That is not a playoff likely group. Especially if they play in front of dubious goaltending.
- spatso

emery is dubious? The defense looks much worse than it actually is due to Lavy's system ill give you that. Last year when most of them were injured and the flyers changed their system they went on a bit of a tear....Ultimately i think if they miss the playoffs this year its due more to Lavy than anything else.

Congrats on the page hits, good job. Top-notch journalism.

Not to terribly bad considering we made the Eastern Conference finals, opposed to watching the entire playoffs from the 19th hole.
- PittsPens

Terribly bad is paying a first for a guy who only played 30 games. Ill admit the flyers have been guilty of this (ahem Versteeg), but dont act like shero is a genius because he won the lottery 5 times.

Defensively, they arent as week as some like to let on.. assuming they remain healthy..

Timonen-Schenn
Streit-Coburn
Meszy-Grossmann
Gustafsson-Gervais/MAB
- jak521

Yeah, like people have this perception that without Pronger, the Flyers D is useless or terrible.... Really? Look at our starting 6 IF healthy, and I'd say there are maybe literally only 5 or 6 teams with better D (on paper).

Team D and system D is an entirely different argument.

Philly is the only US team in the top 16 that did not make the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

enjoy the next 10 years without a playoff series.

We're more like Comedians.
- jak521

Uh, I'd say you're in the right group, wrong line of work. You're more like clowns.

Now that's a funny joke!

I seem to recall a Carolina Stanley Cup win or something...not so much for the Flyers...So your argument seems kinda weak.
- MysteryZombie

A couple stats...

Since '97, 16 seasons; Canes 5 playoffs, Flyers 14 playoffs...

Overall Record (Flyers/Canes); 39 W - 13 L - 7 T ( 194 GF - 135 GA )

Flyers (franchise); 2 Stanley Cups, 8 Conference Champs, 16 Division Champs

Whalers/Canes (franchise); 1 Stanley Cups, 2 Conference Champs, 3 Division Champs

emery is dubious? The defense looks much worse than it actually is due to Lavy's system ill give you that. Last year when most of them were injured and the flyers changed their system they went on a bit of a tear....Ultimately i think if they miss the playoffs this year its due more to Lavy than anything else.
- PhillaBully

It was more due to Laviolette last year, than anything else. His unwillingness to change the system up, led to guys being asked to do more than they could do in terms of moving the puck and it led to a horrible transitional game and a lot of odd man opportunities against.

It's a fun style to watch when the personnel fit the system, but last year's rosetr didn't fit it. When he changed things up at the end of the year, over the last 16 games, they were playing well.

I think that is essentially true. I have been a Holgren fan for a good while. But, I wonder if Snider has been the impatient push behind the scene on some of these decisions. I believe the Flyers might be getting into a deep hole and may struggle over the next few years. They are very weak on the back end. I thought they should have given Bryzgalov another year to try and become more aligned with the Flyer image. I actually thought he was pretty solid in many games.

But, it is hard to imagine the Flyers making the playoffs without a major upgrade to their defensive corps.
- spatso

I think Coburn and Meszaros are going to bounce back next year. Both are qualitydefensemen who are 27 and have 7 years nhl experience. If you recongize that they were injured and probably out of shape for most of this past season it's not hard to seen them rebounding. Also if you mark them as good Defensemen rather than problems, the whole picture changes for the team. Personally I'm more worried about ... nope not worried, looking forward to the season.

enjoy the next 10 years without a playoff series.
- BingoLady

funny... Shows how delusional you candiens fans are....

enjoy the next 10 years without a playoff series.
- BingoLady

I don't really see how a team like Montreal is in any better position this upcoming season... You got absolutely embarrassed by Ottawa and your team is bordering on dwarf size... Funny too how Vinny chose Philly over Montreal, wonder why?

It was more due to Laviolette last year, than anything else. His unwillingness to change the system up, led to guys being asked to do more than they could do in terms of moving the puck and it led to a horrible transitional game and a lot of odd man opportunities against.

It's a fun style to watch when the personnel fit the system, but last year's rosetr didn't fit it. When he changed things up at the end of the year, over the last 16 games, they were playing well.
- Jsaquella

Agreed made the team look a lot more weak on defense than it actually is.

?

Chicago isn't. Sure, their attendance dictates that, but that's because the United Center is one of the largest rinks in the NHL. Chicago fans are literally the DEFINITION of bandwagon fans. Where were all the fans when their teams was absolute garbage? Why was their arena almost virtually empty when they were crap? They didn't even have a TV deal before the first lockout. Honestly, if you want to see true fans, check this out:

http://www.buzzonbroad.co...-penguins-fans-says-math/


Flyers fans, through thick and thin. Hawks/Pens/new teams who are good = bandwagon!!!!!!
- Flyers_V88

I'll provide a mild defense of Hawks fans.

Their ownership was horrendous. For years. They are an original 6 team with a great tradition whose owner abused the trust between the franchise and the fans. Google "Dollar Bill Wirtz". It wasn't good.

I'll provide no such defense for Penguin fans, however.....

I don't really see how a team like Montreal is in any better position this upcoming season... You got absolutely embarrassed by Ottawa and your team is bordering on dwarf size... Funny too how Vinny chose Philly over Montreal, wonder why?
- Flyers_V88

We have a goalie and a d-man. Forwards need help but Parros will float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

A couple stats...

Since '97, 16 seasons; Canes 5 playoffs, Flyers 14 playoffs...

Overall Record (Flyers/Canes); 39 W - 13 L - 7 T ( 194 GF - 135 GA )

Flyers (franchise); 2 Stanley Cups, 8 Conference Champs, 16 Division Champs

Whalers/Canes (franchise); 1 Stanley Cups, 2 Conference Champs, 3 Division Champs
- leon neon

True story: When I used to play EA NHL games, I almost always made Carolina play the game in the Hartford Whaler uniforms.

Agreed made the team look a lot more weak on defense than it actually is.
- PhillaBully

It also hurt the team's offensive output, especially at 5 on 5. They got no speed going through the neutral zone and it allowed other teams to attack them and force dump ins and turnovers.

We have a goalie and a d-man. Forwards need help but Parros will float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
- BingoLady

That's all you have though? PK is a superstar on the rise, Price has all the potential to be a franchise goalie for the future, but showed he is human last season down the stretch-drive where his play was average at best. Sure there is Galchenyuk or Pacioretty, but when compared to the Flyers' depth up front, it's not even comparable. Different league there bud.

I'll provide a mild defense of Hawks fans.

Their ownership was horrendous. For years. They are an original 6 team with a great tradition whose owner abused the trust between the franchise and the fans. Google "Dollar Bill Wirtz". It wasn't good.

I'll provide no such defense for Penguin fans, however.....

- johndewar

No I agree and know about those points, but I at least want it to be known how the Flyers compare to all the teams in recent prominence... The Flyers have been near the top of the NHL in attendance since their inception. Says a lot about the fans and ownership group.

That's all you have though? PK is a superstar on the rise, Price has all the potential to be a franchise goalie for the future, but showed he is human last season down the stretch-drive where his play was average at best. Sure there is Galchenyuk or Pacioretty, but when compared to the Flyers' depth up front, it's not even comparable. Different league there bud.
- Flyers_V88

Why did they finish first in NE then? Briere will help too, Eller, Gally, Chuckie..

Why did they finish first in NE then? Briere will help too, Eller, Gally, Chuckie..
- BingoLady

Short season, get hot early, go on a tear. Fade slowly in March, get beat handily by #7 seed, le cry.

Is Briere their new power forward?

Hey Let's go to Meltzer's blog, I'm tired of giving this guy free hits.... doh!

Why did they finish first in NE then? Briere will help too, Eller, Gally, Chuckie..
- BingoLady

In a half-seaon, anything was possible and we saw just that...


Given the outlook of both franchises, give me the Flyers any day. Additionally, it's not even comparable when you look at the Atlantic (formerly) and the other divisions in the East. I don't think you'll find anyone who will argue that the Northeast or Southeat divisions rival the competition in the Atlantic... I have no beef with Montreal really, but I just found it funny you actually think there is the chance the Flyers miss the playoffs for approximately 10 seaons...

Short season, get hot early, go on a tear. Fade slowly in March, get beat handily by #7 seed, le cry.

Is Briere their new power forward?
- jmatchett383

playoff bound unlike Philly.

No I agree and know about those points, but I at least want it to be known how the Flyers compare to all the teams in recent prominence... The Flyers have been near the top of the NHL in attendance since their inception. Says a lot about the fans and ownership group.
- Flyers_V88

The Flyers fans sold out a 50,000 seat baseball stadium to watch an outdoor game featuring old guys in what was really less an exhibition game than a walk down memory lane.

Not sure how I can express how pretty amazing that is.

The only other franchises that will top getting attendance to something like that will likely be Original 6 franchises.