Is it too soon to discuss Bryzgalov as a buyout candidate? No.

I still think I'd wait until the summer of 2014. When the compliance buyouts were first confirmed, along with the cap recapture penalties, I felt Bryz was a candidate just for that reason.

Now, the level of play has become a concern-or at least the consistency has. If Btyzgalov can not recapture his level of play from earlier in the season, if there's two years of wild inconsistency, then the Flyers need to look at all options, including the nuclear one.
- Jsaquella

No it isnt, thats why i would like to see murray come in. If Bryz play improves than we know where to point the finger.

Also i dont watch the stars but are guys getting second and third chances wide open in front of the net? Ive seen bryz get raped alot this year on those.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: What's Working/Not Working After 27 Games?
- bmeltzer

this should continue the arguing that's been going for the last few days about bryz.

it's clear bryz's performance has slipped - but if we're comparing straight up to those on Dallas, their backups have combined for 11 games played. Bryz has started all but 2. perhaps the workload is more significant of a factor than we realize. he needs to raise his game, but the team in front of him needs to stop allowing the amount of high quality chances on top of being simply able to clear the zone quicker. my opinion of the team as a whole is that they're lousy and poorly coached.

so many times we see them fail to execute a great chance at one end, the puck goes the other way and it ends up in the net - like briere with a glorious chance from the slot in the final minute of the 2nd period in the penguins game. doesn't even get the shot on goal. instead of a 5-4 flyers lead with momentum they go in flat. pittsburgh then scores in the first minute of the 3rd after a failed line rush off the faceoff. game over. (with boucher in net, by the way, which was a ridiculous decision - not fair to bryz, and certainly not to boucher).

the team in front of him blows, and he's tired. that doesn't matter though, because when they lose it's his fault, he sucks, and he's not worth his contract. this isn't your POV - just what the masses say.

The biggest concern I have is that, as we continue to talk about us being a young team, our biggest disappointments have primarily been older players.

G, Talbot, Timonen, Coburn, Gervais, Briere, Knuble, Bryz...

That to me is the scariest part of this whole debacle of a season. Its not that the young guys are not able to play up to par.. its that our vets are playing bad.

Look at Read, Schenn's, Voracek, Simmonds, Rinaldo..
- jak521

I think that's bad short term but a no big deal long term. I was and still am more worried about the young guys continuing to play well and furthering their development.

The biggest concern I have is that, as we continue to talk about us being a young team, our biggest disappointments have primarily been older players.

G, Talbot, Timonen, Coburn, Gervais, Briere, Knuble, Bryz...

That to me is the scariest part of this whole debacle of a season. Its not that the young guys are not able to play up to par.. its that our vets are playing bad.

Look at Read, Schenn's, Voracek, Simmonds, Rinaldo..
- jak521

Honestly, that's the biggest comfort to me, because it means the future is bright. In a few years a lot of those vets will be gone, if not sooner.

flyers will be sellers this year...i dont see them gearing up for a playoff run...time to win the lottery
- Philly1980

I think they'll regroup. Can't see them giving up any young guy. Only Briere, Gagne.
Personally I'd go for Talbot/Simmonds but it's highly unlikely to see business between the two clubs

Fair Bryz analysis, but I still put him at at least #8 on the list of things that need to be fixed before him.

1. Team defense
2. Defense
3. 5-on-5
4. Power play
5. Overall consistency
6. Fortitude in tight games
7. Coach adjusting
- Scoob

Power Play is 5th in the league. The 2nd unit is awful but they're still 5th in the league. I wouldn't even put that in the top 10.

I think they'll regroup. Can't see them giving up any young guy. Only Briere, Gagne.
Personally I'd go for Talbot/Simmonds but it's highly unlikely to see business between the two clubs
- Orpik44

Letang for Talbot, Simmonds and a 3rd

Bill this has to have some effect...You cant compare the two:

Playing time:

Bryz:1,409:58
Lehtonen: 861:03

almost 600 minute difference....about ten games

Bryz has started all but 2. perhaps the workload is more significant of a factor than we realize. .
- hammarby31

Thoughts on that...I believe that Bryz is better with a big workload, say, 85-90% of the starts (68-72 in a full season). What I think is happening here is that not only is he getting a few more starts than he probably should (especially in a compressed season), his workload in those games is very high. Rare is the game where he has an easy night. That is a reflection on the relatively poor performance of the team in front of him.

Honestly, that's the biggest comfort to me, because it means the future is bright. In a few years a lot of those vets will be gone, if not sooner.
- Jsaquella

I agree on that aspect.. but I meant as in this season, and with hopes of turning it around. The future is certainly bright here... It just bugs me that guys like Hartnell, G, and Coburn have been so disappointing this year.

G has to be that im taking over the game player that we saw so often last season.

The team as a whole has really lacked swagger this season... except for maybe Rinaldo.

No it isnt, thats why i would like to see murray come in. If Bryz play improves than we know where to point the finger.

Also i dont watch the stars but are guys getting second and third chances wide open in front of the net? Ive seen bryz get raped alot this year on those.
- Philly1980

I don't disagree that a lot of the issues aren't on Bryzgalov. I don't think he's why they are losing, and I also don't think that rushing into a buyout is the right step.

But it has to stay on the table.

Bill this has to have some effect...You cant compare the two:

Playing time:

Bryz:1,409:58
Lehtonen: 861:03
- Philly1980

holy poop

I don't think we're an average team on paper. Think about it. If Hartnell was performing like he usually does, Giroux was playing like a top 5 player consistently and Briere was playing at least average, we'd be 10 times better offensively with Voracek and Schenn emerging plus Read and Simmonds continue to play well.

Defensively, if Coburn would play like he does normally and Mesz can stay healthy, we'd be better off on the back end too.

But we need to play better team D which has been an issue for awhile and Lavy can't/won't fix this.
- NickTheKid87

All true, but we also have our share of mediocre and/or bad players to balance that out.

If our better players actually performed up to their capabilities, then we'd certainly be in a better position. But, as of now, it seems that the whole is less than the sum of the parts.

Letang for Talbot, Simmonds and a 3rd
- NickTheKid87

ok Cloutier ..

Today he has Hemsky going to Pitt for their first and a choice of Morrow, Pouliot, Maatta, Domoulin, or Harrington..

he did a bit of a disappearing act earlier this yr, but i hear what your saying. i had concern coming into the yr about all of the career yrs and the possibility of some sophomore slumps.
- isaiah520

That's what Talbot did in his last 2 years in a Penguin uniform. He disappeared. Some were willing to let him go (to let Vitale play) and after you guys offered huge money for him....bye bye Talbo.

ok Cloutier ..

Today he has Hemsky going to Pitt for their first and a choice of Morrow, Pouliot, Maatta, Domoulin, or Harrington..
- jak521

He's off his meds.

I agree on that aspect.. but I meant as in this season, and with hopes of turning it around. The future is certainly bright here... It just bugs me that guys like Hartnell, G, and Coburn have been so disappointing this year.

G has to be that im taking over the game player that we saw so often last season.

The team as a whole has really lacked swagger this season... except for maybe Rinaldo.
- jak521

Giroux's ineffectiveness, or not being at a superstar level, is the biggest concern I have going forward. The other issues can be fixed, by a coaching change, trades or buyouts or other moves. If Giroux can't get back to his level of play from last season, then the Flyers will have to make massive adjustments

I think they'll regroup. Can't see them giving up any young guy. Only Briere, Gagne.
Personally I'd go for Talbot/Simmonds but it's highly unlikely to see business between the two clubs
- Orpik44

Briere Kimmo Gagne Timmonen Fedastanko, knuble all can go...

Bill this has to have some effect...You cant compare the two:

Playing time:

Bryz:1,409:58
Lehtonen: 861:03

almost 60 minute difference....about ten games
- Philly1980

exactly what i am suggesting. when you include the number of back-to-back games the flyers have played, it's reasonable to suggest fatigue is a factor.

ok Cloutier ..

Today he has Hemsky going to Pitt for their first and a choice of Morrow, Pouliot, Maatta, Domoulin, or Harrington..
- jak521

I still can't believe they pay $5M to Hemsky. They made the same mistake TWICE after his deal ended

Power Play is 5th in the league. The 2nd unit is awful but they're still 5th in the league. I wouldn't even put that in the top 10.
- NickTheKid87

It's inconsistent, even the first unit. It's cost them games. There's more to the PP than racking up goals. They need to be important goals. Many times they fail when they really need to convert.

Thoughts on that...I believe that Bryz is better with a big workload, say, 85-90% of the starts (68-72 in a full season). What I think is happening here is that not only is he getting a few more starts than he probably should (especially in a compressed season), his workload in those games is very high. Rare is the game where he has an easy night. That is a reflection on the relatively poor performance of the team in front of him.
- Scoob

I agree. Starting 5 straight games over a 12-14 day period is a lot easier than starting 5 games in a 8-10 day period.

Giroux's ineffectiveness, or not being at a superstar level, is the biggest concern I have going forward. The other issues can be fixed, by a coaching change, trades or buyouts or other moves. If Giroux can't get back to his level of play from last season, then the Flyers will have to make massive adjustments
- Jsaquella

I think for the most part, G's play can be attributed to his new role as captain and having all the pressure and expectation on him to continue his pace from last year. His play hasn't been terrible, but it's not what it was last year.

Briere Kimmo Gagne Timmonen Fedastanko, knuble all can go...
- Philly1980

The only guy I think would be useful in Pittsburgh is Briere. Fedotenko is done since he was let go by us.

It's inconsistent, even the first unit. It's cost them games. There's more to the PP than racking up goals. They need to be important goals. Many times they fail when they really need to convert.
- Scoob

That's true but as a whole I wouldn't worry about it as much as I'd worry about the other stuff you listed.