There's 3 active players left from 2010.

Giroux, Timonen, Coburn
- Jsaquella

I stand corrected. I meant to write 2011.

There's 3 active players left from 2010.

Giroux, Timonen, Coburn
- Jsaquella

4 actually, you forgot Hartnell

4 actually, you forgot Hartnell
- BiggE

Timonen?

- 77rams

(orange sweater ftw!)

It doesn't help that in Lavy's system the forwards tend to go on the attack in a split second, when and where ever the opportunity presents itself. Whereas the D seem to be a step slower in recognizing and reacting to what the situation calls for.

It's no wonder there are constantly gaps between the forwards and D. One group reacts to the puck much more aggressively than the other group does. They simply don't play as a 5 man unit.

See, here's the scary thing about that:

If the Flyers got beat by a better team last night, they might as well fold the tent for the season, because that was pretty freaking close to a game-day roster for the regular season.

But does anybody realize who New Jersey DIDN'T use last night?

Adam Henrique. Michael Ryder. Jaromir Jagr. Dainus Zubrus. Andy Greene. Adam Larsson.

If we're already talking about getting beaten by a better team with regard to the squad New Jersey iced last night, this is going to be one hell of a long season.
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers often, in the days I became a fan were not the "better team" on paper. They became a better team by outworking the other squad.

- 77rams

A new "Lava has to go" discussion.
- 77rams

Well, we managed to chase the goalie out of town, now it's on to the coach.

Flyers, always one coaching change (or goaltending change) away from the Cup

Exactly this. It's always the "system" and the coach that is the issue. I can tell you this right now...my son's U9 soccer team that I coach does the same thing. The d hangs back and the offense moves too far forward. I coach it and practice it until I am blue in the face for them to close that gap, but some players just don't get it. Like you say, it is early in the freaking preseason and we'll see what happens!
- aantny88

Do you think comparing a youth Soccer team to a professional hockey team is valid. That the situation is the same?

Do you think comparing a youth Soccer team to a professional hockey team is valid. That the situation is the same?
- MJL

oh good lord.

It's a simple Center breakout with the Center coming deep for a short high percentage pass, with the other two forwards also back deep as options. The come back deep to support the defenseman, and they move up ice as a 5 man unit. Versus the Flyers stretch pass breakout, or rim the puck up the boards to a forward high in the zone. Flyers defenseman lack options with the puck.
A top puck mover like Subban or Doughty would surely help a great deal. But the Flyers are not dammed to be stuck with this issue without one. There are adjustements and solutions that can be made.
- MJL

My God. You are So knowledgable I find it hard to believe that your not GM, VP, and Coach of an NHL team. Holy Molley.

oh good lord.
- hammarby31

Anyway Im out hooligans.

The benefits of being turned apathetic.

Find an identity, (frank)ing stick with it and better analyze the players you so willingly hand out big money to. Coaching, systems, all this stuff. The record to me, indicates all I need to know for the last few years.

A team that runs hot and cold and lacks consistency in many aspects of their game. Under not just one coach, or one goaltender.

Find players who are Flyers. Guys that work hard consistently. That's step #1 to me. Regain that identity, and you will see better results against these teams who continuously outwork the Flyers.

Or. Continue the headless chicken approach.

It also matters on keep-ins at the blue line -- it was also stated in 2011 that the Devils shape THEIR breakouts on attacking the left-handed defenseman who is playing the right side in their defensive zone, knowing that the keep-ins are harder on the backhand.

I just think is a huge factor in how we consistently can't score against teams like New Jersey and the Rangers.
- AllInForFlyers

There are famous Hockey systems that have been around forever that were designed to take advantage of the fact that the overwehming number of defenseman are LH, such as the Left Wing lock. It's nothing new. But having more RH defenseman is not the only solution. The Flyers can become a better breakout team with some adjustments and better execution. They aren't dammed against those teams unless they acquire another RH defenseman.

Well, we managed to chase the goalie out of town, now it's on to the coach.

Flyers, always one coaching change (or goaltending change) away from the Cup
- Tomahawk

I still think the players listen to Peter Laviolette, and, again, I do think this team, even with some of the flaws we all see, is a playoff team. There aren't nearly enough teams who play the way New Jersey does to make me believe the Flyers aren't going to score their share of goals and win their share of games.

But at the same time...let's be honest, here. At some point, you have to beat teams in your division consistently, now more than ever before. Knowing you still really, really struggle to score against New Jersey...that's not how you want to start this thing.

Do you think comparing a youth Soccer team to a professional hockey team is valid. That the situation is the same?
- MJL

It's going to be a good day ont he boards today.

It's going to be a good day ont he boards today.
- youarewrong

On HB, I practice the pull-out method.

I still think the players listen to Peter Laviolette, and, again, I do think this team, even with some of the flaws we all see, is a playoff team. There aren't nearly enough teams who play the way New Jersey does to make me believe the Flyers aren't going to score their share of goals and win their share of games.

But at the same time...let's be honest, here. At some point, you have to beat teams in your division consistently, now more than ever before. Knowing you still really, really struggle to score against New Jersey...that's not how you want to start this thing.
- AllInForFlyers

Yep, the Flyers need to find away to play better against teams that are strong on the forecheck and with their neutral zone checking. If the Flyers can't get their forecheck going, they're not a very good team.

There are famous Hockey systems that have been around forever that were designed to take advantage of the fact that the overwehming number of defenseman are LH, such as the Left Wing lock. It's nothing new. But having more RH defenseman is not the only solution. The Flyers can become a better breakout team with some adjustments and better execution. They aren't dammed against those teams unless they acquire another RH defenseman.
- MJL

It's not the only solution, but it's a sound solution. It works. What is your biggest problem with acknowledging that many of the best teams in hockey have more than one right-handed defenseman in their Top 6?

Is it really so difficult for you to simply say, "Huh. Yeah. Maybe the Flyers would be better off if they did look for another right-handed defenseman?"

Is that really so hard to acknowledge, knowing that many other teams already have?

On HB, I practice the pull-out method.
- flyer_nutter

It's going to be a good day ont he boards today.
- youarewrong

When we all learn to stop feeding that sad pedantic troll...

When we all learn to stop feeding that sad pedantic troll...
- Tomahawk

The thing is, the coach won't adjust the system enough to work without making a change...if they can't make a trade, they have to fix the breakout scheme
- Jsaquella

Do you think comparing a youth Soccer team to a professional hockey team is valid. That the situation is the same?
- MJL

Wow...you really are a pretentious moron. I was simply illustrating that a coach can sometimes work on correcting a team wide issue and there will be those players that buy in and get it, and those that don't for whatever reason.