That's one of the biggest issues I see with Harry Z. He has a ton of speed, but not much else to his game. He needs to develop a niche somehow if he wants to remain more then a part time call up.
- MJL

I agree. Great speed and an agitator streak to him. But he's not strong enough defensively to use against other teams' better lines, and doesn't kill penalties. His offensive game is decent in the AHL but nothing special where you'd ever consider using him in the top six.

I just don't see a full-time role for him in the NHL unless he finds a specific niche.

As will your avatar after realignment
- Lexington Flyer

That sir is correct. But I can hate another team in due time.

This year's team is weird. The first couple of weeks I thought they just didn't have enough talent, and the injuries to boot would just sink them. Then there's flashes of looking pretty good and very talented. I think their problems are just between the ears more than anything. That to me makes this team much different than the 06-07 team... they just didn't have enough good players (or matured players) at that point.

I could see these guys going either 8-2 over the next 10 or going 2-8. It's all up to whether or not they decide to just keep doing the right things on the ice that win games. Obviously they're going to start running out of time to win games but.... for some reason I'm more optimistic about these guys than I was 2 weeks ago, even after coming off another maddening loss.

Knuble is a healthy scratch tonight.
- PLindbergh31

Wow, is that definite? I'd rather see Rusty be a healthy scratch. Knuble's better 5v5 IMO and usually puts himself in good scoring positions. A line with 12-14-9 is defensively responsible and also could chip in offensively. Sure Rusty is out there on the PK, but give guys like Jake, Schenn, or even Rinaldo or Harry Z and I bet you get the same production.

Trading Shattenkirk would be moronic.
- gobluenotes

Let me live in my own world in peace and quite.... guarantee though briere would have more than 6 goals in 4 games in the playoffs....

Do you believe it's time for a coaching change?
- funmaster18

I'm getting there. I'm NOT pinning the blame on Laviolette but he is showing some of the signs being in the "coach's death spiral" where you don't have to read very far between the lines (organization publicly says they're "confident" he'll tighten up his system, they bring in an assistant coach of their choosing, going back to the NJ series elimination game and into this season, a couple of players -- Timonen after Game 5 vs. NJ, Bryzgalov at least twice this season -- have uttered the dreaded "ask the coach" quote when asked about things that haven't gone right).

This year's team is weird. The first couple of weeks I thought they just didn't have enough talent, and the injuries to boot would just sink them. Then there's flashes of looking pretty good and very talented. I think their problems are just between the ears more than anything. That to me makes this team much different than the 06-07 team... they just didn't have enough good players (or matured players) at that point.

I could see these guys going either 8-2 over the next 10 or going 2-8. It's all up to whether or not they decide to just keep doing the right things on the ice that win games. Obviously they're going to start running out of time to win games but.... for some reason I'm more optimistic about these guys than I was 2 weeks ago, even after coming off another maddening loss.
- eayost

My biggest fear is that it's the same guys getting mad about the losses. I'm afraid some of these younger guys are still looking at all the lights and living the life and not putting enough hatred into the losses as they pile up. It almost feels like they don't think it's their job to fix this.

Hitchcock used to tell the younger players that if they wanted to win they needed to take ownership in the team. That seems to be what's happening here. There are too many passengers.

I don't think he'd block a deal. But he plans to make his permanent home here and keep his kids in school here, so distance from Philly area may matter.
- bmeltzer

Someone mentioned a situation before that seems likely (if possible): The Flyers trade Briere to Boston for their cup run this year and include some cap dollars trade-off (not sure how that works). Briere agrees to the trade on the promise that Flyers sign him the following season after he is bought out by Boston....obviously at a lower cap hit.

Is this even possible??

I'm getting there. I'm NOT pinning the blame on Laviolette but he is showing some of the signs being in the "coach's death spiral" where you don't have to read very far between the lines (organization publicly says they're "confident" he'll tighten up his system, they bring in an assistant coach of their choosing, going back to the NJ series elimination game and into this season, a couple of players -- Timonen after Game 5 vs. NJ, Bryzgalov at least twice this season -- have uttered the dreaded "ask the coach" quote when asked about things that haven't gone right).
- bmeltzer

The two acquisitions since the start of the season scream "on ice coaches."

My biggest fear is that it's the same guys getting mad about the losses. I'm afraid some of these younger guys are still looking at all the lights and living the life and not putting enough hatred into the losses as they pile up. It almost feels like they don't think it's their job to fix this.

Hitchcock used to tell the younger players that if they wanted to win they needed to take ownership in the team. That seems to be what's happening here. There are too many passengers.
- mayorofangrytown

It is quite possible that as a group they just never "get it" and things just go along as it has been. Maybe they can't see the forest through the trees and it'll take the offseason to look back on the body of work that is the season and say "man we really didn't do enough and let down all the fans, the team, teammates, etc.". Maybe then this new "core" rolls into next year hungry and ready to go from day 1 unlike this season.

For some reason I still think there's time for them to collectively "get it" and since the talent is there, things could come together. If there was no talent to start with, I'd say forget it either way.

The two acquisitions since the start of the season scream "on ice coaches."
- mayorofangrytown

All coaches have an expiration date on them...Players need a good kick in the ass from a new voice...personally wouldnt mind seeing murray in here for a year or two to teach these guys better all around team defense....it seems that this team blows against teams that forecheck the hell out of them...they have no answer for that.

The good old days, with things like no ads on the boards
- JoeRussomanno

And the fans in the building didn't cheer like Rangers fans.

(frank)ing great:

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN
Holmgren says reason Timonen in right walking boot is plantar fasciitis. "does not affect him when in a skate," he said.


BROKENFOOTITUS

All coaches have an expiration date on them...Players need a good kick in the ass from a new voice...personally wouldnt mind seeing murray in here for a year or two to teach these guys better all around team defense....it seems that this team blows against teams that forecheck the hell out of them...they have no answer for that.
- Philly1980

Even if Murray takes over, I don't expect a playoff push. It took 10 games before Laviolette started righting the ship in 2009-10. In a shortened season, a 10-game swoon added to the already-played schedule equals a team too poor to make the playoffs and too good to get a top 5 pick outside of winning the lottery.

(frank)ing great:

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN
Holmgren says reason Timonen in right walking boot is plantar fasciitis. "does not affect him when in a skate," he said.


BROKENFOOTITUS
- Philly1980

Another common term is "policeman's heel."

GET YO BILLY CLUB OUT, TIMMO KEEMONEN!

Even if Murray takes over, I don't expect a playoff push. It took 10 games before Laviolette started righting the ship in 2009-10. In a shortened season, a 10-game swoon added to the already-played schedule equals a team too poor to make the playoffs and too good to get a top 5 pick outside of winning the lottery.
- Flyskippy

At this point neither am i...It could however provide a foundation for next season.

At this point neither am i...It could however provide a foundation for next season.
- Philly1980

I cut myself short in my last post. I should have added, "That said, I do not believe the Flyers should change coaches because the GM should work to improve the team for next year since his bids to do so this year did not pan out (not for a lack of trying)."

As MOAT said above, maybe there are too many kids glassy-eyed where they are instead of taking ownership and/or pride in their team.

(frank)ing great:

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN
Holmgren says reason Timonen in right walking boot is plantar fasciitis. "does not affect him when in a skate," he said.


BROKENFOOTITUS
- Philly1980

plantar warts suck. I had a case couple of years back. Felt impossible to walk.

(frank)ing great:

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN
Holmgren says reason Timonen in right walking boot is plantar fasciitis. "does not affect him when in a skate," he said.


BROKENFOOTITUS
- Philly1980

Anybody out there ever skate with plantar fascitis?

TOU ‏@TheOrangeUpdate
Interesting "@StLouisGameTime: NHL Trade Rumors: Kevin Shattenkirk Target Of Philadelphia Flyers For Daniel Briere? http://sbn.to/V9SiTN "

And the fans in the building didn't cheer like Rangers fans.
- Flyskippy

I'm not gonna lie skip, I'm too tone deaf to tell the difference

Even if Murray takes over, I don't expect a playoff push. It took 10 games before Laviolette started righting the ship in 2009-10. In a shortened season, a 10-game swoon added to the already-played schedule equals a team too poor to make the playoffs and too good to get a top 5 pick outside of winning the lottery.
- Flyskippy

I have a weird feeling Lindy Ruff is our next coach...

TOU ‏@TheOrangeUpdate
Interesting "@StLouisGameTime: NHL Trade Rumors: Kevin Shattenkirk Target Of Philadelphia Flyers For Daniel Briere? http://sbn.to/V9SiTN "
- Philly1980

Hahahhahaha. Omg that just made my day.

I have a weird feeling Lindy Ruff is our next coach...
- JoeRussomanno

The Flyers, as a franchise, are fairly parochial. If they went "outside the family" for the next coach, I'd be surprised.

That said, I'd be cool with Ruff as the next coach, but I'd also be cool with Lavvy finishing out the year.

And the fans in the building didn't cheer like Rangers fans.
- Flyskippy

And the noise in the building was created by the buying public and not the paying advertisers, all the fans ate the same concessions and weren't segregated by paid for status or class, the scoreboard was a scoreboard and all the seats in the building were comfortably close enough to actually watch the game.

The days when team officials and dignitaries used the same row of urinals as the masses.