I'm hesitant to increase Grossmann's ice time too dramatically. He handles his 18-20 minutes a nigh great, but I worry if he's forced to play 20-24 a night we'll see some cracks
- Jsaquella

I would agree except that he cannot be as bad in those extra 2-4 minutes than Coburn has been.

There's been 1 game where Briere played less than ten minutes. He's had seven games where he played more than 19 minutes.

Hartnell's played very poorly, but at the same time he's been seeing regular ice time as well. Last night, even though he was demoted, he still played over 13 minutes.

He doesn't have to scratch Coburn, but the guy's playing more minutes than anyone else. Increase the time that Schenn is playing, or Grossmann
- Jsaquella

Lavi could obviously do better in rewarding better play and effort with more ice time.

It still doesn't help that their are 0 options on defense in the AHL and very few options for forwards. You could even argue that after Bryz they don't have a viable goalie option to go to. Even though Bryz has been OK.

No more trading away picks for aging vets/rentals. The lack of young guys in the system is an organizational problem, and not on Lavi.

Who is the choice?
- MJL

Malkin.

Timonen is being paid like a top dman. Unfortunately he's being paid on past performance.
- PLindbergh31

Unfortunately he is their only offensive defensive.
Without him the PP has 5 forwards on it.

He was a beast in I believe it was NHL94. Him and Zhamnov could not be stopped.
- canadianpenfan

He scored a ton of points in the WHL and it never quite translated to NHL success.

I'm sure playing on those early Sharks teams didn't help matters.

Exactly my point.

Rinaldo has played better than ANYONE could have predicted. WAY better. Yet last night was the first time he say any sort of extended time... and yet he still only got 10 minutes.

Here is the perfect example of where Lavi has made huge mistakes..

Flyers lead 4-1 going into the second period. Rinaldo is coming off of his most productive period of his career.. forchecking with aplomb, hitting everything.. a goal and an assist... Couts has been great against the Pens in his career... and is coming off of a game against the Pens in which he played very well.. got into Malkins head again.

So what does Lavi do? He shortens the bench. Briere ends up getting nearly 18 minutes of ice time... Rinaldo AND Couts combine for a total of 18 minutes of ice time. Danny ends the game with 0 points and a -3. Couts and Rinaldo combine for a goal, an assist, and a +1.

Its 4-1.. you have a chance to let some of your more energetic guys of the game get some time, and give your better players some down time.. and instead you double shift? AND LOSE?
- jak521

The bottom line is that Laviolette has just done a horrendous job with this team, this year. It kills me to say it. But that's how I see it.

Timonen is being paid like a top dman. Unfortunately he's being paid on past performance.
- PLindbergh31

Well, that, and the fact that the market for defensemen is just crazy.

You see Matt Carle do anything last night worth 5 mil?

Me neither.

The bottom line is that Laviolette has just done a horrendous job with this team, this year. It kills me to say it. But that's how I see it.
- MJL

hartnell has pissed me off and i like the idea of sending a message, but last night was not the time

tampa had hedman and malone out for the third. that was the time to take advantage of their depleted bench... not to sit your first line winger

Aw dude people like that are a big reason why I stopped blogging...
- JoeRussomanno

Perhaps the lone bright spot in this dismal season...

Anyone know the Flyers record with/without Knuble since he was acquired?
- jmatchett

8-9-1 with him in the lineup, 5-7-0 without him. 1-3 prior to acquring him, 12-13-1 since.

Malkin.
- canadianpenfan

I'd go the other way. I'd keep Letang. And trade Malkin for a King's ransom.

Their record sucks with/without everyone.
- PLindbergh31

I just looked. They are 8-9-1 with Knuble. That gives them 17 points in 18 games (0.94 Pts/GP). On the season, they are at 0.9 Pts/GP. I'd honestly rather bench Briere and see Knuble play, at least he'll give 100% and any penalties he takes are at least him trying. Also, I'm sick of Briere not being either turning it over at the other team's blueline or throwing a weak on-tice-ice wrister at the goalie from 30 feet away.

its been infuriating to watch. Jake time and time again turned the puck over. SImmonds has been a turnover just waiting to happen in the neutral zone. Briere has been a hot mess all but for maybe a stretch of 5 games. Hartnell putrid since coming back. last night was the first time Hartnell sat. guys go out shift after shift. Couturier sits. I believe by the time they play again sunday they will almost out of it. then a stretch of games against the Pens, Boston and Rangers. I would hope at that point the kids just get to play.
- nastyflyergirl

Starting to remind me of Stevens' handling of the Flyers, benching Upshall but still giving Calder lots of minutes, only without a cake, rearranging of chairs, and being considered a player-friendly coach.

The bottom line is that Laviolette has just done a horrendous job with this team, this year. It kills me to say it. But that's how I see it.
- MJL

Outside of the performance of the penalty kill, and some bright spots like Jake Voracek, Rinaldo, and Nik Grossmann... everything has stunk. Top to bottom.

Timonen is being paid like a top dman. Unfortunately he's being paid on past performance.
- PLindbergh31

For the most part, yeah. I don't blame him though. I highly doubt that if Kimmo was fully healthy the team would be much better. Don't think we should have given him that kind of money though

I'd go the other way. I'd keep Letang. And trade Malkin for a King's ransom.
- MJL

On paper, I would think the haul for Malkin would be along the lines of what Quebec held us up for to get Lindros and Lindros hadn't even played in the league at that point.

Well, that, and the fact that the market for defensemen is just crazy.

You see Matt Carle do anything last night worth 5 mil?

Me neither.
- johndewar

of course not. Carle is severely overpaid. He was his typical self last night. Turning pucks over and being soft as a marshmallow.

Lavi could obviously do better in rewarding better play and effort with more ice time.

It still doesn't help that their are 0 options on defense in the AHL and very few options for forwards. You could even argue that after Bryz they don't have a viable goalie option to go to. Even though Bryz has been OK.

No more trading away picks for aging vets/rentals. The lack of young guys in the system is an organizational problem, and not on Lavi.
- Marc D

It doesn't matter about the AHL, there's options on the roster.

The lack of disciplined play and inability to play solid two way hockey are on Laviolette.

I'd go the other way. I'd keep Letang. And trade Malkin for a King's ransom.
- MJL

Agreed. Malkin could get you almost any return you wanted. Just think basically the kind of return that the Flyers got for Richards and Carter and add a first round pick.

I just looked. They are 8-9-1 with Knuble. That gives them 17 points in 18 games (0.94 Pts/GP). On the season, they are at 0.9 Pts/GP. I'd honestly rather bench Briere and see Knuble play, at least he'll give 100% and any penalties he takes are at least him trying. Also, I'm sick of Briere not being either turning it over at the other team's blueline or throwing a weak on-tice-ice wrister at the goalie from 30 feet away.
- jmatchett

No issue with benching Briere in favor of anyone.

hartnell has pissed me off and i like the idea of sending a message, but last night was not the time

tampa had hedman and malone out for the third. that was the time to take advantage of their depleted bench... not to sit your first line winger
- Crimsoninja

Sir, I asked you four years ago whom you would hire as the Flyers' next coach and you predicted that "We need a general!" with as much vigor as you called out the low tide aroma at the Oregon Diner.

What sort of coach do you see as the next Flyers coach?

of course not. Carle is severely overpaid. He was his typical self last night. Turning pucks over and being soft as a marshmallow.
- PLindbergh31

True, but he did probably save them a goal when it was 2-2 (I'm thinking it was luck/a mistake though).

I'd go the other way. I'd keep Letang. And trade Malkin for a King's ransom.
- MJL

To each their own, I want Malkin.

To each their own, I want Malkin.
- canadianpenfan

Completely understandable.

Sir, I asked you four years ago whom you would hire as the Flyers' next coach and you predicted that "We need a general!" with as much vigor as you called out the low tide aroma at the Oregon Diner.

What sort of coach do you see as the next Flyers coach?
- Flyskippy

As much as I like Lavi and want to give him next season to prove this was just the culmination of so much misfortune on the Flyers, if we had to choose someone, I'm going off the board...

Paul Maurice.