You still have a soul
- ob18

I think the future is pretty bright, actually. There's a plan in place, the last two drafts have yielded good players and they do have some good trade chips to add more picks. If they can continue to add picks and draft smart, they'll be fine
- Jsaquella

the problem is theres no definite way to project who losess a step and who lives up to potential, right now you have Giroux and voracekplaying at the height of their talents, will it last 5-6 years when those prospects in the juniors are ready for hard nhl minutes? its a serious leap of faith.

At least it isn't like 2007, where nearly every pundit was candid in saying that draft year sucked

If you're gonna bottom out, I...guess...this...is...the...year...to...do...it

Gah -- it pains me to even type it
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah but feel better in late June when they are picking in the top 5 and have a couple of 2nd rounders and/or maybe another late in the 1st

the problem is theres no definite way to project who losess a step and who lives up to potential, right now you have Giroux and voracekplaying at the height of their talents, will it last 5-6 years when those prospects in the juniors are ready for hard nhl minutes? its a serious leap of faith.
- JoeRussomanno

I think they can be good again in as little as 3 years. At that point Giroux is 29 and Jake 28 so they should still be very good players.

Yeah but feel better in late June when they are picking in the top 5 and have a couple of 2nd rounders and/or maybe another late in the 1st
- BiggE

theyve done well drafting mid to late first round, im not worried about a top 5 pick, whom will either fail to instantly impress and theyll be forced to trade, see jvr or do so well they wont have the cap space to sign

I think they can be good again in as little as 3 years. At that point Giroux is 29 and Jake 28 so they should still be very good players.
- BiggE

i think they can be good in as little as 3 weeks if hextall grows a pair

the problem is theres no definite way to project who losess a step and who lives up to potential, right now you have Giroux and voracekplaying at the height of their talents, will it last 5-6 years when those prospects in the juniors are ready for hard nhl minutes? its a serious leap of faith.
- JoeRussomanno

I base that faith off what they did with their first draft. I think that the 2014 class is a damned good one. It's going to take a couple years for them to really contend, but I think it's more a 3-4 year curve

i think they can be good in as little as 3 weeks if hextall grows a pair
- JoeRussomanno

They really can't be. Balls or not, they will not be good.

They really can't be. Balls or not, they will not be good.
- Jsaquella

they were playing good hockey going into that 5 day break, since i think the coach lost the room

they were playing good hockey going into that 5 day break, since i think the coach lost the room
- JoeRussomanno

They were getting wins over bad teams, not necessarily playing good hockey.

They have the talent to be a solid team, and even beat a good team here and there. But that's not to say they're a good team. Buffalo recently beat Montreal twice in a row. Does that mean Buffalo is a good team?

They should try to make the playoffs, but they shouldn't sacrifice the future to do so.

I base that faith off what they did with their first draft. I think that the 2014 class is a damned good one. It's going to take a couple years for them to really contend, but I think it's more a 3-4 year curve
- Jsaquella

Agreed. And I think some of the pieces of a contending team are in place already:

Giroux and Voracek are 2/3 of a top line
Simmonds can be an effective 2nd line wing
Couturier or Laughton could anchor a 3rd line with Raffl on one of the wings and possibly Leier on the left side.

I don't know if any of their current D will still be here in 3 years, but thats not necessarily a bad thing and they have a nice pipeline of prospects at the position.

And finally, in 3 years, Mason will still be under 30.

Frankly, and this may ruffle a few feathers.. I don't know what the Philadelphia fan base is like outside of HB or in the city itself.

However if there is as much panic as I've seen on some articles and whatnot, the fans deserved to have whatever BS comes the teams way shoved up their ass.

Stay the course, and do a proper rebuild for one (frank)ing time. Handle the pain and adversity and don't try some desperate move for some fart in a windstorm's chance at a cup run.

they were playing good hockey going into that 5 day break, since i think the coach lost the room
- JoeRussomanno

Yes and no. While they were certainly playing better than now, Voracek was also playing at a 125 point pace. At some point, someone other than the top line was going to have to step up. Other teams aren't stupid, they're doing everything possible to shut our top line down, if no one else is scoring, they are going to lose a lot of games

They were getting wins over bad teams, not necessarily playing good hockey.

They have the talent to be a solid team, and even beat a good team here and there. But that's not to say they're a good team. Buffalo recently beat Montreal twice in a row. Does that mean Buffalo is a good team?

They should try to make the playoffs, but they shouldn't sacrifice the future to do so.
- Jsaquella

is matt read and any of our blueline "the future"? i suppose thats questionable. Also i wouldnt have a problem if they traded schenn or couturier for a player that helps you win now amd the next 3-4 years.

is matt read and any of our blueline "the future"? i suppose thats questionable. Also i wouldnt have a problem if they traded schenn or couturier for a player that helps you win now amd the next 3-4 years.
- JoeRussomanno

Read or anyone for that matter, has their trade value at an all time low. Imo the smart move to make a move isn't now, its at the deadline.

Weather the storm.

is matt read and any of our blueline "the future"? i suppose thats questionable. Also i wouldnt have a problem if they traded schenn or couturier for a player that helps you win now amd the next 3-4 years.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm more than willing to move any of our D and a guy like Read for picks and prospects. If I'm going to move Couturier or B Schenn I want a good young player who can contribute right now coming back in the deal

Read or anyone for that matter, has their trade value at an all time low. Imo the smart move to make a move isn't now, its at the deadline.

Weather the storm.
- flyer_nutter

Agreed

Read or anyone for that matter, has their trade value at an all time low. Imo the smart move to make a move isn't now, its at the deadline.

Weather the storm.
- flyer_nutter

clearly you are not from philadelphia ... im not a big believer in this stock market esque value as some of you... i dont think their value fluctuates all that much in a season... GM's and scouts, unlike our very own, know who these players are.

Frankly, and this may ruffle a few feathers.. I don't know what the Philadelphia fan base is like outside of HB or in the city itself.

However if there is as much panic as I've seen on some articles and whatnot, the fans deserved to have whatever BS comes the teams way shoved up their ass.

Stay the course, and do a proper rebuild for one (frank)ing time. Handle the pain and adversity and don't try some desperate move for some fart in a windstorm's chance at a cup run.
- flyer_nutter

The problem is we are not 100% sure the course is right with so horrible an evaluation of some of the current situations. There is already a long, long ongoing debate about AMAC, who Hextall may or not have had a say in, but the drop off the earth of Umberger is a frightening negative, along with the coaches lineup decisions.


When 2 players like Adam Hall and his predecessor players on the 3rd/4th lines PK that were low dollar (maybe 1.5 for 2 players) , highly task efficient players could do the job of 9 million dollars of wasted space on the cap and roster its an unspeakable burden.

Fan base ? People that go to the games are Flyers fans more than hockey fans as a large percentage and there is a lot corporate/business ticket giveaway I am certain. Its more about the event. I saw a lot of people milling about in Winnipeg at the game a month ago and wondered about the situation there as well.

is matt read and any of our blueline "the future"? i suppose thats questionable. Also i wouldnt have a problem if they traded schenn or couturier for a player that helps you win now amd the next 3-4 years.
- JoeRussomanno

No, it's not. That's why 3 weeks and a pair of balls won;t make this team good

I'm more than willing to move any of our D and a guy like Read for picks and prospects. If I'm going to move Couturier or B Schenn I want a good young player who can contribute right now coming back in the deal
- BiggE

exactly get a player that can help u win now or add something you dont have now like speed. just cause you have a flat tire and no spare doesnt mean you have to get put and walk, just call roadside assistance

clearly you are not from philadelphia ... im not a big believer in this stock market esque value as some of you... i dont think their value fluctuates all that much in a season... GM's and scouts, unlike our very own, know who these players are.
- JoeRussomanno

No idea to be honest, I just personally anyway, want them to stay away from any deals now. I think it would be desperate, and other teams know they are desperate.

This team isn't winning poop for a while because of the whole they dug themselves into with the genius moves of ownership and management. I don't think its a quick fix to get themselves out, I think it will be a slower process of letting the poop pass through on its own. There is no magic enema.

I see a window to sunshine opening not this off-season but the next. That's when things start to turn imo, do to a hell of a lot more promising FA class, and hopefully time to get some of the dead-weight traded away or bought out. In the meantime, unfortunately I think it will be a poopty ride with at best lateral moves. So be it.

No, it's not. That's why 3 weeks and a pair of balls won;t make this team good
- Jsaquella

not sure what you mean by no its not, but i do know summer of 2013 i despised the shopping spree homer went on and was told im a negative nancy, now we're tripping over ourselves with ideas on how to get of two of the three deals... lets get another coach in there starting tommorow, b/c keeping berube in here is like staying in a relationship with a heroin addict, its not going anywhere good amd youre better off without them.

No idea to be honest, I just personally anyway, want them to stay away from any deals now. I think it would be desperate, and other teams know they are desperate.

This team isn't winning poop for a while because of the whole they dug themselves into with the genius moves of ownership and management. I don't think its a quick fix to get themselves out, I think it will be a slower process of letting the poop pass through on its own. There is no magic enema.

I see a window to sunshine opening not this off-season but the next. That's when things start to turn imo, do to a hell of a lot more promising FA class, and hopefully time to get some of the dead-weight traded away or bought out. In the meantime, unfortunately I think it will be a poopty ride with at best lateral moves. So be it.
- flyer_nutter

its proffessional spprts, you can be a poop stain one season and having a parade the next

I see a window to sunshine opening not this off-season but the next. That's when things start to turn imo, do to a hell of a lot more promising FA class, and hopefully time to get some of the dead-weight traded away or bought out. In the meantime, unfortunately I think it will be a poopty ride with at best lateral moves. So be it.

The problem is that unless the 2 albatrosses choose to retire, you are going to have a 2 year team like the early 90's 4 year non playoff teams, with Giroux and Voracek and Mason, but no Lindros/Brind Amour/Recchi/Renberg, no one like Forsberg has been drafted. Its an Al Conroy and Greg Paslawski and Doug Sulliman kind of line up without the truly dominant player on the first line. We are not even certain there is a solid #2 center coming up.

I see Simmonds as a modern day Kevin Dineen in a way, though their games are different, more of a role thing