I understand what Chief is doing. Flyers have been invisible in the 3rd. Chief in turn drills them to work them through it. It's like a wrestling team that does a full workout coming into a full competition date. They are not only slow, they are playing with dead legs, IMHO.

Dividends are down the road.
- jstross

agreed.

havlat scores

whether you hold most of the questionable decisions (not to bust balls, but there have been a few) against holmgren or snider himself, i still say he has been one of the best owners in sports. there has never been a time in which you could question his commitment to wanting to win. that is such a valuable thing in sports. even now, struggling as they are, it cant be said to be by apathy by ownership (not saying thats what you said, but still) other than his jerk off comcast prices, i have a good amount of respect for snider.
- stayinthefnnet

I have respect for Snider for everything he does, especially in the community, but the NHL is a business. These problems seen now didn't just appear the last 2 years, even though people want to believe they did, they have been with the team for a loooong time. Flyers squeak into the playoffs and everything is forgotten to the fans.

Of course it's smoke and mirrors because he isn't and never was one of the best in the world. Good player no doubt, franchise player no.
- Glak18

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Many around the league disagree with you.

Fact is, he's not doing things on the ice that we've actually seen him do in the past. He's just not.

Ummm 26 years old was his age, yup. The point, I'm not talking about the NHL in 2000. It's 2013 now. Was Kane and Toews 28 when they came in the league?
- Glak18

he was 23/24 his first call up

Of course it's smoke and mirrors because he isn't and never was one of the best in the world. Good player no doubt, franchise player no.
- Glak18

best in the world. no, not close. that was gross exaggeration from the start. but i dont necessarily think a guy has to be in that top 2 or 3 to be a franchise player. he has shown he has the ability to be a guy you can build a team around, now whether he has the mental makeup to put it all together consistently remains to be seen.

Well, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Many around the league disagree with you.

Fact is, he's not doing things on the ice that we've actually seen him do in the past. He's just not.
- johndewar

Seems like he's hurt. Not playing a physical game at all. He seems afraid of contact.

the only positive I see this year is the Flyers will have a top draft pick and the draft is in Philly. I think Hexy will have fun at the draft.

Seems like he's hurt. Not playing a physical game at all. He seems afraid of contact.
- Dkos

jesus christ this was the same argument people made for carter

the only positive I see this year is the Flyers will have a top draft pick and the draft is in Philly. I think Hexy will have fun at the draft.
- vejim

I'd say that the only positive is that we might have finally found ourselves a legit goalie.

i do see your point. i honestly think the salary cap has a lot to do with that, as younger guys on ELCs offer a lot of flexibility. as far as talent and development goes, the wings and devils had no problems making guys bide their time until they hit 22 or 23. im just saying. having to hear how coots absolutely owned malkin for an entire offseason made me sick, and i think schenn is a god damn punk. but im just saying, it is far to early to brand them busts and throw them onto the scrapheap
- stayinthefnnet

No expectations is what holds them down. Both are solid NHL players. Couts is not going to be a scoring forward, not even if he played with all-star wingers. B. Schenn is a solid 3rd liner pushed into a higher role he doesn't deserve to be in. People can talk about his stats, but he doesn't do anything on the ice that differentiates himself from any other forward that would be put in his same situation. Remember Brian Bradley for the Lightning, yeah he sucked and was borderline NHL player, but expansion came and he scored points for Tampa. More ice time, more points that how it works. Good players provide more than that.

Seems like he's hurt. Not playing a physical game at all. He seems afraid of contact.
- Dkos

Hit up YouTube and watch any number of clips of Giroux.

He ain't playing like the same guy right now.

the only positive I see this year is the Flyers will have a top draft pick and the draft is in Philly. I think Hexy will have fun at the draft.
- vejim

Until we win some important though meaningless games at the end of the seasons, once we are eliminated, taking us out of a top 5 pick..

the only positive I see this year is the Flyers will have a top draft pick and the draft is in Philly. I think Hexy will have fun at the draft.
- vejim

Bobby Ryan come on home!

he was 23/24 his first call up
- 2Real

What year was the lockout when crosby was drafted? The era of hockey we are currently in. Hockey is a different sport and how players were handled than it was in the 90's. Comparing hockey, even though it wasn't that long ago, to now is like comparing Ice Hockey to Roller hockey. Not even close.

No expectations is what holds them down. Both are solid NHL players. Couts is not going to be a scoring forward, not even if he played with all-star wingers. B. Schenn is a solid 3rd liner pushed into a higher role he doesn't deserve to be in. People can talk about his stats, but he doesn't do anything on the ice that differentiates himself from any other forward that would be put in his same situation. Remember Brian Bradley for the Lightning, yeah he sucked and was borderline NHL player, but expansion came and he scored points for Tampa. More ice time, more points that how it works. Good players provide more than that.
- Glak18

Agreed. Coots will be a standout 3rd line shutdown center. B schenn cannot distribute the puck in the slightest. For a player of average build, size, skating ability at best. That does not sound promising

Bobby Ryan come on home!
- hereticpride

I would trade any Flyer right now other than Mason

just a matter of time before both Schenns leave Philly ...

Bright spot: Scott Laughton is now tied for 9th in the OHL in scoring. He has 3 or 4 less games played than everyone above him in the rankings.

Agreed. Coots will be a standout 3rd line shutdown center. B schenn cannot distribute the puck in the slightest. For a player of average build, size, skating ability at best. That does not sound promising
- Just5

the Schenn boys appear to be a big bust

best in the world. no, not close. that was gross exaggeration from the start. but i dont necessarily think a guy has to be in that top 2 or 3 to be a franchise player. he has shown he has the ability to be a guy you can build a team around, now whether he has the mental makeup to put it all together consistently remains to be seen.
- stayinthefnnet

Name any team in the league worst or best. Pick a player and ask yourself could he still take over a game himself consistently on the worst team and still do that plus more on the best team? If yes, he is a franchise player in my mind. Is Kunitz a 40 goal scorer on any team in the league? The environment and situation has a lot to do with player stats, probably the most. The best do it no matter the situation. Could Giroux do that? Has Crosby gone through droughts of dozens of games where his play is criticized so much that Pittsburgh wonders if they should trade him? Franchise players don't ever have those moments.

just a matter of time before both Schenns leave Philly ...
- FlyerGuy

Well, when one guy's a healthy scratch and Scott Laughton's tearing apart junior hockey and needing a roster spot, I wouldn't take bets that there will be Schenns on the Flyers roster in 2014-2015, that's for sure

I'd say that the only positive is that we might have finally found ourselves a legit goalie.

- FlyerGuy

Who's probably gonna wanna bail this dysfunctional mess unless they pony up.

No expectations is what holds them down. Both are solid NHL players. Couts is not going to be a scoring forward, not even if he played with all-star wingers. B. Schenn is a solid 3rd liner pushed into a higher role he doesn't deserve to be in. People can talk about his stats, but he doesn't do anything on the ice that differentiates himself from any other forward that would be put in his same situation. Remember Brian Bradley for the Lightning, yeah he sucked and was borderline NHL player, but expansion came and he scored points for Tampa. More ice time, more points that how it works. Good players provide more than that.
- Glak18

well, people thinking coots is going to be datsyuk are fooling themselves and deserve to be disappointed. but i see no reason why he cant be right around what jordan staal is? and no, hes never going to be a 40 goal scorer, but thats a damn good player. those are the guys you win with. if anything, i think schenn has been the more disappointing of the two. i dont see him able to be a center. just dont see the vision or playmaking ability. but a top 6 20 to 25 goal winger? that is very possible. i dont know what people are expecting.

Who's probably gonna wanna bail this dysfunctional mess unless they pony up.
- Yosimar89

Homer will sign him for 8 years $80 mil and he'll forget how to play