Not the case. I know what this team is capable of. I have some optimism towards this team. Rather than constant negativity.
- MJL

I have optimism. Just for a handful of players and not for this season. Shall we discuss?

I have optimism. Just for a handful of players and not for this season. Shall we discuss?
- flyer_nutter

I'm always open for discussion. If you have optimism, might want to share it on occasion.

I'm always open for discussion. If you have optimism, might want to share it on occasion.
- MJL

I believe Craig Berube will be fired in after next year and a better coach will be brought in.

I believe Hagg will become a solid d-man, kind of flying under the radar.

I believe Voracek will continue his strong play past this season.

I believe in Raffl/Bellemare becoming a solid duo down the line similar to that of Pahlsson and Moen with their time in Anaheim. Possibly with Laughton centering.

I believe Craig Berube will be fired in after next year and a better coach will be brought in.

I believe Hagg will become a solid d-man, kind of flying under the radar.

I believe Voracek will continue his strong play past this season.

I believe in Raffl/Bellemare becoming a solid duo down the line similar to that of Pahlsson and Moen with their time in Anaheim. Possibly with Laughton centering.
- flyer_nutter

The first statement is optimism?

The first statement is optimism?
- MJL

Very much so.

No, I think your guess is nothing more than fair.

My concern with moving on from Luke Schenn is this. I don't believe Grossmann will be here beyond his current contract. He has health issues and he's the older player of the two at age 30. Now, I've seen what the Flyers look like when they have pure puck moving defense in the Timonen, Coburn, Carle and Jones era. I don't want the Flyers to have to trade for the nearest warm body like Andrew Alberts again just to have a physical element. This is one of the biggest reasons why they brought in Chris Pronger because of our lack of physical play. Homer wanted a Hammer on the back end. Then Pronger has a career ending injury, so it wasn't long until we traded for Grossmann.

Do I believe Luke Schenn is having a good season? No. However, I think it's extremely short sited to believe a young player is going to stay exactly the same without picking up a thing or two for the rest of his career. I've seen good things from Luke Schenn when paired with the right partner.

I'd also like to point out that I don't believe Samuel Morin will just come in and dominate physically alone.
- SuperSchennBros

Good points. And you are probably right about Morin. Hopefully he and Sanheim in a few years with be the physical beasts of the D.

Very much so.
- flyer_nutter

Thanks for proving my point!

Thanks for proving my point!

- MJL

Whats that.

Whats that.
- flyer_nutter

How difficult it is for you to find optimism.

I might be on an island of one, but I don't think firing Berube solves anything. At least not for the betterment of the team. Just my 2 cents.

I might be on an island of one, but I don't think firing Berube solves anything. At least not for the betterment of the team. Just my 2 cents.
- Pelle31Forever

Berube has been a good coach for this team since he took over. Coaches have a short shelf life, but talking about firing him is premature imo.

The first statement is optimism?
- MJL

Damn right it is

Damn right it is
- Giroux_Is_God

Guess it depends on your point of view, and how you feel about Berube. Hoping the coach gets fired is not optimism. Coaches get fired when teams do poorly.

How difficult it is for you to find optimism.
- MJL

Why. He found it.

It's not optimism because it's not on your list of valid optimistic points?

Don't worry, that question's rhetorical.

Why. He found it.

It's not optimism because it's not on your list of valid optimistic points?

Don't worry, that question's rhetorical.
- Giroux_Is_God

It's common sense. If the coach is fired, that means the team is doing poorly.

How is that optimism? Don't worry, that question's rhetorical.

I would imagine the optimistic part was that there would be a better coaching coming in.

I would imagine the optimistic part was that there would be a better coaching coming in.
- Pelle31Forever

I guess. But really for some, any other coach is a better coach. Not much optimism involved there.

I would imagine the optimistic part was that there would be a better coaching coming in.
- Pelle31Forever

It's common sense. If the coach is fired, that means the team is doing poorly.

How is that optimism? Don't worry, that question's rhetorical.
- MJL

I doubt they move him. They will hang on to him like they did with Hemsky and Gagner then get very little
- PhillySportsGuy

i agree.

i do think a move would benefit the oilers. with the pens or not.

I guess. But really for some, any other coach is a better coach. Not much optimism involved there.
- MJL

One man's blue is another man's orange. To me, the problems are on ice not off.

Akeson should play, but in place of Umberger or LeCavalier. That's another story.

Rinaldo, while I really don't like him all too much. Does bring in element the team sorely lacks. For now, I can live with him.
- flyer_nutter

Didn't you hear? Akeson is a bust based on his 91 minutes of icetime this season, most of which has been played in a checking role with the least talented players in the lineup. I guess last year's 100+ minutes where he averaged .5 pts per game playing primarily with Read and Coots in a high pressure situation on a big stage was just a mirage.

Didn't you hear? Akeson is a bust based on his 91 minutes of icetime this season, most of which has been played in a checking role with the least talented players in the lineup. I guess last year's 100+ minutes where he averaged .5 pts per game playing primarily with Read and Coots in a high pressure situation on a big stage was just a mirage.




- exlund

Ok, Im going to say it. It doesn't matter who he is playing with. That shouldn't effect how he wins battles along the boards or how hard he back checks. He simply hasn't been very good this year. Blame his line mates if you want, but there are things he should be doing that he simply wasn't doing regardless of who he is on the ice with.

Ok, Im going to say it. It doesn't matter who he is playing with. That shouldn't effect how he wins battles along the boards or how hard he back checks. He simply hasn't been very good this year. Blame his line mates if you want, but there are things he should be doing that he simply wasn't doing regardless of who he is on the ice with.
- MBFlyerfan

Or maybe he's being asked to fill a role that he isn't capable of filling, which means he's not able to fully engage.

i realize its my fault for allowing it to be on my tv for more than 30 seconds, but oh my god. the AMAs make me so (frank)ing sick.