Richards 1:39 SH TOI
Carter 1:33 SH TOI
- MJL

Close enough

Point is Carter is more deserving than Nash of a spot on the team IMO

Kinda kidding but not really, their numbers are pretty comparable and Simmonds is just finding his game.
- Yosimar89

lucic legitimately makes me shudder to think of the pens having to play boston. i still think bergeron is their most important player, but lucic just embodies why they destroy the pens. im not saying simmonds is a wussy by any means, but he just doesnt have that im going to eat your children, board you face first into the glass, and then bang in a rebound goal while pillaging the country side vibe that lucic just exudes.

simmonds is already a great player though, and should he keep progressing at even a more mean regressing rate, he will be an absolute force. on a steal of a contract to boot.

Close enough

Point is Carter is more deserving than Nash of a spot on the team IMO
- Yosimar89

Maybe, but it comes down to what can Nash give you playing with big time players beside him. Can't ignore the skill and physical package.

ive heard richie has been in steep decline. you guys probably keep up with them better than i do. i only catch their games when the odd one comes on NBCSN. has richie faded while carter has taken on a bigger role?
- stayinthefnnet

I get FSNWest here in Vegas so i catch them pretty often.

Richie just seems slow and worn out sometimes... Carter gets 19 minutes a game while Richards gets 17.

Close enough

Point is Carter is more deserving than Nash of a spot on the team IMO
- Yosimar89

Nash is getting a spot because his NHL teams sucked and he repped Canada at the WC so many times that he has experience on the big ice.

Related: Steve Mason does not get that same benefit of the doubt from hockey people from his CBJ days. Apparently, that franchise sucking is all Mason's fault.

Maybe, but it comes down to what can Nash give you playing with big time players beside him. Can't ignore the skill and physical package.
- MJL

yeah. i realize i dont have a statistical point to back this up, but if i have crosby out on the ice, and can pick from a winger to flank him between carter or nash, i pick nash every time.

I get FSNWest here in Vegas so i catch them pretty often.

Richie just seems slow and worn out sometimes... Carter gets 19 minutes a game while Richards gets 17.
- Yosimar89

thats a shame. i know sometimes those heart and soul guys can wear down quicker. i hated that he was the flyers captain but he was difficult to not respect the hell out of.

Nash is getting a spot because his NHL teams sucked and he repped Canada at the WC so many times that he has experience on the big ice.

Related: Steve Mason does not get that same benefit of the doubt from hockey people from his CBJ days. Apparently, that franchise sucking is all Mason's fault.
- johndewar

Right over your head.

thats a shame. i know sometimes those heart and soul guys can wear down quicker. i hated that he was the flyers captain but he was difficult to not respect the hell out of.
- stayinthefnnet

Well Richards is in a big goal scoring slump. But a lot of time, it really has to do with a player's role, and how he's being used. And some players sacrifice personal goals for the good of the team. But LA sure could use Richards picking up his offensive game.

Right over your head.
- MunsterMike

I've had a long week, so it's highly possible I'm missing something....

Well Richards is in a big goal scoring slump. But a lot of time, it really has to do with a player's role, and how he's being used. And some players sacrifice personal goals for the good of the team. But LA sure could use Richards picking up his offensive game.
- MJL

true. its hard to tell with strictly numbers, but i havent watched enough games to see just how well he is handling whatever role he is being assigned. but yeah, numbers are hard to come by there with how defensively responsible they are. one of my favorite players, kopitar, on a different team, would be higher statistically for sure.

Meanwhile the jackets are winning again 1-0

I've had a long week, so it's highly possible I'm missing something....
- johndewar

Oh, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Here's one thing that happens a lot with the Flyers that I don't like. In 5 on 5 play, Giroux was on the ice for 19 faceoffs. He had 6 O zone starts, 3 Neutral zone starts, and 10 D zone starts. I'd like to see more O zone starts for him. But I think it was because he such a good night on draws. But I'd like to see a different ratio.

Here's one thing that happens a lot with the Flyers that I don't like. In 5 on 5 play, Giroux was on the ice for 19 faceoffs. He had 6 O zone starts, 3 Neutral zone starts, and 10 D zone starts. I'd like to see more O zone starts for him. But I think it was because he such a good night on draws. But I'd like to see a different ratio.
- MJL

i think youre exactly right with the faceoff thing. who else would you want out there for a crucial d zone draw late in a one goal game? i guess the trick is being able to effectively get him off without burning a shift after taking/winning the draw

- PhillySportsGuy

I wonder who gets the starters job for team Russia? It's gonna be interesting for sure.

Varly and Bob are the same age, and but Semyon has always been viewed as the blue chip guy (1st round pick), while Bob went undrafted and was always seen as the number 2 to come out of that year.

He's played more WJC's and WC's for russia, and is having a great season for the AVS but Bob's numbers this year aren't far behind and he won the Vezina last year.

At the beginning of the year it seemed all but sure that Bob would get the nod with Ilya getting bought out and Varlamov having some pretty mediocre numbers last year. But now... he might have to play second fiddle to the guy again.

I think the Flyers after the first 10 minutes or so, skated hard and played hard. But they need to play better defensively. Mason made some great saves to keep them in the game. They gave up 17 3rd period shots. Far too many for my liking.

I think the Flyers after the first 10 minutes or so, skated hard and played hard. But they need to play better defensively. Mason made some great saves to keep them in the game. They gave up 17 3rd period shots. Far too many for my liking.
- MJL

yeah. mason stole that game. but the avs are a sneaky good team. overall, its hard to not be impressed by the flyers during the last 8 days or so.

yeah. mason stole that game. but the avs are a sneaky good team. overall, its hard to not be impressed by the flyers during the last 8 days or so.
- stayinthefnnet

See, the thing is, Mason being good at hockey goes against a ton of writer narratives.

Right, Ryan Lambert?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...=AwrBEiFkY_RSOFoAcwtNbK5_

See, the thing is, Mason being good at hockey goes against a ton of writer narratives.

Right, Ryan Lambert?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...=AwrBEiFkY_RSOFoAcwtNbK5_
- johndewar

haha i realize your point, but i could care less what they have to say. mason was very good once, and for some reason, things managed to fall apart in columbus. for those reasons, you guys were able to take a chance on a reclamation project, and this one seems to have struck gold. i guess anyone can always regress again, but this has been going on long enough for me to get the impression that it isnt exactly a fluke. he has single handedly kept the flyers in his fair share of games, while perhaps even more importantly not really costing them any of his own accord. he isnt totally unbeatable, but he has the extremely important quality of simply making the saves he should make nearly all of the time.

haha i realize your point, but i could care less what they have to say. mason was very good once, and for some reason, things managed to fall apart in columbus. for those reasons, you guys were able to take a chance on a reclamation project, and this one seems to have struck gold. i guess anyone can always regress again, but this has been going on long enough for me to get the impression that it isnt exactly a fluke. he has single handedly kept the flyers in his fair share of games, while perhaps even more importantly not really costing them any of his own accord. he isnt totally unbeatable, but he has the extremely important quality of simply making the saves he should make nearly all of the time.
- stayinthefnnet

Mason's issues in Columbus were a combination of a lot of things. His own immaturity and conditioning, his being unrecptive to coaching at times and a reportedly questionable work ethic.

That said, there was a distinct lack of communication on the side of the team. They had a bad team in front of him and really didn't have much success in making adjustments in his game. Even with equipment, they had a complete breakdown in communication-Mason's gear was too small and he was getting dinged up and the coaches wrong told him his gear was the maximum size allowed.

Since coming to Philly, he's shown that a lot of those things have either changed or were not really issues. He's worked his ass off, both to stay in shape and refine his game with Jeff Reese. He's adopted a very good mental approach to focus on shirt stretches of time. He doesn't dwell on a goal against, bad or not.

He knew he was getting a second chance and that if he blew it, he likely wasn't getting a third.

Mason's issues in Columbus were a combination of a lot of things. His own immaturity and conditioning, his being unrecptive to coaching at times and a reportedly questionable work ethic.

That said, there was a distinct lack of communication on the side of the team. They had a bad team in front of him and really didn't have much success in making adjustments in his game. Even with equipment, they had a complete breakdown in communication-Mason's gear was too small and he was getting dinged up and the coaches wrong told him his gear was the maximum size allowed.

Since coming to Philly, he's shown that a lot of those things have either changed or were not really issues. He's worked his ass off, both to stay in shape and refine his game with Jeff Reese. He's adopted a very good mental approach to focus on shirt stretches of time. He doesn't dwell on a goal against, bad or not.

He knew he was getting a second chance and that if he blew it, he likely wasn't getting a third.
- Jsaquella

Beyond the equipment thing....That franchise put EVERYTHING on him after his rookie year. How fair was that?

And I'm sure he had maturity issues. No doubt. But demanding competence in the organization shouldn't constitute "he's a trouble maker". I mean, after seeing Bryz's act, Mason has obviously integrated himself into the room.

Mason might not have acquitted himself perfectly in Columbus, but I'd submit the expectations, given the talent they had, were way out of whack.

Mason's issues in Columbus were a combination of a lot of things. His own immaturity and conditioning, his being unrecptive to coaching at times and a reportedly questionable work ethic.

That said, there was a distinct lack of communication on the side of the team. They had a bad team in front of him and really didn't have much success in making adjustments in his game. Even with equipment, they had a complete breakdown in communication-Mason's gear was too small and he was getting dinged up and the coaches wrong told him his gear was the maximum size allowed.

Since coming to Philly, he's shown that a lot of those things have either changed or were not really issues. He's worked his ass off, both to stay in shape and refine his game with Jeff Reese. He's adopted a very good mental approach to focus on shirt stretches of time. He doesn't dwell on a goal against, bad or not.

He knew he was getting a second chance and that if he blew it, he likely wasn't getting a third.
- Jsaquella

exactly. i wouldnt question the path that lead to where you guys currently are with him too much. hes given a large enough sample size for me to believe you have a long term starter in him. now if you guys ever actually made the move for the defender (i know you cant force whats not there, but still, you have the assets), you guys would have me really worried

Beyond the equipment thing....That franchise put EVERYTHING on him after his rookie year. How fair was that?

And I'm sure he had maturity issues. No doubt. But demanding competence in the organization shouldn't constitute "he's a trouble maker". I mean, after seeing Bryz's act, Mason has obviously integrated himself into the room.

Mason might not have acquitted himself perfectly in Columbus, but I'd submit the expectations, given the talent they had, were way out of whack.
- johndewar

It's definitely a better run organization now. They didn't give him a lot of help. Hard to complain about Mason as a Flyer. 50+ games, .922 save %...he's been good.