The team is not one player away from being a contender.

They need to stop throwing big money at aging players. Which they may have done now that Hextall is GM.

Stop trying to keep Timmonen from retiring just because zombie Timmonen is still better than the players Holmgren signed to 5 year/nmc deals.

They have some horrible contracts they need to get rid of or have expire.

Vinny Lecavalier should be a reminder that justifying giving someone a high salary long term contract because "if we didn't give it to him someone else would" or "he would've gotten more somewhere else" are really, really stupid reasons.

True. I still don't have high hopes for him. There's learning and then there's "What the (frank) is he thinking?" Too often I find myself saying the latter when berube does something.
- Jsaquella

I hear you. It seems like he's a little slow on the uptake, and this ain't a group that can compensate for that on the ice.

It's hard to look like a hard working team when you can't pass the puck out of your own zone consistently
- Jsaquella

It isn't just out of their zone, it is anywhere on the ice. It just seems to me that there are players that seem to be waiting for the ax to drop.

It isn't just out of their zone, it is anywhere on the ice. It just seems to me that there are players that seem to be waiting for the ax to drop.
- HockeyDog

There's an element of that, too. They don't execute well, don't get sustained pressure. There's definitely a feel of meh for some guys, not sure whether that is due to not caring or simply being without confidence in their games.

I hear you. It seems like he's a little slow on the uptake, and this ain't a group that can compensate for that on the ice.
- tangent_man

Even if they had a Babcock or McLellan, they'd still be a bubble team, abslutely.

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
Hextall and Berube railed about lack of consistency among certain players and the team; Hextall says he wont make a trade for sake of that

He cut them both down last night. I hope it's the start of a trend.
- tangent_man

Hopefully the next step is the press box

i have been watching Couts close last few games , and to me right now he looks absolutely uninterested in the game. No passion to win any battles no hustle with the puck on his stick and without it seems to be just going through the motions...like many others.

Even if they had a Babcock or McLellan, they'd still be a bubble team, abslutely.
- Jsaquella

Babcock really seems to get the most out of his players. If I could pick a coach to have, he would top the list.

There's an element of that, too. They don't execute well, don't get sustained pressure. There's definitely a feel of meh for some guys, not sure whether that is due to not caring or simply being without confidence in their games.
- Jsaquella

These guys need 5 days off with no practice. Instead, they oughta rent a frat house, go on a two-day bender and spend the next three days recovering and forced to listen to each other female dog and moan. That'll bond 'em better than any stinkin' Cape Cod fishing trip.

100% yes..
VL and Umberger are not in the long term plans for this team. They are nothing more then depth players while Couturier, Read and Simmonds are part of the forward core.
Basically i didn't expect anything earth shattering from VL or Umb but I expect solid contributions from the other 3 and they aren't delivering those on either the offensive or defensive fronts right now.

That isn't to say they havent in the past or they cant again in the future just this season to this point all 3 of them have been huge disappointments.
- opeth_pa

VL is signed for 3 & 1/2 more seasons, RJ for 2 1/2, so I wouldn't call them "short term" players for this team.
Couturier is being asked to "ramp up his production", while shadowing the other teams top centers, not an easy task, and I can see how that is affecting his play.
Read is pretty much expected to do the same, against the other teams top winger on most nights.
I think Simmonds needs to find a line, (and center), that suits his play, the LW experiment didn't work out, maybe the new line with Laughton, & Raffl will work out.
But where do you play the 2 "corpses" when you assemble the lines?
Can we bench VL to the press box, (like Colorado did with Briere for awhile)?
Not saying this is the remedy, but maybe a start.

Happy Day Before Black Friday! (too cynical?)

Happy Thanksgiving...hope everybody has a great day with family and friends, even you Canadians!

The Flyers are a mess, but I'm ok with that so long as there is a plan and smart moves are made to make the team better - significantly better - in the next few seasons.

the team sucks. the reasons have been well covered. they're capable of playing better as a group, but even with that, they're a bubble team at best.

the real work has to be for hextall to find the best ways to rid the team of its true dead weight as quickly as possible, and develop the kids properly at the same time. the winning/losing - mostly losing - right now doesn't even (frank)ing matter. a new coach is probably in order too at some point, but imo, it's much more about the players right now.

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
Hextall and Berube railed about lack of consistency among certain players and the team; Hextall says he wont make a trade for sake of that
- opeth_pa

I wish it was draft day

These guys need 5 days off with no practice. Instead, they oughta rent a frat house, go on a two-day bender and spend the next three days recovering and forced to listen to each other female dog and moan. That'll bond 'em better than any stinkin' Cape Cod fishing trip.
- tangent_man

Turkish prison, baby...The Flyers need a Midnight Express bonding trip

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
Hextall and Berube railed about lack of consistency among certain players and the team; Hextall says he wont make a trade for sake of that
- opeth_pa

nor should he, there is no one move that will significantly improve the team in the short run. If they fall apart and end up with a top 5 pick I'm ok with that. Just do things: move some vets at the deadline for picks and replace Berube after the season.

One thing I'm taking from the last few games: Laughton should absolutely be slotted at the 2nd line center spot over Coots right now. I want Coot's offensive game to develop as much as anyone but it's not even close right now.

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
Hextall and Berube railed about lack of consistency among certain players and the team; Hextall says he wont make a trade for sake of that
- opeth_pa

Well, I'm sure 'railing' about things will turn the team around. Look how well it worked when Hexy berated them in the locker room.

Turkish prison, baby...The Flyers need a Midnight Express bonding trip
- Jsaquella

the team sucks. the reasons have been well covered. they're capable of playing better as a group, but even with that, they're a bubble team at best.

the real work has to be for hextall to find the best ways to rid the team of its true dead weight as quickly as possible, and develop the kids properly at the same time. the winning/losing - mostly losing - right now doesn't even (frank)ing matter. a new coach is probably in order too at some point, but imo, it's much more about the players right now.
- hammarby31

Agreed.

nor should he, there is no one move that will significantly improve the team in the short run. If they fall apart and end up with a top 5 pick I'm ok with that. Just do things: move some vets at the deadline for picks and replace Berube after the season.
- BiggE

dont know if I could stand Berube for the rest of the season? I bring Murray in to right the ship until the end of the year

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
Hextall and Berube railed about lack of consistency among certain players and the team; Hextall says he wont make a trade for sake of that
- opeth_pa

Should he say he should so 29 teams put their crosshairs on him as a guy that's desperate?

Well, I'm sure 'railing' about things will turn the team around. Look how well it worked when Hexy berated them in the locker room.
- wolfhounds

You can put a turd on skates but don't expect it to become a good player. Though at this point I'd dress a turd over Umberger

the team sucks. the reasons have been well covered. they're capable of playing better as a group, but even with that, they're a bubble team at best.

the real work has to be for hextall to find the best ways to rid the team of its true dead weight as quickly as possible, and develop the kids properly at the same time. the winning/losing - mostly losing - right now doesn't even (frank)ing matter. a new coach is probably in order too at some point, but imo, it's much more about the players right now.
- hammarby31

Preach it, sister!

Should he say he should so 29 teams put their crosshairs on him as a guy that's desperate?
- hereticpride

agreed, look how its working out, (making changes), for Edmonton.