i know you've loved it since we were kids. but i don't know why. it reminds of intramural floor hockey at wayside school with those horrible candy cane plastic sticks and giant nets.
- hammarby31

i love it for one sole reason. and i will defend it until the day i die. And that reason is that it's in that Of Sport and Man: Hockey movie.

edit: and who wouldn't want to be reminded of Mr. Mathews?

i love it for one sole reason. and i will defend it until the day i die. And that reason is that it's in that Of Sport and Man: Hockey movie.

edit: and who wouldn't want to be reminded of Mr. Mathews?
- wilsonecho91

i thought that might be why. wasn't sure.

i almost mentioned him in the original post. i can still hear the change jingling in his polyester gym pants pockets. or was that his keys?

i thought that might be why. wasn't sure.

i almost mentioned him in the original post. i can still hear the change jingling in his polyester gym pants pockets. or was that his keys?
- hammarby31

it was coins. to buy cigarettes from the vending machine located in the gym. this was the 1980s you know.

I think it is going to come down to keeping Vandevelde and White. I prefer White because I think he brings some intangibles to the team that Vandevelde doesn't. I like the swagger he brings. Not sure if it is swagger but just seems to bring an attitude that can be infectious.
- J35Bacher

We'll see, Vandevelde has developed into a pretty good penalty killer. Totally agree about the attitude.

new blog

We'll see, Vandevelde has developed into a pretty good penalty killer. Totally agree about the attitude.
- MJL

I like what Vandevelde has done too. I just think they might have to pick between one of them moving forward for the 4th line. I actually think a 4th line with Bellemare - Cousins - White has intrigue. All three aren't afraid to get greasy and they could provide some offense too. I think Raffl or White could take some of the PK time. Also if Laughton makes it he could as well.

it was coins. to buy cigarettes from the vending machine located in the gym. this was the 1980s you know.
- wilsonecho91

he smoked a pipe. in his office. i swear to god he did.

Anyone else think Rinaldo has changed his game for the better since the suspension? Maybe because he knows that another hit like the one on Letang (which actually wasn't that bad or violent) will be a 10+ game suspension he's concentrating on playing the puck instead of making big hits.

We'll see, Vandevelde has developed into a pretty good penalty killer. Totally agree about the attitude.
- MJL

Umberger can probably replace VandeVelde on the 4th line next season, so I think they'll let VdV go.

There are some valid points, but I don't think they need to blow things up that much.

What bothers me is Marcus Hayes has always crushed Hinkie for blowing things up but now he's advocating the Flyers do the same thing.

I hate him. Such a banana eater

Lol. That last statement sounds racist with the filter
- PhillySportsGuy

There are some valid points, but I don't think they need to blow things up that much.

What bothers me is Marcus Hayes has always crushed Hinkie for blowing things up but now he's advocating the Flyers do the same thing.

I hate him. Such a banana eater

Lol. That last statement sounds racist with the filter
- PhillySportsGuy

my one issue with the guys response to the hayes comments, is when he implies that giroux isnt as good right now because he needs a top line winger.

granted, i think giroux has had a decent enough year all things considered. but what in the (frank) does that make voracek? did he forget about him? i mean hes only the other 50 percent of the article.

my one issue with the guys response to the hayes comments, is when he implies that giroux isnt as good right now because he needs a top line winger.

granted, i think giroux has had a decent enough year all things considered. but what in the (frank) does that make voracek? did he forget about him? i mean hes only the other 50 percent of the article.
- stayinthefnnet

Marcus Hates is literally the worst writer in the city. He's pretty much wrong about everything

Fill in the #2 center spot and we're set up the middle for years.
- 77rams

For the most part, I agree with MJL when he says we need a playmaker outside of the top line. I feel like there is a huge gaping hole at second line center. Some believe Couturier can handle it but only time will tell. I think we're thin at LW. I think we could use a pure shooter/sniper. I think we should get bigger and tougher. On the back end we need a number one defenseman and the rest will short itself out. We're still a decent team but right now we're the most unbalanced I've ever seen.

Anyone else think Rinaldo has changed his game for the better since the suspension? Maybe because he knows that another hit like the one on Letang (which actually wasn't that bad or violent) will be a 10+ game suspension he's concentrating on playing the puck instead of making big hits.
- Feanor

He's played well, and he's shown that the idea that he's not an NHL player, and has no ability, is simply not true. He needs to do it for a much larger period of time, though, to prove himself at this point.

Umberger can probably replace VandeVelde on the 4th line next season, so I think they'll let VdV go.
- Feanor

Have to see how it plays out. Depends on what happens in the off season.

So will Hanifin be the biggest drop in the draft?

1) Silly coach not figuring out how to maximize his roster. Splitting 28 & 93 would give 1 of them relief from opposing D & checking lines when on the road.
2) Playing Raffl on top line every time he was in the lineup over B. Schenn would've been smart.
3) Not trotting out a useless Umberger on PP & putting Raffl there would've been better.
4) Not poopcanning MDZ to the press box in December would been smart.
5) Not forcing the goalie to play while not 100% would've been smarter.
6) Of course, having Hartnell over Umberger would've helped too.
7) Playing Rinaldo less minutes than his skilled players would've been smart.
8) Trying B. Schenn at RW a lot sooner would've been smart. Smart coaches figure this stuff out sooner, like Neilson with playing Gagne at LW.
9) Playing Couturier less tough minutes would've been better, but it was made difficult because Hexy let Adam Hall walk. However, Laughton could've taken that slot until White was healthy.
10) Using Jason Akeson where he succeeded with Couts & making Read sit out his injury would've been better; that's a coach, GM, & player combo error.

I'm not even going to go into injuries because they happen. A better coach would've had this team in the playoffs and they have a goalie that can steal games. Of course, he probably would've been Megna'd again in 1 of the 2 April Pittsburgh games without penalty.
- Flyskippy

The only place I disagree is 1)
when he split them they both struggled mightily and likely cost Jake the scoring title.

So will Hanifin be the biggest drop in the draft?
- mayorofangrytown

Depends on where you rank Crouse I guess. Hanifin in all likelihood won't drop past 6. Crouse could go as late as 12th.

The only place I disagree is 1)
when he split them they both struggled mightily and likely cost Jake the scoring title.
- bodiva88

It's a fair point and a scoring title would be a nice consolation prize (aside from a good draft pick, of course). It just seemed that as the new lines were getting used to one another -- BAM! Change back because Berube is a results-based and not a process-based coach. I cannot wait for his firing.

It's a fair point and a scoring title would be a nice consolation prize (aside from a good draft pick, of course). It just seemed that as the new lines were getting used to one another -- BAM! Change back because Berube is a results-based and not a process-based coach. I cannot wait for his firing.
- Flyskippy

Leaving lines together doesn't mean that they will eventually gel. Every coach is results based. It's a results based job. The lines were changed because they weren't working. It's unfair to criticize and blame Berube because he couldn't find a way to get a mismatched roster, and bad mix of players, to work out. He experimented and changed lines all season long in an effort to put a balanced lineup out on the ice. Sometimes it's a player issue, and not a coaching issue.