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

I would just hire him for the interviews at this point...we need something to laugh about...I know its only two games but this is looking to be the start of a miserable season.

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
- Just5

If Coburn is out a few months, I think the hole will be too deep to dig out of to make the playoffs.

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


- PhillaBully

... and he's still receiving millions from Comcast every year not to play for the Flyers.

I would just hire him for the interviews at this point...we need something to laugh about...I know its only two games but this is looking to be the start of a miserable season.
- PhillaBully

He would be great in the spot bosh has now... Or he could be the new coatsey ... Imagine him in the press box?! Holy (frank)ing poop

Possibly but rolling schenn out there after 3 years, seeing the same routine of him constantly out of position, and expecting different results seems insane.
- JoeRussomanno

He wasn't out of position on any goal last night.

move schenn up. shultz and DZ as bottom pairing. isnt ideal though not many options at this point.

i would like to see alt get a chance at some point to see if he can be a nice cheap bottom pairing guy to have going forward.

He wasn't out of position on any goal last night.
- MJL

His value shouldn't be that low then?

The individual dmen are capable, however the unit as a whole is not. None of the remaining 6 vets can successfully match up against top lines and the overall group lacks speed and to a lesser degree skill. Without Coburn, this D corps ranks in the bottom third of the league. Thats not being negative, its being realistic.
- BiggE

While there are certainly some shortcomings among the unit as a whole that limit it from being a Cup caliber unit, they're are capable of solid play, as long as the support is there, to be a solid team. We all know that they are lacking a true top caliber pairing.

If Coburn is out a few months, I think the hole will be too deep to dig out of to make the playoffs.
- PLindbergh31

If he's out a few months, that's huge and we might have to sign someone off the scrap heap.

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

It's just simply a flawed judgement of a player, that really doesn't have any basis behind it.

If he's out a few months, that's huge and we might have to sign someone off the scrap heap.
- Hextall271

I can't think of any free agent defensemen off the top of my head. Who's available? Salo?

And I don't see a trade as a good option since they will be considered desperate if you will.

If he's out a few months, that's huge and we might have to sign someone off the scrap heap.
- Hextall271

Meh... Just go with Schultz, or give Alt a chance. No sense in bringing in yet another third pairing dman. This roster is littered with them. Have to hope in about 3 years Sanheim/Morin/Ghost and company are ready to contribute. The best way to acquire a top pairing dman is to draft and develop one.

While there are certainly some shortcomings among the unit as a whole that limit it from being a Cup caliber unit, they're are capable of solid play, as long as the support is there, to be a solid team. We all know that they are lacking a true top caliber pairing.
- MJL

Yes they are lacking a true top caliber pair, that is why their overall defense ranks in bottom third of NHL

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

So using your words, calling him a very solid 5th defenseman isn't calling him a 3rd pair defenseman? Even if you throw in he's either an OK 4th defenseman. It's still labeling him as a 3rd pair defenseman. The player I've watched play, is closer to a top pair defenseman then he is a 3rd pair defenseman.

Yes they are lacking a true top caliber pair, that is why their overall defense ranks in bottom third of NHL
- 3flyerkids

I think the Flyers defense is in the middle third of the League, not the bottom third.

Did I read bill's blog correctly in that The flyers will be relieved of pronger salary once he takes the league job?

I think the Flyers defense is in the middle third of the League, not the bottom third.
- MJL

While last nights showing was poor at best outside a few bright spots (Simmer, special teams) this looks much like last year where another slow start is going to happen...mostly becasue the team is not on the same page...Chief has to figure out what he has and where the chemistry is at with these lines to get them back on track. The players also have to commit to team D again, they had too many breakdowns and hung a below average D core out to dry with poor backchecking...
If they turn it around it will be becasue of two things.

1. Chief finds the right line combinations to balance the offense
2. The team makes the choice to play game in and game out dedicated team D, if they don't they will lose a ton.

No trades are going to fix this IMO, the schedule hurts for them to figure this out in practice, but the last two games they gave themselves a chance to get points in both games in the third period, the lack of team D prevented that in both games...simple as that in my mind, regardless of all the other issues, they had a chance a points and like the beginning of last year, they failed to close the deal.

He would be great in the spot bosh has now... Or he could be the new coatsey ... Imagine him in the press box?! Holy (frank)ing poop
- JoeRussomanno

"dont vorrryy flyers fans...universe make it right...maybe give you macdavid or eichel."

I think the Flyers defense is in the middle third of the League, not the bottom third.
- MJL

You are high as a kite.

Not only are we skating with a bunch of 3-6 d-men, we have the depth of a teaspoon.

I think the Flyers defense is in the middle third of the League, not the bottom third.
- MJL

yeah if coburn is healthy...

I can't think of any free agent defensemen off the top of my head. Who's available? Salo?

And I don't see a trade as a good option since they will be considered desperate if you will.
- Streit2ThePoint

That's why I said UFA.. I guess Salo as a stop gap.. What I'm getting at is why rush Alt or Ghost and put them into a bad situation. Let them play big minutes in the A.. If you're going to bring in a guy because you have to, bring a UFA and let it ride.

If he's out a few months, that's huge and we might have to sign someone off the scrap heap.
- Hextall271

Derek Morris, Henrik Tallinder, Joni Pitkanen, Mike Komisarek, Cory Sarich, Ryan Whitney, Douglas Murray, Joe Corvo, Sami Salo are some of the better pieces at the landfill.

You are high as a kite.

Not only are we skating with a bunch of 3-6 d-men, we have the depth of a teaspoon.
- jak521

Nope. Impartial, unbiased, opinion based on facts.