I'd keep the offense the way it is, with some minor tweaks. The way I look at it, the forwards are mostly young. If we are going to keep both Schenn and Coots, 1 has to be moved to the wing. If either of them can step up their games next year, slot one on a line with Giroux and Vorchek then the other can centre the 2nd line. Amnesty Briere or trade him to a team that needs to hit the cap floor, we need the cap space. Defence needs a a top #1 guy. It will be hard to get our hands on one and goaltending I like so far, we have to solid #1 goaltenders and a few years behind Bryz and I believe Mason can be a great goaltender. As for our farm club I like Clarke's strategy, keep all the young guys in the minors until they dominate the minors like he did with Carter/Richards.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The only reason Carter and Richards saw ANY playing time in the AHL was that there was a season long strike and when their Junior seasons ended they signed contracts to basically play in the playoffs. Clarke didn't take his time and develop them in the minors until they dominated.

So, he should be coach for life?
- Jsaquella

"What's wrong with that?"

- Barry Trotz

"What's wrong with that?"

- Barry Trotz
- johndewar

And Lindy Ru-- *yoink*

Via Sarah Baicker's twitter feed:

"Does Paul Holmgren expect Peter Laviolette to return as coach next season?
'Yeah. I'll say that, sure.', he answered"

So there's your direct quote/confirmation of Lavy's return.

I think you meant "tweeted" (I always give the benefit of the doubt to someone with "psu" as the prefix to their user name).

And yeah, I guess. I'm not going to beat Sam up for that. Especially now that the entire beat is tweeting the exact same things and there is a quote from Homer out there saying that Lavy will be back.
- johndewar

Yes I meant tweeted. stupid autocorrect.

Not that I doubt you, but where is that quote that Lavy will be back. The only things I have read have been generalities like I don't blame the coaches, haven't thought about, blah blah blah. I never read a quote from Holmgren that he explicitly said Laviolette will be back next year.

Edit: just saw the Sarah B quote.

And if the team was winning and playing well. Those "out there" moments turn from a distraction to the team, and a major issue. To a he's just a quirky Goalie and it's laughed off. Which is what makes the entire thing a bunch of bullpoop!
- MJL

I think the main issue people have with Bryz is likely the length and cost of his contract. I don't think he can be 'blamed' for it - it's what the team offered him - but that doesn't make it less of a concern. The media stuff is likely way down on the list. I know I don't pay any attention to that crap.

Via Sarah Baicker's twitter feed:

"Does Paul Holmgren expect Peter Laviolette to return as coach next season?
'Yeah. I'll say that, sure.', he answered"

So there's your direct quote/confirmation of Lavy's return.
- johndewar

So, in December, after Laviolette gets fired and Holmgren has to hire a retread or trade a second rounder to hire a good AHL coach, can we say it's not Laviolette's fault because Homer was unwilling to overpay to get the defensemen he needed?

Yep. So, he should be coach for life? The Flyers dumped Terry Murray, Mike Keenan and Pat Quinn within 18 months of SCF appearances.
- Jsaquella

And 3 years is a long time in the NHL. Things change.

I personally wouldn't. Don't see that it would accomplish much.
- MJL

But sooner or later you have to test your prospects against the best players in the world, right?

Via Sarah Baicker's twitter feed:

"Does Paul Holmgren expect Peter Laviolette to return as coach next season?
'Yeah. I'll say that, sure.', he answered"

So there's your direct quote/confirmation of Lavy's return.
- johndewar

Meh. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from a guy in a position that keeps things close to the vest.

If Lavi stays AND they do not improve next season and Couturier is ruined, then both he and Homer should be let go.

So basically what you know about Mark Alt is what you can find with a 3 second google search. Same as me. I'm in the same boat with regards to players like Alt and Konan.
- MJL

I'm sorry that I have a 9-5 job that doesn't allow me to take day trips to all parts of the world to scout Flyers prospects. I took a look at his stats, read some talent analyses of him, looked at his size, saw what he has done, and I think he has the ability to translate as an NHL player. I'm not saying put him in there and expect him to be the savior. I'm not saying put him in there and evaluate whether or not he's worth anything over a 7-game stretch. But if the Flyers want to give him a little exposure to NHL play without too much of a burden, now would be a good time.

Oh my! After backreading, it's testier than the Flyers locker room in here!

Yep. So, he should be coach for life? The Flyers dumped Terry Murray, Mike Keenan and Pat Quinn within 18 months of SCF appearances.
- Jsaquella

I didn't say that. You make him out to be a horrible coach. I put more blame on the guy who put this team together. You also have to consider injuries and poor performance by many of the players. Lava has apretty good track record as an NHL coach.

Oh my! After backreading, it's testier than the Flyers locker room in here!
- Flyskippy

That's why you shouldn't back read.

I think the main issue people have with Bryz is likely the length and cost of his contract. I don't think he can be 'blamed' for it - it's what the team offered him - but that doesn't make it less of a concern. The media stuff is likely way down on the list. I know I don't pay any attention to that crap.
- wolfhounds

So you think if Bryzgalov was playing at a very high level, and the team was winning and in a strong playoff position. There would be all this noise about his contract? I agree on the media crap.

Via Sarah Baicker's twitter feed:

"Does Paul Holmgren expect Peter Laviolette to return as coach next season?
'Yeah. I'll say that, sure.', he answered"

So there's your direct quote/confirmation of Lavy's return.
- johndewar

If Homer can trade both Richards and Carter after signing them to lengthy contracts, he can dump Lavi in a heartbeat regardless of what he says. And to me, I see a big shrug along with "Yeah. I'll say that, sure."

But sooner or later you have to test your prospects against the best players in the world, right?
- wolfhounds

It's a process. And NHL teams don't need to see a player in the NHL, to feel that he is ready for that next step.

If Homer can trade both Richards and Carter after signing them to lengthy contracts, he can dump Lavi in a heartbeat regardless of what he says. And to me, I see a big shrug along with "Yeah. I'll say that, sure."
- wolfhounds

Totally agree.

So you think if Bryzgalov was playing at a very high level, and the team was winning and in a strong playoff position. There would be all this noise about his contract? I agree on the media crap.
- MJL

Nope. Probably not. Because then people would likely consider that he is living up to the length/cost of his contract.

Meh. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from a guy in a position that keeps things close to the vest.

If Lavi stays AND they do not improve next season and Couturier is ruined, then both he and Homer should be let go.
- Flyskippy

I think this is a survival move by Homer.

If they stink it up in the first quarter of the year, he'll hurl Lavy overboard.

That's why you shouldn't back read.
- Jsaquella

I think I'm cured of that habit.

If Homer can trade both Richards and Carter after signing them to lengthy contracts, he can dump Lavi in a heartbeat regardless of what he says. And to me, I see a big shrug along with "Yeah. I'll say that, sure."
- wolfhounds

Don't forget the ink on JvR's extension barely being dry.

Meh. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from a guy in a position that keeps things close to the vest.

If Lavi stays AND they do not improve next season and Couturier is ruined, then both he and Homer should be let go.
- Flyskippy

To me that is one of the biggest issues with this Season. I feel they really sidetracked Couturier's development and wasted a golden opportunity to let the kid play in more offensive situations. To help push that part of the kid's game forward.

I didn't say that. You make him out to be a horrible coach. I put more blame on the guy who put this team together. You also have to consider injuries and poor performance by many of the players. Lava has apretty good track record as an NHL coach.
- Dkos

He won a Stanley Cup in 2006, then failed to make the playoffs the next three years. His team's gotten progressively worse each year as Flyers coach, too.

As for blame this year, yes, Holmgren deserves a share. But Laviolette tried to run the same system he had success in 2010 without a lot of the same pieces. He asked players to do things they were not adept at doing. He made few adjustment to account for the different talent on the roster.

Over the last few years, he's failed to find a way to even break even against divisional rivals like New Jersey and the Rangers, and has had issues with Boston and even Tampa Bay. He buried Bobrovsky after one bad period in the 2011 playoffs, which led to the Snider forced move to sign Bryzgalov, which basically punched Bob's ticket out of town. He's taken a kid that the Flyers had made an untouchable asset and cornerstone and turned him into a 4th line center, playing almost exclusively with goons and career 4th liners.

I will be shocked if Laviolette is brought back. Holmgren would have doubled down and tied his fate to Laviolette. If the team comes out slow again, both he and Lavy will be gone.