id laugh if it was a top 10 pick....that nash trade effed up their chemistry...said it would last year.
- Philly1980

They lost a ton of forward depth with Anisimov, Dubinsky and Prust. Kreider and Miller haven't stepped up and other forwards like Boyle and even Richards and Gaborik have regressed. The defense has had injury issues which they didn't have last year and Lundqvist isn't playing as well as he did last season.

This is what I thought would happen. I thought last year was too good to be true for the Rangers. The grit they lost has hurt and the guys who over-performed last year are back to normal.

They could still make a Cup run though and that wouldn't surprise me. I think they get into the playoffs at least.

Can this season please be over now?

I think Bishop would be the perfect guy. He's not a kid (he will be 27 next season) so you wouldn't be stunting his growth (no pun intended). Let him play 20-25 games next season, and if he plays well he's a legit option if they decide to buyout Bryzgalov.
- PLindbergh31

let's try something. we're kidding ourselves if we believe this org is going to make excuses for our goalie the nxt 7 yrs.

I wouldn't consider a goalie until the middle stages of round 1. Not in the top 10-12, at least.
- bmeltzer

Our biggest concern since hextall has been a goalie and this guy is a fleury/brodeur type goalie. We have enough forwards or can add by FA. Defence is a need but adding a cant miss goalie is a must. I think a lot of people will agree after the playoffs.

Darnell Nurse looks like a player. A lot more Raw than Jones but also has a mean streak
- Baxter27

We can't draft him because he is related to Donovan McNabb. That's a death sentence in Philly.

if it's close, they have to get the dman. my concern is that they have a comfort zone w/ forwards and if it's close, they default to that plyr. at this point, it should be the opposite.
- isaiah520

They default to who they think is the best player available, regardless of position.

Our biggest concern since hextall has been a goalie and this guy is a fleury/brodeur type goalie. We have enough forwards or can add by FA. Defence is a need but adding a cant miss goalie is a must. I think a lot of people will agree after the playoffs.
- MrPerfect316

Always take the best available. If need be, you can trade assets but never draft solely for need.

Darnell Nurse looks like a player. A lot more Raw than Jones but also has a mean streak
- Baxter27

I wouldn't take Nurse in the 4-6 range, though. Closer to 10th, absolutely.

I like Bishop. But he has an obvious five-hole weakness that he'd need to correct before he could be a #1 goalie.
- bmeltzer

Lot of moving parts with a goaltender that is 6'7". I like what I have seen from him this year. Obviously he would come the cheapest if pursuing a trade with Ottawa. I would love to get Anderson or Lehner, but I don't see that being feasible.

Can this season please be over now?
- BulliesPhan87

my sentiments exactly. i'm a little curious about the TDL, but i'm anxious to find out where we finish and how the draft/FA mkt will serve us going forward. need the next big event, cause it's no longer the games...

Always take the best available. If need be, you can trade assets but never draft solely for need.
- NickTheKid87

That has worked well for us now hasn't it

That statement doesn't come close to refuting the statement I made.
- MJL

The point is that no matter what the coach does, the players still have to compete, finish their chances, makes saves, etc. When a team is successful a few years in a row under the same coach then loses important pieces to that team (Pronger, Carle, Jagr, JVR, et al), there has to be an expected drop off. There are so many variables that contribute to a team's success or failure, yet the coach is where you constantly put the blame. Many on this board laud the talent level on this team and maybe that is part of the problem. The talent may not be as great as is claimed.

Lot of moving parts with a goaltender that is 6'7". I like what I have seen from him this year. Obviously he would come the cheapest if pursuing a trade with Ottawa. I would love to get Anderson or Lehner, but I don't see that being feasible.
- PLindbergh31

I'd love Lehner but I think he will be their full time starter in 2-3 years. Maybe they even move Anderson this offseason.

That has worked well for us now hasn't it
- MrPerfect316

Claude Giroux.

Was the mistake that Kostitsyn made, an isolated incident? Was it one mistake, made by one player, in one game? Or was it another incident similar to repeated and chronic issues and mistakes made all Season long? If it was the former, then it's on the player. If it's the latter, it's on the Coach.
- MJL

You do realize Boston and St. Louis only have one less bench minor than the Flyers...don't see anyone blaming Hitch or Julien for this as you are blaming Lavy.

let's try something. we're kidding ourselves if we believe this org is going to make excuses for our goalie the nxt 7 yrs.
- isaiah520

Next 5 years. The last 2 years are so that that his 7 mill/yr salary fit under the cap. Luongo actually has a lower cap hit, hard to believe. Also, assuming both goalies will retire when the dummy years start kicking in, they will retire at the same time.

Can this season please be over now?
- BulliesPhan87

Wishful thinking. I see this team playing well once they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Winning meaningless games to worsen the draft pick is something they will excel at.

You do realize Boston and St. Louis only have one less bench minor than the Flyers...don't see anyone blaming Hitch or Julien for this as you are blaming Lavy.
- aantny88

A lot of bad changes game in and game out as well. Some lead to primo scoring chances and/or goals.

I wouldn't take Nurse in the 4-6 range, though. Closer to 10th, absolutely.
- bmeltzer

Maybe WIP can get a bunch of guys to boo him at the draft!

The point is that no matter what the coach does, the players still have to compete, finish their chances, makes saves, etc. When a team is successful a few years in a row under the same coach then loses important pieces to that team (Pronger, Carle, Jagr, JVR, et al), there has to be an expected drop off. There are so many variables that contribute to a team's success or failure, yet the coach is where you constantly put the blame. Many on this board laud the talent level on this team and maybe that is part of the problem. The talent may not be as great as is claimed.
- aantny88

Is the expected drop off of this team that they miss the playoffs and finish in the bottom of the standings in the League? Here's one thing the Coach has to do. When a player makes repeated mistakes over and over, or is not playing up to the level that he should, then the Coach needs to do something about it. You start by pointing out the errors, using practice, video, and drills to correct the issues. Or there is another tool. Take away icetime. But here we are, 30 games in. And just now Hartnell is being benched, and players are taken off scoring lines to demoted. How often has that happened this Season. When the same mistakes are made over and over. When adjustments are not made to account for the personell that is missing aren't made. It's on the Coach. And I'll repeat what has been said over and over. How is a team like Ottawa compensating for missing their star players?
You compared one isolated incident in one game. To the chronic and repeated issues the Flyers have had all Season long.
And I assure you, the Flyers are not where they're at due to a lack of talent in the lineup.

You do realize Boston and St. Louis only have one less bench minor than the Flyers...don't see anyone blaming Hitch or Julien for this as you are blaming Lavy.
- aantny88

How do you know that nobody is blaming Julien or Hichcock for those issues? Also when a team is winning, it's not the same. Are the bench minors the only issue with the Flyers?
First you're comparing one incident in one game with another team to the Flyers situation. Now you're comparing the situation in Boston to the Flyers situation.
Trust me, if the Flyers record had them in the tops of the League like Boston. I wouldn't be criticizing the Coach.

Is the expected drop off of this team that they miss the playoffs and finish in the bottom of the standings in the League? Here's one thing the Coach has to do. When a player makes repeated mistakes over and over, or is not playing up to the level that he should, then the Coach needs to do something about it. You start by pointing out the errors, using practice, video, and drills to correct the issues. Or there is another tool. Take away icetime. But here we are, 30 games in. And just now Hartnell is being benched, and players are taken off scoring lines to demoted. How often has that happened this Season. When the same mistakes are made over and over. When adjustments are not made to account for the personell that is missing aren't made. It's on the Coach. And I'll repeat what has been said over and over. How is a team like Ottawa compensating for missing their star players?
You compared one isolated incident in one game. To the chronic and repeated issues the Flyers have had all Season long.
And I assure you, the Flyers are not where they're at due to a lack of talent in the lineup.
- MJL

Stick with Lavy and we have a good chance of winning this year! Winning the lottery of course!

Wishful thinking. I see this team playing well once they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Winning meaningless games to worsen the draft pick is something they will excel at.
- PLindbergh31

now i'll still be rooting for the teams at the bottom of the standings to win as well, but i don't believe that the flyers deciding to get their act together and start playing well for the rest of the year (even if they can't make the playoffs) would be a bad thing. i would be really happy to see some signs of life from this young team

a high draft pick would certainly be a silver lining on all of this losing, though

The point is that no matter what the coach does, the players still have to compete, finish their chances, makes saves, etc. When a team is successful a few years in a row under the same coach then loses important pieces to that team (Pronger, Carle, Jagr, JVR, et al), there has to be an expected drop off. There are so many variables that contribute to a team's success or failure, yet the coach is where you constantly put the blame. Many on this board laud the talent level on this team and maybe that is part of the problem. The talent may not be as great as is claimed.
- aantny88

Easiest thing in the world to do is blame the coach. Everyone claims no adjustments blah, blah, blah.... Players have to be held more accountable, that is the bottom line. These are grown men who are professionals getting paid a fortune, it's not biddy ball.

my sentiments exactly. i'm a little curious about the TDL, but i'm anxious to find out where we finish and how the draft/FA mkt will serve us going forward. need the next big event, cause it's no longer the games...
- isaiah520

I'm still somewhat interested in the games, if only to see the players find some of their game. Otherwise, I just want to get on with life, draft us some players, and see what we can do to fix this situation.