I am a little surprised about the lengths everyone is going to in "hating" on Carcillo.

Understanding what he did when picking a fight against the Pens in the playoffs some years back, but is he really that bad in taking ill-timed penalties?

From the Ranger's standpoint, he is really a necessary evil has they have no fighters on the team. A lot of the guys play tough, but never drop the gloves. Knowing this gave other teams too much leeway in crossing the line with cheap shots.

Anyway, I know you guys aren't happy with last night's result, but having him on the Rangers will just make the rivalry a bit more fun...

Cheers...
- session32

There's a really, really good reason he's bounced around.

He's got some skill, but makes the same boneheaded mistakes over and over again.

Come back in a few weeks after you've witnessed Carcillo's act for a bit and let us know how you feel then.

I didn't think the Flyers played terrible in either game. They just set themselves up for failure by falling behind early. Their defensive zone coverages were awful early on. The first two goals were a result of misplays by the defense.

I would have played Mason last night. He's the better goalie and they were playing a rival fighting for the last playoff spot. He would have had a better chance at keeping them in the game earlier.

I'm not too concerned with Grossmann. He had a bad weekend, but he's been mostly solid.

The 4th line had another rough game. I'm nervous every time Berube puts them on the ice. They get hemmed in their own zone too much. I'm not looking for goals from them, but even play against another team's 4th line would be good enough.

Schedule opens up with some games against lesser opponents (although the Sabers and Isles are playing well). These are the games they need to win.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree with everything in bold
I do think they pretty poorly versus Tampa in regards to defensive zone coverage which was atrocious throughout. And while Buffalo is simply a bad team, the Isles have been playing very well of late and will happy jump out to a quick 2 or 3 goal lead if the Flyers have a start to the game like they did over the weekend.

I'd love to see him remove his head from his ass, for sure. But it hasn't just been this weekend. It's been going on for some time.
- Jsaquella

As a defensive dman, who has little, if any, offense to his game, whatever mistakes he makes are going to jump out at you. For the most part, he is fairly steady. However as a shutdown guy, which he is on this club, his mistakes are usually going to lead to prime scoring chances against. Being saddled with Streit as a partner certainly doesn't help in the least as he is a liability in his own zone.

With all that being said, he really did play pretty poorly this weekend. You almost have to wonder if he is fighting a nagging injury or 2 as much like Timonen, it takes a helluva lot to get him to sit out. I really think it wouldn't hurt to give him a few days off to heal up and get Gus back in the lineup Tuesday. If they want to keep the current pairs intact, they can also sit Streit (who also played badly this weekend) and pair Gus with Gill. Having Gill in the lineup would at least replace what you'd lose on the PK with Grossmann out.

So sestito and carcillo bith scored on us this year. I wonder what the record is in a season for former goons scoring on the flyers in a season or any former goon on their old club.

As a defensive dman, who has little, if any, offense to his game, whatever mistakes he makes are going to jump out at you. For the most part, he is fairly steady. However as a shutdown guy, which he is on this club, his mistakes are usually going to lead to prime scoring chances against. Being saddled with Streit as a partner certainly doesn't help in the least as he is a liability in his own zone.

With all that being said, he really did play pretty poorly this weekend. You almost have to wonder if he is fighting a nagging injury or 2 as much like Timonen, it takes a helluva lot to get him to sit out. I really think it wouldn't hurt to give him a few days off to heal up and get Gus back in the lineup Tuesday. If they want to keep the current pairs intact, they can also sit Streit (who also played badly this weekend) and pair Gus with Gill. Having Gill in the lineup would at least replace what you'd lose on the PK with Grossmann out.
- BiggE

I liked him best when partnered with coburn.

It doesn't help him, but then again, he often times doesn't help himself.
- Jsaquella

That's what you get when you pay bottom-pairing dmen top-4 money... total over-exposure... Grossmann, Streit, Mez... all riding the Paul Holmgren gravy train.

So sestito and carcillo bith scored on us this year. I wonder what the record is in a season for former goons scoring on the flyers in a season or any former goon on their old club.
- JoeRussomanno

I don't remember Brashear scoring against Vancouver, but I do remember him beating the snot out of one of the Canucks in his first game against them.

So sestito and carcillo bith scored on us this year. I wonder what the record is in a season for former goons scoring on the flyers in a season or any former goon on their old club.
- JoeRussomanno

If I had to guess, I'd guess that Bob Probert scored on the Red Wings a time or two.

And before that talk somehow takes root, in Claude Giroux's last five games:

1 goal in a win against Phoenix
1 goal in a win against New Jersey
No points in a win against Montreal
2 assists in a loss against Tampa Bay
No points in a loss against the Rangers

That damn fraud is stealing money again -- he had the nerve to not have a point 16 hours ago in a loss
- AllInForFlyers

I was one of those ripping Giroux the first 20 games, and rightfully so. But you are correct, he has turned his season around and with it the Flyers season.

Giroux is fine.

Jeez, two subpar games against teams that have given them trouble over the last few years and its time to trade the Fraude and blow it all up.

I liked him best when partnered with coburn.
- JoeRussomanno

That would work, though I would rather see him paired with Gus at this point. I really hate the Streit deal, to me it should cost Holmgren his job after this season. I understand the concept of trying to find a replacement for Timonen, but I think they would have been MUCH better off waiting to deal with that after this season. IMO there really isn't room or need for Streit in this lineup right now.

I would be happy with:
Timonen-Coburn
Mez-Schenn
Grossmann-Gus
however I very much doubt they will use their 5.25 million player as a 7th dman. I honestly think they need to seriously consider biting the bullet and buying Streit out after the season. The cap penalty would suck, but not as much as his current 5.25 million hit does now.

dp

That would work, though I would rather see him paired with Gus at this point. I really hate the Streit deal, to me it should cost Holmgren his job after this season. I understand the concept of trying to find a replacement for Timonen, but I think they would have been MUCH better off waiting to deal with that after this season. IMO there really isn't room or need for Streit in this lineup right now.

I would be happy with:
Timonen-Coburn
Mez-Schenn
Grossmann-Gus
however I very much doubt they will use their 5.25 million player as a 7th dman. I honestly think they need to seriously consider biting the bullet and buying Streit out after the season. The cap penalty would suck, but not as much as his current 5.25 million hit does now.
- BiggE

I agree... at this point in his career, Streit's a PP/o-zone specialist (maybe he always has been?)... it would behoove them to use him as such. Get Gus into the lineup, get Manning (who's quietly having a great year) up... you can't tell me that having 7 D would have any less of an impact than having Rosehill/VDV in there.

I am a little surprised about the lengths everyone is going to in "hating" on Carcillo.
- session32

As a hockey player he's terrible. Just terrible. He's a liability waiting to happen.

How does Coburn get a pass in this game? He coughed the puck up twice along the boards that resulted in 2 goals and made a stupid stupid pass that lead to Nash's breakaway. Grossman's counterpart is Streit who is constantly out of position and caught up ice leaving Grossman to man the D by himself.

As a hockey player he's terrible. Just terrible. He's a liability waiting to happen.
- Scoob

I guess us rangers fans we will have to wait and see that side of him. So far he has been exactly what we've needed, a pest who hasn't been a liability. I personally cant remember him being that undisciplined when he was a Flyer playing us. Actually was very effective, including getting Gabby to drop the gloves and proceeding to pummel him, and change that whole game to us being more concerned about him than playing the game.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Lost Weekend, Grossmann, Gostisbehere Injury
- bmeltzer

what was the injury that grossmann had where he was supposedly wearing a protective sleeve of some sort? that wouldn't help explain the horrible positioning but might explain some of the lost board battles. he looked like dookie this weekend.

I agree... at this point in his career, Streit's a PP/o-zone specialist (maybe he always has been?)... it would behoove them to use him as such. Get Gus into the lineup, get Manning (who's quietly having a great year) up... you can't tell me that having 7 D would have any less of an impact than having Rosehill/VDV in there.
- Tomahawk

Yup, I'll take a 7th dman over Rosehill any day, just skate Streit on the 4th line.

Perhaps. I agree that we need to roll out Mason in all divisional games. Starting Emery was setting this team up for disaster. You knew the Rangers would come out strong to open the game. They've been playing well lately. The entire division has been playing well. This was a rough weekend because the entire division kept winning while the Flyers got no points in 2 games.
- PhillySportsGuy

well the craps rarely win but they keep getting points.

That's what you get when you pay bottom-pairing dmen top-4 money... total over-exposure... Grossmann, Streit, Mez... all riding the Paul Holmgren gravy train.
- Tomahawk

mesz signed that contract in tampa and had been a top pair guy in the past with mixed results.

Good morning, everyone.
Sticking with the topic of defense, I want to know what opinions people have of Andrew MacDonald. He's a UFA after this season and it seems like the Isles don't want to re-sign him. He could even be a trade target, but I don't want the Flyers to trade anything for him when he coud be had in free agency. He's a big minutes eater and he quarterbacks the Isles' PP. He isn't a bonafide puck mover, but he does OK offensively, at least points wise. Now, I don't think he is a top 2 defenseman, he doesn't really stick out to me when the Flyers play the Isles and I don't really get to watch him otherwise. But he'd be a nice addition to the Flyers' blueline, especially if Kimmo retires.

I agree... at this point in his career, Streit's a PP/o-zone specialist (maybe he always has been?)... it would behoove them to use him as such. Get Gus into the lineup, get Manning (who's quietly having a great year) up... you can't tell me that having 7 D would have any less of an impact than having Rosehill/VDV in there.
- Tomahawk

Yes and yes to Bigge too.

That's what you get when you pay bottom-pairing dmen top-4 money... total over-exposure... Grossmann, Streit, Mez... all riding the Paul Holmgren gravy train.
- Tomahawk

Mez was a top-4 guy before the injuries. Heck, he won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers best defenseman one year.

Grossmann is getting pad top-4 money because he WAS a 4/5 guy who can play on a shutdown second pairing. Knee injuries have hampered him since the extension though.

Streit...well, I'm not a fan of that contract.

Mez was a top-4 guy before the injuries. Heck, he won the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers best defenseman one year.

Grossmann is getting pad top-4 money because he WAS a 4/5 guy who can play on a shutdown second pairing. Knee injuries have hampered him since the extension though.

Streit...well, I'm not a fan of that contract.
- jmatchett383

I think it's also worth noting that Meszaros' contract isn't a Paul Holmgren product.

See what happens when you bench Downie?



All kidding aside, rough weekend. Flyers need to bounce back. Seems like everyone in the East got hot at the same time.

And the Flyers still have another "lovely" little stretch upcoming against Boston, Detroit, Anaheim (away), LA (away), San Jose (away), and Colorado.

That could be a pretty bad two weeks.

In short--get points now.

El Stinko