He's off his meds.
- canadianpenfan

No, I'm not trolling

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.
- NickTheKid87

Yeah, their PP has actually been ok and their PK, for the most part. We just need to tighten down a bit.

The only guy I think would be usefull in Pittsburgh is Briere. Fedotenko is done since he was let go by us.
- Orpik44

That would help the Flyers.

The only guy I think would be usefull in Pittsburgh is Briere. Fedotenko is done since he was let go by us.
- Orpik44

Briere will undoubtedly return to top form with another team. Just needs to play center.

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.
- Flyers_V88

I doubt that the captaincy plays any role, nor should it. I do think that he had an undisclosed injury earlier in the season, but I think the struggles to get going-and maintain are indeed coming from pressing a bit too much.

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

not just that - but when the pp is bad, it's really bad, meaning they generate no attack time, don't wear down the other team, and lose momentum.

That would help the Flyers.
- NickTheKid87

Be warned though, he cannot play wing! lol. He needs to be at center.

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.
- hammarby31

here are the top 9...

Goalie GA sv% Minute Played
Bryzgalov 2.77 0.899 1,409:58
Miller 2.83 0.914 1,379:09
Rinne 2.09 0.92 1,350:03
Nabokov 3.02 0.9 1,313:23
Howard 2.46 0.914 1,266:59
Pavelec 2.82 0.902 1,255:42
Niemi 1.96 0.932 1,223:07
Price 2.37 0.91 1,217:12
Varlamov 2.71 0.914 1,196:21

Avearage:
2.558888889 0.911666667

Briere will undoubtedly return to top form with another team. Just needs to play center.
- FlyerGuy

Not even playing wing for Crosby or Malkin?I like him for $3M/year at max though.

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

Exactly right in my opinion Scoob. It's very rare where Bryzgalov just has to play solidly, and make a lot of routine saves, with a few tough ones mixed in. The level of A quality chances that this team gives up on a game by game basis is staggering. There is no doubt that it has an effect on Bryzgalov. Both in terms of the results, and the mental aspects. When you feel you have to be the best player on the ice game in and game out, and stand on your head and perform miracles, that weighs on you. Anyone put into that situation, regardless of their profession, will be affected by it. Hockey is a team game. The key point in Bill's blog is that the Flyers forwards have never under Laviolette played well defensively since he's been here. That is by far the single biggest issue with this team. Fix that, and it solves a bunch of problems.

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.
- NickTheKid87

True, my list wasn't necessarily in any order except that they are all more concerning to me than is Bryz.

Not even playing wing for Crosby or Malkin?I like him for $3M/year ate max though.
- Orpik44

he just looks like a different player on wing ... almost invisible in many games.

edit: which is why no one came on the ice last game when he was coming off.

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

You missed shootouts... We haven't seen many this year cuz we just flat out lose... But we suck at those too. Bryz as well as our shooters need some improvement there.
Oh and face-offs. G seems to be one of the few who can win his faceoffs...

My list would look like this:

1. Team defense
2. Coach adjusting
3. 5-on-5
4. Face-offs
5. Shootouts
6. 2nd powerplay unit
7. Overall consistency
8. Fortitude in tight games
9. Goaltending

I doubt that the captaincy plays any role, nor should it. I do think that he had an undisclosed injury earlier in the season, but I think the struggles to get going-and maintain are indeed coming from pressing a bit too much.
- Jsaquella

Literally, no it shouldn't play a role. However, I do feel that perhaps G has maybe tried to be or do too much with his game, and it's possible that the added expectation to lead and continue last year's pace could be having an effect on him psychologically. Half the battle in professional sports is mentality and mental durability. I'm just suggesting it could be a possibility. This isn't Florida or some other duster team where there are no spotlights or glarring expectations from the fans and media.

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
- Philly1980

that's a fair point. kinda points to the decision to sign leighton. i understand moving bob, but maybe we coulda aimed higher for a b/u.

Be warned though, he cannot play wing! lol. He needs to be at center.
- Flyers_V88

If that's the case I think he should go back to either Phoenix or Buffalo.

not just that - but when the pp is bad, it's really bad, meaning they generate no attack time, don't wear down the other team, and lose momentum.
- hammarby31

Yep. I don't know the numbers (but I'm sure they exist somewhere) but it seems they have way too many PPs with zero or one shot.

True, my list wasn't necessarily in any order except that they are all more concerning to me than is Bryz.
- Scoob

I worry about goaltending as a whole above the PP but that's just me.

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.
- hammarby31

I personally see it as more of a mental fatigue, then a physical fatigue.

No, I'm not trolling
- Orpik44

No I know you aren't, you're just trying to help Philly get rid of a bad contract. Briere can stay as far away from Pittsburgh as possible thank you very much.

Literally, no it shouldn't play a role. However, I do feel that perhaps G has maybe tried to be or do too much with his game, and it's possible that the added expectation to lead and continue last year's pace could be having an effect on him psychologically. Half the battle in professional sports is mentality and mental durability. I'm just suggesting it could be a possibility. This isn't Florida or some other duster team where there are no spotlights or glarring expectations from the fans and media.
- Flyers_V88

It's possible, I suppose. I do think it's more the way the team has performed. Early on they couldn't score and lately it's been bad mistakes trying to be aggressive...They have to get it fixed, and Giroux feeling more comfortable in his own skin would help

he just looks like a different player on wing ... almost invisible in many games.

edit: which is why no one came on the ice last game when he was coming off.

- FlyerGuy

When he plays at center, a lot of deficiencies in his game are masked. On the wing, he's just exposed too much for his lack of size and grit. Size isn't an issue if you're gritty and play tough... Briere doesn't in the slightest sense of the word.

No I know you aren't, you're just trying to help Philly get rid of a bad contract. Briere can stay as far away from Pittsburgh as possible thank you very much.
- canadianpenfan

Briere for Morrow !

the Flyers forwards have never under Laviolette played well defensively since he's been here. That is by far the single biggest issue with this team. Fix that, and it solves a bunch of problems.
- MJL

I wholeheartedly agree.

he just looks like a different player on wing ... almost invisible in many games.

edit: which is why no one came on the ice last game when he was coming off.

- FlyerGuy

What about trading him for a Ryan Smyth? Briere would look good in Edmonton and Ryan Smyth could give you guys some grit even though he's getting pretty old.