I honestly dont know who would want Schenn?
- vejim

There are a lot of teams that could use d. I would still love to make something with WPG work. Somehow move B.Schenn and L. Schenn and maybe you can get Burmistrov and a pick or prospect. I am a fan of Burmistrov and think he could use a change. i know he is in KHL right now but he will come over next year.

everyone was female doging about rinaldo this off season...this team has much bigger problems!

everyone was female doging about rinaldo this off season...this team has much bigger problems!
- PhillaBully

The outlook, with Coburn hurt, is bleaker than before. That being said, I won't worry too much unless the team goes 5-15 to start the season or something.

everyone was female doging about rinaldo this off season...this team has much bigger problems!
- PhillaBully

This is true. Although Rinaldo's revolving door to the penalty box, has MacDonald and Schultz out there on the PK. What a mess.

Why waste your time man. They could be 0-35-3 with a top pairing of Lilja and Rathje and they would all poop rainbows.
- PLindbergh31

Randy Jones

The outlook, with Coburn hurt, is bleaker than before. That being said, I won't worry too much unless the team goes 5-15 to start the season or something.
- NickTheKid87

It's bleaker, without beaker.

The outlook, with Coburn hurt, is bleaker than before. That being said, I won't worry too much unless the team goes 5-15 to start the season or something.
- NickTheKid87

18 of the first 23 games are against last years playoffs teams with New Jersey being the only nonplayoff team in the first 10. If Coburn is out the next two months, which are the hardest two months on the schedule, 5-15 is very possible.

It's bleaker, without beaker.


- PLindbergh31

18 of the first 23 games are against last years playoffs teams with New Jersey being the only nonplayoff team in the first 10. If Coburn is out the next two months, which are the hardest two months on the schedule, 5-15 is very possible.
- psuhockey

I would be completely fine with them finishing in the bottom 5 and getting a high pick. Their chances of winning the Cup are so low anyway that being that bad could increase their chances down the road way more than getting booted in the first round. I don't think they'll be that bad though.

I would be completely fine with them finishing in the bottom 5 and getting a high pick. Their chances of winning the Cup are so low anyway that being that bad could increase their chances down the road way more than getting booted in the first round. I don't think they'll be that bad though.
- NickTheKid87

Thank god for the lottery system.

Lots of injuries in the East already. I dont think we're done by any means.

My predictions if coburn is out for a month plus

DUCKS @ FLYERS L
FLYERS @ STARS L
FLYERS @ BLACKHAWKS L
FLYERS @ PENGUINS L
RED WINGS @ FLYERS L
KINGS @ FLYERS L
FLYERS @ LIGHTNING L
FLYERS @ PANTHERS W
OILERS @ FLYERS W
PANTHERS @ FLYERS W
AVALANCHE @ FLYERS L
BLUE JACKETS @ FLYERS L
FLYERS @ CANADIENS L
FLYERS @ RANGERS L
WILD @ FLYERS L
BLUE JACKETS @ FLYERS W
FLYERS @ ISLANDERS W
FLYERS @ RED WINGS L
RANGERS @ FLYERS L
FLYERS @ RANGERS L

5-15.. some tough competition coming up

This is true. Although Rinaldo's revolving door to the penalty box, has MacDonald and Schultz out there on the PP. What a mess.
- PLindbergh31

Not at all obvious.

I said you are high. And that we have next to no depth defensively. You made some laughy face guy comment about Schultz having a good game. Then you said even good d-men have bad games.

How does that at all relate to the depth of our defense?

Sorry, I am not very intelligent.
- jak521

Schultz came in as a late addition to the lineup, as the 7th D man, and played a solid game. But that doesn't point to having depth?

You're response was even Ryan Parent has an occasional good game. Which is a lame point. Bottom line is that Schultz did the job. And he is one player that last night, isn't to blame for anything.

My point is, if that is true that even Ryan Parent had an occasional good game. Then isn't it true also for good defenseman like Streit and Grossmann, who had subpar games last night?

Goals were scored against the Flyers last night. So let's blindly look at the defenseman, because they're the only players responsible for that. Let's go on and on about the Flyers bottom third defense, as if it that is the main issue in the game last night. It wasn't. They certainly were a part of it.

But the Flyers lost last night because of some bad puck luck. Team defensive breakdowns, including multiple errors in coverage by the forwards. Some mis-plays and bad decisions by some defenseman. And a bad goal on the Zubrus winning goal that should've been stopped.

Bottom line is that the Flyers are lacking a top defense pairing. If they were 2-0 right now, would that be any different?
So my view is to focus on what the main issues now are with the players on the team currently, and what went wrong in the first two games.

I would be completely fine with them finishing in the bottom 5 and getting a high pick. Their chances of winning the Cup are so low anyway that being that bad could increase their chances down the road way more than getting booted in the first round. I don't think they'll be that bad though.
- NickTheKid87

I'm not advocating tanking and I've been told that no team has ever tanked and that if a team would tank it would never work and everyone involved would be ostracized forever.

With that said, here is a documentary on a team that tanked and won multiple stanley cups doing it.

Schultz came in as a late addition to the lineup, as the 7th D man, and played a solid game. But that doesn't point to having depth?

- MJL

What if Schultz sucks for the next 50 games? I think what jak is saying is that Schultz coming in and playing one good game doesn't prove they have depth. Lauridsen played reasonably well over the course of his 15 NHL games but he's still an AHL middle-pairing dman at best.

So no word yet on a timeline for Coburn's injury?

What if Schultz sucks for the next 50 games? I think what jak is saying is that Schultz coming in and playing one good game doesn't prove they have depth. Lauridsen played reasonably well over the course of his 15 NHL games but he's still an AHL middle-pairing dman at best.
- NickTheKid87

Yes it does. You don't sign a 7th defenseman with the expectation that he can come in and play 50 games and replace your best defenseman over that time span.

Tell me what NHL team has a 7th defenseman that is capable of that? What are you guys talking about?

Schultz did his job last night. That is depth.

I'm not advocating tanking and I've been told that no team has ever tanked and that if a team would tank it would never work and everyone involved would be ostracized forever.

With that said, here is a documentary on a team that tanked and won multiple stanley cups doing it.


- Flyers_01

People get mad at teams that they think are "playing to lose" but if it's going to net you a player like Mario Lemieux...That's why I don't think it's a bad strategy at all under the right circumstances.

Yes it does. You don't sign a 7th defenseman with the expectation that he can come in and play 50 games and replace you're best defenseman over that time span.

Tell me what NHL team has a 7th defenseman that is capable of that? What are you guys talking about?

Schultz did his job last night. That is depth.
- MJL

If he plays 5 games and sucks in 4, is that depth?

In addition, if Schenn and Del Zotto continue to struggle like they have for the past 2 years, is that depth?

If he plays 5 games and sucks in 4, is that depth?
- NickTheKid87

If. What are the expectations of Schultz? He showed last night that he is a capable depth defenseman. That is why Hextall signed him for the role. But he is a 7th defenseman for a reason. If the Flyers continue to play porous team defense, what would you expect from Schultz? Would you expect him to fix that? It's a team game.

So no word yet on a timeline for Coburn's injury?
- BulliesPhan87

I haven't seen anything. All I've heard is that it's not going to be day to day.

There has not been for 2 years, and there is not now a quick fix to the problem on D.

They have some capable nhl defenseman who are all slotted out of position because of the lack of a number #1 guy. Now they lack both the #1 and the #2 guy in the rotation.

Kimmo even at his advanced age slowing down could function in that role but was at best a stop gap this year. Coburn who with a top partner can function in a number 2 role is not by himself a guy to carry a top pair. But he is a capable top 4 player.

Take those two out and it's going to get ugly.

But realize there is no trade or quick fix for the D without opening up many other holes.

I'm surprised nobody is talking about the improved forward play after Berube juggled the lines. B Schenn has yet to find chemistry with G and Jake. He did look a bit better on the LW with Vinnie at center and with Wayne.

VLC had a tough first period but overall he is skating and playing miles better then he did last year after the back injury. This is a positive.

BSchenn getting jerked to LW is going to take time.
Everyone ready to give up on him and sell low is crazy IMO.
Moving from C to wing and back and forth is hurting his development no doubt.


Raffl looked better in the #1 LW spot.
Better chemistry with G and Jake.

G and Jake are getting killed in here for bad two way play, but most of that happened in the back half of the game when they had to open up the offense to play catch up.
G had a very solid 1st period defensively. When they got down 3 they switched to attack mode and it lead to them getting caught out of position more. Not trying to make excuses for the awful breakdowns from the forwards on the Elias goal, that should not have happened.

If Delzotto and Streit have a green light to push the attack, someone has to back check and cover. Luke and Grossmann need help from the forwards. But fall down three to NJ and the forwards are going to get caught trying to play catch up. The first three goals were pretty fluky last night.

Finally removing Hartnell has an effect on the team.
Regardless of his decline he was a personality and leader of the team and the captain's wing man on the ice. Hartnell had Gs back out there.
Not debating the pluses and minuse of the trade, I will say overall I think it was a lateral move at best, but him leaving does change the chemistry of the team and will take time to adjust. Watch the interview G did with Tavares and Seguin to see what I mean. Hartnell and G were tight and trading Scotty has an effect.

Realistically this is a bubble playoff team if everything breaks right.
Losing Kimmo and now Coburn is not breaking right.
But they will adjust and play better. Still my expectations are not high this year.
Simmers play, VLC, the fourth line so far look good.
G and Jake will no doubt get better and win some games for them.
The D is what it is. Lets see how it looks in 3 years when the talent matures.

There has not been for 2 years, and there is not now a quick fix to the problem on D.

They have some capable nhl defenseman who are all slotted out of position because of the lack of a number #1 guy. Now they lack both the #1 and the #2 guy in the rotation.

Kimmo even at his advanced age slowing down could function in that role but was at best a stop gap this year. Coburn who with a top partner can function in a number 2 role is not by himself a guy to carry a top pair. But he is a capable top 4 player.

Take those two out and it's going to get ugly.

But realize there is no trade or quick fix for the D without opening up many other holes.

I'm surprised nobody is talking about the improved forward play after Berube juggled the lines. B Schenn has yet to find chemistry with G and Jake. He did look a bit better on the LW with Vinnie at center and with Wayne.

VLC had a tough first period but overall he is skating and playing miles better then he did last year after the back injury. This is a positive.

BSchenn getting jerked to LW is going to take time.
Everyone ready to give up on him and sell low is crazy IMO.
Moving from C to wing and back and forth is hurting his development no doubt.


Raffl looked better in the #1 LW spot.
Better chemistry with G and Jake.

G and Jake are getting killed in here for bad two way play, but most of that happened in the back half of the game when they had to open up the offense to play catch up.
G had a very solid 1st period defensively. When they got down 3 they switched to attack mode and it lead to them getting caught out of position more. Not trying to make excuses for the awful breakdowns from the forwards on the Elias goal, that should not have happened.

If Delzotto and Streit have a green light to push the attack, someone has to back check and cover. Luke and Grossmann need help from the forwards. But fall down three to NJ and the forwards are going to get caught trying to play catch up. The first three goals were pretty fluky last night.

Finally removing Hartnell has an effect on the team.
Regardless of his decline he was a personality and leader of the team and the captain's wing man on the ice. Hartnell had Gs back out there.
Not debating the pluses and minuse of the trade, I will say overall I think it was a lateral move at best, but roving him does change the chemistry of the team and will take time to adjust. Watch the interview G did with Tavares and Seguin to see what I mean. Hartnell and G were tight and trading Scotty has an effect.

Realistically this is a bubble playoff team if everything breaks right.
Losing Kimmo and now Coburn is not breaking right.
But they will adjust and play better. Still my expectations are not high this year.
Simmers play, VLC, the forth line so far look good.
G and Jake will no doubt get better and win some games for them.
The D is what it is. Lets see how it looks in 3 years when the talent matures.
- Marc D

With the ludicrous argument going on now that a bum like Nick Shultz is depth, I'm going to argue that Coburn breaking his right foot, theoretically is things breaking right.

If. What are the expectations of Schultz? He showed last night that he is a capable depth defenseman. That is why Hextall signed him for the role. But he is a 7th defenseman for a reason. If the Flyers continue to play porous team defense, what would you expect from Schultz? Would you expect him to fix that? It's a team game.
- MJL

Depth isn't just about the 7th defenseman. What is expected of Schenn and Del Zotto? Even Grossmann? The former two have been below average defensemen for the majority of their careers.

G and Jake are getting killed in here for bad two way play, but most of that happened in the back half of the game when they had to open up the offense to play catch up.
G had a very solid 1st period defensively. When they got down 3 they switched to attack mode and it lead to them getting caught out of position more. Not trying to make excuses for the awful breakdowns from the forwards on the Elias goal, that should not have happened.

If Delzotto and Streit have a green light to push the attack, someone has to back check and cover. Luke and Grossmann need help from the forwards. But fall down three to NJ and the forwards are going to get caught trying to play catch up. The first three goals were pretty fluky last night.

Finally removing Hartnell has an effect on the team.

- Marc D

Marc, that they fell behind and had to play catch up is not an excuse for the poor fundamental play of any forward defensively. You don't abandon simple backchecks or routine defensive zone coverage because you're behind 3-0 in the 2nd period of a game, with a lot of hockey left to play.

In the center lock forecheck, part of the system is that the center and the weak side defenseman have to read off of each other, to defend against breakouts and reverse plays. On the Zubrus goal, Streit made a bad decision on the pinch because he really had too far to go, and no real play on the puck. Voracek correctly backed him up and made a real nice effort on the backcheck. Mason should've made that save.