I understand the Hartnell move - wanting to shave off a year from the cap. What I don't get is the timing on either.

Why not hope Hartnell has a decent season, then move him at the TD where you may be able to pick up a younger player and/or picks?

The Rinaldo extension is simply beyond baffling.
- 77rams

I get it. I doubt Hartnell would have lived up to that contract down the line, and become an anchor himself. They will need money to re-sign youth. I get that.

Maybe Umberger was the best they could do, because another team realised that. Maybe if they (frank)ing didn't give Hartnell such a long deal in the first place they wouldn't be having to employ what's left of Umberger at his age and status.

I hate what Umberger brings to this team, but again.. He didn't fill out the forms to the trade, or the original Hartnell extension.

This tells me Coots isn't a black hole, like I read on here last night.

- Giroux_Is_God

Right now Couturier , Read, SImmonds , VL and RJ are black holes.
They are not contributing anything offensively and in the case of Couturier and Read they have been on the ice for multiple failed penalty kills.
Does that mean that is what they will always be, nope but that is how they are performing right now.

I agree with you here. As I've said before, how much incrementally does Couts give you versus Laughton?


- TheGreat28

You tell me? Can Laughton score at a 2nd line center level offensively at ES, while playing as well defensively as Couturier has in his Flyers career?

The point isn't that he laid into them. If this was the first time in 5 years that has happened fine.

It has been happening every year, like (frank)ing clockwork for a long ass time. Maybe its time for the boys at the top to look themselves, and their bosses in the mirror.
- flyer_nutter

And it happens to every team every year. The only reason it is a story is because it is Philly.

Also this is Hextall's first year as GM. Lets give him more then 20 games before we say he is just following the same plan as everyone else before him.

Hexy's got Snider saying the P word... gotta believe the old man has finally realized that they can't go for broke every year any longer.
- Tomahawk

Which is why they need to just stay the course. They have (frank)ed themselves over, and are paying the price. If they learn from it so be it. I am not holding my breath on that.

Going down to yell at your own men though, along with that dumbass sign.. I don't agree with. They have done it every year for how many seasons. Snider or Holmgren. Stop berating your own players and look yourselves in the (frank)ing mirror.

Please. Lets get (frank)ing real. Hextall is not running this team alone. Look at who is above him. Its the same old country club.

Can they play better? Sure! So could have the teams over the last 9 years. The story on the ice with the team has been very similar for a long time now. For me, the time to blaming the players have come to an end.

Look above that. Or lets just go make more poor trades and bring in a new coach/philosophy. Bush league country boys club.
- flyer_nutter

Hey I don't know how involved " the country club boys " are. I can't see Clarke doing F'all and Snider stated he was going to back off. I am sure Snider wants to win more than anybody. Hextall is the GM and we can just hope that he has the control Snider says he does. If that is the case then I am just hoping he can put better pieces in place for this team. We do have talent there is a problem, as there is simply no reason why they come out flat almost every game.

And it happens to every team every year. The only reason it is a story is because it is Philly.

Also this is Hextall's first year as GM. Lets give him more then 20 games before we say he is just following the same plan as everyone else before him.
- J35Bacher

I don't have an opinion on him yet. I get the Hartnell. The Rinaldo extension I do not.

Letting Berube mismanage a team that is already badly built.. Not a fan. However what are you going to do? I don't want to touch Boucher, or Torts. Bylsma plays offensive hockey which would swing the pendulum yet again. Just stay the course. Pay the price for your bosses mistakes, but screaming at the players? Go yell at (frank)ing Snider and Holmgren first.

Which is why I cringed when Hextall apparently lost it on them last night.

Its childish, egotistical and bush league. You are your bosses built the team. You deserved to have the results shoved up your ass. If I was a player in that room I'd have bee laughing inside and tuned him out.
- flyer_nutter

This couldn't be more off base. Hextall didn't go into the locker room to chew them out because they don't have a #1 defenseman. Or because Lecavalier and Umberger aren't scoring. Or because of any other perceived flaws on the roster. He chewed them out because they didn't show up to play. Because they were soft, and passive. And the didn't compete. The only thing that went on last night that was bush league, was the Flyers effort level on the ice. And Hextall was completely justified for doing so. And those players know it! So if any player worth anything, was laughing inside and tuned him out, then they aren't worth a dam as a player.

He should staple his arse and Umberger's to the bench or the press box...Chief does make lineup decisions correct?
- aantny88

And play who?

Players who don't "do things our way" shouldn't be "getting time here"... as per the sign:



What goes for Arty, should go for Vinny. They don't care who you are, remember?
- Tomahawk

Cool, Flyers are playing with 5 players tonight, and a goalie. For the entire game.

And play who?
- MJL

Me! I could use some tuition money

Hey I don't know how involved " the country club boys " are. I can't see Clarke doing F'all and Snider stated he was going to back off. I am sure Snider wants to win more than anybody. Hextall is the GM and we can just hope that he has the control Snider says he does. If that is the case then I am just hoping he can put better pieces in place for this team. We do have talent there is a problem, as there is simply no reason why they come out flat almost every game.
- 3flyerkids

This talent thing. They have quality players in Voracek, Giroux and Read who is currently struggling. Simmonds has always been hot and cold, and no monster at even strength especially in his own zone.

bSchenn and Couturier are still growing and the inconsistency is part of that.

They have a couple guys in Raffl and Bellemare that would be a good fit on the fourth line of a Stanley Cup contender.

Coburn has battled inconsistency his whole career, and name me 5 defense units worse than the Flyers. But (frank), lets go down and tell the boys to skate harder because they have what it takes!

This couldn't be more off base. Hextall didn't go into the locker room to chew them out because they don't have a #1 defenseman. Or because Lecavalier and Umberger aren't scoring. Or because of any other perceived flaws on the roster. He chewed them out because they didn't show up to play. Because they were soft, and passive. And the didn't compete. The only thing that went on last night that was bush league, was the Flyers effort level on the ice. And Hextall was completely justified for doing so. And those players know it! So if any player worth anything, was laughing inside and tuned him out, then they aren't worth a dam as a player.
- MJL

What else did he say in the room boss? I wasn't there.

I get it. I doubt Hartnell would have lived up to that contract down the line, and become an anchor himself. They will need money to re-sign youth. I get that.

Maybe Umberger was the best they could do, because another team realised that. Maybe if they (frank)ing didn't give Hartnell such a long deal in the first place they wouldn't be having to employ what's left of Umberger at his age and status.

I hate what Umberger brings to this team, but again.. He didn't fill out the forms to the trade, or the original Hartnell extension.
- flyer_nutter

You can't bang your head against the wall about the contracts already in place. Trust me, I know, I've tried. It gets you nowhere and leaves ugly marks in your TV room.

Homer's deals will be haunting this team for years to come. All you can hope is that some GM gets wasted on cheap wine and agrees to take on VLC's, LSchenn's, Umbungler's, and (fill in you own fav player's), contact for a serviceable, cap friendly warm body and some picks.

I always remember Scott Gomez and keep the faith.

Cool, Flyers are playing with 5 players tonight, and a goalie. For the entire game.
- MJL

Might have positive effects..

This talent thing. They have quality players in Voracek, Giroux and Read who is currently struggling. Simmonds has always been hot and cold, and no monster at even strength especially in his own zone.

bSchenn and Couturier are still growing and the inconsistency is part of that.

They have a couple guys in Raffl and Bellemare that would be a good fit on the fourth line of a Stanley Cup contender.

Coburn has battled inconsistency his whole career, and name me 5 defense units worse than the Flyers. But (frank), lets go down and tell the boys to skate harder because they have what it takes!
- flyer_nutter[/quote]

You don't need skill to provide effort. That is just heart and pride. They didn't fail last night because of x's and o's. They failed to compete. That is why he laid into them.

You can bang your head against the wall about the contracts already in place. Trust me, I know, I've tried. It gets you nowhere and leaves ugly marks in your TV room.

Homer's deals will be haunting this team for years to come. All you can hope is that some GM gets wasted on cheap wine and agrees to take on VLC's, LSchenn's, Umbungler's, and (fill in you own fav player's), contact for a serviceable, cap friendly warm body and some picks.

I always remember Scott Gomez and keep the faith.
- 77rams

Which is why the Hextall thing made me cringe. This inconsistency, these issues on ice have been the same old theme for 9 or so years. Far too many bad contracts, stupid trades or trades to have to just dump salary. Far too many coaches over the years. Swings in philosophy of d-first to offense heavy.

Every damn year the bosses going down to rip their own players, or trade out core guys who signed their life to the team. The time for blaming the men on the ice, should come to an end. Look at the top. Where everything originates.

What else did he say in the room boss? I wasn't there.
- flyer_nutter

You called it bush league, so you must know something.

Might have positive effects..
- jak521

Hell of a workout for those 5. They'll get in great shape.

You called it bush league, so you must know something.
- MJL

You are going to have a very rough year trying to defend this club, and in particular the men that run it or coach it. Have fun I suppose.

You can bang your head against the wall about the contracts already in place. Trust me, I know, I've tried. It gets you nowhere and leaves ugly marks in your TV room.

Homer's deals will be haunting this team for years to come. All you can hope is that some GM gets wasted on cheap wine and agrees to take on VLC's, LSchenn's, Umbungler's, and (fill in you own fav player's), contact for a serviceable, cap friendly warm body and some picks.

I always remember Scott Gomez and keep the faith.
- 77rams

Holmgren also added Voracek, B Schenn, Couturier, Read, Raffl, Coburn, Streit, etc.

You are going to have a very rough year trying to defend this club, and in particular the men that run it or coach it. Have fun I suppose.
- flyer_nutter

Doubt it. I know the difference between talent issues and effort issues. And so does Ron Hextall.

Holmgren also added Voracek, B Schenn, Couturier, Read, Raffl, Coburn, Streit, etc.
- MJL

Yeah, the team is built so damn well. So many good moves that will benefit the club for years.

Doubt it. I know the difference between talent issues and effort issues.
- MJL

Many women have told me the same thing over the years.

Hell of a workout for those 5. They'll get in great shape.
- MJL

well, they have emphasized conditioning and accountability. let's see it in action!