I think he's off to a similar slow start to the one he had right after the lockout. He came around and went to have a solid season despite injuries and all the other problems on the club.

No doubt he's lost a step, but I think he looked pretty much the same in January to mid-February of the lockout season. Lots of minor penalties, lots of flubs of the puck. He came around.

If we are still having these discussions about Timonen when the season hits the 20-game mark or so, I'll start to be more concerned than I am right now.
- bmeltzer

Fair enough, I hope you're right!

To me, he looks hurt. I know he's slowed a lot over the last while but it's like he can't even accelerate at all. If it's not due to some sort of hip/groin injury that he is working through and it's just age, it's time to retire I think. My biggest worry is how will Homer or Hexy replace him on D?
- Hextall271

Pray Dan Girardi makes it to UFA . Actually, scratch that, he's a righty. We're allergic to them in Philly

Pray Dan Girardi makes it to UFA . Actually, scratch that, he's a righty. We're allergic to them in Philly
- five4fighting10

I'd be ok with that but cannot expect that to happen The Rangers will keep him.

Opponent on a back to back? Check

Backup goalie starting? Check

Leading goal scorer sent down? Check


My friends these are the ingredients to another L

Is that what they are doing? I thought he had it due to Hartnell being out.
- Hextall271

I think so...I'm pretty sure I saw Streit wearing the 'A' earlier in the season.

I think he's off to a similar slow start to the one he had right after the lockout. He came aroun. and went to have a solid season despite injuries and all the other problems on the club.

No doubt he's lost a step, but I think he looked pretty much the same in January to mid-February of the lockout season. Lots of minor penalties, lots of flubs of the puck. He came around.

If we are still having these discussions about Timonen when the season hits the 20-game mark or so, I'll start to be more concerned than I am right now.
- bmeltzer

I don't think the penalties are going to go away. His solution for losing a step seems to be holding guys as they (more often than not) successfully blow by him. I don't see that changing. And its been driving me absolutely nuts.

The Flyers need to prepare for life without Kimmo. That said I am very happy with what I've seen of Streit so far. (And for what its worth I was one who could not stand Carle's play. Really not sure why so many made the dicision to immediately hate Streit)

I think so...I'm pretty sure I saw Streit wearing the 'A' earlier in the season.
- wolfhounds

Oh my god. What would they have done going into the game down an A?

Nope. Still skating with Gill as his partner at practices, which means he's a healthy scratch.
- bmeltzer

Why?

Oh my god. What would they have done going into the game down an A?
- Just5

Do you care?

Opponent on a back to back? Check

Backup goalie starting? Check

Leading goal scorer sent down? Check


My friends these are the ingredients to another L
- Just5

The flyers thank you for your support

The flyers thank you for your support
- funmaster18

Is Mase confirmed for us?

Is Mase confirmed for us?
- Hextall271

Not sure. I'm surprised mason took the edge so early. I expected there to be a little more of a goalie competition with Mason having a slight edge going in. Glad to see he's seizing his opportunity.

I don't think the penalties are going to go away. His solution for losing a step seems to be holding guys as they (more often than not) successfully blow by him. I don't see that changing. And its been driving me absolutely nuts.


- hereticpride

I personally think that it can change. He's going to have to be less aggressive in challenging players. And he's going to have to adjust his anticipation of plays, to where he gets an extra step or two. It might take some time, but I think he can make those adjustments. Doesn't mean that he's going to be the same player as before, but he can get better in my opinion.

Not sure. I'm surprised mason took the edge so early. I expected there to be a little more of a goalie competition with Mason having a slight edge going in. Glad to see he's seizing his opportunity.
- funmaster18

I thought that Emery was going to be the guy. But I'm ecstatic with the way Mason has played. And I hope he keeps it up. I guess it's better if it's Mason because he is younger and doesn't have that injury history.

Not sure. I'm surprised mason took the edge so early. I expected there to be a little more of a goalie competition with Mason having a slight edge going in. Glad to see he's seizing his opportunity.
- funmaster18

Emery hasn't played badly, but Mason has been boss so far. He keeps this up over a full 60 games or whatever, I sign him to a 3 yr deal as our starter.

I thought that Emery was going to be the guy. But I'm ecstatic with the way Mason has played. And I hope he keeps it up. I guess it's better if it's Mason because he is younger and doesn't have that injury history.
- MJL

Reese doesn't get enough credit IMO, looks like his work with Mase has brought him back to form..Who knew goaltending would be the least of our worries.

I'd be ok with that but cannot expect that to happen The Rangers will keep him.
- Hextall271

Agreed. That's why I said to pray, a lot.

Reese doesn't get enough credit IMO, looks like his work with Mase has brought him back to form..Who knew goaltending would be the least of our worries.
- Hextall271

The adjustment of moving Mason back in the crease has seemed to work.

The adjustment of moving Mason back in the crease has seemed to work.
- MJL

Seems like it. The part I like the most is that he has been consistently solid since arriving.

Apparently, Ray is 6-0-1 vs the isles in his career... I wonder if he gets the start today.

I thought that Emery was going to be the guy. But I'm ecstatic with the way Mason has played. And I hope he keeps it up. I guess it's better if it's Mason because he is younger and doesn't have that injury history.
- MJL

I remember watching Mason his rookie year and being in awe. If he can regain 75% of that play consistently, he will be great for the team.

I actually think his bad years in Columbus are now a positive for the team. He has already gone through a downslide and probably is mentally tougher for it.

hartnell playing tonight>?

Other then on PP, Coburn is the defacto #1 D man on the team right now.
Lots of minutes on 5v5 and PK.

With that as the situation you take the good with the bad.
He seems to be getting a few more shots on net which is encouraging.

Point taken -- I'll acknowledge that.

I still think "playing the right way" is simple code for "stifling scoring," and it seems to disproportionately impact Russian/European players, but again, I concede the point of your post.
- AllInForFlyers

Sorry, carry-over from last thread, interested in continuing the convo w/ AIFF... and sorry for Wall O Text.



'Playing the right way' is certainly code for conforming to traditional Canadian hockey values -- team-first, shelf your own ego, never say what you feel, always do what the coach says, adhere to the code, sacrifice for the team, be one of the boys.

I don't think that mindset necessarily stifles scoring, but I'll agree that it does stifle creativity and self-expression to some degree... there are hot dog/flashy moves that players mess around with in practice that they won't ever pull out during a game because they're scared of being called out/shamed.

Without the constant influx of non-NA players with the gall/naivete to introduce some of that kind of stuff in-game, I think NHL hockey would probably be incredibly bland by comparison.

I can understand why young players from former Soviet-bloc countries, in particular, would buck under 'playing the right way'... facets of the Canadian hockey mantra sound a lot like the stuff their parents chafed under... and I get why conforming/suppressing individualism might seem threatening to them.

With that said, though, NA hockey isn't going to change overnight, so it behooves incoming players to bring some willingness to adapt/appease. Yak could easily throw his coach a bone to earn enough leash to eventually be able to do his own thing, but instead, he airs his dirty laundry in public and lands himself in the pressbox.

To me, the attitude is the big red flag. The Flyers have enough guys freelancing outside of the system and guys who have a lot to learn... if I'm looking to bring in help, I would hope that at least they wouldn't add to the lack of structure on the team. Yakupov, as he stands now, doesn't seem like the smartest move to me. While getting him could be a huge long-term coup, it also has an equal chance right now of going horribly wrong.

Opponent on a back to back? Check

Backup goalie starting? Check

Leading goal scorer sent down? Check


My friends these are the ingredients to another L
- Just5

Nice to see confidence in a post