Would I be remiss in saying that it actually goes without saying that everyone knows that you won't win every battle, or is it a case that because I have repeatedly said that the Flyers should look to upgrade where they can but also acknowledging that they might not be able to address it all enough? When in the same thread, we have discussed how Laughton and Cousins aren't finished products yet, therefore knowing without expressly stating that they aren't winning every battle?

Because again, some things really don't need to be said, but if you're going to hang your hat on every word I say, at least wait until I am not around before you make it seem like I am saying something that I know isn't true
- AllInForFlyers

No, in this case, I had a narrow scope and focus on what my reply was based on. It was based on the comment that you made, to paraphrase, you can't have a line that is going to get outplayed, outshot, and out chanced. In my opinion, that is not reality. The numbers I posted showed that it's not reality. That's from a team going to the Cup finals. In fact, in certain situations and matchups, you should expect to get outshot, outplayed, and out chanced. You just hope to limit the severity of it. That's reality in the NHL.

If you look back I also said that I don't necessarily disagree with you that the Flyers need to upgrade certain areas of the team.

Nice, a good excuse to post this chart again.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...p=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC

http://stats.hockeyanalys...p=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC
- Feanor

Both teams had a tale of two seasons in the stats dept.

No, in this case, I had a narrow scope and focus on what my reply was based on. It was based on the comment that you made, to paraphrase, you can't have a line that is going to get outplayed, outshot, and out chanced. In my opinion, that is not reality. The numbers I posted showed that it's not reality. That's from a team going to the Cup finals. In fact, in certain situations and matchups, you should expect to get outshot, outplayed, and out chanced. You just hope to limit the severity of it. That's reality in the NHL.

If you look back I also said that I don't necessarily disagree with you that the Flyers need to upgrade certain areas of the team.
- MJL

You cant have a line that is given that many important minutes outshot and outplayed

My very simple point is that this utopia of having every line, carry play, and not get out chanced or outshot, in certain situations and matchups, doesn't exist, especially when playing against good teams, and in the playoffs.
- MJL

I don't think anybody realistically expects 4th-lines to continually carry play -- just not lose so badly.

@ the rest of your post: smh

I don't think anybody realistically expects 4th-lines to continually carry play -- just not lose so badly.

@ the rest of your post: smh
- Tomahawk

Well then we agree!

Sounds awesome..Just the ability to get an instrument that your favorite bass player used would make it worth.

Take some pics if you do it!
- opeth_pa

I mistyped that, Phil lesh didn't play the actual bass they're selling, just the model. But yeah man, I usually bought cheaper guitars and took all the stock pickups, tuners, bridge etc and replaced them, but this one you could totally feel the difference of that extra $1500 I'd rather not pay lol but we'll see, I'm going back today to play around with it more

You cant have a line that is given that many important minutes outshot and outplayed
- YuenglingJagr

I think personally in looking at the Flyers situation, I do think they need to upgrade the 4th line. I think there are higher priorities though. I'd rather they use what assets they have to strengthen the 3rd line, and get some consistent play from a 3rd line, so the Flyers 4th line, plays less. There were too many games where the 4th line became the de facto 3rd line. If the Flyers do that, I'm okay with bringing back the same 4th line for the short term. If they can do both, that's great.

I hope you dont mind me hopping on the bandwagon...I know it can offend some of the more long term fans
- YuenglingJagr

As a long term fan it does not bother me.

Have Pittsburgh defense been underrated?

I think Letang is a top defenseman in the league, maybe a top 5 player even.

I know what Daley brings.

But after that Dumolin, Maata, Lovejoy, Schultz, etc...
Seems pretty meh on paper but they are getting the job done.
Maybe collectively they are better then I thought.

Curious to see how they hold up against SJs top guys.

Well then we agree!
- MJL

I think fundamentally, we all pretty much agree on most things.

Have Pittsburgh defense been underrated?

I think Letang is a top defenseman in the league, maybe a top 5 player even.

I know what Daley brings.

But after that Dumolin, Maata, Lovejoy, Schultz, etc...
Seems pretty meh on paper but they are getting the job done.
Maybe collectively they are better then I thought.

Curious to see how they hold up against SJs top guys.
- Marc D

I agree Marc, they are getting it done. Letang doesn't get the praise he deserves in a lot of cases. He has a rep of not being good defensively, but I think that's not the case.

Have Pittsburgh defense been underrated?

I think Letang is a top defenseman in the league, maybe a top 5 player even.

I know what Daley brings.

But after that Dumolin, Maata, Lovejoy, Schultz, etc...
Seems pretty meh on paper but they are getting the job done.
Maybe collectively they are better then I thought.

Curious to see how they hold up against SJs top guys.
- Marc D

Maatta has been scratched a few I think. Dumolin has been good.

I agree Marc, they are getting it done. Letang doesn't get the praise he deserves in a lot of cases. He has a rep of not being good defensively, but I think that's not the case.
- MJL

Certainly has a rep for being a douche

Certainly has a rep for being a douche
- Streit2ThePoint

I think that's well deserved in a lot of cases.

Lots of pick at VdV today and wanting him and the 4th line upgraded.....but that seems like the smallest concern.
Maybe getting some more of the right guys in the top 6-9 help slot the 9-12 guys better.

Lots of pick at VdV today and wanting him and the 4th line upgraded.....but that seems like the smallest concern.
Maybe getting some more of the right guys in the top 6-9 help slot the 9-12 guys better.
- nails

For sure. Flyers don't have enough depth in their top 9. Definitely a big issue.
They also need their best players to show up in the playoffs. Offensively, no one showed up vs. the Caps.

Maatta has been scratched a few I think. Dumolin has been good.
- Streit2ThePoint

He really has. Maybe he is the most underrated guy on their D.

Letang has a bit of a short fuse, and it gets him into to trouble at times. But he is a Norris candidate type player right now. At times he looks like the best player on their team, when Crosby has an off night.

Nice, a good excuse to post this chart again.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...p=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC

http://stats.hockeyanalys...p=1&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC
- Feanor

So Chris Kunitz is better than Evgeni Malkin and Matt Read is better than Claude Giroux???

I would probably move on from Gagner, but I could be open to a return if I thought the salary was spot-on for the role he would play

He did show improvement over the course of the season and I won't lie and say that I didn't think he competed against Washington, because he did
- AllInForFlyers

I like Gagner, and I think he's one of those guys that Hak could have handled better... but I'd move on too. If only because I'd rather see Konecny, Leier, Laughts and Cousins get more opportunities to make the team and move up the lineup.

For sure. Flyers don't have enough depth in their top 9. Definitely a big issue.
They also need their best players to show up in the playoffs. Offensively, no one showed up vs. the Caps.
- PLindbergh31

More depth is key.

Coach did not trust his so called third line enough, and often caused him to play the 4ht line more minutes then they should.

I'm sure Hexy knows this but whether he wants to add free agents now or wait a few years is a tough call.

I think/hope he has to try to upgrade and get another top 6 player this year, maybe be able to play a guy like Raffl more in the bottom six.

But it may take another year of clearing bad contracts before he dips into free agency.

Lots of pick at VdV today and wanting him and the 4th line upgraded.....but that seems like the smallest concern.
Maybe getting some more of the right guys in the top 6-9 help slot the 9-12 guys better.
- nails

They have holes, but the general feeling is that it's easier to fill in the bottom-6 as opposed to the top-6. Short term, they could probably find 2-3 guys to help out in the bottom-6 from within.

I like Gagner, and I think he's one of those guys that Hak could have handled better... but I'd move on too. If only because I'd rather see Konecny, Leier, Laughts and Cousins get more opportunities to make the team and move up the lineup.
- Tomahawk

Gagner on a one-year "prove it" deal where most of his cap hit can be buried if need be ($1.25M or so) would be okay to me. Anything more and no thanks.

They also need their best players to show up in the playoffs. Offensively, no one showed up vs. the Caps.
- PLindbergh31

Did they ever release an injury/surgery list?

new blog