I'd rather he and Vinny were tied up like the rent-a-cops at the playground.


- tangent_man

You will swing for this!!!! I poop you not!!!

Like I said... your overvalue your defense. Im not saying the Flyers is better but the Isles dont have a good defense either.
Giroux>Tavares
Voracek>Okposo
Simmonds> Okposo, Nelson, Grabovski, Grabner, et. etc. etc.
Its not even a worth debating really....
- GOA88

After this post I've realized you are right there is no point in debating this with you. Care to revisit this in March?

After this post I've seen the light. You are right there is no point in debating this with you. Care to revisit this in March?
- Cptmjl

Sure.

Is there any team that likes playing slow?

Devils
- PhillySportsGuy

Nah, not even the Devs. They tactically puck pressure like a MF'er.

No idea who would want Vinny at this point.

No.


No, no. Nononono. NO. Nooooooooooooo.
- BulliesPhan87

Homer's Gut ftw.

It's time to move coburn and read. Well others too but they suck snd contracts are worse.

He is also an in and out coach. He wears on guys rather quickly. He did the same thing in Carolina and Philly that he is doing now in Nashville.
- jak521

This in and out Coach (Whatever this means) gets results within his limited window. The way you speak, you'd think no Coaches in the league ever get fired.

It's time to move coburn and read. Well others too but they suck snd contracts are worse.
- jmdodgeser4

No harm in seeing what they could get in return

- PLindbergh31

hahah I love it.. Those years with the captain highliner jerseys were the best.

Bill in your opinion what is the reason the Flyers start almost every single game so bad, and especially being out shot by a wide margin through the first half of every game it seems? Is that coaching or lack of effort? maybe a bit of both but I believe some blame has to be put on the coaching staff because this team rarely ever comes out ready to play, this was the same last year as well...maybe even longer then that.

I really hope the ceremony is televised, and it's a well deserved honor for both guys. Hopefully next summer, Lindros will get into the Hall of Fame and we can see 88 hang from the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center.

Last night's "game" was an utter debacle.

Berube and Hextall are right to shred the players. Outside of the first line, and maybe Laughton and Bellemare, they sucked. There was piss poor execution and as the game went on they got outworked and outplayed by a wide margin. Only the sheer brilliance of Mason kept the game close on the scoreboard.

Vincent Lecavalier was terrible. Matt Read may as well have stayed in Philly. Wayne Simmonds was culpable for bad coverage on the first goal. Bryadon Coburn has continued to look terrible since his return from injury. Nick Grossmann didn't look much better. Sean Couturier had a rough night, including a very bad turnover that led to an odd man rush, and soon after the first goal. RJ Umberger looked like a corpse, until finally, Berube moved him to Couturier's line where they showed some life late in the game.

As bad as the players were, I'm going to toss some blame onto the coach. Berube said, after the game that the only guys that showed up were Giroux, Schenn, Voracek, Laughton and Mason. If that's the case, why did Laughton see 7 minutes of ice time, while Lecavalier (16:24) & Umberger (15:44) kept getting shift after shift? I don't care if they are vets, they're playing poor hockey and have been for awhile.

The coach has to do a better job of putting players in the right situations. That means you don't keep the highly ineffective VinnyBurger pair together. You don;t leave Simmonds at LW when he's clearly uncomfortable there and you have Read on the same line, who has played-and been effective-as a LW extensively over the past few years. You don't take the freshly recalled top prospect and jam him in between Rinaldo & VandeVelde and play him just 4 minutes through the first 2 periods.

It's a Catch-22. The players are, by and large, playing poorly. They have trouble executing routine and basic plays. They blow defensive coverage so often it's a sick joke. They get to running around in their own end and have no energy to win puck battles and push the offense the other way. They lack intensity at times and seemingly can't find it until they are in a deep hole with no way out. The leadership group on the team needs to start demanding more out of the rest of the roster.

But the coach has to do a better job of holding guys accountable and putting the guys he has in a better position to succeed. Lecavalier isn't going to have success playing with Umberger and VandeVelde. Akeson isn't going to be effective if he's with VandeVelde and Rinaldo. Simmonds needs somebody that can get him the puck in the cycling game, and get shots on so he can be a disruptive presence in front of the net. Couturier & Read need to have help in the defensive zone if they're going to improve their offensive games.
- Jsaquella

this. to a tee. it really annoys me to call Laughton up and play him 7 mins. just play Jones if that is all the ice time the kid is going to get and let him play major mins with the Phantoms

this. to a tee. it really annoys me to call Laughton up and play him 7 mins. just play Jones if that is all the ice time the kid is going to get and let him play major mins with the Phantoms
- nastyflyergirl

Are the coach and GM on different pages?

hahah I love it.. Those years with the captain highliner jerseys were the best.
- Hextall271

Number one selling jersey in the NHL that year. Probably gag gifts for people

Forward group solely dependent on one line + Mediocre group of defensemen = Draft lottery

Go ahead, tell me again how this is not a bad team.

It's time to move coburn and read. Well others too but they suck snd contracts are worse.
- jmdodgeser4

I know I'm in the minority on Read, but I still don't think he's a bad player when given the chance. He's shown some really nice moments when he's been with guys who can run with him. It just seems like the majority of the time, it's him busting into the zone with absolutely no help. The kid hustles his butt off, but he's usually alone.

That being said, I wouldn't be opposed to trading him for the right price... I just don't see him as the main piece that needs to get moved. That also being said, he's probably the most likely to have interest, to get moved. Guys like Umberger, Vinny, etc. generate no interest with their performance/contracts.

Forward group solely dependent on one line + Mediocre group of defensemen = Draft lottery

Go ahead, tell me again how this is not a bad team.
- BiggE

This is not a bad team.

I really hope the ceremony is televised, and it's a well deserved honor for both guys. Hopefully next summer, Lindros will get into the Hall of Fame and we can see 88 hang from the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center.

Last night's "game" was an utter debacle.

Berube and Hextall are right to shred the players. Outside of the first line, and maybe Laughton and Bellemare, they sucked. There was piss poor execution and as the game went on they got outworked and outplayed by a wide margin. Only the sheer brilliance of Mason kept the game close on the scoreboard.

Vincent Lecavalier was terrible. Matt Read may as well have stayed in Philly. Wayne Simmonds was culpable for bad coverage on the first goal. Bryadon Coburn has continued to look terrible since his return from injury. Nick Grossmann didn't look much better. Sean Couturier had a rough night, including a very bad turnover that led to an odd man rush, and soon after the first goal. RJ Umberger looked like a corpse, until finally, Berube moved him to Couturier's line where they showed some life late in the game.

As bad as the players were, I'm going to toss some blame onto the coach. Berube said, after the game that the only guys that showed up were Giroux, Schenn, Voracek, Laughton and Mason. If that's the case, why did Laughton see 7 minutes of ice time, while Lecavalier (16:24) & Umberger (15:44) kept getting shift after shift? I don't care if they are vets, they're playing poor hockey and have been for awhile.

The coach has to do a better job of putting players in the right situations. That means you don't keep the highly ineffective VinnyBurger pair together. You don;t leave Simmonds at LW when he's clearly uncomfortable there and you have Read on the same line, who has played-and been effective-as a LW extensively over the past few years. You don't take the freshly recalled top prospect and jam him in between Rinaldo & VandeVelde and play him just 4 minutes through the first 2 periods.

It's a Catch-22. The players are, by and large, playing poorly. They have trouble executing routine and basic plays. They blow defensive coverage so often it's a sick joke. They get to running around in their own end and have no energy to win puck battles and push the offense the other way. They lack intensity at times and seemingly can't find it until they are in a deep hole with no way out. The leadership group on the team needs to start demanding more out of the rest of the roster.

But the coach has to do a better job of holding guys accountable and putting the guys he has in a better position to succeed. Lecavalier isn't going to have success playing with Umberger and VandeVelde. Akeson isn't going to be effective if he's with VandeVelde and Rinaldo. Simmonds needs somebody that can get him the puck in the cycling game, and get shots on so he can be a disruptive presence in front of the net. Couturier & Read need to have help in the defensive zone if they're going to improve their offensive games.
- Jsaquella

I think you have to put at least half the blame on the coach. The team doesn't look prepared at all. Why is Vandevelde even here? Love or hate Umberger and Lecavalier, what happened to Matt Read?

Are the coach and GM on different pages?
- funmaster18

Yes. Hextall is on page 457 of Catcher in the Rye, and Berube is on page 3 of Cat in the hat.

Bill in your opinion what is the reason the Flyers start almost every single game so bad, and especially being out shot by a wide margin through the first half of every game it seems? Is that coaching or lack of effort? maybe a bit of both but I believe some blame has to be put on the coaching staff because this team rarely ever comes out ready to play, this was the same last year as well...maybe even longer then that.
- Buzzo

I'm not Bill, but the pattern seems to be that they basically have to wait for the other team to build up a lead and let them back into the game, either by sitting back or taking penalties... because they are just a horrible 5V5 team.

Are the coach and GM on different pages?
- funmaster18

Not sure they are even in the same book

How so? DeHaan was superb last season and has been this. I didn't even mention Boychuck or Leddy who have been awesome. Vis has been an absolute force since his return and Hamonic is legit. Hickey is our #6 and he is a far better defenseman than AMAC who is your number 1. How is that overvaluing anyone?
You are right I forgot about Voracek though not on purpose. Guy looks awesome but I'd take Tavares, Okposo, Nelson over your top 3 but there's a legit debate there I believe.
- Cptmjl

Geez, put the AMac bashing to rest already. You do realize NO ONE has more points in the NHL over the last 4 seasons that Giroux! Voracek is leading the NHL in points right now and is emerging as one of the best wingers in the league. Sorry but your top 3 isn't as good!

Nah, not even the Devs. They tactically puck pressure like a MF'er.

No idea who would want Vinny at this point.
- Tomahawk

Somehow his trade value is worse now than it used to be. Umberger is completely unmovable. Even if the flyers are money, I doubt anyone wants him

I'm not Bill, but the pattern seems to be that they basically have to wait for the other team to build up a lead and let them back into the game, either by sitting back or taking penalties... because they are just a horrible 5V5 team.
- Tomahawk

Agree. It seems like the Kings game and first Habs game were the only two where they came out and took it to the other team.
This playing from behind is BS and very frustrating. I guess that is what happens when you only have one line that can consistently produce

Yes. Hextall is on page 457 of Catcher in the Rye, and Berube is on page 3 of Cat in the hat.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think Catcher in the Rye has that many pages, bro

How so? DeHaan was superb last season and has been this. I didn't even mention Boychuck or Leddy who have been awesome. Vis has been an absolute force since his return and Hamonic is legit. Hickey is our #6 and he is a far better defenseman than AMAC who is your number 1. How is that overvaluing anyone?
You are right I forgot about Voracek though not on purpose. Guy looks awesome but I'd take Tavares, Okposo, Nelson over your top 3 but there's a legit debate there I believe.
- Cptmjl

Did they get rid of Brian Strait? The games I watched the Isles play in the early season he looked like the weak link to the D.


I think you guys look great.
Beating Tampa 5-2 is not easy.