I think if Lappy wasn't so beloved as a player he'd be number one in everyone's cross hairs. It sucks Kimmo's gone but you have to adjust and he hasn't gotten the PK units to do that.
- hereticpride

Agreed. The PK is laughably bad with no signs of improvement. If anything it's getting worse. I know Lappy was a warrior and gave everything on the ice, but that doesn't mean he's a good coach. I would think at the end of the season the entire staff is going to be gone.

Agreed. The PK is laughably bad with no signs of improvement. If anything it's getting worse. I know Lappy was a warrior and gave everything on the ice, but that doesn't mean he's a good coach. I would think at the end of the season the entire staff is going to be gone.
- PLindbergh31

I'm calling it: 2 SHG for the Flyers tonight (Raffl and Couturier) and they go 7/8 on the PK (lone GA is on a 9-minute 5-on-3).

Yes, but you can't look at it based on what the pick got. You have to look at it based on perceibed value at the time of the trade. The Isles were coming off a hard-fought series against the Pens, and felt that a little more offensive upside could right their ship. They were wrong, but it's not like the gave the Sabres a guaranteed top-5 pick at the time.

Burke didn't trade Seguin. He traded a pick that ended up being used by Boston to draft Seguin. If they'd drafted Erik Gudbrandson second or had the 3rd pick instead, you'd view it in a different light.
- jmatchett383

I am not disagree with you, I am just saying most fans would have viewed it as a disaster and a fireable offense. My issue is the value and timing. Vanek was going to be a UFA with heavy rumors he was headed to Minnesota and the islanders were not guaranteed to make the playoffs at the time in the season. Way too big a risk but I commend Snow for at least trying in a league where the majority of GMs are scared to.

I think if Lappy wasn't so beloved as a player he'd be number one in everyone's cross hairs. It sucks Kimmo's gone but you have to adjust and he hasn't gotten the PK units to do that.
- hereticpride

Just because you can play, does not mean you can coach.
See Esposito, Phil or Gretzky, Wayne

Sounds like JvR ca. 2011.
- jmatchett383

JVR showed some glimpses of being a dominant player which IMO haven't seen from B. Schenn.

Without question, in my mind -- it has cost them wins and points all season
- AllInForFlyers

Take a peek at the difference in SH SV%'s of the goalies... first number is 2013-14, second is this season so far:

Mason: .899, .839
Emery: .854, .765

I'm calling it: 2 SHG for the Flyers tonight (Raffl and Couturier) and they go 7/8 on the PK (lone GA is on a 9-minute 5-on-3).
- jmatchett383

you need rehab

I am not disagree with you, I am just saying most fans would have viewed it as a disaster and a fireable offense. My issue is the value and timing. Vanek was going to be a UFA with heavy rumors he was headed to Minnesota and the islanders were not guaranteed to make the playoffs at the time in the season. Way too big a risk but I commend Snow for at least trying in a league where the majority of GMs are scared to.
- psuhockey

It wasn't going to be a good trade in the long-run even if the Islanders made the playoffs last year and this year. The fact that they were so bad last year makes it even worse, but it's more because they gave up valuable picks, not because of what Buffalo did with them...but that's hindsight.

Yup.

With that said, tho... Brayden's having a pretty good season, all things considered. He's generating a lot of scoring chances and he's been solidly + in the territorial game -- you have to believe that will lead to more and more offense as he and his line find the net more.

If he had Coots were given just a fraction of the OZ-starts that have been reserved for that 4th-line that can't be trusted within 2 time zones of their own net, I think they'd both be scoring at a marginally better clip right now.
- Tomahawk

He's having too many prolonged scoring slumps, and he's played with some pretty good players. He stops going to the net and getting to the dangerous areas of the ice, and becomes a perimeter player. That's the issue with the entire team. When you play with Giroux and Voracek, all you have to do is go the net, because the puck is going to get there. That's what Raffl does when playing on the top line and why he is effective.

Sounds like JvR ca. 2011.
- jmatchett383

Absolutely -- in my head, I always thought JVR had hockey sense but was just a kid playing a man's game. He just didn't take it as seriously as some, but i always kinda felt that if/when he did, he was gonna be heard from.

Schenn...man, I don't know. I truly don't know

JVR showed some glimpses of being a dominant player which IMO haven't seen from B. Schenn.
- psuhockey

Agreed, Playoffs against BOS. He was huge.

Take a peek at the difference in SH SV%'s of the goalies... first number is 2013-14, second is this season so far:

Mason: .899, .839
Emery: .854, .765
- Tomahawk

Can't put it all on the goalies. Save % can be very misleading as it doesn't take into consideration the quality of shots. The Flyers have been horrible at picking off cross ice passes and clearing the front of the net. And, even when they get the puck, they've done a piss poor job of clearing it out of the zone.

I don't care who the goalie is, their PK has been atrocious.

JVR showed some glimpses of being a dominant player which IMO haven't seen from B. Schenn.
- psuhockey

Correct.

Agreed, Playoffs against BOS. He was huge.
- coffee junkie

I'd argue that B. Schenn was our second-best player in the 11/12 playoffs.

Take a peek at the difference in SH SV%'s of the goalies... first number is 2013-14, second is this season so far:

Mason: .899, .839
Emery: .854, .765
- Tomahawk

Flyers need a goalie.

you need rehab
- BiggE

I'll bet you 20 yen that it happens.

Absolutely -- in my head, I always thought JVR had hockey sense but was just a kid playing a man's game. He just didn't take it as seriously as some, but i always kinda felt that if/when he did, he was gonna be heard from.

Schenn...man, I don't know. I truly don't know
- AllInForFlyers

I think Schenn is going to be fine, his ceiling just isn't as high as JVRs. Great 2nd liner with potential at 1st. JVR was a number 2 overall pick for a reason. He had injury problem prior that delayed his development and te team played well without him for a stretch. GM got nervous and team had a huge need. This all equaled the perfect storm. Obviously just my opinion.

Can't put it all on the goalies.
- BiggE

Sorry if it came across that way, just meant to offer it as one factor.

Emery was bad last season SH... he's been much much worse this season. It's mind boggling.

Sorry if it came across that way, just meant to offer it as one factor.

Emery was bad last season SH... he's been much much worse this season. It's mind boggling.
- Tomahawk

How about Zepperino?

I'll bet you 20 yen that it happens.
- jmatchett383

Take a peek at the difference in SH SV%'s of the goalies... first number is 2013-14, second is this season so far:

Mason: .899, .839
Emery: .854, .765
- Tomahawk

Patty Roy in his prime couldn't stop the chances those boys give up, though -- and I am one who absolutely cuts slack for PKers, because by definition, you are at a disadvantage

That's how laughable they've been on the PK -- I can't find a single thing to excuse it, at all, because even without Timonen, you could just be bad, not ridiculous

Sorry if it came across that way, just meant to offer it as one factor.

Emery was bad last season SH... he's been much much worse this season. It's mind boggling.
- Tomahawk

Emery just physically can't cut it anymore, it's obvious. I wouldn't be surprised if he retires after this season, I can't see anyone offering him a contract.

Mason, OTOH, is doing what he can, but the play in front of him is just awful and he rarely gets any goal support.

I'd argue that B. Schenn was our second-best player in the 11/12 playoffs.
- jmatchett383

11/12? Huh. He was definitely noticeable in that run

11/12? Huh. He was definitely noticeable in that run
- AllInForFlyers

He was playing an extremely physical role, had 9 points in 11 games, and was one of the few players who showed up in the NJ series.

It was 11 games, which was the same sample size for JvR in 10/11 (Boston series).

I'd like to see him with different linemates for the rest of the season. I mean, what the hell, they're going nowhere this year so who cares if they have a "shutdown" line. Go with:

Raffl-G-Jake
Schenn-Coots-Simmonds
Umberger-Laughton-Read
VDV-Bellemare-Vinny
- BiggE

Yes. I would love these lines