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

What young homegrown gems? I dont see anyone with above 2nd line talent on this team other then Giroux.

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

Yeah, Mase seems very much into the craft of playing goal... puts in extra work, extra effort, extra instruction, etc. Bryz was nothing like that.

The thing that is worrying, though, is that this is the very first taste of adversity that Mase has encountered as a Flyer and it already is showing signs of snowballing a bit... that's what got him in CMB... played well, then let one bad game chain-react into huge stretches of average-mediocre play.

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.
- BiggE

But they're old, slow goons. We need young, skill guys. Who needs veterans who have been through wars when we have a team full of young guys? Are you going to tell that the Penguins added some grizzled old-school veteran to their team the year they won the Cup? That's crazy talk.

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?
- jmatchett383

If thats the case, that is the perfect reason to trade him straight up for Yakupov!

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?
- jmatchett383

Yup, that's a good point.

Agent's are always going to want the absolute best, greedy capitalists. The thin silver lining from the last 3+ games for Mason is his numbers have all gotten worse so that position his agent is taking just got shakier. And I guess it will also depend on the goalie market this off-season. And finally, maybe Mason actually likes it here with Reese?

What young homegrown gems? I dont see anyone with above 2nd line talent on this team other then Giroux.
- youarewrong

I said hope for some. I didn't say they were there now. Maybe one of Laughton/Morin/Hagg/Ghost turn into All Star players.

Yeah, Mase seems very much into the craft of playing goal... puts in extra work, extra effort, extra instruction, etc. Bryz was nothing like that.The thing that is worrying, though, is that this is the very first taste of adversity that Mase has encountered as a Flyer and it already is showing signs of snowballing a bit... that's what got him in CMB... played well, then let one bad chain-react into huge stretches of average-mediocre play.
- Tomahawk

To be fair, a lot of people would say the above wasn't true about Mason until he came to Philly.

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

I missed it as well. Sunday's between Noon and Midnight are dedicated to the NFL for me during football season. (If I'm not working)

I love how they blow a 3 goal third period lead, yet when they get down by 2 goals or more they waive the white flag. Brutal.

Yeah, Mase seems very much into the craft of playing goal... puts in extra work, extra effort, extra instruction, etc. Bryz was nothing like that.

The thing that is worrying, though, is that this is the very first taste of adversity that Mase has encountered as a Flyer and it already is showing signs of snowballing a bit... that's what got him in CMB... played well, then let one bad game chain-react into huge stretches of average-mediocre play.
- Tomahawk

Let's hope he's matured and can handle adversity better, and that he trusts his teammates and coaches to support him. I'm not worried at all about Mason right now.

I wish we had signatures on this forum... imagine all the time you could save:

1. Yakupov
2. Heatley/Campbell/Gaborik/Byfuglien
3. NICHUSHKIN
4. Liberals
- Tomahawk

Haha love it!

The flyers have all the "middle" pieces a team needs. We have no first line, #1 goal scorer, or a #1 puck moving defenseman. Everything else is in place.

I really don't care who we trade at this point (aside from a few untouchables) to acquire those pieces... a #1 is a #1. Others can always be replaced.

They are NOT getting those pieces from a draft, period (barring some serious luck). Free agency is always a gamble as well.

My untouchables right now are G and Mason. We can always hold onto the youth and let them develop.... but WHO in our youth is going to fill the role of leading goal scorer or defenseman? I don't mean 5 years from now.

I would LOVE for the team to just improve so they don't have to trade... but in reality its not going to happen. They don't have the components.

The flyers have all the "middle" pieces a team needs. We have no first line, #1 goal scorer, and a #1 puck moving defenseman. Everything else is in place.

I really don't care who we trade at this point (aside from a few untouchables) to acquire those pieces... a #1 is a #1. Others can always be replaced.

They are NOT getting those pieces from a draft, period (barring some serious luck). Free agency is always a gamble as well.

My untouchables right now are G and Mason. We can always hold onto the youth and let them develop.... but WHO in our youth is going to fill the role of leading goal scorer or defenseman? I don't mean 5 years from now.

I would LOVE for the team to just improve so they don't have to trade... but in reality its not going to happen. They don't have the components.
- mikel33

Sounds like the Flyers model ca. 1996-2002. Trade off the youth to bring in vets, cry when you don't have any youth.

I said hope for some. I didn't say they were there now. Maybe one of Laughton/Morin/Hagg/Ghost turn into All Star players.
- jmatchett383

See that is what scares me. How long are we going to have to be bad in order to draft a team of impact players? If that is the direction we are headed, we might as well throw caution to the wind and try to get frindge players that could end up being those players like Bogosian or Yakupov or Johnny Hockey.

See that is what scares me. How long are we going to have to be bad in order to draft a team of impact players? If that is the direction we are headed, we might as well throw caution to the wind and try to get frindge players that could end up being those players like Bogosian or Yakupov or Johnny Hockey.
- youarewrong

Well then I guess we should just disband the team because there is no way to fix them. Let's go jump on the Hawks bandwagon.

What happened to everyone's offseason preaching of patience and developing players slowly?

See that is what scares me. How long are we going to have to be bad in order to draft a team of impact players? If that is the direction we are headed, we might as well throw caution to the wind and try to get frindge players that could end up being those players like Bogosian or Yakupov or Johnny Hockey.
- youarewrong

The Flyers seem to have an organizational bias against those pure scoring type players. IE they score goals, but don't hit, play defense, lack grit, etc etc etc.

To be honest, I cant remember the last time we had a player like that who was productive. Reggie Leach maybe?

The flyers have all the "middle" pieces a team needs. We have no first line, #1 goal scorer, and a #1 puck moving defenseman. Everything else is in place.

I really don't care who we trade at this point (aside from a few untouchables) to acquire those pieces... a #1 is a #1. Others can always be replaced.

They are NOT getting those pieces from a draft, period (barring some serious luck). Free agency is always a gamble as well.

My untouchables right now are G and Mason. We can always hold onto the youth and let them develop.... but WHO in our youth is going to fill the role of leading goal scorer or defenseman? I don't mean 5 years from now.

I would LOVE for the team to just improve so they don't have to trade... but in reality its not going to happen. They don't have the components.
- mikel33

I'd be trying to trade Hartnell and Timonen right now. I say keep mezzy and resign him dirt cheap.

Get G a winger to play with. Really don't want 15 years of wondering what could have been had giroux a real winger to play with.

I appreciate Read more now, but would trade him if need be.

The team identity wants to be a skill team who passes the puck in the net.. and the GM keeps getting guys who play a basic north/south game like Simmonds and Hartnell.

Get the players who fit into the identity and system you have, not what you had when homer played.

Sounds like the Flyers model ca. 1996-2002. Trade off the youth to bring in vets, cry when you don't have any youth.
- jmatchett383

Flyers at that time the Flyers had top defensemen and thier top line players. They dont right now.

The Flyers seem to have an organizational bias against those pure scoring type players. IE they score goals, but don't hit, play defense, lack grit, etc etc etc.

To be honest, I cant remember the last time we had a player like that who was productive. Reggie Leach maybe?
- MBFlyerfan

Zherdev?

Flyers at that time the Flyers had top defensemen and thier top line players. They dont right now.
- youarewrong

And even WITH those top players it didn't work, because they never had young players to supplement it, save for the 96/97 season when they had Niinimaa, Zubrus, and Prospal. So now that we DON'T have those players, the quick fix is to trade ALL of their youth away to obtain them, and then fill in the rest 2nd-4th lines with the Randy Robitaille's of the world and the bottom-4 of the D with the Jaroslav Modry's of the world for the next 5 years until we actually have more good players to build with. Good plan.

Well then I guess we should just disband the team because there is no way to fix them. Let's go jump on the Hawks bandwagon.

What happened to everyone's offseason preaching of patience and developing players slowly?
- jmatchett383

Develop into what exactly? I love the concept, I question the motive. They aren't going to magically turn into Toews or Kane.

We ARE looking for a cup right?

/thread

/season
- Scoob

I disagree.

Look this loss sucks a lot, and others have too. But I "look around" in here and I see mutiny.

I'm not gonna join. I'm staying optimistic. Why? Because they play more good hockey than bad. The problem is, when they play bad hockey, it's REALLY bad. But it's only for 10 minutes a game.

If they cut that in half, they could rip off some solid streaks during the season.

And guess what? This division sucks. If they can squeak in....well....we know what can happen in the playoffs, even when a team squeaks in.

Go Flyers.

Well then I guess we should just disband the team because there is no way to fix them. Let's go jump on the Hawks bandwagon.

What happened to everyone's offseason preaching of patience and developing players slowly?
- jmatchett383

I'm preaching to try to move the Hartnell & Streit types, and only move the younger players for other younger players.

For instance, if I'm moving Jake Voracek or Wayne Simmonds, I'm getting a guy 28 years old or younger. The other young guys, as long as they are on the roster, need to play. That means Gustafsson and Luke Schenn on defense and Michael Raffl up front.

They can make changes on the fly to be better in the short term, but need a plan in place for the long term-and no deviations from it.

I'd be trying to trade Hartnell and Timonen right now. I say keep mezzy and resign him dirt cheap.

Get G a winger to play with. Really don't want 15 years of wondering what could have been had giroux a real winger to play with.

I appreciate Read more now, but would trade him if need be.

The team identity wants to be a skill team who passes the puck in the net.. and the GM keeps getting guys who play a basic north/south game like Simmonds and Hartnell.

Get the players who fit into the identity and system you have, not what you had when homer played.
- Flyersgod

I would like to keep Read. He just does too much. PP, PK, Defensive and Offensive. I would much rather upgrade Voracek & Simmonds first. I would also be willing to move 1 of Schenn, Couts, or Laughton. I'm already thinking about next season and Timonen and Mez being gone, but I would also move Coburn if he has value in an upgrade.

Develop into what exactly? I love the concept, I question the motive. They aren't going to magically turn into Toews or Kane.

We ARE looking for a cup right?
- mikel33

Toews and Kane aren't winning poop without the ridiculous amount of home-grown supplementary talent behind them. Hawks could have easily traded any number of their young players during their bad years for big names, but I'm sure they were grateful to have guys like Seabrook, Keith, Byfuglien, Bolland and Crawford when the chips were down. Aside from Seabrook, none of those aforementioned guys were considered can't-miss youngsters... Byfuglien, Bolland and Crawford weren't even considered NHL-worthy at one point.

I disagree.

Look this loss sucks a lot, and others have too. But I "look around" in here and I see mutiny.

I'm not gonna join. I'm staying optimistic. Why? Because they play more good hockey than bad. The problem is, when they play bad hockey, it's REALLY bad. But it's only for 10 minutes a game.

If they cut that in half, they could rip off some solid streaks during the season.

And guess what? This division sucks. If they can squeak in....well....we know what can happen in the playoffs, even when a team squeaks in.

Go Flyers.
- Giroux_Is_God

Look.. we're all Flyers fans.. making adjustments behind the logo doesn't mean we don't root for that same logo. At the same time, I'm not going to put blinders on and say "oh well, they tried".

This team has a HORRIBLE record against good teams this year. We have a good record against teams with average or below records.

In the playoffs, they are all decent teams. We are in just about the weakest division... so if we squeak in, and current trends hold true, we're going to get destroyed. I don't want my team to be squeaking in (I'll take it) .. I want to barge in, with confidence and a legitimate chance to win the cup. Not going to happen if G doesn't get help and our D remains the same.

This: "If they cut that in half, they could rip off some solid streaks during the season.

And guess what? This division sucks. If they can squeak in....well....we know what can happen in the playoffs, even when a team squeaks in."

is what I would expect to hear from Florida fans.. Flyers need personnel changes in a big, big way.