I know this is not popular and it does pain me to post this, but we have to move on from Giroux if this team is ever going to take the next step. This team sorely lacks leadership from the top. After the game last night, Giroux admitted that he didn't say a word between the 2nd and 3rd periods, but instead it was Braun and Laughton doing all the talking and showing good leadership; his words, not mine! I'm sorry, though its good to have more than 1 voice in the locker room, the player wearing the 'C' should have kicked it off, and he was silent. Then we wonder why this team continually have bad starts to games, are not prepared to compete and are very streaky over the past several years.

The fact that AV essentially challenged this veterans to be leaders and didn't even go into the locker room also speaks to the problem in leadership this team has. Its time to move on from G! Next year he is basically on a 1 year $8M contract, similar to what Taylor Hall played for this year. I think there will be tons of teams interested in Giroux post expansion draft, and the Flyers should be able to get good prospects in return, and clear out some cap space for Couturier and Hart. Just my opinion, don't beat me up. Sometimes you have to break glass, or just rip the band aide off?!
- jd250

If anything Giroux rose to the challenge last night , did he not?

This team would be more entertaining if they all just stopped and took a giant $hit on the ice. It would be a great team-building experience.

Better on ice product, as well.

Leave it all on the ice, baby.

This team would be more entertaining if they all just stopped and took a giant $hit on the ice. It would be a great team-building experience.

Better on ice product, as well.

Leave it all on the ice, baby.
- Nh_kong

They are a 'dump it in, dump it out' team

If anything Giroux rose to the challenge last night , did he not?
- ClaudeFather

seriously.....it happens in locker-room all the time....AV wanted the vets to lead them, G was the main catalyst...AGAIN

seriously.....it happens in locker-room all the time....AV wanted the vets to lead them, G was the main catalyst...AGAIN
- KINGKENZO

Yea he tends to answer the bell, and he also carried this team for a decade. I really don’t know what to make of their inconsistencies though, the slow starts, by default he should get some of that blame but no one has any answers on that stuff. The great unknown

The Sabres are the worst team in modern nhl history. No win against them should be celebrated.

As I said yesterday, Claude Giroux has been this teams best player for a good stretch now
- ClaudeFather

Sean Couturier sets up Giroux for a slam dunk and scores the tying goal late in the 3rd period

Sean Couturier sets up Giroux for a slam dunk and scores the tying goal late in the 3rd period
- MJL

And Giroux wins the battle to set up the OT game winner. Also assisted on the game tying goal

I know this is not popular and it does pain me to post this, but we have to move on from Giroux if this team is ever going to take the next step. This team sorely lacks leadership from the top. After the game last night, Giroux admitted that he didn't say a word between the 2nd and 3rd periods, but instead it was Braun and Laughton doing all the talking and showing good leadership; his words, not mine! I'm sorry, though its good to have more than 1 voice in the locker room, the player wearing the 'C' should have kicked it off, and he was silent. Then we wonder why this team continually have bad starts to games, are not prepared to compete and are very streaky over the past several years.

The fact that AV essentially challenged this veterans to be leaders and didn't even go into the locker room also speaks to the problem in leadership this team has. Its time to move on from G! Next year he is basically on a 1 year $8M contract, similar to what Taylor Hall played for this year. I think there will be tons of teams interested in Giroux post expansion draft, and the Flyers should be able to get good prospects in return, and clear out some cap space for Couturier and Hart. Just my opinion, don't beat me up. Sometimes you have to break glass, or just rip the band aide off!
- jd250

Leadership is a problem, no doubt but we don't have to move on from Giroux. What has to happen is that Giroux needs to become a complimentary player and the young player have to grow and make it their team. That is the future.

This team sorely misses a lunch pail guy in the top 6, we need a modern day mike Knuble. A guy like Zach Hyman maybe

The Sabres are the worst team in modern nhl history. No win against them should be celebrated.
- Just5

Not celebrated, but I will take the win and move on. Hopefully it wakes them up for the rematch.

I'm sorry, though its good to have more than 1 voice in the locker room, the player wearing the 'C' should have kicked it off, and he was silent
- jd250

He spoke loud and clear out on the ice.

Great comeback last night, but it shouldn't have been needed. The Sabres didn't play overly well. We just played that bad through he first two periods. The chemistry is obviously off with this team. On paper, we have a good group of players. I think we are expecting too much from the young D, and the forwards lazy backchecking is a big issue.
I like the fact that G stepped up with another good performance to help get us a win, and I do hope he sticks around for another contract if it's for the right kind of money. That being said, I still don't feel he should be our captain. I agree with an earlier poster about his response to the post-game question regarding if he talked to the group in the second intermission. I understand that it's not all on the captain to get everyone going, but the fact that he admitted he said nothing to the guys is telling. He looked a little taken back by the question at first, and I do appreciate his honesty. But I can guarantee, if someone like Pronger was in that locker room, he'd be speaking his mind. I know some will say they're two different types of leaders, and that all fine, but the big difference is Pronger has a cup, and G doesn't. I would like to see someone with a little more presence wearing the 'C'. G has helped carry this team over the last ten years, but we need a new leader. Is that leader a current member of our roster? Hard to say. I think Coots leads on the ice, but I doubt he'd be much better than G at getting the guys going. I do think Provy could grow into it someday, but not yet.

If anything Giroux rose to the challenge last night , did he not?
- ClaudeFather

When did this challenge that needed to be risen to, present itself? In the 3rd period after getting down 3-0 to a team that has lost 17 straight games with a -50 goal differential? Was this challenge not present at the start of the game?

And Giroux wins the battle to set up the OT game winner. Also assisted on the game tying goal
- ClaudeFather

So what sets Giroux above Couturier?

If anything Giroux rose to the challenge last night , did he not?
- ClaudeFather

But you have to look at the big picture. Its not that the Flyers had to come back frantically and score 4 straight goals in the 3rd and OT to win this game, its that the Flyers didn't show up to play against the worst team in the league, got down 3-0 after two periods and only generated 12 shots on goal to that point.

Its the fact that this Flyers team, as talented as they are, are playing like dog-poop this entire season, and will not be making the playoffs. Its the fact that this Flyers team over the past 8 years have gone through 5 head coaches and have seemingly gotten no where closer to fielding a team that can actually contend. They consistently don't show up to games, are mentally fragile and thus are very streaky. What is worse is no matter how many new or young players we add to the mix, the culture that has existed on this team quickly envelops them and they become fragile as well. Case in point Carter Hart. He comes out of the WJC a champion, and within 2 years of playing in this culture can't stop a shot from 25 feet! The culture needs to change here before it infects every young prospect we have! And to change the culture, you must change the leadership!

He spoke loud and clear out on the ice.
- Tomahawk

He was silent along with the rest of the team in the first two periods.

When did this challenge that needed to be risen to, present itself? In the 3rd period after getting down 3-0 to a team that has lost 17 straight games with a -50 goal differential? Was this challenge not present at the start of the game?
- MJL

I didn't see the game last night. My son's HS team had a playoff game. From the comments and knowing what happened, it seems like it was the same old poop with the exception that the Sabers stink and the typical Flyers 3rd period awakening actually worked this time. Hate to say it, but this team (better yet, collection of individual hockey players) is likely going no where this year.

But you have to look at the big picture. Its not that the Flyers had to come back frantically and score 4 straight goals in the 3rd and OT to win this game, its that the Flyers didn't show up to play against the worst team in the league, got down 3-0 after two periods and only generated 12 shots on goal to that point.

Its the fact that this Flyers team, as talented as they are, are playing like dog-poop this entire season, and will not be making the playoffs. Its the fact that this Flyers team over the past 8 years have gone through 5 head coaches and have seemingly gotten no where closer to fielding a team that can actually contend. They consistently don't show up to games, are mentally fragile and thus are very streaky. What is worse is no matter how many new or young players we add to the mix, the culture that has existed on this team quickly envelops them and they become fragile as well. Case in point Carter Hart. He comes out of the WJC a champion, and within 2 years of playing in this culture can't stop a shot from 25 feet! The culture needs to change here before it infects every young prospect we have! And to change the culture, you must change the leadership!
- jd250

Correct. The fact that they were able to come out and take over the game in the 3rd period is not really the big positive it's being made out to be. If it was just one bad game and a let down against an opponent, among an otherwise strong season. That's one thing. The fact that they were able to do that in the 3rd is as much of an indictment on the veterans as it is a positive. Why not take over the game from the opening puck drop if they're so capable?

Great comeback last night, but it shouldn't have been needed. The Sabres didn't play overly well. We just played that bad through he first two periods. The chemistry is obviously off with this team. On paper, we have a good group of players. I think we are expecting too much from the young D, and the forwards lazy backchecking is a big issue.
I like the fact that G stepped up with another good performance to help get us a win, and I do hope he sticks around for another contract if it's for the right kind of money. That being said, I still don't feel he should be our captain. I agree with an earlier poster about his response to the post-game question regarding if he talked to the group in the second intermission. I understand that it's not all on the captain to get everyone going, but the fact that he admitted he said nothing to the guys is telling. He looked a little taken back by the question at first, and I do appreciate his honesty. But I can guarantee, if someone like Pronger was in that locker room, he'd be speaking his mind. I know some will say they're two different types of leaders, and that all fine, but the big difference is Pronger has a cup, and G doesn't. I would like to see someone with a little more presence wearing the 'C'. G has helped carry this team over the last ten years, but we need a new leader. Is that leader a current member of our roster? Hard to say. I think Coots leads on the ice, but I doubt he'd be much better than G at getting the guys going. I do think Provy could grow into it someday, but not yet.
- dramado

Good post. I think this may be where they are also missing Niskanen. Apparently, he didn't talk a lot either, but when he did the team listened and I also think he had a calming presence on the ice, and prob in the room. We don't have anyone with his pedigree and experience being a cup winner and someone who also played through all the playoff wars over time.

So what sets Giroux above Couturier?
- MJL

What sets couturier above Giroux? Would it be better if I said arguably best? Giroux has been the one to score or make a play when this team needed it most.

Great comeback last night, but it shouldn't have been needed. The Sabres didn't play overly well. We just played that bad through he first two periods. The chemistry is obviously off with this team. On paper, we have a good group of players. I think we are expecting too much from the young D, and the forwards lazy backchecking is a big issue.
I like the fact that G stepped up with another good performance to help get us a win, and I do hope he sticks around for another contract if it's for the right kind of money. That being said, I still don't feel he should be our captain. I agree with an earlier poster about his response to the post-game question regarding if he talked to the group in the second intermission. I understand that it's not all on the captain to get everyone going, but the fact that he admitted he said nothing to the guys is telling. He looked a little taken back by the question at first, and I do appreciate his honesty. But I can guarantee, if someone like Pronger was in that locker room, he'd be speaking his mind. I know some will say they're two different types of leaders, and that all fine, but the big difference is Pronger has a cup, and G doesn't. I would like to see someone with a little more presence wearing the 'C'. G has helped carry this team over the last ten years, but we need a new leader. Is that leader a current member of our roster? Hard to say. I think Coots leads on the ice, but I doubt he'd be much better than G at getting the guys going. I do think Provy could grow into it someday, but not yet.
- dramado

I hear what you're saying but when you bring up Pronger, you lose me. We know that Pronger was a leader on that 2010 team but he wasn't the captain. So was it okay for him to get up and talk in between periods? Of course it was. Leadership does not always have to come from the captain and leadership is done in many different ways.

I'm happy they won, but not happy with the how. Team still has a lot of problems, but I agree, we get so negative that we're basically hoping they lose (I guess in order to force a trade or massive changes that carry no guarantees?). The only way to get back the confidence is by winning, and they have to keep it up.
- Hextall271

Not negative at all imo; realism.

What sets couturier above Giroux? Would it be better if I said arguably best? Giroux has been the one to score or make a play when this team needed it most.
- ClaudeFather

Couturier is set above Giroux because he is just as good offensively. Is dominant on the puck and plays defensively to a Selke level. Giroux doesn't.

Leadership is a problem, no doubt but we don't have to move on from Giroux. What has to happen is that Giroux needs to become a complimentary player and the young player have to grow and make it their team. That is the future.
- MJL

I would love this to be true. Do you think G would give up the 'C' to a player like Couts, then sign a new deal at about half of what he is making now? If so I would be in!