He's not shooting the puck. It's painfully obvious.
- johndewar

He sure fired it a lot in warm-ups. Wrist and slap shots. Seems the lack of shooting in games is a choice.

He sure fired it a lot in warm-ups. Wrist and slap shots. Seems the lack of shooting in games is a choice.
- Flyskippy

He shoots, he just really hates the guy sitting second row to the right of the net...

It's not about simply losing games to me...it's about the best way to develop those young assets...throwing them to the wolves now doesn't seem to me the best way to handle them.

I'm far more concerned that Mark Alt becomes a good second pair defenseman for this team for five or ten years than bringing him up to see how well he can play right now.
- Jsaquella

"Hey, kid, you're playing with the most lackadaisical and hockey sense-bankrupt squad this team's seen in years. Have fun! ...Um, don't pick up on their habits as you try to become a part of the team, please."

He shoots, he just really hates the guy sitting second row to the right of the net...

- FlyersGrace

I agree - there isn't. But I don't think Gus and LSchenn are sitting because their physical skills have dropped off. They're sitting because of mental mistakes. That's the part I think some on here overlook.

Berube didn't pay Gill because he thinks he's a more skilled than Schenn or Gus. He did it (as Bill rightly points out) because Gill has "been there, done that" is less likely to make a mental mistake than they are. Should he just let them play through the cavalcade of mental errors? Maybe. But when so many of your d-men are making so many mental mistakes, it's hard to blame the coach for putting a guy in the lineup who will make good decisions, even if he his physical talents don't measure up to some of his peers.

At some point, Gus and LSchenn have to stop making the same mistakes over and over and over again. I don't think it's such a bad idea to let them watch a few games from the press box now and again if they don't show improvement when playing.

Also, I think it's too soon to be actively looking to move LSchenn. If someone makes me an offer that's too good to be true, I'd take it. But I would not be shopping him now. For one, his value is possibly at an all-time low right now. And two, I still think he can regain his form (and confidence) of last year. He's still below the age where I think you could rightly say "this is what he is, and he won't ever be better." If he's still a mess at the TDL, then see what you can get for him at a time when teams tend to overpay.
- BringBack25

I absolutely agree with the mental mistake aspect of it. But those mental mistakes are also largely why guys like Coburn and Grossmann have struggled so badly.

My issue isn't so much that Gill is in, as that Grossmann stays in.

I also agree that I wouldn't be shopping Luke Schenn for the reasons you state

At some point, Gus and LSchenn have to stop making the same mistakes over and over and over again. I don't think it's such a bad idea to let them watch a few games from the press box now and again if they don't show improvement when playing.
- BringBack25

Good, points, but what about the Kimmo holding and hooking penaties that are totally uncalled for? They are a result of his diminished skills and hurt the team...Should he be "learning" the same way Schen and gus are?

I absolutely agree with the mental mistake aspect of it. But those mental mistakes are also largely why guys like Coburn and Grossmann have struggled so badly.

My issue isn't so much that Gill is in, as that Grossmann stays in.

I also agree that I wouldn't be shopping Luke Schenn for the reasons you state
- Jsaquella

You'd rather pull Grossmann to sit than Timmonen at this point?

You'd rather pull Grossmann to sit than Timmonen at this point?
- FlyersGrace

Pronger cleared yet?

You'd rather pull Grossmann to sit than Timmonen at this point?
- FlyersGrace

Flip a coin. Timonen sill has better puck skills than the Swedish IHOP

Good, points, but what about the Kimmo holding and hooking penaties that are totally uncalled for? They are a result of his diminished skills and hurt the team...Should he be "learning" the same way Schen and gus are?
- JW98FlyerFan

Maybe if Jake and Giroux weren't throwing 45-foot passes straight across the ice on the PP, he wouldn't have to hook/hold as much. He's still fine when he is able to get set, but his foot speed is costing him when he's at a stand still. Not all his fault.

Like the girl with 9" of plumber's crack sitting in front of my wife and I at the game Friday night?
- Flyskippy

pics or it didn' - wait never mind

"Hey, kid, you're playing with the most lackadaisical and hockey sense-bankrupt squad this team's seen in years. Have fun! ...Um, don't pick up on their habits as you try to become a part of the team, please."
- Flyskippy

and this is exactly opposite of logic that Laughton can't grow anymore in the OHL and should be in the AHL (if he could) (from Bill himself)..So why wouldn't Alt and Oliver grow...we are not under Fire on D...we can't move the puck and skate it out quickly...This isn't a defensive defenseman issue, this is an offensive Defenseman issue, we can't stick to stick pass consistanly and we have trouble skating the puck out against a single forechecker...

Flip a coin. Timonen sill has better puck skills than the Swedish IHOP
- Jsaquella

i would take grossman's blocked shots and perimeter D over the slow holding and grabbing everyday...

and this is exactly opposite of logic that Laughton can't grow anymore in the OHL and should be in the AHL (if he could) (from Bill himself)..So why wouldn't Alt and Oliver grow...we are not under Fire on D...we can't move the puck and skate it out quickly...This isn't a defensive defenseman issue, this is an offensive Defenseman issue, we can't stick to stick pass consistanly and we have trouble skating the puck out against a single forechecker...
- JW98FlyerFan

Just curious.......what are you basing you assessment of Alt and Lauridsen on? Are you basing this opinion of Alt and Lauridsen on how they are playing in the AHL right now?

1. Trade every player over 28.
2. Send down all bad players, call up AHL unknowns/inexperienced.
3. Resign Nick Foles
4. Host bakeoff with competing high school
5. Emery for NJ governor
6. Win games

Just curious.......what are you basing you assessment of Alt and Lauridsen on? Are you basing this opinion of Alt and Lauridsen on how they are playing in the AHL right now?
- johndewar

Please do not bring up their staggering offensive feats here.

pics or it didn' - wait never mind
- -davies-

I don't know man...9 inches of girl plumber crack....that's kinda impressive.

i would take grossman's blocked shots and perimeter D over the slow holding and grabbing everyday...
- JW98FlyerFan

Anyone can stand there and have a shot hit them. It's not exactly difficult.

And as you have stated, defensive play isn't really the issue, it's puck moving...which Timonen still does better than Grossmann

Anyone can stand there and have a shot hit them. It's not exactly difficult.

And as you have stated, defensive play isn't really the issue, it's puck moving...which Timonen still does better than Grossmann
- Jsaquella

Guess we'll have to disagree on this one. I think we'd be in much worse shape without Grossmann blocking shots...

Anyone can stand there and have a shot hit them. It's not exactly difficult.

And as you have stated, defensive play isn't really the issue, it's puck moving...which Timonen still does better than Grossmann
- Jsaquella

Sarcasm? Shot blocking is actually a bit of an art. It's not exactly "easy" and it's even harder to be able to block one and then be in good enough physical condition to block another. I've taken a few the wrong way, and broken toes/bone bruises are no fun.

Guess we'll have to disagree on this one. I think we'd be in much worse shape without Grossmann blocking shots...
- FlyersGrace

I don't. His inability to move the puck hurts offensively. You have a goalie who is playing well, he can stop the shots.

I don't know man...9 inches of girl plumber crack....that's kinda impressive.
- jmatchett383

9" long or 9" wide?

Sarcasm? Shot blocking is actually a bit of an art. It's not exactly "easy" and it's even harder to be able to block one and then be in good enough physical condition to block another. I've taken a few the wrong way, and broken toes/bone bruises are no fun.
- jmatchett383

No, it's an art, but it's not as vital as having somebody who can move the puck right now. It's a bit overrated, IMO.

I haven't played in a few years and I still have aches and pains from shots I took off a shin or foot the wrong way.

Guess we'll have to disagree on this one. I think we'd be in much worse shape without Grossmann blocking shots...
- FlyersGrace

Ding Ding Ding!

Ding Ding Ding!
- JW98FlyerFan

Yes, the biggest problem has far and away been the ability to score goals, and the biggest strength of the team has been the goalie...but we'd be (frank)ed without the shot blocking turnover factory