At least one, possibly two -- guys like Wheels, Umberger and Rinaldo are gonna have to be replaced by guys who can actually play with pace

I doubt VDV will be around, either, when they are ready to contend. So that's at least four forwards that have to be replaced
- AllInForFlyers

thoughts on what to do with jake, assuming he has a 75 point year next year?

look i dont enjoy ripping them but moves like vinny and rinaldo... seriously is it post concussion syndrome or just straight alcohol abuse? dafuq already
- JoeRussomanno

You did call Vinny on Day 1 -- I won't even lie: I never imagined it could be this bad, this quickly

I honestly thought they'd get a 50-point season out of him, maybe two if they were lucky, before the wheels came off

thoughts on what to do with jake, assuming he has a 75 point year next year?
- stayinthefnnet

You almost have to do a 7x7 and hope you're ready to rock by year two of that, so you have a window of 3-5 years to win it all

thoughts on what to do with jake, assuming he has a 75 point year next year?
- stayinthefnnet

They have to sign him IMO. They don't have anyone in their system that projects to a first line winger

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Saturday's cover

You did call Vinny on Day 1 -- I won't even lie: I never imagined it could be this bad, this quickly

I honestly thought they'd get a 50-point season out of him, maybe two if they were lucky, before the wheels came off
- AllInForFlyers

Don't give him too much credit. He said Streit would be terrible too.

At least one, possibly two -- guys like Wheels, Umberger and Rinaldo are gonna have to be replaced by guys who can actually play with pace

I doubt VDV will be around, either, when they are ready to contend. So that's at least four forwards that have to be replaced
- AllInForFlyers

I dont think VDV gets resigned. When they resign White, guys like Laughton and Leier ready....they've really cornered the market on bottom 6 forwards, not to mention bottom 3 D

You did call Vinny on Day 1 -- I won't even lie: I never imagined it could be this bad, this quickly

I honestly thought they'd get a 50-point season out of him, maybe two if they were lucky, before the wheels came off
- AllInForFlyers

i didnt think bryzgalov would be a disaster either... but after that these guys lost a lot of my confidence.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Saturday's cover


- ob18

Love when the media just blames the best players for a teams problems. It's almost always the supporting cast thats really dragging down a team.

Don't give him too much credit. He said Streit would be terrible too.
- PhillySportsGuy

Ha! Fair enough -- we're all right and wrong, depending on the day

Love when the media just blames the best players for a teams problems. It's almost always the supporting cast thats really dragging down a team.
- PhillySportsGuy

honestly i cant stand crosby and hate malkin but i would take malkin

Don't give him too much credit. He said Streit would be terrible too.
- PhillySportsGuy

streit has been great?

I dont think VDV gets resigned. When they resign White, guys like Laughton and Leier ready....they've really cornered the market on bottom 6 forwards, not to mention bottom 3 D
- Just5

We should re-sign him. I mean we got a third for Mcginn, so we should be able to get something for him if we end up not needing him

I dont think VDV gets resigned. When they resign White, guys like Laughton and Leier ready....they've really cornered the market on bottom 6 forwards, not to mention bottom 3 D
- Just5

It would be nice if Laughton could come in and be a real player in the bottom 6 -- I know he was a first-rounder and some might expect more from him, but when guys like Dave Bolland are in the right roles, lower in the lineup, those guys win games and series

streit has been great?
- JoeRussomanno

Ha! Be fair -- over the last two seasons, the only players who have flat-out earned every penny of their money are Giroux, Voracek, Streit and Mason

Every other guy, even Simmonds and Couturier, could have been doing more to help this team win consistently

honestly i cant stand crosby and hate malkin but i would take malkin
- JoeRussomanno

They're both really good. They're playing with a terrible defense and awful bottom 6. They can only do so much

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Saturday's cover


- ob18

hmm. we can check in a couple of spots.

glued to the bench after yet another undisciplined penalty by a player otherwise contributing nothing?

making a nice centering feed to someone who will undoubtedly let it go through them?

waiting for painfully slow complimentary wingers follow them into the zone?

waiting for an outlet pass that will never come?

rob scuderi.

streit has been great?
- JoeRussomanno

He's been good not great. He's given them two solid years and could easily be moved without any salary retention.

I was apprehensive about signing him too. I was hoping for a better all around player than just an offensive guy. He's been better than I thought he would be though.

I would still think about dealing him this offseason though.

Ha! Be fair -- over the last two seasons, the only players who have flat-out earned every penny of their money are Giroux, Voracek, Streit and Mason

Every other guy, even Simmonds and Couturier, could have been doing more to help this team win consistently
- AllInForFlyers

actually he's been good but the last couple years of that deal are gonna sting... i sense a huge drop off coming.

They're both really good. They're playing with a terrible defense and awful bottom 6. They can only do so much
- PhillySportsGuy

i just hate crosby... it doesnt help he's the biggest crubaby of all sports... the lebron of hockey if you will

He's been good not great. He's given them two solid years and could easily be moved without any salary retention.

I was apprehensive about signing him too. I was hoping for a better all around player than just an offensive guy. He's been better than I thought he would be though.

I would still think about dealing him this offseason though.
- PhillySportsGuy

What a tough call for Hextall -- Streit has done nothing to deserve to be dealt, but this team isn't going to be ready next year and while I do value veteran presence, you probably shouldn't be eating a 5.25 cap hit on a player who is the age he is and not winning

I don't know what I'd do, tbh

i just hate crosby... it doesnt help he's the biggest crubaby of all sports... the lebron of hockey if you will
- JoeRussomanno

Id say Lebron is more narcissist than crybaby

It would be nice if Laughton could come in and be a real player in the bottom 6 -- I know he was a first-rounder and some might expect more from him, but when guys like Dave Bolland are in the right roles, lower in the lineup, those guys win games and series
- AllInForFlyers

i think he will. i think the flyers are going to have a really good and effective bottom 6.

they just need to figure out that second line. it all gets back to coots and schenn.

does schenn stay? if he does, where is he playing. Is coots the 2nd line center, with alleviated matchup duties, or does he just slot into that third line, lock down guy.

once you answer those questions, then you know what you need to target.

It would be nice if Laughton could come in and be a real player in the bottom 6 -- I know he was a first-rounder and some might expect more from him, but when guys like Dave Bolland are in the right roles, lower in the lineup, those guys win games and series
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah I don't think slotting him in the 2nd line right away this year was such a good idea...being expected to produce with a guy like Simmonds. His style as a young player is perfectly suited for a 4th line roll, just like Richards was eased in as.

The one thing that worries me with Mclellan. He's not a guy that rolls 4 lines typically. That's something that Berube couldn't be faulted for. He really did a pretty good job rolling the lines.

Id say Lebron is more narcissist than crybaby
- PhillySportsGuy

just another word for acting less than a man