Cechmanek was not lightning in a bottle. He was solid, if screwy, and got no goal or team support in an Ottawa series that made Patrick Lalime look like his surname was Roy.
- Flyskippy

If anything I think Esche was lightning in a bottle.

Still to this day I wish the organization didnt give up on him. People talk about no goal support. Esche had basically none after the Primeau run.

Cechmanek was not lightning in a bottle. He was solid, if screwy, and got no goal or team support in an Ottawa series that made Patrick Lalime look like his surname was Roy.
- Flyskippy

He was good enough to win a Cup but played with a group of jerks who couldn't find clutch on a manual transmission.

He was good enough to win a Cup but played with a group of jerks who couldn't find clutch on a manual transmission.
- mayorofangrytown

It's funny 'cause it's true.


EDIT: Fedotenko scored the only clutch goal in the series (Game 1 OT). Shoulda kept him instead of trading him for Pitkanen.

After Ed Snider stated "Never Again" after the goaltending follies in the playoffs, you knew the Flyers were going to spend a fortune on a goaltender. Right now it doesn't appear to be a wise decision, hopefully Bryzgalov has better years ahead, I certainly have my doubts.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah, that train was on the tracks going full steam ahead -- no amount of cautionary scouting reports and/or skeptical analyses and/or common sense was going to stop it. Proof in point, they not only inked him to huge money and term, the traded for his rights to do it, totally misjudging the goalie market.

I would hope that the Flyers do their due diligence on investments of this magnitude, but history has shown us that NHL GM's and owners team up to make some really really stupid decisions with alarming regularity.

Long time no see plind. Hows it going?

I tend to agree with you. Nobody hates Bryzgalov. Everyone wants him to do well, but its normal to have doubts after last season, all the comments in the media about how he wouldnt wish what happened to him on to his worst enemy, etc.

Its a tough market, but all he really needs to do is not let in the weak goals. Which will happen once in a while but they happened all the time to him last season. If he doesnt improve on that, he is no better than a Biron or Leighton.

This is all so frustrating because honestly for how he apparently seemed to play in Phoenix he should be a real difference maker. Not a guy you just want to stop the easy stuff.
- flyer_nutter

Right on Peanut. I concur with you 100%.

Yeah, that train was on the tracks going full steam ahead -- no amount of cautionary scouting reports and/or skeptical analyses and/or common sense was going to stop it. Proof in point, they not only inked him to huge money and term, the traded for his rights to do it, totally misjudging the goalie market.

I would hope that the Flyers do their due diligence on investments of this magnitude, but history has shown us that NHL GM's and owners team up to make some really really stupid decisions with alarming regularity.
- Tomahawk

Nail, meet head. As you stated in a previous post, I believe it was you, if not I apologize, but if Bryzgalov is going to provide average to below average goaltending the Flyers would be better served spending money on more defensive minded forwards and D-men.

Nail, meet head. As you stated in a previous post, I believe it was you, if not I apologize, but if Bryzgalov is going to provide average to below average goaltending the Flyers would be better served spending money on more defensive minded forwards and D-men.
- PLindbergh31

That was MOAT.

Nail, meet head. As you stated in a previous post, I believe it was you, if not I apologize, but if Bryzgalov is going to provide average to below average goaltending the Flyers would be better served spending money on more defensive minded forwards and D-men.
- PLindbergh31

If he has another season like he did last year.

I dont know. Its a scary thought but one I think should be considered. If this continues on you cant keep paying a guy that kind of money to just be average overall. The bigger question is how much time does he have. 1 season? Two? He unfortunately isn't being helped much as it is with the departure of Carle and who knows how long Mez will be out.

I'd really like for the organization to bring in someone like Eddie Lack or even Bernier. Which is why I didnt really understand why they traded Sergei. Who with his struggles, was still very raw to the NHL and North America, and by all accounts had a great attitude.

Maybe I am just bad luck

I seem to remember most of Bryz's inconsistency starting when the Flyers first travelled to Winnipeg for a game.

Lava played Sergei to shield Bryzgalov from the crowd.
Prongers last game as well I believe.

A game I attended.

If he has another season like he did last year.

I dont know. Its a scary thought but one I think should be considered. If this continues on you cant keep paying a guy that kind of money to just be average overall. The bigger question is how much time does he have. 1 season? Two? He unfortunately isn't being helped much as it is with the departure of Carle and who knows how long Mez will be out.

I'd really like for the organization to bring in someone like Eddie Lack or even Bernier. Which is why I didnt really understand why they traded Sergei. Who with his struggles, was still very raw to the NHL and North America, and by all accounts had a great attitude.
- flyer_nutter

One sub par season doesn't make Bryzgalov's contract an albatross. But he is already on the back 9 of what is generally a goaltenders prime years, to expect him to put things together during the back end of the contract isn't realistic. Hopefully there 1. Is a season and 2. Bryzgalov shows more consistency

That was MOAT.
- Flyskippy

Oh ok. It was an excellent point that MOAT raised.

That was MOAT.
- Flyskippy

We look so much alike...

ON THE INTERNET!!!!

One sub par season doesn't make Bryzgalov's contract an albatross. But he is already on the back 9 of what is generally a goaltenders prime years, to expect him to put things together during the back end of the contract isn't realistic. Hopefully there 1. Is a season and 2. Bryzgalov shows more consistency
- PLindbergh31

Definately.

I am by no means giving up on the guy. Rinne had a pretty bad playoffs.

I do think, if the next season is a repeat of last though, a younger guy like Bernier or Lack needs to be brought in.

Unless of course the organization really believes in Heeter or Hovinen.

What plays in Bryzgalov's favour. Is all he needs to do is just play slightly above average. Be more consistent in keeping out the weak goals. He has the ability, so we will see. I hope he does well.

In other news the NHL Network will be airing OHL action tomorrow night at 7pm

Erie Otters vs London Knights (defending OHL champ)

Maybe I am just bad luck

I seem to remember most of Bryz's inconsistency starting when the Flyers first travelled to Winnipeg for a game.

Lava played Sergei to shield Bryzgalov from the crowd.
Prongers last game as well I believe.

A game I attended.
- flyer_nutter

NO MORE FOR YOU!

Just an opinion. Have no facts, evidence, or news to back it up. Going on "gut" feeling. I can't see the NHL losing an entire season again.
- stveshdy

Same idiots ruining/running the show from the owners' side. I have more faith in NHLPA but I'm not exactly happy with them either.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC

Crosby says offers were shot down in 10 minutes.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC

Crosby says offers were shot down in 10 minutes.
- ob18

WELL IT'S GOOD THAT THEY GAVE IT SOME THOUGHT FIRST.

WELL IT'S GOOD THAT THEY GAVE IT SOME THOUGHT FIRST.
- mayorofangrytown

It must have been tough to do it with a straight face

They sound closer than what Bettman was making it sound. They'll get something done in a couple weeks

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC

Crosby says offers were shot down in 10 minutes.
- ob18

That's ignorant on the part of the League. That's not how they should be negotiating. The sad part about it is the latest offer the League made is the offer they should have made back in the Summer. Instead of the insulting offer they did make that did nothing but put a huge wedge in between the two sides. If they had, we might have had a deal by now. But I give the league credit for making the offer to try and get something going. Even though there were some things in there, that were just awful. I'll have to see more details on the players counter proposal, but it wasn't unexpected that they came back with one.

They sound closer than what Bettman was making it sound. They'll get something done in a couple weeks
- eayost

I'm still going with my gut feeling of Jan 2013 to start the Season.

I'm still going with my gut feeling of Jan 2013 to start the Season.
- MJL

That's very possible. Right now, it's all just bullpoop and posturing. The NHL rejected 3 proposed deals from the NHLPA in the space of ten minutes, then shredded the PA's numbers...how did the NHL have time to run the NHLPA's numbers in the ten minutes?

That's very possible. Right now, it's all just bullpoop and posturing. The NHL rejected 3 proposed deals from the NHLPA in the space of ten minutes, then shredded the PA's numbers...how did the NHL have time to run the NHLPA's numbers in the ten minutes?
- Jsaquella

They didn't. The League is trying to play the PR game. Most of their latest offer was PR. Although I give them credit for trying to get things moving. It created a lot of optimism. But I knew that the NHL's latest offer wasn't going to get a deal done. The players rejected it, as they should have. Now were at a point where the players are willing to get towards 50-50, depending on who you talk to, but only in future years, and they want current deals honored. The League wants an immediate 50/50. They need to move to the middle ground of that.

That's ignorant on the part of the League. That's not how they should be negotiating. The sad part about it is the latest offer the League made is the offer they should have made back in the Summer. Instead of the insulting offer they did make that did nothing but put a huge wedge in between the two sides. If they had, we might have had a deal by now. But I give the league credit for making the offer to try and get something going. Even though there were some things in there, that were just awful. I'll have to see more details on the players counter proposal, but it wasn't unexpected that they came back with one.
- MJL

It took serious balls.