No one wants him to play poorly -- for as much as people talk, I don't believe anyone wants this team to lose
- AllInForFlyers

Yup.
I can't get excited about where they end up drafting, at this point.

I still watch every game, and hate that they can't beat these teams.

I remember when a few years ago, if they lost to a team like Florida, it was because they didn't put forth effort for 60 minutes. Now it has become completely the normal expectation for them to lose, even against the Panthers.

Sad times.

Yup.
I can't get excited about where they end up drafting, at this point.

I still watch every game, and hate that they can't beat these teams.

I remember when a few years ago, if they lost to a team like Florida, it was because they didn't put forth effort for 60 minutes. Now it has become completely the normal expectation for them to lose, even against the Panthers.

Sad times.
- Marc D

I'll watch the 75 or so games a year, as I always do -- I hate when they lose. 30-plus years, and I get it. They aren't going to win every night or every season

But I still hate when they lose

- Giroux_Is_God

It's so funny. There are times when I instigate fights, abruptly leave and check back later to see how it evolved
- PhillySportsGuy

I want them to be rid of that NMC almost as much as anything -- hell, at least Nashville can send Stalberg down
- AllInForFlyers

It ain't the NMC keeping Vinny here...it's his play

Yup.
I can't get excited about where they end up drafting, at this point.

I still watch every game, and hate that they can't beat these teams.

I remember when a few years ago, if they lost to a team like Florida, it was because they didn't put forth effort for 60 minutes. Now it has become completely the normal expectation for them to lose, even against the Panthers.

Sad times.
- Marc D

Nature of the beast. Hard to have really sustained success under the cap. They needed to rebuild the foundation at some point, and there were going to be pains.

way too many

jeebus guys if you don't like something somebody posts, just ignore it

no need for the personal attacks
- Marc D

SHUT UP, IDIOT TROLL DOUCHEBAG!

It ain't the NMC keeping Vinny here...it's his play
- Jsaquella

I still think he can play better than he has. Dead serious

He can play better than this, even though he can't skate

I still think he can play better than he has. Dead serious

He can play better than this, even though he can't skate
- AllInForFlyers

He has to be able to play better than he was prior to the benching. But just how good can he play? Is it worth it to assume the rest of the deal for another team?

Yeah, this is a group that can argue whether Andrew MacDonald is a 3-4 or 4-5 defenseman for three and a half months. No way a hypothetical Vinny trade doesn't start a bar fight
- Jsaquella

SHUT UP, IDIOT TROLL DOUCHEBAG!
- jmatchett383

Perfectly reasonable response. You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 52s53 seconds ago

Scouts from 10 teams at tonight's #Flyers' game:Dallas, Columbus, Edm, Isles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Vancouver, Florida, Dertoit.

I hope Vinny scores 6 goals, gets 5 assists, beats the poop out of the biggest Panther and whips his cock out while singing I am the lizard King, I can do anything

He has to be able to play better than he was prior to the benching. But just how good can he play? Is it worth it to assume the rest of the deal for another team?
- Jsaquella

I still think the skills he has are sustainable and repeatable -- yeah, he's slow, and yeah, he's not a great defensive player.

But he can still think the game offensively at an above-average level, and he has the ability to make smart offensive plays

What I have seen is a player who isn't the best fit with any set of wingers on this particular roster start to not care, which is lethal when you are already speed-challenged

But he has to know that if he's going to get out of Philadelphia in-season, he's going to have to look like he wants to be an NHL player and commit himself to doing things on the ice

I don't necessarily expect much, but if he's got ANYTHING left in his legs and if he has any desire to win puck battles and get to the front of the net, the Flyers are going to see it tonight

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 52s53 seconds ago

Scouts from 10 teams at tonight's #Flyers' game:Dallas, Columbus, Edm, Isles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Vancouver, Florida, Dertoit.

I hope Vinny scores 6 goals, gets 5 assists, beats the poop out of the biggest Panther and whips his cock out while singing I am the lizard King, I can do anything
- Jsaquella

poop, now I wish I had tickets to the game!

He has to be able to play better than he was prior to the benching. But just how good can he play? Is it worth it to assume the rest of the deal for another team?
- Jsaquella

My guess and fear is that he can't. Oh, he might crank up an adrenaline fueled great effort for a game or 2 but then he'll crash back to Earth. He just doesn't seem to be able to physically cut it anymore. It sucks and it's sad but he's just done

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 52s53 seconds ago

Scouts from 10 teams at tonight's #Flyers' game:Dallas, Columbus, Edm, Isles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Vancouver, Florida, Dertoit.

I hope Vinny scores 6 goals, gets 5 assists, beats the poop out of the biggest Panther and whips his cock out while singing I am the lizard King, I can do anything
- Jsaquella

Exactly -- tonight's the night. If he truly cares, then he's been around long enough to know that what he does tonight is going to go a long way toward settling what his NHL future is likely going to look like

I still think the skills he has are sustainable and repeatable -- yeah, he's slow, and yeah, he's not a great defensive player.

But he can still think the game offensively at an above-average level, and he has the ability to make smart offensive plays

What I have seen is a player who isn't the best fit with any set of wingers on this particular roster start to not care, which is lethal when you are already speed-challenged

But he has to know that if he's going to get out of Philadelphia in-season, he's going to have to look like he wants to be an NHL player and commit himself to doing things on the ice

I don't necessarily expect much, but if he's got ANYTHING left in his legs and if he has any desire to win puck battles and get to the front of the net, the Flyers are going to see it tonight
- AllInForFlyers

He needs a good playmaker on one side and a good two way player on the other to be effective.

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 52s53 seconds ago

Scouts from 10 teams at tonight's #Flyers' game:Dallas, Columbus, Edm, Isles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Vancouver, Florida, Dertoit.

I hope Vinny scores 6 goals, gets 5 assists, beats the poop out of the biggest Panther and whips his cock out while singing I am the lizard King, I can do anything
- Jsaquella

THIS!!

I still think the skills he has are sustainable and repeatable -- yeah, he's slow, and yeah, he's not a great defensive player.

But he can still think the game offensively at an above-average level, and he has the ability to make smart offensive plays

What I have seen is a player who isn't the best fit with any set of wingers on this particular roster start to not care, which is lethal when you are already speed-challenged

But he has to know that if he's going to get out of Philadelphia in-season, he's going to have to look like he wants to be an NHL player and commit himself to doing things on the ice

I don't necessarily expect much, but if he's got ANYTHING left in his legs and if he has any desire to win puck battles and get to the front of the net, the Flyers are going to see it tonight
- AllInForFlyers

He needs a good playmaker on one side and a good two way player on the other to be effective.

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 52s53 seconds ago

Scouts from 10 teams at tonight's #Flyers' game:Dallas, Columbus, Edm, Isles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Vancouver, Florida, Dertoit.

I hope Vinny scores 6 goals, gets 5 assists, beats the poop out of the biggest Panther and whips his cock out while singing I am the lizard King, I can do anything
- Jsaquella

That would guarantee at least a 5th rounder! I would take it!

My guess and fear is that he can't. Oh, he might crank up an adrenaline fueled great effort for a game or 2 but then he'll crash back to Earth. He just doesn't seem to be able to physically cut it anymore. It sucks and it's sad but he's just done


- BiggE

He's likely motivated, and insulted, and perhaps he can turn that into energy to prove everybody wrong. It's not like he's all that old really. It comes down to Will, and how beat up his body is.

I still think he can play better than he has. Dead serious

He can play better than this, even though he can't skate
- AllInForFlyers

You know, I took the position prior to the season that we were most likely going to see diminishing returns from VLC through the rest of his contract. I said at the time that I hoped I would be wrong, but given his age and recent injury history, I felt that was likely.


Now... Christ, I wish I had been right. What we've seen so far is way beyond "diminishing returns". This is more like Vinny's fallen and he can't get up.

There's a part of me that agrees with you... He can play better than this. But, I don't see any hint of that improved play, and I'm concerned that there will be no improved play in the future.

He's likely motivated, and insulted, and perhaps he can turn that into energy to prove everybody wrong. It's not like he's all that old really. It comes down to Will, and how beat up his body is.
- wolfhounds

I just don't think he can stay healthy if he plays the style and skates the way he needs to so he can succeed.

Man, one team I envy right now is Florida -- yeah, that Bolland deal is ridiculous, and yeah, they have no fan support

But you look at their roster, and every forward contract for old players they likely don't want comes off their books at season's end

They're right there for a playoff spot and have the flexibility to do whatever the hell they want