Meh. I'll trust Homer running this team moving forward and hope he stays - with less interference from above.
- Flyskippy

I don't think Homer has done a bad job. This season the team didn't land the pieces it needed in the offseason. Unfortunately you can't get everything all the time. The team is underachieving and it happens from time to time.

if the flyers really are heading into a prolonged rough patch, i think they'd be wise to gauge hartnell's willingness to move to another situation. long shot that he'd be cooperative enough to allow them to capitalize on his value, but he'd be the perfect trading chip if they were headed that way

Ok I was able to recover my post from page 58, by "viewing source" and pulling it from the HTML code (aren't you all just soooo happy about that :lol ...anyway, here it is (was in response to flyer_nutter implication about getting rid of some players):


I think we need to guard against making conclusions about certain players, particularly the younger talent, while viewing them through the fog of this season's debacle...changes need to be made, for sure, but there are a lot of fully capable players and young developing ones playing well under their abilities... which, to me, is indicative of some sort of systemic malfunction rather than the inability of the players. I think whatever is being taught, being demanded, being practiced, being shouted, is either not working or being tuned out or just not being executed by the players. While it is unfair to lay full blame a the feet of Laviolette, most of these issues fall within responsibility of him and the coaching staff. Lavy might be a good coach and working hard to try and fix things, but whatever he and the team are doing together, it's just not working, anymore.



This season presented a lot of challenges early on with the player turnover, the injuries, the brutal schedule, and the young players growing pains...in ways it was a perfect $hite storm. I can understand how the players could lose confidence in their coaches and also themselves in such a situation, resulting in a snowball effect and downward spiral. I think we need to pull back and take a look at the needs of the team from a macro perspective...I think they could use an offensive defenseman who can skate the puck on the rush and run a PP, and at some point not to far off, another, ideally #1 type, when Timonen is gone. A reasonable trade for Yandle or Buff... Seth Jones would be a nice gift (please God), but don't you just know that even if the Flyers come in last, they'll fall within that 75% chance that they don't get the first pick...but they would at least get an elite prospect.



As far as Lavy...well, I think he's a good guy and a decent coach but I am beginning to think his message has become worn... his firey exhortations, which used to light a fire under the team's a$$ when they needed it, are now seemingly tuned out by the team. Really, how many times can you kick a soda machine or drop an F bomb laden tirade and have it work before it just doesn't do it any more. The team doesn't seem to be buyin what he's selling anymore...so it may be just that time, for new blood...it's almost not fair to him, but even if one doesn't see the blame laying with the coaches, it's tough to see an easier and more effective way to change the whole team's mentality and attitude than making a coaching change. Almost like when a team comes out playing like crap and gives up 3 or 4 goals in the first period of a game...the goalie may not be playing that bad, but he gets pulled anyway as a way of trying to send a message and reset the team's mindset. The Flyers need that reset. I honestly believe that with that change and maybe two or three select roster changes, will come the opportunity to return to the playoff contention next season and beyond. Unless a nice reasonable trade for a top offensive defenseman comes along before the deadline (not likely), I advocate waiting until the draft to make the moves, if any, that they want to make.

- exlund

Agreed on a lot of it. I do feel the coach plays a big role in the troubles, but barring a miracle that will change this summer, anyhow.

I especially agree that it's better to wait until after the TDL to make select roster moves. I would try to sell off the UFA's, just to get some kind of return.

the changes must be made before the season is over gotta get rid of the vets on their way out like briere and timonen use those picks to draft players we can fill up the system with move someone like read for a young dman
- 2Real

The two players you listed have a full NMC.

One has a concussion and the other is going to finish his career here.

offense sells tickets defense wins championships think about it !
- 2Real

This team has never had to worry about selling tickets. So defense it is.

if the flyers really are heading into a prolonged rough patch, i think they'd be wise to gauge hartnell's willingness to move to another situation. long shot that he'd be cooperative enough to allow them to capitalize on his value, but he'd be the perfect trading chip if they were headed that way
- FlyerMike18

how long do you see the rough patch taking?

offense sells tickets defense wins championships think about it !
- 2Real

you sound like my little league coach

Another loss, sigh.

Sucks that we finally have a goalie and then other parts of the machine are the problem. Just play it out and reassess personnel after the season. Maybe offer Kimmo an out to a contender this year, but he seems like a loyal guy and wouldn't bail anyways.

obvi oversight on my part since i included him in my top 3- lol, i knew i was missing someone
- Don'tForgetTocchet

That's why I didn't put together my own list...I would slight someone and they would hate me, like Couts now hates you.

But seriously, he'll get over it in a year or two.

That's what I wanted, but I thought maybe I was just dumb.

Maybe I am
- eayost

No you're not. Hitch wasn't perfect he made mistakes, but he's damn good coach! He never quite had the horses here, look at the year we had to get a winger to play d cause of injuries. Think Lavy could do that? Fook no!

Wilson echo said it best earlier when he referred to it as a merry go round. Look I was happy to see Richards and carter go, hell I still think we got the better of the deals but I can't help but realize my ecstasy was misguided. Now the case can still be made that their contracts needed to be moved, that's fine but all these young players have frugal deals yet. It's time to dig in and weather the storm. Fix the blue line and get a coach who preaches fundamental play in all three zones. We were building an identity under Hitchcock it continued under Stevens and now 180. Should have just kept Hitchcock for (frank)s sake.

This town, the media and the people who run this team especially have the other woman syndrome so bad I swear they'd leave a maxim model for a train wreck.
- JoeRussomanno

The daily news will have an article out tommorow "2013 flyers. Contenders or pretenders?"

Wilson echo said it best earlier when he referred to it as a merry go round. Look I was happy to see Richards and carter go, hell I still think we got the better of the deals but I can't help but realize my ecstasy was misguided. Now the case can still be made that their contracts needed to be moved, that's fine but all these young players have frugal deals yet. It's time to dig in and weather the storm. Fix the blue line and get a coach who preaches fundamental play in all three zones. We were building an identity under Hitchcock it continued under Stevens and now 180. Should have just kept Hitchcock for (frank)s sake.

This town, the media and the people who run this team especially have the other woman syndrome so bad I swear they'd leave a maxim model for a train wreck.
- JoeRussomanno

i can agree w/ everything except the hitch part. he even admitted his mistakes that he carried w/ him to CLB. the press loves him because he's always yacking. makes their jobs easier.

The two players you listed have a full NMC.

One has a concussion and the other is going to finish his career here.
- stveshdy

morrow waived his ntc
you can make a player no longer feel welcome

That's why I didn't put together my own list...I would slight someone and they would hate me, like Couts now hates you.

But seriously, he'll get over it in a year or two.
- wolfhounds

my first post with him on the top 3 list will win him back over to me

don't you understand how far internet cred will take you??

Agreed on a lot of it. I do feel the coach plays a big role in the troubles, but barring a miracle that will change this summer, anyhow.

I especially agree that it's better to wait until after the TDL to make select roster moves. I would try to sell off the UFA's, just to get some kind of return.
- Jsaquella

Yup. Get as many picks as possible for this year's draft, then fill holes in the off-season with free agents and trades.

I don't think Homer has done a bad job. This season the team didn't land the pieces it needed in the offseason. Unfortunately you can't get everything all the time. The team is underachieving and it happens from time to time.
- stveshdy

I didn't have a problem with Homer not signing Carle to that type of contract. Kimmo is signed for one more year, the cap hit is high, but the length is perfect. Voracek and Simmonds are signed to rather friendly cap figures. Hartnell I think is still injured, his season is lost. I think the cap will be back over $65 million within two years.

I don't think he does anything rash with Coots or B. Schenn, maybe one of them for Yandle, but other then that I don't think they are moving. Secure a top 3 pick and draft a stud (praying for Jones).

if the flyers really are heading into a prolonged rough patch, i think they'd be wise to gauge hartnell's willingness to move to another situation. long shot that he'd be cooperative enough to allow them to capitalize on his value, but he'd be the perfect trading chip if they were headed that way
- FlyerMike18

I reluctantly agree with this. I love the guy, have owned a jersey for years which I just got signed last month, and enjoy his crash-bang-pow style of play... BUT there is a lot lacking in the hockey smarts department which have really come to the fore this season: undisciplined penalties and poor decisions with the puck.

*sigh*

The daily news will have an article out tommorow "2013 flyers. Contenders or pretenders?"
- Just5

Anyone who still thinks this team has a chance to make the playoffs has not been watching the Flyers play for the last month.

No you're not. Hitch wasn't perfect he made mistakes, but he's damn good coach! He never quite had the horses here, look at the year we had to get a winger to play d cause of injuries. Think Lavy could do that? Fook no!
- JoeRussomanno

Eric Weinrich was traded just before those injuries piled up. Terrible trade.

morrow waived his ntc
you can make a player no longer feel welcome
- 2Real

Briere is injured.

Why would they move Timonen? Why would he waive his NMC? He signed a 1 year ext. The guy could of went anywhere in the offseason but decided to stay here.

how long do you see the rough patch taking?
- Don'tForgetTocchet

bump





i don't see this as prolonged at all, this team is better than what's going on here
i'd tweak, and keep fartsmell

Just got a memo from the This (frank)ing Sucks Dept. (aka. a Pens fan buddy of mine): Pens have now won as many in a row as Philly has won all year.

Honestly I don't see how Lavi wakes up tomorrow to a job in Philly.

i can agree w/ everything except the hitch part. he even admitted his mistakes that he carried w/ him to CLB. the press loves him because he's always yacking. makes their jobs easier.
- isaiah520

He did but if anything, they should have kept going in that direction. It was an identity that was beating at least everyone in the division but the penguins. What were looking at now is an utter disgrace. Talent or not this is not a team, they play as individuals and they're predictable as hell.

my first post with him on the top 3 list will win him back over to me

don't you understand how far internet cred will take you??
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Damn. You got it covered.

I reluctantly agree with this. I love the guy, have owned a jersey for years which I just got signed last month, and enjoy his crash-bang-pow style of play... BUT there is a lot lacking in the hockey smarts department which have really come to the fore this season: undisciplined penalties and poor decisions with the puck.

*sigh*
- Flyskippy

I would listen to offers for Hartnell, but would not be shopping him. I think if he's got two healthy feet, he's a different guy this year. He returned a couple/few weeks early, did he not?