Compliments to Frank? Say what?
- ob18

He makes sense. Since Mason returned from a back injury, he's admittedly "tweaked" something twice, and been re-injured. He has had one day off since he made his first start after the back injury, and he's played in every game since.

In fact, since December 2nd, Mason has played all but one game that he's been healthy for-which was the New Jersey game on December 11th. That big a workload, without a break, for a guy with nagging injuries is asking for trouble, no matter what his overall workload had been before.

Great update on prospects. It's always good to hear what they are doing and how they are progressing.Thanks Bill.


At least the College Football National Championship is on tonight. So when the Bolts start pounding the Flyers you can always watch something else.

Whenever he played, I saw more physical play than this laughable, nice, soft, great guy defense we have now...
- CACannon18[/img]

He played two games and he's not a physical player, in fact he was credited with 1 hit in two games he played. Both were losses, and when Manning was on the ice, the Flyers were badly outshot (21 attempts against, 10 for).

Speaking of prospects, the Leafs have called up 2014 1st round pick William Nylander. Coming off a very good WJC and having a very good 18 year old season in the SEL. He might end up in the AHL at first, but he's a really skilled kid. He been near dominant in SEL

The whole thing with Mason and his recent injuries has been odd, in so far as, the reports of folks on hand make it seem like the injury looked bad, yet the MRIs come back clean. So, if you combine the clean MRIs with a stated desire of Mason to (unwisely) keep playing, despite the appearance of something wrong, systemically, and there is going to be a problem. Mason should probably have been saved from himself if that was the case.

There was no need to start him Thursday AND Saturday afternoon right away.
- johndewar

Is it cynical to think that if the team (and the coach) aren't in such a deep hole, he probably would have prudently gotten a few games off?

Speaking of prospects, the Leafs have called up 2014 1st round pick William Nylander. Coming off a very good WJC and having a very good 18 year old season in the SEL. He might end up in the AHL at first, but he's a really skilled kid. He been near dominant in SEL
- Jsaquella

Don Cherry was just on Toronto radio saying the Leafs should have picked Nick Ritchie over Nylander.

Jesper Pettersson (healthy scratch over the weekend)
- bmeltzer

Bill, do you think believe that Pitbull might have gotten more ice time (and faced tougher foes) by staying in Linkoping for an additional year? I know they're allowed to dress 21-skaters there, and he could end up as a 4th-pair/spare, but just seems like that's still better than sitting out entirely to me. Just curious what your thoughts are on that.

Mason is having a great year, again. Still seems everyone outside of Philly and even some in Philly refuse to give him credit for how well he has played since coming over from CBJ. He has numbers that are comparable to and better than some of the NHL's "elite" goaltenders. Based on his numbers he should be in the all-star game over several goalies including Bobrovsky. All of this while playing behind arguably the leagues worst defensive team. A defense that has a knack for giving up loads of golden chances a game.

Don Cherry was just on Toronto radio saying the Leafs should have picked Nick Ritchie over Nylander.
- 3flyerkids

Of course he would, lol.

Is it cynical to think that if the team (and the coach) aren't in such a deep hole, he probably would have prudently gotten a few games off?
- Tomahawk

I don't think it's cynical of all. As Seravalli wrote, Berube might be coaching for his livelihood. It's got to be hard for a guy with limited security to be focused on the long term when it's very possible he won't get a new contract.

Even Hextall is publicly in denial, because he specifically mentioned that they "...need to win now & it's the coach's obligation to put the best lineup on ice". Why do they need to win now? They're closer to being the 30th place team than they are to being a playoff team.

They're 11 points out, and need to jump 6 teams to lock up a playoff spot. In most cases they have no games in hand on the teams in front of them, or worse have fewer games in hand. Even in the cases where they have a game in hand, it's no more than 1.

There's trying to be positive and then there is ignoring reality. They're not making the playoffs, unless a minor miracle occurs.

Don Cherry was just on Toronto radio saying the Leafs should have picked Nick Ritchie over Nylander.
- 3flyerkids

He's a good Ontario boy.

Cherry is a xenophobic clown. When he makes a good point, it's usually buried under twenty lbs of horsepoop.

I don't think it's cynical of all. As Seravalli wrote, Berube might be coaching for his livelihood. It's got to be hard for a guy with limited security to be focused on the long term when it's very possible he won't get a new contract.

Even Hextall is publicly in denial, because he specifically mentioned that they "...need to win now & it's the coach's obligation to put the best lineup on ice". Why do they need to win now? They're closer to being the 30th place team than they are to being a playoff team.

They're 11 points out, and need to jump 6 teams to lock up a playoff spot. In most cases they have no games in hand on the teams in front of them, or worse have fewer games in hand. Even in the cases where they have a game in hand, it's no more than 1.

There's trying to be positive and then there is ignoring reality. They're not making the playoffs, unless a minor miracle occurs.
- Jsaquella

Minor? They have not shown any signs of a comeback this season. They played hard against Bos in seemingly a must win game and still looked inept. MAJOR MIRACLE NEEDED.

Mason is having a great year, again. Still seems everyone outside of Philly and even some in Philly refuse to give him credit for how well he has played since coming over from CBJ. He has numbers that are comparable to and better than some of the NHL's "elite" goaltenders. Based on his numbers he should be in the all-star game over several goalies including Bobrovsky. All of this while playing behind arguably the leagues worst defensive team. A defense that has a knack for giving up loads of golden chances a game.
- GOA88

Yep.. it drives me nuts that he doesn't get the credit he's due. Doug Maclean on Sportsnet last week said that one of the reasons the Flyers have struggled is because of inconsistent goaltending?? Watch the team before saying that.. jebus.

Bill, do you think believe that Pitbull might have gotten more ice time (and faced tougher foes) by staying in Linkoping for an additional year? I know they're allowed to dress 21-skaters there, and he could end up as a 4th-pair/spare, but just seems like that's still better than sitting out entirely to me. Just curious what your thoughts are on that.
- Tomahawk

Pettersson is actually better suited, at least stylistically, to the small-rink game. I'm also not sure if he'd have gotten that much more ice time this season at the SHL level than he has in the AHL. But I agree that he's better off playing than being a healthy scratch.

Unfortunately, Pettersson has a tough path ahead of him. If he was a 6-foot-2 player, it would be a lot easier to make it as a defensive defenseman than for a 5-foot-9 guy (even one with his sturdy, fireplug build) to play that style. He can move the puck a bit, too, though and is a decent skater.

Honestly, I'm not sure what his upside actually is. He gives up so much size in the trenches. What I do know is that he'll keep working on his game.

Minor? They have not shown any signs of a comeback this season. They played hard against Bos in seemingly a must win game and still looked inept. MAJOR MIRACLE NEEDED.
- GOA88

Well, we're talking about winning 75% of their remaining games, not raising the dead...

With Mase out two weeks and games against Tampa, Washington, Vancouver, Buffalo, NYI, and Pittsburgh, this could easily be a 1-4-1 stretch. Despite my own denial, we have already entered seller's mode.

Yep.. it drives me nuts that he doesn't get the credit he's due. Doug Maclean on Sportsnet last week said that one of the reasons the Flyers have struggled is because of inconsistent goaltending?? Watch the team before saying that.. jebus.
- Hextall271

Are you serious?? OMG..... Listen, if any goalie has been inconsistent its Emery and even he may not be... Instead Emery is showing what its like for an average or a little above goaltender to play behind such a horrible defense. 3.21 gaa .889 s%

While in CHI...... 1.94 gaa .922 s% yea...... nuff said.

He's a good Ontario boy.

Cherry is a xenophobic clown. When he makes a good point, it's usually buried under twenty lbs of horsepoop.
- Jsaquella

Let's see... big bully teen who has trouble scoring against his peers, or the guy who's lighting up one of the best pro leagues in the world?

Hmmmm.

Yep.. it drives me nuts that he doesn't get the credit he's due. Doug Maclean on Sportsnet last week said that one of the reasons the Flyers have struggled is because of inconsistent goaltending?? Watch the team before saying that.. jebus.
- Hextall271

It's an easy narrative for lazy sports writers who don't work in the Philly market. It's why they called the Flyers a tough, physical team, even though they really haven't been for a couple years

Let's see... big bully teen who has trouble scoring against his peers, or the guy who's lighting up one of the best pro leagues in the world?

Hmmmm.
- Tomahawk

Cherry is a bit like CBC, Canadian content trumps talent

It's an easy narrative for lazy sports writers who don't work in the Philly market. It's why they called the Flyers a tough, physical team, even though they really haven't been for a couple years
- Jsaquella

Like when this team still gets labelled as the Broad Street Bullies

Like when this team still gets labelled as the Broad Street Bullies
- PhiFaninEdm

Exactly. The easy/lazy journalism book on the Flyers is big tough team with shaky goalies.

Pettersson is actually better suited, at least stylistically, to the small-rink game. I'm also not sure if he'd have gotten that much more ice time this season at the SHL level than he has in the AHL. But I agree that he's better off playing than being a healthy scratch.

Unfortunately, Pettersson has a tough path ahead of him. If he was a 6-foot-2 player, it would be a lot easier to make it as a defensive defenseman than for a 5-foot-9 guy (even one with his sturdy, fireplug build) to play that style. He can move the puck a bit, too, though and is a decent skater.

Honestly, I'm not sure what his upside actually is. He gives up so much size in the trenches. What I do know is that he'll keep working on his game.
- bmeltzer

Thanks.

It seems strange to me that Murray would shower Pitbull with so much praise, but then scratch him in favor of non-prospects like Delisle, Flemming and Comrie -- with Alt, Ghost out no less.

Well, we're talking about winning 75% of their remaining games, not raising the dead...
- Jsaquella

I dont even think Nashville wins 75% of their games. lol

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20150112_Flyers__misuse_of_Mason.html

Pretty good read from Frank Seravalli about Mason's workload despite the nagging injuries.
- Jsaquella

His insistence that the knee and back injuries are related and due to overuse, despite them happening weeks apart and Mason playing less than several other NHL starters, shows Seravalli is a poop-stirrer, not a journalist.

Throw in some wild speculation about groin muscles being ripped from the bone and you have an article worthy of scorn.