A #1 d-man would certainly be a huge help. But it's not like the Devils are exactly running out a bunch of all-stars on the blueline, yet they are defensively solid. I think it's clear that the Flyers need to add pieces to their blueline -- ideally, a two-way D-man with mobility or, failing that, an offensive specialist with mobility.

But beyond that, they REALLY need to get their forwards scoring goals. Read, who had a hat trick against Florida and is otherwise goalless, leads the team with 3 goals. Giroux, Simmonds and Couturier have two apiece. Voracek has one. Brayden Schenn, Briere and Knuble have not scored a goal as of yet.

Score 14 goals in 7 games (and that includes a 7-goal outburst in one game), and your team is actually somewhat fortunate to have won even two. Adding a D-man who can make stretch passes and get shots on net with any degree of reliability would help open things up a bit but the forwards need to step up regardless.
- bmeltzer

Bill, what's your feeling on the makeup of the forward group? Can anything be gained by sitting a guy or two? I kind of think that both Jake and Feds need a night off. Frankly I'd play McGinn over Rusty, anyway.

That's really it. Collectively, their heads just don't seem to be in the game.

Last night, on one of the PPs, Giroux and Timonen damn near took each other out in the high slot while switching point positions, and Giroux almost lost the puck in the process. That's the kind of poop that just doesn't normally happen.
- tangent_man

Giroux also made an errant pass right to the lone Ranger forechecker last night. The breakout on the PP was comical at times.

That's really it. Collectively, their heads just don't seem to be in the game.

Last night, on one of the PPs, Giroux and Timonen damn near took each other out in the high slot while switching point positions, and Giroux almost lost the puck in the process. That's the kind of poop that just doesn't normally happen.
- tangent_man

Exactly. I can't see this type of play keeping up. It's just illogical. The team is just playing bad from an individual player standpoint. I honestly believe that the majority of their problems stem from this fact.

Keep the coach. Keep the gm. Keep the core.

Skate the living poop out of every player on the team day in and day out until they get the message. Work during the game, or work after the game.

No more wussyfooting around it.

Exactly. I can't see this type of play keeping up. It's just illogical. The team is just playing bad from an individual player standpoint. I honestly believe that the majority of their problems stem from this fact.
- NickTheKid87

I agree. This team definitely has holes, but you can't convince me that they aren't better then this.

Bryz last night was outstanding and has been the best player on the team.Friday night is a must win they are playing a caps team who plays thursday on the road.Friday will be the caps 3rd game in 4 nights while philly has 2 days off.MUST WIN

I've already seen people calling for Giroux to be stripped of the C. As if he's causing half the team to underachieve. I truly think the pressure of the captaincy is created by the media and fans. They say "G is pressing, must be the pressure from the C" and I feel this can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts for Giroux. We're putting pressure on him by saying that pressure is being put on him.

Giroux also made an errant pass right to the lone Ranger forechecker last night. The breakout on the PP was comical at times.
- MJL

Yeah, I remember that one too. I did a lot of head shaking last night, not to mention yelling at the TV.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Patience vs. Inaction
- bmeltzer

Thank you. Hopefully the Flyers exercise patience and don't pull off any panic moves.

I'm not calling guys like Schenn, Couturier or Vorcek superstars, but they are good players, who are struggling right now. The same goes for veterans, like Coburn and Timonen.

I agree. This team definitely has holes, but you can't convince me that they aren't better then this.
- MJL

Knowing the Flyers, I'm sure that Lavy will be fired if they go 5-10 (or worse, maybe even better) and/or they'll make a stupid move like trading B. Schenn for Visnovsky.

A #1 d-man would certainly be a huge help. But it's not like the Devils are exactly running out a bunch of all-stars on the blueline, yet they are defensively solid. I think it's clear that the Flyers need to add pieces to their blueline -- ideally, a two-way D-man with mobility or, failing that, an offensive specialist with mobility.

But beyond that, they REALLY need to get their forwards scoring goals. Read, who had a hat trick against Florida and is otherwise goalless, leads the team with 3 goals. Giroux, Simmonds and Couturier have two apiece. Voracek has one. Brayden Schenn, Briere and Knuble have not scored a goal as of yet.

Score 14 goals in 7 games (and that includes a 7-goal outburst in one game), and your team is actually somewhat fortunate to have won even two. Adding a D-man who can make stretch passes and get shots on net with any degree of reliability would help open things up a bit but the forwards need to step up regardless.
- bmeltzer

I actually believe the lack of scoring is primarily a back end problem. They get caught in their own end, they are not able to break out with any speed and they are not able to pose a threat from the back end when they are in the attack zone.

But, I think Holmgren is the most fun GM in the league. He knows what he needs. Watch for a Brian Campbell type asset to come in for the short term fix at a relatively inexpensive cost. More important, Holmgren will do the big deal before the start of next season to acquire the missing piece that is part of the long term solution.

Exactly. I can't see this type of play keeping up. It's just illogical. The team is just playing bad from an individual player standpoint. I honestly believe that the majority of their problems stem from this fact.
- NickTheKid87

The odds of them waking the hell up soon have to be pretty high, right?

Bill, what's your feeling on the makeup of the forward group? Can anything be gained by sitting a guy or two? I kind of think that both Jake and Feds need a night off. Frankly I'd play McGinn over Rusty, anyway.
- FlyerGuy

I think McGinn deserved to stay in the lineup, though he really didn't do much (nor did anyone else) in Tampa after a real strong game against the Rangers and his first NHL goal in the Florida game.

Fedotenko has been OK thus far. Not part of the problem, IMO, though he hasn't stood out either. He's usually been in the right spot, moved his feet, etc., though he's been out for some of the penalty killing breakdowns. Also, if not for the highly suspect goalie interference ruling in the Buffalo game, he'd have two goals in the early going of the season -- as many as Giroux and Couturier.

I've already seen people calling for Giroux to be stripped of the C. As if he's causing half the team to underachieve. I truly think the pressure of the captaincy is created by the media and fans. They say "G is pressing, must be the pressure from the C" and I feel this can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts for Giroux. We're putting pressure on him by saying that pressure is being put on him.
- NickTheKid87

Anyone who says that's the problem, is an idiot. I'm sorry, but it's true. The past few years, this team has been built around more of a team leadership mentality to begin with... with the older vets leading, as well as the younger guys with the A's and C. Just as you said, one guy isn't causing over half the team to underachieve. Sure, he's the head guy.. he should be leading by example. But when it comes down to it, he's human (and possibly not 100% healthy).. That's no excuse for the other guys to not skate, lose faceoffs, suck on the PK and PP, commit stupid penalties, etc.

All that, not to mention we're only 7 games in.. give the guy a break for crying out loud. I know Flyers fans in particular tend to be passionate.. but idiocy does not = passion.

The odds of them waking the hell up soon have to be pretty high, right?
- tangent_man

One would hope. The way this team is though, the forwards would wake up and Bryz would have a bad stretch.

John Boruk tweeted last night how Bryzgalov has done a complete role reversal. He was trying to calm the team down last night which would have been ridiculous at the beginning of last year. Shows you how comfortable he's gotten here. Now we just need the players in front of him to chill out as well.
- NickTheKid87

I didn't see it....anyone have a video/gif?

I think McGinn deserved to stay in the lineup, though he really didn't do much (nor did anyone else) in Tampa after a real strong game against the Rangers and his first NHL goal in the Florida game.

Fedotenko has been OK thus far. Not part of the problem, IMO, though he hasn't stood out either. He's usually been in the right spot, moved his feet, etc., though he's been out for some of the penalty killing breakdowns. Also, if not for the highly suspect goalie interference ruling in the Buffalo game, he'd have two goals in the early going of the season -- as many as Giroux and Couturier.
- bmeltzer

Honestly, I'm still scratching my head at sitting McGinn for Rinalod or Sestito. Sure Sestito had a good game against the Rangers in Philly, but he was pretty useless against Tampa and last night in just over 5 minutes, his stat line read line a chicken farmer's dream-all goose eggs. No goals, points or even hits.

John Boruk tweeted last night how Bryzgalov has done a complete role reversal. He was trying to calm the team down last night which would have been ridiculous at the beginning of last year. Shows you how comfortable he's gotten here. Now we just need the players in front of him to chill out as well.
- NickTheKid87

Or... it goes to show just how anxious, erratic and disorganized the guys in front of him have been, especially on those PP's last night, where they basically passed the puck back and forth to the point of coughing it up.

It's really too bad that the skaters can't take better advantage of Bryz's current hot streak... who knows how long it will last.

One would hope. The way this team is though, the forwards would wake up and Bryz would have a bad stretch.
- NickTheKid87

Pretty much.

Ironic how the guys that took the most flak during the extended offseason -- Bryz and Luke Schenn -- are the only two guys who have met/exceeded expectations so far.

Dear Bryz,

Thank you for giving a poop. We appreciate it.

The Fans

P.S. We will quickly forget this so please be sure to keep these accolades for darker days.

Nothing to do with the topics at hand, but this is pretty damned funny.

Anyone who says that's the problem, is an idiot. I'm sorry, but it's true. The past few years, this team has been built around more of a team leadership mentality to begin with... with the older vets leading, as well as the younger guys with the A's and C. Just as you said, one guy isn't causing over half the team to underachieve. Sure, he's the head guy.. he should be leading by example. But when it comes down to it, he's human (and possibly not 100% healthy).. That's no excuse for the other guys to not skate, lose faceoffs, suck on the PK and PP, commit stupid penalties, etc.

All that, not to mention we're only 7 games in.. give the guy a break for crying out loud. I know Flyers fans in particular tend to be passionate.. but idiocy does not = passion.
- WarriorHockey21

Giroux has pressed before when the team has struggled and he's started slow before as well. He started out with 3 goals, 2 assists in his first 8 games of 2010/11 before tallying 9 points in his next 5 games. But now that he has the C, it's "pressure's" fault.

I even saw people claiming he wasn't a top 5/elite/superstar player. I guess 169 points in 159 games the past two years and 55 points in 50 career playoff games plus everybody who's anybody rating him as a top 5 (even top 3) player doesn't mean jack if you play the first 7 games of a short season relatively poorly. Oh and didn't Jagr say he was the best player he's ever played with outside of Mario Lemieux?

Nothing to do with the topics at hand, but this is pretty damned funny.


- tangent_man

this is the adverse affect of having a young team.

stay the course and let them grow.

I actually believe the lack of scoring is primarily a back end problem. They get caught in their own end, they are not able to break out with any speed and they are not able to pose a threat from the back end when they are in the attack zone.

But, I think Holmgren is the most fun GM in the league. He knows what he needs. Watch for a Brian Campbell type asset to come in for the short term fix at a relatively inexpensive cost. More important, Holmgren will do the big deal before the start of next season to acquire the missing piece that is part of the long term solution.
- spatso

When playing a team like the Rangers, don't expect to score many goals off of the rush. The Flyers didn't score last night, due to turning the puck over too many times. Not winning any board battles. Not getting the puck to the net, or going to the net. It is exactly what Bill said. A puck movng defenseman would surely help. But it is not the miracle cure you seem to think it is.