preseason , right? Who cares . Nobody who is a vet is playing hard at this point. the kids got stuff to prove. case in point ghost our young d. He was sent down because the reg season everything turns up a notch.
- jmdodgeser4

Actually he was sent down because, while he showed great offensive instincts and a great shot, he was terrible defensively against grown men. Even in the "preseason".

Also, do you think coburn and amac were ok with a kid making them look bad because the kid has something to prove? And it's only preseason? That's a bad argument.

Look, the flyers will always contend because they can score with any team in the league on any given night, but their defense is bottom 5 in the NHL. And it only got worse this year.

Actually he was sent down because, while he showed great offensive instincts and a great shot, he was terrible defensively against grown men. Even in the "preseason".

Also, do you think coburn and amac were ok with a kid making them look bad because the kid has something to prove? And it's only preseason? That's a bad argument.

Look, the flyers will always contend because they can score with any team in the league on any given night, but their defense is bottom 5 in the NHL. And it only got worse this year.
- mjh609

Forgot Haggerty, I was thinking of the goal Duclair scored

Which particular instance are you referring to?
- ehabs9

Haha true

Forgot Haggerty, I was thinking of the goal Duclair scored
- HankdaTank

I was referring to the duclair goal but Haggerty did it as well.

Actually he was sent down because, while he showed great offensive instincts and a great shot, he was terrible defensively against grown men. Even in the "preseason".

Also, do you think coburn and amac were ok with a kid making them look bad because the kid has something to prove? And it's only preseason? That's a bad argument.

Look, the flyers will always contend because they can score with any team in the league on any given night, but their defense is bottom 5 in the NHL. And it only got worse this year.
- mjh609

This.


Offensively they're second in the division, maybe even first. But if your judging them as a "team", and how they'll finish this year you need to take all of it into account.

Yea that 1 career PPG really makes him effective.

According to you he's a top pairing defensemen on just about every team. Amazed only a 2nd and 3rd rounder was the cost.
- sbroads24

Yeah that means he is worthless . He would be a top pairing on your team before your rebuild. Who are you kidding? His price was down for reasons that the entire world knows besides you. Like I said to you yesterday get out more. Watch some tv. Maybe even start watching some hockey. I cant explain the most mundane, common sense, simplistic things to you any longer. If youre nto bright enough to figure out why boychuck only cost two seconds as opposed to more than I can no longer waste my time typing a response to your posts. If youre facking with me ill respect that bcs it'd be pretty funny but unfortunately I dont think you are. Im getting the impression youre just not too bright.

Yeah that means he is worthless . He would be a top pairing on your team before your rebuild. Who are you kidding? His price was down for reasons that the entire world knows besides you. Like I said to you yesterday get out more. Watch some tv. Maybe even start watching some hockey. I cant explain the most mundane, common sense, simplistic things to you any longer. If youre nto bright enough to figure out why boychuck only cost two seconds as opposed to more than I can no longer waste my time typing a response to your posts. If youre facking with me ill respect that bcs it'd be pretty funny but unfortunately I dont think you are. Im getting the impression youre just not too bright.
- Cptmjl

I also can't explain how having 1 career PPG makes you an effective power play player. I guess we both have flaws in our logic.

I will wait and see just how effective he is without Chara and Seidenberg by his side, both of whom would have been the Isles best defensemen since.....Chara?

Grabovski our second line center? Reaching much? Our second line center should be schenn but right now its vinny. Havent seen him in the preseason huh? May wanna check his game out. Looks nothing like the vinny of last year. I woudlnt take grabo on my team for center over anybody we have. g, coots,schenn,vinny.
- jmdodgeser4

B Schenn is currently not better than Grabovski...

B Schenn is currently not better than Grabovski...
- Danformo

surely your joking.

My rankings are exactly the same except my 1-7 are different.

My rankings are exactly the same except my 1-7 are different.
- PhillySportsGuy

I also can't explain how having 1 career PPG makes you an effective power play player. I guess we both have flaws in our logic.

I will wait and see just how effective he is without Chara and Seidenberg by his side, both of whom would have been the Isles best defensemen since.....Chara?
- sbroads24

This question once again shows how little you know. Are you saying boychuck wouldnt be on your top pairing now or before your rebuild? If not than who would be over him?

My rankings are exactly the same except my 1-7 are different.
- PhillySportsGuy

This question once again shows how little you know. Are you saying boychuck wouldnt be on your top pairing now or before your rebuild? If not than who would be over him?
- Cptmjl

Sekera
Myers
Ehrhoff

Boychuk is the equivalent of Robyn Regehr. A decent 2nd paring shut down player

EK, can you elaborate on how Halak is the perfect goalie for the Islanders? He wasn't perfect for Montreal, St. Louis, Buffalo, or Washington. Please explain how New York is any different.

EK, can you elaborate on how Halak is the perfect goalie for the Islanders? He wasn't perfect for Montreal, St. Louis, Buffalo, or Washington. Please explain how New York is any different.
- Kinger34

Sorry to disappoint, but EK has to respond to "the added depth Hextall has added should make this team better than it's been for several seasons." before answering any of the other garbage he has included in this article. I know he never will, but I would love to hear him justify, with facts, how the Flyers have not only not taken a step back, but how they have actually improved. I'm not going to hold my breath though. . . .

EK, can you elaborate on how Halak is the perfect goalie for the Islanders? He wasn't perfect for Montreal, St. Louis, Buffalo, or Washington. Please explain how New York is any different.
- Kinger34

Well in his defense, Montreal had no problems with him, but one of the two had to be moved.

B Schenn is currently not better than Grabovski...
- Danformo

I, as well as all other logical and realistic flyers fan apologize for him. I'm not going to argue b schenn vs grabovski.. seeing as schenn is replacing hartnell on the top line. Which is an Upgrade. Couturier is centering the 2nd line, not vinny which is an upgrade. And yes couturier is better than grabovski.

That said, the flyers d is dreadful. Amac is terrible. And will NOT last on the top pairing very long. Either way, with the natural growth of the fwds the flyers are not TOO much worse than last season. However if mason falls back to Columbus mason, they'll be in a lot of trouble..

I think it's better to be pissed on than to be pissed off. Or something along those lines.
- Streit2ThePoint

only if she's over 200 lbs and/or 40 years old

Well in his defense, Montreal had no problems with him, but one of the two had to be moved.
- ehabs9

Agreed, and he was golden for you guys in the playoffs several years ago. I just question a statement like that with nothing concrete or factual to back it up.

Sorry to disappoint, but EK has to respond to "the added depth Hextall has added should make this team better than it's been for several seasons." before answering any of the other garbage he has included in this article. I know he never will, but I would love to hear him justify, with facts, how the Flyers have not only not taken a step back, but how they have actually improved. I'm not going to hold my breath though. . . .
- mw630

Added depth:

Bellemare, Blair Jones, Jason akeson. Rj umberger

Losses
Hartnell (replaced in the lineup by b schenn, which is an upgrade)
Timonen
Adam hall
Jay rosehill
Downie

Last season's fwds

Hartnell-giroux-voracek
Vinny-b. Schenn-Simmonds
Downie-couturier-read
Raffl-hall-rinaldo

This year
B. Schenn-Giroux-voracek--better
Read-couturier-Simmonds--better
Umberger-vinny-raffl--worse
Rinaldo-bellemare-akeson--better

Plus the ages of that top 6 are 27-26-25-25-22-21. So natural growth can be expected as well.

The defense... Lol.

Cool story about C-bus, EK.

Can you tell it again?
- Tumbleweed

flyersbuzz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrEsc3l4kWM

I'm still trying to figure out what 'KEY' pieces the Rangers lost

Boyle? Richards? Pouliot? Stralman?

Boyle was booed off the ice 3/4 of the season
Richards is just too slow.
Pouliot had a good post-season but disappears for 10 games at a time
Stralman was benched several times during the season.

The biggest guy they lost was Stalman but Boyle is more than an adequate replacement.

Full season of St Louis. Some youth. Still have top D and Henrik.

I think we will be better in the regular season than last year.

Added depth:

Bellemare, Blair Jones, Jason akeson. Rj umberger

Losses
Hartnell (replaced in the lineup by b schenn, which is an upgrade)
Timonen
Adam hall
Jay rosehill
Downie

Last season's fwds

Hartnell-giroux-voracek
Vinny-b. Schenn-Simmonds
Downie-couturier-read
Raffl-hall-rinaldo

This year
B. Schenn-Giroux-voracek--better
Read-couturier-Simmonds--better
Umberger-vinny-raffl--worse
Rinaldo-bellemare-akeson--better

Plus the ages of that top 6 are 27-26-25-25-22-21. So natural growth can be expected as well.

The defense... Lol.
- tweaver3312

In fairness, reconfiguring your top two lines doesn't really equate to added depth. Bellemare is a 29 year-old who has never played in the NHL, Blair Jones is a 28 year old that has jumped from AHL to NHL every year for the last 7 years, with one game under his belt - I don't know what to expect from Jason akeson, and Umberger has been garbage for years. The top two lines improved from moving more skilled players up, the 3rd line is clearly worse, and the 4th is a push at best. Timonen being out makes the already poor D, even worse. I still think the Flyers will contend for a playoff spot, but 2nd in the division is a joke at this point. EK doesn't even attempt to fake being objective in his rankings. If he's going to go this far, might as well put them ahead of CBJ and put the pens finishing behind Carolina with the islanders in 6th.

In fairness, reconfiguring your top two lines doesn't really equate to added depth. Bellemare is a 29 year-old who has never played in the NHL, Blair Jones is a 28 year old that has jumped from AHL to NHL every year for the last 7 years, with one game under his belt - I don't know what to expect from Jason akeson, and Umberger has been garbage for years. The top two lines improved from moving more skilled players up, the 3rd line is clearly worse, and the 4th is a push at best. Timonen being out makes the already poor D, even worse. I still think the Flyers will contend for a playoff spot 2nd in the division is a joke at this point. EK doesn't even attempt to fake being objective in his rankings. If he's going to go this far, might as well put them ahead of CBJ and put the pens finishing behind Carolina with the islanders in 6th.
- mw630

No argument from me really. Just showing the actual moves and what it does to the fwd unit. The 4th line and 13th fwd spot is an upgrade. This fourth line can play more than 5 minutes a game. They improved the top six by subtracting hartnell. The defense well like I said lol. I'm on record that this team depending on quite a few factors could finish 8th, or if the team plays like it did post the 1-7 start 2nd. Either way, nobody can say for certain and its somewhat frustrating reading people's opinions saying everything that they lost is really a big deal, they aren't except kimo. At the same time they didnt make any splashes so they are counting on natural growth from the young fwds. Peopl seem to forget how young they are.

Then you have the homers who think that Amac is a viable replacement for Kimo, which is laughable. They don't even mention the fact that mason could revert back to Columbus version. Or that vinny could be even worse. Or Rj may not even be able to provide any better defense and skating than hartnell.

Being a realist is frustrating