I have no problem criticizing what they write. What I do have a problem is using them as an excuse for this team being disfunctional (not picking out anyone specifically). The media doesnt turn pucks over, give up breakaways, take penalties, etc.
- stveshdy

As soon as somebody uses that as an excuse, you'll have a point.

Nobody is saying anything more than the media is a distraction and more interested in TMZ style bullpoop than the actual game being played.

The Flyers playoff hopes basically died against the Islanders. What was the story afterwards? That the goalie dozed off in a meeting.

Then you have various media members asking the players about it, and the players having to answers questions about another player's alleged transgressions. That becomes a distraction.

Does it matter on the ice? Probably not. But does it become fodder for people talking about the team? Absolutely.

it's not necessarily a scoring problem, but an issue with keeping sustained pressure in the offense zone. they get the puck in deep, hope to get the puck in front of the net and get a shot. otherwise, the other team possesses the puck and counters.

There's very little cycling of the puck. I guess part of the issue is the "system" or coaching, but they also don't have the personnel with the skill set to do it.
- bradleyc4

last yr, when they were "bigger, stronger, faster" they were able to do it. jagr and jvr depart and that's the issue? or is this a coordinated breakdown that starts w/ the amt of effort the forwards are expending to make up for a lack of quality outlet passers on d? regardless, they often struggle to score goals and they do lack a true sniper.

No worries, but I feel differently about Vanek.

The last thing time team needs is an overaid, physically intimidated, somewhat questionable defensively, inconsistent player they will rely on.
- flyer_nutter

I don't believe that they need a player like Vanek. But you don't put up the numbers he does if you're physically intimidated in the NHL. That's just fantasy. Most players, especially goal scoring Wingers are inconsistent.

What ammo to the media? What the media does is take his statements. misinterpret them to create drama where there is none. He doesn't fall for anything, nor does he create distractions. Were on day 2 now of making all of this into far more then it is. It seems as though some people other then Bryzgalov are falling for it. Same as 3 years ago.
- MJL

Got lost in this chain, but I agree with MJL that the "media" in this era runs with stuff on loose sources with minimal coraberation(can't spell). They run with it and claim they're a blogger and not bound by journalistic standards...

All comes down to the guys on the ice. That simple imo.
- stveshdy

of course. but that doesn't mean that our mainstream media coverage of this team isn't totally worthless. two totally different issues

and i'm sure that as a player, it gets pretty damn annoying. so good for bryz taking them to task

As soon as somebody uses that as an excuse, you'll have a point.

Nobody is saying anything more than the media is a distraction and more interested in TMZ style bullpoop than the actual game being played.

The Flyers playoff hopes basically died against the Islanders. What was the story afterwards? That the goalie dozed off in a meeting.

Then you have various media members asking the players about it, and the players having to answers questions about another player's alleged transgressions. That becomes a distraction.

Does it matter on the ice? Probably not. But does it become fodder for people talking about the team? Absolutely.
- Jsaquella

The media started this distraction bc a player leaked this info out. The media didnt just grab this suppose story out of the thin air. Look at the players in the locker room bc someone is letting the media know when Bryz is a screw up.

What ammo to the media? What the media does is take his statements. misinterpret them to create drama where there is none. He doesn't fall for anything, nor does he create distractions. Were on day 2 now of making all of this into far more then it is. It seems as though some people other then Bryzgalov are falling for it. Same as 3 years ago.
- MJL

His closing his eyes in Winnipeg thing, and the comments tonight. As well as the interview regarding his future with the team. It is on TSN and saying that Philadelphia is like "dark waters", and "I dont care", just opens up that window. When he could just say he wants to win the city a cup and leave it at that.

The easy thing for him to do, is sit on the damn bench and not look like he is ready to hug a teddy bear, or just give cliche answers.

Instead he does completely the opposite. He should know by know what the media will do, and take the "cliche/boring" approach. Or he can keep crying about it, and have his team continously have to answer questions about his actions or stick up for him.

As soon as somebody uses that as an excuse, you'll have a point.

Nobody is saying anything more than the media is a distraction and more interested in TMZ style bullpoop than the actual game being played.

The Flyers playoff hopes basically died against the Islanders. What was the story afterwards? That the goalie dozed off in a meeting.

Then you have various media members asking the players about it, and the players having to answers questions about another player's alleged transgressions. That becomes a distraction.

Does it matter on the ice? Probably not. But does it become fodder for people talking about the team? Absolutely.
- Jsaquella

Right on.

As soon as somebody uses that as an excuse, you'll have a point.

Nobody is saying anything more than the media is a distraction and more interested in TMZ style bullpoop than the actual game being played.

The Flyers playoff hopes basically died against the Islanders. What was the story afterwards? That the goalie dozed off in a meeting.

Then you have various media members asking the players about it, and the players having to answers questions about another player's alleged transgressions. That becomes a distraction.

Does it matter on the ice? Probably not. But does it become fodder for people talking about the team? Absolutely.
- Jsaquella

amen

my main issue is having to address the "thoughts" of bumholes like seravalli and pannotch when discussing the flyers

of course. but that doesn't mean that our mainstream media coverage of this team isn't totally worthless. two totally different issues

and i'm sure that as a player, it gets pretty damn annoying. so good for bryz taking them to task
- FlyerMike18

Doesnt matter where you go. Players have to deal with the media. Good or bad. I'm more concerned about how they play the game. This year they are a huge disappointment.

I dont care what he says, but I do when it affects the team, which personally I think it does. He has become bigger than any player on the team, by a wide margin.

He says or does things that by now he should know will make his team-mates cover up for him, or be asked guestions about his actions/words.

I fully agree that the media is to blame here mainly. However Bryzgalov has an ability to keep quiet and give cliche answers. Not give them ammo. The media is not going away any time soon (unfortunately), and he makes his own bed somewhat. He kept it calm and cool to a degree, but is starting to come apart again. The media just wait for it, they try to bait him and he falls for it each time. Leaving his team-mates to answer continous questions, which I do believe is a negative attribute.
- flyer_nutter

Again, I'll just state that in my opinion you're exaggerating this to ridiculous proportions, and making it into far more then it really is. What he's become is the current target of the media. They know that he comes from a different culture, and that he might have some issues expressing fully what he's trying to say. So they take advantage of it. These cliches that you want him to answer with, aren't part of his vernacular.

Doesnt matter where you go. Players have to deal with the media. Good or bad. I'm more concerned about how they play the game. This year they are a huge disappointment.
- stveshdy

yea but i only really have to deal with one set of dimwitted local beat writers. and i'm absolutely going to enjoy every second of it when they catch some flak of their own

of course. but that doesn't mean that our mainstream media coverage of this team isn't totally worthless. two totally different issues

and i'm sure that as a player, it gets pretty damn annoying. so good for bryz taking them to task
- FlyerMike18

The thing is he is fighting a battle he cant win.

He will feel better for sticking up to them but in turn its just another thing they managed to bait him with. The best thing for Bryzgalov would just be to go with the boring/cliche approach that so many players do. Speaking out often draws too much attention, even if it is the right thing to do. Ask Ott, Giguere and Miller most recently.

He was doing so well just staying quiet but is starting to come apart again like last year. Which is what the media wants, and is he giving it to them. Making distractions for his team, that 95% of the other NHL teams do not have to deal with to this extent with their goaltender.

last yr, when they were "bigger, stronger, faster" they were able to do it. jagr and jvr depart and that's the issue? or is this a coordinated breakdown that starts w/ the amt of effort the forwards are expending to make up for a lack of quality outlet passers on d? regardless, they often struggle to score goals and they do lack a true sniper.
- isaiah520

In my opinion it's struggling to play a certain way all Season, that hasn't worked. And it leads to frustration, and confusion. And they become more dysfunctional by the day. And they become less and less of a team. For the most part, you have a bunch of individuals, trying to do it all on their own. That environment has led to a numb team.

yea but i only really have to deal with one set of dimwitted local beat writers. and i'm absolutely going to enjoy every second of it when they catch some flak of their own
- FlyerMike18

We all know these guys (media) are not very good. So why read or listen to anything they say. Why does it bother people what they tweet, write, or do for that matter. People question there knowledge of the sport so why complain about them and give them what they are looking for, which is a story that sells.

The media started this distraction bc a player leaked this info out. The media didnt just grab this suppose story out of the thin air. Look at the players in the locker room bc someone is letting the media know when Bryz is a screw up.
- stveshdy

True, which is a whole different issue.

However, if the media were not so eager to print this sort of garbage, nobody would give a rat's ass and as hockey fans we could discuss the game, instead of ridiculous things like this.

Average fans could read the paper and get hockey information, rather than National Enquirer junk

Giroux was all over the ice tonight. Played a great game.

So did Couturier.

Bryz was the only reason this game was close.
- bradleyc4

i know, pretty weird. maybe not being on the ice with jay rosehill or zac rinaldo every shift helped?

Again, I'll just state that in my opinion you're exaggerating this to ridiculous proportions, and making it into far more then it really is. What he's become is the current target of the media. They know that he comes from a different culture, and that he might have some issues expressing fully what he's trying to say. So they take advantage of it. These cliches that you want him to answer with, aren't part of his vernacular.
- MJL

He can keep quiet like he did earlier in the season to me.

I dont think this is some grand issue, but in the scheme of things, and his two seasons in Philadelphia, he has complained a lot over how bad it is there. In various articles and interviews that we have all seen.

It might not be as much of a distraction for the team, but to say its not at all is ridiculous as well to me. I'd be willing to bet that to a degree it is to him as well. He can keep his mouth shut and give those guys less to work with, but he falls for the bait every time. I am not in favour of one player being so much larger than the rest of the team. Its not his fault, but he isn't helping it much. Just keep quiet and give boring answers. Thats all he has to do.

True, which is a whole different issue.

However, if the media were not so eager to print this sort of garbage, nobody would give a rat's ass and as hockey fans we could discuss the game, instead of ridiculous things like this.

Average fans could read the paper and get hockey information, rather than National Enquirer junk
- Jsaquella

Thats why I dont read or follow them at all. I come here to talk puck with people who follow the game. The media has no affect on how I view the game of hockey. I use my own eyes and make my own decisions. The Flyers just havent played well this season.

We all know these guys (media) are not very good. So why read or listen to anything they say. Why does it bother people what they tweet, write, or do for that matter. People question there knowledge of the sport so why complain about them and give them what they are looking for, which is a story that sells.
- stveshdy

because we don't live in vacuums. people i know in real life (friends, co-workers, etc.) know that i'm a flyers fan. often they'll bring up beat writer material as topics of discussion. this is very annoying to me

believe me, i've tried to ignore the bumholes. kind of impossible when you live in philly and root for the team, though

In my opinion it's struggling to play a certain way all Season, that hasn't worked. And it leads to frustration, and confusion. And they become more dysfunctional by the day. And they become less and less of a team. For the most part, you have a bunch of individuals, trying to do it all on their own. That environment has led to a numb team.
- MJL

i don't know if that's a cause, but it's hard to argue against that being an effect. they do look numb...and defeated.

True, which is a whole different issue.

However, if the media were not so eager to print this sort of garbage, nobody would give a rat's ass and as hockey fans we could discuss the game, instead of ridiculous things like this.

Average fans could read the paper and get hockey information, rather than National Enquirer junk
- Jsaquella

It was a problem before Bryzgalov got here, but some players handle it better than others.

I posted before that the Flyers should cut off media access, or at the very least be able to control some of what is talked about. That will never happen though but one can dream.

His closing his eyes in Winnipeg thing, and the comments tonight. As well as the interview regarding his future with the team. It is on TSN and saying that Philadelphia is like "dark waters", and "I dont care", just opens up that window. When he could just say he wants to win the city a cup and leave it at that.

The easy thing for him to do, is sit on the damn bench and not look like he is ready to hug a teddy bear, or just give cliche answers.

Instead he does completely the opposite. He should know by know what the media will do, and take the "cliche/boring" approach. Or he can keep crying about it, and have his team continously have to answer questions about his actions or stick up for him.
- flyer_nutter

Yes, Bryzgalov should simply take a page from the Steve Carlton book of media relations and sit in the trainer's room and not answer any questions at all.

Then we'd get to read or hear about them all crying about Bryz ducking them.

That's my issue. I try to talk hockey and get buried by this kind of nonsense. I don't follow any of these clown on twitter. I rarely read the stories they right. The last time I bought a physical copy of a Philly newspaper was when the Phillies won the World Series.

Yet, I still get to see Seravalli discussed on my TL, and get to hear the pre-game show talking about Bryz's nap.

because we don't live in vacuums. people i know in real life (friends, co-workers, etc.) know that i'm a flyers fan. often they'll bring up beat writer material as topics of discussion. this is very annoying to me

believe me, i've tried to ignore the bumholes. kind of impossible when you live in philly and root for the team, though
- FlyerMike18

You can still talk about the Flyers and not have to give a hoot about what those guys are writing. If fans are following them and using that info to talk hockey then its a convo I would avoid. Its like talk to a wall.

His closing his eyes in Winnipeg thing, and the comments tonight. As well as the interview regarding his future with the team. It is on TSN and saying that Philadelphia is like "dark waters", and "I dont care", just opens up that window. When he could just say he wants to win the city a cup and leave it at that.

The easy thing for him to do, is sit on the damn bench and not look like he is ready to hug a teddy bear, or just give cliche answers.

Instead he does completely the opposite. He should know by know what the media will do, and take the "cliche/boring" approach. Or he can keep crying about it, and have his team continously have to answer questions about his actions or stick up for him.
- flyer_nutter

No, it doesn't open up that window. It wouldn't matter what he says, he is the target. They target the one who is most vulnerable. Why because goaltending is the perceived weakness of the Organization. And he's signed to a big contract, and the team is floundering. You want him to reply with cliches that aren't in there. He is replying with cliches. His cliches!

And answer me this. Why can't the team just use the boring/cliche approach, when asked about Bryzgalov. Guess what? They have. Mountain out of a molehill. For something that you state doesn't matter to a real fan. It sure matters to you.