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

totally agree..i thought that was great when he did that on the PP...

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?
- NickTheKid87

Reinstitute the bag skate.

I'm a firm believer in it.

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

Fair enough. I wasn't intending to pick on Feds, but maybe just looking for a way to get McGinn back in there.

Obviously the easiest way is to sit Sestito or Rinaldo. I'm just amazed at how little emotion and intensity the Flyers displayed last night, especially with those 2 in there. I kind of wonder if Lavy said something to cause them to restrain themselves after Simmers penalties vs. TB.

You really kno how to put things in perspective, Bill. Another really well thought out and informative blog.

One thing I must say tho, is that I'm sick of hearing about Matt Carle. Everyone says how it was such a good move that the flyers didnt sign him for the amount that Tampa did, yet every respectable analyst, including yourself, is making him seem quite worthy of that contract. To be honest, I thought he was quite underrated as well during his time as a Flyer, but that was because he garnered absolutely zero attention from anyone. Now, I must say that he's becoming quite overrated in Flyerdom, particularly initiated by a man known as "Panach."

Hes not Alex Effin Pietrangelo, everybody, he's an extremely low intensity (learned from Timonen), defensively passable, offensively biased, turnover machine who doesn't have a slapper in his arsenal. How's that for an honest player analysis

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?
- NickTheKid87

I can't recall, did Jagr ever play with Messier in NY?

You really kno how to put things in perspective, Bill. Another really well thought out and informative blog.

One thing I must say tho, is that I'm sick of hearing about Matt Carle. Everyone says how it was such a good move that the flyers didnt sign him for the amount that Tampa did, yet every respectable analyst, including yourself, is making him seem quite worthy of that contract. To be honest, I thought he was quite underrated as well during his time as a Flyer, but that was because he garnered absolutely zero attention from anyone. Now, I must say that he's becoming quite overrated in Flyerdom, particularly initiated by a man known as "Panach."

Hes not Alex Effin Pietrangelo, everybody, he's an extremely low intensity (learned from Timonen), defensively passable, offensively biased, turnover machine who doesn't have a slapper in his arsenal. How's that for an honest player analysis
- FlyersPhanatic012

Well I don't agree completely with your analysis of Carle as a player. But I certainly agree with your premise. Carle would help this team to a point, and they do miss him. However he is not remotely a good enough player to turn this thing around. That needs to come from the entire team.

I can't recall, did Jagr ever play with Messier in NY?
- PLindbergh31

Timonen talks about systems and its lip service..

Now jagr talks about giroux and its gospel...

Love it

I can't recall, did Jagr ever play with Messier in NY?
- PLindbergh31

Yes, in 03-04.

You really kno how to put things in perspective, Bill. Another really well thought out and informative blog.

One thing I must say tho, is that I'm sick of hearing about Matt Carle. Everyone says how it was such a good move that the flyers didnt sign him for the amount that Tampa did, yet every respectable analyst, including yourself, is making him seem quite worthy of that contract. To be honest, I thought he was quite underrated as well during his time as a Flyer, but that was because he garnered absolutely zero attention from anyone. Now, I must say that he's becoming quite overrated in Flyerdom, particularly initiated by a man known as "Panach."

Hes not Alex Effin Pietrangelo, everybody, he's an extremely low intensity (learned from Timonen), defensively passable, offensively biased, turnover machine who doesn't have a slapper in his arsenal. How's that for an honest player analysis
- FlyersPhanatic012

Homer was very set on gettin parise and suter at the time...Don't you think its funny that homer offered weber money to suter? their capt hit is different by 300K...I honestly believe if homer didnt try to play hardball for weber, and proposed a trade with nashville weber could very well be a flyer...what would you rather have? a year in year out norris finalist and #1 Dman, or a futue jordan staal? and as a result of all this he lets 2 key players on his roster walk right out the back door...

I can't recall, did Jagr ever play with Messier in NY?
- PLindbergh31

Yes, in 03-04. Messier's last season.

Homer was very set on gettin parise and suter at the time...Don't you think its funny that homer offered weber money to suter? their capt hit is different by 300K...I honestly believe if homer didnt try to play hardball for weber, and proposed a trade with nashville weber could very well be a flyer...what would you rather have? a year in year out norris finalist and #1 Dman, or a futue jordan staal? and as a result of all this he lets 2 key players on his roster walk right out the back door...
- Flyers4Life88

To be a fly on the wall when homer was on the phone with him...

I wish we knew exactly what went down.

Homer was very set on gettin parise and suter at the time...Don't you think its funny that homer offered weber money to suter? their capt hit is different by 300K...I honestly believe if homer didnt try to play hardball for weber, and proposed a trade with nashville weber could very well be a flyer...what would you rather have? a year in year out norris finalist and #1 Dman, or a futue jordan staal? and as a result of all this he lets 2 key players on his roster walk right out the back door...
- Flyers4Life88

I don't think anyone would have given Jagr and Carle the money they got (especially Carle at 6 years/$5.5m per). I think everyone expected Carle (including Matt himself) to sign at a discount price between $4m-$4.75m. That all changed when Calgary gave Dennis Wideman 5 years/$5.25m per. Carle's better than Wideman.

Homer was very set on gettin parise and suter at the time...Don't you think its funny that homer offered weber money to suter? their capt hit is different by 300K...I honestly believe if homer didnt try to play hardball for weber, and proposed a trade with nashville weber could very well be a flyer...what would you rather have? a year in year out norris finalist and #1 Dman, or a futue jordan staal? and as a result of all this he lets 2 key players on his roster walk right out the back door...
- Flyers4Life88

I think Holmgren and the Flyers were shocked when Nashville matched the offer sheet. Lot of time and energy was focused on Weber. Once Nashville matched, the Flyers really had nowhere to turn to improve the team.

Fail for Jones.......Unfortunately Bryz is trying to mess that up....


- Philly1980

hahaha just checked the goalie stats, pretty amazing how Bryz is in the top 10 in Sv % and GAA with a 2-4 record!!!!

I don't think anyone would have given Jagr and Carle the money they got (especially Carle at 6 years/$5.5m per). I think everyone expected Carle (including Matt himself) to sign at a discount price between $4m-$4.75m. That all changed when Calgary gave Dennis Wideman 5 years/$5.25m per. Carle's better than Wideman.
- NickTheKid87

yeah i think matty is more of a playmaker and a better skater by far.. and personally i believe Jags would have a signed to a contract equal or very similar to the one he initially signed here to stay with the line he had so much success with. Him and G were very close

I don't think anyone would have given Jagr and Carle the money they got (especially Carle at 6 years/$5.5m per). I think everyone expected Carle (including Matt himself) to sign at a discount price between $4m-$4.75m. That all changed when Calgary gave Dennis Wideman 5 years/$5.25m per. Carle's better than Wideman.
- NickTheKid87

hahaha just checked the goalie stats, pretty amazing how Bryz is in the top 10 in Sv % and GAA with a 2-4 record!!!!
- Flyers4Life88

If Bryz's hot streak ends anytime soon... its going to get really ugly in here...

He's been the single reason that most of the games they've lost were so close.

yeah i think matty is more of a playmaker and a better skater by far.. and personally i believe Jags would have a signed to a contract equal or very similar to the one he initially signed here to stay with the line he had so much success with. Him and G were very close
- Flyers4Life88

Wouldn't have minded Jagr for the deal he signed last year. He is hurt again though...

The good news.. we are 2 points out of a playoff spot.

I'm putting the point thresh-hold to make the playoffs around 58 points. With 41 games left we'll need 54 points... so we're gonna have to go 26-15 from here on out... IMO...

Wouldn't have minded Jagr for the deal he signed last year. He is hurt again though...
- NickTheKid87

In and out of the lineup last year with the groin injuries got annoying. I think the Flyers did the right thing letting him go. The last thing they need is another injury prone player on the roster.

Wouldn't have minded Jagr for the deal he signed last year. He is hurt again though...
- NickTheKid87

very true very injury prone, but im not gonna lie when i said i thought hed only make it to about 60 games last year...73 for a 40 year old...pretty damn good if u ask me... if he plays over 40 games this year thats a win for Dallas

In and out of the lineup last year with the groin injuries got annoying. I think the Flyers did the right thing letting him go. The last thing they need is another injury prone player on the roster.
- PLindbergh31

I miss his leadership more than his production. I think he would be a really effective calming presence in the locker room right now.

The good news.. we are 2 points out of a playoff spot.

I'm putting the point thresh-hold to make the playoffs around 58 points. With 41 games left we'll need 54 points... so we're gonna have to go 26-15 from here on out... IMO...
- Flyersgod

Back to math class for you.

I miss his leadership more than his production. I think he would be a really effective calming presence in the locker room right now.
- NickTheKid87

He was very well respected in the room for sure. I just think 4.5 is a lot of money to commit to a guy who can't stay healthy at this stage of his career. I understand what you are saying though.