cant believe they wont fire lavy....get ready for the same poop next year...ive never seen more injuries under one coach.
- Philly1980

I thought we blamed injuries on McCrossin?

You're supposed to be blaming Lavi for "refusal to make any adjustments".

You're doing it wrong!

And then we'll have missed out on all possible coach candidates for this summer. Stellar.
- Flyskippy

This is our concern, Dude

I thought we blamed injuries on McCrossin?

You're supposed to be blaming Lavi for "refusal to make any adjustments".

You're doing it wrong!
- Tomahawk

He made them, just way too late

This is our concern, Dude
- Jsaquella

I'm going to have to go back to Kevin Flynn soon, but Marc's comment from last night has me in a rather Cleese-ish mood.

He made them, just way too late
- Jsaquella

Like the passenger in charge of directions, "Turn he--" *crash*

He made them, just way too late
- Jsaquella

From the interviews, especially the Hartnell interview, I gathered that there were tweaks to the way they approached the defensive zone (to be more like division rivals) from the start, and then a general simplification of the entire system when all the call-ups were forced into the lineup.

Maybe it can be interpreted another way?

Like the passenger in charge of directions, "Turn he--" *crash*
- Flyskippy

I just hope it ends up being alright. They'll make some adjustments. Hopefully, Laviolette is more quick to respond next season.

From the interviews, especially the Hartnell interview, I gathered that there were tweaks to the way they approached the defensive zone (to be more like division rivals) from the start, and then a general simplification of the entire system when all the call-ups were forced into the lineup.

Maybe it can be interpreted another way?
- Tomahawk

were these tweaks to have 2 players go after the puck when it went behind the goal line?

and also collapsing down in front to leave the points (relatively) wide open?

that is what I saw them doing, not always with the best success

I just hope it ends up being alright. They'll make some adjustments. Hopefully, Laviolette is more quick to respond next season.
- Jsaquella

I would rather see this than anything, if Homer is sticking with Lavi. I don't want another season like 2006-07 or 2007-08 for the Canes. At least in 2008-09, the Canes were able to replace Lavi with Paul Maurice and got to the ECF. That 33-19 clip Maurice had them clicking at was nice.

From the interviews, especially the Hartnell interview, I gathered that there were tweaks to the way they approached the defensive zone (to be more like division rivals) from the start, and then a general simplification of the entire system when all the call-ups were forced into the lineup.

Maybe it can be interpreted another way?
- Tomahawk

I think the general simplification should have been step one, given the make-up of the roster and the lack of preparation time.

I would rather see this than anything, if Homer is sticking with Lavi. I don't want another season like 2006-07 or 2007-08 for the Canes. At least in 2008-09, the Canes were able to replace Lavi with Paul Maurice and got to the ECF. That 33-19 clip Maurice had them clicking at was nice.
- Flyskippy

As long as he's the coach, I will want him to succeed. If the Flyers win the Stanley Cup, the name of the coach steering the ship is not going to bug me even a little bit.

As long as he's the coach, I will want him to succeed. If the Flyers win the Stanley Cup, the name of the coach steering the ship is not going to bug me even a little bit.
- Jsaquella

EDIT: Wait... We're not supposed to hope he fails so one of Spott, Ireland, or Eakins comes in and makes our dreams come true in magical ways?

I think the general simplification should have been step one, given the make-up of the roster and the lack of preparation time.
- Jsaquella

I imagine next year, when Braydon Coburn is allowed to be Braydon Coburn and not supposed to try to be Matt Carle, people will think "Where was this guy last year before he got hurt?"

I think the general simplification should have been step one, given the make-up of the roster and the lack of preparation time.
- Jsaquella

Players were generally making repeated stupid reads and back-breaking turnovers, so yeah, taking some decision-making away from them probably would have done some good.

But then again, the bulk of the team were supposed to have already mastered Lavi's system from previous seasons, so why a few tweaks in the defensive zone would render them all unable to execute all over the ice is a bit of a headscratcher.

EDIT: Wait... We're not supposed to hope he fails so one of Spott, Ireland, or Eakins comes in and makes our dreams come true in magical ways?
- Flyskippy

I don't dislike Laviolette. I think he did a bad job this year and I had issues with past decisions. But I don't hate the guy. I actually like his fire and have never said he's a bad coach. I just hope he's the right one.

My doubts about that don't make me dislike him, though

What do you want/expect out of Coburn?
- jmatchett383

To clear the zone? To cover his man?

I don't dislike Laviolette. I think he did a bad job this year and I had issues with past decisions. But I don't hate the guy. I actually like his fire and have never said he's a bad coach. I just hope he's the right one.

My doubts about that don't make me dislike him, though
- Jsaquella

A wise course of reasoning...

yes, see above.

for 3.25-3.5M they should try and re sign him.

Over 4 I start to wonder about the value.
- Marc D

Maybe at 3.5M per, but Homer would have to make the contract longer (4-5 years).

For a 3 year contract, I think 4M - 4.25M he would sign, if the offer is any lower Read probably waits for free agency.

Homer is known to have contract talks with his players 1 year prior of them hitting free agency. If contracts talks aren't productive this summer, he may consider the trading route.

Personally I prefer the longer contract (4-5 years) at a lower cap hit (maybe at 3.5M).
The lower cap gives the GM more money to play with now and when RFA's are up for a new contract (G-Couts-Schenn), you can always trade Read with his low cap hit and get some value in return that don't add to the Flyers cap (pick or prospect).

I don't dislike Laviolette. I think he did a bad job this year and I had issues with past decisions. But I don't hate the guy. I actually like his fire and have never said he's a bad coach. I just hope he's the right one.

My doubts about that don't make me dislike him, though
- Jsaquella

maybe its time he gets a new right hand man and replace the chief

were these tweaks to have 2 players go after the puck when it went behind the goal line?

and also collapsing down in front to leave the points (relatively) wide open?that is what I saw them doing, not always with the best success
- Marc D

i think this is right. he referred to doing things other teams do in the division and that's how i see the Rangers play defense in the zone.

I hope Brayden takes it as an insult and rightfully focuses on his off-season workouts in preparation for next year.

He has no reason to be self-satisfied at this point of his career.
- johndewar

IMO, Schenn is very soft on the puck. Everybody sees him run around making body checks & think he's a strong player but I see it differently along the walls and when he has the puck on his stick.

I'd really like to see an improment there next year.

Players were generally making repeated stupid reads and back-breaking turnovers, so yeah, taking some decision-making away from them probably would have done some good.

But then again, the bulk of the team were supposed to have already mastered Lavi's system from previous seasons, so why a few tweaks in the defensive zone would render them all unable to execute all over the ice is a bit of a headscratcher.
- Tomahawk

I wasn't totally happy with the execution level in previous seasons, either. I guess I was expecting changes to start the season, after losing Carle and missing out on Weber and Suter, so the less mobile defense could have it's exposure limited.

Instead, the defensemen who were not as mobile or as good with the puck were forced to shoulder the kind of load that they couldn't handle. Since the injuries to Grossmann, Meszaros and Coburn, they have been much better at puck support and not forcing the defensemen to have to make the high risk passes and decreased the gap between the defensemen and forwards.

So Matt Read hitting UFA in 1 year, will be 27 yrs old, good 2 way winger, small, good speed, can score (lets say 50 pts/season) good PKer.

What will he get paid and can the Flyers afford him?

Clarke MacArthur in 2011 got a two yr UFA deal, about the same age, similar size, scored 60 points the season going into UFA... got a 2 yr deal for 6.5M, 3.25M cap hit

Maybe not perfectly comparable but close enough.
Could the Flyers get a similar 2-3 year deal done at 3.25-3.5/year for Read?
Why not?

Can they fit that into their cap space? Hard to answer right now.
A lot of variables there with G, Schenn, and Couts all needing new deals the same year.
Mezzy and his 4M cap hit comes off the books that year.
- Marc D

If they buy out Breire and LTIR Pronger, these are what they have for next year (barring any other moves)l

Hartnell - Giroux - Voracek
Read - Schenn - Simmonds
McGinn - Couturier - Laughton
Rosehill - Talbot - Rinaldo
Holmstrom

Timonen - Schenn
Coburn - Grossmann
Meszaros - Gustafsson
Gervais

Bryzgalov
Mason

Total - $58.3M.

After next year, the cap will go up. Schenn will get a base salary raise, but his cap hit may actually go down due to his bonuses, so let's say he's $3M per.

Basically...if they can get a 5th defenseman/Meszaros at Meszaros' hit (about) and get Gustafsson/McGinn/Lauridsen resigned at reasonable rates, they'll be able to fit Read is easily at $3.5M with room to spare.

I wasn't totally happy with the execution level in previous seasons, either. I guess I was expecting changes to start the season, after losing Carle and missing out on Weber and Suter, so the less mobile defense could have it's exposure limited.

Instead, the defensemen who were not as mobile or as good with the puck were forced to shoulder the kind of load that they couldn't handle. Since the injuries to Grossmann, Meszaros and Coburn, they have been much better at puck support and not forcing the defensemen to have to make the high risk passes and decreased the gap between the defensemen and forwards.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, a healthier, more puck-adept blueline should make a lot of these problems go away, that's for sure.

From the interviews, especially the Hartnell interview, I gathered that there were tweaks to the way they approached the defensive zone (to be more like division rivals) from the start, and then a general simplification of the entire system when all the call-ups were forced into the lineup.

Maybe it can be interpreted another way?
- Tomahawk

Those changes to the defensive zone coverage made during the Season were well documented on here, by both Jsaq and myself. The more important adjustment that wasn't made until he was forced to do so due to injuries, was to change the Flyers forecheck scheme. And to address the weakness of a complete lack of nueutral zone checking presence game in and game out.