Jsaq, I really, really don't want this to be the case. But in my heart I agree with you. I think that we will be in trouble if Lavi is behind the bench next season.
- FlyersGrace

He's either going to have to be more open to adapting, or they're going to have to overpay for guys that better fit his system. Either way, I'm not a happy camper about Laviolette staying

That's okay. McKay is a better goalie imo, and still available if they feel they need/want a college FA goalie prospect.
- BringBack25

His Leighton-esque goal in the finals made me groan and I was high on him the whole of the playoffs.

So... you want a good draft pick next year too?
- Flyskippy

The Pens rebuilding plan?

Settle down. You're getting out of control.
- wolfhounds

Control? Does such a thing exist?

The Pens rebuilding plan?
- johndewar

Worked for them and the Nords.

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.
- Jsaquella

I'm so tired of hearing about Bobrovsky. He had so many chances to take over and he never could. He's playing great this year. Maybe he'll be a great goalie. I don't know, but they didn't get rid of him because Laviolette didn't play him in the playoffs. Holmgren traded him because he didn't think he was good enough to be the starter and he was going to cost too much to be a backup.

Seems to me Couturier just didn't play well enough to play on a top line. He's a young kid who had a down year. So Lavy gets no credit for Coot's good rookie season, but all the blame for this season?

He's either going to have to be more open to adapting, or they're going to have to overpay for guys that better fit his system. Either way, I'm not a happy camper about Laviolette staying
- Jsaquella

I think Homer is going to cross his fingers and hope to get more out of the veterans (*cough*Hartnell and Talbot) next year and hope that his young guys (*cough*BSchenn and Couturier) get over their "sophomore slumps".

I also think he's going to add a piece or two in the offseason and none of those pieces will be named Shea Weber.

If all of these things come true and the team still stinks? Well, I hope Lavy's renting and didn't close on Gagne's place in Voorhees.

I think Homer is going to cross his fingers and hope to get more out of the veterans (*cough*Hartnell and Talbot) next year and hope that his young guys (*cough*BSchenn and Couturier) get over their "sophomore slumps".

I also think he's going to add a piece or two in the offseason and none of those pieces will be named Shea Weber.

If all of these things come true and the team still stinks? Well, I hope Lavy's renting and didn't close on Gagne's place in Voorhees.
- johndewar

Speaking of that... When Gagne came back did he kick Lavi out or did Gags find another place temporarily?

His Leighton-esque goal in the finals made me groan and I was high on him the whole of the playoffs.
- mayorofangrytown

Hartzell gave up a huge softie in the playoffs. So they're both Leighton-esque according your "standard". Also, as Brad pointed out the other day, McKay's numbers have been better than Hartzell's throughout their careers until this season, when Hartzell edged him out by a little.

Speaking of that... When Gagne came back did he kick Lavi out or did Gags find another place temporarily?
- FlyersGrace

That's a pretty good question, actually.

It's not like Gagne doesn't know the area or anything, so he could be living out of a suitcase for all we know.

I think Homer is going to cross his fingers and hope to get more out of the veterans (*cough*Hartnell and Talbot) next year and hope that his young guys (*cough*BSchenn and Couturier) get over their "sophomore slumps".

I also think he's going to add a piece or two in the offseason and none of those pieces will be named Shea Weber.

If all of these things come true and the team still stinks? Well, I hope Lavy's renting and didn't close on Gagne's place in Voorhees.
- johndewar

What if they get Shea Guthrie and Mike Weber?

That's a pretty good question, actually.

It's not like Gagne doesn't know the area or anything, so he could be living out of a suitcase for all we know.
- johndewar

Bunkbeds... Definately bunkbeds...

I'm so tired of hearing about Bobrovsky. He had so many chances to take over and he never could. He's playing great this year. Maybe he'll be a great goalie. I don't know, but they didn't get rid of him because Laviolette didn't play him in the playoffs. Holmgren traded him because he didn't think he was good enough to be the starter and he was going to cost too much to be a backup.

Seems to me Couturier just didn't play well enough to play on a top line. He's a young kid who had a down year. So Lavy gets no credit for Coot's good rookie season, but all the blame for this season?
- Dkos

Bobrovsky played all of two seasons here, one after Bryzgalov signed his 9 year deal. They got rid of him because after Laviolette's handling of the goalies in 2011, Snider dictated that Holmgren get a big name goalie. Bobrovsky was traded because Bryz was signed for 9 years.

Couturier has played almost exclusively with 4th liners and goons this year. When he's made mistakes with the puck, he gets buried. He never has had a chance to play a much larger role on an offensive line at 5 on 5.

How many other teams have a young player they consider an untouchable cornerstone player that has been stuck in a 4th line role for two seasons? The idea behind developing a young player is to stick with him through the ups and downs, not sour on him after a bad sophomore season.

What if they get Shea Guthrie and Mike Weber?
- jmatchett383

Shea Guthrie sounds like the name of a women's college basketball player.

I'm so tired of hearing about Bobrovsky. He had so many chances to take over and he never could. He's playing great this year. Maybe he'll be a great goalie. I don't know, but they didn't get rid of him because Laviolette didn't play him in the playoffs. Holmgren traded him because he didn't think he was good enough to be the starter and he was going to cost too much to be a backup.

Seems to me Couturier just didn't play well enough to play on a top line. He's a young kid who had a down year. So Lavy gets no credit for Coot's good rookie season, but all the blame for this season?
- Dkos

I think your Couts argument has some merit, but think you're dead wrong regarding Bobs and the reason(s) we got rid of him.

Speaking of that... When Gagne came back did he kick Lavi out or did Gags find another place temporarily?
- FlyersGrace

Gagne was selling the house, actually. I believe that Laviolette had moved out before Gagne returned.

Bunkbeds... Definately bunkbeds...
- FlyersGrace

If oreos and milk are not involved in the evening bed time ritual, then Dry Island was just never meant to be.

I think Homer is going to cross his fingers and hope to get more out of the veterans (*cough*Hartnell and Talbot) next year and hope that his young guys (*cough*BSchenn and Couturier) get over their "sophomore slumps".

I also think he's going to add a piece or two in the offseason and none of those pieces will be named Shea Weber.

If all of these things come true and the team still stinks? Well, I hope Lavy's renting and didn't close on Gagne's place in Voorhees.
- johndewar

He should get more from the vets. Regardless of the coach, they're going to be leaning on a lot of the vest that struggled this year to return to form.

He's either going to have to be more open to adapting, or they're going to have to overpay for guys that better fit his system. Either way, I'm not a happy camper about Laviolette staying
- Jsaquella

I think we should see if he is indeed staying or not.


For me, it's about one word. Change.

If a team isn't playing well, then changes need to be made by a Coach. I didn't see much change made by Laviolette. Kept playing the same style, when it was clearly evident that this team wasn't capable of playing that way. There was a failure to adapt.
When you see that injuries have affected the team, a coach has to adapt to help offset those injuries, as much as possible. I didn't see that from Laviolette.
When a team struggles defensively, you look for change along the way. To see improvement in those areas. To see mistakes corrected, and play improved. I didn't see much change in that are as the Season went along. In fact it got worse. This is just touching on a few areas.

In conclusion. I can't see how you can bring a Coach back after that performance.

I think we should see if he is indeed staying or not.


For me, it's about one word. Change.

If a team isn't playing well, then changes need to be made by a Coach. I didn't see much change made by Laviolette. Kept playing the same style, when it was clearly evident that this team wasn't capable of playing that way. There was a failure to adapt.
When you see that injuries have affected the team, a coach has to adapt to help offset those injuries, as much as possible. I didn't see that from Laviolette.
When a team struggles defensively, you look for change along the way. To see improvement in those areas. To see mistakes corrected, and play improved. I didn't see much change in that are as the Season went along. In fact it got worse. This is just touching on a few areas.

In conclusion. I can't see how you can bring a Coach back after that performance.
- MJL

Nor did I, and I also don't base my desire to see him fired on just this season. This has been brewing for the past couple years.

That's okay. McKay is a better goalie imo, and still available if they feel they need/want a college FA goalie prospect.
- BringBack25

i'm sure they'll draft a goalie. i have no read on the prospects. hartzell's name was floating around as they had him in prospects camp last summer and that they were pressing hard to sign him.

MacTavish as GM? Is Edmonton serious?

How about something fresh...

I think your Couts argument has some merit, but think you're dead wrong regarding Bobs and the reason(s) we got rid of him.
- wolfhounds

I don't see how Bryz's bad contract is the coaches fault

i'm sure they'll draft a goalie. i have no read on the prospects. hartzell's name was floating around as they had him in prospects camp last summer and that they were pressing hard to sign him.
- hammarby31

They can sign Joacim Eriksson, or that kid OB always goes on about from Barrie.

Seems to me Couturier just didn't play well enough to play on a top line. He's a young kid who had a down year. So Lavy gets no credit for Coot's good rookie season, but all the blame for this season?
- Dkos

It's what have you done for me lately. Last Season is last Season. This Season is this Season. Laviolette did a fine job in 10, and in 06 in Carolina. This year, not so much. That's what it's all about. Past success only takes you so far. There is only so much credit in the bank.