You mentioned 2 Flyers captains.. there. What are you trying to say?
- mikel33

I'm guessing that they don't have a pissed-off/look you in the eye and tell you how it is to your face type of guy.

Or, in the case of Richards, try to hook you up with some hot shore broad if you play better.

I'll provide the optimism, since we're running on fumes with that:

My concern is that if they stay patient it will be 5 or 6 years before guys like Morin, Ghost, Hagg and Alt hit their primes and by that time they will need to rebuild most of their forward group other than Couturier, Schenn and Laughton.
- BiggE

That may be the case. Or we can tread water for another decade and do the quick patch as needed.

I'm guessing that they don't have a pissed-off/look you in the eye and tell you how it is to your face type of guy.

Or, in the case of Richards, try to hook you up with some hot shore broad if you play better.
- jmatchett383

So you're saying we need a team pimp.

So you're saying we need a team pimp.
- mikel33

We had them. Richards, Carter, Lupul, Upshall. Now they're gone.

That may be the case. Or we can tread water for another decade and do the quick patch as needed.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, I hear you. Either way, I don't think this club can become a contender overnight.

I agree Bill. I think the Flyers are pretenders this year. They show you some good stuff, get your hopes up, and then, they crash, and burn.
I turned off the Cowboys/Packers game yesterday, when the Boys looked like they were going to skate to a win. When I woke up this morning, I read that the Boys had lost. I guess that the Boys are like the Flyers in many ways. They find ways to lose. Our Romo is G. He has lots of talent, but only shows flashes of it. The team just doesn't play well for a full game. The team lacks a determination to win, and the ability to function as a team. I don't know if they are lazy, scared, depressed, or what. However, this team needs some mental toughness.
Sorry to use the Boys analogy, but that was just nuts yesterday. In the players defense, many are still young. In addition, losing can become a bad habit. They have to start focusing more on how they play, and get that drive to win. Go to the front of the net. Go get the puck in the corners. Quit turning the puck over. Quit trying to get rid of the puck so quickly. Quit passing the puck when you can shoot it. Quit taking stupid penalties. On, and on.
When Chief took over the team, I was surprised to hear that the team was out of shape, and needed to get quicker. If a player doesn't show up in shape, and lacks a desire to win, then that speaks a lot about that persons character. If a player is more concerned about playing golf in the off season than working on his game, then that says a lot. If a player is focused on other things during the season; ie. his social accounts, then that says a lot. They have to realize that if they want to keep their job, and get paid for it, they really have to work for it. Why should losing Jagr be a problem? Was his work ethic really making that much of an impact. If so, bring Jagr back until the kids can wake up.

I don't think anyone disagrees that the D needs a change. But I'd rather them not gut their team (and I doubt Vancouver or Phoenix make those deals) as much as possible and just be patient instead of chasing the big trade/big FA. It will be hard and painful, but maybe, for once, patience is needed.
- jmatchett383

I think they are going to bite the bullet and get at least one D via trade.
And it is going to be painful in the cost of assests.

Also think they are going to get at least one D via UFA, and likely that will be painful regarding cost and length.

Maybe not, they could be patient and rebuild the right way, but that would be a change for this management.

It will be interesting either way.

My concern is that if they stay patient it will be 5 or 6 years before guys like Morin, Ghost, Hagg and Alt hit their primes and by that time they will need to rebuild most of their forward group other than Couturier, Schenn and Laughton.
- BiggE

They can still stay patient while making some deals to improve the back-end... like another Zhitnik for Coburn. The stuff I hope they avoid is chasing after big names (with very little concern with how they'll fit) and giving up a lot of assets to do so.

Yeah, I hear you. Either way, I don't think this club can become a contender overnight.
- BiggE

I don't either. There is no single move or small series of moves that can be made right now to drastically change them. Bad as he's been playing, I think keeping B. Schenn is a good move. He's only owed a 10% raise on his base salary to retain him, so it's not like he'd be all that expensive to keep. He HAS the talent to be better, just needs to apply himself more.

I'd rather make the smaller moves (i.e. Grossmann for a second) over the big fish moves (unless it's a proven "elite" player, like a Stamkos or Weber) and build through the draft.

You mentioned 2 Flyers captains.. there. What are you trying to say?
- mikel33

i'm saying i need to see giroux being the leader. and also i miss richards and prongles.

They can still stay patient while making some deals to improve the back-end... like another Zhitnik for Coburn. The stuff I hope they avoid is chasing after big names (with very little concern with how they'll fit) and giving up a lot of assets to do so.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. Don't need to do the big-name/high cost trade (i.e. every young player + picks for Fugly or Nion Dion). Just get solid players via trade/FA and hope for some young homegrown gems.

so glad i didn't see the 3rd period. was in the car listening but missed the final 5 minutes, and of course the ot/so. what a (frank)ing debacle poop show. how many blown 3rd period leads has it been now?

Mason has given up (I believe) 13 goals in his last 4 games. If this was Bryz, we'd be killing him. I hope it's just a bad/unlucky string, and he gets back to bailing them out nightly again.
- jmatchett383

I'd argue there are a legitimate reasons that many of us haven't turned on Mason like we did Bryz - effort, results, attitude and interviews, etc. And I don't think any of those goals were soft last night, but Mason certainly didn't help himself with that puck-handling gaffe that then turned into the tying goal.

Mason and Bryz, a Universe apart.

i sat behind the bench a few years ago at a long island game. flyers were down 1-0 in the second and they were playing a little lazy and uninspired. pronger came up onto the bench at the end of one of his shifts and YELLED that everybody needed to get (frank)ing going. i was behind protective plexiglass and it still scared the crap out of me.

i want to see some fire on the bench instead of a bunch of sad sacks.

I'd argue there are a legitimate reasons that many of us haven't turned on Mason like we did Bryz - effort, results, attitude and interviews, etc. And I don't think any of those goals were soft last night, but Mason certainly didn't help himself with that puck-handling gaffe that then turned into the tying goal.

Mason and Bryz, a Universe apart.
- wolfhounds

I also think the contract has a lot to do with that.

On that note, I heard that Mason's agent was asking for "Carey Price-like money." I like Mason and all, but if that's case, thanks and best of luck. 'Sup Stolarz?

so glad i didn't see the 3rd period. was in the car listening but missed the final 5 minutes, and of course the ot/so. what a (frank)ing debacle poop show. how many blown 3rd period leads has it been now?
- hammarby31

read the blog sir bill breaks them all down painfully for you.

i'm saying i need to see giroux being the leader. and also i miss richards and prongles.
- -davies-

The lack of strong leadership on this team is glaring.

Exactly. Don't need to do the big-name/high cost trade (i.e. every young player + picks for Fugly or Nion Dion). Just get solid players via trade/FA and hope for some young homegrown gems.
- jmatchett383

Neither Yandle nor Edler are right-shots, either... neither are Hagg/Morin/Ghost... this team needs a RH top-4 guy so badly it's not even funny... Runblad or Stone would be much better adds from PHX... Tanev or Corrado from VAN.

i sat behind the bench a few years ago at a long island game. flyers were down 1-0 in the second and they were playing a little lazy and uninspired. pronger came up onto the bench at the end of one of his shifts and YELLED that everybody needed to get (frank)ing going. i was behind protective plexiglass and it still scared the crap out of me.

i want to see some fire on the bench instead of a bunch of sad sacks.
- -davies-

I don't think Crosby, Toews, or Iginla would do that. They're pretty good leaders. Pronger is a rare beast. I don't think ANYONE in the league can do that like he did.

My concern is that if they stay patient it will be 5 or 6 years before guys like Morin, Ghost, Hagg and Alt hit their primes and by that time they will need to rebuild most of their forward group other than Couturier, Schenn and Laughton.
- BiggE

My fear is they stay patient and Couts, Schenn, and Laughton will end up being nothing more then Weiss, Booth, and Hornton lite. Simmonds and Voracek peak at what they are now. Hartnell continues to decline, and Giroux is left without any help.

Neither Yandle nor Edler are right-shots, either... neither are Hagg/Morin/Ghost... this team needs a RH top-4 guy so badly it's not even funny... Runblad or Stone would be much better adds from PHX... Tanev or Corrado from VAN.
- Tomahawk

I'd do those deals only if it's a low risk move, because return risk is high.

I don't think Crosby, Toews, or Iginla would do that. They're pretty good leaders. Pronger is a rare beast. I don't think ANYONE in the league can do that like he did.
- jmatchett383

yelling isn't necessarily required. this discussion made me think of that event so i shared it.

i'm just saying i want to see some fire in some way, acting like they aren't going to just sit there and give up. giroux used to be fiery on the bench and on the ice and was always yapping.

i sat behind the bench a few years ago at a long island game. flyers were down 1-0 in the second and they were playing a little lazy and uninspired. pronger came up onto the bench at the end of one of his shifts and YELLED that everybody needed to get (frank)ing going. i was behind protective plexiglass and it still scared the crap out of me.

i want to see some fire on the bench instead of a bunch of sad sacks.
- -davies-

There is no doubt that he is missed both off the ice and on it. One of the reasons the 07-08 team did so well was the on and off ice leadership of vets like Smith and Hatcher. Those types of heart and soul players are extremely valuable to a winning team.

My fear is they stay patient and Couts, Schenn, and Laughton will end up being nothing more then Weiss, Booth, and Hornton lite. Simmonds and Voracek peak at what they are now. Hartnell continues to decline, and Giroux is left without any help.
- youarewrong

Could happen. The team plane could also crash tomorrow. Giroux could get kidnapped by Syrian terrorists.