Nope. The issue there is that they are different players. Richards is capable of being a Selke level defensive player. Giroux isn't.
- Jsaquella

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?

he made a nice move and executed. credit to the shooter. mason stayed with him, but his mistake was technical. when he pushed right and opened the five hole his left arm didn't follow the rest of his body. it stayed left and the stick blade never traveled to help cover the five hole. even if it had come across it's possible the puck still would have slipped through. it was a stoppable shot, but it wasn't like he played it horrendously. the flyers need to limit these chances. he's seeing too much of this night in and night out.

mason's been near perfect. the shots getting by him have been of last night's variety...not soft.
- hammarby31

He's been stopping pucks at near a .930 clip and he has yet to allow more than 3 goals in any start as a Flyer. Mason isn't an area of concern in the least.

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

Trade him now for Jones Forsberg + a first kidding i think

A good coach can use a timeout to correct things, bu when he has to rely on it every game, there's issues.

It was a tough, gut wrenching loss...but it's a good learning experience for the Flyers, and hopefully their coaches.

I'll say it again, the ability of Anaheim's fourth line to play 8-10 minutes effectively allowed Boudreau to double shift the Getzlaff-Perry line late in the game and not run out of gas.

That said, the Flyers took their foot off the gas, and tried to make a 2-1 lead stand up against a team with a load of fire power. That's generally not a good idea.
- Jsaquella

This team, when playing hard with their feet to the pedal, can be a really nice solid team who should make the playoffs but that said, they simply are not good enough to play 20-30-40 min games and expect to win. They got up 2-0 and sat back. Stopped getting the puck deep, starting making ridiculously low percentage dumb ass passes across the middle, stopped moving their feet etc etc.

He's been stopping pucks at near a .930 clip and he has yet to allow more than 3 goals in any start as a Flyer. Mason isn't an area of concern in the least.
- Jsaquella

Imagine where the team would be w/o him. Kinda remindes a bit of Bryz's start LY. I hope they can rotate Emery in soon and get him playing well.

He's been stopping pucks at near a .930 clip and he has yet to allow more than 3 goals in any start as a Flyer. Mason isn't an area of concern in the least.
- Jsaquella

he's a treat to watch. i'm loving it, but getting pissed they're squandering his efforts. you have to wonder how long it will hold before both mental/physical fatigue set in.

if the team in front of him could score more than 2 gddman goals a game, they'd be at least .500 if not better. that's how good he's been.

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

What he's expected to do is be an offensive catalyst and make other guys around him better. He did it with Hartnell and Voracek, who both had career best numbers playing with Giroux.

I'm going to take the last two years of evidence over the first 11 games of a season where he came into camp with an injury and didn't really have much of a camp to judge him.

He's struggling right now, but there's enough circumstantial evidence that he will return to form and be a top level player that I have faith he'll turn it around.

This team, when playing hard with their feet to the pedal, can be a really nice solid team who should make the playoffs but that said, they simply are not good enough to play 20-30-40 min games and expect to win. They got up 2-0 and sat back. Stopped getting the puck deep, starting making ridiculously low percentage dumb ass passes across the middle, stopped moving their feet etc etc.
- nastyflyergirl

That's all a factor as well. Last night, it's inexcusable that they didn't get at least one point

Trade him now for Jones Forsberg + a first kidding i think
- PhillaBully

I'd prefer he start scoring, but if not we should see if Manderville will come out of retirement to cure our woes.

In yesterday's thread I mentioned numerous times how Raffl doesn't belong on the first line, and the 4th line being a waste of oxygen.

I would love to prove my theory to be fact. But it was indeed bullet holed.


- PLindbergh31

Raffl=Nodl

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

I think in the right mix, Giroux is capable of being part of (or the centerpiece) an elite line that can control games and dominate. He isn't so good though that he can do it by himself. And that can be ok, as long as he's surrounded by complimentary players playing well.

he's a treat to watch. i'm loving it, but getting pissed they're squandering his efforts. you have to wonder how long it will hold before both mental/physical fatigue set in.

if the team in front of him could score more than 2 gddman goals a game, they'd be at least .500 if not better. that's how good he's been.
- hammarby31

I'm hoping that last night serves as a wake up call and that they learn from it. They might not be a contender, but they're better than what their record shows...or should be.

He's been stopping pucks at near a .930 clip and he has yet to allow more than 3 goals in any start as a Flyer. Mason isn't an area of concern in the least.
- Jsaquella

Can you imagine Bryz in the middle of this cluster(frank)




Mason's been a ray of sunshine in this Alaskan winter of a season...

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

Not by me; Ryan Getzlaf hasn't scored 20 goals since 2008-2009 and has a career-high of 25 in the National Hockey League.

Getzlaf never even scored 30 goals in junior hockey. So it's not all about scoring goals to get $8 million per season.

Claude Giroux may not win the Selke, but he surely is one of the three best PKers on the Flyers -- seriously. Besides Talbot and Couturier, who else do you want out there for the kill?

Claude Giroux earns his money -- I don't even know if there's another 70-point player in the Flyers organization, let alone on the NHL roster, let alone one who can kill penalties and play on the power play.

for the the 10th time in 11 games.
- hammarby31

It's become a theme.

Raffl=Nodl
- Just5

Lazy comparison. Why would anyone compare an Austrian who can't finish, to an Austrian that can't finish.

I'm hoping that last night serves as a wake up call and that they learn from it. They might not be a contender, but they're better than what their record shows...or should be.
- Jsaquella

they have the capability of being better than their record, but right now their record says what they are. and that's not good enough.

Like I said, I don't agree. Lots of teams play with a shortened bench and play 4th line players restricted minutes in games. I don't think it's a factor in my opinion. If the Flyers had a 4th line last night of Talbot/Hall/Raffl, and played them 10-12 minutes, I don't see that changing the outcome of the game, or how the 3rd period played out.
- MJL

I personally want to see a team that can roll 4 lines. I don;t mind Rinaldo in the lineup at all like some but Rosehill serves no purpose to me.

I'm good with

Hartnell-G-Bunny
Simmonds-Schenn-Jake
McGinn/Raffl-Couturier-Read
McGinn/Raffl-Talbot-Rinaldo

Hall as the extra and Rosehill to the Phantoms

This team, when playing hard with their feet to the pedal, can be a really nice solid team who should make the playoffs but that said, they simply are not good enough to play 20-30-40 min games and expect to win. They got up 2-0 and sat back. Stopped getting the puck deep, starting making ridiculously low percentage dumb ass passes across the middle, stopped moving their feet etc etc.
- nastyflyergirl

They aren't a playoff team. Every bad team has 20-30 min spurts where they show they can hang with the best.

It's become a theme.


- PLindbergh31

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

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.

That's all a factor as well. Last night, it's inexcusable that they didn't get at least one point
- Jsaquella

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.

I personally want to see a team that can roll 4 lines. I don;t mind Rinaldo in the lineup at all like some but Rosehill serves no purpose to me.

I'm good with

Hartnell-G-Bunny
Simmonds-Schenn-Jake
McGinn/Raffl-Couturier-Read
McGinn/Raffl-Talbot-Rinaldo

Hall as the extra and Rosehill to the Phantoms
- nastyflyergirl

I like that a swell..
Im not nearly as enamored with Hall as some ppl are.

Lazy comparison. Why would anyone compare an Austrian who can't finish, to an Austrian that can't finish.
- PLindbergh31

Can I buy a vowel? Perhaps the letter "e"?

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.