With you there. I'm ok with Berube finishing the season, but a change needs to be made at that point.
- BiggE

Throw fist full of cash at Babcock

It would be huge.

If they get one of the top-5 forwards, it would eliminate the short-term need to trade for a winger. It would also give them a very productive player at an ELC rate, within 0-2 seasons.

If they get Hanifin or Kylington, they just about have the best group of d-prospects in the league on lock.
- Tomahawk

get it done for Kylington

Yeah -- I started (frank)ing around with the numbers yesterday, and that's why I got so mad. The math is starting to look really grim, because it's not that you can't make it.

It's that the level at which you have to play becomes something that your talent level dictates you just won't be able to hit -- for them to get 90 points now, which wouldn't have even qualified for the playoffs last year, means they would have to play at the level of a 99-point team the rest of the way.

That's a tough row to hoe, right there
- AllInForFlyers

It's not even how many points that they are out. But, when you factor in 3 point games and all the holes in their lineup, making the playoffs is virtually impossible. And, if that's the case, better to miss big than miss by a bit.

Yeah, doubt they can move AMac due to the contract but it would be nice
- BiggE

Then they can overpay for another defenseman once they get rid of Coburn, Grossmann, MacDonald, Schultz and Del Zotto. Good plan!

It's not even how many points that they are out. But, when you factor in 3 point games and all the holes in their lineup, making the playoffs is virtually impossible. And, if that's the case, better to miss big than miss by a bit.
- BiggE

It's not virtually impossible. It's December.

How odd of a feeling was it to type the bold above, and mean it?
- wolfhounds

Lol, pretty odd indeed. Like not having to worry about goaltending anymore weird.

Bigg E for GM
- vejim

What, and have you miscreants female doging about my every move?

I am very tankful for the Flyers

Then they can overpay for another defenseman once they get rid of Coburn, Grossmann, MacDonald, Schultz and Del Zotto. Good plan!
- MJL

Looking at the deals being given out recently I don't think that is necessarily the case.

The Flyers are currently tied for 12th in the conference with the power house Buffalo Sabres. I'm not going to bother to do the math, but I'm pretty confident in saying that when you are in 12th place in a 16 team conference in the era of the shootout, your chances of making the playoffs are somewhere between slim and none.

It's not virtually impossible. It's December.
- MJL

You can be eliminated from playoff contention in December -- if they don't start collecting two points and giving no points against Eastern Conference teams that are in front of them, for example, they could very well be done like dinner before the calendar flips.

I know this board doesn't love math. But if they don't turn it around very, very quickly, they're dangerously close to making it so they will have to play at a pace that teams like the Penguins and Ducks aren't capable of playing

The Flyers are currently tied for 12th in the conference with the power house Buffalo Sabres. I'm not going to bother to do the math, but I'm pretty confident in saying that when you are in 12th place in a 16 team conference in the era of the shootout, your chances of making the playoffs are somewhere between slim and none.
- BiggE

Anything can happen. In light of last season it certainly is not out of the question. But I just don't see the same fire in this team as we did last season.

The Flyers are currently tied for 12th in the conference with the power house Buffalo Sabres. I'm not going to bother to do the math, but I'm pretty confident in saying that when you are in 12th place in a 16 team conference in the era of the shootout, your chances of making the playoffs are somewhere between slim and none.
- BiggE

Not too early for this:
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern.html


8.1% chance. That's smaller than the 9.5% chance they have of winning the draft lottery today.

Looking at the deals being given out recently I don't think that is necessarily the case.
- MBFlyerfan

Can easily find more values like Schultz/MDZ in August, or get some young dmen back in some of those deals. Overpaying for dmen isn't some inescapable fate.

Not too early for this:
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern.html


8.1% chance. That's smaller than the 9.5% chance they have of winning the draft lottery today.
- Tomahawk

See, I knew if I waited long enough, someone would do the math.

You can be eliminated from playoff contention in December -- if they don't start collecting two points and giving no points against Eastern Conference teams that are in front of them, for example, they could very well be done like dinner before the calendar flips.

I know this board doesn't love math. But if they don't turn it around very, very quickly, they're dangerously close to making it so they will have to play at a pace that teams like the Penguins and Ducks aren't capable of playing
- AllInForFlyers

I just dont see this happening unless a Christmas miracle happens with our Defense

You can be eliminated from playoff contention in December -- if they don't start collecting two points and giving no points against Eastern Conference teams that are in front of them, for example, they could very well be done like dinner before the calendar flips.

I know this board doesn't love math. But if they don't turn it around very, very quickly, they're dangerously close to making it so they will have to play at a pace that teams like the Penguins and Ducks aren't capable of playing
- AllInForFlyers

Usually between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a good indication if your team will make the playoffs or not. I'm expecting them to finish 4-8 points behind the last wild card team

I wouldn't trade Schultz. He's a good value as a 6/7 defenseman. I'd look to bring him back.
- MJL

He's on a one-year contract. You could bring him back next season after getting a pick at the deadline from a playoff team.

Can easily find more values like Schultz/MDZ in August, or get some young dmen back in some of those deals. Overpaying for dmen isn't some inescapable fate.
- Tomahawk

Hexy finds some real bargains at the Dollar Store

I just dont see this happening unless a Christmas miracle happens with our Defense
- vejim

Unless Pronger and Timonen have miracle recoveries or Mark Howe finds a time machine, it ain't happening.

I just dont see this happening unless a Christmas miracle happens with our Defense
- vejim

You basically need the defense to do a complete 180 PLUS get at least a number of secondary scorers to go on incredible tears -- meanwhile, Mase/G/Jake have to keep playing out of their minds without missing a beat.

Doesn't seem likely.

The Flyers are currently tied for 12th in the conference with the power house Buffalo Sabres. I'm not going to bother to do the math, but I'm pretty confident in saying that when you are in 12th place in a 16 team conference in the era of the shootout, your chances of making the playoffs are somewhere between slim and none.
- BiggE

They don't have a lot of time to turn it around. They really don't. It's not that they can't catch the Devils or Panthers.

It's that the odds of them catching the Devils and Caps AND catching and passing the Rangers...that becomes something that you just can't do, when those teams are going to be collecting points, too

They're not all bad teams who are going to slump like this. You can get so far behind that your opposition's slumps don't allow you to make up enough ground on the third-place team AND the other teams chasing each other

Unless Pronger and Timonen have miracle recoveries or Mark Howe finds a time machine, it ain't happening.
- BiggE

another Howe/McCrimmon would be nice

You basically need the defense to do a complete 180 PLUS get at least a number of secondary scorers to go on incredible tears -- meanwhile, Mase/G/Jake have to keep playing out of their minds without missing a beat.

Doesn't seem likely.
- Tomahawk

If they win four of the 12 games left in 2014 I'd be impressed.

at LA
at CBJ
vs NJ
vs CAR
vs TB
vs FLA
at TOR
at WIN
at MIN
at NSH
at ARI
at COL

Forward wise, I'd continue to sit Lecavalier. I would not sit Read. Defense wise, Luke Schenn would be scratched next game, and Del Zotto back in.
- MJL

I wouldn't sit Luke again, at least not yet. He had a rough night last night but it was one game out of three. The other two, he's responded well.

Matt Read isn't even starting in PK situation anymore. It might be more about winning the faceoffs but I'm seeing more and more of Giroux and Couturier out there together for an extended period of time.