I think we all know the team is capable of better execution. That can be taught. You cant make the D men any faster. You just cant. I think thats why it keeps getting brought up.
- hereticpride

That's when it becomes incumbent on the coach to better tweak the system to fit the personnel. But even with faster defensemen, the level of execution is awful. Not sure that speed helps that.

Teach defense first, and the offense will take care of it self.

Jacques Lemaire-

offence, defence, who cares? they stink in all phases of the game right now except in goal where bryz has been above avg.

I hope you are right. If im right we will lose one of the best coaches the flyers have had. Execution is def an issue. But does that explain not being able to beat tight defensive teams like boston/nyr/tbl
- Flyersgod

If the coach they have is one of the best they've ever had, why hasn't he been able to beat those teams the last few years?

I like Laviolette, and I'm not even hinting at firing him, but if we're complaining about not being able to beat good defensive teams for the past couple years, then part of that falls on his plate.

That's when it becomes incumbent on the coach to better tweak the system to fit the personnel. But even with faster defensemen, the level of execution is awful. Not sure that speed helps that.
- Jsaquella

Thats a catch 22.. knowing your dmen skate in mud.. shouldnt you scale back the attack and play more defensive?

Weber was a good option although he dominates the neutral zone in a different way. Subban would have great impact on the Flyer attack. Carle was better most thought. Pronger was a career superstar who owned the neutral zone his entire career.
- spatso

And I'll give them credit for trying to get Weber and Suter (by using money saved by not signing Carle). They didn't get anyone, and yea, it's going to blow up in their face a bit. That said, at this point, there's no one potentially available outside maybe Subban. They're starting to lack the depth needed to pull off those big Pronger type trades.

That's when it becomes incumbent on the coach to better tweak the system to fit the personnel. But even with faster defensemen, the level of execution is awful. Not sure that speed helps that.
- Jsaquella

they could certainly stand to move the puck faster out of the zone, but if the coverage issues persist, it'll barely matter.

Teach defense first, and the offense will take care of it self.

Jacques Lemaire-
- Flyersgod

I would say it the same way if I had Scott Stevens and Niedemayer patrolling my neutral zone.

If the coach they have is one of the best they've ever had, why hasn't he been able to beat those teams the last few years?

I like Laviolette, and I'm not even hinting at firing him, but if we're complaining about not being able to beat good defensive teams for the past couple years, then part of that falls on his plate.
- Jsaquella

He isnt making adjustments. Hitchcock was great at this.. making subtle changes to mess the other teams system up..

Lavy stucks to his guns and does his system. You have to adapt once other teams adapt.

In my opinion.. I by no means think you are erong and im right.. just debating

Thats a catch 22.. knowing your dmen skate in mud.. shouldnt you scale back the attack and play more defensive?
- Flyersgod

To a certain extent, yes. And the Flyers have made tweaks, like keeping a forward high more often than in years past. But with the piss poor execution, the lack of speed hasn't been the biggest issue.

What I am saying is, with the poor execution, it's hard to say that the tweaks have been bad or not

And I'll give them credit for trying to get Weber and Suter (by using money saved by not signing Carle). They didn't get anyone, and yea, it's going to blow up in their face a bit. That said, at this point, there's no one potentially available outside maybe Subban. They're starting to lack the depth needed to pull off those big Pronger type trades.
- eayost

We still have tons of depth to pull off big deals. It just that no one wants to move B Schenn or Couturier in any deal.

I would say it the same way if I had Scott Stevens and Niedemayer patrolling my neutral zone.
- spatso

Its universal for sports imo.. defense wins championships.

And I'll give them credit for trying to get Weber and Suter (by using money saved by not signing Carle). They didn't get anyone, and yea, it's going to blow up in their face a bit. That said, at this point, there's no one potentially available outside maybe Subban. They're starting to lack the depth needed to pull off those big Pronger type trades.
- eayost

People here will jump on me but I am still a big fan of J.Bo.

To a certain extent, yes. And the Flyers have made tweaks, like keeping a forward high more often than in years past. But with the piss poor execution, the lack of speed hasn't been the biggest issue.

What I am saying is, with the poor execution, it's hard to say that the tweaks have been bad or not
- Jsaquella

Fair enough.. I see what you are saying. I have noticed our 3rd man playing higher then years past. Wonder if paddock was the reason for it..

This. And frankly, it was obvious at the end of last season too.

On paper, does ANYONE think the Devils or the Sabres are that much better, talent-wise, than the Flyers?

If Laviolette doesn't adjust......come on down, Terry Murray.
- johndewar

I think your forwards are some of the most talented in the league, although I think you will never see Simmonds hit 28 goals unless he is on a line with Giroux, and I think Schenn tries to hard to be an agitator instead of playing a solid game, but you have great talent offensively. On the back end it's a different story, Timmonen is about washed up and this compressed schedule will hurt him, Coburn is solid all around, Schenn is a nightmare and you will cringe watching him very soon.

Honestly, all this talk of systems and footspeed is immaterial until they start executing better.

Not one of the three goals last night was due to system or footspeed, but poor execution.

The first goal saw a total team breakdown that left Travis Zajac all alone in front of the net with all 5 Flyers skaters one the opposite side of the ice.

The second goal was more of a fluke than poor execution. That said, Guys have to be ready for what Clarkson did on the play.

The third goal came off a turnover. Kovalchuk pressed Timonen, who got the puck down the boards. When he did, Kovalchuk circled out to the neutral zone, and when the other Devils forward pressed and stole the puck off the boards, it was simply to spring Kovalchuk for the breakaway that led to the penalty shot.

Now, I'm not saying the Flyers couldn't use more speed-especially on defense-and that Laviolette's attack style needs to be tweaked to better fit the players on hand now. That said, the execution of simple hockey play, regardless of system has been dreadful. They could be playing a neutral zone trap, but if they execute the way they did last night they'd still lose badly.

All this talk of speed and systems is fine, but it means nothing until the execution improves.
- Jsaquella

Well Said!!!

I hear Carter and Richards are enjoying LA, what a great captain you have. Wasnt he on the cover of a video game?!?!?! Wow he is so good, dare i say it best player in the world? Have fun paying Luongo to not help your team, and then booing him out of town. 5 4 3 2 1 strap yourself salary cap wise for the next 20 years!!
- nbartley9

Have fun going bankrupt again in 10 years when you guys stop going to games while your team sucks for a few years so bettman can hand feed you some #1 picks.

Have fun going bankrupt again in 10 years when you guys stop going to games while your team sucks for a few years so bettman can hand feed you some #1 picks.
- Flyersgod

You went there? Seriously?

And I'll give them credit for trying to get Weber and Suter (by using money saved by not signing Carle). They didn't get anyone, and yea, it's going to blow up in their face a bit. That said, at this point, there's no one potentially available outside maybe Subban. They're starting to lack the depth needed to pull off those big Pronger type trades.
- eayost

They need to maybe be sellers for a year, Flyers need young talented d, you can't think by signing 1 big time free agent there going to be a solid group

You went there? Seriously?
- eayost

I hate pen fans.

everyone seems to have good points to the flyers demise here and adds a different spectrum of views which makes this forum interesting and fun.

i to thought this season has 06/07 written all over it, dont know if lavvvy will suffer the same fate as hitch but certanly seems to be the path, maybe paddock jumps in as interim or something.

the team imo is in such dissaray that a coach change may freshen things up a bit, reset the computer so to speak, i like lavvy but his message gets old fast just like it did in carolina a year after winning the cup and im not sure he has the right group of players to run his system or exucute it or that is speech is the same over and over and modivation is not there from the players.

Have fun going bankrupt again in 10 years when you guys stop going to games while your team sucks for a few years so bettman can hand feed you some #1 picks.
- Flyersgod

Its ok we will have 5 or 6 more cups at that point. It is just a shame we havnt won one since 1975..... o wait.

I hate pen fans.
- Flyersgod

I hate pens fans too

Like the post.. or like..?
- Flyersgod

the post

They need to maybe be sellers for a year, Flyers need young talented d, you can't think by signing 1 big time free agent there going to be a solid group
- sbroads24

Give it 5 more games. If they continue to lose I think "selling" might not be the worst idea out there.