Are you trying to win games or lose them?
- PhillySportsGuy

Lose lose lose baby!

I know. If the Flyers asked for Gardiner, the Leafs would ask for Couturier and may settle for B. Schenn. Unless Vinny turns things around, no one is going to want him unless the Flyers eat some salary or sweeten the deal with a pick or prospect.
- PhillySportsGuy

He also has a NMC, which begs the question, why would he agree to waive it to go to Toronto?

Get some talent in the farm that can actually push these guys for positions and see how quickly they all will start back checking and doing things right. Either play the way we want you to play or your out...unfortunately with all these NMC that impossible.

He also has a NMC, which begs the question, why would he agree to waive it to go to Toronto?
- Jsaquella

hell waive it to goto tampa...any D prospects in their farm?

Get some talent in the farm that can actually push these guys for positions and see how quickly they all will start back checking and doing things right. Either play the way we want you to play or your out...unfortunately with all these NMC that impossible.
- PhillaBully

Just throw 3 seasons away, build the farm, and try again in 4 years.

I don't really buy into the whole "lack of effort" concept as being the biggest issue with this team. Obviously, there are times when effort IS an issue, but no more or no less than with other teams. In my opinion it's the overall lack of speed and quickness that makes them appear that they're not trying 100%.

We constantly see them being beaten to loose pucks, not because they're not hustling, but because they simply don't have the requisite team quickness necessary in today's game. This lack of team speed (and QUICKNESS, not just speed) has been killing them for years, especially in the defensive zone.

However, if Homer/Hexy can swap out of a couple of the slower D men, say Grossmann and Mez, and a slower forward or two, for some speed it will immediately appear as if they have improved their overall effort. Actually they'll just be winning more races to loose pucks ... which is a good thing.

The talent is there, but it's seriously missing some fast-twitch players. As soon as a healthy dose of speed and quickness is added to this lineup, the Flyers will be a much, much better team.

Just throw 3 seasons away, build the farm, and try again in 4 years.
- jmatchett383

After the current regime runs its course (2-3years) that might not be a bad choice

It seemed like the puck exited the Columbus zone as fast as it entered. They were really cooking on all cylinders last night. Flyers were totally unprepared for what was coming.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think even if they are in the hunt they should try to move Timmonen and Mezsaros if they have decided they will not be on the team next year. I want Gustafsson to play regularly. He seems to have some of the skills the Flyers D lacks. PLAY YOUNGER PLAYERS! If they stink we can move on from them. If they are good then that is one less thing to worry about next year.

Luke Schenn is not a top 3 D-man in my opinion. However, he is also paired with Streit or Mezsaros every night. Any combination of those three will not be effective in the D zone. Luke is still young. If he is partnered with someone who is at least marginal defensively you would see better results from him.

This team does not support each other. Seems like 5 individuals out there.

I don't really buy into the whole "lack of effort" concept as being the biggest issue with this team. Obviously, there are times when effort IS an issue, but no more or no less than with other teams. In my opinion it's the overall lack of speed and quickness that makes them appear that they're not trying 100%.

We constantly see them being beaten to loose pucks, not because they're not hustling, but because they simply don't have the requisite team quickness necessary in today's game. This lack of team speed (and QUICKNESS, not just speed) has been killing them for years, especially in the defensive zone.

However, if Homer/Hexy can swap out of a couple of the slower D men, say Grossmann and Mez, and a slower forward or two, for some speed it will immediately appear as if they have improved their overall effort. Actually they'll just be winning more races to loose pucks ... which is a good thing.

The talent is there, but it's seriously missing some fast-twitch players. As soon as a healthy dose of speed and quickness is added to this lineup, the Flyers will be a much, much better team.
- FlyerGuy

I agree with you to a point. They also do not play well positionally and that makes them look even slower.

hell waive it to goto tampa...any D prospects in their farm?
- PhillaBully

I'm probably in the minority here, but I like their D prosoects and with a couple of them, (Manning, Lauridsen, Gustafsson) it's now or never to see if they'll be NHL ready. Bourdon if he ever gets healthy again could possibly play in the NHL again as well. I also like their long term projects in Morin and Hagg. I don't see why we're watching Luke Schenn, Coburn and Grossman stink it up and most likely aren't going to improve to anything much better than what they are now, when we have a few guys that are worth it to give them a chance.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I like their D prosoects and with a cou
- TonyBazz

Yes I agree with you. That is one part of the draft philosophy they seemed to have change. They have drafted a few seemingly good D men over the last few drafts. Hopefully they will be patient while waiting for them to develop.

I have been saying this for a while. They really need to make some moves. Sitting pat with what we have isnt going to work. I think we need to move a center like Lecavalier for a young puck mover like Gardiner. Then we need to sign either Girardi or Markov. We also need to get a top scoring forward, and to me, that means Gaborik. Fill in the 4th line with Powe and Laughton. Sign Clemmenson as back-up.

Voracek-Giroux-Gaborik
Hartnell-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Powe-Laughton-Rinaldo

Girardi-Gardiner
Grossmann-Coburn
Streit-Schenn

Mason
Clemmenson
- youarewrong

You've seen enough of Powe's games in the AHL this year to make you think he's a good 4th line option for the 14-15 season?

And who are we taking back as a cap dump to make this proposed Lecavalier-Gardiner trade work?

I know. If the Flyers asked for Gardiner, the Leafs would ask for Couturier and may settle for B. Schenn. Unless Vinny turns things around, no one is going to want him unless the Flyers eat some salary or sweeten the deal with a pick or prospect.
- PhillySportsGuy

I am not sure he is positioned to succeed on this team. Putting him in this line-up is like trying to place a round peg in a square hole. I think it would be best for both him and the team if he gets traded. But Homer will not let a prized acquisition go just after 1 season.

I agree with you to a point. They also do not play well positionally and that makes them look even slower.
- mickel25

yeah, although sometimes they're so concerned with playing well positionally that they're excruciatingly slow in reacting to loose pucks near them.

Yes I agree with you. That is one part of the draft philosophy they seemed to have change. They have drafted a few seemingly good D men over the last few drafts. Hopefully they will be patient while waiting for them to develop.
- mickel25

Sorry about the edit. I'm using an iPhone at work. It clicked submit by accident. Anyways, yes there's six or seven defenseman in their system that I like. I also hope they go big on defense again this year in this draft, like last year. I like what they're building on defense and I hope it continues.

I am not sure he is positioned to succeed on this team. Putting him in this line-up is like trying to place a round peg in a square hole. I think it would be best for both him and the team if he gets traded. But Homer will not let a prized acquisition go just after 1 season.
- missingmike

I think he'd let him go. I'm just not sure anyone would take him with that cap hit. I wanted schenn to play center this season. Allow him to settle into the spot instead of playing him all over. I thought Vinny was a luxury signing that didn't need to be made. I was hoping the team would target a two way forward to play with couts and read

I don't think the Flyers have a single "terrible" defenseman on an individual level -- they are all bonafide NHL Dmen . What I worry about it is the mix of players. They have too many 4th to 6th Dmen and not top 3s.
- bmeltzer

Exactly

i just looked at our AHL stats....

only 2 phantoms in the top 100 in scoring....

I think he'd let him go. I'm just not sure anyone would take him with that cap hit. I wanted schenn to play center this season. Allow him to settle into the spot instead of playing him all over. I thought Vinny was a luxury signing that didn't need to be made. I was hoping the team would target a two way forward to play with couts and read
- PhillySportsGuy

They did. They traded Talbot for him. And he played well. And now he's playing like Steve Downie without any of his strengths (tenacity, shreds of hockey sense, toughness).

You've seen enough of Powe's games in the AHL this year to make you think he's a good 4th line option for the 14-15 season?

And who are we taking back as a cap dump to make this proposed Lecavalier-Gardiner trade work?
- Feanor

I'm pretty sure these nearly daily bad trade proposals are, at this point, a form of pot-stirring more than anything else.

It's a bad mix of players and quite honestly, when the coach doesn't follow through when he talks about discipline and accountability, things like this will happen.

You can't bench Jay Rosehill and expect Claude Giroux to backcheck better. You can't bench Erik Gustafsson and expect Luke Schenn to get the message. You can't bench Steve Downie and expect Scott Hartnell to play more disciplined.

Once in awhile, you need to whack a sacred cow to send a message
- Jsaquella

The D is just so bad as a group. Last night they could have had a two man advantage for an extra 20-25 seconds but they would not turn over the puck to get a whistle. I was screaming and the whole group on the ice at that time was pathetic and brain dead. Guarantee you Emery will not come back to this train wreck. Mason despite being a rebound machine has played fantastic or we would probably have at least 10 points less in the standings.

i just looked at our AHL stats....

only 2 phantoms in the top 100 in scoring....


- PhillaBully

1. Terry
2. Murray

I don't think the Flyers have a single "terrible" defenseman on an individual level -- they are all bonafide NHL Dmen . What I worry about it is the mix of players. They have too many 4th to 6th Dmen and not top 3s.
- bmeltzer

Spot in Bill!! ....then add that they are paid like top pairing, and you can easily see, Homer made some BIG blunders!!!!

I'm pretty sure these nearly daily bad trade proposals are, at this point, a form of pot-stirring more than anything else.
- wolfhounds

We need more toughness. Any chance we could lure Sean Avery out of retirement?

What's Matthew Barnaby's studio job buyout?

Spot in Bill!! ....then add that they are paid like top pairing, and you can easily see, Homer made some BIG blunders!!!!
- Hokeeguy9

Which of these defenseman are making the $6-$7M per season besides Timonen?