You people are killing me with your mediocrity.
- KGBflyers10

Said everyone in the first six rows of the Flyer's end.

Well excuuuuse me... Damn who poop in your Cheerios this morning?
- JoeRussomanno

Sorry didn't realize I had to write things I don't really think in order to be in good mood.

I think that the Flyers have some good points. Claude Giroux is one of the best players in hockey, Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Wayne Simmonds is an elite PP scorer and good physical presence on the wing. Sean Couturier is an absolute stud shut down center and elite PK guy who is developing. Matt Read is another elite PK guy and underrated goal scorer who notches 20 goals a year in a defense first role. Michael Raffl is a smart, hard working youngster who skates well and has sandpaper to his game. Steve Mason has shown he has the talent to be a very good NHL goalie.

The special teams is probably the best combined unit in the NHL. The have six quality NHL defensemen. They should be in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored and may well be a playoff team again after being red hot in the second half of the season.

Didn't realize I needed to perform fellatio on the Flyers good parts before I raised questions about the not so good parts.

I'll make sure I cut and paste the above before I comment on the very real possibility that the Flyers will be a subpar 5 on 5 team again. I'll be sure to recite how wonderful Giroux is before I mention that the Coburn-MacDonald pair seriously worries me.

Sorry didn't realize I had to write things I don't really think in order to be in good mood.

I think that the Flyers have some good points. Claude Giroux is one of the best players in hockey, Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Wayne Simmonds is an elite PP scorer and good physical presence on the wing. Sean Couturier is an absolute stud shut down center and elite PK guy who is developing. Matt Read is another elite PK guy and underrated goal scorer who notches 20 goals a year in a defense first role. Michael Raffl is a smart, hard working youngster who skates well and has sandpaper to his game. Steve Mason has shown he has the talent to be a very good NHL goalie.

The special teams is probably the best combined unit in the NHL. The have six quality NHL defensemen. They should be in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored and may well be a playoff team again after being red hot in the second half of the season.

Didn't realize I needed to perform fellatio on the Flyers good parts before I raised questions about the not so good parts.
- Jsaquella

Oh you were being the yin to my yang eh?

Sorry didn't realize I had to write things I don't really think in order to be in good mood.

I think that the Flyers have some good points. Claude Giroux is one of the best players in hockey, Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Wayne Simmonds is an elite PP scorer and good physical presence on the wing. Sean Couturier is an absolute stud shut down center and elite PK guy who is developing. Matt Read is another elite PK guy and underrated goal scorer who notches 20 goals a year in a defense first role. Michael Raffl is a smart, hard working youngster who skates well and has sandpaper to his game. Steve Mason has shown he has the talent to be a very good NHL goalie.

The special teams is probably the best combined unit in the NHL. The have six quality NHL defensemen. They should be in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored and may well be a playoff team again after being red hot in the second half of the season.

Didn't realize I needed to perform fellatio on the Flyers good parts before I raised questions about the not so good parts.
- Jsaquella

It's really about balance. And from a lot of sources on here, day after day, it's all pessimism. Nothing wrong with honest evaluation of a team. But if all that is looked at is the negative, or in the very least heavily slanted towards the negative and the ifs. Then that isn't objective analysis. Because this team has a lot of good things going for it.

I'll make sure I cut and paste the above before I comment on the very real possibility that the Flyers will be a subpar 5 on 5 team again. I'll be sure to recite how wonderful Giroux is before I mention that the Coburn-MacDonald pair seriously worries me.


- Jsaquella

Here's a thought. That pairing could play well. And the Flyers could improve as a team at 5 on 5 play, to help out the defense. But that's blasphemous and doesn't fit the narrative.

It's really about balance. And from a lot of sources on here, day after day, it's all pessimism. Nothing wrong with honest evaluation of a team. But if all that is looked at is the negative, or in the very least heavily slanted towards the negative and the ifs. Then that isn't objective analysis. Because this team has a lot of good things going for it.
- MJL

I've often mentioned a lot of the good points. But it sure seems as though a lot of folks don't want to be reminded of the worrisome things, the things that reared their head in the playoffs and ended the season. Those things still exist and really haven't been corrected through personnel changes or approach.

I hope, like all of us, that they have a great season and win a Stanley Cup. But i'm not going to downplay what I feel are serious weaknesses just to make myself feel better. Yes, they could easily be a playoff team and have home ice in the first round. But they could just as easily get passed by.

As you and others have said, we have to see what happens when the games are played to know for sure. But I don't intend to start ignoring the concerns I and others have about this team because some folks don't want to hear critical comments.

I'm as excited for the season as anyone. I hope it's a long and enjoyable one. Further, I feel they are on the right path as an organization and that long term success is more important now than this season being a playoff season

Sorry didn't realize I had to write things I don't really think in order to be in good mood.

I think that the Flyers have some good points. Claude Giroux is one of the best players in hockey, Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Wayne Simmonds is an elite PP scorer and good physical presence on the wing. Sean Couturier is an absolute stud shut down center and elite PK guy who is developing. Matt Read is another elite PK guy and underrated goal scorer who notches 20 goals a year in a defense first role. Michael Raffl is a smart, hard working youngster who skates well and has sandpaper to his game. Steve Mason has shown he has the talent to be a very good NHL goalie.

The special teams is probably the best combined unit in the NHL. The have six quality NHL defensemen. They should be in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored and may well be a playoff team again after being red hot in the second half of the season.

Didn't realize I needed to perform fellatio on the Flyers good parts before I raised questions about the not so good parts.

I'll make sure I cut and paste the above before I comment on the very real possibility that the Flyers will be a subpar 5 on 5 team again. I'll be sure to recite how wonderful Giroux is before I mention that the Coburn-MacDonald pair seriously worries me.
- Jsaquella

I will probably be hung tonight for posting this but I don't believe Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Not yet. He's heading into his 7th NHL season and is a regular next to Giroux. So much so that I don't think our coaching staff is even considering separating the two. However, if your not scoring at least 30 next to an elite playmaker, then that's a problem for me.

I've often mentioned a lot of the good points. But it sure seems as though a lot of folks don't want to be reminded of the worrisome things, the things that reared their head in the playoffs and ended the season. Those things still exist and really haven't been corrected through personnel changes or approach.


- Jsaquella

A lot of folks don't want to be reminded? It's talked about ad nauseum every single day on here. Nobody needs to be reminded!

I think some people need to be reminded about what's good about the team.

How do you know those things still exist and haven't been corrected? They haven't played a single game yet! Are you kidding me? You're making my point!

Oh you were being the yin to my yang eh?
- JoeRussomanno

Nope, just offering my honest feelings on the team and their chances this season. No more and no less.

I'm not posting here everyday with strings of negativity, or criticizing every single move. I will be critical when I feel they've made a mistake or failed to correct an area of weakness, but I'm not here shredding Mason as a one hit wonder or Saying Couturier sucks and will never provide offense.

I will probably be hung tonight for posting this but I don't believe Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Not yet. He's heading into his 7th NHL season and is a regular next to Giroux. So much so that I don't think our coaching staff is even considering separating the two. However, if your not scoring at least 30 next to an elite playmaker, then that's a problem for me.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree, not yet. Until he proves it. But I think he is heading in the right direction.

I've often mentioned a lot of the good points. But it sure seems as though a lot of folks don't want to be reminded of the worrisome things, the things that reared their head in the playoffs and ended the season. Those things still exist and really haven't been corrected through personnel changes or approach.

I hope, like all of us, that they have a great season and win a Stanley Cup. But i'm not going to downplay what I feel are serious weaknesses just to make myself feel better. Yes, they could easily be a playoff team and have home ice in the first round. But they could just as easily get passed by.

As you and others have said, we have to see what happens when the games are played to know for sure. But I don't intend to start ignoring the concerns I and others have about this team because some folks don't want to hear critical comments.

I'm as excited for the season as anyone. I hope it's a long and enjoyable one. Further, I feel they are on the right path as an organization and that long term success is more important now than this season being a playoff season
- Jsaquella

I can hear negativity just fine, reading them is a whole other issue

Nope, just offering my honest feelings on the team and their chances this season. No more and no less.

I'm not posting here everyday with strings of negativity, or criticizing every single move. I will be critical when I feel they've made a mistake or failed to correct an area of weakness, but I'm not here shredding Mason as a one hit wonder or Saying Couturier sucks and will never provide offense.
- Jsaquella

Yea no doubt... I was just trying to have a lil humor with ya... Guess I failed miserably but I am pumped like a kid on Christmas Eve that the season starts tomorrow!

TSN has them #25 in their rankings to start the year, perhaps if they had Kimmo they'd have been a bit higher.
- ob18

Wow, that's insanely low. I guess it could happen with injuries etc, but they're basically ranking them with Carolina Buffalo and Edmonton as a lottery team...

I can hear negativity just fine, reading them is a whole other issue

- JoeRussomanno

I'm not even being negative, really. I'm just pointing out things that were issues last year and could very well be issues again this season.

I'm not even being negative, really. I'm just pointing out things that were issues last year and could very well be issues again this season.
- Jsaquella

And they very well could be vastly improved this season. But that is not part of the narrative offered.

NHL regular season is here! Love the new forward lines. Let's get out to a solid start.

Game day jersey tommorow (frank) yeah!

I'm not even being negative, really. I'm just pointing out things that were issues last year and could very well be issues again this season.
- Jsaquella

I agree wholeheartedly with this... But Im not gonna get stressed out until these things actually rear their ugly head. Let me put it this way... The flyers could have a reinvigorated Pronger and Shea weber for their top pair, but if the team doesn't play 200 ft it will still be a long season. Also as others have mentioned, the future is so promising so why fret over this season when we all know it's not a cup yea and the future is so promising?

I agree wholeheartedly with this... But Im not gonna get stressed out until these things actually rear their ugly head. Let me put it this way... The flyers could have a reinvigorated Pronger and Shea weber for their top pair, but if the team doesn't play 200 ft it will still be a long season. Also as others have mentioned, the future is so promising so why fret over this season when we all know it's not a cup yea and the future is so promising?
- JoeRussomanno

There's a massive difference between being stressed out and being able to discuss concerns in a critical manner. I'm not fretting over this year and even if they don't make the playoffs, it's not the end of the world. They have a ton of good kids in the system and Hextall seems intent on continuing that way.

If Hextall has a plan and sticks to it-building for long term success and establishing a deep organizational pool of talent being developed into good NHLers, a missed playoff isn't a bad thing at all. If the missed playoff results in ownership demanding immediate fixes then it will be.

To me the long term vision and striving to that is the key, not making the playoff this season. That's not to say they shouldn't be trying to make the playoffs or that they should just accept a down year. But the focus is on the future.

I will probably be hung tonight for posting this but I don't believe Jake Voracek is an elite winger. Not yet. He's heading into his 7th NHL season and is a regular next to Giroux. So much so that I don't think our coaching staff is even considering separating the two. However, if your not scoring at least 30 next to an elite playmaker, then that's a problem for me.
- SuperSchennBros

depends on your definition of elite

he is the best winger on the team by a pretty big margin

and would be a top six forward on nearly every team in the league

probably was their best skater for most of the the series vs NYRs

maybe he doesn't score 30 because he is more of a playmaker then a shooter

Is giroux playing tomorrow

depends on your definition of elite

he is the best winger on the team by a pretty big margin

and would be a top six forward on nearly every team in the league

probably was their best skater for most of the the series vs NYRs

maybe he doesn't score 30 because he is more of a playmaker then a shooter
- Marc D

That's part of it. He's definitely more a passer than shooter, although he's gradually shooting more and more.

His all around game, though, is elite, IMO. He's dynamic with the puck, creates opportunity drives possession and makes plays. His points per 60 minutes total has him in some elite company, like Hossa, Toews, Johansen, Bergeron, Couture & Krejci.

He's a pretty dominant player when he is on the ice.

Is giroux playing tomorrow
- blizzzard

Nah, his bad character showed up again, grabbed another cop's ass. He should be stripped of the C and traded to Winnipeg for Andrew Ladd

Is giroux playing tomorrow
- blizzzard

No he had an anxiety attack b/c there's no enforcer to protect him

There's a massive difference between being stressed out and being able to discuss concerns in a critical manner. I'm not fretting over this year and even if they don't make the playoffs, it's not the end of the world. They have a ton of good kids in the system and Hextall seems intent on continuing that way.

If Hextall has a plan and sticks to it-building for long term success and establishing a deep organizational pool of talent being developed into good NHLers, a missed playoff isn't a bad thing at all. If the missed playoff results in ownership demanding immediate fixes then it will be.

To me the long term vision and striving to that is the key, not making the playoff this season. That's not to say they shouldn't be trying to make the playoffs or that they should just accept a down year. But the focus is on the future.
- Jsaquella

Yea I hear ya

That's part of it. He's definitely more a passer than shooter, although he's gradually shooting more and more.

His all around game, though, is elite, IMO. He's dynamic with the puck, creates opportunity drives possession and makes plays. His points per 60 minutes total has him in some elite company, like Hossa, Toews, Johansen, Bergeron, Couture & Krejci.

He's a pretty dominant player when he is on the ice.
- Jsaquella

and at 4.25M/yr he is a steal