And Cechmanek was the goalie in 2003, so I'm not sure how he gets the blame that you seem to be giving him.
- Jsaquella

I said the team did better without him (and they did) in response to the false claim that the rest of the team were the real problem. They added players, but they also got great performances out of the core who were there for the 2002 playoff debacle.

You think Edmonton feels the same. Watching awful hockey for the past 7-8 years with 1 cup. While I would love that cup, its only 1 year of sucess for 10 years of suffering.
- youarewrong

I will take it. Success is great, but the goal of every hockey team is to win the Cup. I hate that, every year that I've ever watched the Flyers, their season doesn't end with them hoisting the Stanley Cup.

There are teams out there with just as bad goalies since 2000. Ottawa, Toronto, Islanders, Washington, Atlanta/Winnepeg, Columbus, & Edmonton.
- youarewrong

But I don't care about those teams.

I'd trade all of that success for one Cup.

It's sort of like the Phillies: they won me a World Series during my lifetime, so they get a pass. Frustrating as it may be, they can go 0-162 every year for the rest of my life and I'll be okay with it.

Granted, with the Flyers, I'd care A LOT MORE.
- jmatchett383

Yeah that sums it up

I'd trade all of that success for one Cup.

It's sort of like the Phillies: they won me a World Series during my lifetime, so they get a pass. Frustrating as it may be, they can go 0-162 every year for the rest of my life and I'll be okay with it.

Granted, with the Flyers, I'd care A LOT MORE.
- jmatchett383

With all due respect, that's crap. I saw the Flyers win two Cups. This 38 year drought is really sucky.

Desjardins didn't fade away, he broke. We tried calling the factory to get a new one, and they gave us a Kimmo Timonen.
- jmatchett383

Call the factory again.

Call the factory again.
- 77rams

The Webers were sold out.

And Cechmanek was the goalie in 2003, so I'm not sure how he gets the blame that you seem to be giving him.

My initial point was that Cechmanek was not to blame for their playoff struggles, because the team in front of him performed poorly. They did play better in 2003 than they did in 2002, but it wasn't as if they were scoring in droves.

Primeau had a goal and an assist in 13 games. Gagne had 4 goals and 1 assist. Amonte had a goal and 6 asssts.

In the 2004 playoffs, a lot of guys played much better, but they also had additional firepower.

Primeau exploded and had 14 more points than in 2003. Zhamnov was their second leading scorer & wasn't on the 2003 team. The additions of Markov and Malakhov, who were 2nd and third among skaters in TOI in 2004 was an improvement on the fading Eric Desjardins and Eric Weinrich, who held those spots the year before.
- Jsaquella

It's strange how the East shook out in 2002 through 2004.

Ottawa was up and coming in '02 and was so dominant in '03.

2004, the top 6 teams in the conference were separated by 6 points.

Call the factory again.
- 77rams

everyone assumes timonen will retire after this year but im not so sure.
if the flyers come up short and dont seem like they can win a Cup after next year i can see him chasing one with another contender for 1 year

The Webers were sold out.
- Scoob

Rain check?

everyone assumes timonen will retire after this year but im not so sure.
if the flyers come up short and dont seem like they can win a Cup after next year i can see him chasing one with another contender for 1 year
- Crimsoninja

You know I get drawn into this debate with my friend all the time. Would you take losing for 10 years if you were guarenteed a cup, or would you rather a team that is competitive over the same 10 year span that doesn't win the cup.

Really, they are both bad. I think the joy of winning 1 cup would be tarnished by losing for a decade... it would just suck. At lease if your a competitive team you get to enjoy EVERY year, though it ends in disapointment. I would rather be disapointed then disinterested.

But I think the more fair question would be, would you take a guarenteed cup with 10 years at the bottom of the league, or would you take guarenteed 4 ECF and 9 guarenteed playoff years where you never know what will happen?

To me, I take the later, and hope you win at least 1 cup, with the chance for more, and entertaining hockey inbetween.

- -davies-

i just want that guy to get a Cup

everyone assumes timonen will retire after this year but im not so sure.
if the flyers come up short and dont seem like they can win a Cup after next year i can see him chasing one with another contender for 1 year
- Crimsoninja

How many 1-year contracts did Nick Lidstrom sign towards the end?

I will take it. Success is great, but the goal of every hockey team is to win the Cup. I hate that, every year that I've ever watched the Flyers, their season doesn't end with them hoisting the Stanley Cup.
- jmatchett383

I hate it too. I have never seen a Flyers cup either. But you know what? Ever year where the Flyers suck I start to find myself going out, or watching other show then watching the Flyers games. It just gets boring and frustrating when there is nothing to play for and you know your going to lose... If they have a 10 year drought, who knows, I might stop watching all together.

Though I do have to say, because of the 2008 season I got off my Arse and met my wife....

With all due respect, that's crap. I saw the Flyers win two Cups. This 38 year drought is really sucky.
- Scoob

Nope, absolute truth. Here is my bucket list:
- Graduate college
- Get married
- Own a house
- Have children
- See Flyers win a Cup

As of November, I'll have done all of the 4. But seeing the Flyers win a Cup is my #1 thing to do before I die.

You know I get drawn into this debate with my friend all the time. Would you take losing for 10 years if you were guarenteed a cup, or would you rather a team that is competitive over the same 10 year span that doesn't win the cup.

Really, they are both bad. I think the joy of winning 1 cup would be tarnished by losing for a decade... it would just suck. At lease if your a competitive team you get to enjoy EVERY year, though it ends in disapointment. I would rather be disapointed then disinterested.

But I think the more fair question would be, would you take a guarenteed cup with 10 years at the bottom of the league, or would you take guarenteed 4 ECF and 9 guarenteed playoff years where you never know what will happen?

To me, I take the later, and hope you win at least 1 cup, with the chance for more, and entertaining hockey inbetween.
- youarewrong

So you're saying would you rather be the 2000s Eagles or win 1 Cup...I'll take the Cup.

Nope, absolute truth. Here is my bucket list:
- Graduate college
- Get married
- Own a house
- Have children
- See Flyers win a Cup

As of November, I'll have done all of the 4. But seeing the Flyers win a Cup is my #1 thing to do before I die.
- jmatchett383

jmatchett I adore you but you need a better bucket list.

Rain check?
- 77rams

Hoping for a liquidation sale.

I hate it too. I have never seen a Flyers cup either. But you know what? Ever year where the Flyers suck I start to find myself going out, or watching other show then watching the Flyers games. It just gets boring and frustrating when there is nothing to play for and you know your going to lose... If they have a 10 year drought, who knows, I might stop watching all together.

Though I do have to say, because of the 2008 season I got off my Arse and met my wife....
- youarewrong

If I learned anything from "The Season that Shall Not Be Named" and last year, was that I clearly like this franchise.

In "TSTSNBN", they were bad and boring. Just the worst possible combination. That team did nothing well or right.

Last year, I never found them to be boring, per se. There were things the team did quite well (i.e.--the power play, for example).

As long as they don't bore me, I'll watch them.

So you're saying would you rather be the 2000s Eagles or win 1 Cup...I'll take the Cup.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, I gotta agree.

The 2008 Phillies parade was one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of. I want one of those, but for the hockey squadron.

Nope, absolute truth. Here is my bucket list:
- Graduate college
- Get married
- Own a house
- Have children
- See Flyers win a Cup

As of November, I'll have done all of the 4. But seeing the Flyers win a Cup is my #1 thing to do before I die.
- jmatchett383

I hope you get it. But the part I was calling crap is being satisfied seeing just one in your lifetime.

jmatchett I adore you but you need a better bucket list.
- FlyersGrace

he and the wife should totally be skydiving while she's giving birth

he and the wife should totally be skydiving while she's giving birth
- Crimsoninja

I have no wish to skydive, or even to ride a motorcycle.

I hope you get it. But the part I was calling crap is being satisfied seeing just one in your lifetime.
- Scoob

Maybe satisfied isn't the right word. But if the options are either a) see them win 1 Cup or b) see them never win a Cup, I'm going A no matter what.