Yet everything, and every player that suits up, or ever has for the crew is made of gold.

Sometimes a little bit too much of orange coloured glasses. Blind hope shall guide us! Ye shall question nothing.
- flyer_nutter

There's things that certainly can be questioned. But the opposite of wearing orange colored glasses is the doom and gloom crowd. As if the Flyers as an Organization don't do anything right.

Right now this defense core is in tatters. Coburn coming off probably the worst season of his career. Throw in the fact Grossmann and Meszaros are being held together by spit and glue.

That leaves Timonen. He played well at times last year, but he's no longer a # 1A. Schenn hopefully continues to blossom, and I believe Gustafsson can be a serviceable third pairing guy. Flyers need Coburn to rebound to have any semblance of a solid blueline.
- PLindbergh31

Very tenuous situation on d...and IMO, in goal.

Every forward on that team is committed to the two way game. They are always on the right side of the puck. And they are so well Coached. Watching them play, versus the way the Flyers play, makes me ill. They play a smart aggressive system.
- MJL

yeah i understand. brown reminds me a ton of callahan on the rags. kopitar is a poor man's datsyuk when healthy. richards has a hell of a two way game. even the role players, everyone just buys into it. when they score first, they are damn tough to beat.

Very tenuous situation on d...and IMO, in goal.
- isaiah520

I'm cautiously optimistic that Mason can recapture his Calder season. If the Flyers are going to learn about Mason, they have to bring in a veteran as a backup and get Bryzgalov the hell out of here.

Ohh how bad I would love to see a choke job.

yeah i understand. brown reminds me a ton of callahan on the rags. kopitar is a poor man's datsyuk when healthy. richards has a hell of a two way game. even the role players, everyone just buys into it. when they score first, they are damn tough to beat.
- stayinthefnnet

I love that team and how they play. So disciplined. They are in sync throughout the lineup. If Quick is on his game. They will be a very tough out. Not to mention that they are very physical. And Doughty is awesome.

2 years puts the drought at four (frank)ing decades. No excuse for that when you have the type of resources the Flyers franchise has.
- PLindbergh31

They have to be able to draft and develop dmen and goalies better because the former are getting insanely expensive and the latter is the org bugaboo for close to 30 fricking yrs

I'm cautiously optimistic that Mason can recapture his Calder season. If the Flyers are going to learn about Mason, they have to bring in a veteran as a backup and get Bryzgalov the hell out of here.
- PLindbergh31

Mason can get 25 games or so. They can see what they need to see in that amount of games. And if Mason outplays Bryzgalov. He could get more.

They have to be able to draft and develop dmen and goalies better because the former are getting insanely expensive and the latter is the org bugaboo for close to 30 fricking yrs
- isaiah520

Not sure how anyone can question this logic. The fact they haven't developed a legit defenseman in forever is just insane. I understand you can obtain players through trade, and FA, but you have to develop depth in your Organization. This holds especially true for the Flyers since they never have anything remotely resembling a healthy season. Look at the Bruins. They went through the Rags like poop through a tin horn with 3 rookie dmen in their lineup.

I'm cautiously optimistic that Mason can recapture his Calder season. If the Flyers are going to learn about Mason, they have to bring in a veteran as a backup and get Bryzgalov the hell out of here.
- PLindbergh31

If there are going to be as many decent goalie options as it looks like right now, they have to end this kabuki theater.

Mason can get 25 games or so. They can see what they need to see in that amount of games. And if Mason outplays Bryzgalov. He could get more.
- MJL

So you are going to make it an open competition between Mason and Bryzgalov, and if Mason wins the job, you are going to have a backup with a 5.6 million dollar cap hit. Sounds like a plan.

Not sure how anyone can question this logic. The fact they haven't developed a legit defenseman in forever is just insane. I understand you can obtain players through trade, and FA, but you have to develop depth in your Organization. This holds especially true for the Flyers since they never have anything remotely resembling a healthy season. Look at the Bruins. They went through the Rags like poop through a tin horn with 3 rookie dmen in their lineup.
- PLindbergh31

I'd rather have an excess on the blueline because they are worth more and having enough ELCs available can extend a championship window in ways that we haven't seen around here in a dogs age.

So you are going to make it an open competition between Mason and Bryzgalov, and if Mason wins the job, you are going to have a backup with a 5.6 million dollar cap hit. Sounds like a plan.
- PLindbergh31

That's not at all what I said. But yes, if that's the way it works out next Season. Play the best player. Do you think the Pens are concerned with what Goalie has the higher cap hit right now? Or are they concerned with playing the best Goalie at the moment, and trying to win the Cup?

I love that team and how they play. So disciplined. They are in sync throughout the lineup. If Quick is on his game. They will be a very tough out. Not to mention that they are very physical. And Doughty is awesome.
- MJL

doughty is ridiculously talented, but for some reason ive always thought he isnt as good as he should be. they are definitely going to be a tough out for anyone. would be a very interesting matchup for the pens, provided they are able to make it that far

That's not at all what I said. But yes, if that's the way it works out next Season. Play the best player. Do you think the Pens are concerned with what Goalie has the higher cap hit right now? Or are they concerned with playing the best Goalie at the moment, and trying to win the Cup?
- MJL

right now, i just want the guy in there that will make the saves necessary to win, regardless of the name on the back. however, that most certainly is an issue that is going to have to be addressed next year, cup appearance or not.

exactly. which means if simmonds must be sacrificed, i dont know why there is much pause.
- stayinthefnnet

The back is still an issue...it resurfaced after the first microsurgery in 2011. He was complaining of back spasms and considering another surgery (preceding and during this past season). He's pretty much playing with pain on many nights and most Vancouver fans will tell you this could be one of the reasons for his inconsistency. I'm not saying I wouldn't take the risk if the price was right, but I think it would be a mistake to hitch the wagon (by paying too high a price or by counting on him too much) to Edler and his wonky back...with the Flyers luck, he'll be Rathje'd within a year.

edit: Here's news bytes from just this past December:

http://www.thescore.com/n...sues-reports-the-province


http://nbcsports.msnbc.co...60/ns/sports-player_news/

right now, i just want the guy in there that will make the saves necessary to win, regardless of the name on the back. however, that most certainly is an issue that is going to have to be addressed next year, cup appearance or not.
- stayinthefnnet

Very interested to see this series. The Bruins I believe will light up Vokoun or MAF, but the Penguins offense is sick. It seems like they have a 2-0 lead before they step on the ice. I think it will be a 7 game war. Not sure who wins.

That's not at all what I said. But yes, if that's the way it works out next Season. Play the best player. Do you think the Pens are concerned with what Goalie has the higher cap hit right now? Or are they concerned with playing the best Goalie at the moment, and trying to win the Cup?
- MJL

The Penguins just won a Cup in 2009 with Fluery. Their situation isn't remotely comparable to the Flyers.

holy poop quick

The Penguins just won a Cup in 2009 with Fluery. Their situation isn't remotely comparable to the Flyers.
- PLindbergh31

2009 was 4 years ago. That is an eternity in Hockey. And that has zero to do with the 2013 playoffs that are currently going on. Maybe the Pens should have kept Fluery in there. Because they won a Cup with him in 2009.

Edler is a legitimate top pairing two way defenseman. Labeling him a #4 defenseman isn't accurate. The back surgery was over two years ago. Since then, hasn't missed any significant time. Edler is exactly what the Flyers need.
- MJL

No argument here.

holy poop quick
- FlyerMike18

Unreal. The Big Pavelski has to elevate that puck there. He's going to be thinking about that forever if the Sharks lose this game.

holy poop quick
- FlyerMike18

2009 was 4 years ago. That is an eternity in Hockey. And that has zero to do with the 2013 playoffs that are currently going on.
- MJL

if 4 years ago is an eternity, what's 38 years ago?

Unreal. The Big Pavelski has to elevate that puck there. He's going to be thinking about that forever if the Sharks lose this game.
- PLindbergh31

absolutely

hopefully the sharks can get it knotted up here for him