I thought he said he had one ready to go about his thoughts on the Mason contract.
- Scoob

Bill is taking it slow today in honor of L Schenn

I thought he said he had one ready to go about his thoughts on the Mason contract.
- Scoob

The midpoint between the variance in highs and lows firmly lands them in mediocre territory... but at least it's mediocre on a somewhat upward trajectory with the kids up front.

Restructuring the blueline and continuing to add to the prospect cupboard are going to take time... but if it's done with some modicum of competency, the strength at forward should really be able to carry this team in the future.

What's plain to see now is that throwing post-apex players like Vinny and Streit into the mix isn't going to accelerate the process... it's just going to cause problems down the line.
- Tomahawk

Thank you ... Ive been trying to get that point across for a while now.

Solid post. I have no issues with them not making the playoffs, or going into a slump for a few years so to speak. I think in the league, as constructed and affected by the salary cap, teams will go through peaks and valleys. Its an organic process, that unless you have generation talent, you will fall into. Honestly, lets get real, the Flyers currently have one star, and his name is Claude Giroux.

The same thing is happening with Vancouver right now, and many other teams will face that reality. You have a window, and when that window closes you need to accept that.

The problem comes when you try and fight it, throwing out anchor contracts that no other team will touch, and making foolish trades to desperately try and hang on t a notion of winning every season. That lands you in mediocrity, and that is something the Maple Leafs have perfected.

If they suck for a few years, and end up wasting some of Giroux's best years, so be it I suppose. Just build it right, so you can be a consistently elite team for a few years, not one that is so defined by hot/cold streaks as this one has been for far too many years.
- flyer_nutter

we all love this team which is why so many are biopolar. I get that very much so. I just want to see the team go in the right direction and fix it so they are an elite team. Not just hope to be good enough to make playoffs and hopefully get hot and make a run. I want to be the Hawks.

I know its frustrating to see a kid like G and to be patient and build around him but going about it the way they have been is just not cutting it. its not the 90's or 2000's anymore. you can't buy teams not that buying a team worked for us either outside of making the finals a few times. I truly believe you must build though the draft and of course that means scout well.

I seriously am conflicted watching this team. I root for them to win and always will. I love the FLyers. But I'm trying to put that all aside for the long haul fix......I want to see a cup. BAD. VERY BAD. I've been to 3 parades.....the Sixers which I was eh about and 2 Phillies (thanks to a great mom who let me blow off school haha). I want a Flyers parade so (frank)ing bad

holy poop mason's new zombie gear is fantastic!!! check out the flyers twitter account or maybe someone could post the pics.

custom stick as well

Thank you ... Ive been trying to get that point across for a while now.
- JoeRussomanno

They are a house with marble floors, beautiful fixtures and state of the art technology that was made structurally incorrect.

FWIW One fan's analysis of the Flyers so far this season

Friends, the 2013-14 Flyers are an average club. My reasoning is as follows:

Their 1st line includes a rookie who should be a 3rd liner at best.
Their 4th line lacks any semblance of skill and is mediocre defensively
They take way too many lazy/stupid penalties
They don't play hard for 60 minutes on a consistent basis
Their D lacks skill, speed and smarts. That's a really bad combo

On the positive side their pk has been solid and they usually get very good goaltending, however there are just too many holes to fill for this team to contend this season. To be a true contender the Flyers need to improve their overall work ethic and add the following:

one legit sniper on the wing
2 mobile, skilled Dmen who can play in their top 4
more skill and speed on the 4th line, and a bit more size up front.

As I posed yesterday, since they are not a contender, I would like to see them move Timonen, Mez and Downie at the deadline for whatever they can get. I would also consider moving Grossmann. It would probably be wise to hold onto VL, because the only way they land an impact Dman is if they are willing to move B. Schenn or Couturier. I'm not thrilled about that, but a center corps of Giroux, VL, Schenn or Couturier and Laughton is still a pretty good one and the need on D is critical.

Thoughts?

holy poop mason's new zombie gear is fantastic!!! check out the flyers twitter account or maybe someone could post the pics.

custom stick as well
- moylander

here's a link:

http://www.cbssports.com/...features-zombified-flyers

we all love this team which is why so many are biopolar. I get that very much so. I just want to see the team go in the right direction and fix it so they are an elite team. Not just hope to be good enough to make playoffs and hopefully get hot and make a run. I want to be the Hawks.

I know its frustrating to see a kid like G and to be patient and build around him but going about it the way they have been is just not cutting it. its not the 90's or 2000's anymore. you can't buy teams not that buying a team worked for us either outside of making the finals a few times. I truly believe you must build though the draft and of course that means scout well.

I seriously am conflicted watching this team. I root for them to win and always will. I love the FLyers. But I'm trying to put that all aside for the long haul fix......I want to see a cup. BAD. VERY BAD. I've been to 3 parades.....the Sixers which I was eh about and 2 Phillies (thanks to a great mom who let me blow off school haha). I want a Flyers parade so (frank)ing bad
- nastyflyergirl

the issue with your wanting the long haul fix is the people in position to manage this process.

here's a link:

http://www.cbssports.com/...features-zombified-flyers
- Streit2ThePoint

Thats pretty sweet. Hopefully it will scare opposing forwards cause lord knows no one is scared of any of their sloth defensemen.

i don't like zombies, zombie shows, zombie art, and anything zombie-related to the flyers, particularly goaltending, because, like sydney crosby, i just don't like 'em.

enough with the (frank)ing zombies.

FWIW One fan's analysis of the Flyers so far this season

Friends, the 2013-14 Flyers are an average club. My reasoning is as follows:

Their 1st line includes a rookie who should be a 3rd liner at best.
Their 4th line lacks any semblance of skill and is mediocre defensively
They take way too many lazy/stupid penalties
They don't play hard for 60 minutes on a consistent basis
Their D lacks skill, speed and smarts. That's a really bad combo

On the positive side their pk has been solid and they usually get very good goaltending, however there are just too many holes to fill for this team to contend this season. To be a true contender the Flyers need to improve their overall work ethic and add the following:

one legit sniper on the wing
2 mobile, skilled Dmen who can play in their top 4
more skill and speed on the 4th line, and a bit more size up front.

As I posed yesterday, since they are not a contender, I would like to see them move Timonen, Mez and Downie at the deadline for whatever they can get. I would also consider moving Grossmann. It would probably be wise to hold onto VL, because the only way they land an impact Dman is if they are willing to move B. Schenn or Couturier. I'm not thrilled about that, but a center corps of Giroux, VL, Schenn or Couturier and Laughton is still a pretty good one and the need on D is critical.

Thoughts?
- BiggE

Agree with all of it, but especially the bolded.

If Holmgren is desperate to squeak into the playoffs to save his job then fire him now and give Hextall the power to make decisions in the long-term best interest of the team.

i don't like zombies, zombie shows, zombie art, and anything zombie-related to the flyers, particularly goaltending, because, like sydney crosby, i just don't like 'em.

enough with the (frank)ing zombies.
- hammarby31

You're a big fan of Twilight though, right?

Agree with all of it, but especially the bolded.

If Holmgren is desperate to squeak into the playoffs to save his job then fire him now and give Hextall the power to make decisions in the long-term best interest of the team.
- Feanor

I think its more Snider is desperate to sneak into the playoffs.

You're a big fan of Twilight though, right?
- PhillySportsGuy

no.

the issue with your wanting the long haul fix is the people in position to manage this process.
- hammarby31

Yeah, thats my biggest fear. Snider is so friggin determined to win a cup at all costs that he's lost sight of how their cup teams were built. The 73-76 club wasn't built overnight.

Dornhoefer, Joe Watson, and Ed Van Impe came in the original expansion draft. Jim Watson, Bladon, Taylor, Clarke, Barber, Schultz, Kindrachuk, Saleski and Kelly were all drafted between 1969 and 1972. Lonsberry, Flett, Leach, Dupont, Parent, Crisp and Harris came in trades over 3 or 4 years and Ashbee and Nolet were added as free agents.

Instead of trying to restructure the team overnight, the Flyers decided back in 1969 after being swept and pummeled by the Blues that they were going to build a big, tough, team built around Bobby Clarke and a strong work ethic. 5 years later they won the Stanley Cup.

Sadly, Ed Snider seems to have forgotten all this and apparently no one else in the organization has the stones to tell the emporer that he's wearing no clothes.
They can go from coach to coach, they can even replace Holmgren with Hextall, but as long as Snider sits at the top its very doubtful that a long careful building of a championship caliber team is ever going to happen.

the issue with your wanting the long haul fix is the people in position to manage this process.
- hammarby31

agreed

Yeah, thats my biggest fear. Snider is so friggin determined to win a cup at all costs that he's lost sight of how their cup teams were built. The 73-76 club wasn't built overnight.

Dornhoefer, Joe Watson, and Ed Van Impe came in the original expansion draft. Jim Watson, Bladon, Taylor, Clarke, Barber, Schultz, Kindrachuk, Saleski and Kelly were all drafted between 1969 and 1972. Lonsberry, Flett, Leach, Dupont, Parent, Crisp and Harris came in trades over 3 or 4 years and Ashbee and Nolet were added as free agents.

Instead of trying to restructure the team overnight, the Flyers decided back in 1969 after being swept and pummeled by the Blues that they were going to build a big, tough, team built around Bobby Clarke and a strong work ethic. 5 years later they won the Stanley Cup.

Sadly, Ed Snider seems to have forgotten all this and apparently no one else in the organization has the stones to tell the emporer that he's wearing no clothes.
They can go from coach to coach, they can even replace Holmgren with Hextall, but as long as Snider sits at the top its very doubtful that a long careful building of a championship caliber team is ever going to happen.


- BiggE

same thing with the 80's teams. Look at how many of those players were drafted and then they supplimented with trades such as Howe). I've said it 100 times so why hot make it 101. Snider said they needed to get back to the grassroots of how the teams in the 70's and 80's were built and that lasted maybe 2 seasons?

same thing with the 80's teams. Look at how many of those players were drafted and then they supplimented with trades such as Howe). I've said it 100 times so why hot make it 101. Snider said they needed to get back to the grassroots of how the teams in the 70's and 80's were built and that lasted maybe 2 seasons?
- nastyflyergirl

how long ago did he say this?