Moreso than the coach, yes.
- Jsaquella

This team has had a bad year no question about it. I'm not sure they are going to make any changes with the coach. Will see what happens but it looks to me that the talent is a tad overrated on this team.

They have some young pieces but if they decided to move on from the coach what style of coach will they be looking to hire?

Not sure if Leight, but Phantoms won their game earlier today.

-Heeter made 40 saves on 42 shots in the 4-2 win over Portland

-New college signee Kyle Flanagan with an assist, for his second pro point in as many games.

-McGinn gets a goal on 4 shots

-Noebels netted a goal

-Akeson's assist gives him 19 pts in his last 14 games

That's two W's in a row for the Phantoms, who are 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games, beating some decent teams along the way...

Due to stupidity. That still lingers big time.

They still lost. Just saying.

I dont know if I like them collapsing so much though. The points are always open.
- flyer_nutter

They still lost, but they held a Pittsburgh team that's been red hot to one goal during regulation. They may have overdone the collapsing, but changing a style takes time. They're not used to playing that way.

Clutterbuck's a good top 9 guys, but he's not going to provide a ton of offense. Not a big Horton fan, either.
- Jsaquella

He wont for sure. I dont know if they really need that though. They have guys imo that can score, they need more of what that 3rd line brought tonight.

They seem pretty soft up front to me. Rinaldo and Simmonds are the only guys I would say have played tough and gritty up front consistently this season. They need to be harder to play against, and have more of a board presence.

This team has had a bad year no question about it. I'm not sure they are going to make any changes with the coach. Will see what happens but it looks to me that the talent is a tad overrated on this team.

They have some young pieces but if they decided to move on from the coach what style of coach will they be looking to hire?
- stveshdy

If they don't make the playoffs the coach is gone.

They should hire a coach who isn't so married to a system that it takes him two thirds of a season to realize that maybe he doesn't have the pieces needed to run it.

The issue with the talent isn't that it's overrated, it's that it is young and with youth you get inconsistency.

He wont for sure. I dont know if they really need that though. They have guys imo that can score, they need more of what that 3rd line brought tonight.

They seem pretty soft up front to me. Rinaldo and Simmonds are the only guys I would say have played tough and gritty up front consistently this season. They need to be harder to play against, and have more of a board presence.
- flyer_nutter

Thoughts on Hartnell? Had a fantastic year last season. This season well thats another story.

He wont for sure. I dont know if they really need that though. They have guys imo that can score, they need more of what that 3rd line brought tonight.

They seem pretty soft up front to me. Rinaldo and Simmonds are the only guys I would say have played tough and gritty up front consistently this season. They need to be harder to play against, and have more of a board presence.
- flyer_nutter

Hartnell with a healthy foot provides that, too. I'm not against it, but they have other holes that need attention more, right now.

They still lost, but they held a Pittsburgh team that's been red hot to one goal during regulation. They may have overdone the collapsing, but changing a style takes time. They're not used to playing that way.
- Jsaquella

I think Bryzgalov had more to do with it tonight than anything, but I get what you are saying.

I've been female doging about back-checking all season long, and that really looked like a difference for me tonight. Penguins always had a forward back. I dont see that commitment from the Flyers.

Thoughts on Hartnell? Had a fantastic year last season. This season well thats another story.
- stveshdy

he is wasting too much energy on parveen

If they don't make the playoffs the coach is gone.

They should hire a coach who isn't so married to a system that it takes him two thirds of a season to realize that maybe he doesn't have the pieces needed to run it.

The issue with the talent isn't that it's overrated, it's that it is young and with youth you get inconsistency.
- Jsaquella

I think its been stated on here many times that the veterans are constantly making the mistakes. Thats not so much youth.

I really dont see anyone untouchable on this flyer team. Homer should try to get as many pieces as he can at the deadline for the new coach next year.

I think Bryzgalov had more to do with it tonight than anything, but I get what you are saying.

I've been female doging about back-checking all season long, and that really looked like a difference for me tonight. Penguins always had a forward back. I dont see that commitment from the Flyers.
- flyer_nutter

It hadn't been there for most of the year. Laviolette pushes aggressiveness, the problem with that is, when you have aggression without discipline, you get reckless and careless play. When that happens, you get killed.

Thoughts on Hartnell? Had a fantastic year last season. This season well thats another story.
- stveshdy

You either love him or hate him. There is rarely an in between.

I wouldn't be up for trading him, but he has run as hot and cold as the team has ever since his arrival in the Stevens era.

I would rather have him than a guy like Clowe for example. I think Kunitz outplayed him tonight in a lot of areas, and that is unnaceptable however.

I really dont see anyone untouchable on this flyer team. Homer should try to get as many pieces as he can at the deadline for the new coach next year.
- vejim

Not sure they want to blow up the team. They just moved two of there younger franchise players less than two years ago.

I think its been stated on here many times that the veterans are constantly making the mistakes. Thats not so much youth.
- stveshdy

But the youth has been inconsistent in it's scoring. Schenn, Simmonds, Couturier have not lived up to what was expected. Hartnell hasn't been 100% for most of the year. Even Giroux hasn't been dominant, despite picking up points.

Not sure if Leight, but Phantoms won their game earlier today.

-Heeter made 40 saves on 42 shots in the 4-2 win over Portland

-New college signee Kyle Flanagan with an assist, for his second pro point in as many games.

-McGinn gets a goal on 4 shots

-Noebels netted a goal

-Akeson's assist gives him 19 pts in his last 14 games

That's two W's in a row for the Phantoms, who are 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games, beating some decent teams along the way...
- exlund

so we got that going for us

definitely would be nice to see them get it together, though

I really dont see anyone untouchable on this flyer team. Homer should try to get as many pieces as he can at the deadline for the new coach next year.
- vejim

Yeah, except that it's year two of a retooling/rebuilding. They have 6 guys left from the 2010 team. At some point you have to stop the cycle of changing.

Hartnell gets a pass with most of the rest of the team for this season, especially with his injury. Still, you'd like to see him play a bit smarter and show a bit more leadership.

Not sure they want to blow up the team. They just moved two of there younger franchise players less than two years ago.
- stveshdy

Not because of a bad 1/2 of a year.

But the youth has been inconsistent in it's scoring. Schenn, Simmonds, Couturier have not lived up to what was expected. Hartnell hasn't been 100% for most of the year. Even Giroux hasn't been dominant, despite picking up points.
- Jsaquella

All true. Schenn and Couturier have not performed to the level of expectations. However, they are young but the rest of the team has been around in the NHL for a decent amount of time.

I really dont see anyone untouchable on this flyer team. Homer should try to get as many pieces as he can at the deadline for the new coach next year.
- vejim

Yea the log jam at center should be interesting contract wise. G, Coots, and Schenn all RFAs 2014-2015....Cant pay everybody with Harts, Voracek, Simmonds all locked up. Tough decisions for sure

Not because of a bad 1/2 of a year.
- 77rams

Agreed. I think it would be wise to move a couple of players before the deadline though.

Yea the log jam at center should be interesting contract wise. G, Coots, and Schenn all RFAs 2014-2015....Cant pay everybody with Harts, Voracek, Simmonds all locked up. Tough decisions for sure
- aosplayo

I would seriously consider trading Giroux

All true. Schenn and Couturier have not performed to the level of expectations. However, they are young but the rest of the team has been around in the NHL for a decent amount of time.
- stveshdy

Still young. Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek are all 25 or younger. The lack of veteran leadership and performance has been a big issue, but it makes consistent production all the more important from the kids.

I would seriously consider trading Giroux
- vejim

Well Im not a capologist or anything, but G would be looking for what Perry/Getzlaf got this past week, no? Thats a big hit, but who knows