I'm watching replay, just saw Grossmann's goal...WTF was up with the call on Schenn for embellishment? Weak ass call
- Jsaquella

If you want to see actual embellishment, check Read's high stick on Helm.

sums a lot of things up right there!!!! Yeah i am not down on grossman as much as others. i think he is a solid guy who had a bad year. I xpect if healthy for him to be productive. with or without out him they are not going anywhere; who knows if or when he gets hurt. maybe a team gets crazy with an offer.

I want to see Alt at some point to see if he is a possibly cheap bottom pairing guy.
- rinaldo

Didn't even have that bad of a year last year -- had a hideous month of January. Rest of season was OK and was actually quite good after the Olympic break.

Because he flailed as if he had been shot
- Feds91Stammer

yeah, way more than the detroit player that got breathed on and fell over during the flyers power play

No he was rushed
- JoeRussomanno

Nice try but he's 3 years older than ghost with a few years in the league already. Also, he has bounced around lately, so maybe he was rushed early in his career

Nice try but he's 3 years older than ghost with a few years in the league already. Also, he has bounced around lately, so maybe he was rushed early in his career
- funmaster18

Just needs 12 more years with Murray

Didn't even have that bad of a year last year -- had a hideous month of January. Rest of season was OK and was actually quite good after the Olympic break.
- bmeltzer

I'm glad you can recognize the good work Grossmann does. I don't think very many people around the boards fully appreciate his value as they cavalierly toss his name into various cap saving trade proposals. The Flyers often struggle with backchecking and handling opposing forecheckers in their own zone...part of that is on the Flyers forwards, who need to be better in support, but I wouldn't want to see how much easier opponents would have it in the Flyers zone if the physical guys like Grossmann and to a lesser extent, Schenn are traded away.

Grossmann is one of the only guys out there consistently making opponents pay the price in the defensive zone by aggressively banging/pinning guys with the puck against the boards and getting physical with guys in front of the net. He's also one of the only guys on the Flyers who seems willing and able to measure guys up coming across the blueline, close the gap and check them off the puck. And how many shots don't see the net because he blocks them? He also makes good, basic puck moving plays in the defensive zone most of the time and can join the play now and then without overdoing it in terms of risk (he plays within himself).

I know some people seem to always want to point out the occasional time he gets turned around or fails to clear or causes an icing, but in my eyes, the yeoman's work Grossmann does in the defensive zone night in and night out is well worth putting up with a mistake here and there. Admittedly, he had some tough stretches when dealing with nagging injuries, like last season, but when healthy I think he's a very solid second pairing Defensive D man and earns every bit of his salary.

His flaws are who he is, he could've learned better decision making studying film. Furthermore the minors and pro's play at a different style and pace so bad habits could be learned there as well. Again habits fall in the coaching job description.
It's not like the Bruins kept Hamilton buried for years in the minors.
- JoeRussomanno

It's not a one size fits all proposition. Seth Jones stepped in and played great. Luke Schenn stepped in and has been inconsistent for six seasons.

If it was as simple as looking at film, then there'd be zero reason for juniors, the AHL or any developmental leagues.

Bad habits can certainly be coached out, but once they get ingrained they are harder to fix. That's why you can focus on development at the AHL and junior levels. Gostisbehere has a lot of work to do on his game away from the puck and in his own end. He could stand to get stronger.

If you want short term fixes, why not re-hire Holmgren, trade Gostisbehere and Morin for Tyler Myers and keep going on the path they followed since the Pronger injury-plugging leaks with overpriced veterans and dumping draft picks away on short term fixes.

Also, say they keep Gostisbehere and they fire Berube. Isn't the new coach going to feel the same pressure to win now that Berube does? Is a new guy going to come in and say, hey I'm going to give the developmental aspect of this kid's game priority over winning now? Probably not.

Didn't even have that bad of a year last year -- had a hideous month of January. Rest of season was OK and was actually quite good after the Olympic break.
- bmeltzer

He and Streit were probably their best pair after the Olympic break and he was very good in the playoffs until he got hurt.

And I was one of the most vociferous Grossmann critics last season, when he was struggling. He turned it around nicely.

Just needs 12 more years with Murray
- JoeRussomanno

I was thinking only 10

Which is fine; the Flyers need to keep all of their younger assets right now, IMO, until Coburn and MacDonald get back and you can truly evaluate this roster and their development.

They have the obvious holes. But there's no need to sell low right now. They need to suck it up for a month with what they have, get Coburn and MacDonald back, play with them, and see where they are.

Schenn's been better the last five games. He's got points in four of his last six. There's just no need to do anything right now.
- AllInForFlyers

This.

It's not a one size fits all proposition. Seth Jones stepped in and played great. Luke Schenn stepped in and has been inconsistent for six seasons.

If it was as simple as looking at film, then there'd be zero reason for juniors, the AHL or any developmental leagues.

Bad habits can certainly be coached out, but once they get ingrained they are harder to fix. That's why you can focus on development at the AHL and junior levels. Gostisbehere has a lot of work to do on his game away from the puck and in his own end. He could stand to get stronger.

If you want short term fixes, why not re-hire Holmgren, trade Gostisbehere and Morin for Tyler Myers and keep going on the path they followed since the Pronger injury-plugging leaks with overpriced veterans and dumping draft picks away on short term fixes.

Also, say they keep Gostisbehere and they fire Berube. Isn't the new coach going to feel the same pressure to win now that Berube does? Is a new guy going to come in and say, hey I'm going to give the developmental aspect of this kid's game priority over winning now? Probably not.
- Jsaquella

It's true every player is different, which is why ghost should have to prove he belongs in order to stay up. If he does and succeeds then that would be fantastic. If not send him down and let him work on his game.

I really hope sanheim is the real deal. Lots to be excited about with him. He made some really slick moves in the preseason for a player his age.

That Laughton OT winner...

Considering how frustrating the flyers start was, they are right there in the standings. String together a couple more wins and they aren't on the outside looking in anymore.

It's true every player is different, which is why ghost should have to prove he belongs in order to stay up. If he does and succeeds then that would be fantastic. If not send him down and let him work on his game.
- funmaster18

Exactly. if Gostisbehere comes in and plays great and shows he's ready, keep him.

If you're keeping him just because he's better than MDZ, Schultz or Schenn now, but clearly has stuff to work on, why not just trade him for a veteran, who is better and ready?

Considering how frustrating the flyers start was, they are right there in the standings. String together a couple more wins and they aren't on the outside looking in anymore.
- funmaster18

I'm ecstatic with how competitive the Flyers have been. They have been in every game except the Chicago mess, and are "NHL" .500 despite playing a string of tough teams in tough situations.

I'm glad you can recognize the good work Grossmann does. I don't think very many people around the boards fully appreciate his value as they cavalierly toss his name into various cap saving trade proposals. The Flyers often struggle with backchecking and handling opposing forecheckers in their own zone...part of that is on the Flyers forwards, who need to be better in support, but I wouldn't want to see how much easier opponents would have it in the Flyers zone if the physical guys like Grossmann and to a lesser extent, Schenn are traded away.

Grossmann is one of the only guys out there consistently making opponents pay the price in the defensive zone by aggressively banging/pinning guys with the puck against the boards and getting physical with guys in front of the net. He's also one of the only guys on the Flyers who seems willing and able to measure guys up coming across the blueline, close the gap and check them off the puck. And how many shots don't see the net because he blocks them? He also makes good, basic puck moving plays in the defensive zone most of the time and can join the play now and then without overdoing it in terms of risk (he plays within himself).

I know some people seem to always want to point out the occasional time he gets turned around or fails to clear or causes an icing, but in my eyes, the yeoman's work Grossmann does in the defensive zone night in and night out is well worth putting up with a mistake here and there. Admittedly, he had some tough stretches when dealing with nagging injuries, like last season, but when healthy I think he's a very solid second pairing Defensive D man and earns every bit of his salary.
- exlund

This is a great post.
I feel the same way, they'd be worse without him.

I'm ecstatic with how competitive the Flyers have been. They have been in every game except the Chicago mess, and are "NHL" .500 despite playing a string of tough teams in tough situations.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. They may be better than we thought, despite an underwhelming defense. Still too early to say, but I think they are going to be OK. I'm really loving the bellemare signing. His shift reminded me of the boston series when I think it was Giroux occupied the puck in their zone for what seemed forever as time ticked off. Bellemare works hard an has good hockey sense. He swung the momentum in the flyers favor with that shift.

Exactly. They may be better than we thought, despite an underwhelming defense. Still too early to say, but I think they are going to be OK. I'm really loving the bellemare signing. His shift reminded me of the boston series when I think it was Giroux occupied the puck in their zone for what seemed forever as time ticked off. Bellemare works hard an has good hockey sense. He swung the momentum in the flyers favor with that shift.
- funmaster18

The east is wide open. My concern during the summer was more that other teams improved, while the Flyers pretty much stayed the same. The improvements expected for Couturier & Schenn were off set by the loss of Timonen, etc.

But they're finding ways to win. If they can tread water through the first 6-8 weeks and stay around .500, they will be in a very good spot as the schedule gets a bit easier.

I loved that PK shift by Bellemare. What a momentum changer.

Shame they can't find a few defenseman gems they way they found him (and Read too)

The east is wide open. My concern during the summer was more that other teams improved, while the Flyers pretty much stayed the same. The improvements expected for Couturier & Schenn were off set by the loss of Timonen, etc.

But they're finding ways to win. If they can tread water through the first 6-8 weeks and stay around .500, they will be in a very good spot as the schedule gets a bit easier.
- Jsaquella

If they can just stabilize the defense and the team defensive coverage, they are right there.

Taking fewer penalties, combined with their own PP ability, plus what looks to be some maturation on the part of Couturier and possibly Schenn (after the first two games), plus Raffl's finding ways to put up points...they could be right there, if they can just get the back end stable.

I'm ecstatic with how competitive the Flyers have been. They have been in every game except the Chicago mess, and are "NHL" .500 despite playing a string of tough teams in tough situations.
- Jsaquella

nhl 500 is supposed to be bolded......this tablet blows

The east is wide open. My concern during the summer was more that other teams improved, while the Flyers pretty much stayed the same. The improvements expected for Couturier & Schenn were off set by the loss of Timonen, etc.

But they're finding ways to win. If they can tread water through the first 6-8 weeks and stay around .500, they will be in a very good spot as the schedule gets a bit easier.
- Jsaquella

Couts to me looks like he is taking that next step this year (although it is very early).

BSchenn has had some moments but also some very frustrating shifts.
Still a work in progress.

I think MDZ is getting better each game too.
The next month could be very big for him. Berube has no choice but to play him.

Ghost seems to have a good head on his shoulders. The kid has a bright future.


That Bellmare pk shift

Here are your scoring chances from last night: http://www.letsgoflyers.n...ecap-flyers-vs-red-wings/




Chance-wise, it looks like L Schenn might have held Ghost back last night.