Rumor on twitter that former Flyer defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon will be announcing his retirement due to PCS.

Not a surprise, but it definitely sucks. Good luck to him in the future

Timonen was a tough blow. He did so much for them.

I still didn't anticipate being in the McDavid derby. But it seems that everyone on the D, who was here last season, took a step back.
- Jsaquella

I didn't either. Deep down inside, I felt the team would get things together to the point of making or just missing the playoffs.

Losing Timonen has given the Flyers NO reliable defenseman though. You could put Timonen-Coburn on the ice and feel fairly comfortable for that shift on a regular basis.

In crunch time, the team is using Nick (frank)ing Schultz as their shutdown guy. Thats how bad things have gotten.

Short of Giroux, Voracek ,B. Schenn and maybe the goalies who hasn't take a step back?
- opeth_pa

That's a larger issue. You have a team where three or four guys are playing close to or at expectations. That's why I'd like to see the coach change things around more. Split up Read and Couturier. It's not working right now. Consider strongly splitting Giroux and Voracek to try and stimulate more scoring from other guys in the top 6.

But it's all academic if they don't play better.

For a few players to regress wouldn't be surprising, but it looks like 90% of the team has gone senseless.

That suggests to me that it's systemic.
- 77rams

Theres no question they've tuned Berube out. Their motto, which is so elegantly posted in the locker room, is the exact thing that drives a wedge between coaches/management and players.

Think about the difference between Chip Kelly's philosophy of speaking with players and getting their input and the Flyers philosophy of having the players toe the line and do exactly what they're told when they're told.

The drill sergeant mentality may have worked a long time ago, but these are different times.

I didn't either. Deep down inside, I felt the team would get things together to the point of making or just missing the playoffs.

Losing Timonen has given the Flyers NO reliable defenseman though. You could put Timonen-Coburn on the ice and feel fairly comfortable for that shift on a regular basis.

In crunch time, the team is using Nick (frank)ing Schultz as their shutdown guy. Thats how bad things have gotten.
- PhillySportsGuy

True but as a whole they are bad at positioning, they are all over the place and not looking like they know not only what to do but where to be on the ice.

I didn't either. Deep down inside, I felt the team would get things together to the point of making or just missing the playoffs.

Losing Timonen has given the Flyers NO reliable defenseman though. You could put Timonen-Coburn on the ice and feel fairly comfortable for that shift on a regular basis.

In crunch time, the team is using Nick (frank)ing Schultz as their shutdown guy. Thats how bad things have gotten.
- PhillySportsGuy

It is bad, but even if Kimmo was able to play, could he handle a big role at age 39?

I agree that Berube has a poopty hand. It's hard. I think he can just do a better job. The players definitely have a larger part of the blame, though.

True but as a whole they are bad at positioning, they are all over the place and not looking like they know not only what to do but where to be on the ice.
- ob18

That's exactly my point -- you've got guys out there who can't score AND can't defend

When your depth is this brutal, you have to choose one way to play and find depth players who can adequately fill those roles.

You can't keep playing guys who never score, who then turn right around and get ran out of the rink via possession or inability to defend, shift after shift

They have to choose one way to play, and since Chief is a defense-first kind of coach, then yes, it's time to scratch Vinny and replace him with a "lesser" player who knows what the hell they're doing defensively, and waive Umberger and bring in a guy who is more willing to engage and play defensively at a higher level

True but as a whole they are bad at positioning, they are all over the place and not looking like they know not only what to do but where to be on the ice.
- ob18

They just never win board battles. They've struggled in that area for a while now. For a team that lacks speed and needs to rely on winning those battles, they sure don't win a lot of them. Even when they do win, they look up and seem to have nowhere to go with the puck. It's like the players away from the puck do everything they can to keep themselves covered.

They just never win board battles. They've struggled in that area for a while now. For a team that lacks speed and needs to rely on winning those battles, they sure don't win a lot of them. Even when they do win, they look up and seem to have nowhere to go with the puck. It's like the players away from the puck do everything they can to keep themselves covered.
- PhillySportsGuy

Hard to win those battles when in many of them we only have 1 player going against 2 or more from the other team while the rest of our players watch as if they are in the stands.

HNIC transcript from http://www.nicholsonhocke...anada-saturdays-headlines

Friedman: "A lot of fans in Edmonton and Philadelphia wondering about their particular teams. The word from other clubs who try to deal with them is they are trying to be careful. They don't want to make a panic, no-reason move in this year that's only going to cost them long-term. In Philly in particular, the word is if you want one of their valuable players who might be available, you may have to take another contract if you want that deal done."

It is bad, but even if Kimmo was able to play, could he handle a big role at age 39?

I agree that Berube has a poopty hand. It's hard. I think he can just do a better job. The players definitely have a larger part of the blame, though.
- Jsaquella

They would have gone in saying they don't plan on using Kimmo a lot. Then, when Amac and Coburn would have bombed as a top pair, Kimmo would have been right back in as the #1 with Coburn.

He likely would have broken down by the end of the season, but he would have kept them competitive throughout the season.

HNIC transcript from http://www.nicholsonhocke...anada-saturdays-headlines

Friedman: "A lot of fans in Edmonton and Philadelphia wondering about their particular teams. The word from other clubs who try to deal with them is they are trying to be careful. They don't want to make a panic, no-reason move in this year that's only going to cost them long-term. In Philly in particular, the word is if you want one of their valuable players who might be available, you may have to take another contract if you want that deal done."
- Jsaquella

WOOF

I love this franchise, but good luck with that

Hard to win those battles when in many of them we only have 1 player going against 2 or more from the other team while the rest of our players watch as if they are in the stands.
- ob18

There is also a lot of dumb play. Passing to a stationary forward along the boards when there's an opposing player waiting to pounce. Dump ins, where guys are stationary and can't possibly win the race. Toss in the poor execution when it comes to routine plays and it's a recipe for a high draft pick

They would have gone in saying they don't plan on using Kimmo a lot. Then, when Amac and Coburn would have bombed as a top pair, Kimmo would have been right back in as the #1 with Coburn.

He likely would have broken down by the end of the season, but he would have kept them competitive throughout the season.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed.

Hard to win those battles when in many of them we only have 1 player going against 2 or more from the other team while the rest of our players watch as if they are in the stands.
- ob18

Even the 1 on 1 battles seem to get lost.

I do agree with Berube in that the team needs to keep moving and work harder. I just don't agree with his assessment of who is moving better and who is working harder.

WOOF

I love this franchise, but good luck with that
- AllInForFlyers

I've said it for awhile, if they had a trade where it was (fr the sake of an example) Coburn for Perron, and the Flyers demanded a pick, maybe say OK, no pick, but take Umberger or Lecavalier.

To me, that's more important than getting help now, free up future space or add picks....both if possible

Even the 1 on 1 battles seem to get lost.

I do agree with Berube in that the team needs to keep moving and work harder. I just don't agree with his assessment of who is moving better and who is working harder.
- PhillySportsGuy

Brutal in 1v1, not enough speed with the depth players to forecheck well and win 50-50 races

It's a tough row to hoe

Just got in. Glad I missed this. I'm seeing that Berube sent PEB to the press box but Umberger and Vinny still played? Sorry, but this coach is an absolute joke.

There is also a lot of dumb play. Passing to a stationary forward along the boards when there's an opposing player waiting to pounce. Dump ins, where guys are stationary and can't possibly win the race. Toss in the poor execution when it comes to routine plays and it's a recipe for a high draft pick
- Jsaquella

Their hockey IQ appears to be at an all time low. Their play over this last stretch has been the worst I've seen from them in a while. They experience entire 90 second shifts of just chasing the puck. They must be exhausted after games from chasing the puck all game. They look like a dog chasing its tail.

I've said it for awhile, if they had a trade where it was (fr the sake of an example) Coburn for Perron, and the Flyers demanded a pick, maybe say OK, no pick, but take Umberger or Lecavalier.

To me, that's more important than getting help now, free up future space or add picks....both if possible
- Jsaquella

What team out there can even absorb that kind of contract in addition to Coburn?

I understand what he's trying to do, but my gosh, that is going to be one of the heaviest lifts I've ever seen in this sport, because of the cap

If you're a bad team, you can stay bad and keep your player and keep your cap space

If you're a good team, you probably don't have a ton of cap space to begin with

I just don't see how that gets done -- not like that

So, are you saying your view is the same as the one you stated. You judge a coach based on how his team plays?

So, based on how his team has played, how has Berube done, in your view? Can you elaborate on that?
- exlund

MJL, can you answer these please?

Theres no question they've tuned Berube out. Their motto, which is so elegantly posted in the locker room, is the exact thing that drives a wedge between coaches/management and players.

Think about the difference between Chip Kelly's philosophy of speaking with players and getting their input and the Flyers philosophy of having the players toe the line and do exactly what they're told when they're told.

The drill sergeant mentality may have worked a long time ago, but these are different times.
- PhillySportsGuy

For me it's the double standard. These players have to be laughing walking past that sign while following umberger to the rink while you high five Bellemare in street clothes

Brutal in 1v1, not enough speed with the depth players to forecheck well and win 50-50 races

It's a tough row to hoe
- AllInForFlyers

They are slow. There are times when they play faster, but overall, they lack speed. It was something I thought they could have addressed in the offseason. For some reason, they thought Umberger was so much faster than Hartnell. It's like they didn't watch this guy play all last season.

Their hockey IQ appears to be at an all time low. Their play over this last stretch has been the worst I've seen from them in a while. They experience entire 90 second shifts of just chasing the puck. They must be exhausted after games from chasing the puck all game. They look like a dog chasing its tail.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's crazy how dumb they look at times. So many times they ruin their own opportunities

For me it's the double standard. These players have to be laughing walking past that sign while following umberger to the rink while you high five Bellemare in street clothes
- Just5

I hinted at that the other week -- I wouldn't have scratched Schenn for poor play when you didn't scratch guys who had been worse than him first

To me, that's how you lose those guys who are on the fence -- I do believe that theory of 25 percent of the guys like you, 25 percent of the guys hate you, and your job is to manage the other 50 percent who are on the fence

You lose the guys on the fence the quickest, I feel, when you have double standards about accountability -- most players understand guys like Giroux will get a little slack, but you can't ream out, say, Luke Schenn, who plays hard, when players see film of Umberger dogging it, not making it to center ice, then drawing an icing and you get scored on two shifts later after getting pinned in your own zone