Anthony Stolarz got the night off tonight against Owen Sound.

forwards constantly cheat. dmen are often on an island...
- isaiah520

And that's undisciplined play. And it's why I'm on the "New Coach Choo-Choo"

I like Laviolette, and I was very much in favor of his hire. He's had success here and provided us all with a lot of great memories. But it's not getting done now.

I don't think that Holmgren failed through effort. He tossed $200mm in contracts at Suter and Weber. He could have signed Carle, but perhaps he felt that going for the upgrade would trump treading water.

I also doubt that he's standing pat because he wants to. I'm sure that he's been working the phones, but hasn't found a deal that he's comfortable making yet. Until that changes, the coach has to do a better job of utilizing the players on hand.

should be 2-1. mcginn puts it wide on a wide open net. hawks have certainly gotten lucky from time to time.

They dont have the kind of guys to play that kind of game yet that is exactly the kind of game Lava preaches.

If the Flyers want a new identity so be it. Most coaches do not change their approach to the game, and I think management has failed matching its players to the style Lava preaches. They brought him in, in the first place. Babcock isnt going to change his style, nor is Trotz, etc.

You talk of forwards back-checking and I agree they do tend to try and move up the ice too quick sometimes. At the same time how many times have you see a guy like Talbot for example glide back with no effort?
- flyer_nutter

It's got nothing to do with wanting a new identity, it has to do with a coach being able to recognize the limitations of his team and adjusting his system to fit the strengths of his team.

Chicago plays a highly aggressive style. They swarm the puck, which this team is not built to do, yet they have a coach that preaches that kind of style.

If Holmgren was truly looking for them to be more d-first then Lava should have been fired from day one of this season.

I see a lot of structure to be honest. Where it is lost, is stupidity.
- flyer_nutter

Chicago swarms the puck in all 3 zones. They play hard in all 3 zones. There is no comparison between the way the Flyers play, and the way Chicago plays by design. Completely different.
What Quenneville preaches is completely different then what Laviolette does. No comparison.

You mention back-checking frequently. It takes far more then that from the forwards to be a good defensive team. The Forwards don't back-check consistenly because they're constantly in deep on ill advised forechecks. That's on the Coach.
Watch this team play, and then watch Boston, Devils, Montreal. There is no neutral zone presence for this team. There are no levels to it's forecheck. If you beat the Flyers initial forechecking pressure deep , you have a free skate to the Flyers zone. The structure is not there for this team.
- MJL

I'm cool with not agreeing.

I stand with the notion that I dont think a new coach will fix enough of the true issues on this team. I do not believe Murray and Paddock are long term solutions so I would not bring in a band-aid guy.

I dont care enough to weep the night away if Lava is fired, so be it. More than anything, I want the organization to better focus on the players they bring in. Guys that are known for being consistent in terms of work ethic. That is #1 for me. Pick an identity, and stick with it. They have been headless chickens in that regard since the Hatch/Rathje era.

The Devils, Boston, and NY, are all fairly D-minded teams.

They fashion their teams to fit such an identity. It starts with goaltending and moves out.

The Flyers had an indentity of a hunt the puck team. That was according to what Holmgren wanted originally. He failed to bring in guys that fit that identity imo. If the Flyers want to switch and go to a more Peter DeBoer kind of approach so be it. Just for (frank)s sake stick with something because I am tired of all the panic moves.
- flyer_nutter

The Devils, Boston, and NY are teams that play both ends of the ice. And their systems, strategy and identity is to play well in all areas and is demanded that they do so from their Coaches. Not the case in Philly. That was clear in the 3rd period.

Chicago swarms the puck in all 3 zones. They play hard in all 3 zones. There is no comparison between the way the Flyers play, and the way Chicago plays by design. Completely different.
What Quenneville preaches is completely different then what Laviolette does. No comparison.
- MJL

Lets stop here.

Neither one of us truly know what Lava or Quenneville for that matter preach.

We see what is played on the ice. That is where it ends.

Yes, he failed to land those guys. It happens. So what the coach needed to do at that point, is adapt his system to fit the players on hand.

At least 50% of coaching, in any sport, is making adjustments. Laviolette has come up real small in that regard the last season and a half.
- Jsaquella

what about the def adjustments that seravalli wrote about? i don't see anything different lately, but there was supposed to be an adjustment with the forward positioning. so, either they are not listening or they dropped the changes or whatever. either way, it's an indictment of the coaching staff to a signif degree.

The Devils, Boston, and NY are teams that play both ends of the ice. And their systems, strategy and identity is to play well in all areas and is demanded that they do so from their Coaches. Not the case in Philly. That was clear in the 3rd period.
- MJL

At the same time.

Would you not agree that a bigger issue lies in not knowing how a player will play given a certain night? If he will play solidly or simply stupid.

That is more the case with this team, than any of the other ones you listed.

I would just wait for the off-season either way. Even if they choose to fire Lava. I want someone other than Murray or Paddock. PATIENCE.

what about the def adjustments that seravalli wrote about? i don't see anything different lately, but there was supposed to be an adjustment with the forward positioning. so, either they are not listening or they dropped the changes or whatever. either way, it's an indictment of the coaching staff to a signif degree.
- isaiah520

Part of it is that nobody's been held accountable, unless it's a guy like Zolnierczyk or Rinaldo. If it's Giroux that makes a mistake or is lazy on a backcheck, he's right back on the ice.

The other part could well be that the team has tuned him out.

Watching Toronto game where the (frank) did this jvr guy come from? Talk about amazing player and I hate the leafs. Top 3 power forward in nhl

Lets stop here.

Neither one of us truly know what Lava or Quenneville for that matter preach.

We see what is played on the ice. That is where it ends.
- flyer_nutter

You can stop right there if you choose. It's clear to me what the Coach preaches. When you see something happen repeatedly, it's not an accident. Gustafsson is in deep gambling on a pinch because he is told to and taught to. Because that is what the Coach wants. He want this team aggressively gambling on the offensive side of the puck.
And when you watch a Coach like Quenneville and how the teams he Coaches play, that's not an accident either.

Part of it is that nobody's been held accountable, unless it's a guy like Zolnierczyk or Rinaldo. If it's Giroux that makes a mistake or is lazy on a backcheck, he's right back on the ice.

The other part could well be that the team has tuned him out.
- Jsaquella

The tuned out thing is interesting. I could see it because he is a supposed to be a hard coach, but at the same time even the players have said he is good at motivating them. There was a quote a little while ago from a few players about that regarding timeouts.

Accountability, hasnt been here for a while. Pre Lava even. I would frankly love to see Giroux benched for a period, or anyone for that matter that isn't one of the ditch diggers on the team.

Watching Toronto game where the (frank) did this jvr guy come from? Talk about amazing player and I hate the leafs. Top 3 power forward in nhl
- #71 & #87 R HOCKEY

He needed to really be left alone & on a consistent line. Never really got it here & thus didn't build confidence.

You can stop right there if you choose. It's clear to me what the Coach preaches. When you see something happen repeatedly, it's not an accident. Gustafsson is in deep gambling on a pinch because he is told to and taught to. Because that is what the Coach wants. He want this team aggressively gambling on the offensive side of the puck.
And when you watch a Coach like Quenneville and how the teams he Coaches play, that's not an accident either.
- MJL

We will see what happens when they send Lava packing. Which I will definately agree is looming.

I dont think the on ice product will match up to the expectations.

what about the def adjustments that seravalli wrote about? i don't see anything different lately, but there was supposed to be an adjustment with the forward positioning. so, either they are not listening or they dropped the changes or whatever. either way, it's an indictment of the coaching staff to a signif degree.
- isaiah520

It's clearly different. Next game watch when the puck is deep in the Flyers zone in the corners or behind the net. You'll see both defenseman and a forward on the puck, trying to outnumber the other team. Leaving the front of the net and the points to the two remaining forwards to cover. Rather then the traditional defensive zone coverage of one defenseman always being in front of the net. If you have them outnumbered 3 to 2 on the puck, you expect to come out with it. But if you don't, and they get it, then they have you outnumbered 3-2 at the net.

We will see what happens when they send Lava packing. Which I will definately agree is looming.

I dont think the on ice product will match up to the expectations.
- flyer_nutter

What are the expectations?

He needed to really be left alone & on a consistent line. Never really got it here & thus didn't build confidence.
- ob18

Bad move though. Carter Richards and jvr right now would have you top 4 at least

What are the expectations?
- MJL

You tell me. I am not the one advocating for a coaching change.

At the same time.

Would you not agree that a bigger issue lies in not knowing how a player will play given a certain night? If he will play solidly or simply stupid.

That is more the case with this team, than any of the other ones you listed.

I would just wait for the off-season either way. Even if they choose to fire Lava. I want someone other than Murray or Paddock. PATIENCE.
- flyer_nutter

I said before, in my opinion what is going on with this team right now is not a player issue. It is a Coaching issue.

You tell me. I am not the one advocating for a coaching change.
- flyer_nutter

I don't think anybody has to advocate it or even suggest it, the fact these problems still happen & on a regular basis with little to no adjustments tells us it's a realistic possibility.

It's clearly different. Next game watch when the puck is deep in the Flyers zone in the corners or behind the net. You'll see both defenseman and a forward on the puck, trying to outnumber the other team. Leaving the front of the net and the points to the two remaining forwards to cover. rathe rthen the traditional defensive zone coverage of one defenseman always being in front of the net. If you have them outnumbered 3 to 2 on the puck, you expect to come out with it. But if you don't, and they get it, then they have you outnumbered 3-2 at the net.
- MJL

You bring up a good point.

How many times a game, in the offensive and defensive zone do the Flyers outnumber the other team along the wall... and end up losing that battle. Far too often. Effort is indeed a big issue on the team.

You tell me. I am not the one advocating for a coaching change.
- flyer_nutter

My expectations are that this team plays solid Hockey and makes the playoffs.

My expectations are that this team plays solid Hockey and makes the playoffs.
- MJL

Solid hockey is a very broad term.