Problem right now, is that some areas of the Flyers game seem to be improving. Special teams is improving. Last night they had a good forecheck, and some puck pressure, went to the net and got the puck to the net. And scored some goals. But the team defense is going South and getting worse. need to get all facets of their game going in the same direction.
- MJL

Seems like there has been some improvement on faceoffs as well. Which is a very underestimated aspect of hockey.

But, they won't do it until the price gets escalated by those teams headed to the playoffs. So, a team sinks in the standings to improve their draft position and, at the end, they deal for picks and prospects.

The $64m cap for next year has pretty well killed free agency. A few teams will be able to chase a couple of the top players but,it is hard to chase UFA when you are hard against the cap.
- spatso

Teams have the Compliance buyout to use. I doubt that we'll ever see Free Agency killed in the NHL.

Bourdon has had three concussions within a calendar year and a span of less than 30 games played. As of a few weeks ago, he was still not symptom free from the most recent concussion (sustained in November).

There is no timetable for his return. I would not be shocked -- though nothing has been said about it -- if he's shut down for the entire season and then fingers are crossed that he's able to play next season without another concussion. But that's 100 percent speculation on my part. For all I know, he could be cleared in February to return to practice. The organization has been totally mum about it.
- bmeltzer

Thanks. Thats why I was asking bc I have heard nothing about him (improving or not).

In the mean time he's been playing very well, still 2nd in OHL scoring when I looked yesterday.
- ob18

OHL's player of the month

The Pronger excuse is gone for me. This guy has missed more games than played for the Flyers. They have been without him for sometime now.
- stveshdy

Understandable. But it's not gone for me because it takes time to replace a player like that. Not many available. That's not an overnight fix. We'll see how long it takes Detroit to even find a player that is remotely close to replacing Nik Lidstrom.

The Pronger excuse is gone for me. This guy has missed more games than played for the Flyers. They have been without him for sometime now.
- stveshdy

The Pronger angle is still relative for me in a couple ways. First, his contract is going to be a bit of an obstacle in free agency, even with the 10% overage rules. The other issue is, that the way the team is built, it was with Pronger being a BIG part of it.

You're not replacing a Pronger without trading a lot of assets or handing out a massive contract-and even then, you're not fully replacing him in every sense, from on ice, to locker room presence to skill set.

Understandable. But it's not gone for me because it takes time to replace a player like that. Not many available. That's not an overnight fix. We'll see how long it takes Detroit to even find a player that is remotely close to replacing Nik Lidstrom.
- MJL

I dont disagree with your statement its just that Pronger was really here for one year. Lidstrom had been a staple for Detroit for over a decade.

People are so deeply into the worries about the Flyer deficiencies they might miss the fact that they played a very good game against a pretty talented Carolina team.

I agree with the concern. But have most teams lose a Pronger and a Meszaros on the defense, and they won't be in very good shape. Take the Rangers for example. Take two of their top 4 out of the picture. Say Girardi and McDonaugh. They'll be in far worse shape then the Flyers are now.
- MJL

That's for sure. But it's cold comfort because the Flyers actually ARE in that situation now of Pronger being gone for good, Meszaros having suffered three major injuries in the last calendar year and Timonen looking like age and injuries are catching up to him.

i have no clue... i hope for both the org's sake and his it's not bad
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Cousins goes to court in early February, I think it's the 4th. Hopefully, it's an unfounded charge.

The Pronger angle is still relative for me in a couple ways. First, his contract is going to be a bit of an obstacle in free agency, even with the 10% overage rules. The other issue is, that the way the team is built, it was with Pronger being a BIG part of it.

You're not replacing a Pronger without trading a lot of assets or handing out a massive contract-and even then, you're not fully replacing him in every sense, from on ice, to locker room presence to skill set.
- Jsaquella

He just wasn't in the lineup enough for me to use him as an excuse to why this team struggles. Lets face it he isn't getting younger either and was starting to decline in his game also.

People are so deeply into the worries about the Flyer deficiencies they might miss the fact that they played a very good game against a pretty talented Carolina team.
- spatso

I would disagree that they played a very good game. They scored some goals. But they were awful defensively. The Canes attempted over 90 shots on net against the Flyers. They play like that against a top team. They'll get throttled.

He just wasn't in the lineup enough for me to use him as an excuse to why this team struggles. Lets face it he isn't getting younger either and was starting to decline in his game also.
- stveshdy

Pronger was still a game changing player when he got hurt.

People are so deeply into the worries about the Flyer deficiencies they might miss the fact that they played a very good game against a pretty talented Carolina team.
- spatso

I'll condense today's blog into a Twitter-length synopsis. They played a very good game in some key aspects, and got enough goaltending and blocked shots to overcome what wasn't so good.

That's for sure. But it's cold comfort because the Flyers actually ARE in that situation now of Pronger being gone for good, Meszaros having suffered three major injuries in the last calendar year and Timonen looking like age and injuries are catching up to him.
- bmeltzer

They have some work to do for sure. Holmgren is going to have to earn his money here, no doubt.

He just wasn't in the lineup enough for me to use him as an excuse to why this team struggles. Lets face it he isn't getting younger either and was starting to decline in his game also.
- stveshdy

Oh, I'm not using it as an excuse to the struggles, but there are factors as to why they haven't been able to effectively replace him.

As far as decline, I don't see that. Sure he'd lost a step, but he was still a very effective, maybe even elite , defenseman. Last season he averaged almost a point per game before going down with his injury.

Pronger was still a game changing player when he got hurt.
- MJL

He played well the year they went to the cup. After that he started to look slower and getting beat more IMO.

He played well the year they went to the cup. After that he started to look slower and getting beat more IMO.
- stveshdy

I still saw a top defenseman in the league.

Oh, I'm not using it as an excuse to the struggles, but there are factors as to why they haven't been able to effectively replace him.

As far as decline, I don't see that. Sure he'd lost a step, but he was still a very effective, maybe even elite , defenseman. Last season he averaged almost a point per game before going down with his injury.
- Jsaquella

He didn't play enough games for me to warrant a point per game.

Teams have the Compliance buyout to use. I doubt that we'll ever see Free Agency killed in the NHL.
- MJL

I agree. But next year will not see the activity of the past few years. Teams will need to be much more strategic, it is going to be far harder to unload back end contracts and teams with significant cap space will have a huge advantage.

Did the final agreement allow for the home team to give a player an extra year (eg can Anahiem offer Perry one more year than other teams.)?

Thats exactly why this is my main concern. Why use a young talented kid in a trade for a 35 year old winger? If your going to make a trade use it on another young defenseman (call Phoenix). This team needs blueline help.
- stveshdy

Unless Iginla is considered by the Flyers brain trust as a piece that would give them a good chance for the cup, it would be a desperation move by a GM sensing his replacement breathing down his neck.

Does Jerome add some grit and offense? Sure. But does he bring the Flyers within arms reach of the cup. I don't think so, not with the below average skating, first pass d-men they've assembled, and the kids not seemingly ready to step up and solidify their roles. So the move would be an attempt to get them in the PO's only.

I'd rather they keep their youth and decide how they are going to restructure their defense to get a good mix of stay at homers and puck movers. Give the young forwards a chance this year and see who are the long term assets, and who should be packaged at the end of the season.

But that will require some patience and foresight.

OK. What's plan "B"?

He didn't play enough games for me to warrant a point per game.
- stveshdy

Doesn't matter if he warranted it, in 13 games he had 12 points. That's near a point per game.

I still saw a top defenseman in the league.
- MJL

Losing Pronger hurts even if hes at 80% hes probably better than 3/4 of our defenseman today. However, he didn't play enough for me in his career in Philly for us to use him as an excuse.

The Flyers went after Weber this summer to try an limit the damage but that didn't work out. I think they need to get creative and get a game changer on the blueline.

Doesn't matter if he warranted it, in 13 games he had 12 points. That's near a point per game.
- Jsaquella

Not enough games for me.

Thats a very short sample.

I agree. But next year will not see the activity of the past few years. Teams will need to be much more strategic, it is going to be far harder to unload back end contracts and teams with significant cap space will have a huge advantage.

Did the final agreement allow for the home team to give a player an extra year (eg can Anahiem offer Perry one more year than other teams.)?
- spatso

What's going to curtail activity in the next couple off seasons is the mass re-signings that went down prior to the lockout. Looking at this year's UFA class of defensemen and it's a lot of old guys and early 30's guys that will get more money than they deserve.