Personally I'm not looking for the Flyers to be a team that hopes they can get in and maybe gel and make a one season run at it. I want the team to elevate to true contender status where they open a window to contend over a significant period of time.
- MJL

thats what we all want, thats why it wouldve been better for Ronnie to do a full rebuild instead of signing jvr, once we traded schenn for future, we shouldve cleaned house.
Instead we got the start of his 10 year plan with no star to show for it.

I didn't look at one season. I look back 5-7 like I said. Teams evolve and players change so looking back that far doesn't paint an accurate picture. Flyers also have one of the highest winning percentages going back to their start. Does that make them one of the best teams? Flyers haven't won the Cup since 75.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...WinPct&page=0&pageSize=50

Flyers aren't great at the shootout in recent times but they certainly aren't the worst.
- MJL

As I stated. Overall since the shootout has been a factor. They are the worst team. That is fact. Narrowing the sample size to say they aren’t at the bottom. Fine. But still right at the bottom of the league.

No since 67 I would not say they are a top team just due to a winning percentage. But that’s overall which is different than a specific stat like winning percentage. Not the same bad analogy.

thats what we all want, thats why it wouldve been better for Ronnie to do a full rebuild instead of signing jvr, once we traded schenn for future, we shouldve cleaned house.
Instead we got the start of his 10 year plan with no star to show for it.
- bradster

Agree. Identify a couple core and move the rest. Makes me remember the balk with Ekblad. Should put your d in place first.

Personally I'm not looking for the Flyers to be a team that hopes they can get in and maybe gel and make a one season run at it. I want the team to elevate to true contender status where they open a window to contend over a significant period of time.
- MJL

Agreed. I do like Ristolainen and Ellis. At least more than what I felt we had last season. However, I feel the best way to content is to continuously filter in youth. I feel we’ve gone back on this by making the deals we have.

Bill, spot on assessment! I was eager to hear AV’s comments after last night’s game. I was surprised to hear him so upbeat about the way the team ( minus Hart) played. I guess he didn’t want to bury them in the press after losing to an AHL team. Pathetic effort last night.

Bill, spot on assessment! I was eager to hear AV’s comments after last night’s game. I was surprised to hear him so upbeat about the way the team ( minus Hart) played. I guess he didn’t want to bury them in the press after losing to an AHL team. Pathetic effort last night.
- HockeyLifer

I hate comments in here like “the coach agrees with me” or “that’s not what the coach said”. What Vigneault says means nothing to me.

Agree. Identify a couple core and move the rest. Makes me remember the balk with Ekblad. Should put your d in place first.
- Peter Richards

they tried hard to get that pick for ekblad, what i heard is florida was not moving it.

Agreed. I do like Ristolainen and Ellis. At least more than what I felt we had last season. However, I feel the best way to content is to continuously filter in youth. I feel we’ve gone back on this by making the deals we have.
- SuperSchennBros

what youth did we lose? We didnt lose anything. Lost a #1 pick which may or may not have been a middle 6 player. in 5 years. PAtrick and Meyers we should be glad we got anything for them. So what youth did we lose, ive asked and no one can explain it to me after its repeatedly mentioned. 2nd for ghost?

they tried hard to get that pick for ekblad, what i heard is florida was not moving it.
- bradster

Not an excuse anymore but why that pronger injury was detrimental.

Yeah I think there was mixed reports. I thought the deal was almost set but we didn’t want to include one of the pieces they wanted. Yeah well. Could be wrong

As I stated. Overall since the shootout has been a factor. They are the worst team. That is fact. Narrowing the sample size to say they aren’t at the bottom. Fine. But still right at the bottom of the league.

No since 67 I would not say they are a top team just due to a winning percentage. But that’s overall which is different than a specific stat like winning percentage. Not the same bad analogy.
- Peter Richards

Seem to have an issue today with relevance. I understand when a comment is made that this team does something more than any other team, that the discussion is about THIS team. Not the franchise through it's history. You did the same thing when the conversation was about a potential coaching change and you suggested two coaches already employed by other teams.
When and if the conversation gets about who is the best team in the NHL, I think I'll go with the Flyers. You know Clarke, Barber, Leach, Parent etc.

I was a big fan of hiring AV, but if this goes south quickly in the next month or so I will be hoping that him and his minions will be vanished! My guess is AV went to Fletcher and said I'll take the job, but these two turds have to be my assistant coaches. There seems to be no adjustments being made here from game to game and that is the coaches job! I'm not advocating for a firing yet of course, but this team will get smoked by this upcoming schedule if they don't ratchet up their play by a few thousand notches! Bring in Torts!! He'd probably bench the whole team and have Hart face the opponent 1 on 6!! It's almost that way now anyway.

Seem to have an issue today with relevance. I understand when a comment is made that this team does something more than any other team, that the discussion is about THIS team. Not the franchise through it's history. You did the same thing when the conversation was about a potential coaching change and you suggested two coaches already employed by other teams.
When and if the conversation gets about who is the best team in the NHL, I think I'll go with the Flyers. You know Clarke, Barber, Leach, Parent etc.

- MJL

Good spin man.

I was a big fan of hiring AV, but if this goes south quickly in the next month or so I will be hoping that him and his minions will be vanished! My guess is AV went to Fletcher and said I'll take the job, but these two turds have to be my assistant coaches. There seems to be no adjustments being made here from game to game and that is the coaches job! I'm not advocating for a firing yet of course, but this team will get smoked by this upcoming schedule if they don't ratchet up their play by a few thousand notches! Bring in Torts!! He'd probably bench the whole team and have Hart face the opponent 1 on 6!! It's almost that way now anyway.
- Phillywhiteout

They've made some adjustments. They changed up which defense pairing normally plays with which line. Didn't seem to make a difference. You're right if they don't improve overall play with the upcoming schedule, they could be in big trouble.

Flyers just getting lucky with shooting% and save %, the teams behind them have just been unlucky, got it

Maybe the league has just got even tighter.

Avs, Vegas struggling, Tampa not setting the world on fire either. Assuming they all might have similar issues. Flyers just need to get a little better every game, get their key players back and keep their confidence up. Let’s see if they can

Bill,
This was a brave column. You got up at 5:00 a.m. to do the work, then you called out a lot of the team despite the fact that you essentially work with them.
Awesome. That's why I read you everyday.
- therabbi

Totally agree. Honest assessment, and the correct one

They've made some adjustments. They changed up which defense pairing normally plays with which line. Didn't seem to make a difference. You're right if they don't improve overall play with the upcoming schedule, they could be in big trouble.
- MJL

Agree. But it's less than 10 games in and their play is starting to slide. They've had trouble driving possession, and that has seemed to be the problem - pick any season. Once they can't possess and chase the game, season is over. They need these 2 guys to return from their injuries, not that saying it is going to make it happen. But if it goes on too long, they'll fry both Brassard and Yandle and they won't be any good once they do return to the lineup. It's only a matter of time before they fry both goalies. We're a ways away from that, but is inevitable if going to chase the game every night and regularly give up high percentage chances.

Agree. But it's less than 10 games in and their play is starting to slide. They've had trouble driving possession, and that has seemed to be the problem - pick any season. Once they can't possess and chase the game, season is over. They need these 2 guys to return from their injuries, not that saying it is going to make it happen. But if it goes on too long, they'll fry both Brassard and Yandle and they won't be any good once they do return to the lineup. It's only a matter of time before they fry both goalies. We're a ways away from that, but is inevitable if going to chase the game every night and regularly give up high percentage chances.
- BluehorseShoe64

Brassard won't get fried but hopefully when and if Hayes comes back, Brassard goes to the 4th line where he belongs. Ellis comes back and then Yandle will have a better partner. I think it's more the wear and tear on the team as a whole. They simply defend too much. The big worry is the Sanheim/Ristolainen pairing. Sanheim looks awful and Ristolainen is his normal mediocre self. The Flyers didn't need physical play on the defense, they needed better puck movement and transition play. Especially with the subtraction of Voracek. Ellis and Hayes need to help with the transition game or the Flyers are not going to get where they need to be.

Flyers just getting lucky with shooting% and save %, the teams behind them have just been unlucky, got it

Maybe the league has just got even tighter.

Avs, Vegas struggling, Tampa not setting the world on fire either. Assuming they all might have similar issues. Flyers just need to get a little better every game, get their key players back and keep their confidence up. Let’s see if they can
- wcorvette

This is the attitude I agree with! We aren't even 10 games in with so many new faves in the line up... Sole key guys are injured too... Geez.. this team hasn't even gotten to play at full health yet.
I am all for giving time to the team to gel and get healthy. Seeing the avs, Vegas, and even Tampa not play well says that the sky isn't falling. The powerhouse teams aren't even playing well yet

Be patient and give these guys time to learn the system and gel with their line. It's still early. If we don't see improvement in the next 15 games then we can worry

Until then, Go Flyers!!!

Oilers getting worked by Rangers, they have so many issues

Oilers getting worked by Rangers, they have so many issues

what youth did we lose? We didnt lose anything. Lost a #1 pick which may or may not have been a middle 6 player. in 5 years. PAtrick and Meyers we should be glad we got anything for them. So what youth did we lose, ive asked and no one can explain it to me after its repeatedly mentioned. 2nd for ghost?
- bradster

Patrick and Myers are young talents. Please don’t ask stupid questions. Throwing away first round picks isn’t a good thing. Let’s stop rationalizing.

Oilers getting worked by Rangers, they have so many issues
- wcorvette

totally just being a wiener, but the Oilers failing to hit that next level will always bring me a more than small piece of joy

totally just being a wiener, but the Oilers failing to hit that next level will always bring me a more than small piece of joy
- stayinthefnnet

True for me too

My gosh Rangers getting worked by the oilers. Rangers have some issues

McDavid with one of the best individual goals I have seen