Thanks Bill. Philly.com also had some good comments on the Flyers woes. G had better start playing more of a leadership role, or he might just be out of here. His numbers aren't bad, but his play of late has been in question; nothing like diving to try to motivate his team the other night. I think that part of the reason Richards, and Carter were traded was that the team just couldn't take it to the next level with them in leadership roles. They were great players in the own right, but those darn long term deals, and having all that money thrown at them went to their heads. If I were GM, I would only sign players to performance laced deals, with a maximum of 4 years. I don't care if the player might leave after that term for more money, because the loyalty days of the past are over. Most players, like coaches have a team life span, and are only money driven. Besides, four years is enough time for the younger players to start taking over. To summarize, this will allow time for your draft picks to develop, and this will keep your cap costs down. In this new age of free agency created by, and forced by the players, this will have to be the new norm. You see it in the other major sports, and now in the NHL. I would love to have certain players on a team for life, but it's just not going to happen if you wish your team to succeed.
Thanks for listening.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Is this even remotely serious? Giroux is one of the only players doing anything productive, along with Voracek. His numbers aren't just "not bad" he's sixth in the NHL in scoring-and doing that on a team where he and the guy near the top of the scoring race are the only two productive players.

Yep. They have enough talent to play with (maybe not beat) any team in the league, IF they play with high intensity 100% of the time. And they play witht hat intensity for anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes per game, which is not even close to good enough.
- jmatchett383

If You Believe In Yourself, Miracles Can Happen.taglines ... Gentlemen, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TALENT TO WIN ON TALENT ALONE!

Raises hand.

I thought he might be producing a bit more offense, but I expected his overall game to be mediocre to terrible.
- Jsaquella

Writing's been on the wall going back to his last couple of seasons in Tampa... but now you can pretty much stick a fork in him... 'cuz he's done. Completely irrelevant at ES.

Raises hand.

I thought he might be producing a bit more offense, but I expected his overall game to be mediocre to terrible.
- Jsaquella

When we signed him? Or to start this season. I dont really think anyone thought he was going to be terrible when we signed him. He has had a severe drop off.

Did anyone think he would be this bad? I sure didnt. He had 32 pts in 39 games in the lockout then we signed him and he played pretty good until he broke his back. The rest has been a disaster.
- GOA88

I didn't think he'd be this bad but I expected a drop off for sure. I was also against the signing given that the team already had Giroux, Schenn and Couturier up the middle plus Laughton on the way. Giving a 14 year NHL vet a 5 year deal at a position that is already in surplus is never a wise decision unless that player is a stud still which is not and was not the case with Vinny.

This team is a weird, tangled ball of misdirected energy. I don't think there are lazy players on the team, per se. There is individual talent on this team; just not the right kind of talent. I just don't think they are good enough, as a group.
- johndewar

It is not the most efficient mix of players for sure. They will need to make changes moving forward. We all know that.

But they should be able to execute and compete. They're getting killed.

Thanks Bill. Philly.com also had some good comments on the Flyers woes. G had better start playing more of a leadership role, or he might just be out of here. His numbers aren't bad, but his play of late has been in question; nothing like diving to try to motivate his team the other night. I think that part of the reason Richards, and Carter were traded was that the team just couldn't take it to the next level with them in leadership roles. They were great players in the own right, but those darn long term deals, and having all that money thrown at them went to their heads. If I were GM, I would only sign players to performance laced deals, with a maximum of 4 years. I don't care if the player might leave after that term for more money, because the loyalty days of the past are over. Most players, like coaches have a team life span, and are only money driven. Besides, four years is enough time for the younger players to start taking over. To summarize, this will allow time for your draft picks to develop, and this will keep your cap costs down. In this new age of free agency created by, and forced by the players, this will have to be the new norm. You see it in the other major sports, and now in the NHL. I would love to have certain players on a team for life, but it's just not going to happen if you wish your team to succeed.
Thanks for listening.
- OrangeAndBlack1

The first thing you would need to do as a GM, is learn the rules of the CBA. The only players who can have performance bonuses in their contracts are players that are signed to Entry Level deals. And players 35 or older signed to one year deals.

I did not. But right now I see a player that isn't working, isn't moving his feet. Isn't getting to the net. I think I can recall maybe one or two decent scoring chances at 5 on 5 play since he came back. He definitely needs a playmaker to get him the puck, but with the effort he is putting forth right now, I'm not sure that would even help.
- MJL

One thing that I'm noticing the most with him is that he seems hesitant to shoot when he does have the puck. He's a goal-scorer first and foremost, but he seems to want to be a playmaker with the puck (possibly out of necessity) when he is in fair to good shooting positions. The play to Streit in (I think) the Minnesota game paid off, but I'd rather he shoot it 9 times out of 10 in that position, when he has an open look at the net.

When we signed him? Or to start this season. I dont really think anyone thought he was going to be terrible when we signed him. He has had a severe drop off.
- GOA88

Uh, I was (frank)ing livid from day 1. Don't think I was the only one, either.

Do you guys think Aube-Kubel has a shot of making the Canadian WJC team this year?
- jmatchett383

Doubtful

Simmonds and Schenn were playing with him earlier. That should be a good line.
Put Raffl back on first line. Give Couturier sufficient time with 17 and 10.
- 3flyerkids

Yes. Schenn with Couturier and Read was looking good. I don't think Simmonds was a great fit.

Is this even remotely serious? Giroux is one of the only players doing anything productive, along with Voracek. His numbers aren't just "not bad" he's sixth in the NHL in scoring-and doing that on a team where he and the guy near the top of the scoring race are the only two productive players.
- Jsaquella

Also, with no secondary scoring it is even more difficult to produce because the opposing teams can literally key in on just them. Yet they still produce.

Have we fired Stevens and traded Carter yet?

Asking for a friend.
- johndewar

deja vu could be the 2007 that we once knew

One thing that I'm noticing the most with him is that he seems hesitant to shoot when he does have the puck. He's a goal-scorer first and foremost, but he seems to want to be a playmaker with the puck (possibly out of necessity) when he is in fair to good shooting positions. The play to Streit in (I think) the Minnesota game paid off, but I'd rather he shoot it 9 times out of 10 in that position, when he has an open look at the net.
- jmatchett383

Definitely is some hesititation in his game. Sign of frustration. Lecavalier is a veteran experienced player. He is one of the players that should be helping the team get out of this hole.

Yes. Schenn with Couturier and Read was looking good. I don't think Simmonds was a great fit.
- J35Bacher

Is it just me or does it seem like Simmonds isnt a great fit on any line he plays on. Only time he does anything is on the PP.

Writing's been on the wall going back to his last couple of seasons in Tampa... but now you can pretty much stick a fork in him... 'cuz he's done. Completely irrelevant at ES.
- Tomahawk

Not true. His last season in TB, he scored at a 67 point pace.

I'd rather we evaluate Laughton after more than 10 or so NHL games. And I think trading Couturier when his value is lowest is a terrible idea.
- jmatchett383

I don't want to give up on Couturier. He's still a kid and could grow into what we expected from him. If we're going to adopt patience, let's see it through. I can see it now, we trade him and he turns out to be a stud (see JVR trade).

Is this even remotely serious? Giroux is one of the only players doing anything productive, along with Voracek. His numbers aren't just "not bad" he's sixth in the NHL in scoring-and doing that on a team where he and the guy near the top of the scoring race are the only two productive players.
- Jsaquella

But has he cured cancer yet? (frank)in no!

Definitely is some hesititation in his game. Sign of frustration. Lecavalier is a veteran experienced player. He is one of the players that should be helping the team get out of this hole.
- MJL

He's made an entire career out of cheating up the ice, camping in soft spots, and waiting for the puck to come to him. Pretty much the antithesis of the kind of play that Berube/Hexy are asking for.

When we signed him? Or to start this season. I dont really think anyone thought he was going to be terrible when we signed him. He has had a severe drop off.
- GOA88

When they signed him, I thought the deal was about a year too long, but figured he'd be a good presence and able to help provide offense. I assumed he'd play 2nd line C for a year or two and then slide to wing.

I really didn't understand how bad he was at ES. I was definitely guilty of looking at the base stats and saying, "Hey, he's a productive guy still".

But as soon as last season ended, I started hoping they could find a way to get rid of him. I fully expected him to be a disaster this season. I hoped he wouldn't be.

But has he cured cancer yet? (frank)in no!
- PhillySportsGuy

Unconfirmed reports say he's 76% of the way there.

But has he cured cancer yet? (frank)in no!
- PhillySportsGuy

Orange Jesus be slackin'

Not true. His last season in TB, he scored at a 67 point pace.
- MJL

While I agree with you.... He did play with St.Louis and Stamkos. Vinny never sees the ice when Voracek and Giroux are out there. Vinny is a supplemental player at this stage of his career. If they want to get Vinny going I think it might be wise to put Voracek on his line.

But has he cured cancer yet? (frank)in no!
- PhillySportsGuy

You're right. Trade him now for Jordan Eberle and a 3rd rounder before the Oilers see Fraude Giroux for what he really is.

Is this even remotely serious? Giroux is one of the only players doing anything productive, along with Voracek. His numbers aren't just "not bad" he's sixth in the NHL in scoring-and doing that on a team where he and the guy near the top of the scoring race are the only two productive players.
- Jsaquella