Nope. Too much for an intangible who apparently has an attitude problem.
- wolfhounds

How is it an attitude problem to be pissed about being scratched? I guess Timonen has an attitude probelm because he was pissed about being taken off the top PP unit. Just Russian Bias.

The dumbing down of hockey just irritates the hell out of me. If Ken Hitchcock would've gotten hold of Wayne Gretzky in 1980, he would've told him that 50 goals in 38 games was selfish, 200 points doesn't mean anything if you don't backcheck a guy when you've already got two goals in the game, and giving up one scoring chance means you're lazy -- even though you created 10 scoring chances yourself.
- AllInForFlyers

whoa there no need to bring hitch into this..

The dumbing down of hockey just irritates the hell out of me. If Ken Hitchcock would've gotten hold of Wayne Gretzky in 1980, he would've told him that 50 goals in 38 games was selfish, 200 points doesn't mean anything if you don't backcheck a guy when you've already got two goals in the game, and giving up one scoring chance means you're lazy -- even though you created 10 scoring chances yourself.
- AllInForFlyers

I blame the Devils.

The dumbing down of hockey just irritates the hell out of me. If Ken Hitchcock would've gotten hold of Wayne Gretzky in 1980, he would've told him that 50 goals in 38 games was selfish, 200 points doesn't mean anything if you don't backcheck a guy when you've already got two goals in the game, and giving up one scoring chance means you're lazy -- even though you created 10 scoring chances yourself.
- AllInForFlyers

Random rant?

Random rant?
- wolfhounds

Yes and no -- it bothers me that guys like Nail Yakupov get called out for having attitude problems for saying "I want to score goals," while guys like "Grinder X" get praised for saying "My job is to keep guys from scoring."

What in the hell is the difference?

How is it an attitude problem to be pissed about being scratched? I guess Timonen has an attitude probelm because he was pissed about being taken off the top PP unit. Just Russian Bias.
- youarewrong

People have to remember that english is his second language and he might not have learned how to express his frustrations the "right way" like Canadian and US players learn. I have no problem with him being angry at being scratched.

Yes and no -- it bothers me that guys like Nail Yakupov get called out for having attitude problems for saying "I want to score goals," while guys like "Grinder X" get praised for saying "My job is to keep guys from scoring."

What in the hell is the difference?
- AllInForFlyers

Evidentally scoring goals isnt "Flyers Hockey".

I agree with this completely. I absolutely do not understand why every single player has to look like a Selke Trophy candidate, every single minute of every single game, but if they look like a Rocket Richard winner for one shift, well, hell, that guy's awful because heaven forbid anyone ever think that the best defense is a good offense.
- AllInForFlyers

As much crap as Kane and Kessel get, they're not actually that terrible defensively -- they at least play within a team concept and pull their weight with positioning.

Yakupov is a pure freelancer at this point... he's just as liable to hurt you as help you. There have been guys who have grown out of that, or been coached out of that in the past -- Mogilny comes to mind -- but I'm not confident that a rookie coach like Berube's the guy who's going to get 20-year-old Yak to have his cathartic moment.

As much crap as Kane and Kessel get, they're not actually that terrible defensively -- they at least play within a team concept and pull their weight with positioning.

Yakupov is a pure freelancer at this point... he's just as liable to hurt you as help you. There have been guys who have grown out of that, or been coached out of that in the past -- Mogilny comes to mind -- but I'm not confident that a rookie coach like Berube's the guy who's going to get 20-year-old Yak to have his cathartic moment.
- Tomahawk

I understand what you just wrote, but I said it before and I'll say it again: You can teach Nail Yakupov to give a little more defensively. More likely than not, you cannot teach "Grinder X" to score goals.

There is some Russian bias there. He plays no differently than a 19-year-old Patrick Kane did. Absolutely no differently.

How is it an attitude problem to be pissed about being scratched? I guess Timonen has an attitude probelm because he was pissed about being taken off the top PP unit. Just Russian Bias.
- youarewrong

Still an intangible. And more concerning is why he was benched. Russian bias? Perhaps. Who cares? And it's not as if there isn't some cause for a bit of bias or concern.

As much crap as Kane and Kessel get, they're not actually that terrible defensively -- they at least play within a team concept and pull their weight with positioning.

Yakupov is a pure freelancer at this point... he's just as liable to hurt you as help you. There have been guys who have grown out of that, or been coached out of that in the past -- Mogilny comes to mind -- but I'm not confident that a rookie coach like Berube's the guy who's going to get 20-year-old Yak to have his cathartic moment.
- Tomahawk

And here comes Flyers favotie son Danny Briere.

Yes and no -- it bothers me that guys like Nail Yakupov get called out for having attitude problems for saying "I want to score goals," while guys like "Grinder X" get praised for saying "My job is to keep guys from scoring."

What in the hell is the difference?
- AllInForFlyers

It doesn't make sense. I'll admit I haven't kept up with the Yakupov drama - and I definitely don't have a problem with a forward who wants to score a lot of goals (why would I?) - but is that supposed to be the reason he was scratched?

laughton doesn't seem to have anywhere near the potential to be the game-changer that JVR can be...but he should be a consistent, steady eddie 3rd line C. don't really see the parallel given we needed a puck mover...
- isaiah520

A player can be a game changer on the defensive side of the puck also. I'll take the two way player over the goal scoring Winger.

raffl had his moments, but he looks like a 3rd liner at best
- isaiah520

He's played a handful of NHL games. There's no way that determination can be made with that small of a sample size.

I understand what you just wrote, but I said it before and I'll say it again: You can teach Nail Yakupov to give a little more defensively. More likely than not, you cannot teach "Grinder X" to score goals.

There is some Russian bias there. He plays no differently than a 19-year-old Patrick Kane did. Absolutely no differently.
- AllInForFlyers

Kane was super productive right off the bat... OV too... you'd take the goals-against due to their ineptitude/carelessness because you'd still mostly end up on the plus side of the ledger.

Indeed, especially if your bomb is situated at the top of the umbrella... there's always at least one defender camping for it, if not an entire heap of humanity in the way.

Speaking of dmen shooting the puck, did you guys catch that Luke Schenn wrister last night? My jaw dropped... he must have gotten all of it and then some... it was Stamkos'esque.

(Edit: 2:10 if memory needs a jog)
http://video.flyers.nhl.c...3020141-X-h&startTime=130
- Tomahawk

Schenn got all of that. The Flyers need to move away from the umbrella setup.

I dont mean to be positive and optimistic but I think this team may come on and be a force...this is not like me?

Kane was super productive right off the bat... OV too... you'd take the goals-against due to their ineptitude/carelessness because you'd still mostly end up on the plus side of the ledger.
- Tomahawk

Yakupov was on pace for 30 goals in his rookie year.... What are you talking about?

It doesn't make sense. I'll admit I haven't kept up with the Yakupov drama - and I definitely don't have a problem with a forward who wants to score a lot of goals (why would I?) - but is that supposed to be the reason he was scratched?
- wolfhounds

More or less -- their coach felt Yakupov wasn't competing hard enough in the defensive zone and on the forecheck, while attempting to freelance/score too much in the offensive zone.

Again, I'm not saying that the first two things are great -- and as a coach, you should try to correct those things.

But Nail Yakupov went No. 1 overall for a reason: Because he can freaking score. If you want the guy to forecheck like Zac Rinaldo and backcheck like Maxime Talbot, then trade him to us for freaking Zac Rinaldo and Maxime Talbot.

But see, that's not what they want in today's NHL. They want every single player to be Patrice Bergeron, while failing to understand that what makes Patrice Bergeron special and valuable is that he embraces that role.

Give me a guy like Nail Yakupov, who knows what he does well and wants to do that and has the skill to do it, over a guy like "Grinder X" who can't do anything well enough to impact a game because he doesn't have the skill to do it, any day of the week. I'll figure out how to win with the rest of the roster.

Say what you will, they were a hell of a lot funner to watch under Lava.

Farmer hockey lately.
- flyer_nutter

Watching odd man rushes against the Flyers time after time, isn't what I call fun. Seeing all the issues that happened with this team under his watch, and still continues. Wasn't fun. Sure would like to know what farmer Hockey is.

Its an evaluation year imo, and this isnt a quick fix in any way.

The defense wont be here when this team is ready to contend. I'm mainly looking at the kids, to see not who is only worth keeping around, but where they fit in the grand scheme of things. Is bSchenn a guy who will initiate and provide goals, or more of a complimentary guy best suited to a 3rd line. Is Coots ever going to develop an offensive game? Stuff like that.

Its been fun to watch Mason, and the only thing that really worries me as of now is Giroux. You would have thought they learned about the Richards fiasco to not paint a kid with the "face of the franchise/captain" brush so early. They did not, and its biting them in the ass.
- flyer_nutter

I don't buy for a second this idea that giving Giroux the C, and the big contract is the reason for his poor play.

Yakupov was on pace for 30 goals in his rookie year.... What are you talking about?
- youarewrong

He's a poor man's Pavel Bure, from what I see -- not quite as explosive a skater or as lethal a finisher, but clearly a 35-40 goal caliber player.

For, like, the next decade-plus.

But some people would rather him be Dan Paille Jr.

Oh I know the season isn't over, but I think a Change needs to be made. Its obvious the Firing of Lavi didn't help. Snider said as much that it was the players, not the coach, and if the players didnt "man up" he would trade eacha nd every one of them. Now I dont want to be that drastic, but I do think its time to realize that players like Simmonds, Read, Schenn, Couturier, and Laughton will not become much more then 2nd/3rd line players. IMO Voracek is boarderline 1st/2nd. So IMO this team is lacking a top scoring forward. So if you have to trade a young 2nd-3rd liner or 2 to get that scorer, then now is the time to do it. WHile there is time to right the ship. Not in december when they are 5-28. then its too late.
- youarewrong

It's not obvious the firing of Laviolette didn't help. They have improved in a number of areas. It's not going to be an over night process with Berube.

But see, that's not what they want in today's NHL. They want every single player to be Patrice Bergeron, while failing to understand that what makes Patrice Bergeron special and valuable is that he embraces that role.
- AllInForFlyers

That's a pretty reductive and cynical slant... at the very least, NHL players are expected to pay attention to detail and not leave their teammates out to dry. It's not exactly an unreachable bar.

TRADE ALL OF THE YOUNG PLAYERS FOR A TOP LINE WINGER!
COBURN IS THE WORST PLAYER EVER!
THE SEASON'S OVER, JUST TANK!
LET'S TRADE 7 PLAYERS THAT ARE UNPROVEN OR HAVING A BAD YEAR FOR 1 PLAYER WHO'S GOOD RIGHT NOW!
- jmatchett383

I've been saying this for weeks. You don't need to yell.