What is written shouldn't have an impact on the ice. The players go out and play hockey. They are professional athletes and need to have thick skin. The team is losing bc they are getting outplayed not bc the media writes bad articles about them imo.
- stveshdy

I think a team group hug would do wonders.

What is written shouldn't have an impact on the ice. The players go out and play hockey. They are professional athletes and need to have thick skin. The team is losing bc they are getting outplayed not bc the media writes bad articles about them imo.
- stveshdy

If you have a teammate supposedly leaking information that was previously denied by 4 players on the record, it could become a distraction. That hurts cohesion and trust between teammates. It's not why they're losing, but it could create a problem moving ahead.

The fact that it's written just goes to prove that at least one teammate has an agenda.

Craig Simpson ‏@hnicsimmer 9m
Ok this is getting freaky now. Devil Marty Brodeur still stuck at win 666 after losing 8 straight, His longest losing streak of career

If you have a teammate supposedly leaking information that was previously denied by 4 players on the record, it could become a distraction. That hurts cohesion and trust between teammates. It's not why they're losing, but it could create a problem moving ahead.

The fact that it's written just goes to prove that at least one teammate has an agenda.
- Jsaquella

My only problem is if you are going to make an accusation of a teammate then dont be a coward, put your name behind your statement.

I think a team group hug would do wonders.
- 77rams

This team needs more than a hug.

I didn't expect them to be the best team in the East this year but when looking at their roster this should be a playoff team.

My only problem is if you are going to make an accusation of a teammate then dont be a coward, put your name behind your statement.
- stveshdy

Exactly. It sows seeds of distrust. If a guy stabs Bryzgalov in the back, what's to stop him from stabbing another teammate in the back?

If you're going to toss a teammate under the bus, have the stones to do it on the record.

Craig Simpson ‏@hnicsimmer 9m
Ok this is getting freaky now. Devil Marty Brodeur still stuck at win 666 after losing 8 straight, His longest losing streak of career
- Jsaquella

That's a crying shame.

Exactly. It sows seeds of distrust. If a guy stabs Bryzgalov in the back, what's to stop him from stabbing another teammate in the back?

If you're going to toss a teammate under the bus, have the stones to do it on the record.
- Jsaquella

Yup. If the player doesnt have the stones to put his name on it then just keep your mouth closed.

Yup. If the player doesnt have the stones to put his name on it then just keep your mouth closed.
- stveshdy

The other nonsense, the TMZ aspect of it, I agree that it shouldn't affect the team. But stuff like Seravalli wrote, that's really like tossing a stinkbomb into a church

Would a guy like Brad Boyes be a top 3 line Forward for the Flyers?
- jstross

i hope not

That's a crying shame.
- Scoob

seriously. eff that guy

After watching the Richards situation, what is the harm in giving the C to Timonen or Briere and not throwing it on Giroux so quickly.

No its the organization's trend to go after, or do something so "shiny".

Its a moot point, but there was no need to add the responsability on to a kid who at his age is supposed to be the saviour of the franchise.
- flyer_nutter

I think it was a bit of unfortunate timing in terms of G's first year with the C being this debacle of a season. Pronger was supposed to be the main man until the rug was pulled out with the eye injury and they needed to pick a replacement. Those are big shoes to fill and Giroux maybe wasn't quite ready yet, but he had earned a lot of respect over the past few years, putting in the work and producing more and more. Now he's preceived as an elite young player and I think it was a reasonable choice. I don't think the C will ultimately be a burden to a guy like Giroux. I think it will only be motivation to do better. For all the negatives in this season, one positive may be that many of the Flyers young players (sub 25) are learning valuable lessons that can pay dividends later on. Nobody likes to lose.

Thank you for you're insight. You also haven't treated Crosby. And my guy is a trained medical professional. I'll go with my doctor on this one. Why wouldn't the Penguins deny it? What good does it do to say, yep he's concussed, sorry Iggy for false advertising?
- GirouxForTheShow

Why would they hide it? Have they hid it before? And you think if he was ,that that the team and the players wouldn't know about it. None of the players talk to Crosby? You're right, I haven't treated Crosby. That's why I'm not going against what the team says.

Imho, they're being awfully silent about the whole thing. Or maybe I'm just not paying close enough attention. But with his recent history it wouldn't surprise me if he has a concussion.
- Scoob

Crosby met with the media a few days ago and answered questions.

In front of bright lights.

Why would they hide it? Have they hid it before? And you think if he was ,that that the team and the players wouldn't know about it. None of the players talk to Crosby? You're right, I haven't treated Crosby. That's why I'm not going against what the team says.
- MJL

Well, I think they were quiet about the spinal injury he suffered, unless I just didn't pay attention. It wasn't until he was close to coming back that they mentioned it was a spine issue after he missed all that time. My old roommate is friends with TK, and they knew the whole time. As an aside, I could careless if Pitt discloses injuries of players or not, doesn't get us in the playoffs

Well, I think they were quiet about the spinal injury he suffered, unless I just didn't pay attention. It wasn't until he was close to coming back that they mentioned it was a spine issue after he missed all that time. My old roommate is friends with TK, and they knew the whole time. As an aside, I could careless if Pitt discloses injuries of players or not, doesn't get us in the playoffs
- aosplayo

A lot of teams hide injury news. Grossmann missed 8 games before the Flyers finally admitted he had a concussion.

Dramadelhia.

Why would they hide it? Have they hid it before? And you think if he was ,that that the team and the players wouldn't know about it. None of the players talk to Crosby? You're right, I haven't treated Crosby. That's why I'm not going against what the team says.
- MJL

Really? Because teams since the dawn of time haven't hid injuries for whatever reason? How long has Grossman been out? How long have we known he's had a concussion? Just because the team would know about a possible concussion doesn't mean that they'd go telling their neighbors, pets and media members.

Crosby's had several concussions with at least one major one. He most recently broke his jaw from a high velocity puck and consequently dropped to the ice like a sack of potatoes. I'd make an educated guess that he is or at least was experiencing concussion like symptoms.
Whether he is out for the rest of the year like I originally guessed, who knows.

Dramadelhia.
- SMS4016

???

It depends on who you have on your draft board. You have scouts, whose job it is to scout players. Not every team just shows up at the draft with a copy of the CSB and ISS rankings and crosses off the names.

It's funny now that Couturier is so much worse than Hamilton, even though Hamilton is sheltered quite a bit on a deep Bruins defense, and Couturier has been stuck playing with the least skilled linemates on his team. Just 12 months ago, Couturier was shutting down the league MVP in the playoffs...now, he was a bad pick.
- Jsaquella

Exactly hippocrites on this site in abundance. Couturier was a god last year and goes through a bit of a slump this year and now people are saying he was a bad pick. I don't remember anyone saying last year after the draft that they should have taken Hamilton over Couturier.

I didn't say an elite team. I said a good team. This team's biggest issue this year was the guy in the suit behind the bench. And injuries.
- MJL

I find it pretty ironic that it wasn't so long ago that you were pounding the table saying systems don't matter and that it's all about the effort etc...and injuries don't matter/aren't an excuse, because every team has them, blah blah blah, and now you seem equally adamant that it's all about the system (employed by the coach) and injuries.

The Flyers don't need a 5th defenseman, which is basically the role Hamilton has played. He's barely used on the PK, and he's 3rd in PP minutes. He's also facing some of the weaker competition on the Bruins.

Yes, organizational depth is an issue. Yes, they needed some help on the blue line this season. That said, had they tried to make everyone more responsible two way players before the injuries really piled up, then I think they would have been in much better shape.

They drafted 4 defensemen last year. They traded for another. They didn't ignore the deficiency.
- Jsaquella

Despite what QOC stats might indicate, Hamilton has been played in some key situations in games I've watched...anyway, if the Flyers took him instead of Coots, it's not like he'd be expected to come in and dominate on a top pairing as a 19 yr old..but having him to help out a depleted corps and start on his path of development would be a positive thing for the future of the team. Not to slight Coots, but Hamilton's size and skillset and the player he projects to, seem to be something the Flyers need moreso than what they have in Couturier and his potential (imo).

To be honest it wouldn't be a reach if they took Nurse or Ristolainen in the top 10 they are very worthy of it, it does come down to how they feel they will project and then what spot they put them on their draft board.
- ob18

This is a reasonable view...My feeling is that if an organization is overweighted in quality forward prospects/young players and lacking in quality d prospects/young players, it is ok to reach within reason, to fill a need. For example, let's say if the Flyers are picking 5th and Jones, Mac, Drouin and Barkov are gone, next ranked are forwards, Lindholm and Monahan... I'm cool with picking Nurse.

Really? Because teams since the dawn of time haven't hid injuries for whatever reason? How long has Grossman been out? How long have we known he's had a concussion? Just because the team would know about a possible concussion doesn't mean that they'd go telling their neighbors, pets and media members.

Crosby's had several concussions with at least one major one. He most recently broke his jaw from a high velocity puck and consequently dropped to the ice like a sack of potatoes. I'd make an educated guess that he is or at least was experiencing concussion like symptoms.
Whether he is out for the rest of the year like I originally guessed, who knows.
- GirouxForTheShow

You can get hit in the jaw and not experience concussion symptoms. It's not automatic that you get a concussion. You're just guessing. And I'll repeat what I said earlier. There is quite a difference between not revealing an injury, and coming out and denying it publicly. Which is what Shero and the Pens Organization did. They denied publicly that Crosby is experiencing concussion symptoms.