He's still only 24 years old. He still has time to learn and improve. People forget he's been in the league since he was drafted. People also forget he was on some very dreadful Maple Leafs teams where they put him in situations that he might not have been ready for. When you're in a tough situation like that, of course your confidence is going to take a hit, and it's probably thrown off the whole maturation process too.
- KGBflyers10

The thing that would go a long way to making me remember that is if he shows up in camp in game shape and ready to work. Committing to getting better is great, but you've gotta put in the work. And last year I did not see that early on from Schenn the elder.

The thing that would go a long way to making me remember that is if he shows up in camp in game shape and ready to work. Committing to getting better is great, but you've gotta put in the work. And last year I did not see that early on from Schenn the elder.
- flyler

He was pretty deep in Chief's Chateau du Bowwow early in the year.

I'd say if Fat Schenn pulls a stunt like he pulled last year, Hextall will make him disappear.

He was pretty deep in Chief's Chateau du Bowwow early in the year.

I'd say if Fat Schenn pulls a stunt like he pulled last year, Hextall will make him disappear.
- johndewar

Yeah, the threat of getting benched for Nick Schultz is a bit more credible than getting benched for the USS Hal Gill.

I don't fully understanding Wyshynski's point of going to the KHL being "titanically stupid".

It may not be what I would do, but making big tax free money sounds (frank)ing awesome.
- johndewar

My guess is, that he's talking about the negative view that Krug might get. If you goes over and dominates people say he dominated a lesser level, if he goes over and struggles and people say well, see wasn't that good after all

My guess is, that he's talking about the negative view that Krug might get. If you goes over and dominates people say he dominated a lesser leave, if you goes over and struggles and people say well, see wasn't that good after all
- Jsaquella

Krug would certainly be taking a risk.....for which, he would be handsomely rewarded RIGHT NOW as opposed to waiting for his turn to get paid.

And if he is really as good as he thinks he is? It's not like the NHL doesn't scout the KHL or anything. They'll know where to find him.

Again.....I may not do it, but I see the reasoning behind why someone would do it. I wouldn't term it "titanically stupid", that's for sure.

My guess is, that he's talking about the negative view that Krug might get. If you goes over and dominates people say he dominated a lesser level, if he goes over and struggles and people say well, see wasn't that good after all
- Jsaquella

I think he just forgot Giordano ever happened -- like trips to the KHL are one-way unless you're Jaromir Jagr.

Dating back to the John Stevens era, the Flyers have almost always had great special teams play. If they break even at even strength, it should be enough to put them in the playoffs in the east. Anything more than breaking even at ES would be icing on the cake in my book.

Outshooting the opposition by 132 shots over the course of a season is a solid number. It gives you about 11 more goals at ES throughout a season.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's less then two shots attempted a game. It's meaningless.

He was pretty deep in Chief's Chateau du Bowwow early in the year.

I'd say if Fat Schenn pulls a stunt like he pulled last year, Hextall will make him disappear.
- johndewar

Lots of players came into camp softer than they should have. I want to see improvements from the start from Luke Schenn, Lecavilier, Del Zotto and Umberger. If those guys can show some serious commitment and start the season off with something to prove, we'll have a seriously good Hockey Club.

Lots of players came into camp softer than they should have. I want to see improvements from the start from Luke Schenn, Lecavilier, Del Zotto and Umberger. If those guys can show some serious commitment and start the season off with something to prove, we'll have a seriously good Hockey Club.
- flyler

Chief singled out Luke Schenn pretty quickly and publicly early last year.

And apparently, Umberger is a real fitness nut. Not Brindy level (i.e.--completely insane gym rat), but Umberger's problems weren't fitness related....he was flat out hurt.

At least Warrant had hot chicks in the videos
- Jsaquella

I think he just forgot Giordano ever happened -- like trips to the KHL are one-way unless you're Jaromir Jagr.
- Tomahawk

That's Joe's well. Even Radulov came back for brief period

Krug would certainly be taking a risk.....for which, he would be handsomely rewarded RIGHT NOW as opposed to waiting for his turn to get paid.

And if he is really as good as he thinks he is? It's not like the NHL doesn't scout the KHL or anything. They'll know where to find him.

Again.....I may not do it, but I see the reasoning behind why someone would do it. I wouldn't term it "titanically stupid", that's for sure.
- johndewar

I agree the degree of stupidity is overstated. It's definitely a viable option and I was more playing devils advocate than anything else.

that stuff about flin flon is great. i always wondered where the name came from, but was too lazy to do any research.
- hammarby31

one would think, without research, that it was locally or native derived. Unlike Thunder Bay, which was named after its namesake waterbody, or Medicine Hat, the english version of a native word for medical headgear, Flin Flon as a name appears to have quite a backstory.

Maybe Torey Krug pulls a Giordano?

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ton-bruins-135731331.html
- Tomahawk

"Haggerty believes Krug is looking at a short-term deal worth $1.5-2.5 million against the cap, which would make Krug the team’s fourth-highest paid defenseman next season."

........

Lots of players came into camp softer than they should have. I want to see improvements from the start from Luke Schenn, Lecavilier, Del Zotto and Umberger. If those guys can show some serious commitment and start the season off with something to prove, we'll have a seriously good Hockey Club.
- flyler

That's where I am -- there's pieces to work with. They had 94 points last season after the single-worst start I've ever seen from a team that went on to make the playoffs. It's not like they're the Oilers, right?

Teams in the East have gotten better, and a team like New Jersey can't possibly be as unlucky as they were last season.

But the inverse is also true -- there's no way in hell the Flyers are gonna be as brutal as they were at the start of last season. If a team like Tampa can count on improvement from young players as a reason they are going to take another step forward, why can't the Flyers say the same things about their young players?

There's no reason that Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn shouldn't be better than last season -- Couturier was markedly better when he had two, two-way forwards on his line. And as much as I thought Jason Akeson earned his shot and did well with it, what if the Flyers actually put a better player on that wing?

What I'm saying is that while the Flyers didn't add much, and the loss of Timonen is significant, they should still win hockey games. It's probably not going to be pretty. But there's no reason why they shouldn't be winning hockey games -- other teams have question marks, too!

I agree the degree of stupidity is overstated. It's definitely a viable option and I was more playing devils advocate than anything else.
- Jsaquella

Chief singled out Luke Schenn pretty quickly and publicly early last year.

And apparently, Umberger is a real fitness nut. Not Brindy level (i.e.--completely insane gym rat), but Umberger's problems weren't fitness related....he was flat out hurt.
- johndewar

True, I'm singling out the guys with Pro experience who need to have a better season for Philly to be a contending team. Other guys like Akeson, White & Bellamare could be surprises as well. This team has a lot of possibilities and has a lot of risky players signed. If they come in with something to prove, this could be a really good team. But it all hinges on guys rising to the occasion.

It's less then two shots attempted a game. It's meaningless.
- MJL

When you break things down into the smallest scale possible, it does become irrelevant. We're looking at the shot differential for an entire season though. 132 more ES shots means about 11 more ES goals during the course of a season.

When the NHL changes its season from 82 games to 1 game, then your argument will make sense.

I feel like you don't understand the difference between individual circumstances and large sample sizes.

That's where I am -- there's pieces to work with. They had 94 points last season after the single-worst start I've ever seen from a team that went on to make the playoffs. It's not like they're the Oilers, right?

Teams in the East have gotten better, and a team like New Jersey can't possibly be as unlucky as they were last season.

But the inverse is also true -- there's no way in hell the Flyers are gonna be as brutal as they were at the start of last season. If a team like Tampa can count on improvement from young players as a reason they are going to take another step forward, why can't the Flyers say the same things about their young players?

There's no reason that Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn shouldn't be better than last season -- Couturier was markedly better when he had two, two-way forwards on his line. And as much as I thought Jason Akeson earned his shot and did well with it, what if the Flyers actually put a better player on that wing?

What I'm saying is that while the Flyers didn't add much, and the loss of Timonen is significant, they should still win hockey games. It's probably not going to be pretty. But there's no reason why they shouldn't be winning hockey games -- other teams have question marks, too!
- AllInForFlyers

Exactly, a lot of question marks on this team. It's not a forgone conclusion that all of those chances are going to fail. They just need to make sure they start on the right foot this year.

You know guys, Dominick Hasek was nothing but a backup with a sub-.900 save percentage his first 3 years in the league. So really, Steve Mason is better than Dominick Hasek.

See how stupid that sounds?

Belfour = HOFer
Mason = NHL starter.

Mason was bad in December and January. Any stretch of below .900 save percentage at the NHL level is on the goalie.
- psuhockey

That's total BS. If the defense is giving up tons of powerplays and also routinely having terrible breakdowns at ES then any goalie will struggle. Go watch the January games against TB and Boston where the Flyers imploded as team.

When you break things down into the smallest scale possible, it does become irrelevant. We're looking at the shot differential for an entire season though. 132 more ES shots means about 11 more ES goals during the course of a season.

When the NHL changes its season from 82 games to 1 game, then your argument will make sense.

I feel like you don't understand the difference between individual circumstances and large sample sizes.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, but that 11 ES goals over 82 games equates to less than 1 goal per game, and since you can't have fractions, it rounds to 0 more ES goals per game. 0 x 82 = 0. So it's irrelevant. I win.

/extrEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEme sarcasm.

When you break things down into the smallest scale possible, it does become irrelevant. We're looking at the shot differential for an entire season though. 132 more ES shots means about 11 more ES goals during the course of a season.

When the NHL changes its season from 82 games to 1 game, then your argument will make sense.

I feel like you don't understand the difference between individual circumstances and large sample sizes.
- PhillySportsGuy

Even at the tiniest level, 2 shots per is still significant, considering only 25-35 get put on net by either side per game. 6-8% is a pretty significant margin.

Yeah, but that 11 ES goals over 82 games equates to less than 1 goal per game, and since you can't have fractions, it rounds to 0 more ES goals per game. 0 x 82 = 0. So it's irrelevant. I win.

/extrEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEme sarcasm.
- jmatchett383

When you break things down into the smallest scale possible, it does become irrelevant. We're looking at the shot differential for an entire season though. 132 more ES shots means about 11 more ES goals during the course of a season.

When the NHL changes its season from 82 games to 1 game, then your argument will make sense.

I feel like you don't understand the difference between individual circumstances and large sample sizes.
- PhillySportsGuy

Get your popcorn ready.