6-1 loss.

Thanks Obama
- hereticpride

"That was a learning for us on how a good team plays and how you play the game", amonst other honest Timo comments.

Most here think this is a talented team. If so, why can they "play as a team, skate as a team, pass as a team..." as Timo stated?
- 77rams

Personally I don't think they are that talented.

The teams with the best players are general the best teams in terms of their records. Flyers are exactly where they should be.

The problem with putting this at Berubes feet is simple...

What coach do you bring in that makes these same 6 dmena at least serviceable?
What coach do you bring in that makes these same 6 dmen quicker?
- opeth_pa

Truthfully, I put very little of this on the coaching.

This defense, 1-8, is where the blame starts. If you want to take it all the way up to Paul Holmgren, because he built it, then I certainly can't or won't stop anyone.

But this defense is average, on the best of days.

When they're playing four games in six nights, taking stupid penalties, and not getting superior help from the forwards, this defense is borderline laughable, approaching horrific.

And I've defended most of these guys, at one point or another. But come on. This defense is just...you can't even evaluate everybody else, because of how damn weak that defense is, 1-8, as a group.

when he's blocking several shots & playing tighter & cleaner, yeah, there was a big difference in his game.

Unless they can make a prudent move or two, if I were coach, I would start playing a
1-4 trap, at least the lack of puck movers on the back line wont be as noticeable.
Its boring, but at least he would be coaching to the strengths of his team, tough to expect D men to join the rush when 3 of them can't skate.
It would also help the goaltenders to find some confidence if the shots against are moved to the sides or outside, notice how we lead in shots at one point, yet we were down 2-0, Rask never broke a sweat.

edit you see some teams guarding all 5 around the net, our coverage is horrible, either they can incorporate some type of trap, where they can collapse around the net and keep them moving as a 5 man unit, because right now there is way too much space between the forwards & D men.
- puckhead17

I understand the mindset, the weakness on the team at this point cant be overcome by its strength.

If they really do go to that though, I stop watching a lot more games. That poop was horrific, and Im not going to torture myself with boring hockey.

oh poop I misread I thought you were referring to the penalty after the Giroux goal when it was 4-1.
- Cape Breton Bruins

No worries; it happens to us all.

Many of the players? Which ones do you want to get rid of and what do you expect to get for them.

You guys make broad statements, but it means nothing without examples.
- PhillySportsGuy

no it means the same with examples as without. it is a concept for fixing a pretty broad problem. with all due respect to the founder of this board, how can i be expected to know who is available and what it would cost to acquire them? how can anyone know what other gm's are willing to give for our assets? i think the list of the guys i wouldn't trade is pretty short right now, provided the return is right.

That top shelf goal that Bergereon scored - anyone see any flashed of such scoring ability from Coots? I hear him being compared to Bergeron on this board, and he (Couturier) has great instincts, much stronger on the boards this year - but I don't see much evidence of any sniping ability or good hands on him. He rarely beats a man one-on-one, rarely dangles, rarely dekes a goalie (that I recall anyway). This is something that I would think would show up occasionally even with mediocre linemates.

Am I missing something?

Edit: I am especially surprised given his record in the Q
- PT21

30 seconds in the B's gave him the puck 15' out in the slot, all alone......

Are we all still happy with that 3 years at $4.1 million extension for Mason?

Highest paid defense core in the league.

Closest thing to an actual top four d-man in the system is Morin, a questionable pick in his own right, who isn't known for his offensive game, but is projected more as a shutdown guy.

Streit and LeCavalier combine to a 9.75 million dollar cap hit.

The best d-man on the team, is probably retiring as of next season.

Take a bow Paul, take a bow. The mess the Flyers are in, they have put themselves in.

Mood?

Are we all still happy with that 3 years at $4.1 million extension for Mason?
- striker777

I really don't want to nitpick at this, because I think its a decent deal. However I said it when he signed, why not wait to the end of the season?

Maybe to see how he does against the tougher competition, post Olympics. How he may possibly do in the playoffs if the team makes it.

I do not have a huge issue, but its another Holmgren classic.

Are we all still happy with that 3 years at $4.1 million extension for Mason?
- striker777

After years and years of misfires I have no problem with it. Since the trade he's a top 12 goalie in the league making under 5 mil. Cant complain.

Highest paid defense core in the league.

Closest thing to an actual top four d-man in the system is Morin, a questionable pick in his own right, who isn't known for his offensive game, but is projected more as a shutdown guy.

Streit and LeCavalier combine to a 9.75 million dollar cap hit.

The best d-man on the team, is probably retiring as of next season.

Take a bow Paul, take a bow. The mess the Flyers are in, they have put themselves in.
- flyer_nutter

We have two defensemen who can even think about making a stretch pass. One of them is 35 years old. The other is 38.

We have ONE defenseman who can break a forecheck by skating with a puck. We have two more who can attempt it, but absolutely no one would be surprised if either of those two got stripped of the puck and an odd-man rush resulted.

We have two defensemen who should even consider being on an NHL power play, and a third who probably could. Two of those three players are 35 and 38 years old.

We have one defenseman who makes the right reads the vast majority of the time. That defenseman is 38 years old.

OMG. I'm depressing the hell out of myself.

WTF WTF WTF WTF

We have two defensemen who can even think about making a stretch pass. One of them is 35 years old. The other is 38.

We have ONE defenseman who can break a forecheck by skating with a puck. We have two more who can attempt it, but absolutely no one would be surprised if either of those two got stripped of the puck and an odd-man rush resulted.

We have two defensemen who should even consider being on an NHL power play, and a third who probably could. Two of those three players are 35 and 38 years old.

We have one defenseman who makes the right reads the vast majority of the time. That defenseman is 38 years old.

OMG. I'm depressing the hell out of myself.

WTF WTF WTF WTF
- AllInForFlyers

Pretty much the reason I was so pissed they took the very long term project Morin at the draft.

We have two defensemen who can even think about making a stretch pass. One of them is 35 years old. The other is 38.

We have ONE defenseman who can break a forecheck by skating with a puck. We have two more who can attempt it, but absolutely no one would be surprised if either of those two got stripped of the puck and an odd-man rush resulted.

We have two defensemen who should even consider being on an NHL power play, and a third who probably could. Two of those three players are 35 and 38 years old.

We have one defenseman who makes the right reads the vast majority of the time. That defenseman is 38 years old.

OMG. I'm depressing the hell out of myself.

WTF WTF WTF WTF
- AllInForFlyers

Relax, you have every right to vent. Its a joke, and while there will be hills and valleys with every team, you have every right to be frustrated with the current state of affairs.

Unfortunately, the promise of playoff gate receipts, even if only 2 games, will prevent them from doing the right thing.

Pretty much the reason I was so pissed they took the very long term project Morin at the draft.
- hereticpride

Yet lets all suck the BS that's fed our way. Morin, to make ourselves feel better may develop into something great, but he is a shutdown guy, or projected to be one.

The Flyers had a choice to take a more offensive player, say Morrissey the kind of guys that are actually rare in the game today. Nope lets go with the big bruiser.

They also had a chance at taking Maata instead of Laughton, but hell no, lets ignore the D even more. Hamilton over Couturier? Nobody hates Coots, but you had another chance to address the D and ignored it.

Traded Carter and Richards? Not one real d-man back in those deals.

They put themselves in this mess, and while a lot of fans, and parts of this post may be a little dramatic, the focal point is they had chances to address the issue, and ignored them. I am not even talking about JVR for that joke they have on the blueline now.

After years and years of misfires I have no problem with it. Since the trade he's a top 12 goalie in the league making under 5 mil. Cant complain.
- hereticpride

Using what criteria for ranking him top 12?

Unfortunately, the promise of playoff gate receipts, even if only 2 games, will prevent them from doing the right thing.
- nails

It should have been Hextall's team long ago, if that is even possible with Eddy looming in the shadows.

At the end of the day, whatever they do, so be it. I wont lie though and say that I am not a little worried what may happen if Holmgren is given one last chance to save his ass.

At the very least Hextall needs to be in place by the draft. Change the tone.

Yet lets all suck the BS that's fed our way. Morin, to make ourselves feel better may develop into something great, but he is a shutdown guy, or projected to be one.

The Flyers had a choice to take a more offensive player, say Morrissey the kind of guys that are actually rare in the game today. Nope lets go with the big bruiser.

They also had a chance at taking Maata instead of Laughton, but hell no, lets ignore the D even more. Hamilton over Couturier? Nobody hates Coots, but you had another chance to address the D and ignored it.

Traded Carter and Richards? Not one real d-man back in those deals.

They put themselves in this mess, and while a lot of fans, and parts of this post may be a little dramatic, the focal point is they had chances to address the issue, and ignored them. I am not even talking about JVR for that joke they have on the blueline now.
- flyer_nutter

The absolute killer is that by taking Couturier and having acquired Schenn and drafted Nick Cousins, with Claude Giroux then being 24 years old, you couldn't even make a coherent argument that says you needed to take Scott Laughton because of something like the age of the centers.

That's the one where that pick should've been used on a defensemen or traded for one, and it's absolutely why I have zero problems flipping Scott Laughton right this second for a defenseman -- because that pick should've either been used for one, or traded for one.

Yet lets all suck the BS that's fed our way. Morin, to make ourselves feel better may develop into something great, but he is a shutdown guy, or projected to be one.

The Flyers had a choice to take a more offensive player, say Morrissey the kind of guys that are actually rare in the game today. Nope lets go with the big bruiser.

They also had a chance at taking Maata instead of Laughton, but hell no, lets ignore the D even more. Hamilton over Couturier? Nobody hates Coots, but you had another chance to address the D and ignored it.

Traded Carter and Richards? Not one real d-man back in those deals.

They put themselves in this mess, and while a lot of fans, and parts of this post may be a little dramatic, the focal point is they had chances to address the issue, and ignored them. I am not even talking about JVR for that joke they have on the blueline now.
- flyer_nutter

if schenn were paired with a more appropriate partner, would he look as bad

The problem with putting this at Berubes feet is simple...

What coach do you bring in that makes these same 6 dmena at least serviceable?
What coach do you bring in that makes these same 6 dmen quicker?
- opeth_pa

If it's the team's composition that's lacking, then the GM should feel the heat.

If the team has talent but has improper direction, then it's the coach.

We've been through two coaches this year with no marked improvement in overall play. The team supposedly stopped listening to Lava. Bad adjustments. No accountability. What's the reason now? I was looking for slow but steady growth from this team under Berube. I haven't seen it.

Did Homer make any moves to make this team better both now and in the future this past offseason? Excluding the draft (which we won't know if it's a success or not for another three years or so), I'd say no.

Is there enough here to at least ice a respectable team who competes hard every night? I'd say yes. They've played in stretches were they've looked terrific and also too often like little kids playing against adults. Their record is no illusion. Their consistency is maddening.

If Berube can't get this team to play consistently very soon, then there is enough blame to go around for both he and Homer. I'm not expecting a mirror image of the Bruins or the Blackhawks, but I don't think that getting this team to put out a quality effort every night is asking too much from my coach.

I'm out of breath. I need to lie down.

After 1

Rimouski - 1
Drummondville - 1

No points for Morin

if schenn were paired with a more appropriate partner, would he look as bad
- nails

Not a shot at you by any means, but maybe one day they will be able to have a d-man that can make his partner better instead of always having to be hidden with the "right" guy.

After 1

Rimouski - 1
Drummondville - 1

No points for Morin
- ob18

What I really need to know about Morin's play won't show up in the boxscore.