Goals were never going to be the problem for this team.
- ClaudeFather

I agree, but many fans have expressed their concerns. Last year our biggest issue was leaking goals. And we were one of the better teams in goals allowed 19-20. Complete 180 which is why I'm hopeful we can return to that form. Ellis, Yandle, and Risto have all impressed me so far and should stabilize the back end with their play and presence. Last year everything snow balled when Provy, Myers or Sanheim made mistakes.

Exactly, MJL just likes to throw things in people's faces to start an argument, not to have a substantive conversation. Fletcher had a great off season, and did substantially change the mix on this club which by his own admission was the point of all the moves. I am not talking about that, I am talking about getting elite scoring into the lineup, something the Flyers have lacked for several years now. There are many facets to a championship team, having good a culture and good depth are two of them. However another is the ability to score a big goal when you are being outplayed or in a tied game late. That is what separates the contenders from the pretenders. As Bradster mentioned, 40+ goal scorers do not grown on trees, they need to be drafted and developed because teams for the most part will not give them up. Hextall wasn't able to do this in his time here, we'll see if Fletcher has any better luck at it.
- jd250

My replies are valid. The entire off season, you were lauding Fletcher's moves. Labeling this team as a team that can contend. That made all of the right moves. Filled all of the weaknesses. Now after a hand full of pre season games, most of which played with a B level lineup, you have all of these concerns. You don't need a 40 goal player in the lineup to win a Stanley Cup.

I just don't see O being the problem, clutch goals from a sniper sure but that is not easy to find. Hopes for Allison to bring that element is fading, love him and been waiting for him to get better but he is a magnet for injuries. TK, Farabee, Cam and G need to have a good year shooting % wise, if they do a sniper will be a non-factor. Add in dirty goals win playoff games
- wcorvette

The offense can be an issue when they play tight fore-checking physical teams. This team will go offensively as the PP goes imo.

I agree, but many fans have expressed their concerns. Last year our biggest issue was leaking goals. And we were one of the better teams in goals allowed 19-20. Complete 180 which is why I'm hopeful we can return to that form. Ellis, Yandle, and Risto have all impressed me so far and should stabilize the back end with their play and presence. Last year everything snow balled when Provy, Myers or Sanheim made mistakes.
- arichardson22

Yea we had a good blue print of what could be in 19-20. Last year was an entire team pathetic effort. Forwards were just as much to blame.

I just don't see O being the problem, clutch goals from a sniper sure but that is not easy to find. Hopes for Allison to bring that element is fading, love him and been waiting for him to get better but he is a magnet for injuries. TK, Farabee, Cam and G need to have a good year shooting % wise, if they do a sniper will be a non-factor. Add in dirty goals win playoff games
- wcorvette

Unless the PP proves to be very very potent, I have a hard time seeing anybody scoring 30-goals this year. If they aren't terrible offensively, it's because a bunch of guys scored 10-20, not because a few guys were leading with 30+.

I just don't see O being the problem, clutch goals from a sniper sure but that is not easy to find. Hopes for Allison to bring that element is fading, love him and been waiting for him to get better but he is a magnet for injuries. TK, Farabee, Cam and G need to have a good year shooting % wise, if they do a sniper will be a non-factor. Add in dirty goals win playoff games
- wcorvette

We all tend to forget just how criminally unlucky both JVR and Konecny were last year. They statically shot 0 % from primary assist passes from Giroux. They couldn't buy a goal for roughly 2 months (i think?).

Unless the PP proves to be very very potent, I have a hard time seeing anybody scoring 30-goals this year. If they aren't terrible offensively, it's because a bunch of guys scored 10-20, not because a few guys were leading with 30+.
- Tomahawk

I think Couturier and possibly Konecny score 30.

The offense can be an issue when they play tight fore-checking physical teams. This team will go offensively as the PP goes imo.
- hello it's me 2050

Yandle being capable of playing the top of the umbrella should immediately improve the PP.

Giroux, Couturier, Farabee and Konecny are all top line level talents. Can Atkinson regain his goal scoring touch?
- MJL

compare those 3/4 to other teams top lines. Where do they stack up? Just do the division.

Giroux, Couturier, Farabee and Konecny are all top line level talents. Can Atkinson regain his goal scoring touch?
- MJL

Top line level talent??......on paper tons of guys can be listed as top line talent heck thats what Patrick was and how did that work out??..Couts is a top line player...Giroux is not top line talent anymore....TK was a 3rd line player last year and Farabee certainly looks like he could be the real thing. Flyers have no offensive stars who can carry a team and I think thats what is concerning...lots of middle 6 players and lots of guys "WHO COULD" score 20 goals but its the big goals..the goals in the tight games..the goals against quality opponents where I am concerned. We shall see I think they will get some good offense from their D . They are going to have to win with good solid team play and 60 minute efforts which has been a real problem for the team the last decade

Top line level talent??......on paper tons of guys can be listed as top line talent heck thats what Patrick was and how did that work out??..Couts is a top line player...Giroux is not top line talent anymore....TK was a 3rd line player last year and Farabee certainly looks like he could be the real thing. Flyers have no offensive stars who can carry a team and I think thats what is concerning...lots of middle 6 players and lots of guys "WHO COULD" score 20 goals but its the big goals..the goals in the tight games..the goals against quality opponents where I am concerned. We shall see I think they will get some good offense from their D . They are going to have to win with good solid team play and 60 minute efforts which has been a real problem for the team the last decade
- hfc355

It's crazy fans completely dismiss the Giroux-Couts-Konecny line was one of the most productive lines in all of hockey just 2 seasons ago....Sure Giroux is 2 years older. But this line looked very good when together in pre-season. I'll also give TK the benefit of the doubt because he just didn't look like himself after getting Covid (last season).

compare those 3/4 to other teams top lines. Where do they stack up? Just do the division.
- hello it's me 2050

I think other teams have a steeper drop off. The rangers Zib and Panarin are great but what’s after that? They traded away their next best guy in buchnevich. Isles have Barzal and lee, wouldn’t say whatever their top 4 forwards are better. Carolina has a strong group. Pitt with Malkin Crosby (both not starting the seasons) Guentzel and then who?

Yandle being capable of playing the top of the umbrella should immediately improve the PP.
- ClaudeFather

I just cant trust MT running the PP. He doesn't impress me at all.

I think Couturier and possibly Konecny score 30.
- MJL

If Coots stays on the PP right wall w/ Yandle and G feeding him one-timers, he definitely has a chance.

TK's capable of 30+, but he's always been on a short leash. He plays well with G and Coots, but then he makes a mistake or two and gets banished to L3 for weeks. If that doesn't stop happening, he'll never hit 30.

Don't look now but here are the 3 finalists for this year's Flyers goal song:

Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
Beer by Reel Big Fish
This Girl by Kungs and Cookin on 3 Burners

Start practicing your jungle calls folks

Top line level talent??......on paper tons of guys can be listed as top line talent heck thats what Patrick was and how did that work out??..Couts is a top line player...Giroux is not top line talent anymore....TK was a 3rd line player last year and Farabee certainly looks like he could be the real thing. Flyers have no offensive stars who can carry a team and I think thats what is concerning...lots of middle 6 players and lots of guys "WHO COULD" score 20 goals but its the big goals..the goals in the tight games..the goals against quality opponents where I am concerned. We shall see I think they will get some good offense from their D . They are going to have to win with good solid team play and 60 minute efforts which has been a real problem for the team the last decade
- hfc355

I disagree that Giroux is not a 1st line level player anymore. I think he's going to have a strong year. Konecny is capable of being a 6-70 point player. Every team has to win with good solid team play. The culture was changed and all of those problems were fixed apparently.

I think this team as constructed will have a difficult time making the playoffs. Hope I am wrong. The Isles..Canes and Caps I see as locks....Pens with their injuries open up the 4th spot..Will it be Pens..Rags or Flyers???..Pens always seem to find a way...Rangers have a better team then Flyers on paper but we know what paper means.....and dont sleep on the Devils. Flyers need a lot to go right starting with Hart carrying the team. Cant wait to get started

I think other teams have a steeper drop off. The rangers Zib and Panarin are great but what’s after that? They traded away their next best guy in buchnevich. Isles have Barzal and lee, wouldn’t say whatever their top 4 forwards are better. Carolina has a strong group. Pitt with Malkin Crosby (both not starting the seasons) Guentzel and then who?
- ClaudeFather

I see the Flyers as having more forward scoring depth than all 3 of those teams.

I just cant trust MT running the PP. He doesn't impress me at all.
- hello it's me 2050

It’s about executing and I really think not having a competent Top umbrella guy really hurt us. PP over the year hasn’t changed much, if the guy at the top can’t get shots through or fumbles pucks all the time it kills the unit. Everyone needs to be better but I think the point really hurt us .

I see the Flyers as having more forward scoring depth than all 3 of those teams.
- MJL

Exactly

Don't look now but here are the 3 finalists for this year's Flyers goal song:

Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
Beer by Reel Big Fish
This Girl by Kungs and Cookin on 3 Burners

Start practicing your jungle calls folks
- jd250

My replies are valid. The entire off season, you were lauding Fletcher's moves. Labeling this team as a team that can contend. That made all of the right moves. Filled all of the weaknesses. Now after a hand full of pre season games, most of which played with a B level lineup, you have all of these concerns. You don't need a 40 goal player in the lineup to win a Stanley Cup.
- MJL

Show me one post, just one, where I said the Flyers made all the *right* moves and filled *all* of their weaknesses. I don't have to wait this time because I know you don't have any! This is what I am talking about. I do like Fletcher's off season moves and I do think that some gaping holes were filled, like, hmmmm .... finally obtaining a legitimate set of top 4 defenseman. But we will not know if these are the right moves until the season plays out. There is a difference between good moves that you support and proving they were the right moves. I don't even have a concern yet about the scoring. I am simply stating an observation that this Flyers team has to work extremely hard to get goals because they lack that sniper, 40+ goal scoring talent in their lineup. Whether it becomes an issue that we should be concerned about only time will tell. The only thing I have posted I am concerned about is Frost being ready for the NHL, but as you know, from the very beginning, even before pre-season started, I was posting that Frost has played only 4 periods of hockey over the past 18 months and thus most likely will not make the team out of camp. Since I have watched him play, I have additional concerns over what Frost's ceiling actually is, but I'll wait and see how he does once he gets his confidence and game back completely.

I see the Flyers as having more forward scoring depth than all 3 of those teams.
- MJL

Depth wise, I agree, not many teams can score goals from 3 lines, but the Flyers on paper are one of those teams that can.

If they don't already, coaches of each team need to coordinate their lineups in preseason with each other beforehand. This B-team vs full NHL roster business is kinda messed up.

What could AV really take away from this game? That his kids and spare parts were capable of white knuckling for 60mins to prevent a blowout?


- Tomahawk

It’s good experience.

If they don't already, coaches of each team need to coordinate their lineups in preseason with each other beforehand. This B-team vs full NHL roster business is kinda messed up.

What could AV really take away from this game? That his kids and spare parts were capable of white knuckling for 60mins to prevent a blowout?


- Tomahawk

I think that a better way to evaluate the kids, hard to tell how if they can perform if they are playing other B team rosters