NESN feed guys at the 1st intermission:

The one gentleman was amazed at how easily the Bruins were able to cruise around and pass the puck around the Flyers. He mentioned how lifeless Philly looked and how there was almost no physical play on the defensive side of the puck, how the Flyers were just going through the motions with a stick sweep/check. Another key item he addressed was how a team like the Flyers would always get up for a Bruins game and that things must be 'bad' in Philadelphia for the Flyers to look so listless.

Bill, that was a good write up as always. Things here can get a but negative no doubt. I think there is a lot of frustration here because we feel this team can do better, they aren't winning the cup, but they are better than what has been out on the ice the past few games. To me this team looks tired physically and mentally. Those come from behind games take a lot of the players and it is showing now.

My biggest problems are the lack of 60 minute effort and the lack of leadership. I know they aren't going to win ever game and that there will be games were they are just off. The problem is and in fact has been for years now is the lack of being able to consistently play a full 60 minutes. To me it seems no one is leading this team. G is a great player, I know I was all over him at the beginning of the season, but I'm not sold on his being a leader. Being the top player on the team doesn't mean that you will be a good leader. To me the leaders of this team need to say or set the example that everyone has to be present and put in the effort. No taking shifts or worse yet full periods off and I don't see that. Not saying that that means they will win ever game, but it will be a hell of a lot less frustrating to watch.

NESN feed guys at the 1st intermission:

The one gentleman was amazed at how easily the Bruins were able to cruise around and pass the puck around the Flyers. He mentioned how lifeless Philly looked and how there was almost no physical play on the defensive side of the puck, how the Flyers were just going through the motions with a stick sweep/check. Another key item he addressed was how a team like the Flyers would always get up for a Bruins game and that things must be 'bad' in Philadelphia for the Flyers to look so listless.
- Pixote Andolini

yeah, negative whining,

Wow, great synopsis of the Flyers season to this point.

My real concern right now is that Craig Berube has misdiagnosed the Flyers poor play as a “confidence problem” and not a problem with their fundamental style of play. In fact, the Flyers don’t seem to have a set style of play and the “system” that Berube put into place in late October and November has completely disappeared. The fact that he doesn’t seem to see this causes me much more concern than any personnel issues that the team has.

NESN feed guys at the 1st intermission:

The one gentleman was amazed at how easily the Bruins were able to cruise around and pass the puck around the Flyers. He mentioned how lifeless Philly looked and how there was almost no physical play on the defensive side of the puck, how the Flyers were just going through the motions with a stick sweep/check. Another key item he addressed was how a team like the Flyers would always get up for a Bruins game and that things must be 'bad' in Philadelphia for the Flyers to look so listless.
- Pixote Andolini

All true.

This is why I always prefer listening to the other team's feed. I want that perspective. And there's no way and hell JJ and Coatsey would say anything remotely like that.

NESN feed guys at the 1st intermission:

The one gentleman was amazed at how easily the Bruins were able to cruise around and pass the puck around the Flyers. He mentioned how lifeless Philly looked and how there was almost no physical play on the defensive side of the puck, how the Flyers were just going through the motions with a stick sweep/check. Another key item he addressed was how a team like the Flyers would always get up for a Bruins game and that things must be 'bad' in Philadelphia for the Flyers to look so listless.
- Pixote Andolini

This is what I mean by lack of leadership. Stuff like that isn't a coaching problem it is a player problem. This is why I'm finding this years team so difficult to be happy with and hard to really like.

Wow, great synopsis of the Flyers season to this point.

My real concern right now is that Craig Berube has misdiagnosed the Flyers poor play as a “confidence problem” and not a problem with their fundamental style of play. In fact, the Flyers don’t seem to have a set style of play and the “system” that Berube put into place in late October and November has completely disappeared. The fact that he doesn’t seem to see this causes me much more concern than any personnel issues that the team has.
- JustFred236

When he was hired he called himself a Darryl Sutter disciple, Sutter's teams are very structured & organized.

So apparently the Flyers are going through a bag skate practice, and Hartnell has a maintenance day. One of the main culprits of dumb, undisciplined play, gets the day off.

All true.

This is why I always prefer listening to the other team's feed. I want that perspective. And there's no way and hell JJ and Coatsey would say anything remotely like that.

- FlyerGuy

the team pays them, they can only say so much

Bill are you saying that the Flyers have decent talent and when they all buckle down and play within the system they can be a playoff team? But if they loose concentration, panic, or relax a little they turn into what we saw yesterday? Isn't that just another way of saying they aren't a good team and the players arent good enough? Maybe their players,individually, have NHL skill, but they don't have the drive or mindset to bring it every night? Isn't that what makes one player better than another? This is the least interesting Flyers team, to me, that I can remember. I know they're not going to win every game, but at least you could usually count on the Flyers to entertain you. I'm having a hard time watching these guys.

I dont think they showed up yesterday and they have been getting bad habits again. Its fairly obvious.

I agree with many of the comments made about endless line tinkering. Maybe after the olympic break ,barring any more injuries or locker room issues ( who of us knows , but players could be in coaches dog houses for various reason) Keep Raffle on the top line as it was when productive, reunite the Couts-Read-Downie Line and put players in their earned ability spots. There were also great suggestions for the D pairings in prior posts

Too many times players are slotted by salary not by effectiveness. Its the reverse of moneyball. The thought process is that they are paying this guy XX millions and we have to give him top line or second line minutes and PP time

VL and MS were signings that were designed to keep people interested in buying season tickets and single game tickets, not make the team better.
It pains me to see VL flailing around with his stick and losing his footing. He is only 33. I dont remember him being like that before. Maybe he is really not recovered from this back thing and Downie is not recovered from his injury

Or maybe some of these people dont get along and wont play for each other on a consistent basis, or are incapable of playing with the level of commitment required shift in and out given the teams mismatched skill set and abilities.
Which really makes me PO'd when you see other lesser teams work hard and achieve.

This is what I mean by lack of leadership. Stuff like that isn't a coaching problem it is a player problem. This is why I'm finding this years team so difficult to be happy with and hard to really like.
- LJF

I'm right there with you. I guess that's what Holmgren was thinking Vinnie and Streit were going to bring to the team?

I dont think they showed up yesterday and they have been getting bad habits again. Its fairly obvious.

I agree with many of the comments made about endless line tinkering. Maybe after the olympic break ,barring any more injuries or locker room issues ( who of us knows , but players could be in coaches dog houses for various reason) Keep Raffle on the top line as it was when productive, reunite the Couts-Read-Downie Line and put players in their earned ability spots. There were also great suggestions for the D pairings in prior posts

Too many times players are slotted by salary not by effectiveness. Its the reverse of moneyball. The thought process is that they are paying this guy XX millions and we have to give him top line or second line minutes and PP time

VL and MS were signings that were designed to keep people interested in buying season tickets and single game tickets, not make the team better.
It pains me to see VL flailing around with his stick and losing his footing. He is only 33. I dont remember him being like that before. Maybe he is really not recovered from this back thing and Downie is not recovered from his injury

Or maybe some of these people dont get along and wont play for each other on a consistent basis, or are incapable of playing with the level of commitment required shift in and out given the teams mismatched skill set and abilities.
Which really makes me PO'd when you see other lesser teams work hard and achieve.
- Steelmanpa

YUP!

Don't be negative, just keep paying $$$ & enjoy!

no offense, but you take the whiners out & the building is 1/2 empty, nice!

Don't be negative, enjoy the blowouts
- puckhead17

It wasn't about negativity it was more people being irrational. You saw a lot of "we need to trade so and so for whatever we can get. This seasons over"

NESN feed guys at the 1st intermission:

The one gentleman was amazed at how easily the Bruins were able to cruise around and pass the puck around the Flyers. He mentioned how lifeless Philly looked and how there was almost no physical play on the defensive side of the puck, how the Flyers were just going through the motions with a stick sweep/check. Another key item he addressed was how a team like the Flyers would always get up for a Bruins game and that things must be 'bad' in Philadelphia for the Flyers to look so listless.
- Pixote Andolini

Are they under orders for no one get hurt before the carnival or do they smell a trade coming. They looked a bit like the team in 06-07 before Hitch was fired, not quite as stupid, but certainly not in the game at all

It wasn't about negativity it was more people being irrational. You saw a lot of "we need to trade so and so for whatever we can get. This seasons over"
- PhillySportsGuy

People are going to say this & that, when it comes to improving the product, its only natural, again, take out these individuals & the building is 1/2 empty, no one wants to continue watching these zombie listless blowouts anymore.
I have said only a prudent move would help this team, a careful trade, but such is required at this point.
This market is too large (and the fan base), to just stink, tank & rebuild, what good will "building through the draft" be when the fan base is impatient, you don't sign the top free agents & rebuild at the same time.

People are going to say this & that, when it comes to improving the product, its only natural, again, take out these individuals & the building is 1/2 empty, no one wants to continue watching these zombie listless blowouts anymore.
I have said only a prudent move would help this team, a careful trade, but such is required at this point.
This market is too large (and the fan base), to just stink, tank & rebuild, what good will "building through the draft" be when the fan base is impatient, you don't sign the top free agents & rebuild at the same time.
- puckhead17

A good trade might help at this point, but it won't fix the fundamental identity crisis this team has. Are they a "defense first, puck possession" team like Berube intends or are they a "run and gun" team like Laviolette had? Right now they are playing neither style it seems. They're as directionless as they were in the first few game of the season. I pity the player who gets traded into this mess before the team identity crisis gets sorted out.

yeah, negative whining,
- puckhead17

oddy enough there is a difference

All true.

This is why I always prefer listening to the other team's feed. I want that perspective. And there's no way and hell JJ and Coatsey would say anything remotely like that.

- FlyerGuy

i'm more than ok with missing out on jack edwards yesterday

It's just the way it is. It's what they always will be as long as eddy's there. They are like the nhl's version of the Dallas cowboys. Ask cowboys fans what they think of Jerry jones and their chances. In a cap environment these clubs are far behind the times.
- Just5

I guess when they went to finals four seasons ago Ed had no idea how to run a team in a cap environment right. I am not happy with this team currently. But again to say they will never win with an owner that is willing to do anything to win is just not true.

I get it. I get it all.

I understand the points of view from both the "experts" to the"Hockey 101" group who voice their frustration over the curious off season signings, poor play, questionable roster selections and line pairings.

I understand the hair pulling, chair throwing, wall beating-like verbal assault being spewed on this blog after every depressing loss and all the suggestions offered as quick fix remedies from player movement, to coaching/GM changes.

I. like most of us, stand guilty as charged on occasion.

But also, like the vast majority of us, I want nothing more than an honest effort each and every night at the very least, regardless of who is in the lineup, regardless of the talent. I don't think this is too much to ask for. I've seen the best this team can offer and the worst. And I truly believe at the end of the day that they are somewhere in the middle. And that's the part that fries my butt. We should be better.

It's the chicken or the egg question. Has the GM put together a team capable, both physically and mentally, of a deep run toward the Cup, both this year and for years to come, or is it the coach who cannot prepare a team properly to compete every night? Until that's ironed out and we're back to where we as the fan base believe this team should be, this kind of ranting will most likely continue.

A good trade might help at this point, but it won't fix the fundamental identity crisis this team has. Are they a "defense first, puck possession" team like Berube intends or are they a "run and gun" team like Laviolette had? Right now they are playing neither style it seems. They're as directionless as they were in the first few game of the season. I pity the player who gets traded into this mess before the team identity crisis gets sorted out.
- JustFred236

I understand & agree, but the right move can only help the situation, we have 3 defenders that can't skate, (coach says D help join in on the rush)
Just an example

Good points on the identity, but, you don't reel off hot streaks (sometimes) and wonder what your identity is.
You don't win 5 of 6 on a road trip & have an identity crises.
The goaltending is ok with support.
The top 6 upfront isn't great, but, it's good enough
The top 4 on the blue line isn't good enough, that's the GM's job to fix it
Edit,you heard Kimmo's rant, it's a skating game, yes everyone was handed their a$$e$ yesterday & the game before, but they are very slow on the backend, and unless you play a expansion team style trap, you will be exposed badly.

Having now had a day to reflect on yesterday i still hold to the following:

1. Untouchable players for me: Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds

2. Borderline Untouchable( Only used in a package to get a legit number 1 dman): Couturier and B. Schenn

3. All other forwards and dmen are open.

4. The team is not as bad as they looked yesterday or really over the past few weeks nor are they as good as they looked during their winning streaks. It's a long season and you have peaks and valleys.

5. Personally I sit Grossmaan before I sit L. Schenn or Mez..L Schenn can at least play a nasty game when needed and Mez has some offensive skill. The big Swede isn't bringing much right now. Again, I think this is a valley for him not a constant reflection.

6. If a GM change takes place I want someone who has never been employed by the Flyers as a player. Maybe Hexy or Poulin or someone else would be a great GM but what I know is the Flyers culture has not won a cup in decades and they need some new blood there I think.

7. Unless you are getting a player that truly helps your team this season and the following seasons then I don't want a reactionary trade. A 31 or younger Number 1 or number 2 dman... A younger than 31 sniper to play with Giroux and Voracek.

8. I want Rinaldo to get back in the lineup and at least bring some life to the rink. He does things wrong..he also never takes a shift off and goes 110% when he is out there.. I feel Simmonds is like this but with a higher skill level.

Everything is terrible forever, the end

The difference with Grossmann is that he's shown a track record of success in the past. Guys like Mez and Gus haven't had sustained success for a long time or in Gus' case, ever.

I still think this team would be best if they shared the wealth (Timonen & Coburn) on defense. Timonen-Schenn has been a good pairing in the past. As has Grossmann-Coburn. They could then go to Streit-Mez/Gus a lot less frequently. Allow the other pairings to play 22- 23 minutes each. Then use Streit-Gus in more favorable situations.
- PhillySportsGuy

The past is immaterial, and I strongly disagree about sustained success for Grossmann compared to Meszaros. Grossmann has had issues before this year, especially with the puck.

If a guy has several bad games in a short period of time, what he did before shouldn't matter.