What bothers me a lot lately is player positioning in both ends. Yesterday I don't know how many times I saw all 3 flyer forwards bunched up in front of the boston net and as soon as te pick goes to a corner or side boards, they got out numbered or out worked.

It just seems to me there's a lack of understanding by the players on where they should be and how to break out of the zone.
- funmaster18

The fact that it happens a lot makes me wonder where the accountability is.

I wouldn't say a 6th seed has a serious chance of winning the Cup. Did LA have a serious chance last year, as an 8 seed that was offensively challenged? Once you are in, it's a matter of getting hot.
- Jsaquella

LA was regarded as an elite team after adding Richards. They underachieved b/c of offense. They played great defense all season long but were losing close games (early on). Also, it helps that they had the best goalie on the planet last year. When the playoffs come around you have to be able to play two way hockey and the Flyers don't do that. Two completely different teams.

4. damn refs

The fact that it happens a lot makes me wonder where the accountability is.
- Jsaquella

Same here. I haven't noticed any changes from the style and manner they are playing now from the start of the season.

It would be exciting, that's for sure. All this recent Pronger news has made miss his presence all over again. I had moved on but could really use him now..
- funmaster18

You just keep waiting for him (like a miracle is going to happen) but you know deep down inside he's done. Would love to have him.

The fact that it happens a lot makes me wonder where the accountability is.
- Jsaquella

There is none. Laviolette's trying desperately to win with 'on paper' talent rather than on-ice effort.

LA was regarded as an elite team after adding Richards. They underachieved b/c of offense. They played great defense all season long but were losing close games (early on). Also, it helps that they had the best goalie on the planet last year. When the playoffs come around you have to be able to play two way hockey and the Flyers don't do that. Two completely different teams.
- stveshdy

They were an 8th seed. They finished 19th in the NHL in goal scoring.

The inability to play defense is my issue with Laviolette, his lack of adjustments and his lack of holding guys accountable for their mistakes.

You just keep waiting for him (like a miracle is going to happen) but you know deep down inside he's done. Would love to have him.
- stveshdy

Yes it's over. Rare blend of skill, size, and personality in Pronger that doesn't come around often.

...Laviolette is doing the opposite. He's increasing ice time to the veterans who are making the mistakes-Briere plays more minutes than Voracek, Hartnell and Simmonds. Braydon Coburn leads the team in ice time-while continuing to accept the mistakes and not changing the system to minimize the weaknesses of the roster.


- Jsaquella

Is this really true, Briere playing more time then those three forwards?
That is awful.

I'd double shift Voracek and Giroux in games where they were behind.

Briere would be taking offensive zone starts, and playing 2nd PP and that's it.
If he got caught loafing on D, he'd lose the 2nd PP time.

I could see Coburn and Grossmann leading the ice time for D.
Really Lavi's options on D seem quite limited to me.

There is none. Laviolette's trying desperately to win with 'on paper' talent rather than on-ice effort.
- tangent_man

I think he's afraid to bench anyone knowing they are fighting for a playoff spot, but eventually it has to happen of no one is listening.

They were an 8th seed. They finished 19th in the NHL in goal scoring.

The inability to play defense is my issue with Laviolette, his lack of adjustments and his lack of holding guys accountable for their mistakes.
- Jsaquella

I completely agree.

The Flyers should be a top 8 seed based on their talent but with the style of play this team IMO has no chance when it plays the elite teams of the East.

I would rather they not make the playoffs and deal off some players to get more picks.

Is this really true, Briere playing more time then those three forwards?
That is awful.

I'd double shift Voracek and Giroux in games where they were behind.

Briere would be taking offensive zone starts, and playing 2nd PP and that's it.
If he got caught loafing on D, he'd lose the 2nd PP time.

I could see Coburn and Grossmann leading the ice time for D.
Really Lavi's options on D seem quite limited to me.
- Marc D

On average, ice time goes Giroux, Read, Couturier and Briere. Couturier averages one more second per game than Brere

It's not fool's gold. It's a very young team that is developing. The rebuild started when they traded Carter and Richards.
- Jsaquella

Have no fear. I expect leighton to start today and then lead the team to the playoffs like he did in 2010.

Edit, Boucher looked horrible in relief on Thursday, maybe they want leighton back now that he's had some playing time in ask.

Is this really true, Briere playing more time then those three forwards?
That is awful.

I'd double shift Voracek and Giroux in games where they were behind.

Briere would be taking offensive zone starts, and playing 2nd PP and that's it.
If he got caught loafing on D, he'd lose the 2nd PP time.

I could see Coburn and Grossmann leading the ice time for D.
Really Lavi's options on D seem quite limited to me.
- Marc D

Briere is like a ghost 95% of the time this year.

New to the boards but i have been reading Bills blogs on this site for some time now, always well written and well informed pieces thanks Bill for the read.

I completely agree.

The Flyers should be a top 8 seed based on their talent but with the style of play this team IMO has no chance when it plays the elite teams of the East.

I would rather they not make the playoffs and deal off some players to get more picks.
- stveshdy

The issue is, if they had a coach that gameplanned with the roster he had vs the roster he wanted, they might be able to make a run.

I want them to make the playoffs, but at the same time, I don't want to see picks traded for veterans & short term fixes.

I think he's afraid to bench anyone knowing they are fighting for a playoff spot, but eventually it has to happen of no one is listening.
- funmaster18

If he keeps waiting to try it, it will soon be too late.

I'm not saying they are as good as last year.

However, just about every team in the division lost key roster pieces.

The Penguins lost Jordan Staal and Zybeneck Michalek. Sutter is a god third line center, but he didn't have Staal past offensive levels. and their defense group is just as shallow as the Flyers.

The Devils lost their team captain and best offensive player in Parise.

The Rangers are really the only team that got better on paper.

The coaches in Pittsburgh and NJ adapted to losing pieces. Laviolette didn't.
- Jsaquella

I know this is nitpicking, but the big difference there is the Flyers have no one with the transition skills and offense of Letang on their back end. It makes a huge difference I think.

In order your list of blame

1.
2.
3.
- stveshdy

1. Peter
2. Laviolette
3. Lavy

As Hartnell said after the game yesterday after they got down 1-0 the players packed it in. Clearly the coaches fault for not being able to motivate grown men making millions of dollars to compete.

New to the boards but i have been reading Bills blogs on this site for some time now, always well written and well informed pieces thanks Bill for the read.
- FlyerInEdm

Bill is the best.
Welcome.

The issue is, if they had a coach that gameplanned with the roster he had vs the roster he wanted, they might be able to make a run.

I want them to make the playoffs, but at the same time, I don't want to see picks traded for veterans & short term fixes.
- Jsaquella

Unless Lavi makes adjustments and puts emphasis on playing defense this team has no chance. They could bring in a new coach but with the shorten season I just think they let him coach out the year and evaluate not only the coach but the players.

I know this is nitpicking, but the big difference there is the Flyers have no one with the transition skills and offense of Letang on their back end. It makes a huge difference I think.
- Marc D

They don't. But neither does NJ, really. Yet the Devils make it work.


Granted the Devils have been bad lately, but a lot of that is on Johan Hedberg, he's been brutal. The Moose has been as bad as the Philly media thinks Bryz has been.

Have no fear. I expect leighton to start today and then lead the team to the playoffs like he did in 2010.
- Hextall271

If Leighton does indeed start (and leftwinglock.com has him penciled in), I think it's an experiment to see if the team plays any differently in front of him.

I think I can tell you how that's gonna turn out.

1. Coach
2. Injuries
3. Players.
- MJL

Where do you have the GM? I'm guessing between the popcorn vender, and the guy who scans tickets.

1. Peter
2. Laviolette
3. Lavy

As Hartnell said after the game yesterday after they got down 1-0 the players packed it in. Clearly the coaches fault for not being able to motivate grown men making millions of dollars to compete.
- PLindbergh31

the players have as much confidence in themselves as we do right now