In the broader picture, I agree with you. Last night's game was like too many the Flyers play, in terms of team D lacking. In the small window of a single game, though, I fully expected last night's game to be a struggle unless the Flyers went ahead early and the Panthers sagged.
- bmeltzer

in the ebb and flow of a season, a team about to turn their season around finds a way to be more competitive than last night.

Wow. Well if the Flyers coaching staff is falling over themselves to make the same excuses for this game that the media and players are then it's no surprise that they put in the performance they did. How about we try to hold the team accountable for its wins and losses. Burying a bad loss in an avalanche of excuses helps no one. And yes, I totally agreee that it's a disgrace that no one asked Lavy why Bryz instead of Boosh.

Is it possible that Lavy is wearing out his welcome with the players?? As Bill pointed out the regular use of first period time outs to get his team going says something positive about Lavy, but it also implies something negative. If he gets them ready to play going into the game he shouldn't need a first period time out. There is no excuse for players tuning out a coach, but what do you do when it starts to happen?? I hope it isn't and someone closer to the team would know better, but it is a concern.

Bryz's play over the past three games is a concern. It was the team's play that let the Jersey game go, buy Bryz could have saved the two points for them. He shut out the Isles without having to do much and then he was bad against the Pens, just not as bad as Vokoun. And then last night. I do like the emotion he has shown during this bad stretch and I do believe he will turn it around, but I sure hope he does it soon!

So Carter for Voracek and the first-round draft pick used on Couturier wasn't a good trade? Acquiring Grossmann for two second-round picks wasn't a good deal?

Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? Would that be the strategy that enabled the Flyers to draft Claude Giroux when Holmgren was assistant GM at the time and ran the scouting department? Would it be the strategy for drafting JVR in the first place, or was it somehow both a bad draft choice and a bad decision to trade him straight up for Schenn? Would it be drafting Luca Sbisa (who is at least now a solid #4 defenseman) or trading him as part of the Chris Pronger trade?

BTW, you can do the same "could have drafted Player X but drafted Player Y (or traded that pick for Player Z)" exercise for every single organization in the NHL and they will never look good in hindsight. That's especially true when you simply dismiss the picks that clicked.

Was signing the "wacky goalie" long-term the mistake? Or was the mistake to go into 2010-11 with Michael Leighton, a rookie (Bobrovsky) and Brian Boucher as their goalies in effort to save money on goaltending and use the cap space on other areas?

You can't have it both ways, and you can't focus only on the negative. There are some poorly run teams in the NHL. The Flyers, while they do have their flaws (number one being impatience and a tendency to try to "win last year's Cup"), are one of the better-run teams, and their won-loss record since the 1995 lockout bears that out.
- bmeltzer

I had Panthers fan in front of me acting like a buffoon. Thought I was gonna get hit with something as I was close enough to him to be within splash radius, but I guess the low turnout plus bad play causing folks to leave early prevented me from a Lindy Ruff beaning incident.
- Flyskippy

hahah.. was the turnout that bad?

Glad you kept your cool my friend! Whats that old Amish proverb again:

"Thou shall not spill thine refreshing liquid unless both cheeks hath been turned"

You can't have it both ways, and you can't focus only on the negative.
- bmeltzer

WHAT??

Bill, I am positive that I am negative today

wow, there are no panther fans here...lol
- vejim

Nor Flyers fans

So Carter for Voracek and the first-round draft pick used on Couturier wasn't a good trade? Acquiring Grossmann for two second-round picks wasn't a good deal?

Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? Would that be the strategy that enabled the Flyers to draft Claude Giroux when Holmgren was assistant GM at the time and ran the scouting department? Would it be the strategy for drafting JVR in the first place, or was it somehow both a bad draft choice and a bad decision to trade him straight up for Schenn? Would it be drafting Luca Sbisa (who is at least now a solid #4 defenseman) or trading him as part of the Chris Pronger trade?

BTW, you can do the same "could have drafted Player X but drafted Player Y (or traded that pick for Player Z)" exercise for every single organization in the NHL and they will never look good in hindsight. That's especially true when you simply dismiss the picks that clicked.

Was signing the "wacky goalie" long-term the mistake? Or was the mistake to go into 2010-11 with Michael Leighton, a rookie (Bobrovsky) and Brian Boucher as their goalies in effort to save money on goaltending and use the cap space on other areas?

You can't have it both ways, and you can't focus only on the negative. There are some poorly run teams in the NHL. The Flyers, while they do have their flaws (number one being impatience and a tendency to try to "win last year's Cup"), are one of the better-run teams, and their won-loss record since the 1995 lockout bears that out.
- bmeltzer

I love you William

Bill, I am positive that I am negative today
- vejim

Today?!?

There were lots of things to be concerned about last night but the most concerning thing to me was during Lavi's timeout, everyone was huddled in around him listening intently and Giroux was looking around clearly not plugged in or interested. Given he is the captain this worries me. Why would he be so unplugged and set such an example?

Bill - what do you make of this? Or did you notice?
- caniac11

I was more worried about the need for the timeout in the first place than anything players were doing during those 30 seconds. I didn't read into whether Giroux was paying rapt attention to Laviolette or simply frustrated and trying to get his own head together. Besides, I think he showed ample leadership in the Islanders and Penguins games to show that he cares and he's plugged in.

You know, just an idea here, we could wait until each of these young players develops before using the magical power of hindsight. I love the forward makeup of this team right now. Could they use another winger? Sure. But how many teams are saying the same thing?

Do they need a puck-moving d-man? Yeah, it is a glaring weakness. But who knows how things will turn out.

As well as Carter is doing in LA - you can't tell me that you don't like getting Voracek, Couturier, and Cousins in return. Great assets.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Agree, I am thrilled I don't have to watch Carter anymore

Wow. Well if the Flyers coaching staff is falling over themselves to make the same excuses for this game that the media and players are then it's no surprise that they put in the performance they did. How about we try to hold the team accountable for its wins and losses. Burying a bad loss in an avalanche of excuses helps no one. And yes, I totally agreee that it's a disgrace that no one asked Lavy why Bryz instead of Boosh.

Is it possible that Lavy is wearing out his welcome with the players?? As Bill pointed out the regular use of first period time outs to get his team going says something positive about Lavy, but it also implies something negative. If he gets them ready to play going into the game he shouldn't need a first period time out. There is no excuse for players tuning out a coach, but what do you do when it starts to happen?? I hope it isn't and someone closer to the team would know better, but it is a concern.

Bryz's play over the past three games is a concern. It was the team's play that let the Jersey game go, buy Bryz could have saved the two points for them. He shut out the Isles without having to do much and then he was bad against the Pens, just not as bad as Vokoun. And then last night. I do like the emotion he has shown during this bad stretch and I do believe he will turn it around, but I sure hope he does it soon!
- TS_Downes

just touching the Lavy bit..

Multiple players said that the timeout during the Pens game got them fired up. So yes, he has lost the players and has worn out his welcome.

Even the best defensive teams give up some breakaways. The Flyers give up way too many no one would contest that. My point is the goaltender has to make a stop every once in a while. Every breakaway or odd man rush ends up in the back of the Flyers net.
- PLindbergh31

Funny I was just about to type the same thing! This is absolutely 100% correct. There will be defensive breakdowns, it's inevitable. As well as Bryz had been playing his inability to stop breakaways or partial ones, and penalty shots is somewhat troubling. I am glad the Flyers have only been in one shootout this year because he is terrible at those also. He has made some incredible saves this year and kept the team in many games when they couldn't find the back of the net, but breakaways are one on one hockey; shooter and goalie. Goalies have a distinct advantage over shooters in hockey in one on one situations, unlike soccer where most goalies don't have a prayer! Many times those breakaways could be game changing saves that Bryz isn't making.

hahah.. was the turnout that bad?

Glad you kept your cool my friend! Whats that old Amish proverb again:

"Thou shall not spill thine refreshing liquid unless both cheeks hath been turned"
- jak521

No, no, no. It's "When the English strike you with vanilla ice cream, let Harrison Ford handle it."

Nor Flyers fans
- Flyskippy

if you mean me I have been a flyer fan since 1968, some could say a stepford..had season tix for 27 years

I was more worried about the need for the timeout in the first place than anything players were doing during those 30 seconds. I didn't read into whether Giroux was paying rapt attention to Laviolette or simply frustrated and trying to get his own head together. Besides, I think he showed ample leadership in the Islanders and Penguins games to show that he cares and he's plugged in.
- bmeltzer

We should probably trade him and Couts to Phx for Dhone and ELO.

I was more worried about the need for the timeout in the first place than anything players were doing during those 30 seconds. I didn't read into whether Giroux was paying rapt attention to Laviolette or simply frustrated and trying to get his own head together. Besides, I think he showed ample leadership in the Islanders and Penguins games to show that he cares and he's plugged in.
- bmeltzer

I dunno, Bill, I saw him on the way to the bench for the Fan Stormers and he was in shorts and playing with a ball. I mean he wasn't even focused on the sport of hockey. Should've been bouncing a puck! Where's the focus?!?

/sarcasm

We should probably trade him and Couts to Phx for Dhone and ELO.
- jak521

Yeah, he'd bring a strange magic to the team.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

Carter 10pts
Richards 10pts

Simmonds 13pts
B Schenn-14pts
Voracek 19pts
Couts 7 pts

Ohhh yeah the trade for captain richie and coke head cartsy was so bad....Let me tell you the flyers got raped on that one...

You just need to STFU sometimes....go listen to the rest of the idiots on WIP.

No, no, no. It's "When the English strike you with vanilla ice cream, let Harrison Ford handle it."
- Flyskippy

Shoulda realized you were one of those "Paradise Pa" puppets. Ill tell you what, my friends Jeremiah and Mordecai Yoder from Lititz have utmost respect for Mr Ford... but they sure have a pretty big hate going for those Paradiseites.

Kinda like a Philly-Pit thing.. just a bit more biblical.

We should probably trade him and Couts to Phx for Dhone and ELO.
- jak521

. Well Dhone could add a lot of muscle to the lineup and ELO was one of my wife's favorite bands.

Carter 10pts
Richards 10pts

Simmonds 13pts
B Schenn-14pts
Voracek 19pts
Couts 7 pts

Ohhh yeah the trade for captain richie and coke head cartsy was so bad....Let me tell you the flyers got raped on that one...

You just need to STFU sometimes....go listen to the rest of the idiots on WIP.
- Philly1980

only listened to WIP when the Lindros trade happened and like you never complain?

. Well Dhone could add a lot of muscle to the lineup and ELO was one of my wife's favorite bands.


- bmeltzer

is that Matt Carle?

Carter 10pts
Richards 10pts

Simmonds 13pts
B Schenn-14pts
Voracek 19pts
Couts 7 pts


- Philly1980

I believe we also got Ghost and Grossmann as a result as well.

when the flyers win the cup this year I will apologize to Homer, just so freakin frustrated listening to the panthers idiots
- vejim

homer didn't want to be locked into 2 NTC w/ guys whose play wasn't worthy of a decade long commitment. that's his way of acknowledging his own mistake. i have other issues w/ homer, but both orgs are better off as a result of those deals. some other deals, not so much.