Championships are won with defense. We've been cheaping out on it. Time to change it up. Pull the assets out and pay the price, Homer. I'd rather have a more mediocre offense with a superior defense than whatever this is.
- JAKEw1234

Both suck on this team

Play bad for Ekblad That beard wins games by itself
- JAKEw1234

Too soon?

It's not even two real goals -- they're both on the PP, set up and scored by the one forward who wasn't on the roster last year.

Giroux, Voraceck, Lecavalier on the forward lines, Timonen and Streit on defense.

I wouldn't move Couturier, but I'd listen on him and everybody else.
- AllInForFlyers

The only people I don't consider moving on this team are Giroux and Voracek as they are the only people with A level talent. I think i would also put Rinaldo on that list oddly enough. I have never seen him take a shift off and I think you need people like that.

Anyone and everyone else is on the table.

The problem is, Laviolette has a tractor, and he's trying to drag race it against a Corvette.

I know the defense is flawed. I get that. It is too expensive, and a lot of that is from scrambling after losing Pronger.

But if the coach would simply adopt a style of play that could fit what the defense is capable of doing, they wouldn't look half as bad as they do and the results would be better.
- Jsaquella

See to me, they arent even that crazy run and gun. Its seems toned down this season. Aside from the first minute in game 1, where they were running wild.

Your argument stands on one basis. That a more defensive minded coach would be a better fit. To be honest, I really question that. I dont think the fix is that easy, but will agree that maybe its a start.

I do think much more has to be done, and as much as you hammer on Lava, I cannot hold it back against Holmgren.

that's my frustration.
- nastyflyergirl

they need more of a methodical, quick pass, steady support system...not as sexy, but very effective if employed properly.

Playing like this will give them a shot at

Sam Reinhart

Aaron Ekblad

William Nylander

- ob18

That last kid looks 16

Until we win 7 meaningless games at the end of the year when guys start playing for their jobs.
- hereticpride

Then it's onto Ryan MacInnis, Michael DalColle, Haydn Fleury, Jake Virtanen, etc

That last kid looks 16
- Giroux_Is_God

Close 17

That last kid looks 16
- Giroux_Is_God

Not far off.

I would sign Guy Boucher tonight, but they might wait for another loss tomorrow.

Have a nice night folks, things can only get better (probably...).

The fact of the matter is that the team went bargain bin shopping on goalie instead of making the move for Bernier. They have 5 defenseman who can't play defense and one who can barely skate after game 20. Couterier and B Schenn in the last two years have proven to be barely more then serviceable in the NHL and that's being polite. The rest of the team is extremely streaky. Factor in the head coach wants them to play a style they aren't capable of and their assistant coach didn't do anything but fight. Yeah, I'd say this team is (frank)ed.
- Flyers1218

You uhhhh....

You honestly, with all your heart, think goaltending has been a problem this year?

Oh dear....

I haven't been disappointed at all with Streit or Mez who were supposed to kill this team on Defense. Grossman has been terrible as has L. Schenn. I'm going to stay patient since I think they need to get assets back for whatever defender(s) they trade. I also think this team has too many 4th line forwards.

This team is a fail so far. Just not a very fun team to watch.
- bird_dog

Yes, that dull as well as awful.

This was the first I've seen of them since last season.

They still can't move the puck.

The thing is, he has paid for it. Or is currently.

More than any other GM In the league. Thats a joke if you look at what they provide.

Holmgren chronically overvalues talent, and pays stupid money to employ it.
- flyer_nutter

I meant pay the asset cost. He's totally unafraid of spending big $$$ on a free agent, but seems sheepish to trade assets right now, Pronger trade excluded. We need to get our Weber-type player and find a way to build back up the assets we lose after that. I'd rather have the problem of fixing up the bottom 6 or finding a top 6 winger than of fixing a dysfunctional defense.

that's my frustration.
- nastyflyergirl

It drives me nuts and it's why I have such a hard time trashing the individual pieces of the roster.

Can I shred Braydon Coburn because the coach is asking him to do things he's simply not capable of doing? Can I shred Couturier for not scoring when he's playing with grinders and goons?

There's no discipline or cohesion.

Too soon?
- ob18

way too soon, I know

Close 17
- ob18

Jesus I didn't even know you could be drafted at 17...

EDIT: Wait wasn't Baerstchi drafted at 17?

Bob looks great, good job Homer and Lavy

i try not to come on here after a game just cause i try not to say anything when i am pi$$ed but....

this team looks pathetic... defense sucks they hung emery out to dry tonight on the 1st 2 goals ...and i am not 1 for the "fire the coach" rant but i am sorry this tea, can not execute lavy's system that may not be lavy's fault but something has to give....

also i think its time for homer to look at his line up and part with a major offensive piece to get defensive help... they were out skated out rushed and looked like a bunch of pylons at times they are slow out of position and just down right garbage.....

kimmo looked every bit his age tonight that penalty he took against eller was an old man hanging on cause he couldn't keep up .... this is going to be a long season

See to me, they arent even that crazy run and gun. Its seems toned down this season. Aside from the first minute in game 1, where they were running wild.

Your argument stands on one basis. That a more defensive minded coach would be a better fit. To be honest, I really question that. I dont think the fix is that easy, but will agree that maybe its a start.

I do think much more has to be done, and as much as you hammer on Lava, I cannot hold it back against Holmgren.
- flyer_nutter

if homer deconstructs the richie/carter model, he has to find a way to get a group that can establish a window together, instead of the disparate young forwards, old d and flaky goalie signed in a fit of pique.

I wish we had gotten bernier in net. love read but bernier is the athletic-type goalie we need in net.

and i loathe our defense... loathe them. Individually they all can play - as a pairing they can't stop poop and they are never around when goals are scored.

Jesus I didn't even know you could be drafted at 17...

EDIT: Wait wasn't Baerstchi drafted at 17?
- Giroux_Is_God

It's all when their birthday falls so it does happen

The only people I don't consider moving on this team are Giroux and Voracek as they are the only people with A level talent. I think i would also put Rinaldo on that list oddly enough. I have never seen him take a shift off and I think you need people like that.

Anyone and everyone else is on the table.
- opeth_pa

See the thing is, while they are a weird mix, there are good players in that group. I do think to fix things, and especially on D they will have to be willing to give up some talent obviously.

At this point, I have zero faith in Holmgren to be able to properly analyze, and bring in such talent. To lead this team in a proper direction instead of throwing a bunch of darts/money on a board and hoping for the best.

It drives me nuts and it's why I have such a hard time trashing the individual pieces of the roster.

Can I shred Braydon Coburn because the coach is asking him to do things he's simply not capable of doing? Can I shred Couturier for not scoring when he's playing with grinders and goons?

There's no discipline or cohesion.
- Jsaquella

i'm officially on the fire lavy bandwagon. starting tonight,

It's all when their birthday falls so it does happen
- ob18

Ah should have known.

Who do you think the best out of the bunch is of those three?