The Flyers were better than the Senators and Islanders, IMO. If they had adjusted sooner, they'd have easily made the playoffs which is why I am still confused that Lavy is coming back.
- NickTheKid87

I'm guessing that Holmgren likes Laviolette and he probably made the case to Luukko and Snider to not judge this configuration of players and coaches in an abbreviated season with no training camp..

I'm also guessing that if this team is struggling around .500 at Christmas time, Lavvy is a goner.

Not to go wayyy off topic, but if you dont watch Game of Thrones... you are seriously missing out.

Does anybody have a preferred site for advanced stats?

Yeah I was chillin' there in April when we were all but eliminated and blowing chunks nightly on the ice. Not happy but content that the season was over and if they were going to be bad at least they were going to be really bad.
- mayorofangrytown

Deep draft so they can still come up with a good player. If they do not have intentions on trading into the top 3 or 4 picks, just stay at # 11. Moving assets to move up a few spots would be stupid.

however, if they had canned him we'd be worried right now that torts would be the next coach.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I think I'd prefer Torts, honestly.

Yeah, he's a jackass and rude and whatever else. He acts like a clown, too.

But, he also stresses his team being defensively responsible. He's show an ability to change his style to fit the players on the roster.

My biggest worry/fear is that the Flyers will be unable to land a mobile defenseman with good puck skills and that Laviolette will return to trying to do the same old thing with Coburn, Meszaros and the others and end up getting fired in December, when there are fewer good coaching candidates available and those who might be had will probably cost an asset to hire and will require a commitment for a few years after.

Yes, which is exactly how a player like Edler should be used. That's how you win. And every good defenseman needs a solid partner. A top defensive pair is made up of partner's who rely on each other, and compliment each other.
- MJL

Guys like Weber and OEL and Chara face the toughest competition, while starting the majority of their shifts in the defensive zone as a result. That's how top two-way guys are utilized, and that's the kind of player that the Flyers need to be the "answer".

As I mentioned, Edler plays mostly with the Sedins, who are notorious for playing some of the most defensively sheltered minutes of any stars in the NHL. People who follow the Canucks closely don't even know how he'd fare away from his cushy spot alongside the Sedins...

Bryz looked great before he left a favorable situation in Phoenix, playing behind a defense-first team, with a defensive guru behind the bench, and a great goalie coach in Sean Burke. We can let our imaginations run wild with Edler, but the Flyers could get burned again if they get carried away.

Not to go wayyy off topic, but if you dont watch Game of Thrones... you are seriously missing out.
- jak521

OK did you read the book before seeing last night's episode?

I want to know how people who had NOT read the book felt about last night

I'm guessing that Holmgren likes Laviolette and he probably made the case to Luukko and Snider to not judge this configuration of players and coaches in an abbreviated season with no training camp..

I'm also guessing that if this team is struggling around .500 at Christmas time, Lavvy is a goner.
- johndewar

I think that may be the case on both parts of this post. I don't like to judge the teams too much because they did only play 48 games but I think that idea applies to players more than coaches. A good coach should be able to adjust knowing the time frame he has vs. players having not played since June at the latest the previous season.

Does anybody have a preferred site for advanced stats?
- NickTheKid87

http://behindthenet.ca/

I think I'd prefer Torts, honestly.

Yeah, he's a jackass and rude and whatever else. He acts like a clown, too.

But, he also stresses his team being defensively responsible. He's show an ability to change his style to fit the players on the roster.

My biggest worry/fear is that the Flyers will be unable to land a mobile defenseman with good puck skills and that Laviolette will return to trying to do the same old thing with Coburn, Meszaros and the others and end up getting fired in December, when there are fewer good coaching candidates available and those who might be had will probably cost an asset to hire and will require a commitment for a few years after.
- Jsaquella

Torts would be a better option with this roster and goaltending but I would prefer neither. I like the idea of going with a young, up and coming coach.

I'm guessing that Holmgren likes Laviolette and he probably made the case to Luukko and Snider to not judge this configuration of players and coaches in an abbreviated season with no training camp..

I'm also guessing that if this team is struggling around .500 at Christmas time, Lavvy is a goner.
- johndewar

Which is my worry.

In December, guys will be working, so the pool will have fewer candidates. Also, if there is a guy who works for another team, that team would probably demand compensation to hire their assistant/AHL coach/etc.

http://behindthenet.ca/
- Jsaquella

Nice. Thanks!

I think I'd prefer Torts, honestly.

...

But, he also stresses his team being defensively responsible. He's show an ability to change his style to fit the players on the roster.
- Jsaquella

I thought one of the chief rationales for his firing was that he doggedly refused to alter the style of play in light of the roster turnover and his obsession with forcing guys like Richards, Nash and Gaborik to play like grinders or face his wrath?

It would behoove them to take a step-by-step approach, instead of once again, trying to accelerate the timetable and shooting themselves in the foot in the process. Walk before they try to run, that kind of thing.

Of course Liles isn't the answer, but he could be part of the solution -- he's almost a carbon copy of Matt Carle, but with a better shot and maybe a bit less defensive acumen. This team couldn't use a player like that?

The all or nothing approach to chasing Suter and Weber already cost them once last summer. It shouldn't be Edler/Yandle or bust this summer while very useful players get snatched up during the ensuing chase.
- Tomahawk

Trading for a quality top puck moving defenseman is not shooting yourself in the foot. It needs to be done. Or else the possibility exists of wasting a number of prime years of players such as Giroux and Voracek. It's actually the opposite. Not making an available move to upgrade the defense is shooting yourself in the foot. And treading water. If the price is too high, or the right deal isn't available. Then I'm okay with a one year stop gap such as Liles. But I'm thinking long term here. Not short term.

How did chasing Suter and Weber hurt them last year?
Liles isn't close to being a carbon copy of Carle.

Does anybody have a preferred site for advanced stats?
- NickTheKid87

combination of:

http://www.behindthenet.ca/

and

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ue&season=2012-13&sit=5v5

which has my favorite stat, the WOWY.

Torts would be a better option with this roster and goaltending but I would prefer neither. I like the idea of going with a young, up and coming coach.
- NickTheKid87

Neither is ideal. I don't want Torts or Ruff. I'd prefer guys like Eakins out of the AHL, or Steve Spott out of Kitchener. Or even a guy like Boucher.

OK did you read the book before seeing last night's episode?

I want to know how people who had NOT read the book felt about last night
- Marc D

People on my Twitter feed that had not read the books (including jak) were freaking out.

combination of:

http://www.behindthenet.ca/

and

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ue&season=2012-13&sit=5v5

which has my favorite stat, the WOWY.
- bradleyc4

Thanks!

I thought one of the chief rationales for his firing was that he doggedly refused to alter the style of play in light of the roster turnover and his obsession with forcing guys like Richards, Nash and Gaborik to play like grinders or face his wrath?
- Tomahawk

The wrath thing is the issue. But he won with an uptempo team in Tampa Bay, and the Rangers had success despite their lack of scoring.

I'd rather see a team be responsible defensively & grind out wins than what Laviolette was running out there when he didn't have the pieces.

I do have to say I am not advocating Tortorella.

Giroux/Voracek are keepers

I add Couts too, but I know you don't see it in him yet
- Marc D

I can agree for the most part.

For me it's less Couturier, who I worry about ever reaching his perceived potential, than it is about Brayden Schenn who I was ultra high on when we acquired him.

Does anybody have a preferred site for advanced stats?
- NickTheKid87

I go to www.behindthenet.ca; but I'll tell you what: A few of those guys at Broad Street Hockey are no joke -- I think the writer named EricT. might be my personal favorite of them all.

For the record: I do recognize that the metrics are a tool, not an outcome. Just because Sean Couturier SHOULD be better next season doesn't mean he WILL, for instance. I do know that.

But more often than not, the metrics are a pretty good indicator of what you're looking at with your team. For instance, the numbers guys said all year that Anaheim was not what their record said they were and that when push came to shove, they weren't going deep into the playoffs because their shooting percentages were simply unsustainable, among other things.

That doesn't mean that it's 100 percent. It isn't. But it does give those who are interested a decent feel for what you're looking at.

I'd rather see a team be responsible defensively & grind out wins than what Laviolette was running out there when he didn't have the pieces.
- Jsaquella

Grass is always greener on the other side, I suppose.

Rangers fans seem to be saying that they would rather turn the stars loose and let Hank see some more rubber than live with Torts running the same old scheme when vital cogs to play that style were lost the previous summer.

Sounds kind of familiar.

Blackhawks sign goalie Antti Raanta. Finnish league playoff MVP this year.

I think I'd prefer Torts, honestly.

Yeah, he's a jackass and rude and whatever else. He acts like a clown, too.

But, he also stresses his team being defensively responsible. He's show an ability to change his style to fit the players on the roster.

My biggest worry/fear is that the Flyers will be unable to land a mobile defenseman with good puck skills and that Laviolette will return to trying to do the same old thing with Coburn, Meszaros and the others and end up getting fired in December, when there are fewer good coaching candidates available and those who might be had will probably cost an asset to hire and will require a commitment for a few years after.
- Jsaquella

i find torts very entertaining... but please, not on my team

what about vigneault?

combination of:

http://www.behindthenet.ca/

and

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ue&season=2012-13&sit=5v5

which has my favorite stat, the WOWY.
- bradleyc4

did an advanced stats beacon light in the sky for you?