Thanks Bill. Stop with the Chris VandeVelde talk please. It's as painful to hear/ watch as it is to listen to a trade for Buff. Is Tyler Myers any better? We would have to undo what he has done in Buffalo, and then rebuild him. Did it work for Luke Schenn? Toronto really got into his head, and we have been trying to fix him ever since. I have a question for Chief. Why keep Baby Schenn on wing if he doesn't like playing wing? Just dump him into Vinny's place, and bring up Straka if you want some speed. Just when some folks are starting to develop some chemistry, the lines are shuffled again. Geeze, let these guys start to get used to one another. If two guys gel, then let them stick together, and work on finding another line mate; ie. see G's line. If you feel a need to replace one of the D guys, try bringing one up for a little while. Build the guy's confidence, and then let him go back down when Coby can come back. I don't have a lot of faith in Coby, but I guess he's better than nothing. I have also noticed that G really puts his game together when he has a fire in his belly; see last year's Olympics, and when he plays against Cindy. He really needs to work on his intensity, and his consistency if he wants to be considered one of the best. I look at how Taveres, and Stamkos play, and I see a much more driven player that brings it every night.

Look at them now though. It's very early but I wish the Flyers had the assets and cap space to grab Boychuk.
- Marc D

if Boston would agree to trade him to the Flyers, they could've done that. Would've had to make some moves. But it could've been done.

You got that wrong. What I'm suggesting is that the talk that the Flyers makeup of their defense is a recipe for a lottery pick, is pure BS. The Flyers defense, while certainly lacking a top pairing, and is not championship caliber. Is a lot better then it's made out to be. And if they get the support and team play, the Flyers can make the playoffs with the defense core they have.
- MJL

Can they, sure

Will they, probably not

I think O-D is just one of those old caricatures/tropes that people like to string up and beat on... look, a defenseman who thinks he's a forward! Brian Leetch sux!
- Tomahawk

I don't even know what happened to this league. With the way coaches around this league are now, I don't know that Phil Housley would have played in the league today

Totally serious. This league is just baffling at times

let's go Flyers?

I hope it does. I guess it's just me. When I played (at a somewhat high level), my first priority was defense. Yes, there were times when I jumped into the play, but first and foremost, my responsibility as a defenseman was to play defense. I was never the biggest guy by any means, but I gave it my all. With MDZ, it seems like he'd rather be offensive, and then just "get by" defensively. At least Grossmann's got his head in the right zone.
- jmatchett383

I understand what you're saying. I just think the Flyers are in a position where you take what you can get. If the Flyers were the Blackhawks, I wouldn't mind benching MDZ because I'd feel his risks were unnecessary.

I just feel, with this roster, the team needs to take chances and hope they work out. If MDZ was a strong defensive player with his offensive ability, he wouldn't have been available for $1M

let's go Flyers?
- BulliesPhan87

STFU!

I don't even know what happened to this league. With the way coaches around this league are now, I don't know that Phil Housley would have played in the league today

Totally serious. This league is just baffling at times
- AllInForFlyers

When MDZ puts up a quarter of Phil Housley's production on this team, we'll see where it goes.

Notice I haven't said one bad thing about Mark Streit, who is the epitome of an "offensive defenseman."

I understand what you're saying. I just think the Flyers are in a position where you take what you can get. If the Flyers were the Blackhawks, I wouldn't mind benching MDZ because I'd feel his risks were unnecessary.

I just feel, with this roster, the team needs to take chances and hope they work out. If MDZ was a strong defensive player with his offensive ability, he wouldn't have been available for $1M
- PhillySportsGuy

The problem for me is that he WAS available for that.

Where in California? Are the tracks in a straight line?
- jmatchett383

You're an engineer aren't you?

Can they, sure

Will they, probably not
- BiggE

Well I disagree with you. I think the Flyers make the playoffs.

You're an engineer aren't you?
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes sir I am. I never got why these problems were so hard for people. It's simple algebra and ratios.

I understand what you're saying. I just think the Flyers are in a position where you take what you can get. If the Flyers were the Blackhawks, I wouldn't mind benching MDZ because I'd feel his risks were unnecessary.

I just feel, with this roster, the team needs to take chances and hope they work out. If MDZ was a strong defensive player with his offensive ability, he wouldn't have been available for $1M
- PhillySportsGuy

I think they need to let Del Zotto play for a while, and see if he can get better. His skating and puck skills are needed in the lineup. If he can just shore up a little defensively, he can be an asset.
And again, as with any of the defenseman. Shore up the team game and stop being so Jekyll and Hyde. One the marks of a good team is layers of defense. When a mistake is made, a teammate covers up.

When MDZ puts up a quarter of Phil Housley's production on this team, we'll see where it goes.

Notice I haven't said one bad thing about Mark Streit, who is the epitome of an "offensive defenseman."
- jmatchett383

That's chicken-and-egg theory -- you won't get production if you can't stand risk. If every time the guy pinches, people are freaking out, you will never see that kind of production

Erik Karlsson isn't a great defender. Ottawa simply deals with the fact that he's going to produce more offense than the other guys

Well I disagree with you. I think the Flyers make the playoffs.
- MJL

I think they have the ability to. Whether or not they do is up to the commitment of the players.

I don't even know what happened to this league. With the way coaches around this league are now, I don't know that Phil Housley would have played in the league today

Totally serious. This league is just baffling at times
- AllInForFlyers

Mmm, I think as more and more of the old guard are flushed out/die off, you'll see the idea of OD being embraced more. Also, seems like more smallish OD going high in recent drafts, and there are fewer and fewer teams taking future battleship crease-clearers high. I'm guessing the NHL of the future will have much more dynamic roles for defensemen and that'll be a great thing.

That's chicken-and-egg theory -- you won't get production if you can't stand risk. If every time the guy pinches, people are freaking out, you will never see that kind of production

Erik Karlsson isn't a great defender. Ottawa simply deals with the fact that he's going to produce more offense than the other guys
- AllInForFlyers

EK's defense is always overlooked, and I'm not sure why. I don't have a problem with pinching. I don't have a problem with headmanning the puck. I have a problem with doing it irresponsibly.

Yes sir I am. I never got why these problems were so hard for people. It's simple algebra and ratios.
- jmatchett383

There was a time when these were easy for me. I haven't taken a math class in a while though.

EK's defense is always overlooked, and I'm not sure why. I don't have a problem with pinching. I don't have a problem with headmanning the puck. I have a problem with doing it irresponsibly.
- jmatchett383

Top 2 conversation topics on Sens talk-radio/message boards: Jason Spezza is a loser, Erik Karlsson plays terrible D. It's now down to one.

Well I disagree with you. I think the Flyers make the playoffs.
- MJL

I hope you are right

EK's defense is always overlooked, and I'm not sure why. I don't have a problem with pinching. I don't have a problem with headmanning the puck. I have a problem with doing it irresponsibly.
- jmatchett383

Karlsson's been a full-time NHLer for five seasons, been a minus-player in three of them, including a -30

Plus-minus is only a snapshot; we all know that. But he's not a great one-on-one defender and only an average team defender

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/14/14 vs. ANA
- bmeltzer

god forbid schenn should play center

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/10/13/6972237/panthers-attendance-senators

"Well this is awkward."

Panthers vs Sens in Florida featured an announced attendance of just a whisker over 7,000 people.
- jak521

craig anderson talked about it in his post game, cringeworthy

EK's defense is always overlooked, and I'm not sure why. I don't have a problem with pinching. I don't have a problem with headmanning the puck. I have a problem with doing it irresponsibly.
- jmatchett383

It's always about making a read and a decision. Make the wrong one, and it can lead to trouble. While there is still lots of time for teams where they have to defend around the net, and battle for pucks in the corner. You aren't going to be a very good team if all your defenseman can do is chip pucks off the glass. Teams just forecheck too well these days. Teams are very aggressive. Same way that you're not going to create nearly enough offense is you play a passive 1-2-2 conservative forecheck, and don't pressure the puck in the offensive zone. Skilled teams will just breakout too easy against you, and you'll spend all game in you're own end.

Top 2 conversation topics on Sens talk-radio/message boards: Jason Spezza is a loser, Erik Karlsson plays terrible D. It's now down to one.
- Tomahawk

Such a loser. Eats in the cafeteria by himself