Here is the report from the 2nd tier affiliate in Reading.

Hextall has done a lousy job with providing goalies
EDIT he hasnt done much for the front end of things either.

Martin Oulette should get a job doing something else, he can be beat over the shoulder and glove hand by a mite and also has weak coverage low at the post. I doubt he could be a bartender since he couldnt get his hands up to shake a martini shaker.

The team is not hitting anything and d zone coverage has been abysmal when opposing players are in motion. That is the coach who is also the gm to an extent.

You ever watch a team and they are skating hard but doing nothing defensively when they have a chance to hit someone along the boards they pass it up EVERY TIME.

Plus the player who had his knee taken out in last years playoffs had the opportunity to run the guy who purposely hurt him and did zilch.

Remember the scene in Slapshot where the old man GM of the Chiefs came in the locker room during the playoff game and called them all "P#####s?

I can tell you their single season splurge in season tickets and attendees as an affiliate will drop quicker than a stock run with automatic computer trading unless they clean this mess up.

At this point the 2014-2015 Reading Royals season tickets are the worst investment I have made in my life for anything. If I dont see improvement, I may just give them to my friends who live in Berks County, rather than spend money on tolls, fuel, parking and concessions.
- Steelmanpa

well in defense of Hexy and the Flyers they really only supply a few players to the ECHL affiliate. That said the lack of goalie prospects is a little troubling with only Madsen and Stolartz in the system.

Sam Carchidi suggests the Flyers could get a top 9 forward for Coburn.

Not the prettiest win, but they pulled it out. B Schenn seems to playing better, gaining more confidence. The team's got fight. But the Year of the Injury continues for the Flyers.

Sam Carchidi suggests the Flyers could get a top 9 forward for Coburn.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, that's what I would do... Trade a solid 2/3 minute eating defenseman for a top-9 forward, because that's where the hole is.

You know what? Don't laugh, but I think Chicago is in a far more precarious position than people think.

They should've bought out Marian Hossa when they had the chance. That contract, as well as the Toews/Kane extensions...wow.

Hossa's looking like his decline has begun, and you have to wonder with all the mileage on his body and punishment he's taken.

Keith and Seabrook hold that defense together. But after the Kane and Toews extensions kick in...Oduya's unrestricted next season.

I think the Blackhawks are in for a tougher time than people think.
- AllInForFlyers

Chicago has some serious decisions coming up. It's important to have the #1 center and #1 winger, but they'll be spending close to 30% of their cap space on 2 players next season. That's going to trickle down to their forward depth, and possibly cause problems there down the road. I don't deeply understand the make up of their team, but it seems like an obvious contract tot ry to move would be Bickell's.

Why does everyone want to trade Coburn so badly?
- PhillySportsGuy

Probably the one we could get most value for. And he is currently our #1D, which he really isn't. If we are going with a D by committee approach, then we have those players already.

Yeah, that's what I would do... Trade a solid 2/3 minute eating defenseman for a top-9 forward, because that's where the hole is.
- wolfhounds

Let's see who gets desperate at the TDL. We may be able to get that winger.

So, because I couldn't sleep last night, I took some time and looked at all the teams in the league, just real basic stuff like production, ice time, roster ages/composition. (Yep, I'm a nerd.)

What I'm going to say might sound a little weird, because the Flyers' roster has flaws. We know them. And yeah, I watched the third period last night.

But man, there are plenty of teams who are worse off than the Flyers are, and more importantly, their futures are even cloudier -- while the Flyers' short- and intermediate terms are brighter than they appear at times.

They've got a couple of ugly contracts for some veterans, and the defense isn't always sexy. But the age of this roster, based on expectation of production, is just about right -- and if the prospects develop properly, a window is opening. Hell, looking around the league, it might be more open than we think RIGHT NOW.

That doesn't mean the Flyers need to do anything stupid. And I'm already on record as saying I think this team should make the playoffs.

But I'm telling you guys: If they do make it, if they do see consistency from B. Schenn and Couturier...I will not be surprised in the slightest if they go deep in the playoffs. Totally serious. Because if you think the Flyers have flaws...there are plenty of other teams who REALLY have issues.

This franchise can piss you off like no other, and they still have the worst effing luck you can imagine, at times.

But they're better than they look sometimes, and they're better than people might realize, relative to the competition.
- AllInForFlyers

show your work

Just when there's light at the end of the injury tunnel, turns out to be a train.

Ghost should heal up, but it sucks to basically lose a year of his development.

I think Berube needs to think about doing something different with Umberger. He's been dreadful and was horrible against the Avs.
- Jsaquella

The injuries suck and will now give a chance to another prospect to step up and make get a shot at the NHL roster sooner.

Outside of sitting Umberger what else can be done to jump start his game.

Let's see who gets desperate at the TDL. We may be able to get that winger.
- section32

We should look to move him for a #2 dman

Why does everyone want to trade Coburn so badly?
- PhillySportsGuy

There is no reason not to right now. We are building for the future, Obviously 1 game is a little hard to make assumptions but the team didn't look any better with Coburn than without. He has 2 years left on his contract, I would deal him for the right price no questions asked. I wouldn't deal him for the sake of trading him though.

The injuries suck and will now give a chance to another prospect to step up and make get a shot at the NHL roster sooner.

Outside of sitting Umberger what else can be done to jump start his game.
- ob18

Not sure, Berube's tried the old playing him a ton routine. Next should be a demotion.

"Another transaction that really bothered me was Lecavalier. Flyers just used a buyout on Briere, and of course Holmgren had to take the new found cap space and invest it in an aging player on the wrong side of 30. Just dumb."

Oh yes, 100% with me too.

The last of the Homer idiocy signings. I wonder how much the old man Snider pushed him to get names that were recognizable to sell season tickets. I mean did they really go through the vetting process for any of these signings that year. 50/50 there with Emery and Streit vs Vinny and of course the Bryzaster.

The Flyers had fascination with LeCavalier for years. I have told the story of someone who used to work with the Lightning (who works for another NHL franchise now) told me they had his bag packed for a trade to the Flyers years ago, but the owner of the team nixed it. They have had a really lousy trading history with that team going back to the Gratton fiasco.

Isnt it great to be a GM and waste millions of dollars every years
- Steelmanpa

WHere were you when I became the antichrist here female doging about that signing

well in defense of Hexy and the Flyers they really only supply a few players to the ECHL affiliate. That said the lack of goalie prospects is a little troubling with only Madsen and Stolartz in the system.
- nastyflyergirl

Both the goalies are on assignment from the Flyers/Phantoms. Connor Knapp is not terrible like the other guy. Oulette is a sieve some nights.

There are a few guys on 2 way AHL-ECHL deals like Brett Flemming, Maxim LaMarche, Austin Fyten and some others. There are NO quality prospects in the ECHL. I can remember Ruslan Fedotenko and Todd Fedoruk both playing in the E one year in Trenton. I dont think there is anyone there that has an AHL future to be honest beyond the 2 way deal guys there now.

You have to understand many NHL goalies came through that team with prior affiliates.

Jonathan Quick, James Reimer and Ben Scrivens and a few guys that are with the Caps system. Not a bad group of graduates and it really underscores how much of nothing that the Flyers have in goalies beyond Stolarz. He is the ONLY prospect at that position edit---playing in any pro level

Not sure, Berube's tried the old playing him a ton routine. Next should be a demotion.
- Jsaquella

Nah, he won't sit Rinaldo when he's done dumb stuff, Umberger won't sit or probably wont

WHere were you when I became the antichrist here female doging about that signing

- JoeRussomanno

Being ignored mostly

There is no reason not to right now. We are building for the future, Obviously 1 game is a little hard to make assumptions but the team didn't look any better with Coburn than without. He has 2 years left on his contract, I would deal him for the right price no questions asked. I wouldn't deal him for the sake of trading him though.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I would extend him and I would look to do it sooner rather than later

Not sure, Berube's tried the old playing him a ton routine. Next should be a demotion.
- Jsaquella

How are they going to put Umberger on Umberger's line?

Being ignored mostly
- Steelmanpa

I really think at the end of the day, merchandise and tickets trumps winning unfortunately... I'm so glad we sent manning down to add contracts of players that can't make other teams.... Yay

How are they going to put Umberger on Umberger's line?
- PhillySportsGuy

Cloning

Pandemonium has broken loose!!
- BiggE

I really think at the end of the day, merchandise and tickets trumps winning unfortunately... I'm so glad we sent manning down to add contracts of players that can't make other teams.... Yay
- JoeRussomanno

Actually I think the Flyers GM's work more on sweet memories of players pasts.

Its more like remembering a girl that was beautiful in your youth and you get to date her after her divorce with all the warts that go with aging and life.

With apologies to women posters, the same thing can be said about finally dating the most popular guy on campus you dreamed about, after you grow up and he is
a beer gut, nosepicking slob as an adult. I think there are some movies with high school reunion scenes illustrating that- Romy & Micheles HS Reunion

I really think at the end of the day, merchandise and tickets trumps winning unfortunately... I'm so glad we sent manning down to add contracts of players that can't make other teams.... Yay
- JoeRussomanno

I don't think so. I think the team overvalues big names and certain attributes.

I think they've also had problems with looking for short term fixes that hinder the long term success of the team.

I don't think so. I think the team overvalues big names and certain attributes.

I think they've also had problems with looking for short term fixes that hinder the long term success of the team.
- PhillySportsGuy

Maybe so, but the end result is the same regardless of the logic.

Do you really want to look into the mind of Homer and hear those thoughts and discussions with the ownership and exec and scouting group, that is a nightmare I dont want to experience

Both the goalies are on assignment from the Flyers/Phantoms. Connor Knapp is not terrible like the other guy. Oulette is a sieve some nights.

There are a few guys on 2 way AHL-ECHL deals like Brett Flemming, Maxim LaMarche, Austin Fyten and some others. There are NO quality prospects in the ECHL. I can remember Ruslan Fedotenko and Todd Fedoruk both playing in the E one year in Trenton. I dont think there is anyone there that has an AHL future to be honest beyond the 2 way deal guys there now.

You have to understand many NHL goalies came through that team with prior affiliates.

Jonathan Quick, James Reimer and Ben Scrivens and a few guys that are with the Caps system. Not a bad group of graduates and it really underscores how much of nothing that the Flyers have in goalies beyond Stolarz. He is the ONLY prospect at that position edit---playing in any pro level
- Steelmanpa

I get that but those two are on minor league deals. not real prospects per se. And I agree about the lack of goaltending depth. I was surprised they didn't draft one in the last draft and only 2 on the last 5.