Right now? You can't buy players out during the season.
- MJL

Well thats just (frank)ing disappointing

Instead of cutting an anchor lose, they traded for another one.
- funmaster18

Yes the trade is a head scratcher indeed.

For the most part I am buying what Hexy is trying to accomplish and how he is going to do it the right way.

But this trade shakes my faith in him a bit.

I get that the team needed a vet LW especially if they were done with Hartnell.

This was a really poor decision.

In the past maybe it would. But now, he needs to back it up with action. You don't play hard, you get your ice time cut. Words mean something. I don't think anyone in here would have a problem with him doing what you say they would have a problem with. If the ice time for PEB/Rinaldo and VLC/Umberger were reversed last night, everyone in here would understand the reason and praise Berube for it because at least he is backing up his words.

BUT

Berube keeps harping on working and skating hard, but he does nothing about it. Reward the players working hard regardless of their roles. That is the way it has to be. Otherwise he is tuned out. I think he already has been frankly.
- MBFlyerfan

That's been my biggest issue with Berube. He hasn't held guys accountable like he said he would. These guys need to be slapped with reality, that if they don't go out and work hard, their time is going to be cut. While ultimately, I think the blame is in the players... I can't help but see Berube's part in the fault is moreso his inaction, than his actions.

He can do anything he wants. I just think his thought process was the the game was still in reach. So he's not going to play players like Rinaldo more, or Vandevelde more. he's going to play the hand that he was dealt. Umberger and Lecavalier aren't the only issues. I just didn't mention Bellemare, no reason for it.

But here's the flip side. If he had taken away icetime from players like Lecavalier, Simmonds, Read and Couturier, and had played Laughton, Rinaldo, or Vandevelde more because they were giving more effort. Then the criticism would be the coach is an idiot for playing those players. And how is COuturier going to develop an offensive game, blah, blah.
The team as a whole, other then Mason, gave the coach nothing last night. I'm not going to blame Berube for that.
- MJL

Here's why Berube has to get a good amount of the blame. IMHO the coach is there for game strategy, teaching the fundamentals, and for motivation. It is clear to me he has either lost the ability to motivate the team or that he cannot communicate the fundamentals and/or the strategy to the team.

No question the team bears responsibility here too, but so does Berube.

Was hoping Simmonds would drop the gloves when Mason was run over and punch Coburn in the face.

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.
- SuperSchennBros

See you really do have great comprehension. That was EXACTLY what I was saying.

Here's why Berube has to get a good amount of the blame. IMHO the coach is there for game strategy, teaching the fundamentals, and for motivation. It is clear to me he has either lost the ability to motivate the team or that he cannot communicate the fundamentals and/or the strategy to the team.

No question the team bears responsibility here too, but so does Berube.
- ManCity

Everyone is to blame... Except Voracek, Giroux and Mason... maybe even Del Zotto. They all bring it 99% of the time

Yes the trade is a head scratcher indeed.

For the most part I am buying what Hexy is trying to accomplish and how he is going to do it the right way.

But this trade shakes my faith in him a bit.

I get that the team needed a vet LW especially if they were done with Hartnell.

This was a really poor decision.
- Marc D

I know I have beaten that trade to death. Does it make Hextall a " little gun shy" too make another deal knowing the pressure is even greater to make a sensible deal since his first " major deal" has turned out to be a burn

I think you are under valuing the Flyers forwards. RJ and Vinny excluded, they have a solid corp IMO...Simmonds, Cooter, Read (although he's struggled this eyar so far) G, Jake (who I think will keep up strong pace and set career highs. Not sure if you've watched him at all this yearbut he's been consistent.)

The d corps is paper thin and not strong IMO. Mason looks to have regained last year's form and is in no way to blame for the bad start to the season.
- Hextall271

I like Simmonds, Giroux, and Voracek(who i did forget and acknowledged). I like what I saw from Courtier last year and Read but I can't go on last year and potential when comparing players in the present day.
As far as Mason goes he looked real good a couple times I've watched you guys(especially last night) and not so great a couple times. IMO he's going to have to play at a really high level on a consistent basis with your defense unfortunately. Who knows? Like I said in an earlier post maybe the team as a whole will accept a defense first system from front to back and actually buy into it which would change Mason's work load and could change this teams fortunes? I can't see anything else helping barring a major trade with the present blue line.

Yes the trade is a head scratcher indeed.

For the most part I am buying what Hexy is trying to accomplish and how he is going to do it the right way.

But this trade shakes my faith in him a bit.

I get that the team needed a vet LW especially if they were done with Hartnell.

This was a really poor decision.
- Marc D

I'm definitely not super confident in his ability to craft a good trade right now. It's just one trade, but boy is it a stinker.

But hey, at least now we know they DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, NO SMILING AT WORK.

do you work for the Islanders? if not they could use you
- vejim

All those years of suck and they finally have a nice team.
Let him enjoy it, those fans deserve it for all the crap with Wang they've put up with.

Was hoping Simmonds would drop the gloves when Mason was run over and punch Coburn in the face.
- HockeyDog

That might have been awkward.

Yes the trade is a head scratcher indeed.

For the most part I am buying what Hexy is trying to accomplish and how he is going to do it the right way.

But this trade shakes my faith in him a bit.

I get that the team needed a vet LW especially if they were done with Hartnell.

This was a really poor decision.
- Marc D

There is no way anyone would have thought Umberger would be this bad. I was just hoping for solid 2-way play, maybe 15 goals. Right now I cant even see him getting 5

I think Hexys tirade has everything to do with tonight's events. He knows this is a team going nowhere. But he's got renberg flying in from Sweden and its overrall going to be a night to remember for the flyer family. He's hoping the tirade will do something for at least one night
- Just5

You seriously think that Hextall's ripping the team had to do with the pre game ceremonies tonight?

All those years of suck and they finally have a nice team.
Let him enjoy it, those fans deserve it for all the crap with Wang they've put up with.
- Marc D

They've dealt with more Wang than Lisa Ann.

/enjoy the veal

You seriously think that Hextall's ripping the team had to do with the pre game ceremonies tonight?
- MJL

There's not a shot in hell that was Hextall's motivation.

I like Simmonds, Giroux, and Voracek(who i did forget and acknowledged). I like what I saw from Courtier last year and Read but I can't go on last year and potential when comparing players in the present day.
As far as Mason goes he looked real good a couple times I've watched you guys(especially last night) and not so great a couple times. IMO he's going to have to play at a really high level on a consistent basis with your defense unfortunately. Who knows? Like I said in an earlier post maybe the team as a whole will accept a defense first system from front to back and actually buy into it which would change Mason's work load and could change this teams fortunes? I can't see anything else helping barring a major trade with the present blue line.
- Cptmjl

Trade Couturier, Read, 1st rd pick and Coburn for Shea Weber.

Here's why Berube has to get a good amount of the blame. IMHO the coach is there for game strategy, teaching the fundamentals, and for motivation. It is clear to me he has either lost the ability to motivate the team or that he cannot communicate the fundamentals and/or the strategy to the team.

No question the team bears responsibility here too, but so does Berube.
- ManCity

But where do these grown men, and "leaders" step up and do their part? You can teach a kid all the morals and law-abiding attitude in the world, but at 18, if they decide to go on their own way and get in trouble, there's nothing you can do. These are grown men... they KNOW what is expected of them, they KNOW what they are getting paid for, they KNOW how to play hockey... NOBODY should have to tell them that.

I agree part of the coaches job is to fire them up.. but the team should be doing that on their own. That's partly why you have the "C" and "A's" on those jerseys. Step the F up and F'ing lead the team IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION for a change... not leading them by lazy example.

It was the same old story with Laviolette. He had some issues, sure. But when a team can't even self motivate, and skate up and down the ice hard, it's their own fault. You can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink. Just like you can prep, coach, teach, etc. a team but you CANNOT play for them.

Berube is partly at fault in this, sure. But moreso for not holding them accountable.. not for the "lack of motivation" aspect..

What happened to that sign in the locker room at Wells Fargo? Are they not going to enforce it??

You seriously think that Hextall's ripping the team had to do with the pre game ceremonies tonight?
- MJL

The timing yes. All the alumni and his ex teammates will be in town. It plays a part in it.

IMO, Vinny's a bigger problem than Undieburglar. As poopty as 18 has looked, he can still play some D from time to time. 40 is a dumpster fire 5V5... only sign of life from him last night was when he was licking his chops 6V5.
- Tomahawk

I agree. I think VL has more to offer but Umberger can just be buried on the 4th line without complaint. He'd be suited for that role too.

They need to figure out a way to move VL this summer. Even if it means eating a little salary.

All those years of suck and they finally have a nice team.
Let him enjoy it, those fans deserve it for all the crap with Wang they've put up with.
- Marc D

We could go on a 10 game losing streak. So could Chicago, Tampa, or any other team. You guys could win your next ten. That's hockey. I've been watching hockey for a very, very, long time. Only sport i watch and I live by what i just posted. I'm not gloating though I am happy with pretty much our entire team and prospect depth. My one negative is our coach though he seems to be making sensible decisions lately. Took him too long and cost us some points early on IMO.

I think Couturier should be dealt while he still has high value. He is just as slow as Vinny and hes 21 years old!!!

We're less then 20 games into year two.
- MJL

That is almost a quarter of a season and the results are meh. I haven't seen anything from him that made me say wow. I am not writing him off completely yet, but so far I am underwhelmed.

The timing yes. All the alumni and his ex teammates will be in town. It plays a part in it.
- Just5

Has nothing to do with it man. It was because we got embarrassed by the Rangers.