No question about it. The best way to improve the PK, is to limit the amount of times they go to the sin bin. A combination of taking the most penalties and an awful PK isn't exactly a stellar mix.
- PLindbergh31

if they can't correct both of these things: lack of discipline, and a poor pk, it will be the death knell of their season. simple as that.

Do you think thats because of who his father is? He has a back story that gives him instant celebrity.
- twotoekenn

Absolutely because of his back story. I have read articles about him since he was 14 years old.

Mullen coaches the power play, and has done one hell of a job. Has been over 20 percent every year but one, and remember what it did against the Penguins in the playoffs last year. Yes, they are off to a slow start this year. Not too worried about it.

Berube works with the PK. McCarthy works with the defensemen. Paddock is the eye-in-the-sky (along with Mullen), whose main task is watching team D as well as any other general observations.
- bmeltzer

Who takes over as head coach when Laviolette gets fired when they're 3-7 after ten games?

Sorry, gallows humor.

Who takes over as head coach when Laviolette gets fired when they're 3-7 after ten games?

Sorry, gallows humor.
- Jsaquella

. If Laviolette gets fired, I think it'd either be Paddock or Terry Murray for the rest of the season.

They certainly are, but judged quite differently than regular season games.
- twotoekenn

Regardless of how they're judged, you don't omit playoff games and playoff production when looking at a players production to this point.

it would be a nice bounce back game...to see if they can right the ship from the Lightning strike...

as we talk about special teams...

5 words
STAY OUT OF THE BOX

Mullen coaches the power play, and has done one hell of a job. Has been over 20 percent every year but one, and remember what it did against the Penguins in the playoffs last year. Yes, they are off to a slow start this year. Not too worried about it.

Berube works with the PK. McCarthy works with the defensemen. Paddock is the eye-in-the-sky (along with Mullen), whose main task is watching team D as well as any other general observations.
- bmeltzer

I think it would have behooved mr snider to project a united front rather than appear to be driving an agenda. He can handle matters behind closed doors. Love him for all the great times over the years following this team but wish he'd refrain from these kinda public statements.

The Boss is 80 and wants another Stanley Cup. Maybe he should have forced Clarkie to address the issues the team faced when Lindros was still healthy, or ordered him not to dump defensive depth in 2004.
- Jsaquella

it would be a nice bounce back game...to see if they can right the ship from the Lightning strike...

as we talk about special teams...

5 words
STAY OUT OF THE BOX
- phi1671

I've always had issues with that myself and I don't play hockey.

- hammarby31

I knew I'd be seeing that yellow visor before too long.

But seriously, how nice would it have been if Hitchcock could have plugged in Weinrich or even Bundy during those playoffs?

Here is his NHL stats to date.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475170

And not sure what Kadri has to do with it.
- MJL

Playoff and Regular season point totals are always separated, it is the way it works, they are never added together, if you were to have said in your post, including playoff games then it would make more sense.

Anyway, I'm not going to get into your Schenn discussion any further, we have our own bigger problems in Leafland. I hope both Schenn's do well for you guys.

I think it would have behooved mr snider to project a united front rather than appear to be driving an agenda. He can handle matters behind closed doors. Love him for all the great times over the years following this team but wish he'd refrain from these kinda public statements.
- JoeRussomanno

as much as i liked the Bryz signing...i think Snider publically pushed for it so it left Homer with no choice...
some things need to be left behind the scenes.

. If Laviolette gets fired, I think it'd either be Paddock or Terry Murray for the rest of the season.
- bmeltzer

Yerp...I agree.

I'm hoping for patience, both with the roster and the staff. I mean, obviously if you can get a young defenseman that projects as a number one, you go after it, but I'd be pissed if they traded a Braden Schenn or Voracek for a 33 year old vet right now.

I've always had issues with that myself and I don't play hockey.
- JoeRussomanno

as much as i liked the Bryz signing...i think Snider publically pushed for it so it left Homer with no choice...
some things need to be left behind the scenes.
- phi1671

The Bryz signing is what it is. If he's not bought out, he's still young enough to provide good veteran goaltending behind a young team for the next 4-5 years

Regardless of how they're judged, you don't omit playoff games and playoff production when looking at a players production to this point.
- MJL

Thats fine, I think it would be prudent to differentiate between playoff stats and regular season though.

Playoff and Regular season point totals are always separated, it is the way it works, they are never added together, if you were to have said in your post, including playoff games then it would make more sense.

Anyway, I'm not going to get into your Schenn discussion any further, we have our own bigger problems in Leafland. I hope both Schenn's do well for you guys.
- LeafMan

They aren't added together in the stats column, but they most certainly are added together when discussing how many NHL games a player has played, and in discussing his output in those games. You just don't omit and not consider playoff games. At least in my thinking you don't.

as much as i liked the Bryz signing...i think Snider publically pushed for it so it left Homer with no choice...
some things need to be left behind the scenes.
- phi1671

Exactly. I'm sure we coulda got him anyway but the loss of leverage hurt in negotiations. Now homer has to go out and get a dman that can help qb a power play... Just got a little bit tougher with your owner female doging about the pp.

The Bryz signing is what it is. If he's not bought out, he's still young enough to provide good veteran goaltending behind a young team for the next 4-5 years
- Jsaquella

Yea but don't you think had snider not made his public mandate maybe the contract would be a bit shorter? Which would be beneficial to the team?

Yea but don't you think had snider not made his public mandate maybe the contract would be a bit shorter? Which would be beneficial to the team?
- JoeRussomanno

Possibly, but not certain. I'm sure the Flyers were bidding against themselves all along. But once they traded for his rights, it pretty much put the ball in his court. There were other goalies out there.

Possibly, but not certain. I'm sure the Flyers were bidding against themselves all along. But once they traded for his rights, it pretty much put the ball in his court. There were other goalies out there.
- Jsaquella

True you can't be certain but it didn't help. There were other goalies out there but IMO he was the best one available. I just hope he's not forcing a gross overpayment for a player right now.

Get the feeling Laviolette isn't enamored with the play of Kurtis Foster. We may see (gulp) Lilja tonight.

True you can't be certain but it didn't help. There were other goalies out there but IMO he was the best one available. I just hope he's not forcing a gross overpayment for a player right now.
- JoeRussomanno

I agree that he was the best available guy, but I think that going out and aggressively trading for his rights had more of a direct effect than Snider's comments. Snider's comments drove Holmgren's actions, but Holmgren's actions drove the contract

Exactly. I'm sure we coulda got him anyway but the loss of leverage hurt in negotiations. Now homer has to go out and get a dman that can help qb a power play... Just got a little bit tougher with your owner female doging about the pp.
- JoeRussomanno

what dat?!

True you can't be certain but it didn't help. There were other goalies out there but IMO he was the best one available. I just hope he's not forcing a gross overpayment for a player right now.
- JoeRussomanno

i know the big guy is 80 and wants a cup...well so does the rest of us...just stay the course for once and not change sh!t up every two to three years. The phillies stayed the course for a little while and it got them a championship. the eagles did the same thing for a period of time...
the sixers...no idea what their doing...but anyway...
if your going to stay young, filter the roster with some vets and allow them to grow. the fan base will be patient...except those on twitter...j/k