if you want to win your going to have to work for it. The Ducks decided to work for it.

I fear that they will end up making a panic trade if they keep up this way.
- Jsaquella

What? No faith in the GM? Or would we blame this on Ed?

What happened was the Ducks knew the Fyers sucked going into the game and maybe they could half ass a win on the road. The Flyers showed them that hey if you want to win your going to have to work for it. The Ducks decided to work for it.
- Just5

That explains one of the losses...but as Bill pointed out, they've been in a good position to get at least a point, if not two, in every game this season.

I fear that they will end up making a panic trade if they keep up this way.
- Jsaquella

That is the final card Holmgren has to play here.

I agree... but they also have to know how to close out games. Again, keep in mind that they've entered the third period of all 11 games this year in position to come away with one or two points if they had won the final stanza.

Do you have confidence that even if they are playing from ahead against the Caps on Friday that they won't resort to standstill/ throw away the puck in panic mode come crunch time? Right now, I don't.
- bmeltzer

Ugh, that's just so incredibly painful to watch. ADHD with the puck.

JV.....DOH!
- isaiah520

It's amazing to me, how Claude Giroux's expected to carry this team when he just got Vincent Lecavalier on his line three games ago -- since then: Lecavalier, 4 goals -- and a guy who was in the Swedish second-division last season and in the AHL two weeks ago.

They send down Tye McGinn, who had three goals playing with Giroux.

What do they want Giroux to do? Guys who can actually can score who play with him score goals in bunches...but we can't have that, so let's put more guys in the lineup who can't score and see what he does then!

What? No faith in the GM? Or would we blame this on Ed?
- isaiah520

If Snider makes a public declaration, I'd blame him. But I'm worried that Holmgren might be getting to the point where he feels the need to toss a grenade in the room...not saying a trade is a bad idea, just would hate to see them make a shortsighted quick fix move.

I thought Vorachek looked fairly good last night. He was strong in the first period and when he screwed up and got poke checked from the blueline on our powerplay allowing a breakaway he chased him down, didn't cause a penalty but DID keep his stick on the shooters forehand side so he was forced to go backhand, giving Mason a much better chance of the save.
I was actually impressed he put his heart into it, and it appeared that he thought it through. With so many dumb things hapening on the ice it's refreshing to see some intelligent plays... Even if it did begin with a moment.

Yeah for Coburn! Thanks Bill for pointing out that he had a decent game. He gets so much flak and he's been quietly improving.

And I know Grossmann had a rough game but overall I think he's still one of our better D. I am horribly biased so don't listen to me though.

What happened was the Ducks knew the Fyers sucked going into the game and maybe they could half ass a win on the road. The Flyers showed them that hey if you want to win your going to have to work for it. The Ducks decided to work for it.
- Just5

Pretty good description of what happened....

To me it feels like we have pieces to 4 different puzzles. They just dont fit together to make a complete puzzle.

On the top line, Giroux needs someone that can draw the oppositon away from him. Lecavalier can do that, but he really should be centering our 2nd line.

The second line, of Schenn-Vinny-and Voracek should be good enough to match up and out score any other 2nd line.

The Third line needs to be a shut-down line that can score on occasion. Read and Couts are great for this line, be we need one more defensive responcible mobile forward. Simmonds just doesnt cut it here. Talbot doesnt have the offensive pop. It needs to be someone like Gagne.

The 4th line needs to be sound defensively and be able to create energy. I think Talbot-Hall-and Rinaldo are adequite at this, but not great. Might want to even think about McGinn in for Hall and Talbot at Center. Or to go out and get someone in the mold of a Lappy or betts.

I think our defense is what it is. You can move 1 guy out, but Timonen has been brutal. He is really the one that needs to go. I just dont see any way of making it better while making the forwards better.

If Snider makes a public declaration, I'd blame him. But I'm worried that Holmgren might be getting to the point where he feels the need to toss a grenade in the room...not saying a trade is a bad idea, just would hate to see them make a shortsighted quick fix move.
- Jsaquella

Somebody in the front office needs to realize that they're not buying/trading their way out of this problem... patience and prudence are the only ways out.

If Snider makes a public declaration, I'd blame him. But I'm worried that Holmgren might be getting to the point where he feels the need to toss a grenade in the room...not saying a trade is a bad idea, just would hate to see them make a shortsighted quick fix move.
- Jsaquella

And that's the risk.

Is Holmgren going to make a move that is going to be good for the franchise going forward or is he going to make a shortsighted move to save his ass?

Somebody in the front office needs to realize that they're not buying/trading their way out of this problem... patience and prudence are the only ways out.
- Tomahawk

This is the way I see it as well.

Their two top young forwards are still pretty young.

And that's the risk.

Is Holmgren going to make a move that is going to be good for the franchise going forward or is he going to make a shortsighted move in an attempt to save his ass?
- johndewar

FTFY. cuz if the panic move works then it will save his butt... If it doesn't then it won't save him...

To me it feels like we have pieces to 4 different puzzles. They just dont fit together to make a complete puzzle.

On the top line, Giroux needs someone that can draw the oppositon away from him. Lecavalier can do that, but he really should be centering our 2nd line.

The second line, of Schenn-Vinny-and Voracek should be good enough to match up and out score any other 2nd line.

The Third line needs to be a shut-down line that can score on occasion. Read and Couts are great for this line, be we need one more defensive responcible mobile forward. Simmonds just doesnt cut it here. Talbot doesnt have the offensive pop. It needs to be someone like Gagne.

The 4th line needs to be sound defensively and be able to create energy. I think Talbot-Hall-and Rinaldo are adequite at this, but not great. Might want to even think about McGinn in for Hall and Talbot at Center. Or to go out and get someone in the mold of a Lappy or betts.

I think our defense is what it is. You can move 1 guy out, but Timonen has been brutal. He is really the one that needs to go. I just dont see any way of making it better while making the forwards better.
- youarewrong

The Flyers need Timonen and Schenn to be their top 2 dmen. They have been their bottom 2. That's another huge issue.

The only thing at this point that isn't an issue is Mason.

It's amazing to me, how Claude Giroux's expected to carry this team when he just got Vincent Lecavalier on his line three games ago -- since then: Lecavalier, 4 goals -- and a guy who was in the Swedish second-division last season and in the AHL two weeks ago.

They send down Tye McGinn, who had three goals playing with Giroux.

What do they want Giroux to do? Guys who can actually can score who play with him score goals in bunches...but we can't have that, so let's put more guys in the lineup who can't score and see what he does then!
- AllInForFlyers

its true. how many grade A scoring chances has Raffl gotten? goose egg for goals. hes not a fit on the top line

Somebody in the front office needs to realize that they're not buying/trading their way out of this problem... patience and prudence are the only ways out.
- Tomahawk

A trade could be a first step, but it's not going to be a cure all, unless you get the Habs front office drunk enough to give you Subban for Grossmann

I agree... but they also have to know how to close out games. Again, keep in mind that they've entered the third period of all 11 games this year in position to come away with one or two points if they had won the final stanza.

Do you have confidence that even if they are playing from ahead against the Caps on Friday that they won't resort to standstill/ throw away the puck in panic mode come crunch time? Right now, I don't.
- bmeltzer

I dont have faith at all... but that is why I am preaching for patients. This is (by most accounts) a pretty young team. Young teams tend to struggle in certain situations. I think there are certain parts to their games that are much better so far under the tutilage of Berube. I wanna see how they progress over the next month. That should give us a good understanding of what this team is really made of.

I personally think they are going to slowly get better as the season progresses. While that may be bad news to some.. I think its a definite positive. Dont rush changes for the sake of a short term solution. FIX problems for the longterm.

The Flyers need Timonen and Schenn to be their top 2 dmen. They have been their bottom 2. That's another huge issue.

The only thing at this point that isn't an issue is Mason.
- PLindbergh31

And who would EVER have thought that would be the case before the season?
Absolute head scrtacher. Good for him.

Somebody in the front office needs to realize that they're not buying/trading their way out of this problem... patience and prudence are the only ways out.
- Tomahawk