I don't know that they have fallen off the map. I think there was a steady decline over the last two years. I'm surprised they are doing this badly, but I was expecting some growing pains this year.
- funmaster18

Here's the way I see it.. In 2011-12, they switched gears and the young players (Cooter, Giroux, Simmonds, Jake, schenn ) all made strides and upset the Pens. I expected there could be some decline in of the play of some of them, but it's starting to look like the 2011-12 season may have been a fluke. I am hoping it's just a loss of confidence for some of them and we really weren't duped into thinking we had some solid young players by a one year anomaly.

10-0 loss today

This is why I hate the Philadelphia media.

no, Claude Giroux is not getting traded. No, Ed Snider probably didn't tell Giroux start producing or your traded. No, Giroux is not getting stripped of his captaincy. No, Giroux was a PPG player last season so the weight of the C is not getting to him. No, Giroux doesn't need Jagr so he can start producing, he needs Scott Hartnell.

I thought we were going to get a breath of fresh air with Randy Miller getting canned, but boy, this Mike Sielski guy makes me miss good ole Randy.
- KGBflyers10

I just wonder if his wrists aren't quite healed enough. Or if he doesn't have confidence with them yet, or if he doesn't have the "zip" through them to fire the passes he would make in past seasons just yet.

10-0 loss today
- 2Real

If we lose like 5-0 in another pathetic effort, I wonder if that elicits a change at GM or a dumb trade.

I like Couturier, don't get me wrong, he just isn't an untouchable for me.
I would be ok moving Couturier in a package for Yakupov because they are both 20.
I would not be ok in moving Couturier in a package for 30 year old Hemsky.
- opeth_pa

This

+ I actually do covet Yakupov

If we lose like 5-0 in another pathetic effort, I wonder if that elicits a change at GM or a dumb trade.
- Hextall271

They'll all be calling for Homer.

What if they wait till after the game to announce a trade that already happened?

And Eberle comes onto the ice as a Flyer and Coburn and Hartnell come out of the tunnel as Oilers?

#confusedjoy

I like Couturier, don't get me wrong, he just isn't an untouchable for me.
I would be ok moving Couturier in a package for Yakupov because they are both 20.
I would not be ok in moving Couturier in a package for 30 year old Hemsky.
- opeth_pa

ding ding ding

not moving coots in a deal for yak makes zero sense whatsoever. especially when you have a guy like laughton in the system primed for a 3rd line center role.

What if they wait till after the game to announce a trade that already happened?

And Eberle comes onto the ice as a Flyer and Coburn and Hartnell come out of the tunnel as Oilers?

#confusedjoy
- DrMidnite

I would be the happiest boy in the world.

Two awful unmovable contracts gone for a young forward.

I would send Homer a fruit basket, a bike helmet, an apology, and ask him to stay our GM forever.

What if they wait till after the game to announce a trade that already happened?

And Eberle comes onto the ice as a Flyer and Coburn and Hartnell come out of the tunnel as Oilers?

#confusedjoy
- DrMidnite

Just wait til Rinaldo destorys Eberle for the season.

I would be the happiest boy in the world.

Two awful unmovable contracts gone for a young forward.

I would send Homer a fruit basket, a bike helmet, an apology, and ask him to stay our GM forever.
- Moose_15

Is there any chance the Oilers could trade for Hartnell and amnesty him? Or has that window passed?

If so, (granting any collusion clauses) I would hope Snider would back the truck up to the Oilers front office and totally subsidize that transaction by giving cash as well. Throw in either their choice of B Schenn Or Reader too.

Is there any chance the Oilers could trade for Hartnell and amnesty him? Or has that window passed?

If so, (granting any collusion clauses) I would hope Snider would back the truck up to the Oilers front office and totally subsidize that transaction by giving cash as well. Throw in either their choice of B Schenn Or Reader too.
- DrMidnite

No.


And if this were even possible--why wouldn't they just ask for Coburn + Schenn or Read?

No team is going to trade for a player to pay to sit. This isn't the NBA.

I would be the happiest boy in the world.

Two awful unmovable contracts gone for a young forward.

I would send Homer a fruit basket, a bike helmet, an apology, and ask him to stay our GM forever.
- Moose_15

I don't think Coburn's contraft is unmovable at all. Honestly he is one of the dmen I wouldn't move unless they were getting a young mobile puck mover in the package (coburn plus going the other way).

being at home and shutout 2 straight games at home, IF we dont score today or even score only 1 goal, I see a panic trade coming by monday.

I heard he was parked at the Wells Fargo center and he was at the lost and found seeing if anyone had turned in his mojo since it has been missing since last season. He had Rosehill with him as his muscle in case they weren't willing to return the mojo. Police report says unfortunately his mojo wasn't reported to be in the lost and found.
- LJF

DR Evil has stolen it and gave it to the Love Guru for the Toronto Maple Leafs to have. Mini me as Bruce Boudreau

No.


And if this were even possible--why wouldn't they just ask for Coburn + Schenn or Read?

No team is going to trade for a player to pay to sit. This isn't the NBA.
- Moose_15

He wouldn't sit. He would play this year and then be bought out in the offseason. I just realized that no sort of orchestration would be allowed, so it is moot.

And, I have to think that the irony of the Oilers/Flyers situation is not lost on them.

Someone on here made a good point yesterday, that neither team would be dealing out of weakness. This scenario would have had the Flyers gaining Eberle and losing Hartnell's contract (still like him but it is 3 years too long.) Edm would get a defenseman who can step in and contribute, and a forward to replace Eberle.

I just wonder if his wrists aren't quite healed enough. Or if he doesn't have confidence with them yet, or if he doesn't have the "zip" through them to fire the passes he would make in past seasons just yet.
- Moose_15

It seems pretty obvious that his wrists are not and he was rushed back too early to start in a panic by the management and perhaps him too
This is my opinion but what other explanation is there
2nd set of surgeries for his wrists
Why doesnt anyone realize that other teams know this from scouting

I just wonder if his wrists aren't quite healed enough. Or if he doesn't have confidence with them yet, or if he doesn't have the "zip" through them to fire the passes he would make in past seasons just yet.
- Moose_15

I actually wonder if the concussions are what is driving some of his poor play. Not necessarily that he's having lingering symptoms, but maybe he is a little nervous about going into the greasy areas knowing full well that each concussion gets progressively worse. Maybe seeing the effect on Pronger and feeling some pressure to play out that long contract has him playing a little tentative.

Obviously pure conjecture.

I don't think Coburn's contraft is unmovable at all. Honestly he is one of the dmen I wouldn't move unless they were getting a young mobile puck mover in the package (coburn plus going the other way).
- nastyflyergirl

Coburn's contract is as immovable as any opposing player in front of the crease when Coburn is on the ice.

He's a big, mobile dman, a decent passer, and he eats minutes, but who also plays maddeningly small and hasn't shown any real "snarl" in the past few seasons.

He has no shot from the point. He has minimal offensive instincts.

He's a faster Chris Therien without a slapshot.

Coburn's contract is as immovable as any opposing player in front of the crease when Coburn is on the ice.

He's a big, mobile dman, a decent passer, and he eats minutes, but who also plays maddeningly small and hasn't shown any real "snarl" in the past few seasons.

He has no shot from the point. He has minimal offensive instincts.

He's a faster Chris Therien without a slapshot.
- Moose_15

I'd still like Byfuglien despite the haters too. Would you do the same deal for him? And have Pronger (whom Byf knocked on his arse in the finals) work with him?

This is why I hate the Philadelphia media.

no, Claude Giroux is not getting traded. No, Ed Snider probably didn't tell Giroux start producing or your traded. No, Giroux is not getting stripped of his captaincy. No, Giroux was a PPG player last season so the weight of the C is not getting to him. No, Giroux doesn't need Jagr so he can start producing, he needs Scott Hartnell.

I thought we were going to get a breath of fresh air with Randy Miller getting canned, but boy, this Mike Sielski guy makes me miss good ole Randy.
- KGBflyers10

Mike Sielski is trying build his own personal "brand".

He's not interested in giving informed opinions or serving the public or anything like that.

He's trying to make a name for himself.

Just ignore him.

The problem is not simply squeezing the stick. It's second guessing every descision and thinking about every play. You spend so much time practicing so you don't think out there, you react. Like a Martial artist training his body to react rather than think. But when you don't trust your reactions you think, you second guess. And it gives your opponents 1 maybe 2 steps on you. In every facet of the game (save goaltending *knock on wood*) That's why a team with some fast skaters looks SO slow. It's part of what Berube is saying. But what the players need is not anger or toughness but to able to relax, to play. The pressure of playing perfect hockey is too much. Better they commit to making the wrong play than hesitate and make no play and give their adversaries time & space to beat them. This IS a good team, but one that does not trust themselves. Giroux is right (though I can't feel the confidence in his voice about it) They need to just shut up go out and play and to stop thinking. That's when the offense will come back.
But that's just my opinion. Take it for what it is.

I'd still like Byfuglien despite the haters too. Would you do the same deal for him? And have Pronger (whom Byf knocked on his arse in the finals) work with him?
- DrMidnite

Byfuglien is an interesting player.

Honestly, my answer is "I don't know."

And I say this not to duck the question--but because I really don't know how much of his "off ice" issues are "media pieces." I do not know because if this team is coming into camp out of shape (last season: Voracek & Hartnell; this season L. Schenn et. al) I do not know if introducing another player with work/conditioning issues is the answer.

That being said, I would love to have a dman who can hit the net. Haven't had that since Pronger went down. Likewise, he's a big guy who actually uses his size, and plays with a mean-streak and snarl. (Grossman has snarl, but isn't mobile enough to hit people and recover; L. Schenn showed it last season, and I think he'll be fine when he gets back into the lineup.)

I don't know. It's a ballsy offer. Wouldn't put B. Schenn in the package. Guy is still only 21-22 years old.

If it's a Coburn, Read, and picks deal for Buff, sure--I'd roll the dice.

It seems pretty obvious that his wrists are not and he was rushed back too early to start in a panic by the management and perhaps him too
This is my opinion but what other explanation is there
2nd set of surgeries for his wrists
Why doesnt anyone realize that other teams know this from scouting
- Steelmanpa

Hope they get better soon. Granted, he's never scored 30 in a season--but he needs to be at least a "threat" to shoot and score. If not, his ability to pass to open men will become that much more difficult.

and now, once more into the breach

Game On!!