A sign of how far this team has fallen is when Mike Milbury can accurately say that "the Flyers are recklessly aggressive."

Mike Milbury, people.

Mike Milbury has a better grasp of what's wrong than does Peter Laviolette.

putting a funky mix of plyrs together is on the GM. lavi def deserves much more of the blame here, but not addressing an aging D w/ other contracts due a couple of seasons ago is on homer. more foresight needed that plyrs could be wearing, cap might be tight. please don't give me the "he had no way of knowing about pronger" argument- it's weak.

i just wanted a young puck mover in here at that time in case the older guys play further eroded and the coby/carle contract issues reared their ugly heads. said so at the time, caught hell.
- isaiah520

The injuries to Pronger and Meszaros have played a big role on this team and the moves that have been made. Stating that the GM can't foresee those injuries isn't weak. Stating that it's a weak argument is what is weak.

If you could get OEL for Couturier, it is a slam dunk.
- MJL

Don't know anybody that wouldn't make that trade...except for maybe DON MALONEY!

A sign of how far this team has fallen is when Mike Milbury can accurately say that "the Flyers are recklessly aggressive."

Mike Milbury, people.

Mike Milbury has a better grasp of what's wrong than does Peter Laviolette.

- FlyerGuy

An incredibly accurate desription of this team.

BINGO!
This team isnt one great player away from being a cup contender. They need to change philosophies, IMO. Get away from playing with reckless aggression.. get away from trying to win through offense alone. Bring in a philosophy that instills devoted 2 way play. That puts guys in a better position to protect the team. When that happens, you will see huge differences.
- jak521

I also think it would reduce injuries....over aggressive play must take its toll on the body.... kind of stupid to play balls to the wall in a shortened season...

Any team that adds a franchise defenseman is automatically better.
- NickTheKid87

Not that I totally disagree with you, but do you honestly believe that, in adding Weber, our team defense would improve. That the forwards would become better at back checking?

I think they'd be much better off. If they had Weber, they'd have a fantastic, 25-30 minute a night guy who does every thing well. Weber also brings a presence to the table that is missing with the loss of Pronger.
- Jsaquella

They'd be better on D, but the overall team defense would still be abysmal. Don't get me wrong, I'd love Weber on this team but I don't think he alone would be able to solve all the other issues.

I agree they would be better, but they wouldnt be instant contenders. They would likely be fighting for the 8th spot still. Thats just MO, but I dont think one player, regardless of his acumen and skill set, would put this team over the top. They need to rethink how they play the game.
- jak521

I think that, with the talent on hand, they should be a playoff team. With Weber they might not be a top contender, but they're battling for the division title, not 8th.

Im not saying that I wouldnt want OEL, but I think that having an elite level defensive forward that can put up 50-60 points is an incredible perk for a team.
- jak521

not discounting couts, but OEL is a more valuable plyr for us and in general. did I tell you i wanted hamilton as well

Pulling my hair out today. I get in the truck to come to work, Bryzgalov is the first word I hear on WIP. Get into work and guys start showing up talking about the game and Bryzgalov is the first thing I hear. Radio host changes and Bryzgalov is the first thing mentioned.

I have to give thanks for the HB community it keeps a man sane, at times.

I said the same thing. It fell well short of expectations due to the lack of video support.

Know what the best part of that post with all the videos was? But the standard that he offered, supported by the videos. Every single NHL defenseman is a puck moving defenseman with the cirteria he offered. It was hysterical.
- MJL

There really was effort there, but I couldn't bring myself to read much of it. But I skimmed through, and he touched on some things that aren't untrue. This defense corps isn't 100% incapable of puck movement. However, there's a world of difference between saying that, and saying that we don't have any exceptional puck movers.

As for the youtube videos, well, Jsaq could learn a thing or two about the importance of relying on anecdotal evidence.

I'm accounting for my opinion not other people's. my plan B goes back to the summer of fun. i was right then and here we are.
- isaiah520

What was your plan B in the Summer of fun?

A sign of how far this team has fallen is when Mike Milbury can accurately say that "the Flyers are recklessly aggressive."

Mike Milbury, people.

Mike Milbury has a better grasp of what's wrong than does Peter Laviolette.

- FlyerGuy

i like your avatar....

There really was effort there, but I couldn't bring myself to read much of it. But I skimmed through, and he touched on some things that aren't untrue. This defense corps isn't 100% incapable of puck movement. However, there's a world of difference between saying that, and saying that we don't have any exceptional puck movers.

As for the youtube videos, well, Jsaq could learn a thing or two about the importance of relying on anecdotal evidence.
- BulliesPhan87

They definitely aren't incapable of being adequate in moving the puck. No NHL defense is. That's really my point.

Any team that adds a franchise defenseman is automatically better.
- NickTheKid87

On paper, most definitely.

I have my doubts that Weber would be able to fix the overall team defense issues.

If you could get OEL for Couturier, it is a slam dunk.
- MJL

i do this in a heart beat

They'd be better on D, but the overall team defense would still be abysmal. Don't get me wrong, I'd love Weber on this team but I don't think he alone would be able to solve all the other issues.
- Scoob

Having a Weber gives them a guy that makes them less susceptible to the aggressive forchecking teams that murder them. The back checking would be an issue, but it wouldn't be as big an issue.

They'd be better on D, but the overall team defense would still be abysmal. Don't get me wrong, I'd love Weber on this team but I don't think he alone would be able to solve all the other issues.
- Scoob

You're correct there Scoob!

I also think it would reduce injuries....over aggressive play must take its toll on the body.... kind of stupid to play balls to the wall in a shortened season...
- Philly1980

I dont even mean physically aggressive. I mean in a way where you are so inclined to apply pressure, that you lose sight of whats going the other way.

Compare it to war. If you send all of your ships and tanks and planes, etc. into foreign land, than you are really setting yourself up for an invasion. You better hope to god you strike first, and often, because if not, its only a matter of time before the enemy is burning down your door.

i like your avatar....
- Philly1980

might happen today ...

On paper, most definitely.

I have my doubts that Weber would be able to fix the overall team defense issues.
- Scoob

I'm not disagreeing with that, I'm just saying that they would be a better team with Weber. Some of the breakdowns wouldn't happen or would at least be covered up by Weber. Also the offense would be better. He wouldn't fill all the holes but he'd fill a big one.

On paper, most definitely.

I have my doubts that Weber would be able to fix the overall team defense issues.
- Scoob

Exactly how I feel.

The defense isn't even the biggest issue. It's team defense that is a bigger issue than the 6 defensemen.
- Jsaquella

I have read all the comments re this blog and I believe I may be the only one who has the solution.
I have always enjoyed Bill's blogs but this one bothered me. He sits and pontificates in his blog with all the answers. Make him coach and GM.

If you look at all the other teams, many players are off their game this year including Suter, Weber, Chara, Doughty, Carle etc . On defense, only Karlson of Ottawa looked outstanding.
The Flyers have a serious team problem - they are not meshing. Destroying different people everynight from the press box with a pen is easy. The solution for the Flyers is not.

If Pronger didn't suffer an untimely career ending injury, a lot of the issues they have no wouldn't be happening.

It's amazing how that gets overlooked. Pronger was not expected to play here for 2 or 3 years and then retire. They expected him for at least 5 or 6 years, at which time they would have had more years of picks to replenish the ones dealt away.

So suddenly it's Holmgren's fault that Pronger got hit in the eye and basically had to retire?
- Jsaquella

His contract called for him to play for 5 years unless you think he was going to play years 6 & 7 for less than Gervais is making? This year would've been year 3 of the 5 years. Pronger's 38 and he's not a finesse player like Lidstrom. He'd be getting more and more injuries which make him less effective, like Timmonen.

Putting all his eggs in Pronger's basket is indeed Holmgren's fault. Especially given the flyers history with Hatcher and Rathje after the last lockout.

Not only do the Flyers have the highest paid defense without Pronger (5 defenseman making 3.5/mill + a year), they also don't have anyone who can make the first outlet pass consistantly among this highly paid group, nor someone like Sbisa who would have been groomed to assume an offensive role in the top 4 on an entry level deal. There's a reason that the Flyers are the ONLY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE using LTIR money right now and it isn't just because Pronger's hurt.

Holmgren mortgaged the future to take out a loan on a racehorse in the hopes that the horse would win the Kentucky Derby. The bank doesn't care that the horse came up lame. The bank get's paid either way. It was a huge gamble that didn't have to be taken. How many gamblers go broke betting on "sure things"?

EDIT : The LTIR comment was a stupid comment by me because they wouldn't have the ability to use LTIR without Pronger but the point remains that Holmgren overpays.

His contract called for him to play for 5 years unless you think he was going to play years 6 & 7 for less than Gervais is making? This year would've been year 3 of the 5 years. Pronger's 38 and he's not a finesse player like Lidstrom. He'd be getting more and more injuries which make him less effective, like Timmonen.

Putting all his eggs in Pronger's basket is indeed Holmgren's fault. Especially given the flyers history with Hatcher and Rathje after the last lockout.

Not only do the Flyers have the highest paid defense without Pronger (5 defenseman making 3.5/mill + a year), they also don't have anyone who can make the first outlet pass consistantly among this highly paid group, nor someone like Sbisa who would have been groomed to assume an offensive role in the top 4 on an entry level deal. There's a reason that the Flyers are the ONLY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE using LTIR money right now and it isn't just because Pronger's hurt.

Holmgren mortgaged the future to take out a loan on a racehorse in the hopes that the horse would win the Kentucky Derby. The bank doesn't care that the horse came up lame. The bank get's paid either way. It was a huge gamble that didn't have to be taken. How many gamblers go broke betting on "sure things"?
- Flyers_01

What?