I'd like to see the Pens go up against the Hawks in the final.

I respect the Bruins, but too much Neanderthal hockey lately in the league.
- flyer_nutter

First: Ugh.

Second: Same old, same old.

Third: see First.

re Berube: he took the job when the team was a mess; had basically no practice time to implement his system and skate some of these guys into better shape. Not surprisingly he went 1-4 in his next few games.

Then came a 6 day break and a chance to get some work done. Since then he has gone 17-10-4 and when you consider the lack of speed on the Flyers D thats pretty damn good. I fact over an 82 game season a 17-10-4 pace would come out to roughly 100 points!

All in all I think Berube has done a very good job. I now return to my regularly scheduled drinking.

re Berube: he took the job when the team was a mess; had basically no practice time to implement his system and skate some of these guys into better shape. Not surprisingly he went 1-4 in his next few games.

Then came a 6 day break and a chance to get some work done. Since then he has gone 17-10-4 and when you consider the lack of speed on the Flyers D thats pretty damn good. I fact over an 82 game season a 17-10-4 pace would come out to roughly 100 points!

All in all I think Berube has done a very good job. I now return to my regularly scheduled drinking.
- BiggE

Agreed. But...

Not enough typos or improper word order for a true lush!

From CSN Philly:
Downie to return vs Edmonton. Berube will slot him on the 4th line, as he does not want to tinker with other lnes at the moment. Downie skated with VDV and Rinaldo today. Hall missed practice with the flu and is questionable for Saturday, No roster move needs to be made cause Gus is on IR.
- BiggE

This is exactly what I'm talking I'm talking about. As far as executing a play, no problem. As far as player placement and personnel, I scratch my head a little. I don't feel any of our lines have really been dominating enough to worry about any sort of chemistry. Do you guys really feel Lecavalier has been that great with Read and Couturier to a point where he should worry about breaking them up? The Downie, Read and Couturier has been far more impressive and I feel a lot of thanks should go to Downie because of all the little things he's done to make things work. Downie in my opinion has really made a difference on the second unit of the Power Pla too.

I didn't think so early on, but given how bad this division is, they just might.
- johndewar

Are you 100% sure?

Edmonton Oilers ‏@EdmontonOilers 2h
Dubnyk plays tonight vs. CGY, Bryz starts tomorrow vs. PHI.
- PLindbergh31

awesome


love 10pm games

Yeah, I don't think of him as a fresh voice. I think Laviolette's time had come, his way of running the game wasn't working and he didn't seem to be willing to try a different way. I still think he's a fine coach, I hope he gets another stint in the NHL.

As for hiring from outside the organization, I'm not particularly for or against. I agree with those who say the Flyers shouldn't be married to hiring guys who've already been in the fold. Where I disagree, though, is with the perception that an "outsider" is an inherently better option. Personally, it doesn't matter if a guy has been a Flyer before. You hire the guy who seems most capable of doing the job.

My biggest problem when they hired Berube wasn't that Berube got the job, but that they didn't do this back when they had more options available.
- BulliesPhan87

I think my expectation whenever a new coach comes in is they do a Ken Hitchcock type of job. I felt when Peter Laviolette came in, he did just that. John Stevens not so much, he just had the luxury of having an impressive roster during his first full season when Briere, Timonen, Hartnell and Smith were brought in.

awesome


love 10pm games
- Crimsoninja

i have two sawbucks riding on adge falling asleep before the game ends

This is exactly what I'm talking I'm talking about. As far as executing a play, no problem. As far as player placement and personnel, I scratch my head a little. I don't feel any of our lines have really been dominating enough to worry about any sort of chemistry. Do you guys really feel Lecavalier has been that great with Read and Couturier to a point where he should worry about breaking them up? The Downie, Read and Couturier has been far more impressive and I feel a lot of thanks should go to Downie because of all the little things he's done to make things work. Downie in my opinion has really made a difference on the second unit of the Power Play.
- Schenn2shine

I agree. I'd rather see hartnell on the fourth line than Downey

awesome


love 10pm games
- Crimsoninja

When I was in college the west coast road trips were the best. Now that I have a job it kinda sucks I'm getting older

downie downie downie


IE

i am fine with Berubey thus far

I can't imagine it will take that much to lock Brayden Schenn down.

Downie and Mason, I'm a bit worried about. Not money, so much, as term.
- johndewar

They're so young that I''m really not worried about term

I agree. I'd rather see hartnell on the fourth line than Downey
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't. Scott Hartnell has been the same player he's been since he's gotten here. He's hugely unappreciated for a guy who's been on more successful lines than anyone on this entire roster...

Hartnell-Briere-Leino (2010 playoffs, 2010-2011)
Hartnell-Carter-Lupul (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Giroux-Jagr (2011-2012)
Hartnell-Richards-Downie (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Carter-Briere (2009-2010)

All of these lines at some point has produced and like any other top six forward, Hartnell has to play his way out of his slumps or struggles. Although I'm not a huge fan of the look of the power play, it produces and Hartnell hits into that plan.

I don't. Scott Hartnell has been the same player he's been since he's gotten here. He's hugely unappreciated for a guy who's been on more successful lines than anyone on this entire roster...

Hartnell-Briere-Leino (2010 playoffs, 2010-2011)
Hartnell-Carter-Lupul (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Giroux-Jagr (2011-2012)
Hartnell-Richards-Downie (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Carter-Briere (2009-2010)

All of these lines at some point has produced and like any other top six forward, Hartnell has to play his way out of his slumps or struggles. Although I'm not a huge fan of the look of the power play, it produces and Hartnell hits into that plan.
- Schenn2shine

He's been in a slump for 1.5 years. Downey has been an integral part to THIS YEAR'S team

They're so young that I''m really not worried about term
- JAKEw1234

Mason is an rfa so they do hold some leverage. Downey seems like the type of player who is better than his numbers. Hopefully no one goes crazy and offers something ridiculous

i am fine with Berubey thus far
- Crimsoninja

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Assessing Berube
- bmeltzer

Berube has done a good job thus far, but I have some issues. I think he juggles lines a bit too much, and I think that there are certain players that get held to a much higher standard than others.

For instance, there's been games where Erik Gustafsson looked terrible or Andrej Meszaros was awful, and they ended up a healthy scratch for a game or four. Conversely, there's been games where Nicklas Grossmann or Mark Streit were awful and never saw their ice time cut, let alone got sat out for a game.

Jake Voracek got benched for almost an entire third period for dogging it, yet Rosehill & Rinaldo have both taken awful penalties that did or almost cost the Flyers games...and they're right back out-in fact in Rinaldo's case, he was given more responsibility.

Still, to be honest, that's nitpicking stuff. He's got the team playing better than it was under Laviolette, and they definitely seem to be playing a style more suited to their capabilities. I think if Laviolette had stayed longer, this team is not where it has managed to claw it's way back to.

It's still not a perfect team, but it should have enough talent to be in the playoff hunt.

I don't. Scott Hartnell has been the same player he's been since he's gotten here. He's hugely unappreciated for a guy who's been on more successful lines than anyone on this entire roster...

Hartnell-Briere-Leino (2010 playoffs, 2010-2011)
Hartnell-Carter-Lupul (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Giroux-Jagr (2011-2012)
Hartnell-Richards-Downie (2008-2009)
Hartnell-Carter-Briere (2009-2010)

All of these lines at some point has produced and like any other top six forward, Hartnell has to play his way out of his slumps or struggles. Although I'm not a huge fan of the look of the power play, it produces and Hartnell hits into that plan.
- Schenn2shine

The difference between Hartnell those years, and Hartnell now is, that in those seasons, when he wasn't producing, he was a pain in the ass to play against. He forechecked hard, got under people's skin and created havoc. He's not doing that.

For him to be effective as a top six player, he needs to do those things.

- Marc D

- -davies-

The difference between Hartnell those years, and Hartnell now is, that in those seasons, when he wasn't producing, he was a pain in the ass to play against. He forechecked hard, got under people's skin and created havoc. He's not doing that.

For him to be effective as a top six player, he needs to do those things.
- Jsaquella

i totally agree. he's invisible out there which is strange.

The difference between Hartnell those years, and Hartnell now is, that in those seasons, when he wasn't producing, he was a pain in the ass to play against. He forechecked hard, got under people's skin and created havoc. He's not doing that.

For him to be effective as a top six player, he needs to do those things.
- Jsaquella

In regards to this I wonder if Berube has anything to do with this? In general he seems to like to keep his guys on a shorter leash than Lavi did.

There is definitely a noticeable difference in the entire team that they are laying off big hits they would have taken in the past and instead are playing the puck.

In regards to this I wonder if Berube has anything to do with this? In general he seems to like to keep his guys on a shorter leash than Lavi did.

There is definitely a noticeable difference in the entire team that they are laying off big hits they would have taken in the past and instead are playing the puck.
- hereticpride

He didn't do it under Laviolette last season or the three games that Laviolette coached this year...it's like as soon as he signed that extension, he seemed to think he was Jagr or something...I don't know, I just haven't seen that old Hartnell...the meat head that would run a goalie, and and draw a penalty for it, and then get fired up by it.

Don't know if anyone else feels this way, but back reading some things. Even little opinions or spelling, etc. I want to call you morons and hit you in the face.

Just me?

Merry Christmas