Things that aren't the problem with the Flyer right now:

1.) The fourth line.

Things that are the problem:

1.) Slow, terrible blue line
2.) Underperforming forwards.

This Flyers team lacks talent to the point where blaming their woes on the constitution of their 4th line is like looking at a brutal car accident and noticing the air freshener in one of the cars was bent.
- johndewar

Oh yea, the sloppy joes aren't contained to the 4th line. Hard to contain Sloppy joes

wut a poop shoot, I'm still pissed no one stood up for laughton when that sissy a$$ concussed him, they should drug him with the meat wagon

wut a poop shoot, I'm still pissed no one stood up for laughton when that sissy a$$ concussed him, they should drug him with the meat wagon
- mydoglicks

Z3 cant get drafted soon enough

Hey: Thanks for that link you posted with the script blocker -- that thing is golden
- AllInForFlyers

np

wut a poop shoot, I'm still pissed no one stood up for laughton when that sissy a$$ concussed him, they should drug him with the meat wagon
- mydoglicks

when teammates don't stand up for each other you know something is wrong

when teammates don't stand up for each other you know something is wrong
- 2Real

This lockeroom is a shell without Timonen and Hartnell. It is what it is with the injury and the trade but there doesn't seem to be any character on this team.

love Martin and Clutterbuck. What a 4th line. Unbelievable the slop we put out. Every game is like the lunch lady serving up more sloppy joes
- Just5

I like czikas

clutterbuck and martin do not like (they are effective but still schmoes)

Thinking your connection but basically it shows the sequence where the Flyers got rocked by multiple hits with MDZ being the only one that initiated.

Yay cup of oatmeal team.
- opeth_pa

Hey, that is hardly fair!

Oatmeal sticks to your ribs.

This lockeroom is a shell without Timonen and Hartnell. It is what it is with the injury and the trade but there doesn't seem to be any character on this team.
- mayorofangrytown

Is Hexy going to fix this?

I don't expect miracles like getting a top D man, but it seems there are some smaller moves he can make. Maybe it will take a year or two, but they seem small, overall slow, and with the exception of 2-3 players not good at scoring goals.

wut a poop shoot, I'm still pissed no one stood up for laughton when that sissy a$$ concussed him, they should drug him with the meat wagon
- mydoglicks

I still believe the Flyers did the smart thing by not reacting until after the whistle. Nobody had a better look at it then Wayne Simmonds and we all know he's not scared of much. It was a 1-0 game for Washington at the time of the hit, Simmonds taking himself off would be stupid. The bench later challenged Niskanen.

I'm more concerned with how the Flyers played against Boston and after the game feel they played well. This team lives and dies by the PP, I believe they had 6 chances that game but gave up more chances then gave themselves to win on the advantage. It also bothers me that we blame one guy for a loss, which on that day was Emery. Mason gets hurt earlier that week, when he just returned from injury a couple weeks prior but Berube keeps going back to him. The team has a series of issues, I'm not sure how you can watch one game and blame Emery just to use one example.

Our season as a whole is comparable to the Packers loss in one game yesterday. You wanna blame one guy but it's just a series of mistakes by a bunch of people. Matt Read who is beloved here, has been confirmed to have an injury but that Shorthanded goal today that was directly his fault has nothing to do with him being hurt. He's just playing dumb right now.

Is Hexy going to fix this?

I don't expect miracles like getting a top D man, but it seems there are some smaller moves he can make. Maybe it will take a year or two, but they seem small, overall slow, and with the exception of 2-3 players not good at scoring goals.
- Marc D

It will take time to fix the mess that you saw today it won't be overnight and probably will take a few years to see the changes take place.

grossman rumored to leave and never come back

Is Hexy going to fix this?

I don't expect miracles like getting a top D man, but it seems there are some smaller moves he can make. Maybe it will take a year or two, but they seem small, overall slow, and with the exception of 2-3 players not good at scoring goals.
- Marc D

I hope no one thinks that's going to happen with our draft picks because they're undersized for the most part but they look like they've drafted some speed.

What can you do to turn this around? In the short term I'm not sure but it can't be the out and out band aids they applied in the past off season.

There needs to be real job openings in the fall of this year and not the lip service they gave last season.

Is Hexy going to fix this?

I don't expect miracles like getting a top D man, but it seems there are some smaller moves he can make. Maybe it will take a year or two, but they seem small, overall slow, and with the exception of 2-3 players not good at scoring goals.
- Marc D

I really do believe they have to get bigger and more physical in the bottom six, preferably faster, too

I don't believe in hitting just to hit. You can have Rinaldo do that.

The Flyers need to get bigger and a little faster so they can be better on the boards, in puck possession, and on the forecheck. Not just so they can "be physical."

I don't care that they don't fight. I care that they can't knock anybody off a puck and can't keep themselves from getting knocked off it

I hope no one thinks that's going to happen with our draft picks because they're undersized for the most part but they look like they've drafted some speed.

What can you do to turn this around? In the short term I'm not sure but it can't be the out and out band aids they applied in the past off season.

There needs to be real job openings in the fall of this year and not the lip service they gave last season.
- mayorofangrytown

Small and fast is OK, small, fast and can handle the puck is even better.

I think a game like today really makes me appreciate what Mase has done so far with this team playing in front of him.

Small and fast is OK, small, fast and can handle the puck is even better.

I think a game like today really makes me appreciate what Mase has done so far with this team playing in front of him.
- Marc D

This injury thing with him isn't a great trend. I'm not going to say he's injury prone but something's going on. He's been wonky for the better part of a calendar year.

I hope no one thinks that's going to happen with our draft picks because they're undersized for the most part but they look like they've drafted some speed.

What can you do to turn this around? In the short term I'm not sure but it can't be the out and out band aids they applied in the past off season.

There needs to be real job openings in the fall of this year and not the lip service they gave last season.
- mayorofangrytown

It's tough to be a player in free agency with being tight to the cap, but I do want to see some significant upgrades even if it is just improving the role player types, bottom six and PKers.

I hope no one thinks that's going to happen with our draft picks because they're undersized for the most part but they look like they've drafted some speed.

What can you do to turn this around? In the short term I'm not sure but it can't be the out and out band aids they applied in the past off season.

There needs to be real job openings in the fall of this year and not the lip service they gave last season.
- mayorofangrytown

Well, let's be honest: They gotta address Umberger and Lecavalier's roster spots, and ask themselves if Matt Read is a third-line forward for a championship-caliber club.

Vinny and Umberger have been discussed enough, but yeah. The Flyers need different kinds of players at 3RW and 4RW to help stabilize the forward groups. It's fine that each has played a little better of late, but they just aren't what is needed in those slots.

They need to get a PKer/defensive forward in Vinny's roster slot, and a faster, more physical player who is good on the boards in Umberger's

JMO

I really do believe they have to get bigger and more physical in the bottom six, preferably faster, too

I don't believe in hitting just to hit. You can have Rinaldo do that.

The Flyers need to get bigger and a little faster so they can be better on the boards, in puck possession, and on the forecheck. Not just so they can "be physical."

I don't care that they don't fight. I care that they can't knock anybody off a puck and can't keep themselves from getting knocked off it
- AllInForFlyers

You have no idea how quickly I'd pull the trigger on a guy like Chris Stewart. His numbers do not look very good but he's never played on really good offensive teams, or really good teams period. I think our second PP unit could use him around the net and I feel we get tougher with him in the line up.

This injury thing with him isn't a great trend. I'm not going to say he's injury prone but something's going on. He's been wonky for the better part of a calendar year.
- mayorofangrytown

His injuries seem minor, I hope this "trend" is wrong because I finally feel good about having a good tender.

You have no idea how quickly I'd pull the trigger on a guy like Chris Stewart. His numbers do not look very good but he's never played on really good offensive teams, or really good teams period. I think our second PP unit could use him around the net and I feel we get tougher with him in the line up.
- SuperSchennBros

Some wouldn't, and I understand that, but I'd do Chris Stewart for Matt Read right this damn minute

Some wouldn't, and I understand that, but I'd do Chris Stewart for Matt Read right this damn minute
- AllInForFlyers

It would be ideal to give up one of Umberger or Vinny but yeah, I'd sacrifice one of Read or Raffl for Stewart.

It would be ideal to give up one of Umberger or Vinny but yeah, I'd sacrifice one of Read or Raffl for Stewart.
- SuperSchennBros

I wish Buffalo would take Umberger for Stewart, but we're just not gonna be that lucky

Well, let's be honest: They gotta address Umberger and Lecavalier's roster spots, and ask themselves if Matt Read is a third-line forward for a championship-caliber club.

Vinny and Umberger have been discussed enough, but yeah. The Flyers need different kinds of players at 3RW and 4RW to help stabilize the forward groups. It's fine that each has played a little better of late, but they just aren't what is needed in those slots.

They need to get a PKer/defensive forward in Vinny's roster slot, and a faster, more physical player who is good on the boards in Umberger's

JMO
- AllInForFlyers

I'd keep Voracek, G, BSchenn (unless they can trade him for a natural LW or top flight D) and Couts in the top six.

Laughton and Simmonds of course, but to me they are ideal as 3rd liners.

Raffl and Bellemare should stay, they are good enough role players who on a championship caliber team would be good 4th liners.

Not sure about Read's future. Maybe he can bounce back, but they need to decide.

Another playmaker on wing, and some size/speed for the bottom six.

Not as hard as filling the top end of the defense.

I'd keep Voracek, G, BSchenn (unless they can trade him for a natural LW or top flight D) and Couts in the top six.

Laughton and Simmonds of course, but to me they are ideal as 3rd liners.

Raffl and Bellemare should stay, they are good enough role players who on a championship caliber team would be good 4th liners.

Not sure about Read's future. Maybe he can bounce back, but they need to decide.

Another playmaker on wing, and some size/speed for the bottom six.

Not as hard as filling the top end of the defense.
- Marc D

It can be done, and I hope it is -- I'm hoping that Hextall realizes that this forward group needs at least two players who are not currently in the organization, maybe three