Call for Berube's head all you want. It won't fix the shootout problems which have been going on here since 2005.
- Feanor

Well a start would be a coach that takes it seriously no?

Bill (or anyone for that matter),

What's your take on the prospects in the NCAA? Have any of them shown potential to be future pro hockey players? I read a while ago that Wilcox was becoming a pleasant surprise.
- VladDrag

Friedman is a freshman but was his conference's pre-season Rookie of the Year pick in the media poll. Willcox has pro potential. Maybe Parks as a bottom six forward.

Luukko is a non-prospect at this point, and is entering his senior year. Amorosa and Drake are freshman and will be long-term projects. Madsen is also a freshman and probably won't get a lot of starts this season.

we all agree things will get better.....But I don't see this current team as a playoff team. The D is more then a problem, it's a train wreck. Its not like we have a Doughty or a Keith where you say " oh they will turn it around". The over all team defense is as much an issue....this team gives up way to many odd man rushes. I wish I shared optimism and it's not like I would stop watching, but to think that teams around them didn't get markedly better while the Flyers simply improved is just not correct.

somebody keeps shooting them from trains, making em scarce these days
- -davies-

It's Marty St Louis and Danny Briere

somebody keeps shooting them from trains, making em scarce these days
- -davies-

This makes me sad

Good points!

Re the Flyers forwards:
To paraphrase Dean Wormer- Slow, small and stupid is no way to succeed in the NHL son!
- BiggE

As long as they avoid panic trades. I don't want to see them make a trade where they deal a young asset for a 33 year old in an effort to get into the playoffs this year. I don't think it will happen, but obviously the possibility exists.

If they are still scuffling along in December, we might see some sort of shakeup deal. If it's lasting until January or February, we might get a bit of a purge.
- Jsaquella

Don't think Hextall will make a panic deal or swap youth for age, Holmgren might of and Clarke would have traded half the roster by Monday!

we all agree things will get better.....But I don't see this current team as a playoff team. The D is more then a problem, it's a train wreck. Its not like we have a Doughty or a Keith where you say " oh they will turn it around". The over all team defense is as much an issue....this team gives up way to many odd man rushes. I wish I shared optimism and it's not like I would stop watching, but to think that teams around them didn't get markedly better while the Flyers simply improved is just not correct.
- landros 2

I tend to agree. They might sneak into a Wildcard, but I'm not expecting a guaranteed playoffs. Last season, I fully expected them to make the playoffs, even at 0-3 or 1-7. This season I'm not sold.

we all agree things will get better.....But I don't see this current team as a playoff team. The D is more then a problem, it's a train wreck. Its not like we have a Doughty or a Keith where you say " oh they will turn it around". The over all team defense is as much an issue....this team gives up way to many odd man rushes. I wish I shared optimism and it's not like I would stop watching, but to think that teams around them didn't get markedly better while the Flyers simply improved is just not correct.
- landros 2

How about them Islanders? I was waiting for them to play a good team to be impressed, beating SJ has me all flustered. And their two additions on D are hotter the Pamela Anderson (Baywatch era).

Don't think Hextall will make a panic deal or swap youth for age, Holmgren might of and Clarke would have traded half the roster by Monday!
- BiggE

I don't either. If it was Holmgren running show, or Clarke, I think we might have seen something. A trade, firing, a veteran sent to the farm, something.

Friedman is a freshman but was his conference's pre-season Rookie of the Year pick in the media poll. Willcox has pro potential. Maybe Parks as a bottom six forward.

Luukko is a non-prospect at this point, and is entering his senior year. Amorosa and Drake are freshman and will be long-term projects. Madsen is also a freshman and probably won't get a lot of starts this season.
- bmeltzer

Thanks, Bill!

I don't either. If it was Holmgren running show, or Clarke, I think we might have seen something. A trade, firing, a veteran sent to the farm, something.
- Jsaquella

Edler, Buf or Yandle?

I tend to agree. They might sneak into a Wildcard, but I'm not expecting a guaranteed playoffs. Last season, I fully expected them to make the playoffs, even at 0-3 or 1-7. This season I'm not sold.
- Jsaquella

I agree, I think they may sneak in as a wildcard if they are lucky.This year it seems that everyone around them has improved.. Isles. Jackets, Caps, and wins will be harder to come by. Even the Leafs could squeak in ( that pains me to say) but they have shown early in this season that they can win by beating NYR in NY and they showed some heart with a nice comeback win against the Av's.

Good read, Bill. Interesting that Berube would preach getting the puck out of the defensive zone following a turn over yet he's the same guy that would routinely scratch Erik Gustafsson in favor of less capable puck movers.

I agree, I think they may sneak in as a wildcard if they are lucky.This year it seems that everyone around them has improved.. Isles. Jackets, Caps, and wins will be harder to come by. Even the Leafs could squeak in ( that pains me to say) but they have shown early in this season that they can win by beating NYR in NY and they showed some heart with a nice comeback win against the Av's.
- 3flyerkids

I know it's silly to bet against the zombies but the NJD will not make the POs in my opinion. Leafs? Maybe, but I think they make a serious trade during the season after some hard times and the outcome of the trade will decide their fate- pure speculation on my part (I think they trade Phenuef + for E Stall or something similar).

I know it's silly to bet against the zombies but the NJD will not make the POs in my opinion. Leafs? Maybe, but I think they make a serious trade during the season after some hard times and the outcome of the trade will decide their fate- pure speculation on my part (I think they trade Phenuef + for E Stall or something similar).
- coffee junkie

Trading Eric Staal would put the Hurricanes in full "Tankolina" mode.

Good read, Bill. Interesting that Berube would preach getting the puck out of the defensive zone following a turn over yet he's the same guy that would routinely scratch Erik Gustafsson in favor of less capable puck movers.
- NickTheKid87

Certainly appears that Berube has his binkies, as well as players who have done nothing to get into his doghouse. (Akeson).

The Flyers will pick up their team game, and get better. And they will be a playoff team. B Schenn's issue is not which position he is playing. It's on him that he wasn't moving his feet, not getting on the puck. He was pretty good against Anaheim, and hard on the puck. And his ice time was indicative of that, as he played 20 minutes. Which is a lot for a Winger. If he keeps playing like that, he'll be fine.
- MJL

I know I'm feeding the troll here, but i'll ask anyways:

Given that every other team in the East has in one way or another strengthened their roster as the Flyers stood pat (save for the blockbuster move to bring in a retread past his prime), how did you come to this conclusion?

Schenn looks disinterested out there which is completely unacceptable, ya know...being that it's the beginning of the season and all. Maybe he's upset about being placed in a position that he didn't want to be in, but guess what, you're a professional....get over it. That should be even more of an incentive to play better you twit!

Trading Eric Staal would put the Hurricanes in full "Tankolina" mode.
- johndewar

Both Staal's, and Skinner are injured. Not sure they are tanking, as much as they are crippled by injuries.

Good read, Bill. Interesting that Berube would preach getting the puck out of the defensive zone following a turn over yet he's the same guy that would routinely scratch Erik Gustafsson in favor of less capable puck movers.
- NickTheKid87

I like Gustafsson, but he has other limitations at the NHL level. Berube (understandably) didn't want half of his defense corps to consist of sub-six foot Dmen. FWIW, pro scouts from three other NHL organizations opined to me last season that Gustafsson is no more than a 6th defenseman in the NHL and more likely a 7. None saw an under-utilized NHL talent. Philip Larsen, an almost identical player in size and skill-set, found himself in the same boat.

Both Gus and Larsen are in the KHL now, where they play a lot of minutes.

That's my biggest concern, there's no easy way to fix dumb.

You can adjust the system for slow. You can generally make adjustments for size. But dumb...dumb can be a mother(frank)er.
- Jsaquella

The errors that the team has been making in coverage are all correctable errors.

Can someone tell me what Milan Lucic was saying to the crowd last night?

I'm told it's an obscene gesture, but it looks like he's raising a mock Stanley Cup.

we all agree things will get better.....But I don't see this current team as a playoff team. The D is more then a problem, it's a train wreck. Its not like we have a Doughty or a Keith where you say " oh they will turn it around". The over all team defense is as much an issue....this team gives up way to many odd man rushes. I wish I shared optimism and it's not like I would stop watching, but to think that teams around them didn't get markedly better while the Flyers simply improved is just not correct.
- landros 2

It's early but so far the Islanders look really good and the Devils might surprise people with Cory Schneider in net for a full season. I think their forward depth is underrated too. Washington looks like they might be better than advertised and Ovi is scoring. The division as a whole has the potential to be much better than last year and the Flyers are arguably a worse team which doesn't bode well. I think it'll be tough to get into the playoffs or at least tougher than last year.

I like Gustafsson, but he has other limitations at the NHL level. Berube (understandably) didn't want half of his defense corps to consist of sub-six foot Dmen. FWIW, pro scouts from three other NHL organizations opined to me last season that Gustafsson is no more than a 6th defenseman in the NHL and more likely a 7. None saw an under-utilized NHL talent. Philip Larsen, an almost identical player in size and skill-set, found himself in the same boat.

Both Gus and Larsen are in the KHL now, where they play a lot of minutes.
- bmeltzer

I agree, but with the lack of puck moving ability, Gus was helpful. Water under the bridge now but sometimes I think Berube is trying to get water from a stone with some of his choices. They team itself is a bit of a rock though...

It's early but so far the Islanders look really good and the Devils might surprise people with Cory Schneider in net for a full season. I think their forward depth is underrated too. Washington looks like they might be better than advertised and Ovi is scoring. The division as a whole has the potential to be much better than last year and the Flyers are arguably a worse team which doesn't bode well. I think it'll be tough to get into the playoffs or at least tougher than last year.
- NickTheKid87

The issue with the Devils imo is the age of their forwards. 10 of their 12 forwards are 30+. Can they really expect them to hold up health wise over the course of an 82 game schedule?