Lehtonen missed two-plus weeks with a groin pull, which is why the backups had a run of starts (fortunately, the team was scoring a ton of goals, which covered in several games for the subpar team D and mediocre work by Bachman and Nilstorp). He's bounced back strong from the injury.
- bmeltzer

I always wished the Flyers would have nabbed him when he was in Atlanta a few years ago.

Lehtonen missed two-plus weeks with a groin pull, which is why the backups had a run of starts (fortunately, the team was scoring a ton of goals, which covered in several games for the subpar team D and mediocre work by Bachman and Nilstorp). He's bounced back strong from the injury.
- bmeltzer

Bill groin pull or not its still rest....

i hope they get blown out these next two games

Get a new coach.

Sell some of the vets off.

Have the young guys learn a new tighter system.

Get a decent draft pick for once.

Be ready to go next year.
- Philly1980

I would never/could never root against the Flyers but I agree with all other points.

Briere has been moved to the 3rd line with Couturier and Gagne at practice. Read bumped up.

flyers have trouble with hedberg. i'm happy to see mar-tay.
- hammarby31

Brodeur just resumed skating today, isn't taking shots yet. Will def be Hedberg tomorrow. And probably Friday as well.

I would never/could never root against the Flyers but I agree with all other points.
- NickTheKid87

Im rooting for the betterment of this team...even if that means wishing them to fail horribly for the next two game.

I think they would have just waived Leighton if they didn't want him. I mean they did send him to ADK and then called him back up so I do believe he was actually hurt. The subsequent events wouldn't make much sense otherwise.
- NickTheKid87

it really is hard to tell w/ the way lavi handles goalies sometimes.

Briere has been moved to the 3rd line with Couturier and Gagne at practice. Read bumped up.
- NickTheKid87

Briere should be moved on a first class flight to boston, chicago, montreal, or any other contender for picks and a bag of pucks.

Im rooting for the betterment of this team...even if that means wishing them to fail horribly for the next two game.
- Philly1980

Fair point. Let's just say I won't be that upset if they lose.

it really is hard to tell w/ the way lavi handles goalies sometimes.
- isaiah520

Lavy = (frank) with your goaltenders heads....destroy any confidence they have in themselves

Fair point. Let's just say I won't be that upset if they lose.
- NickTheKid87

you a closet root against the flyers flyers fan?

Briere should be moved on a first class flight to boston, chicago, montreal, or any other contender for picks and a bag of pucks.
- Philly1980

even though we can tell danny we're going to buy him out, he still has a NMC, so it's not gonna be easy. not impossible though.

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.
- MJL

Changes in coaches and systems always seems to be the easiest thing to focus on, but this team is prone to careless mistakes and often defaults to finesse over hard work. Part of it is the youth on the club -- kids need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. The other part is a lack of continuity from perpetual high rates of player turnover and constant injuries to key players -- the owner and GM never leave well enough alone. And, of course, the goaltending...

I don't think any of those things are truly addressed with a short-sighted coaching change. You can criticize Lavi for sticking to his guns, or benching Couturier, or his handling of the goaltenders, but to think some other guy is going to waltz in and the team will suddenly execute to perfection is a reach in my book.

Leave the team alone, keep the coach, draft high, come back next season wiser and more experienced. It's not such a bad thing.

you a closet root against the flyers flyers fan?
- Philly1980

Not quite, just not disappointed when they lose in a season like this.

Good read. I agree on the list of Meeting/Not Meeting expectations.

As for Bryz, I wonder how much fatigue has to do with his performance? Although I could totally see him saying "(frank) it, rest of team don't care and play like poop, I don't care and play like poop."

The other problem with this team: no strong veteran leadership.

even though we can tell danny we're going to buy him out, he still has a NMC, so it's not gonna be easy. not impossible though.
- isaiah520

IMO, I don't think Briere would block a trade. I do think he'd want a say in where he'd be traded to though.

even though we can tell danny we're going to buy him out, he still has a NMC, so it's not gonna be easy. not impossible though.
- isaiah520

i know its not easy....but somehow i think danny will be classy enough to waive it to goto a cotender. Its not hard feelings just business.

Changes in coaches and systems always seems to be the easiest thing to focus on, but this team is prone to careless mistakes and often defaults to finesse over hard work. Part of it is the youth on the club -- kids need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. The other part is a lack of continuity from perpetual high rates of player turnover and constant injuries to key players -- the owner and GM never leave well enough alone. And, of course, the goaltending...

I don't think any of those things are truly addressed with a short-sighted coaching change. You can criticize Lavi for sticking to his guns, or benching Couturier, or his handling of the goaltenders, but to think some other guy is going to waltz in and the team will suddenly execute to perfection is a reach in my book.
Leave the team alone, keep the coach, draft high, come back next season wiser and more experienced. It's not such a bad thing.
- Tomahawk

Exactly how I feel.

I still think this is a much younger team and that inconstancys happen on younger teams. I think Bryz held the floodgates closed as best he could at the beginning of the year but it wears on you, especially when your efforts are not enough to change the tide, and you end up losing all those games anyway.

IMO, I don't think Briere would block a trade. I do think he'd want a say in where he'd be traded to though.
- NickTheKid87

it would save us a buyout and that alone would be valuable.

Changes in coaches and systems always seems to be the easiest thing to focus on, but this team is prone to careless mistakes and often defaults to finesse over hard work. Part of it is the youth on the club -- kids need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. The other part is a lack of continuity from perpetual high rates of player turnover and constant injuries to key players -- the owner and GM never leave well enough alone. And, of course, the goaltending...

I don't think any of those things are truly addressed with a short-sighted coaching change. You can criticize Lavi for sticking to his guns, or benching Couturier, or his handling of the goaltenders, but to think some other guy is going to waltz in and the team will suddenly execute to perfection is a reach in my book.

Leave the team alone, keep the coach, draft high, come back next season wiser and more experienced. It's not such a bad thing.
- Tomahawk

A coaching change really has nothing to do with winning this year at least from my point of view. The forwards need to be taught defensive responsible, something Laviolette has not done since he arrived here in 2010. I also think it's worth a shot at playing a defensive oriented system to see how Bryzgalov responds.

Changes in coaches and systems always seems to be the easiest thing to focus on, but this team is prone to careless mistakes and often defaults to finesse over hard work. Part of it is the youth on the club -- kids need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. The other part is a lack of continuity from perpetual high rates of player turnover and constant injuries to key players -- the owner and GM never leave well enough alone. And, of course, the goaltending...

I don't think any of those things are truly addressed with a short-sighted coaching change. You can criticize Lavi for sticking to his guns, or benching Couturier, or his handling of the goaltenders, but to think some other guy is going to waltz in and the team will suddenly execute to perfection is a reach in my book.

Leave the team alone, keep the coach, draft high, come back next season wiser and more experienced. It's not such a bad thing.
- Tomahawk

Agreed.

if we are to believe leighton just happened to go on IR right before the big road trip, yes.
- isaiah520

Leighton had a legitimate injury. He hurt his hand and could not grip a stick.

it would save us a buyout and that alone would be valuable.
- isaiah520

I would trade him for a 7th rounder if need be.

Changes in coaches and systems always seems to be the easiest thing to focus on, but this team is prone to careless mistakes and often defaults to finesse over hard work. Part of it is the youth on the club -- kids need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. The other part is a lack of continuity from perpetual high rates of player turnover and constant injuries to key players -- the owner and GM never leave well enough alone. And, of course, the goaltending...

I don't think any of those things are truly addressed with a short-sighted coaching change. You can criticize Lavi for sticking to his guns, or benching Couturier, or his handling of the goaltenders, but to think some other guy is going to waltz in and the team will suddenly execute to perfection is a reach in my book.

Leave the team alone, keep the coach, draft high, come back next season wiser and more experienced. It's not such a bad thing.
- Tomahawk

its good to make mistakes and learn from them...the problem i see is that they are making the same mistakes over and over again...last year it was masked by the high scoring offense, this year that scoring has been down a bit, those mistakes are more visible....i believe it is up to the coach to try to help a player correct mistakes and then hold them accountable if they dont.