Perron isn't a 40 point player, he has more skill than that.
- puckhead17

maybe but not by much....he has 275 points in 457 games which equals .6pts/game........guy is injured a lot i guess but if you extrapolate over 82 games he is a 49 point player.

The Flyers have spent 2 out of the last 3 years watching this exact same crap, so yes, I can imagine it because the Flyers have lived it. I consider last year a miracle with this roster. Instead of acknowledging it though, management and fans have doubled down on this roster to this point.

The Flyers were very lucky to squeak into the playoffs last year with the absolute worst GAA of any team that made the playoffs.

This put the Flyers in the position of having to talk a 39 year old severely declining defenseman out of retiring just to keep the defense out of being the worst in the league.

This myth where the Flyers have had a good defense in recent years is really just that, a myth. Flyers have had to focus on scoring goals almost exclusively because of their island of misfit toys on defense and rely on timely goaltending.
- Flyers_01

I've been on this bandwagon for what seems an eternity. All of our dmen are 4-7 guys. Its so painful to watch when they are expected to play top minutes, especially considering how much is paid to these guys.

Would love to see Vinny, Coby, Grossmann, McDonald, and Read dealt by the deadline for prospects and/or picks (assuming fair value). Clear up that cap space for future use and let some younger players get a shot. Honestly they can't be THAT much worse than whats out there today and we'd be saving a ton on the cap while stocking up the cupboards. JMO.

also - a shame capgeek is gone

Thanks Bill. I stopped watching after the 5th goal. I hung on until then out of some brief hope that the Flyers could get things started again, my bad; I should have bailed after the first period. You want to set records, play the Flyers. You want to break out of a scoring slump, play the Flyers. You want to get into the playoffs, play the Flyers. What is up with our PK? Nothing works on that, and things aren't improving. This team has no emotion or identity. Jones said it last night, when he commented that the team looked flat, and lifeless. One, and done in the O zone, or when they are able to get it deep, they go for a line change. Why? They spent too much time in the D zone. And, I wish that they would quit playing hot potato with the puck. The players seem eager to get rid of the puck, and dump the responsibility onto someone else. All the forwards shoot, just to shoot, because Chief has yelled at them to shoot the puck. No quality shots there.
If #5 isn't a 1-2 D man, then quit giving him those minutes. Shorten his shifts, and please take him of the PK. I am surprised that #5 doesn't have the worst plus/minus in the league. McDonald is starting to get into #5's bad habits. Again, shorten his minutes, and move him down. Players are motivated most times by the amount of ice time, and money that they receive. Start taking away these things, and I am sure that will breathe some life into the team..lol. Well, maybe. It will be interesting to see what will go on in the off season. Hexy, I wish you luck. I am just glad that we aren't going to beat the '06 season record for fewest wins. Talk about painful.

I do see your points, either way we stink, but I guess what path they decide to take would be the one where they stink for the shortest duration.
Man, the last 2 games were terrible to watch.
- puckhead17

I'd rather stink while young guys get better and develop than watching Grossmann fire a blind outlet pass off Umberger's face.

I'd rather stink while young guys get better and develop than watching Grossmann fire a blind outlet pass off Umberger's face.
- Jsaquella

Lol, is that who did it? Somebody should award him w/ a Tastykake.

Lol, is that who did it? Somebody should award him w/ a Tastykake.
- Tomahawk

Of course it was Grossmann!!

Who else?

Lol, is that who did it? Somebody should award him w/ a Tastykake.
- Tomahawk

As long as Babcock is available I believe the flyers will stand pat with the chief. The d just plain sucks. Until the talent level increases coaching can only do so much.

I'd rather stink while young guys get better and develop than watching Grossmann fire a blind outlet pass off Umberger's face.
- Jsaquella

That's the highest paid defense in the league for you. They don't get paid enough to actually play good defense :p. The Flyers can get cheaper guys on shorter contracts to play this bad.

At least i think they are still the highest paid defense in the league, with Capgeek gone, I really don't know for sure.

At least Vinny is getting some goals. Maybe just maybe we could deal him ... I know it's a small chance but you never know. Panthers or Preds

As long as Babcock is available I believe the flyers will stand pat with the chief. The d just plain sucks. Until the talent level increases coaching can only do so much.
- iskatefast

Babcock would want to take on this mess?

“I really don’t believe it’s the overall game itself — the effort’s been there, the competitiveness has been there,” Berube said. “I think we played well on this road trip. I look defensively, I think we’ve done a real good job. We haven’t scored timely goals at times, and different things that have cost us hockey games.”

Holy poop, really?

You think they've done a real good job defensively?

“I really don’t believe it’s the overall game itself — the effort’s been there, the competitiveness has been there,” Berube said. “I think we played well on this road trip. I look defensively, I think we’ve done a real good job. We haven’t scored timely goals at times, and different things that have cost us hockey games.”

Holy poop, really?

You think they've done a real good job defensively?
- Jsaquella

I wonder if he knows he's a lame duck...

I wonder if he knows he's a lame duck...
- hereticpride

They allowed 4 goals per game....in what universe is that "really good defense"?!?!?

I'd rather stink while young guys get better and develop than watching Grossmann fire a blind outlet pass off Umberger's face.
- Jsaquella

But, do young guys actually get better playing on a losing team?
Or does playing on a defensively inept team force them to acquire bad habits?
Because then, they become part of the problem, contributing to a defensive mess, hence, screwing with their development.

They allowed 4 goals per game....in what universe is that "really good defense"?!?!?
- Jsaquella

“The way we played tonight, we could have had Wayne Gretzky in our lineup and I don’t know if we would have won,” Wayne Simmonds said.

They allowed 4 goals per game....in what universe is that "really good defense"?!?!?
- Jsaquella

80's hockey

But, do young guys actually get better playing on a losing team?
Or does playing on a defensively inept team force them to acquire bad habits?
Because then, they become part of the problem, contributing to a defensive mess, hence, screwing with their development.
- puckhead17

It can go both ways, which is why in addition to stockpiling picks, you bring in a string developmental coach who can mold the kids the right way

But, do young guys actually get better playing on a losing team?
Or does playing on a defensively inept team force them to acquire bad habits?
Because then, they become part of the problem, contributing to a defensive mess, hence, screwing with their development.
- puckhead17

Gudbranson and kulikov have played on some awful Florida teams as young pros. They seem to look just fine now. What makes you think keeping this group of dmen is going to do something else besides losing? Are they not losing now? Is it not a hot mess of veteran dmen on the back end? Are we going to wave a magic wand this summer and have them better next year?

At some point, they need to integrate young players. For next year I would bet ghost and maybe morin would see a majority of NHL games

I don't understand what the hesitation is about trading some of the defense for picks. Especially Schultz if he is really going to expect a 3 year deal at $3 million. This is a terrible, bottom five team, with no realistic hope of making the playoffs.

But, do young guys actually get better playing on a losing team?
Or does playing on a defensively inept team force them to acquire bad habits?
Because then, they become part of the problem, contributing to a defensive mess, hence, screwing with their development.
- puckhead17

That's a chicken/egg question. In my mind that's where the coaching makes a difference. You don't need a ton of talent to play a basic defensive game, imo. If the coach doesn't tolerate sloppiness and rewards the players who respond to coaching then I don't think it's a problem.

If you have vet players on long term contracts who the coach thinks will play themselves out of a slump in 2-3 months and is willing to play them despite repeated mental mistakes, well then the rookie .....

Gudbranson and kulikov have played on some awful Florida teams as young pros. They seem to look just fine now. What makes you think keeping this group of dmen is going to something else besides losing? Are they not losing now? Is it not a hot mess of veteran dmen on the back end? Are we going to wave a magic wand this summer and have them better next year?

At some point, they need to integrate young players. For next year I would bet ghost and maybe morin would see a majority of NHL games
- Just5

Exactly. Whether they keep or trade the current group, the same holds true....it's a bad defensive unit. Without adding a top guy, they're still a subpar D & limited team

maybe but not by much....he has 275 points in 457 games which equals .6pts/game........guy is injured a lot i guess but if you extrapolate over 82 games he is a 49 point player.
- hogweed

He did have almost a 30-30, season last year, my bad, I thought he had a similar, (30 goal, 30 assist), season in St. Louis.

“I really don’t believe it’s the overall game itself — the effort’s been there, the competitiveness has been there,” Berube said. “I think we played well on this road trip. I look defensively, I think we’ve done a real good job. We haven’t scored timely goals at times, and different things that have cost us hockey games.”

Holy poop, really?

You think they've done a real good job defensively?
- Jsaquella

Yikes. Pretty much in denial there. It will be interesting to see if he can hold onto this gig all year

He did have almost a 30-30, season last year, my bad, I thought he had a similar, (30 goal, 30 assist), season in St. Louis.
- puckhead17

i had to look up his numbers but i was surprised he commanded a first.