Maybe they'd lower the asking price if we agreed to take Ville Leino off their hands...
- Tomahawk

Trading for and not singing Leino might be Holmgren's best move as GM.

Maybe they'd lower the asking price if we agreed to take Ville Leino off their hands...
- Tomahawk

Yikes, he still has three years left? I thought it was only one more year.

Hard to coach yourself out of a poorly assembled roster...

The D is mostly built to go up against the 2011 Bruins. The forward group is mostly made up of a bunch of kids learning on the job with a few of guys that probably have no business being in the NHL as a nice bonus. Goaltending, while Mason has been good, is comprised of one guy with a ticking time bomb for hips, and another who's has a ticking time bomb for a brain -- either or both could go off at any time.

Way too much money tied up in declining players, players not even playing on the roster, and guys like Coburn and Hartnell that have seemingly forgotten how to play the game at all.

It's sad, but yet another band-aid or quick fix or splash isn't going to do this team any good. They need to trim the fat, then suffer a couple of lean years while they thrust the kids into prominent roles. There's no substitute for patience, and no shortcuts to success.
- Tomahawk

This^

Really, strange they fired a guy the players stopped listening to and hired his assistant that was in the room the whole time.

Maybe Berube has a system that can work, but he clearly doesn't have the ear of the players. Their effort is a clear demonstration of that.
- flyers2001

Takes time to implement a new system. I think they've only had 3 or 4 practices since Berube was named coach to change systems.

I refuse to judge Sean Couturier until they give him two wingers -- not one, but two -- wingers who are scorers at an NHL-average level.

Some of us have said it before. That story on Broad Street Hockey was dead on. It's ridiculous what Couturier's had to carry, as far as wingers, on this team. He's always had at least one player, sometimes two, who no 19/20 year old center should have to carry.
- AllInForFlyers

In your opinion what is the NHL average level?

Well we disagree then. L. Schenn has the potential to be a top pair defensive defenseman in my opinion.
- MJL

I dont think he has the skating/stick skills that come along with that. The Adam Foote comparisons would be accurate if he could develop those two skills a bit. It very rare to find a top pairing defensive d-man. IMO, the rarest skill set in the NHL.

Name 3 top pairing defensive d-men....

Yikes, he still has three years left? I thought it was only one more year.
- BulliesPhan87

They could trade half their sh*t team for half our sh*t team... like mixing two suicides at a soda fountain... couldn't possibly get any worse, right?

/sarcasm

Paul Stewart's got a pretty interesting blog up about the instigator rule:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=54937

Who was Carolina's #1 dman again? I always forget his name. Who was LA's top wing scorer? Are we talking Justin Williams "top-line" talent?
- jmatchett383

He left out chemistry and a team-first attitude. Both of those teams had them.

Takes time to implement a new system. I think they've only had 3 or 4 practices since Berube was named coach to change systems.
- JAKEw1234

What does a system have to do with a team giving maximum effort for 60 minutes? This team quit, and went through the motions the entire second period last night.

That is with their biggest rivals in the building, on the heels of firing the coach. Absolutely unacceptable.

Like it or not, this team is the laughing stock of the NHL at this point.

When have Richards the Flyers JvR ever done Carter that in recent memory?
- jmatchett383

Had to read that three times to get it.

Had to read that three times to get it.
- Scoob

I'm up to five times and still don't get it!

Takes time to implement a new system. I think they've only had 3 or 4 practices since Berube was named coach to change systems.
- JAKEw1234

Don't think any of us can fairly judge Chief until after this season is over.

However, I do think we can scratch the explanation that all they needed was a fresh voice to turn it around. That's gone out the window already.

We're 1-7. We're last in the entire NHL.

They were 23-22-3 last year -- after a late surge that took place when they did ice an AHL defense.

They've scored 10 goals in eight games. They fired the coach three games into the season.

You're sure you don't want me as the GM? Because at 1-7, with the lone victory over a team that finished with the worst record in the NHL last year, how would it be worse?

Again: We're not breaking up the 1980s Edmonton Oilers, folks.
- AllInForFlyers

The job of the GM is to make the team better. If you don't realize that getting rid of 3 quality NHL defenseman, and putting kids who aren't ready into this situation, is not a smart thing to do. Well then there is your answer.

What does a system have to do with a team giving maximum effort for 60 minutes? This team quit, and went through the motions the entire second period last night.

That is with their biggest rivals in the building, on the heels of firing the coach. Absolutely unacceptable.

Like it or not, this team is the laughing stock of the NHL at this point.
- PLindbergh31

... but Lavi TOLD them to only play 20-40 minutes!!

Had to read that three times to get it.
- Scoob

Yeah, I was thrown off by the Richards. Thanks, auto-censor.

I think Kronwall put himself in a bad spot when he stopped and tried to turn at the last second. I think Mcleod thought he was going to continue on and went to hit him on that assumption.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed

So, have we traded Timonen, Meszaros, Coburn, Grossmann, Streit, Hartnell, Simmonds, Lecavalier, Hall, Rosehill, Talbot, Schenn, and Couturier for picks and called up the Phantoms yet?

Kronwall is a guy who plays with some edge, and has delivered some very questionable hits. The one on Voracek for example.

F him. Just desserts.
- PLindbergh31

Not until you eat your meat.

The job of the GM is to make the team better. If you don't realize that getting rid of 3 quality NHL defenseman, and putting kids who aren't ready into this situation, is not a smart thing to do. Well then there is your answer.
- MJL

I've had ex-girlfriends who stalk me less than you.

As part of a package for Tyler Myers, for example.
- Tomahawk

So, Tyler Myers and Vanek for Read, Mez, Laughton, and a pick?

So, have we traded Timonen, Meszaros, Coburn, Grossmann, Streit, Hartnell, Simmonds, Lecavalier, Hall, Rosehill, Talbot, Schenn, and Couturier for picks and called up the Phantoms yet?
- jmatchett383

If I were GM.. there is no doubt in my mind that I would attempt to move Timonen near the trade deadline. Talbot potentially as well.

Ah, the bottom of the barrel. We have 7 days off to regroup, I wonder if any moves will be made in this time?
- JAKEw1234

I would be happy just for a change in Culture in that time

What I don't understand about this fanbase is this: We're a bad team right now. We were relatively bad last year, before a late surge made it look better than it probably was.

So your post makes total sense to me. It's how every spot should be evaluated.

What I don't understand, in reading the various posts, is how so many players from a team that is clearly not very good are viewed as crucial pieces in moving forward.

We're bad. I don't like it, but I accept it.

But what baffles me is the concept of anyone saying that more than just a few players -- at most -- are crucial to this rebuilding process.

Because we're bad. The players on the roster have contributed to that. Not all that many players from a bad team are absolutely crucial to rebuilding.

Matt Read's presence, or lack thereof, isn't going to help or cripple this rebuild. He's a complementary piece, nice to have, but if someone offers you a chance to get a player with more upside, then you really should do that.
- AllInForFlyers

It's becasue it has to be realized why they're bad. Overall they don't have bad players. They're just a bad team right now. For a variety of reasons. And a lot of players are playing well under their capabilities.

Takes time to implement a new system. I think they've only had 3 or 4 practices since Berube was named coach to change systems.
- JAKEw1234

My comment had nothing to do with the "system" Berube wants to run. It has everything to do with Berube's effect on the effort or lack thereof the team has given since taking over.

Can you tell a difference since he took over? I can't.

Your playing your biggest rival, at home, being 1-6 and your effort is being compared to the talent of an ECHL team by a very fair hockey guy.