Not surprised at all from last night. Without coburn this is the worst d group in the league right now.

No way they play like this all season but these bad starts are very frustrating and unprofessional. IMO
- GOA88

Not sure professionalism has a ton to do with it. They're a middle of the road team. They have a weak defense and the team defense and 200 foot play by forwards has been an issue for a few years.

If a team decides they are going to switch to building by drafting and developing, there's going to be some dark moments

The MacDonald that has played to this point is far better then a 3rd pair defenseman. How anyone can in any way label him a 3rd pair defenseman in this League is mind boggling. He was very strong tonight.
- MJL

MacDonald played the second most minutes last night, and he played with a #7 in Schultz, and he played on his off side which he doesn't usually do, and he was +1.

Writing him off as a third pairing defensman is bizarre.

Hard to blame just Streit.... the whole team is "lost in the woods"
- GOA88

I'm not blaming just Streit. Grossmann, Schenn and Del Zotto also were pretty awful last night.

MYbe we should've brought up Rosehill after all! Ah ha!
- JoeRussomanno

He would have pounded Clowe when the Devils made it 5-4. Then we would have used that momentum and scored 3 straight

Hate to be a negative nancy. BUT looking at the schedule... I see another 1-7 start.

Hope I'm wrong
- GOA88

That;s what I am saying... Now think of that sched without Coburn.

MacDonald played the second most minutes last night, and he played with a #7 in Schultz, and he played on his off side which he doesn't usually do, and he was +1.

Writing him off as a third pairing defensman is bizarre.
- Feanor

He played solidly. Based on his body of work, over the years he's played, I think he's either an OK 4th defenseman or a very solid 5th defenseman. Not sure how that translates into me calling him a third pair defenseman, unless one ignores the 4 part of 4/5 defenseman.

But then again it's commonplace on these boards for some to ignore part of the posts and focus on something they can argue for a week.

He would have pounded Clowe when the Devils made it 5-4. Then we would have used that momentum and scored 3 straight
- 3flyerkids

Yea and Rosehill would've scored the 3!

Get out of here. MacDonald and Streit are actually playing good. Its the rest of them that have been bad.
- GOA88

Therein lies the problem

Not surprised at all from last night. Without coburn this is the worst d group in the league right now.
- Just5

No doubt about it. Coburn and Timonen aren't top pairing guys, but they are the Flyers two best dmen by a wide margin. To think Timonen's career is over, and Coburn is probably out at least a month, me thinks things are going to get ugly.

The Flyers are dressing a blueline full of utility infielders. I have faith in Hextall, but it's going to take some time to clean up the mess that he inherited. As others said, don't go out and try and put a band-aid on the hole Coburn has left. Take your lumps, get a good pick and continue to build.

No doubt about it. Coburn and Timonen aren't top pairing guys, but they are the Flyers two best dmen by a wide margin. To think Timonen's career is over, and Coburn is probably out at least a month, me thinks things are going to get ugly.

The Flyers are dressing a blueline full of utility infielders. I have faith in Hextall, but it's going to take some time to clean up the mess that he inherited. As others said, don't go out and try and put a band-aid on the hole Coburn has left. Take your lumps, get a good pick and continue to build.
- PLindbergh31

Trade Luke schenn bring up Alt c'mon

I like the resiliency and comeback ability but I wish the team would just have the lead in the first place.

He played solidly. Based on his body of work, over the years he's played, I think he's either an OK 4th defenseman or a very solid 5th defenseman. Not sure how that translates into me calling him a third pair defenseman, unless one ignores the 4 part of 4/5 defenseman.

But then again it's commonplace on these boards for some to ignore part of the posts and focus on something they can argue for a week.
- Jsaquella

No #4/5 in the league plays 20+ minutes a night. It just doesn't happen. And MacDonald has averaged over 20 minutes for the past five seasons.

Even last year when we went with

Kimmo-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn

Mac was getting extra minutes with other dmen that took him well above the 20 minute mark.

Not sure professionalism has a ton to do with it. They're a middle of the road team. They have a weak defense and the team defense and 200 foot play by forwards has been an issue for a few years.

If a team decides they are going to switch to building by drafting and developing, there's going to be some dark moments
- Jsaquella

Reason I say unprofessional is because they will almost certainly (No doubt) play much better as the season goes on but this is 2 years now they aren't ready to hit the ground running. Its embarrassing really.

Trade Luke schenn bring up Alt c'mon
- JoeRussomanno

Trade him for what? Any 30 goal scoring power wingers available?

No #4/5 in the league plays 20+ minutes a night. It just doesn't happen. And MacDonald has averaged over 20 minutes for the past five seasons.

Even last year when we went with

Kimmo-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn

Mac was getting extra minutes with other dmen that took him well above the 20 minute mark.
- Feanor

I think he means ideally MacDonald would be a 4/5. Obviously, the Flyers situation is far from ideal.

Home opener and only some guys come out fired up. There are bigger issues than Luke who takes more heat than he should. I don't see him out of position like others, I see him being hung out to dry more often. My opinion is there is issues in that locker room and have been since last year. There is no veteran leadership for one. The other is I see no real system at all. They throw the puck around like a bad mens league team way too much. They also are not nearly talented enough up front. They have two llwgit top line players... B schenn and coots are very over rated. While good players they are not as untouchable as we have been lead to think.

No doubt about it. Coburn and Timonen aren't top pairing guys, but they are the Flyers two best dmen by a wide margin. To think Timonen's career is over, and Coburn is probably out at least a month, me thinks things are going to get ugly.

The Flyers are dressing a blueline full of utility infielders. I have faith in Hextall, but it's going to take some time to clean up the mess that he inherited. As others said, don't go out and try and put a band-aid on the hole Coburn has left. Take your lumps, get a good pick and continue to build.
- PLindbergh31

As bad as Schultz looked in preseason, he stepped in last night and did a solid job. Credit to Hextall for getting a #7 who could do that.

Trade him for what? Any 30 goal scoring power wingers available?
- PLindbergh31

An ice girl

Bryz is still looking for a job... Bryz had it right all along... This defense blows

Bryz is still looking for a job... Bryz had it right all along... This defense blows


- PhillaBully

Who gets a job first: Bryz or Marty?

Bryz is still looking for a job... Bryz had it right all along... This defense blows


- PhillaBully

No he's retired, the flyers are paying his pension

No doubt about it. Coburn and Timonen aren't top pairing guys, but they are the Flyers two best dmen by a wide margin. To think Timonen's career is over, and Coburn is probably out at least a month, me thinks things are going to get ugly.

The Flyers are dressing a blueline full of utility infielders. I have faith in Hextall, but it's going to take some time to clean up the mess that he inherited. As others said, don't go out and try and put a band-aid on the hole Coburn has left. Take your lumps, get a good pick and continue to build.
- PLindbergh31

Exactly. Not going to write off the season, but there have to be realistic expectations for this group. That is they have a chance to grab one of the last playoff spots. Hexy won't make any head scratching traded that screw up our future I have faith

As bad as Schultz looked in preseason, he stepped in last night and did a solid job. Credit to Hextall for getting a #7 who could do that.
- Feanor

He was fine, but it's one game. He's a 7th dman, he's going to struggle mightily at times as well.

Home opener and only some guys come out fired up. There are bigger issues than Luke who takes more heat than he should. I don't see him out of position like others, I see him being hung out to dry more often. My opinion is there is issues in that locker room and have been since last year. There is no veteran leadership for one. The other is I see no real system at all. They throw the puck around like a bad mens league team way too much. They also are not nearly talented enough up front. They have two llwgit top line players... B schenn and coots are very over rated. While good players they are not as untouchable as we have been lead to think.
- iskatefast

I think BSchenn is way overrated, and I would entertain offers for him sooner than later. Coots is a keeper. If they ever did trade B Schenn for D help, they could always give Bellmare or Akeson a shot on G's wing