I've been waiting for a tank year and boy this is the year to do it!

8PM. The Flyers will start playing about 9:15 or so.
- PLindbergh31

ugh. and that will still be enough to win.

but okay. the later the better for me. i dont get in until 10 tonight so maybe i can catch the third.

i need to upgrade to a smartphone haha

Couturier had 2 offensive zone starts last night. But that doesn't really change the point of how he is used. But I think trading him because of that is silly. Right now, the way the team is playing defensively, the coach doesn't have much of a choice. Obviously the Giroux line should see a lot of offensive zone starts. And Giroux is the only other center that Berube trusts to take a D zone draw. And the other lines need to be put in sheltered starts.
- MJL

Yet Coots and Frenchy have better faceoff numbers both are 55% and #23/24 in the league where G is 50%, also on 5 on 5 both Coots and Frenchy have better than 50% draw %'s where G is 50%.

I don't argue Chief likes G for the draws, but he has other guys that can get the puck as well if not better than G, and could change the way he uses his lines...but i am not sure he will

Crazy poop going on in Ottawa. just awful

Crazy poop going on in Ottawa. just awful

I will ask a question I have been asking because I thought this d was WELL below average WITH Timonen and Coburn. What would the harm be in giving Ghost experience and letting him play? I understand the "don't ruin his confidence" thing but who the hell is a better alternative playing out there, Schultz? I don't think so. Patience is needed, but it needs to be balanced with experience. Throw Ghost a few minutes per game just to let him see what the pace is like at the NHL level. I like Hextall's overall plan of patience, but in this case he should make an exception. Playing him every couple of games can't harm him. Plus, it would be nice to see a dman who doesn't look like he is skating in mud. They are PAINFULLY slow on d. Tonight could once again get ugly.
- CupOnBroadSt.

Why bring him up and risk learning bad habits? It's better for his long term development to stay in the AHL, get direction from Murray, a proven developmental guy, and then advance to the NHL when more ready

ugh. and that will still be enough to win.

but okay. the later the better for me. i dont get in until 10 tonight so maybe i can catch the third.

i need to upgrade to a smartphone haha
- stayinthefnnet

Flyers have owned that building, that being said I'd be pretty surprised if they won tonight based on the way the teams are playing. I think Emery is going to play tonight as well.

If he is infuriating you by how he's handled Couturier, then it's not being looked at clearly. The Couturier line is the only real option the coach has available to him that can be trusted with defensive zone draws. It's that simple. If they want to have any prayer of winning games, then that is how it needs to be done to have any chance, with the way this team plays defensively. The coach doesn't have a legitimate top defense pair to put out for defensive zone draws against top lines, nor does he have any other line that can be trusted defensively. So the coach get's criticized for using Couturier heavily for D zone draws. That's mind boggling.
- MJL

Then it stands to reason that trading Coots for help on defense and obtaining a defensive center who can handle the same defensive responsibilities but has 0 offensive potential would benefit this team. This was already stated previously but you, of course, shot that down right away.

If you're going to only utilize Couturier as a defensive zone shut down center and never put him in a position to score, then it would make sense to use him in a trade to bolster the defensive core and find someone else to fill that defense only role at center. There are options out there.

Crazy poop going on in Ottawa. just awful
- nastyflyergirl

What do you mean?

Think about it. We can turn this team into a serious contender in one off season. Ghost and morin are close to making the team. A generation talent possibly inserted into our line up. If it's McDavid trade Schenn for a top six winger. Get rid of umber,vinny,grossman at least. Vinny seems to be playing good. Decent trade deadline deal can be had. Toughest thing to do being a flyers fan is watch the tank season and know it will get much better very shortly. We are spoiled.

What do you mean?
- mcefalu

Multiple gunmen at the Parliament. Soldier shot.

What do you mean?
- mcefalu

Shooting on Parliament. Hill

As a sixth defenseman getting MAYBE 10 minutes a game? We could do worse. Put him with one of their stay at home d men and see what he could do. This team is nowhere near playoff caliber anyway.
- CupOnBroadSt.

He'd be better off playing top-4 minutes in the AHL than spot duty in the NHL. Also, again, he'd have to sacrifice part of what makes him special against NHL competition as opposed to simply incorporating new things into his game at the AHL level.

Multiple gunmen at the Parliament. Soldier shot.
- PLindbergh31

Oh wow, hadn't heard about that. Scary stuff.

I will ask a question I have been asking because I thought this d was WELL below average WITH Timonen and Coburn. What would the harm be in giving Ghost experience and letting him play? I understand the "don't ruin his confidence" thing but who the hell is a better alternative playing out there, Schultz? I don't think so. Patience is needed, but it needs to be balanced with experience. Throw Ghost a few minutes per game just to let him see what the pace is like at the NHL level. I like Hextall's overall plan of patience, but in this case he should make an exception. Playing him every couple of games can't harm him. Plus, it would be nice to see a dman who doesn't look like he is skating in mud. They are PAINFULLY slow on d. Tonight could once again get ugly.
- CupOnBroadSt.

Cause the notion of bringing up a guy is somehow taboo here and evidently has always proven to be fatal to a player's long term development because no player under the age of 25 never had success in the nhl ... Get it now?

Flyers have owned that building, that being said I'd be pretty surprised if they won tonight based on the way the teams are playing. I think Emery is going to play tonight as well.
- PLindbergh31

hell stonewall em. pens will get frustrated and just do repeated stupid poop.

What do you mean?
- mcefalu

shooting outside of the Ottawa War Memorial and shots heard inside Parliament. One soldier at the memorial shot

shooting outside of the Ottawa War Memorial and shots heard inside Parliament. One soldier at the memorial shot
- nastyflyergirl

There's a war memorial in Canada?

Still a work in progress, but they really need to show up for the first period of the game...
- JW98FlyerFan

They need to be hungrier. Pre-game pasta dinner eliminated from game-day schedule.

Last night was horrible. I saw the same mindset as the 2006/7 season their play; unmotivated, lazy, and a lack of leadership.
Next grip: Vandevelde. Why? He doesn't fit with the team, and just skates, and grinds. Nothing else.
Baby Schenn on wing? He, like Vinny, likes to play center.
Bellemare on the second line? Not, me. He's a forth line guy right now.
Coby coming back too soon? Maybe. You know the Flyers like to rush guys back from an injury. Plus, I don't think that the D is the major issue here. I really hate how the forwards are getting lazy, and watching the puck go around, and around, while they wait for the outlet pass. When the forwards can come back, and help the D out, then the D issues become less apparent. Also, quit dumping in the O zone, and not going after the puck. Finally, make an effort to get to the bench guys. Come on, quit taking those bench penalties.
Last night made me mad. I still think these, and other lazy players get paid way too much for the effort that they are giving. And if that is all they have to give, then blow up the team, and get character guys in there. Bellemare, and Jones have the most energy to give right now, and after that, it tapers off. Why? They have the most to lose by playing poorly.

There's a war memorial in Canada?
- JoeRussomanno

They do have some soldiers.

Cause the notion of bringing up a guy is somehow taboo here and evidently has always proven to be fatal to a player's long term development because no player under the age of 25 never had success in the nhl ... Get it now?
- JoeRussomanno

It's not that. We've had a number of guys from juniors come up (Coots at 18, Lindros at 19 are prominent). But when a guy has some serious things to work on, why throw him into a situation he's not prepared for and give him less playing time?

hell stonewall em. pens will get frustrated and just do repeated stupid poop.
- stayinthefnnet

I don't see it. I hope you're right!

They need to be hungrier. Pre-game pasta dinner eliminated from game-day schedule.
- bradleyc4

As an RFA im wondering if MDZ has much trade value. He had his choice if where he wanted to go in the offseason. I'm sure he shot a few destinations down. I wonder if Carolina would give up a pick for him.
- hereticpride

Del Zotto could be good in the right situation. Sheltered minutes and PP time. Not paired with L.Schenn.