L. Schenn was a top 5 draft pick, he's in his 7th year in the NHL and not only has his development stagnated, but he's regressed. How exactly is he a whipping boy? He's the 6th dman on an patchwork defense core.
- PLindbergh31

it is going to take Hexy a few years to fix this mess Homer left him

I think the world of Giroux but the flyers need a leader
- vejim

without giroux this team is bottom of the barrel....theres only so much one guy can do.

The great thing about the NHL is that any team can win on any given night. Some nights one team will play better, even if they're the lesser team on paper. They'll execute better, win more battles, etc. But for sustained success, you need a roster with players that compliment one another in addition to being talented, a system that plays to the roster's strengths, good team-wide execution and then the intangibles to a lesser extent. The Flyers don't have a talented roster with complimentary players, their system is fine more or less, the team-wide execution blows which is also related to the talent and roster. All of this is why they lose games on the reg more so than lack of leadership.
- NickTheKid87

What is sustained success? Define that? The Flyers have more than enough talent to be a competitive team, game in and game out against any team. They have shown that at times this season. Losing the game against Florida had zero to do with talent, or players that compliment each other. And I'm not saying that there aren't issues in those areas, because there are. But it's cart before the horse. This team has to show up and play, to win. They can't and won't win with efforts that they gave against Florida.

without giroux this team is bottom of the barrel....theres only so much one guy can do.
- PhillaBully

Without Giroux and Voracek, this team is done like dinner.

This team needs better players around those guys.

Without Giroux and Voracek, this team is done like dinner.

This team needs better players around those guys.
- johndewar

Lots of teams are in trouble if they lose their top two players, but yes, the Flyers are a lottery team without those two.

Those line combos

without giroux this team is bottom of the barrel....theres only so much one guy can do.
- PhillaBully

I agree, they need some team leaders

L. Schenn was a top 5 draft pick, he's in his 7th year in the NHL and not only has his development stagnated, but he's regressed. How exactly is he a whipping boy? He's the 6th dman on an patchwork defense core.
- PLindbergh31

I'm usually first in line to criticize either Schenn brother.

With that said, I want to see if Colaiacovo can stay healthy for more than 5 minutes before I consider benching Fat Schenn for him.

If there is one admirable trait with Luke Schenn, it's that he's fairly durable.

So, if we could combine Colaiacovo's good traits with Luke Schenn's good traits, that'd be great.

What is sustained success? Define that? The Flyers have more than enough talent to be a competitive team, game in and game out against any team. They have shown that at times this season. Losing the game against Florida had zero to do with talent, or players that compliment each other. And I'm not saying that there aren't issues in those areas, because there are. But it's cart before the horse. This team has to show up and play, to win. They can't and won't win with efforts that they gave against Florida.
- MJL

What LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Boston, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Montreal did/are doing over the past few seasons. Those teams are built well and execute much better than the Flyers. The Flyers are talented enough to be in the middle of the pack. They'll pick up around 50% of the possible points over the course of the season while these other teams will have over 60%.

The Flyers beat LA and lost to Florida. That is something that won't happen the majority of the time. The same leadership core played in the game against LA as in the game against Florida.

I'm usually first in line to criticize either Schenn brother.

With that said, I want to see if Colaiacovo can stay healthy for more than 5 minutes before I consider benching Fat Schenn for him.

If there is one admirable trait with Luke Schenn, it's that he's fairly durable.

So, if we could combine Colaiacovo's good traits with Luke Schenn's good traits, that'd be great.
- johndewar

When all are back, or I should say if, two defenseman need to be scratched of Coaiacovo is still on the team.

What LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Boston, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Montreal did/are doing over the past few seasons. Those teams are built well and execute much better than the Flyers. The Flyers are talented enough to be in the middle of the pack. They'll pick up around 50% of the possible points over the course of the season while these other teams will have over 60%.

The Flyers beat LA and lost to Florida. That is something that won't happen the majority of the time. The same leadership core played in the game against LA as in the game against Florida.
- NickTheKid87

We all know that this team, even if they play at their best, aren't in that class. The question is what does this team have to do to play their best, as is. It starts with playing with urgency, and desperations from the opening puck drop. That's the biggest problem with this team. Not the only problem, but the biggest issue.
Yea, so why are they able to get up for LA, and not Florida? That they didn't, points to leadership.

I'm usually first in line to criticize either Schenn brother.

With that said, I want to see if Colaiacovo can stay healthy for more than 5 minutes before I consider benching Fat Schenn for him.

If there is one admirable trait with Luke Schenn, it's that he's fairly durable.

So, if we could combine Colaiacovo's good traits with Luke Schenn's good traits, that'd be great.
- johndewar

When Coburn and MacDonald return you have to bench 2 of the current dmen. It's probably a moot point because you know other dmen will go down to injury.

Based on the play of Schultz and MDZ, Schenn is the only logical choice to be benched.

What LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Boston, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Montreal did/are doing over the past few seasons. Those teams are built well and execute much better than the Flyers. The Flyers are talented enough to be in the middle of the pack. They'll pick up around 50% of the possible points over the course of the season while these other teams will have over 60%.

The Flyers beat LA and lost to Florida. That is something that won't happen the majority of the time. The same leadership core played in the game against LA as in the game against Florida.
- NickTheKid87

The last thing you want is for someone to fly around the ice like Zac Rinaldo a maniac. If you are routinely struggling to get the puck out of your end of the ice due to bad decisions with the puck and failed clears or whatever, its gonna look like you are not playing hard.

The Hawks showed us what happens when a team executes at a nearly flawless level. It wasnt that one team decided to "work hard" and the other decided to "take it easy".

One team was executing extremely well (which speeds up the game) and the other wasnt.

We all know that this team, even if they play at their best, aren't in that class. The question is what does this team have to do to play their best, as is. It starts with playing with urgency, and desperations from the opening puck drop. That's the biggest problem with this team. Not the only problem, but the biggest issue.
Yea, so why are they able to get up for LA, and not Florida? That they didn't, points to leadership.
- MJL

Personally, I think it just points to general fluctuations in a hockey season as well as good execution vs. poor execution, on all three teams parts.

We all know that this team, even if they play at their best, aren't in that class. The question is what does this team have to do to play their best, as is. It starts with playing with urgency, and desperations from the opening puck drop. That's the biggest problem with this team. Not the only problem, but the biggest issue.
Yea, so why are they able to get up for LA, and not Florida? That they didn't, points to leadership.
- MJL

If you play with "urgency and desperation" you end up chasing the play. The last thing you need to do is chase the play. How many times have you heard a player say they need to "stop gripping the stick so hard" or "chasing the play"?

What needs to happen is the Flyers need to speed up their passing and decision making. They need to hit those tape to tape quick passes. They need to get the puck from blue line to blue line without a turnover.

Skating harder, playing desperate, playing with urgency wont get them anywhere if they dont start executing at a better clip.

Personally, I think it just points to general fluctuations in a hockey season as well as good execution vs. poor execution, on all three teams parts.
- NickTheKid87

The great thing about the NHL is that any team can win on any given night. Some nights one team will play better, even if they're the lesser team on paper. They'll execute better, win more battles, etc. But for sustained success, you need a roster with players that compliment one another in addition to being talented, a system that plays to the roster's strengths, good team-wide execution and then the intangibles to a lesser extent. The Flyers don't have a talented roster with complimentary players, their system is fine more or less, the team-wide execution blows which is also related to the talent and roster. All of this is why they lose games on the reg more so than lack of leadership.
- NickTheKid87

The last thing you want is for someone to fly around the ice like Zac Rinaldo a maniac. If you are routinely struggling to get the puck out of your end of the ice due to bad decisions with the puck and failed clears or whatever, its gonna look like you are not playing hard.

The Hawks showed us what happens when a team executes at a nearly flawless level. It wasnt that one team decided to "work hard" and the other decided to "take it easy".

One team was executing extremely well (which speeds up the game) and the other wasnt.
- jak521

Agreed. Sometimes teams get outworked because of good execution. Other times one team is getting all the breaks. I don't think leadership is a real issue on this team or any. I think it's a manufactured excuse for a team that is inconsistent (aka an average team like the Flyers). I don't know what people expect from the Flyers but leadership isn't going to make or break them.

I wonder who sits when Coburn returns? Will it be whipping boy L. Schenn or journeyman DelZotto?
- aantny88

Knowing Berube, it'll probably be MDZ after he turns the puck over once.

Agreed. Sometimes teams get outworked because of good execution. Other times one team is getting all the breaks. I don't think leadership is a real issue on this team or any. I think it's a manufactured excuse for a team that is inconsistent (aka an average team like the Flyers). I don't know what people expect from the Flyers but leadership isn't going to make or break them.
- NickTheKid87

If Toews and Giroux switched teams, the Flyers would be a perennial Cup contender and the Hawks would be in line for McDavid. Toews leadership is unparalleled.

Knowing Berube, it'll probably be MDZ after he turns the puck over once.
- Tomahawk

Berube's actually said good things in the press about MDZ.

I'd be surprised if they chose to sit Schultz, at this point, regardless of the role they originally signed him for.

I can easily see Luke Schenn sitting when the other guys return.

Those line combos
- JFlyers00

I like them, apart from Akeson not being on the 4th line RW.

Knowing Berube, it'll probably be MDZ after he turns the puck over once.
- Tomahawk

MDZ isn't big, or physical. He's been diagnosed with Akeson disease.

If Toews and Giroux switched teams, the Flyers would be a perennial Cup contender and the Hawks would be in line for McDavid. Toews leadership is unparalleled.
- PhillySportsGuy

There are 22 men on the roster. For a team not to have "leadership" doesn't make much sense to me. It's funny, the good teams, roster and execution wise are always said to have great leaders but the bad and average teams in terms of these thing have poor leadership.

Of course, a good team gets bumped from the playoffs like the Penguins and everyone starts questioning Crosby's leadership ability yet no one was saying that when they won the Cup. Same with Richards in 2010. Takes the Flyers to the Cup and he's an awesome captain. The next year they get swept in the second round by the Bruins and all of a sudden he's a bad captain and a distraction because of his off the ice doings.

MDZ isn't big, or physical. He's been diagnosed with Akeson disease.
- PLindbergh31

Kids got incredible endurance... Philadelphia Flyer by day, Wheeling Nailer by night. Where does he find the time?