Well this offseason will be a turning point one way or the other. Hopefully it's the right way!
- funmaster18

See, I think unless Ed dies (and no one wants that, really), that this offseason may be just as much or little of a turning point as the past 10.

Chicago and Pitt can play this way bc they have Norris caliber #1 D men. And plenty of capable mobile dmen to boot. I like Lavas aggressive style but the defense is not built for it at all.
- Just5

As of right now, this team isnt built to properly play any kind of style. No amount of attention to detail, will fix that imo. Thats the bigger issue to me.

I agree they need to improve that back end, but I think it will need to be done mainly through the draft. Timonen will not be here for much longer, and neither will a stopgap like Streit.

You can trade for a guy like Yandle, but will need to find another top d-man in time anyway imo.

I wish they would have just kept BOB and let te young team grow together.
- funmaster18

But Uncle Ed didn't want that, and wasn't going to allow that to happen.

Winning a shootout round 1 against the "Burgh is all well and good but when you get to NJ and have to play responsible and you can't that's a problem. They didn't want him to change his style just reign it in a little. After all we weren't going to replicate the 80s Oilers machine.

Given a training camp it could well have worked but this is just a mess.
- mayorofangrytown

The defense isn't good enough to play Lavi's style imo. He needs to adjust and change it or get fired.

Once again there is change though.

See, I think unless Ed dies (and no one wants that, really), that this offseason may be just as much or little of a turning point as the past 10.
- bodiva88

This is correct. They will never win a Cup with Snider alive and running things.

Funny. I was saying that a few weeks ago. Not the same way, I mean it's not because Snider is cheap, and the organization as a whole is run very well as a business (which the Blackhawks weren't--they made changes throughout the business). But the hockey side is stuck in time warp somehow. And Snider making pronouncements is a big part of that. We don't really know how good or bad a GM Homer is if the big moves he's made were scripted by big Ed.
- bodiva88

Like a nice breeze it is something else noticing this.

My biggest issue is right at the top, and it trickles down. Unless you fix the top one way or another, no coaching change, or anything will really pay off.

See, I think unless Ed dies (and no one wants that, really), that this offseason may be just as much or little of a turning point as the past 10.
- bodiva88

I'm waiting to see if they fire Laviolette (a guy I wanted gone way earlier this year) after the season is over.

If they retain Laviolette, I gotta think, somehow, that Snider's been convinced to give Holmgren, et al, a mulligan for the abbreviated season as well as for the fact that Holmgren DID try to bring in premium talent last summer.

If the Flyers open the season with the young core intact and Lavvy behind the bench, that would be a sea change, IMO.

There is no need for it though.

He couldnt have answered much differently and made it a complete non issue.

If this was the first time with Bryzgalov alright, but the team has had to cover for his ass too much over the last 2 years. The media is what it is, and Bryzgalov falls for the game too easily.
- flyer_nutter

Any way he would have answered it, it would have been couched in a way that created some kind of controversy.

You don't answer and you're labeled aloof, surly. If you're candid, then you're outspoken and a malcontent. You give a cliched response and you're distant and disinterested.

This is correct. They will never win a Cup with Snider alive and running things.
- Just5

I think Snider has his input but I don't think he makes every decision. The GM tried to get some good players in the summer but failed. Plan B was not very good either.

It seemed like everyone knew Parise and Suter were likely to sign together an likely in Minnesota. I don't know he we waited so long on them. I didn't think that was going to happen. With weber, I too thought we were almost certain in acquiring him, but when they didn't, there was no contingency plan. Unless you call gervais a contingency plan.
- funmaster18

See the Flyers management for a while should have known they will need a replacement for Timonen and Pronger.

Did they find one? Or try and bring one in via trade before? Hell no. They had chances to try and address the issue in the draft but chose not to. I think its pretty (frank)ing clear that good d-men have to be overpaid for anyway if you cant develop any.

Any way he would have answered it, it would have been couched in a way that created some kind of controversy.

You don't answer and you're labeled aloof, surly. If you're candid, then you're outspoken and a malcontent. You give a cliched response and you're distant and disinterested.
- 77rams

yep

Any way he would have answered it, it would have been couched in a way that created some kind of controversy.

You don't answer and you're labeled aloof, surly. If you're candid, then you're outspoken and a malcontent. You give a cliched response and you're distant and disinterested.
- 77rams

Exactly right.

No answer he gives now will not be over-analyzed.

He helped make that bed last year.

Exactly right.

No answer he gives now will not be over-analyzed.

He helped make that bed last year.
- flyer_nutter

A guy with a .930 save percentage answers questions the way Bryz does, and he's quirky and neat.

A guy with a .899 save percentage answers questions the way Bryz does, and he's a distraction and a malcontent.

Winning and superior performance are a helluva deodorant.

They aren't used to not getting what they want.

Decisions were made last off season that weren't the usual. How many times do you offer a player the most money and they turn you away, let alone twice in the same off season? Then a broke team matches an enormously front loaded deal... I had a hard time envisioning Nashville matching but there it was.

I think the moves with Carter and Richards turned the tide of player opinion that was started with the Roenick and Gagne moves amongst others. Holmgren has been a bit more business like dealing with players than the formerly family friendly team is known for.

Buying out Bryzgalof and Briere will cement the new reputation.
- mayorofangrytown

Yes, Shea Weber didn't sign a 14 year offer sheet in excess of $100. Obviously never happened.

And neither Carle nor Jagr wanted to return at all. Couldn't wait to get the Hell out of Dodge. And hey, Hartnell and Simmonds never signed 6 year extensions, because it's such an anti-player environment.

It's horrible. Obviously they're doomed to be the Edmonton Oilers of the East coast.

It seemed like everyone knew Parise and Suter were likely to sign together an likely in Minnesota. I don't know he we waited so long on them. I didn't think that was going to happen. With weber, I too thought we were almost certain in acquiring him, but when they didn't, there was no contingency plan. Unless you call gervais a contingency plan.
- funmaster18

After the top two Defensemen there wasn't much left. Carle at that cap number wasn't wise. Not sure short of doing what everyone doesn't want them to do in trading away all the 25 and under talent, that they could acquire much help. They had already ditched JVR for D.

A guy with a .930 save percentage answers questions the way Bryz does, and he's quirky and neat.

A guy with a .899 save percentage answers questions the way Bryz does, and he's a distraction and a malcontent.

Winning and superior performance are a helluva deodorant.
- johndewar

It is, and management hasnt helped him much there either. Having him play in front of a team that sucks defensively for 2 years, and no back-up goaltender this season.

Yes, Shea Weber didn't sign a 14 year offer sheet in excess of $100. Obviously never happened.

And neither Carle nor Jagr wanted to return at all. Couldn't wait to get the Hell out of Dodge. And hey, Hartnell and Simmonds never signed 6 year extensions, because it's such an anti-player environment.

It's horrible. Obviously they're doomed to be the Edmonton Oilers of the East coast.
- Jsaquella

Oh, over react much cranky pants.

Yes, Shea Weber didn't sign a 14 year offer sheet in excess of $100. Obviously never happened.

And neither Carle nor Jagr wanted to return at all. Couldn't wait to get the Hell out of Dodge. And hey, Hartnell and Simmonds never signed 6 year extensions, because it's such an anti-player environment.

It's horrible. Obviously they're doomed to be the Edmonton Oilers of the East coast.
- Jsaquella

All I'm saying is they're like every other team. Not that no one will sign with us again. Jeez ma gods.

Okay, looking the bright side. I think we're going to get a lot more looks at Steve Mason as Goalie from here on out.

Exactly right.

No answer he gives now will not be over-analyzed.

He helped make that bed last year.
- flyer_nutter

The point is, THEY made the bed and he's forced to lie in it. He tried to be cute and quirky and they decided that if he isn't going to play that game with him permanently they'll make him out to be a clown show.

I hope he goes somewhere where they care about hockey more than personality and wins five cups and stuffs them up Seravalli's and Pinochio's butts.

See the Flyers management for a while should have known they will need a replacement for Timonen and Pronger.

Did they find one? Or try and bring one in via trade before? Hell no. They had chances to try and address the issue in the draft but chose not to. I think its pretty (frank)ing clear that good d-men have to be overpaid for anyway if you cant develop any.
- flyer_nutter

I'd bet good money that Homer found plenty and tried to acquire a quality Dman before, during and after the draft.

But they're not given away, especially to a team who is known to be needing a 1-2 Dman, without asking for a huge ransom in return. Sabban? Sure. For Coots and our #1. Do you make that deal?

Sorry...Subban.

All I'm saying is they're like every other team. Not that no one will sign with us again. Jeez ma gods.
- mayorofangrytown

WILL CEMENT THAT REPUTATION

Oh, over react much cranky pants.
- mayorofangrytown

I think he's back at work and remembers now why he should have been happy to be recuperating instead.

Right. This really in one article isn't much. However why the hell does he even have to open his mouth? Or just not stick to the classic answers. To throw out that that this is "dark water", and "I dont care".

In the grand scheme of things this is how he makes his own bed, and it definately creates distractions. Its like Torts in NY making himself bigger than the team.

I would understand he is frustrated, and that management has failed him as well, but its not good sportsmanship. He kept it calm and cool for most of the year, and is starting to come apart again.

Edit: I would say he is not the problem, but there are many issues with this team and his play and other BS are a part of it. Agaim, I'd be cool with giving him another season.
- flyer_nutter

I think in the grand scheme of things, this is how statements are overblown and misread. In my opinion, he's not trying to be ambivalent, he's just saying he has no control over decisions that the Flyers make of bringing in other players. So why should he worry about that? There is nothing there that is bad sportsmanship. He's just expressing his feelings. The fact that his comments can be easily misconstrued is why the press keeps going to him.

It's a shame they all can't be like bill.

Next Carchidi or frank open their mouths or pick up a pen, they should ask themselves, WWBMD?
- funmaster18

According to one of the beat writers (I won't name names), I'm "just a blogger and not a professional hockey writer" although I've been credentialed in NHL press boxes since 2000 (and in the AHL since 1996) and hockey writing has encompassed 90 percent of my income since 2009, between HB, NHL.com, the Flyers official site, IIHF.com and the daily blog I did for two seasons at the now-defunct Versus official site before the NBC merger. The lockout was a severe financial blow to me, but hockey writing is still my job.

Anyway, apart from that one person who has always been nice to my face and then talked behind my back in order to deny me entry into the PHWA, I get along great with and have the utmost respect for the other beat guys in the city as well as the CSN folks.