lucky gal
- Don'tForgetTocchet

better than the biblebuzz and politicsbuzz of a couple weeks back.
- FlyerGuy

really really....

smart reply. you never know if she's reading these posts.

- FlyerGuy

that actually was almost smart. we should consider alerting the media to this historic event.

rumors heating up on iginla....

that actually was almost smart. we should consider alerting the media to this historic event.
- BringBack25

.....

I don't think the teams struggles this year, or Hartnell's struggles for that matter. Has anything to do with conditioning. The Flyers forwards can't catch up on the backcheck because they're constantly down deep on the wrong side of the puck.
- MJL

All you have to do is look at how Pitt backchecks... they are strong in the offensive zone and everyone burns back to help on defense. They Flyers can't do that this year. Any time there is an odd man rush going the other way they start taking penalties because they are to out of gas to catch them. This is the case with many players they should catch. Defense pinching is a different mess. Whether Lavy's system is to blame is another matter, but they don't have the endurance or the commitment to do it anyway. Additionally many of the penalties they take are lazy, stupid ones when they stop skating trying to keep up.

We'll see what happens. Goalie drafting is the biggest crapshoot of all the positions. I am very, very leery of drafting a goalie in round one. Conversely, I am believer in taking at least one goalie in every draft, once you get beyond the best available player phase early. You never know which goalies will be the ones that click.

In fact, very often, the ones who end up being the Vezina candidates weren't the ones who were considered the top guy in their draft year.

So often, the heavily hyped goalies end up being very ordinary when they reach the pros. A few of many examples: Trevor Kidd, who was drafted ahead of Brodeur, was touted as a franchise goalie in 1990. Martin Biron was touted by THN as a "virtual Patrick Roy clone" before the 1995 draft and turned out to be, well, the first Martin Biron. In 2008, Chet Pickard was "the first slam-dunk first-round goalie to come along Marc-Andre Fleury"... in 2013, he's still stuck in the ECHL (side note, thank goodness the Flyers were unsuccessful in their attempt to move up and draft Pickard).

That's not to say Fucale couldn't go on to be a franchise goalie somewhere. But it's going to be a long wait to find out, and the risks are high to draft a goalie in round one.

Here's the risk: Think back to when the Flyers used 1st round picks on Brian Boucher (1995) and Maxime Ouellet (1999) and also used their first pick of the 1997 draft (second round) to take Jean-Marc Pelletier. They also used a 6th rounder in 1998 on Antero Niittymaki; and you can debate whether he or Boucher ended up being the best of the bunch. But for all those early round picks used on goalies, not one of them ended up being the Flyers' long-term starter at the NHL level.
- bmeltzer

You make a lot of valid points but I have watched this kid for 2 years and he is very very good. Strong positionly, and he is mentally strong when getting under 20 shots a game. He posted 45 plus wins in 53 games. When they played the top teams it was him that won the games. Mackinnon and drouin were out of the lineup numerous times but fucale was always steady.

All you have to do is look at how Pitt backchecks... they are strong in the offensive zone and everyone burns back to help on defense. They Flyers can't do that this year. Any time there is an odd man rush going the other way they start taking penalties because they are to out of gas to catch them. This is the case with many players they should catch. Defense pinching is a different mess. Whether Lavy's system is to blame is another matter, but they don't have the endurance or the commitment to do it anyway. Additionally many of the penalties they take are lazy, stupid ones when they stop skating trying to keep up.
- Kingoblues

In my opinion it has zero to do with endurance or conditioning. As a Forward when you are down around the goal line, the puck goes up the wall, and past a pinching defenseman, you're already how far behind in trying to catch up?
Committment to team defense starts with the Coach. His system and style of play does not make a committment to team defense.
Watch the 3rd period of the last game agains the Pens. As soon as the Pens got the go ahead goal in the 3rd period. They changed to a 1-2-2 forecheck. Kept the 3rd forward high. They could backcheck because they kept good positioning and were on the right side of the puck. The backchecking forwards were already on the defensive side of the puck, and ahead of the play. Not chasing it down from behind like Flyers forwards constantly are.

actually that's all the MORE reason.

you have to try harder when you're married, unless you actually prefer a boring, sexless relationship that can last the rest of your life.

- FlyerGuy

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.
- nbartley9

Which comments?

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.
- nbartley9

Source?

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.
- nbartley9

I would also like to know to what you refer.

Which comments?
- Flyers_01

Exactly what I said, he is on the Mark Madden show as we speak saying he was on a Philly radio show this week talking about how the locker room does not like Bryz on a personal level, and how his (Bryz) comments were not taken well at all.

Exactly what I said, he is on the Mark Madden show as we speak saying he was on a Philly radio show this week talking about how the locker room does not like Bryz on a personal level, and how his (Bryz) comments were not taken well at all.
- nbartley9

news to me

not taken well as in the rest of the team is angry with him? particularly if it's incorrect, that's a very irresponsible thing to say

Exactly what I said, he is on the Mark Madden show as we speak saying he was on a Philly radio show this week talking about how the locker room does not like Bryz on a personal level, and how his (Bryz) comments were not taken well at all.
- nbartley9

Need to see a source por favor.

In my opinion it has zero to do with endurance or conditioning. As a Forward when you are down around the goal line, the puck goes up the wall, and past a pinching defenseman, you're already how far behind in trying to catch up?
Committment to team defense starts with the Coach. His system and style of play does not make a committment to team defense.
Watch the 3rd period of the last game agains the Pens. As soon as the Pens got the go ahead goal in the 3rd period. They changed to a 1-2-2 forecheck. Kept the 3rd forward high. They could backcheck because they kept good positioning and were on the right side of the puck. The backchecking forwards were already on the defensive side of the puck, and ahead of the play. Not chasing it down from behind like Flyers forwards constantly are.
- MJL

Good points. The Flyers don't have the speed and/or talent to play a system as aggressive as Laviolettes in the first place and even if they did, they make WAY to many boneheaded mistakes to be successful at it
When the D pinches, the wing on that side rarely, if ever, drops back to cover the point
The forwards continually force plays at the opposing blue line, turn the puck over, and cause odd man rushes the other way.
They force too many shots when there is no shooting lane, yet at the same time they often over pass when a clear shot is available
The forwards defensive zone coverage is simply pitiful. Time and time again, all 3 are locked onto the puck carrier instead of playing their position and watching the high slot or picking up on the point man creeping in.

While the D and Bryz certainly don't get a pass (don't get me started on Coburn this season!), it would be hard for them to succeed on a consistent basis with lack of smart play and support from the forwards.

I believe that Lavy is a good coach, however he has lost the ear of this team. When players continue to make the SAME MISTAKES night in and night out, ultimately the coach has to take responsibility for it.

Need to see a source por favor.
- NickTheKid87

seems pretty obvious when after a win the team just heads straight to the room while bryz stays in the crease giving air-high-fives

seems pretty obvious when after a win the team just heads straight to the room while bryz stays in the crease giving air-high-fives
- Crimsoninja

They also keep pinching and forechecking to the end boards just to spite him because of all his awful comments this year. They've been giving up all those odd man rushes on purpose!

Now I can't remember him saying anything bad about the rest of the team all season, but I think we've finally hit on why the Flyers stink this year.

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.
- nbartley9

That kind of crap is way overrated. The 1980 Phillies hated each others guts, but still won the series. Plus last time I checked, Rick Tocchet isn't practicing with team, or sitting in the locker room between periods or at the end of the game.

Anyone hear Tocchets comments about Bryz?

The fact that his teammates do not like him personally at all?
His comments did not sit well in the locker room.
Wow thats a very bad situation.
- nbartley9

If this is even remotely accurate all it tells me is that this TEAM needs a major attitude adjustment.

seems pretty obvious when after a win the team just heads straight to the room while bryz stays in the crease giving air-high-fives
- Crimsoninja

What's a win?

If this is even remotely accurate all it tells me is that this TEAM needs a major attitude adjustment.
- MBFlyerfan

I can't find anything that says Tocchet made any such comments. It seems strange that none of us have heard them, no?

Upload the Mark Madden pod cast its from today about 30 min into the show. Thats why I was asking if anyone else heard it.

Not only that Tocchet said " If one of my goalies said something like Bryz said I (meaning Tocchet) would have taken care of it in practice the very next day, and by knowing that team someone did"

When i heard you guys got Bryz 2 years ago, ill admit I thought it was going to mean bad news for the Pens, but it seems like that guy is killing your team. If what Tocchet says is true that is.

I can't find anything that says Tocchet made any such comments. It seems strange that none of us have heard them, no?
- NickTheKid87

Thats because the info was posted here by a well known troll!