There's decent pieces that could fill roles on a good defense, the trouble is they are all asked to assume roles that are bigger than they should be asked to handle. They have to rely on AMac, Coburn and Streit to anchor the pair, and for the most part they should be the second guy on a good pair.
- Jsaquella

It seems that we always talk about this year in and year out, but is this because of:

1.) Bad scouting
2.) Lack of foresight
3.) Naïve - They feel that they can miraculously teach a mediocre player to be a good one?
4.) Stubborn to get that square peg into the round hole?
5.) Other teams know how to expose our weaknesses better than we do theirs? Bad coaching?

HE THREW THE BALL AT THEIR FEET!

HE THREW UP IN THE SUPER BOWL!

HE WASN'T A WHITE BACK UP!
- jmatchett383

Now you're getting the hang of it!

dont worry guys....Hextalls cooking something up

dont worry guys....Hextalls cooking something up


- PhillaBully

Guy has the same barber as Getzlaf.

- BulliesPhan87

classic. I'm a fan of thee...King of JPEGs!

dont worry guys....Hextalls cooking something up


- PhillaBully

So was Walter White but how'd that turn out?

lots of ?'s surrounding this team, not sure what there idenity is yet but im sure we will have a better handle once coburn gets back and see where we are after 20 games.

dont worry guys....Hextalls cooking something up


- PhillaBully

Wow, that floor is dirty!

I don't have a hatred towards Del Zotto but he would be my odd man out to attempt a different look. I'm not gonna say the third pair's issues hold heavily on the shoulders of MDZ but Luke Schenn I feel has been the better of the two and most importantly, valuable to the PK. Even Nick Shultz is trusted in killing penalties. You let Del Zotto sit and you have at least five options.

I'm also a little surprised not to see Laughton get called up to replace Vinny and to see how the team holds.
- SuperSchennBros

If you sit MDZ, good luck getting out of your zone and up the ice without him. Schenn/Schultz.... just use your imagination there.

So was Walter White but how'd that turn out?
- Giroux_Is_God

It seems that we always talk about this year in and year out, but is this because of:

1.) Bad scouting
2.) Lack of foresight
3.) Naïve - They feel that they can miraculously teach a mediocre player to be a good one?
4.) Stubborn to get that square peg into the round hole?
5.) Other teams know how to expose our weaknesses better than we do theirs? Bad coaching?
- Fast_Eddie_1

Pronger's injury is where it all starts. These role defenders we overpaid for are on our team now as a result to try and replace him. One could argue we would still have Matt Carle although the flyers tend to have a case of shiny toy syndrome.

If you sit MDZ, good luck getting out of your zone and up the ice without him. Schenn/Schultz.... just use your imagination there.
- Tomahawk

He's been vastly underappreciated so far in my opinion. I think him and Coburn could actually from a nice pair together. Still wouldn't be a top pair but certainly serviceable.

It seems that we always talk about this year in and year out, but is this because of:

1.) Bad scouting
2.) Lack of foresight
3.) Naïve - They feel that they can miraculously teach a mediocre player to be a good one?
4.) Stubborn to get that square peg into the round hole?
5.) Other teams know how to expose our weaknesses better than we do theirs? Bad coaching?
- Fast_Eddie_1

I think the scouting is ok, but agree with 2, 4 & 5 without reservation.

I think that Hextall knew what he had this year and rather than make short term moves to get a mediocre team into the playoffs, he's looking long term. Under Holmgren there was definitely more of a "let's get to the playoffs and anything could happen" mindset. Hextall seems to be more worried about a building a foundation, so deadline trades are an effort to win a 16th playoff game rather than a 5th or 6th playoff game

If you sit MDZ, good luck getting out of your zone and up the ice without him. Schenn/Schultz.... just use your imagination there.
- Tomahawk

(disregard the outlined cell)

He's been vastly underappreciated so far in my opinion. I think him and Coburn could actually from a nice pair together. Still wouldn't be a top pair but certainly serviceable.
- JFlyers00

classic. I'm a fan of thee...King of JPEGs!
- Fast_Eddie_1

ty, but the real credit goes to Google image search. Love their work.

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.
- johndewar

don't know if anyone else already answered you but he made a certain gesture involving his private parts before then miming the cup hoist

- Tomahawk

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn

This is what they should be running in practice.

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn

This is what they should be running in practice.
- Feanor

Would require a leap of faith from Berube... but it could really change the complexion of the group.

I think the scouting is ok, but agree with 2, 4 & 5 without reservation.

I think that Hextall knew what he had this year and rather than make short term moves to get a mediocre team into the playoffs, he's looking long term. Under Holmgren there was definitely more of a "let's get to the playoffs and anything could happen" mindset. Hextall seems to be more worried about a building a foundation, so deadline trades are an effort to win a 16th playoff game rather than a 5th or 6th playoff game
- Jsaquella

Listen, I don't mind agreeing tot he fact that we're going to suck for a couple of years ONLY if it means that someone in the office up there has a definitive plan as opposed to the fly on the seat of your pants mentality! I want to be assured that management actually knows what they're doing! Sometimes, I wanna grab my wooby when the fan base appears to know more than they do.

Prove to me that you guys know what you're doing. For the love of GOD...PLEASE!

dont worry guys....Hextalls cooking something up


- PhillaBully

I hope you are right, but even if we started 2-10 it wouldn't suprise me if he doesn't do one thing except preach that they " have to work harder" or " our 5on 5 play has to be better". Tell you what... Get better players and those things will improve!

don't know if anyone else already answered you but he made a certain gesture involving his private parts before then miming the cup hoist
- -davies-

Ah missed that part.

Thanks!

Would require a leap of faith from Berube... but it could really change the complexion of the group.
- Tomahawk

Unfortunately, I think he's too stubborn/scared or whatever to do so. His refusal to break up certain forward pairs is annoying as well. They haven't won a game yet so he should really be open to trying anything.

Listen, I don't mind agreeing tot he fact that we're going to suck for a couple of years ONLY if it means that someone in the office up there has a definitive plan as opposed to the fly on the seat of your pants mentality! I want to be assured that management actually knows what they're doing! Sometimes, I wanna grab my wooby when the fan base appears to know more than they do.

Prove to me that you guys know what you're doing. For the love of GOD...PLEASE!
- Fast_Eddie_1

Seems like Hextall, and Holmgren at the end of his tenure, have/had a vision for the future. I agree that the team sucking is easier to stomach if there is a plan in place that will make them better later on. It seems for the better part of 20 years, the management has been very short sighted and building teams on a year-to-year basis.

If you sit MDZ, good luck getting out of your zone and up the ice without him. Schenn/Schultz.... just use your imagination there.
- Tomahawk

Also, playing him gives our players lots of practice covering up for poorly timed pinches and turnovers, and lets them work on fishing the puck out of their own net.