Doubt it. Maybe Umberger can go
- Jsaquella

Umberger vs. Scott in the fastest skater relay

someone entertain me I'm sitting in pharmacoecononomics for the next hour and a half
- Giroux_Is_God

I'm not wearing pants.

This team should, of course, keep trying to win games, because a roster that intentionally tanks is so lacking in character and competitiveness that it will never become a winner.

That said, this team is not going to make the payoffs. Any way you slice it:

1. Bottom dwellers in scoring, power play, and penalty killing play golf, not hockey, in April.

2. Look at the teams ahead of Philly in the standings and decide which 5 are going to fall off so badly that a team with 2 fourth lines can pass them.

3. Radko Gudas is on our top pairing

Sell at the deadline, bring up the kids, and see what you've got.
- ChoclitLeClair

You never have to worry about them intentionally tanking

But you see how razor thin their depth is. I felt they were healthy last year on the whole. This on the whole but injuries now are creeping in. Look at what happens when guys like MDZ, coots drop from the lineup, there's no one there to fill in, just a hole

I think Hextall will be very busy gauging interest at the All-Star game. I also think he will be busy at the TDL. I could see minor deals where maybe a guy like Bellemare is moved to a playoff team. I could see Medvedev moved.

Might not get much back but late round picks or maybe low level prospect. Kind of how the Ducks got Pat Maroon for Dany Syvret.
- J35Bacher

I would be perfectly content on late rd picks for those guys.

ducks got maroon because he earned his way out of the organization.

I feel like guys like Wilson end up getting your team into more trouble than helping. Hasn't he been suspended a bunch of times?
- PhillySportsGuy

They do but they are also guys that give your team a swagger.

I feel you rely on your stars to be your leaders in direction for your team. I feel guys like Wilson are your swagger. Unlike Rinaldo, Wilson can play. I am probably not describing it well but guys like Wilson can go out, get in hard on the forecheck, maybe throw a big hit, maybe just mix it up after a whistle.

Right now I feel the Flyers are soft. Just my opinion. Just how I see things.

I'm not wearing pants.
- jmatchett383

Me neither.

....next contestant.

I would be perfectly content on late rd picks for those guys.

ducks got maroon because he earned his way out of the organization.
- rinaldo

Correct.

But I would look for maybe a player like that. Needs a change. Maybe a guy who hasn't developed like the team hoped. Low risk but maybe he has some intangibles that could benefit from a fresh start.

Correct.

But I would look for maybe a player like that. Needs a change. Maybe a guy who hasn't developed like the team hoped. Low risk but maybe he has some intangibles that could benefit from a fresh start.
- J35Bacher

Like uhhh....Jordan Weal?

They do but they are also guys that give your team a swagger.

I feel you rely on your stars to be your leaders in direction for your team. I feel guys like Wilson are your swagger. Unlike Rinaldo, Wilson can play. I am probably not describing it well but guys like Wilson can go out, get in hard on the forecheck, maybe throw a big hit, maybe just mix it up after a whistle.

Right now I feel the Flyers are soft. Just my opinion. Just how I see things.
- J35Bacher

Wilson is the prototypical 4th line winger. Hell he's scoring at a 3rd line pace

Goulbourne I think has a real chance to be a 4th line piece. He is fast, can forecheck, and can throw them. So I have to agree here.

Honestly goulbourne has a better shot at the NHL than guys like cousins, weal
- Just5

I agree. People always talk about size, but a lot of it is attitude and grit. Wayne Simmonds is a buck ninety, and he brings more toughness than a lot of guys who outweigh him by 25 pounds. Braydon Coburn is 20 pounds heavier and five inches taller than Gudas, but there's no argument about who plays tougher.

As long as Goulburne isn't a clown like Rinaldo with no hockey sense, I'd like to see him get a shot. Plus, wouldn't it be cool to have "Ghost" and "Ghoul" on the ice at the same time?

Correct.

But I would look for maybe a player like that. Needs a change. Maybe a guy who hasn't developed like the team hoped. Low risk but maybe he has some intangibles that could benefit from a fresh start.
- J35Bacher

That's what we were sort of hoping for with Alt, that he'd be our McDonagh.

Like uhhh....Jordan Weal?
- YuenglingJagr

Yes.

I would look for thoe type of players if I moved Bellemare or Vandevelde or Medvedev.

They do but they are also guys that give your team a swagger.

I feel you rely on your stars to be your leaders in direction for your team. I feel guys like Wilson are your swagger. Unlike Rinaldo, Wilson can play. I am probably not describing it well but guys like Wilson can go out, get in hard on the forecheck, maybe throw a big hit, maybe just mix it up after a whistle.

Right now I feel the Flyers are soft. Just my opinion. Just how I see things.
- J35Bacher

They might be a bit soft, but they are actually pretty solid at 5 on 5 and the PP is finally getting going.

Just like last season it's the PK that is dooming the team to missing the playoffs. Time for Lappy to go back to player development cause he's not getting it done behind the bench. The Flyers have good enough players to be a middle of the pack team shorthanded. They should not be bottom five.

Remember when everybody mocked Berube for trying to use Rinaldo as a PKer? Well Hakstol is doing the same thing with Ryan White.

The Laughton line all got less than 10 minutes. So you must mean the other 4th line.

http://www.naturalstattri...eason=20152016&game=20727
- Feanor

I meant bellemare, vdv and white. I didn't look at the actual minutes,it just seemed like every time the flyers were getting pinned in their zone it was those 3 on the ice. And that seemed to be happening a lot, at least I thought so.

This team should, of course, keep trying to win games, because a roster that intentionally tanks is so lacking in character and competitiveness that it will never become a winner.

That said, this team is not going to make the payoffs. Any way you slice it:

1. Bottom dwellers in scoring, power play, and penalty killing play golf, not hockey, in April.

2. Look at the teams ahead of Philly in the standings and decide which 5 are going to fall off so badly that a team with 2 fourth lines can pass them.

3. Radko Gudas is on our top pairing

Sell at the deadline, bring up the kids, and see what you've got.
- ChoclitLeClair

The Penguins say Hi. They aren't the only ones, just the most glaring. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Just finished the game.

Simmonds is a beast! There are times I wish he were a Co-Captain maybe on away games. No disrespect to G but Simmonds has the same flair for the dramatic some nights.

I like what I saw from Weal. I actually was hoping Hakstol would switch Weal with Raffl 5 on 5 later in the game. Heck, Laughton might benefit getting away from Umberger, which I felt Laughton had a much stronger game.

I like what I see of Ghost nightly but on the PP I don't like his entrance into the offensive zone when he has the puck. I think he tries to do too much and forces him to make decisions that may confuses the rest of the first unit.

That's what we were sort of hoping for with Alt, that he'd be our McDonagh.
- jmatchett383

And I thought it was a good deal. Still think Alt could turn into 3rd pairing guy. INjuries hurt him.

I just hope all things are considered. I don't want to see Vandevelde next year. Even Bellemare could be moved if I am getting picks.

We were talking about this last night at my game... Its crazy how close everyone in the league is right now. We are closer (points wise) to the last spot in the league than we are a playoff spot (as of today).

Say the wildcard spot requires 96 points (lower than last year) and we have 35 games remaining... we need to win around 23 games...

23-9-3 here on out would give us 97 points.

Thats a serious run right there.
- jak521

That's the entire reason why there is a 3 point system. The League wants parity. The point system gives the illusion that teams are closer than they are. The only reason the Flyers are still in it, is games in hand over NJ.

Just like last season it's the PK that is dooming the team to missing the playoffs. Time for Lappy to go back to player development cause he's not getting it done behind the bench. The Flyers have good enough players to be a middle of the pack team shorthanded. They should not be bottom five.

- Feanor

The PK has gone from "wow, they had a rough year" to "wow, they've had a rough 18 months".

If they aren't going to relieve Lappy of his duties, I'd like to see Hakstol take a stronger role with the PK.

Neuvirth is practicing. Mason is not. Per Bill via Twitter

The PK has gone from "wow, they had a rough year" to "wow, they've had a rough 18 months".

If they aren't going to relieve Lappy of his duties, I'd like to see Hakstol take a stronger role with the PK.
- johndewar

I'm interested to see what Hakstol does with his coaching staff after this season.

Somehow he hasn't, but he takes a lot of penalties.
- Feanor

Any opinion I have of Wilson will be biased because I just hate him

Any opinion I have of Wilson will be biased because I just hate him
- PhillySportsGuy

opinions are best formed when influenced by hate

I don't think so. Wilson can play hockey a bit to. I'd love him if he were a flyer. There's not many guys as effective as him around the league
- Just5

Effective at what?

Neuvirth is practicing. Mason is not. Per Bill via Twitter
- Jsaquella

I'm glad Neuvirth is OK since I didn't want Mase to play against the Caps, especially if he's banged up.