Dave Scott has very little to do with how the Flyers are run. Lets start with removing Homer if we really want fresh voices running this team from the top down.
- mochoson

Not true. Holmgen is now on the business side of things and now only serves as an advisor. Scott is involved in day to day operations.

random thoughts…

1. Giroux was the best Flyers forward last night in creating scoring chances. I really didn’t think it was close. Couturier has looked just a bit off all year, but he was not one of the main problems last night. TK, Atkinson and JVR all not being a threat to score definitely is. Losing Farabee to injury took away one of the few guys that had their game going. They are not getting scoring from the defense either.
2. When the Flyers were looking at adding a top RHD this past offseason and we discussed on here Ellis had an injury history, we talked about his size and style of play. It seemed that they could not just add him because Ellis would miss games. In adding a second top 4 defenseman, one would think it would be so that a guy on the second pairing would be able to fill in for Ellis when he is out. It has not been tried. If that was not the plan, then I question the plan.
3. Right now, Seeler is the 6th defenseman (7th depth guys don’t play 90% of games), but he is playing up in the pairings. The Yandle and Braun pairing works but that limits the options. I would like if they tried Zamula for a few games. It is not ideal, but if Big Z knows going in that it is a temporary opportunity to help the big club, it will be fine.
4. I heard the TV analysts say that the Flyers are a desperate team. I agree that they should be. It was not a complete lack of effort, but for a desperate team, the second and third efforts were lacking many times, whether that was defensively, blocking a shot, battling for a puck, reaching for a pass, getting in better position or getting a shot off. Be desperate because this is desperate. The season is on the line this week.
5. For a team struggling to control play, to score and trailing in the game, I can’t stand them giving up possession for a line change. Defend, defend, obtain puck possession, dump and get a line change, defend, defend…it wasn’t the whole game but I don’t like it at all. Keep the puck unless you are shooting at their net or passing to a teammate. Oversimplified, but still…come on!
6. Also need better screens. Maybe try Risto at net front on the PP. He is a better door than a window.
- NC Flyers Fan

It was a complete overcorrection on his part. You have to ask why Nashville trades a legit top pairing RH defenseman and the best return they can get is Myers and Patrick? Why is that? It's because other teams weren't willing to beat that deal for a 30is injury prone player with 6 years left on his deal.

I'd have rather kept Gostisbehere than trade for Ristolainen.

If a GM Is trading a 1st, 2nd and roster player to swing for the fences. That GM is an idiot. Ristolainen has always been a mediocre player and he continues to be that. If you had a really strong defense, you may be able to hide him and get decent minutes. He is also not the right defenseman for the Flyers needs and for what wins in the NHL. You need defenseman who can defend certainly and win puck battles but you need skating passing and puck moving. The transition game is of utmost importance in today's NHL. With the makeup of the Flyers defense, even with Ellis, Ristolainen is the wrong kind of player. This was a major blunder by the GM.

Atkinson is a player that needs a high level playmaker to play with to score at a high rate. Even with that, his best goal scoring days may be over. He's a better all around player but in this setting, other than some early hot shooting and some plays on the PK. He has not been effective. The Flyers first and foremost miss Voracek's playmaking and puck transition skills. If you make a deal to fill a hole but create a hole. You haven't made a good deal unless you make another deal that fills that. The gamble on Yandle has not paid off.

Brassard is looking to be a decent deal as hopefully he can help the 4th line.
- MJL

Patrick 4 games 1 goal
Myers 8 games 0 points

Ellis 4 games 5 points

Hahaha with the Ellis trade being a bad one. Wake up.

Patrick’s career is over. Myers is being healthy scratched. Ellis will come back at some point & be better than both those bums on one leg if needed.

Not sure how anyone can look at what is happening now and still believe that Voracek and Gostisbehere were the issue. What the Flyers did is lessen their skill level.
- MJL

We were awesome all the years they were here, why would we get rid of them?

He’s quite frail. We’ll see if he can survive a season
- Just5

He got hurt once... and now he's frail?

How much say does Homer have these days?
- Joe Nardone

I thought Holmburger retired.

I really don't know enough about Briere's management ceiling to have an opinion on him.

I just hope whoever it is, that they separate out the President role and put somebody there with enough weight to stand up to the Comcast suits. They could really use a strong buffer between ownership and the GM.
- Tomahawk

Fair point. I don't know much about Briere either. I was just down on the Fletcher hire from jump street. I don't know how anyone could look at his decade body of work in Minnesota and feel good about that hire. Blind sheep gonna blind sheep.

It was a complete overcorrection on his part. You have to ask why Nashville trades a legit top pairing RH defenseman and the best return they can get is Myers and Patrick? Why is that? It's because other teams weren't willing to beat that deal for a 30is injury prone player with 6 years left on his deal.

I'd have rather kept Gostisbehere than trade for Ristolainen.

If a GM Is trading a 1st, 2nd and roster player to swing for the fences. That GM is an idiot. Ristolainen has always been a mediocre player and he continues to be that. If you had a really strong defense, you may be able to hide him and get decent minutes. He is also not the right defenseman for the Flyers needs and for what wins in the NHL. You need defenseman who can defend certainly and win puck battles but you need skating passing and puck moving. The transition game is of utmost importance in today's NHL. With the makeup of the Flyers defense, even with Ellis, Ristolainen is the wrong kind of player. This was a major blunder by the GM.

Atkinson is a player that needs a high level playmaker to play with to score at a high rate. Even with that, his best goal scoring days may be over. He's a better all around player but in this setting, other than some early hot shooting and some plays on the PK. He has not been effective. The Flyers first and foremost miss Voracek's playmaking and puck transition skills. If you make a deal to fill a hole but create a hole. You haven't made a good deal unless you make another deal that fills that. The gamble on Yandle has not paid off.

Brassard is looking to be a decent deal as hopefully he can help the 4th line.
- MJL

Yes, all looking backwards you have it correct...but your concerns in the summer were only of Ellis injury history (small guy trying to play a big game and being older puts him at risk) and you didn't agree with the Risto move because he has never showed himself to be a 3/4...

I felt your comments and criticism were always balanced and that you were optimistic most of the moves would work out...now he is a bonehead...that was not your tone or really anyone else's tone in the summer.

What we have now is a dumpster fire and no one outside of team negative saw this coming.

I feel like I do about the Phillies. The Tampa Rays always finds players and make really good moves for a low budget baseball team. So when looking for a GM or front office personnel why would you not raid there organization.

Same with Flyers. Why not look at team like Tampa and raid there organization. they always seem to find talent and make good moves and have players that come up and seemed to have develop well.

I know not exactly the same.
- J35Bacher

Those organizations have to grant you permission to even talk to someone.

Yes, all looking backwards you have it correct...but your concerns in the summer were only of Ellis injury history (small guy trying to play a big game and being older puts him at risk) and you didn't agree with the Risto move because he has never showed himself to be a 3/4...

I felt your comments and criticism were always balanced and that you were optimistic most of the moves would work out...now he is a bonehead...that was not your tone or really anyone else's tone in the summer.

What we have now is a dumpster fire and no one outside of team negative saw this coming.
- JW98FlyerFan

Whos team negative, do i need to take offense to that?

Fire Fletch

Bring in Pronger as President of Hockey Ops, in the Shanny role. Firewall against the bean counters and suits.

Then bring in a young, out of the box, progressive GM candidate and give them carte blanche to take a hatchet to anything they see fit.

Time for this org to finally enter the 21st century.

Those organizations have to grant you permission to even talk to someone.
- MJL

Yeah but teams aren't going to stop guys from trying to get high level positions. They might decline it for a lateral move.

If you went to tampa and wanted to get Mathieu Drache for your GM role i don't think they would decline him that chance or any other person that the move would be a promotion

I feel like I do about the Phillies. The Tampa Rays always finds players and make really good moves for a low budget baseball team. So when looking for a GM or front office personnel why would you not raid there organization.

Same with Flyers. Why not look at team like Tampa and raid there organization. they always seem to find talent and make good moves and have players that come up and seemed to have develop well.

I know not exactly the same.
- J35Bacher

Because they won't come here...no tax in Florida and high taxes in Philly...and you know, Florida...and Tampa is winning...

Yes, all looking backwards you have it correct...but your concerns in the summer were only of Ellis injury history (small guy trying to play a big game and being older puts him at risk) and you didn't agree with the Risto move because he has never showed himself to be a 3/4...

I felt your comments and criticism were always balanced and that you were optimistic most of the moves would work out...now he is a bonehead...that was not your tone or really anyone else's tone in the summer.

What we have now is a dumpster fire and no one outside of team negative saw this coming.
- JW98FlyerFan

I believed that the team could be a playoff team if things worked out. I never liked the Ellis or Ristolainen moves. Especially the latter. Ellis is a really good player but his durability gave me pause as well as wondering why Nashville would trade him. I was optimistic more than anything and I didn't quite consider the transition and puck movement issue enough. Now that I've seen it play out in conjunction with his ridiculous press conference the other day. I now no longer have faith in Fletcher. Of course calling him a bonehead is hyperbole. More than anything this just cements my opinion of how bad the Flyers organization as a whole, screwed up in firing Hextall and abandoning the patient approach that was absolutely needed.

Because they won't come here...no tax in Florida and high taxes in Philly...and you know, Florida...and Tampa is winning...
- JW98FlyerFan

Personnel guys will not turn down a promotion. If you want to be a GM and your getting the chance you wouldn't turn it down. Especially if you know the GM of the current club is not going anywhere

For everyone talking about the coaching is the problem. Coots (28) has been with the Flyers for 10 years & if AV gets the axe Coots will
be playing for his 5th different coach (not including Gordon). That screams the issue is clearly not coaching wake up
- Fopa21

It is both. Doesnt have to be one or the other

Yeah but teams aren't going to stop guys from trying to get high level positions. They might decline it for a lateral move.

If you went to tampa and wanted to get Mathieu Drache for your GM role i don't think they would decline him that chance or any other person that the move would be a promotion
- J35Bacher

During the season they will.

Watching the maple leafs last night, carrying the puck in, regrouping instead of dumping on line changes (avoiding giving the puck up for no reason), when they dump it in all the forwards are coming up the ice together. It’s absolutely pathetic that this coach we have hasn’t been fired, we are playing an archaic game. This organization needs to be turned upside down.

Whos team negative, do i need to take offense to that?
- bradster

I don't think so...but there is not much to be happy about in Hooville right now

Fire Fletch

Bring in Pronger as President of Hockey Ops, in the Shanny role. Firewall against the bean counters and suits.

Then bring in a young, out of the box, progressive GM candidate and give them carte blanche to take a hatchet to anything they see fit.

Time for this org to finally enter the 21st century.
- Tomahawk

Amen

Watching the maple leafs last night, carrying the puck in, regrouping instead of dumping on line changes (avoiding giving the puck up for no reason), when they dump it in all the forwards are coming up the ice together. It’s absolutely pathetic that this coach we have hasn’t been fired, we are playing an archaic game. This organization needs to be turned upside down.
- ClaudeFather

Saw the same thing against Florida, TB and Carolina.

I believed that the team could be a playoff team if things worked out. I never liked the Ellis or Ristolainen moves. Especially the latter. Ellis is a really good player but his durability gave me pause as well as wondering why Nashville would trade him. I was optimistic more than anything and I didn't quite consider the transition and puck movement issue enough. Now that I've seen it play out in conjunction with his ridiculous press conference the other day. I now no longer have faith in Fletcher. Of course calling him a bonehead is hyperbole. More than anything this just cements my opinion of how bad the Flyers organization as a whole, screwed up in firing Hextall and abandoning the patient approach that was absolutely needed.
- MJL

You keep saying Hextall slow approach without acknowledging Hextall himself was confused on what to do. You don’t keep G & Jake through a rebuild. Sell high. A slow build doesn’t have you go out & sign a close to 30 year old JVR to 7 million a year not to mention his drafting was pitiful. Some hits but far more misses especially high up in draft

I believed that the team could be a playoff team if things worked out. I never liked the Ellis or Ristolainen moves. Especially the latter. Ellis is a really good player but his durability gave me pause as well as wondering why Nashville would trade him. I was optimistic more than anything and I didn't quite consider the transition and puck movement issue enough. Now that I've seen it play out in conjunction with his ridiculous press conference the other day. I now no longer have faith in Fletcher. Of course calling him a bonehead is hyperbole. More than anything this just cements my opinion of how bad the Flyers organization as a whole, screwed up in firing Hextall and abandoning the patient approach that was absolutely needed.
- MJL

I don't know if you can really say that though either. While the idea was a good one you weren't seeing really any development during that time.

Fire Fletch

Bring in Pronger as President of Hockey Ops, in the Shanny role. Firewall against the bean counters and suits.

Then bring in a young, out of the box, progressive GM candidate and give them carte blanche to take a hatchet to anything they see fit.

Time for this org to finally enter the 21st century.
- Tomahawk

I ca get on board with that very easily.

I don't know if you can really say that though either. While the idea was a good one you weren't seeing really any development during that time.
- J35Bacher

Sure we did. Young players had very good years. When he took over, the prospect base was bare. It takes time to build that back up and develop players. Look at a guy like Farabee. He just started coming on last year. Frost is still not established but shows a lot of promise. Takes time.