i wouldnt put fleury in the top 5, but something has to be said for the fact that fleury is subjected to year in and year out the very same justifications that people are making for brzy right now. team defense is oftentimes pretty optional in pittsburgh. even if the shots against totals are low, the quality of the shots is typically egregious.
- stayinthefnnet

My thing with Fleury is a) bad rebounds (the Pens have generally learned to compensate) and b) he'll unravel in big games sometimes once you get that first goal past him.

The only thing flyers fans will have to get excited about after this season is the draft......tank it and make us more excited...
- Philly1980

draft the center as Homer always does then trade Giroux for a D man

yeah i got the nat wood part but not evans
- Crimsoninja

Olympic swimmer.

This in turn epitomizes what people have been saying about Bryzgalov in that if his team is responsible defensively he can win. Such is the case with Fleury winning a cup for you guys.
- JoeRussomanno

I think the Cup is what made Fleury overrated. He is a good goalie, no doubt but ever since he won that Cup, people started calling him elite. It's not Fleury's fault people started using that label.

Olympic swimmer.
- PLindbergh31

ahh

ahh
- Crimsoninja

and all American sweethart

My thing with Fleury is a) bad rebounds (the Pens have generally learned to compensate) and b) he'll unravel in big games sometimes once you get that first goal past him.
- bmeltzer

very true. those are both painfully valid points, which is why i would never say that he is truly elite. however, he does have the ability to simply steal games occasionally (as all good goalies should).

I think the Cup is what made Fleury overrated. He is a good goalie, no doubt but ever since he won that Cup, people started calling him elite. It's not Fleury's fault people started using that label.
- NickTheKid87

Still only 28, not impossible for him to get better still. I think he's a tad overrated.

I think the Cup is what made Fleury overrated. He is a good goalie, no doubt but ever since he won that Cup, people started calling him elite. It's not Fleury's fault people started using that label.
- NickTheKid87

I think a lot of people have a hard time distinguishing exactly what an elite player is. Not a knock on people either because I myself overrate players by wanting to think of them as elite from time to time too.

I think the Cup is what made Fleury overrated. He is a good goalie, no doubt but ever since he won that Cup, people started calling him elite. It's not Fleury's fault people started using that label.
- NickTheKid87

that playoff run sums him up fairly well. some games he would give up a softy early and you might as well just pack up and move on because you know hes in for a rough night. othertimes, he would be spectacular with a save percentage barely above .900 because the vast majority of his stops were on break aways or high quality chances.

Still only 28, not impossible for him to get better still. I think he's a tad overrated.
- PLindbergh31

He's been pretty consistent over his career. He actually played better in the 2008 playoffs than in the 2009 playoffs. Take away that Cup and he's probably viewed as what he is: a good goalie, not a star.

21 scouts and front office members at the game last night...Homer has to pull the trigger before Snider pulls the trigger on him
- vejim

They all wanted an autographed puck from Gretzky.

They all wanted an autographed puck from Gretzky.
- Atomic Wedgie

I really believe this was the actual case.

He's been pretty consistent over his career. He actually played better in the 2008 playoffs than in the 2009 playoffs. Take away that Cup and he's probably viewed as what he is: a good goalie, not a star.
- NickTheKid87

Yup. I agree. Cups are a huge thing for players to have on their resume. Especially goaltenders.

I think a lot of people have a hard time distinguishing exactly what an elite player is. Not a knock on people either because I myself overrate players by wanting to think of them as elite from time to time too.
- JoeRussomanno

I think we first have to agree on a definition for elite.

I think a lot of people have a hard time distinguishing exactly what an elite player is. Not a knock on people either because I myself overrate players by wanting to think of them as elite from time to time too.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm pretty stingy with the "elite" label. There's about 8-10 guys in the NHL I'd say are elite.

I think a lot of people have a hard time distinguishing exactly what an elite player is. Not a knock on people either because I myself overrate players by wanting to think of them as elite from time to time too.
- JoeRussomanno

yeah, the "elite" label is so ambiguous and tricky across the board for all positions. i couldnt begin to describe what the cutoff to be deemed elite is to be held to be? top 5? top 15?

Yup. I agree. Cups are a huge thing for players to have on their resume. Especially goaltenders.
- PLindbergh31

It's funny too because he had a .908 SV% and a 2.61 GAA during the Cup run. Goes to show you how much a Cup effects how a player is viewed.

They all wanted an autographed puck from Gretzky.
- Atomic Wedgie

does Gretzky want to coach again?

It's funny too because he had a .908 SV% and a 2.61 GAA during the Cup run. Goes to show you how much a Cup effects how a player is viewed.
- NickTheKid87

If Bryzgalov wins one, it will pay his contract off tenfold.

I think we first have to agree on a definition for elite.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'd call that a guy who can win a game by himself on a regular basis. Right now on the Flyers, that is no one. Voracek could be that, Giroux should be that but isn't so far this year, and since the subject is goalie oriented I know Bryzgalov needs help to win a game so he's not. By help I don't mean goal scoring either however I don't think there's that many elite goalies by my standards these days.

I'm pretty stingy with the "elite" label. There's about 8-10 guys in the NHL I'd say are elite.
- NickTheKid87

who was the last elite player on the flyers?

yeah, the "elite" label is so ambiguous and tricky across the board for all positions. i couldnt begin to describe what the cutoff to be deemed elite is to be held to be? top 5? top 15?
- stayinthefnnet

For me the elite players in the league are Crosby, Malkin, Giroux, Stamkos, Datsyuk, Lundqvist, Chara, Weber and Karlsson. You could make a case for Rinne and Quick (not sold on him). Pietrangelo may be in a year or 2. Same for Tavares.

does Gretzky want to coach again?
- vejim

Probably was meeting with Tocchet last night about having him join his staff.

who was the last elite player on the flyers?
- vejim

pronger