It seems to me that we're discussing Laviolette's Coaching job this Season. And whether he should be back next Season.
- MJL

My initial comment was in regards to a post which mentioned Lava's mishandling of Bobrovski as one of the many reasons he should be fired.

Figuratively speaking, I get what you're trying to say...
- BringBack25

I mean, I know I was approximating, but it's literally what literally happened. Literally.

Figuratively speaking, I get what you're trying to say...
- BringBack25

I see what you did there!

I mean, I know I was approximating, but it's literally what literally happened. Literally.
- BulliesPhan87

It almost like you have described it verbatim. Some sort of word for word description or something. If only there was a word to describe that...

I'm not buying the Couts was horribly mishandled thing this year.
He started the season on a line with Talbot with whom he had good success last season.
He was given a shot on the 2nd PP unit.
Couts was horrible.
Every game almost he made a mistake that ended up as an opposition goal or great scoring chance.
Lots of bad turnovers at his own blue line.
He also had no confidence with the puck and stopped going to the net.
He was just not ready for the bigger role yet.
He is barely 20.
I have no problem with his season this year, it's expected he would struggle.

And none of us know how they were working with him off the ice with video and practice to get better.

There are a ton of things to be mad about the coach.
#1 is every coach in the division has figured out how to beat the Flyers.
And failure to adjust the style of play to the team he had.

For me Couts was given a chance, struggled and was put in a less difficult role on a bottom line which is part of the process for a 20 yo in his 2nd season.
I expect the coaches were working with him intensely off the ice to improve.

Just my opinion on this, I know a lot of you disagree.

homer's in his 7th season, so i think that's enuf time.
- isaiah520

I hope you are not intimating that Holmgren's time here hasn't been a success. You do realize that the teams record in the playoffs during Holmgren's tenure is top 5 in the league. 1 Stanley Cup finals, 2 conference finals, 4 trips to the 2nd rd of the playoffs in the last 5 years (only Detroit has accomplished that),and 5 straight trips to the playoffs that's ends this year. Yes he had had a bad year, but you can't disregard the record.

Re: Bryzgalov
For the most part he has played pretty well this season, and I could even live with his cap hit, BUT, the fact that his deal has 7 years still to run is sticking point to me. He just is NOT worth a cap hit of 5.7 million for another 7 years.

This is why he needs to be bought out.
- BiggE

The cap is likely to go up after the 13-14 season so his hit as a percentage of the cap will go down. If the team in front of him improves he will be a bargain.

The cap is likely to go up after the 13-14 season so his hit as a percentage of the cap will go down. If the team in front of him improves he will be a bargain.
- Scoob

He'll be a bargain unless he retires in which case we get screwed...

Sometimes I think, why blame the beat writers. It's their job to get people to read what they write, or what they blog. Really the fault should be with the fans who fall for it and buy that nonsense. From the Lindros sleeping with Brind'Amour's wife, to the Richards/Carter nonsense, to this. They write it because they have an audience.
- MJL

I blame the writers because they pander to the lowest common denominator. Shouldn't they strive to write intelligent, well thought out pieces? They'll still get an audience, but now it would be comprised of intelligent fans rather than TMZ fans.

Oh, and they'd then also have something they lack now: credibility.

This has been beaten todeath, but in 2011 a goalie magazine produced in Quebec that I always read had a cover story on Bob. They do a very in depth analysis of 1 goalie each couple months and break down his technique. They do a frame by frame photo explanation. Their conculsion was that Bob was the real deal, had excellent technique, good relexes and would only get better as he adjusted to the North american game. It's only one year so far, but it's looking like he's a special tender. It's water under the bridge, but my preference would have been to keep Bob and Bryz. having said all this, if Mason turns out to be the guy, this may all be a moot point.crosses finger.s
- Hextall271

Can you let us know when they cover mason or bryzgalov?

[quote=Marc D]
You will be refuted Marc D.

My initial comment was in regards to a post which mentioned Lava's mishandling of Bobrovski as one of the many reasons he should be fired.
- Dkos

Fair enough.

[quote=Marc D]
the problem is that others like briere were given a free pass..

I blame the writers because they pander to the lowest common denominator. Shouldn't they strive to write intelligent, well thought out pieces? They'll still get an audience, but now it would be comprised of intelligent fans rather than TMZ fans.

Oh, and they'd then also have something they lack now: credibility.
- Scoob

All good points Scoob! As usual.

You will be refuted Marc D.
- mayorofangrytown

Moat I was hoping you'd jump in because I believe you were the one who pointed out his awful play at the start and first third of the season.

i swear its this guy that trolls in here masquerading as a flyers fan....bugging us about bob all the time....




Point is bobs not a flyer so (frank) him.

Jagr deserves a really nice ovation when he comes back, IMO.
- johndewar

Uh no. Youre pulling my groin right?
He's been a thorn in our side for rival teams far too long. Might as well retire knuble's jersey this fall.

I'm not buying the Couts was horribly mishandled thing this year.
He started the season on a line with Talbot with whom he had good success last season.
He was given a shot on the 2nd PP unit.
Couts was horrible.
Every game almost he made a mistake that ended up as an opposition goal or great scoring chance.
Lots of bad turnovers at his own blue line.
He also had no confidence with the puck and stopped going to the net.
He was just not ready for the bigger role yet.
He is barely 20.
I have no problem with his season this year, it's expected he would struggle.

And none of us know how they were working with him off the ice with video and practice to get better.

There are a ton of things to be mad about the coach.
#1 is every coach in the division has figured out how to beat the Flyers.
And failure to adjust the style of play to the team he had.

For me Couts was given a chance, struggled and was put in a less difficult role on a bottom line which is part of the process for a 20 yo in his 2nd season.
I expect the coaches were working with him intensely off the ice to improve.

Just my opinion on this, I know a lot of you disagree.

- Marc D

The Advanced stats guys can confirm this. I'm not a big fan of those stats, but I think some of it is useful. I think Couturier's rate of defensive zone starts was one of the highest in the League. Along with his QofC numbers. It's about the situations he was placed in the overwhelming majority of the Season.

I hope you are not intimating that Holmgren's time here hasn't been a success. You do realize that the teams record in the playoffs during Holmgren's tenure is top 5 in the league. 1 Stanley Cup finals, 2 conference finals, 4 trips to the 2nd rd of the playoffs in the last 5 years (only Detroit has accomplished that),and 5 straight trips to the playoffs that's ends this year. Yes he had had a bad year, but you can't disregard the record.
- psuhockey

not intimating, clearly ready for a change. he went south after a great start. lost patience and made radical, sometimes knee jerk moves that devolved into the cluster(frank) of this yr.

Uh no. Youre pulling my groin right?
He's been a thorn in our side for rival teams far too long. Might as well retire knuble's jersey this fall.
- JoeRussomanno

Too he had his chance to come back but went for the $$$...With our injury luck or lack thereof im sure he would have been another victim too.

There are bombs going off in Boston near the finish line of the Boston Marathon

No Homer, not one vote. Not surprised. To be fair he needs some more time to be evaluated IMHO. Lavy should be toast. The boys are not responding to him it seems. I'm surprised he made it this far honestly.
- coffee junkie

I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but it was part of post and didn't get much response. But go back through all of the transactions that Homer has made as GM, and do a post-mortem. I also kind of considered my general thoughts at the time.

What moves did he make that we're really good short and long term? Which ones did he "win"?

1. Coburn/Zhitnik trade
2. Kimmo/Hartsy trade/signing
3. Carter/Richards trades
4. Trade for Mesz. Even though he's injured so much, more than worth 2nd round pick.
5. Trade for Grossmann (gave up a bit though)
6. Drafting of Coots (tho Dougie probably would have been a better pick),
7. Signing of Jagr and Talbot
8. Trade of Schenn for JVR (long term I still think JVR outperforms Schenn, but Schenn has been a rock this year so let's put it in the win column)
9. Ville Leino trade from Detroit
10. Matt Read signing as free agent


I personally am not thrilled with last draft and balance of 2011 as we didn't get any dman, but really too early to say on Laughton, Cousins, and Ghost. So some may add to this list - I will wait.

Stolarz and Leier were part of Bob trade - to me a "loss" as I'd rather have Bob. Stolarz is having a nice playoffs tho, so maybe down the road this changes.

Also, I hated the Pronger trade then and now. So again, others may put it on the list, but I wouldn't.

But really, I'm counting about 10 "good" moves in 7 years.

Am I missing something?

Is this good enough?

There are bombs going off in Boston near the finish line of the Boston Marathon
- mayorofangrytown

nothing surprises me. these are crazy times...could be anything from sick prank to a terror attack by the ROP.

the problem is that others like briere were given a free pass..
- Philly1980

Lavi could have done a better job rewarding playing time and decreasing time for certain players no doubt.

I will say the lack of depth and injuries did not give him a whole bunch of viable options to bench underperforming vets.

He'll be a bargain unless he retires in which case we get screwed...
- FlyersGrace

Why is everyone hellbent on him retiring before this deal is up? There have been several goalies playing into their 40's in recent years.