Agreed. He's going to be marked for overcoverage from now on, so he needs to find a way to deal with it. It's part of being an elite player, finding ways to elevate your game. As with Schenn and Couturier, the only solution is to keep playing and work it out.

As for the poor passing, this team in general needs to cut that poop out.
- BulliesPhan87

It's hard to tell where the poor passing comes from. It's not like the passing is just off, at times it's as if they are just blindly throwing the puck around. I don't mind having a rough year, but not when it's because of lazy or subpar play. If it was just due to this being a young team I could deal with it, but some of the mistakes, the young players shouldn't even be making as often. It's going to be tough with all of the injuries, but something needs to change with their play and Giroux will need to lead the charge.

Whay goofiness in officiating last night.. NHL has now rescinded Backes game misconduct penalty last night.. essentially decided that game in Det's favour.. No call on Simmonds and now Erskine will pay the penalty with no benefit to us. What a gongshow.

I think this is where confidence and lack of NHL experience comes into play. Even Brayden Schenn who I will openly admit I dislike as of right now, started playing better after his goal.

It's hard for me to blame Giroux. Aside from Briere who does he really have to help him out on offense? Matt Read? The guy is young. Lets not do to him what was done to Richards.

The guy needs a supporting cast, because right now if you swarm Giroux the odds of the Flyers scoring against you are slim to none.
- flyer_nutter

I agree completely with the confidence angle and I couldn't possibly agree more with let's not do what was done to Richards to Giroux, but I can see that coming.

But what I don't agree with is it being hard to blame Giroux. I can think of a lot of players on poor offensive teams, that were the sole dangerous player on the team. Nash on Columbus in the past, and Kovalchuk for a number of years in Atlanta. They were able to produce. If Giroux is going to continue to be considered among the best players in the League, then he has to work through this and find a way to elevate his play, and carry the team. I personally think that he is capable of that.

2 goals or fewer in 7 of the 8 games, and Simmonds, and Hartnell are out. The two power forwards on the team who were top goal scorers last year.

It's hard to see where the goals are going to come from with this current roster.
- PLindbergh31

The goals are going to come from hard work. From winning puck battles. From getting the puck to the net and going to the net. That's how B Schenn finally got a goal last night.

Whay goofiness in officiating last night.. NHL has now rescinded Backes game misconduct penalty last night.. essentially decided that game in Det's favour.. No call on Simmonds and now Erskine will pay the penalty with no benefit to us. What a gongshow.
- Hextall271

The officiating has been horrible this year. I understand the fact that they've had a bit of a layoff as well, but just like the Flyers, it's been getting worse, not better.

The goals are going to come from hard work. From winning puck battles. From getting the puck to the net and going to the net. That's how B Schenn finally got a goal last night.
- MJL

Agreed, and Giroux as Captain, needs to lead the charge. Enough of the low percentage cross ice passes. Go to the net and get a some greasy goals.

It is time to be real. The Flyers needed a winger. On top of that, they are down 2 more. In short, they now F'ing suck.

Its ok. A step backward for 2 forward. Big time free agents next year. Cap room. High draft pick poentially.

-Da Man
- Daman

What wingers should we look at, if they make it to UFA?
Perry, Semin, Iginla, Clowe, Horton, Ryder, others?

What potential UFA d-men could fill out our defense?
Visnovsky, Streit, Hainsey, Murray, Corvo, Redden, others?

RFAs?
Hornqvist, Stewart, Wheeler, Paajarvi, Bogosian, Demers, Leddy, Rundblad, others?

Just took a quick glance at the pages, I guess no news on Simmonds?
- FlyerGuy

I dont think concussion. He got elbowed in the nose, causing a break or near break. I suspect one week with some goofy face shield. The ref should get suspended, even more so than the player. It caused an unnecessary fight between unrelated players to the incident. Horrible.

What wingers should we look at, if they make it to UFA?
Perry, Semin, Iginla, Clowe, Horton, Ryder, others?

What potential UFA d-men could fill out our defense?
Visnovsky, Streit, Hainsey, Murray, Corvo, Redden, others?

RFAs?
Hornqvist, Stewart, Wheeler, Paajarvi, Bogosian, Demers, Leddy, Rundblad, others?
- Rocktane

Perry and Kessel are my two favs. Trade, ufa, whatever. But who knows.

I think D and goaltending would be ok by improving forward play. Maybe the Sabres kid would be available for a Coby type steal soon.

The goals are going to come from hard work. From winning puck battles. From getting the puck to the net and going to the net. That's how B Schenn finally got a goal last night.
- MJL

Uh, no they're not. The leading goal leaders are typically the most skilled forwards. So we either add talent or we wont score. Sucking on the teat of Coots and Read is getting old. Either we ride the wave of a young team or we make changes. We cant pretend this is dungeons and dragons where we dispel reality.

-Da Man

If and only if, the flyers are going to have no chance at the playoffs, I'd like them to send Kimo to a contender, and also try to unload Briere. This draft will be amazing and it would be a shame for the Flyers to not take this oppertunity

Perry, Hornqvist, Yandle, Subban, Bogosian, Leddy, Murray, Streit, and Visnovsky interest me as potentials for our roster next season. Obviously some will cost us more than others, in terms of dollars and/or assets.

If and only if, the flyers are going to have no chance at the playoffs, I'd like them to send Kimo to a contender, and also try to unload Briere. This draft will be amazing and it would be a shame for the Flyers to not take this oppertunity
- Richieattack18

I think we need to keep vets like Hartnell and Briere around, especially if you're idea of sending Kimo to a contender for a chance at the Cup comes true. Plus, if we do package a trade of B. Schenn + for a top pairing d-man at any point, keeping Danny for centre depth would be nice. Giroux, Coots, Briere, Laughton, Holmstrom... looks alright to me.

So we go with a young team for 1 season and 8 games. Things aren't going well so we should trade the assets we traded for 2 offseasons ago? Sometimes you need long than 1.1 seasons to make those decisions..

The officiating has been horrible this year. I understand the fact that they've had a bit of a layoff as well, but just like the Flyers, it's been getting worse, not better.
- flyguy12

I thought Kelly Sutherland did his usual good job in the Flyers-Rangers game he worked. Other than that, it's been a mess -- and not just in terms of unfavorable calls going against the Flyers.

Uh, no they're not. The leading goal leaders are typically the most skilled forwards. So we either add talent or we wont score. Sucking on the teat of Coots and Read is getting old. Either we ride the wave of a young team or we make changes. We cant pretend this is dungeons and dragons where we dispel reality.

-Da Man
- Daman

Both guys have been here for 1 year and both had great seasons last year. 8 games in and the book is closed on them? No need to trade couturier or Schenn this year unless its a deal you can't turn down. Why rock the boat in an abbreviated, irregular season? Let this season play out and make moves if they make sense, but I don't want to see anything drastic unless its a deal you just can't turn down.

Edit - i am not saying you think the things I mentioned, just riding off your post

I thought Kelly Sutherland did his usual good job in the Flyers-Rangers game he worked. Other than that, it's been a mess -- and not just in terms of unfavorable calls going against the Flyers.
- bmeltzer

In my opinion, officiating is always up and down, but you really focus on it when your team isn't playing well. The refs will always be there and always make mistakes and this team needs to work through it just like all of their other issues.

I think we need to keep vets like Hartnell and Briere around, especially if you're idea of sending Kimo to a contender for a chance at the Cup comes true. Plus, if we do package a trade of B. Schenn + for a top pairing d-man at any point, keeping Danny for centre depth would be nice. Giroux, Coots, Briere, Laughton, Holmstrom... looks alright to me.
- Rocktane

To me if you deal Briere you better have someone to replace the talent he brings.

Kimmo has been my favourite Flyer ever since he came here. At this point however I would be open to dealing him at the deadline. The days of Pronger and Timonen are over. Sad because I really wanted the guy to win a cup here.

If he is willing to sign a lower one year deal next season as a second pairing guy I wouldn't be against it, but his age is starting to show. They better have some kind of ceremony for him whenever he does retire. He has given everything to this team.

- stveshdy

BFM says KCCO

To me if you deal Briere you better have someone to replace the talent he brings.

Kimmo has been my favourite Flyer ever since he came here. At this point however I would be open to dealing him at the deadline. The days of Pronger and Timonen are over. Sad because I really wanted the guy to win a cup here.

If he is willing to sign a lower one year deal next season as a second pairing guy I wouldn't be against it, but his age is starting to show. They better have some kind of ceremony for him whenever he does retire. He has given everything to this team.
- flyer_nutter

What if they trade briere and timonen ends up retiring after this year, then they would suddenly have 2 gaping holes in the lineup as well as the locker room.

To me if you deal Briere you better have someone to replace the talent he brings.

Kimmo has been my favourite Flyer ever since he came here. At this point however I would be open to dealing him at the deadline. The days of Pronger and Timonen are over. Sad because I really wanted the guy to win a cup here.

If he is willing to sign a lower one year deal next season as a second pairing guy I wouldn't be against it, but his age is starting to show. They better have some kind of ceremony for him whenever he does retire. He has given everything to this team.
- flyer_nutter

The way their defense looks I am all for re signing Kimmo next year, one year, for whatever is fair.

They need him, even if he has lost a few steps.

Briere is staying. Why would he leave with his kids and family stable in Philly? Plus the NMC, etc. He'll finish his contract here.

Both guys have been here for 1 year and both had great seasons last year. 8 games in and the book is closed on them? No need to trade couturier or Schenn this year unless its a deal you can't turn down. Why rock the boat in an abbreviated, irregular season? Let this season play out and make moves if they make sense, but I don't want to see anything drastic unless its a deal you just can't turn down.

Edit - i am not saying you think the things I mentioned, just riding off your post
- funmaster18

It's cool. Freedom of speech is numero uno. You can call me a Richard....still cool.

I'm not writing off Read or Coots - one will be a very good versatile player and the other a great defensive forward. Neither solves the issue we have, which is a goal scoring sniper for G. I agree we ride the kids and add Perry or Kessel or best available when time is right.

The way their defense looks I am all for re signing Kimmo next year, one year, for whatever is fair.

They need him, even if he has lost a few steps.

Briere is staying. Why would he leave with his kids and family stable in Philly? Plus the NMC, etc. He'll finish his contract here.
- Marc D

Unless the Flyers decide to use the compliance buyout.

To me if you deal Briere you better have someone to replace the talent he brings.

Kimmo has been my favourite Flyer ever since he came here. At this point however I would be open to dealing him at the deadline. The days of Pronger and Timonen are over. Sad because I really wanted the guy to win a cup here.

If he is willing to sign a lower one year deal next season as a second pairing guy I wouldn't be against it, but his age is starting to show. They better have some kind of ceremony for him whenever he does retire. He has given everything to this team.
- flyer_nutter

If the trend is our friend (meaning we suck), I would say you are 100 percent right. In this league, Like the NBA IMO, you get 2 or 3 studs on the team and fill in the rest. Good scouting, cheap FA's, and a desirable team help fill out the rest.

Clearly we have parts to build around. Management can fill out the rest quick, or be patient. We'll see. I think a healthy Flyers plus a winger are actually close to the top.

And I am one to stay patient with Bryz.