I blame the media tools for that nonsense.

But you are very right. He's the only one speaking honestly about this. The rest of them with their "we're not out of it" and other cliche-littered rhetoric can go pound sand.
- Scoob

The media is what it is. I think Bryz's head was a bit in the clouds last season, but that's water under the bridge and not a thing I'd crucify him for anyway. This year, I think he's proven an important part of this team, and I think his statements are a lot more on point. Even the 'every game is a playoffs game now' spiel was a bit candy coated for me. Somebody had to admit that the Flyers, as an entity, were poopting the bed, and that it had to stop immediately.

It helps that his play has been a positive most nights, too.

I know I harp a lot on the coach, probably to the point of distraction. I really do not lay all the blame on him. I'm just so frustrated by the lack of effective adjustments and the seam old issues happening again and a again that I really got to the point where I wanted him fired more than anything else surrounding the team.

I was so pissed off after the Boston loss that I got obsessed with them making a change, and every successive game got me more and more upset.

Now, I'm past it, because there's really almost no chance to make the playoffs. There's no coach that will come in and possibly spur them on or correct the issues. Making a change now also means the new guy is an obvious interim, so he'll have a hard time with accountability.

The only out of work "retread" I'd consider now is Guy Boucher, because he's shown he can be good with young players and he's a good strategy guy, who teaches. But I don't know how sold I am on him.

I know tht a change back on the 9th likely wouldn't have done anything. I just had no faith that Laviolette could turn things around.
- Jsaquella

I completely agree. You change a coach mid-season for one of two reasons. Because you think you really have the talent to do something in the playoffs and the coach is holding you back. Or, you want to evaluate the young players in a different system to decide who to keep or get rid of.

The Flyers are not going to do anything in the PO this year, so the only reason to think about it would be for player evaluation. But here is the thing...there are not enough games to honestly evaluate the players in what would likely be a radically different system. They are as likely to make a mis-evaluation as not in this case.

Now, with a new coach often comes a temporary bump in the standings. TB will likely rise a few places for example. That would likely do more damage to the Flyers at this point by costing them a shot at one of the top three.

So I'm against a change until after the season.


EDIT: Fixed bad quote.

The only out of work "retread" I'd consider now is Guy Boucher, because he's shown he can be good with young players and he's a good strategy guy, who teaches. But I don't know how sold I am on him.

- Jsaquella

After that nonsense he pulled last season I don't want any part of him.

That game last night was a disgrace. I turned it off after the second since I didn't feel like I needed to see the Westminster Dog Show again. I have three theories as to what is going on and I think they each contribute to this train wreck of a team.

1. Leadership - They are young and that shouldn't be underestimated. Look at a team like Edmonton with all those #1s who are just starting to find themselves now. While they have some experienced vets in that locker room., they need a hammer like Pronger was or like a Tocchet was years ago. Timo and Briere are too timid.

2. Chemistry with Bryz - There is a fine line on D between making the extra effort to make a play and not. While Bryz has played well at times, I have a suspicion that he is not very well liked and it shows on the ice, especially on defense. They won't come out and say it, but there is no doubt in my mind that teams play better in front of goalies that they like or at least don't dislike. HOF level goalies do not apply to this theory. Patrick Roy was a wiener, but still won.

3. System Gridlock - I believe after the playoffs last year Homer sat down with Lavy and persuaded him to tweak their style of play and I think they've ended up with this purgatory-type of hybrid between Lavys attack style and trying to play sound defense. I think this causes alot of confusion at times with the team.

So, they need to buy out Bryz after the season, find a surly, respected veteran or two, and figure out how they want to play. Oh, and someone who can carry the puck out of our own end would help too.

Yes, the soft goals allowed have increased. Whether it's due to fatigue, being constantly hung out to dry or what, soft goals deflate a team like nothing else.

That being said, he's constantly been under siege especially early in games (constant odd man rushes) and more often than not he's made some really tough saves to keep the team in the game. I made the point last night that the overall team play does not deserve the goaltender to constantly bail them out, that is fools gold.
- PLindbergh31

This is more for everyone than just PLind, but I'm not going to make 5 posts on it and reply direct to all the responses.

The wrap around was not totally Bryzgalov's fault, and stopping it wouldn't have been a routine stop. That said, if you have an elite goalie he makes that stop. There's a ton of circumstances that hurt him. and yes, Couturier was absolutely a spectator on the goal.

I like Bryz, a lot. I think that his main issue is that he gets to making adjustments based on what he's facing. On scramble plays he's cheating because he's expect the coverage to break down. I think he gets less aggressive on point shots because he's worried about traffic in front causing a deflection that he can't stop being at the top of his crease.

As bad as a soft goal can deflate a team, a goal caused by weak coverage can really get under a goalie's skin, especially a guy like Bryz, who is very smart and is a guy that is constantly analyzing things in his head. If the coverage is consistently solid, Bryz can just worry about the puck, not about the uncovered guy standing on the porch fo the tap in.

I don't kno, Bill. What did you expect holmgren to do, sign a few solid dmen in free agency THEN take a run at weber/Parise/suter?? If you decide to go big in free agency, you do it first, before "settling" for the more reliable options. I will never question or fault holmgren for trying to add those big names, because if we had gotten them, people would be singing a much different tune right now, including yourself.
- FlyersPhanatic012

I don't think there was one person who really thought the Flyers could land Suter or Parise.

I put the blame for that goal on the defense.
- Scoob

The defense is partly to blame, but that's not the first soft wraparound Bryz has given up this year. Hopefully the team defense is better next year, but even if it isn't you can't keep a goalie with a .900 save percentage for six more years at $5.67 million.

The defense is partly to blame, but that's not the first soft wraparound Bryz has given up this year. Hopefully the team defense is better next year, but even if it isn't you can't keep a goalie with a .900 save percentage for six more years at $5.67 million.
- Feanor

When Biron was the Flyers goalie he couldn't stop a wrap around to save his life either. It was a certainty that the team would score if they could execute the wraparound. It didn't stop the Flyers from offering him a 3 or 4 year contract to be their starter. Thankfully he thought he could get more.

-------------------------------

From the Columbus Dispatch :

Bobrovsky kicked out all 34 shots he faced in regulation, but fell short in the shootout. "Our defensemen were under siege. Our goalie was under siege," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "We didn't do enough in the offensive zone to give them a break. We didn't do enough. Not nearly enough. The level they were playing at ... the speed, the physicality. We weren't there." Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert added that Bobrovsky's "outstanding" play was the reason the Blue Jackets at least got a much needed point. Bobrovsky has a 1.23 GAA and .960 save percentage in 12 games this season.


It's possible to be under seige and still not let in 5 goals.
- Flyers_01

You're comparing one game to a Season long issue. It is possible to be under Seige and not let in 5 goals. And Bryzgalov has done his share of that. Let's see Bobrovsky under siege game after game, and see what happens. Bobrovsky is gone, and plays on Columbus.

I completely agree. You change a coach mid-season for one of two reasons. Because you think you really have the talent to do something in the playoffs and the coach is holding you back. Or, you want to evaluate the young players in a different system to decide who to keep or get rid of.

The Flyers are not going to do anything in the PO this year, so the only reason to think about it would be for player evaluation. But here is the thing...there are not enough games to honestly evaluate the players in what would likely be a radically different system. They are as likely to make a mis-evaluation as not in this case.

Now, with a new coach often comes a temporary bump in the standings. TB will likely rise a few places for example. That would likely do more damage to the Flyers at this point by costing them a shot at one of the top three.

So I'm against a change until after the season.


EDIT: Fixed bad quote.
- TheGreat28

My rationale for making a change after the Bruins loss was not for one reason.

My main objectives were:

1. Get a guy in who would instill discipline
2. Get a guy in who could teach the kids and get everyone more on the same page
3. Get a better read on who is and isn't going to be a piece moving forward
4. Hope there's an outside chance that a new coach could get them turned around and make a run.

At this point, any change would be an obvious interim situation and would accomplish none of the 4 objectives I laid out.

Biron and his agent badly misread the market for him.

I would trade either of them for the right player. I don't think I would trade Couturier for Subban. I would trade B Schenn or Voracek for Subban.
- MJL

I would not trade Voracek right now at all. He has developed some chemistry with Giroux but Hartnell looks lost out there, he can't stand up and really can't keep up with Giroux and Voracek(hopefully he is just hurt). He would be someone I would move for sure for the right price.

After that nonsense he pulled last season I don't want any part of him.
- Scoob

I have issues with the guy. I'm not sold on him, but he's be ahead of Ruff or Murray in terms of getting a permanent replacement.

That game last night was a disgrace. I turned it off after the second since I didn't feel like I needed to see the Westminster Dog Show again. I have three theories as to what is going on and I think they each contribute to this train wreck of a team.

1. Leadership - They are young and that shouldn't be underestimated. Look at a team like Edmonton with all those #1s who are just starting to find themselves now. While they have some experienced vets in that locker room., they need a hammer like Pronger was or like a Tocchet was years ago. Timo and Briere are too timid.

2. Chemistry with Bryz - There is a fine line on D between making the extra effort to make a play and not. While Bryz has played well at times, I have a suspicion that he is not very well liked and it shows on the ice, especially on defense. They won't come out and say it, but there is no doubt in my mind that teams play better in front of goalies that they like or at least don't dislike. HOF level goalies do not apply to this theory. Patrick Roy was a wiener, but still won.

3. System Gridlock - I believe after the playoffs last year Homer sat down with Lavy and persuaded him to tweak their style of play and I think they've ended up with this purgatory-type of hybrid between Lavys attack style and trying to play sound defense. I think this causes alot of confusion at times with the team.

So, they need to buy out Bryz after the season, find a surly, respected veteran or two, and figure out how they want to play. Oh, and someone who can carry the puck out of our own end would help too.
- NJFlyer42

Two things. Suggesting that the Flyers aren't playing well defensively because they don't like Bryzgalov, is BS. Nothing to do with it. Secondly, the Flyers are playing the same exact way, with the exception of a minor change, as they did last year. That's the problem. Laviolette hasn't changed.

The defense is partly to blame, but that's not the first soft wraparound Bryz has given up this year. Hopefully the team defense is better next year, but even if it isn't you can't keep a goalie with a .900 save percentage for six more years at $5.67 million.
- Feanor

I don't think it was soft at all. It was a perfect shot into the far corner. The likelihood of a player making that shot a high percentage of the time, is very low. The Flyers play the same exact coverage scheme with the puck down low as the Rangers do. Nash never get's out in front of the net against the Rangers, without being challenged. And wouldn't be able to pull off that shot.

This is more for everyone than just PLind, but I'm not going to make 5 posts on it and reply direct to all the responses.

The wrap around was not totally Bryzgalov's fault, and stopping it wouldn't have been a routine stop. That said, if you have an elite goalie he makes that stop. There's a ton of circumstances that hurt him. and yes, Couturier was absolutely a spectator on the goal.

I like Bryz, a lot. I think that his main issue is that he gets to making adjustments based on what he's facing. On scramble plays he's cheating because he's expect the coverage to break down. I think he gets less aggressive on point shots because he's worried about traffic in front causing a deflection that he can't stop being at the top of his crease.

As bad as a soft goal can deflate a team, a goal caused by weak coverage can really get under a goalie's skin, especially a guy like Bryz, who is very smart and is a guy that is constantly analyzing things in his head. If the coverage is consistently solid, Bryz can just worry about the puck, not about the uncovered guy standing on the porch fo the tap in.
- Jsaquella

Totally agree. Well stated.

I would not trade Voracek right now at all. He has developed some chemistry with Giroux but Hartnell looks lost out there, he can't stand up and really can't keep up with Giroux and Voracek(hopefully he is just hurt). He would be someone I would move for sure for the right price.
- Daceroni

Understandable why you don't want to trade him. I really don't want to either. But to get a top defenseman, someone of value is going to have to be traded. It's a tough choice.

Can someone explain to me what the delay was in last night's game after the Flyers scored their 2nd goal and then forced the Rangers to ice the puck? No announcement was given in the building for the delay, but it clearly gave the Rangers players extra rest after the icing and also killed momentum. I'm certainly not saying that it cost them the game, but I was livid at the time and feel we deserved an explanation from the officials.

Can someone explain to me what the delay was in last night's game after the Flyers scored their 2nd goal and then forced the Rangers to ice the puck? No announcement was given in the building for the delay, but it clearly gave the Rangers players extra rest after the icing and also killed momentum. I'm certainly not saying that it cost them the game, but I was livid at the time and feel we deserved an explanation from the officials.
- Tartan69

Issue with the clock. It wasn't started on time.

whats everyones opinion of jakob markstrom? if its good, wonder if florida would move him?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Beyond the Blame Game
- bmeltzer

in many ways, this team and this season is much worse than than the season that shall not be named. it's about 95.7% pure suckage. i'm pleased with rinaldo's devlopment, luke schenn, voracek and bryz for the majority of the season, but it's simply nowhere near enough.

i was really hoping to wake up to the news of lava being dismissed (not that i want him personally to lose his job - that sucks). have to start somewhere though.

My thoughts

1. Untouchables: Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds
Each one brings something dynamic or the possibility of something dynamic. Each is young and should be the core of our team.

2. Moved for right piece: Couturier, Schenns, Hartnell, Read, Rinaldo, grossman, Talbot

3. Everyone else on the table

4. Bryz unless you can pry one of the youngsters from the Sens or maybe RFA Bob I dont see a point in moving\buying him out.

5. I don't think Lava is the coach for this team. He is the guy when you are close, when you have Chris Pronger still in his prime and you are ready to make a cup run. That is not this team.

6. Draft has to be one of the top 3. Jones makes the most sense for need but the 2 forwards open up possibilities also.

NEEDS (in order for me)
Coach
Number 1 and number 2 dman
Dynamic scoring forward
Backup goalie
New season to start with normal routine

It's very difficult to play the blame game with our roster this season. More so with the forwards than our defense. It's easy to forget that strategies play a big role in how your team plays on the ice and how individual players contribute to this team. Every nhler should be held accountable for his play and performance. But if team play, overall strategy, approach or system isn't effective and adequate or getting the most out of your players, it's seems detrimental to criticize and evaluate them at this point.

You're comparing one game to a Season long issue. It is possible to be under Seige and not let in 5 goals. And Bryzgalov has done his share of that. Let's see Bobrovsky under siege game after game, and see what happens. Bobrovsky is gone, and plays on Columbus.
- MJL

he gave up 4 goals on 11 shots the other night and lost.

whats everyones opinion of jakob markstrom? if its good, wonder if florida would move him?
- mydoglicks

Love him, Florida isn't moving him, though.

Ottawa has 3 good goalies. Bishop could be a good time splitter, and Robin Lehner is a young kid and firey.