Taking the fighting out of the equation, I'd say that the 2010 SCF and 2012 Penguins series were probably the most exciting hockey I've seen them play since the lockout. People didn't sit down for long stretches, the building was loud the whole time, and you could live and die with every play. Now, it's not nearly the same. People come, they sit on their hands, they cheer every now and then, but it's quiet most of the game.
- jmatchett383

It's a demographic change more than anything, especially in lower bowls. Too many suits and the phone-toting WAGs they dragged to the game.

It's a demographic change more than anything, especially in lower bowls. Too many suits and the phone-toting WAGs they dragged to the game.
- Tomahawk

Yep. The average hard core hockey fan has been priced out of lower bowl seats.

It's a demographic change more than anything, especially in lower bowls. Too many suits and the phone-toting WAGs they dragged to the game.
- Tomahawk

I've always sat upstairs, cheaper and better viewing. When I had my season tix, I actually selected the top row so I could stand up the entire time if I wanted to.

But smart phones have definitely changed things. People being addicted to Facebook and such with their heads buried in their phones during games.

If they're bringing in somebody significant (say they traded for Subban or something) and Hagg/Morin were casualties of that, so be it.

But to discard one of these guys you invested high draft picks and a ton of development time in, so Justin Braun can have his cup of coffee?

It amounts to irresponsible asset management, IMO. Unless some team inexplicably gives up a top-60 pick or a decent prospect for Hagg. Morin's not gonna net much of anything in a trade right now.
- Tomahawk

I'm not trying to negate what you are saying, but what I am trying to convey is that if Braun has more talent than let's say Hagg, then why wouldn't you put him on the ice ahead of Hagg and work on Hagg's shortcomings in practice during the year. If Hagg is still less talented at the end, then the GM has to make decisions - age, cost, and so on. Competion is good. Also, just because a player is drafted doesn't mean that they should always have an inside track to the lineup. Even after development players reach a ceiling.

I've always sat upstairs, cheaper and better viewing. When I had my season tix, I actually selected the top row so I could stand up the entire time if I wanted to.

But smart phones have definitely changed things. People being addicted to Facebook and such with their heads buried in their phones during games.
- jmatchett383

But it's really important info to find out what a child of a friend of a cousin had for lunch last week.

Again, yes, he is on the wrong side of 30, but age is relative for some. 32 isn't the end of dmen's careers. at 32 he will come into this year having 9 years of NHL experience, for arguments sake, Coots has 8 years of NHL experience, yet he is still in his 20's. Now i get he is younger, his body can do more, and all that for sure, but Braun was a late bloomer in the NHL, and maybe he has a couple more years at 32 than others do.

I dont know, only time will tell, but I am excited more by the prospect of the type of pro Braun is and what can be learned by him by the young guy, than his overall play. A guy like him is solid and steady, huge he's RH, and I just think the sum of all the parts on the blue line will be something us Flyers fans haven't seen since the days of Prongs-Carle, Kimmo-Coburn.
- sjk540

There are pros and cons with bringing on a player like Braun in the contract situation he is on. Having veteran players to support younger players is valuable. It can help and aid in their development. That's a plus. A con is that the veteran player is going to be taking ice time away from a younger player that is more a part of the future of the team. What happens if Braun has a strong year? To re-sign him, what will he want and for how many years? If you don't bring him back, who takes his place? You've now wasted a year of development time where you could've had a younger player in that spot getting more ice time.

Taking the fighting out of the equation, I'd say that the 2010 SCF and 2012 Penguins series were probably the most exciting hockey I've seen them play since the lockout. People didn't sit down for long stretches, the building was loud the whole time, and you could live and die with every play. Now, it's not nearly the same. People come, they sit on their hands, they cheer every now and then, but it's quiet most of the game.
- jmatchett383

If I recall, Giroux laid out Crosby in the 2012 series on the first shift. They had their lightweight bout, and moved on. That however, set the tone for the whole series. You could even call it staged, but it worked. That doesn’t seem to be coming back, and yes, it has an effect on the excitement level.

But it's really important info to find out what a child of a friend of a cousin had for lunch last week.
- RustyPipes

Or to see whose house you should rob because they're putting up photos of themselves every 30 seconds from their Aruba vacation for the world to see.

It was an overpay in assets. Fletch offset it at the draft table, somewhat.

I have a hunch that the move will prove to be superfluous. Myers will prove more than capable and will eat more and more into Braun's ice time.

My main concern is that it could lead to Hagg or Morin getting discarded needlessly.
- Tomahawk

That's the hope but we know how veteran coaches who were brought in to win operate. They tend to trust veteran players more and for good reason most of the time.

If I recall, Giroux laid out Crosby in the 2012 series on the first shift. They had their lightweight bout, and moved on. That however, set the tone for the whole series. You could even call it staged, but it worked. That doesn’t seem to be coming back, and yes, it has an effect on the excitement level.
- Hokeeguy9

Giroux laid him out on the opening shift of Game 6, then scored a goal 20 seconds later to set the tone for the game.

The fight was a response to Crosby being a Richard to Timonen in Game 3.

What set the one for the series was the Flyers overcoming multi-goal deficits in Game 1 and Game 2 in Pittsburgh.

If they're bringing in somebody significant (say they traded for Subban or something) and Hagg/Morin were casualties of that, so be it.

But to discard one of these guys you invested high draft picks and a ton of development time in, so Justin Braun can have his cup of coffee?

It amounts to irresponsible asset management, IMO. Unless some team inexplicably gives up a top-60 pick or a decent prospect for Hagg. Morin's not gonna net much of anything in a trade right now.
- Tomahawk

Same thing with the Schlemko move. Irresponsible.

I'm not trying to negate what you are saying, but what I am trying to convey is that if Braun has more talent than let's say Hagg, then why wouldn't you put him on the ice ahead of Hagg and work on Hagg's shortcomings in practice during the year. If Hagg is still less talented at the end, then the GM has to make decisions - age, cost, and so on. Competion is good. Also, just because a player is drafted doesn't mean that they should always have an inside track to the lineup. Even after development players reach a ceiling.
- RustyPipes

Haag is past the point of practice time significantly improving his game. He needs to play regularly to do that. Same with Morin. The point really is the 32 year old player a part of the future? Can Haag develop into a similar player?

If I recall, Giroux laid out Crosby in the 2012 series on the first shift. They had their lightweight bout, and moved on. That however, set the tone for the whole series. You could even call it staged, but it worked. That doesn’t seem to be coming back, and yes, it has an effect on the excitement level.
- Hokeeguy9

Giroux's hit was in Game 6 and the "fight" was in Game 3. Game 3 was the most entertained by a sporting event that I have ever been.

I didn't really care for fighting when it was two no talent morons. I do like it as a deterrent for pulling a "Marchand". Unfortunately, players don't have to answer for nonsense anymore.

I've always sat upstairs, cheaper and better viewing. When I had my season tix, I actually selected the top row so I could stand up the entire time if I wanted to.

But smart phones have definitely changed things. People being addicted to Facebook and such with their heads buried in their phones during games.
- jmatchett383

I be that wasn't the case in St. Louis or Boston..... Bottom line is that the team needs to show they care and show up or the fans have nothing to be excited about... heck you don't have to win every game but when you don't even throw a body check or act like you give a hoot....they have been unwatchable for the past few years and save for season that shall not be named and the early 90's when Russ Farwell was GM and Jiri Latal and Normand Lacombe were skating around this has been the worst editions of the team since I have been a fan.

Giroux's hit was in Game 6 and the "fight" was in Game 3. Game 3 was the most entertained by a sporting event that I have ever been.

I didn't really care for fighting when it was two no talent morons. I do like it as a deterrent for pulling a "Marchand". Unfortunately, players don't have to answer for nonsense anymore.
- mickel25

Right or wrong, Tomas Sandstrom deserved it.

Giroux laid him out on the opening shift of Game 6, then scored a goal 20 seconds later to set the tone for the game.

The fight was a response to Crosby being a Richard to Timonen in Game 3.

What set the one for the series was the Flyers overcoming multi-goal deficits in Game 1 and Game 2 in Pittsburgh.
- jmatchett383

You have all the details correct! Thanks! My point was that it set the tone for the game, and necessary for Giroux to make him pay for his transgressions. Tomahawk seems to think it was WWF staged, fake stuff, and I was arguing that it is a necessary part of the game that is all but eliminated, and drastically cuts down the excitement level.

Right or wrong, Tomas Sandstrom deserved it.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. That dude always deserved it.

Haag is past the point of practice time significantly improving his game. He needs to play regularly to do that. Same with Morin. The point really is the 32 year old player a part of the future? Can Haag develop into a similar player?
- MJL

All I know is that I would rather roll with Hagg, or Morin over one year of Braun. Especially if one of them gets dealt. To me that would be ridiculous.

Giroux's hit was in Game 6 and the "fight" was in Game 3. Game 3 was the most entertained by a sporting event that I have ever been.

I didn't really care for fighting when it was two no talent morons. I do like it as a deterrent for pulling a "Marchand". Unfortunately, players don't have to answer for nonsense anymore.
- mickel25

Can’t say I disagree!👍

I be that wasn't the case in St. Louis or Boston..... Bottom line is that the team needs to show they care and show up or the fans have nothing to be excited about... heck you don't have to win every game but when you don't even throw a body check or act like you give a hoot....they have been unwatchable for the past few years and save for season that shall not be named and the early 90's when Russ Farwell was GM and Jiri Latal and Normand Lacombe were skating around this has been the worst editions of the team since I have been a fan.
- Lawless18

That's what I meant. You have a team that clearly has talent, but they've been playing an ultra conservative style and then trotting out guys like Filppula and Lehtera in the name of "playing the right way." I get you can't just do an all-out 5-man press all game, but if you have a thoroughbred, let him free!

You have all the details correct! Thanks! My point was that it set the tone for the game, and necessary for Giroux to make him pay for his transgressions. Tomahawk seems to think it was WWF staged, fake stuff, and I was arguing that it is a necessary part of the game that is all but eliminated, and drastically cuts down the excitement level.
- Hokeeguy9

I enjoyed that series because of the genuine hate that each team had for each other. None of it was staged.

Flash forward to the most recent series and 95% of that hatred was removed.

All I know is that I would rather roll with Hagg, or Morin over one year of Braun. Especially if one of them gets dealt. To me that would be ridiculous.
- MBFlyerfan

I agree. What is Braun really going to do for the team? How is he going to move the bar? I think Niskanen was a smart move to help Provorov but that should of been the limit to taking away ice time from younger players.

That's what I meant. You have a team that clearly has talent, but they've been playing an ultra conservative style and then trotting out guys like Filppula and Lehtera in the name of "playing the right way." I get you can't just do an all-out 5-man press all game, but if you have a thoroughbred, let him free!
- jmatchett383

They weren't trotted out in the name of playing the right way. Fans sometimes want to ignore the cumulative effects that a player like Filppula has on the team. He took a lot of the heavy lifting to free up Couturier and other players. They don't make the playoffs in 17/18 without Filppula in my opinion.

I agree. What is Braun really going to do for the team? How is he going to move the bar? I think Niskanen was a smart move to help Provorov but that should of been the limit to taking away ice time from younger players.
- MJL

I am looking at it like it is a very expensive insurance policy. I think if the younger guys come in and take the bull by the horn than Braun maybe rotates in and out a bit before being moved. I think Fletch felt that these young guys had no competition for spots in the past and wants to see some fire and have them earn it and stay motivated. If not, Braun plays and perhaps they move on from one or 2 of them.

Agreed. That dude always deserved it.
- mickel25

I was still playing organized hockey at the time, and dreamt I’d be on some opposing team as Sandstrom. Of course I’d be thrown out for the year for what I would have done, but I hated that Richard so much, it would have been worth it!

That was so much fun, waiting to see guys like him get hammered. Good times!!