As soon as Bryzgalof was signed you lost that kid. It's a shame, who knows what he could have done for us if he was handled appropriately.
- mayorofangrytown

The world may never know...

Maybe you're right but Is Bobrovsky breaking the bank in Columbus? IF they are the same that would make it a bad move. IF Bobrovsky is better than it's a horrid move.

I was against it at the time. I thought Laviolette misused Bob in the playoffs and they shouldn't have panicked on their rookie and brought in Vokoun to let him take a step back and split the duties until he was comfortable. The kid was in a new country, could barely communicate and when he falters in the playoffs he's replaced and dealt. The same thing everyone on hear preaches against when it comes to the forwards.
- mayorofangrytown

I completely agree... I wished he would have gotten a chance too. They could have had him, and signed a cheap backup vet just in case... if he did well, you had your goalie.. if he didn't, oh well... you tried. I just think it was a small risk for a potential great reward.

With a few pieces, I think they can be a threat next year. Too much talent on this roster to not compete, consistently.
- NickTheKid87

i added the xtra year for growth...there will be bumps next year...they will definately make the playoffs.

The world may never know...

- Flyskippy

They'll pull a "Philadelphia Faithful"(see all teams) signing, and bring him back when he's 36 and washed up...

Why is Lavi still the coach?

What every ones thoughts on Giroux as captain...

Once, he was picked I really hadn't heard anything. I think the initial expectations were very high, but it seems to have died down - which is good. He seems to be handling it well enough as a young first time captain. Although his play could be better - not sure if there is any correlation? They've had several locked door meetings, and he and the team seem to do well coming out flying after of those meetings, however the improvement seems to died out quickly.

No it doesn't!




(Can't believe this got passed by. You people must be seriously miffed.)
- tangent_man

I was busy at work. Also not easy to C&P picture links from the iPhone.

That started my doubt in Lavi, but chalked it up to being human/nobody's perfect.

Then we got swept vs. Boston and then run roughshod over by NJ last spring. The straw that broke the camel's back, for me, was last Thursday night's pulling of Bryz in a tie game and bringing in Boosh. That was unfair to Bryz, unfair to Boosh, and unfair to the team.

Like Hitch, just because he won a Cup somewhere doesn't mean he's made of Teflon. Too much bad has begun to stick.
- Flyskippy

Lavi's management of his goalie's, from the playoff debacle, to the way he rotates them getting starts, to changing them in game has always been uh... unconventional.

I have no clue what he is doing most of the time with the goalies, except this season I realize he has no confidence in the back ups.

Throw Boston into that as well. They needed a forward before and now Chris Kelly has a broken tibia.
- mayorofangrytown

They'd have to turn around and trade him this summer - they have cap problems for next year.

But Briere has a pretty good playoff record, so yeah, it's a possibility.

Lavi's management of his goalie's, from the playoff debacle, to the way he rotates them getting starts, to changing them in game has always been uh... unconventional.

I have no clue what he is doing most of the time with the goalies, except this season I realize he has no confidence in the back ups.
- Marc D

If we remember correctly.. he did that to a certain degree down in Carolina.. then injury pushed his hand on Ward.

I was busy at work. Also not easy to C&P picture links from the iPhone.
- Flyskippy

Gotcha covered, pal. I figured you would've done it.

What every ones thoughts on Giroux as captain...

Once, he was picked I really hadn't heard anything. I think the initial expectations were very high, but it seems to have died down - which is good. He seems to be handling it well enough as a young first time captain. Although his play could be better - not sure if there is any correlation? They've had several locked door meetings, and he and the team seem to do well coming out flying after of those meetings, however the improvement seems to died out quickly.
- leon neon

I think naming any guy captain under the age of about 28 is mistake.

Maybe Crosby is the exception.

And for those who are going to bring up Yzerman, it was a mistake to name him so early.

What every ones thoughts on Giroux as captain...

Once, he was picked I really hadn't heard anything. I think the initial expectations were very high, but it seems to have died down - which is good. He seems to be handling it well enough as a young first time captain. Although his play could be better - not sure if there is any correlation? They've had several locked door meetings, and he and the team seem to do well coming out flying after of those meetings, however the improvement seems to died out quickly.
- leon neon

I think he has handled a very difficult season pretty well.
His overall play could be better but so could everyone's right now.

That started my doubt in Lavi, but chalked it up to being human/nobody's perfect.

Then we got swept vs. Boston and then run roughshod over by NJ last spring. The straw that broke the camel's back, for me, was last Thursday night's pulling of Bryz in a tie game and bringing in Boosh. That was unfair to Bryz, unfair to Boosh, and unfair to the team.

Like Hitch, just because he won a Cup somewhere doesn't mean he's made of Teflon. Too much bad has begun to stick.
- Flyskippy

I was done when Leighton started a game in the 2011 playoffs. That reeked of desperation and I thought any chance the team had was flushed and it showed in the Boston series.

That was the moment I realized the finals loss could have been avoided with better coaching. I thought I was paranoid when he kept running out the top four D and then throwing out 5/6 together occasionally to show how bad they were. He ran the top four into the ice instead of giving them a break and hiding the 5/6 by pairing them in the top four thereby giving the other guys a break without exposing the backend with that pairing. The he pulls that crap in round one with the goaltending and I was done.

Gotcha covered, pal. I figured you would've done it.
- tangent_man

I think naming any guy captain under the age of about 28 is mistake.

Maybe Crosby is the exception.

And for those who are going to bring up Yzerman, it was a mistake to name him so early.
- Atomic Wedgie

Toews is an exception as well....

What every ones thoughts on Giroux as captain...

Once, he was picked I really hadn't heard anything. I think the initial expectations were very high, but it seems to have died down - which is good. He seems to be handling it well enough as a young first time captain. Although his play could be better - not sure if there is any correlation? They've had several locked door meetings, and he and the team seem to do well coming out flying after of those meetings, however the improvement seems to died out quickly.
- leon neon

I think he's a fine captain.

What every ones thoughts on Giroux as captain...

Once, he was picked I really hadn't heard anything. I think the initial expectations were very high, but it seems to have died down - which is good. He seems to be handling it well enough as a young first time captain. Although his play could be better - not sure if there is any correlation? They've had several locked door meetings, and he and the team seem to do well coming out flying after of those meetings, however the improvement seems to died out quickly.
- leon neon

I can say Giroux has been less than consistent this year, which I don't want out of a Captain but honestly, I"m not sure how a very young first year captain should handle the debacle that this year has turned into. He's come out and challenged his team, he's stepped up (thought not often) following his challenge to the team but he's also disappeared for games. In the end, I think you can tell that what's going on bothers him, to the point of emotion, and that's a positive to me. I think he feels handcuffed a little as a younger player and has doubts about the system his team is being forced to play.

Grade: C - but I don't know if that's good or bad or just par for what he should be this year.

I 100% agree with this blog. This team is a mess defensively. I hear a rumour going around that Pheonix is willing to deal Yandle for a young NHL Defencman and a 1st. How does this sound? Yandle for Coburn and a 1st. Yandle would be a great upgrade to our defence, he can be put on PP so you actually have a threat at the point and he can move the puck. Another change I think that need as to be changed is Holmgren. To his credit he has done a good job getting Simmonds, Schenn, Coots and Vorachek but the minor league team is a disaster and there isn't much talent there to look forward to, and Flyers D speaks for itself. He let Carle get away and had no back up plan if he had failed to get Weber or Suter. Sure he got L.Schenn but he is not 1st pair material at this point in his career. He is a top 4 guy though.

I like Bryzgalov, I think he is a good goalie and think he gets some unnecessary hate. He gets hated on for his comments, trying to be funny when they think he should focus on his game but reality is that is how some people deal with stress. They turn things into a joke to help them not get frustrated.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Its not a bad deal if the first round pick is in the late twenties.

If they have a top 7 pick I would prefer them to keep Coburn and the pick.
Next years's first? Maybe, but even then I'm not sure.

I was done when Leighton started a game in the 2011 playoffs. That reeked of desperation and I thought any chance the team had was flushed and it showed in the Boston series.

That was the moment I realized the finals loss could have been avoided with better coaching. I thought I was paranoid when he kept running out the top four D and then throwing out 5/6 together occasionally to show how bad they were. He ran the top four into the ice instead of giving them a break and hiding the 5/6 by pairing them in the top four thereby giving the other guys a break without exposing the backend with that pairing. The he pulls that crap in round one with the goaltending and I was done.
- mayorofangrytown

I imagine in a few years, when this mop of hair turns into a pony tail, I'll be less tolerant of the coach's mistakes.

I felt he was going on his hunch, which proved false. Looking back (that is, with the benefit of hindsight that so many posters mistake for "knowing all along" that something wasn't going to pan out), it all comes together and is damning evidence.

*sigh*

Dude?


(yeah, I'm going to throw one of these out there everyday until it stops amusing me.)
- mayorofangrytown

Also, you really let me down last night MOAT. Was totally ready to agree with your rant about how Coburn took himself right out of the play on the Loktionov goal by sliding like that. But alas, the rant never came. For me personally, it was a bigger letdown than the final score.

They'd have to turn around and trade him this summer - they have cap problems for next year.

But Briere has a pretty good playoff record, so yeah, it's a possibility.
- Atomic Wedgie

He's no worse than the other forwards they're considering. The fans are waiting for the Iginla trade while I keep hearing Ryan Clowe linked to them.

I think naming any guy captain under the age of about 28 is mistake.

Maybe Crosby is the exception.

And for those who are going to bring up Yzerman, it was a mistake to name him so early.
- Atomic Wedgie

Crosby, Toews, Brown, Weber, Callahan, Ladd, etc.

I don't think it's age that matters, it's demeanor and maturity.

Also, you really let me down last night MOAT. Was totally ready to agree with your rant about how Coburn took himself right out of the play on the Loktionov goal by sliding like that. But alas, the rant never came. For me personally, it was a bigger letdown than the final score.

- BringBack25

I came on here armed with that this morning but than I saw Jsaq and his "They always try to win last years cup" and I was off track.

Crosby, Toews, Brown, Weber, Callahan, Ladd, etc.

I don't think it's age that matters, it's demeanor and maturity.
- NickTheKid87

Exactly. All depends on the player and their character.