Prefer:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Gagner-Voracek
Raffl-Laughton-Umberger
Lecavalier-White-VDV

Split up the struggling stars
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

My lines are better.

The general problem with this team really isn't the defense. Take away the Florida game, and they're top 10 in goals against. The issue with our Defensemen is more around puck movement and contributing In the offensive zone. Couturier isn't going to change that.

The general problem with this team continues to be the lack of offense, and IMO it's still related to the mix of forwards. I'm still not sure that Couturier is the playmaker that will change the team's fortunes drastically. He is a big step up from Gagner at Center, but the net effect is really just moving RJ to the 4th Line and Vinnie to his office in the press box.

Is that really going to make a significant difference?
- TheGreat28

They should be able to move the puck fine. Medvedev, MDZ & Streit are all better than average guys at making outlet passes and have good pick skills. Schenn and Schultz are not bad at making outlets. The last couple games have shown a lot of sloppiness in their own end. What really hurt last night was the sloppiness combined with poor coverage.

They do need more skill up front, but I still think the biggest need is more on defense. They need a couple guys who are plug, play & forget.

Heard Timmy P on the NHL Network on SiriusXM. He had a lot to say about Jacob Voracek. Also, he said there's no way he expects a win tonight. Hopefully they get some reverse jinx magic out of it.

I have to really question the on ice leadership of this group. I think Giroux is ok as captain, but I see a real lack of leadership elsewhere, especially on D. The loss of Pronger and now Timonen has never been replaced. Sure, Mark Streit seems like a class guy, as does Nick Schultz, but I'm not sure you really get the kind of leadership you need from a pp specialist and a journeyman. Also, I'd like to see more from the forwards. Jake is obviously pressing, and when you own game is struggling, it's hard to worry about others. Simmonds is basically in the same boat.

As much as they miss the leadership of Pronger and Timonen, they could also use a guy or 2 like Lappy, Danny Briere or Hartnell up front. All in all, a lot of leadership has been lost over the past few seasons and it has not been replaced.
- BiggE

It's a possible factor. There's no good explanation as to why a team that outskated the Rangers couldn't outplay the Sabres & Devils in back to back games.

Flyers are 4-1-1 with Gudas and 0-2-1 without Gudas.

Prefer:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Gagner-Voracek
Raffl-Laughton-Umberger
Lecavalier-White-VDV

Split up the struggling stars
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Interesting.

How about this:

24-28-17
89-10-93
12-21-20
Tim Brent-25-76

Lecavalier showed last night that he's not a fit. Call up a Phantom(which they're going to do for the road trip anyhow) and play him.

Hopefully it will be a learning experience, but I'd like to no how many times does this team need to learn the same lesson? When you're the home team, the road team normally is the team that has to weather the storm from the opening puck drop. They can come out skating and play solid games against Chicago and the Rangers, but can't against Buffalo and the Devils? That's not about talent because talent doesn't change from game to game. It's about leadership if you ask me. Leadership is not just about Giroux, although I don't think he's been very good lately, it's about all the veteran top players on the team. They haven't been very good lately either.
- MJL

I disagree, I think it is a sign of talent. The Flyers can compete against the Blackhawks and Rangers only when they play at 100% effort but that is not sustainable for a 82 game season. You have to be able to win on talent alone but you see what happens when they try that against bad teams; they lose. And the sad reality is the Rangers and Blackhawks look upon the Flyers much like the Flyers look up in the Sabres and don't give 100% effort. So it is deceiving when the Flyers beat a good team. If the Blackhawks actually played the way they do against the top teams in the league, the Flyers would get smoked.

I disagree, I think it is a sign of talent. The Flyers can compete against the Blackhawks and Rangers only when they play at 100% effort but that is not sustainable for a 82 game season. You have to be able to win on talent alone but you see what happens when they try that against bad teams; they lose. And the sad reality is the Rangers and Blackhawks look upon the Flyers much like the Flyers look up in the Sabres and don't give 100% effort. So it is deceiving when the Flyers beat a good team. If the Blackhawks actually played the way they do against the top teams in the league, the Flyers would get smoked.
- psuhockey

Sadly, this is a possibility as well.

It's the team we all thought we had all of last year. Except now add that Voracek hasn't found twine,Mason struggling, and our special teams are atrocious.

It wasn't mentioned in last night's thread that this team needs a shakeup. I agree. Same garbage with Berube as with Hakstol. It is more evident to me it's a roster issue more than coaching. And I'm the furthest thing from a Berube appologist

I didn't get to watch much of the game, but did tune in for the third for about 5 minutes before I turned it off in frustration. The 3rd goal in particular was a disaster. It was 4 players just running around frantically like a Chinese fire drill and it was inevitable that they were going to let one up.

Feel bad for Mason, he kept them in the game and deserved a much better fate.

Just a quick question for the anti-tankers: what fan base is more excited this year, Buffalo's or the Flyer's?

It would be interested to track ratings and attendance between the two teams.

Just a quick question for the anti-tankers: what fan base is more excited this year, Buffalo's or the Flyer's?

It would be interested to track ratings and attendance between the two teams.
- psuhockey

Jack Eichel........nuff said

Interesting.

How about this:

24-28-17
89-10-93
12-21-20
Tim Brent-25-76

Lecavalier showed last night that he's not a fit. Call up a Phantom(which they're going to do for the road trip anyhow) and play him.
- Jsaquella

I actually like those combinations. I think the 2nd line could be as strong as the 1st, maybe stronger. That's the only knock though...how much of a drop off on line 1.

Interesting.

How about this:

24-28-17
89-10-93
12-21-20
Tim Brent-25-76

Lecavalier showed last night that he's not a fit. Call up a Phantom(which they're going to do for the road trip anyhow) and play him.
- Jsaquella

This intrigues me and I'd certainly give it a shot to see how it looks.

I actually like those combinations. I think the 2nd line could be as strong as the 1st, maybe stronger. That's the only knock though...how much of a drop off on line 1.
- TheGreat28

That's why I went with Read over Raffl. Raffl is pressing really noticeably, and Read's been very comfortable looking. Just figured an all over new look would benefit both

Interesting.

How about this:

24-28-17
89-10-93
12-21-20
Tim Brent-25-76

Lecavalier showed last night that he's not a fit. Call up a Phantom(which they're going to do for the road trip anyhow) and play him.
- Jsaquella

All for trying this

Just a quick question for the anti-tankers: what fan base is more excited this year, Buffalo's or the Flyer's?

It would be interested to track ratings and attendance between the two teams.
- psuhockey

Buffalo fo sho yo

Just a quick question for the anti-tankers: what fan base is more excited this year, Buffalo's or the Flyer's?

It would be interested to track ratings and attendance between the two teams.
- psuhockey

what exactly is there to be excited about this year?

what exactly is there to be excited about this year?
- rinaldo

DON'T YOU KNOW?!?! FLYERS ARE GOING TO SUCK IT BIG TIME THIS YEAR AND THEN ALL THE CHITLINS' ARE A COMIN UP!!

I disagree, I think it is a sign of talent. The Flyers can compete against the Blackhawks and Rangers only when they play at 100% effort but that is not sustainable for a 82 game season. You have to be able to win on talent alone but you see what happens when they try that against bad teams; they lose. And the sad reality is the Rangers and Blackhawks look upon the Flyers much like the Flyers look up in the Sabres and don't give 100% effort. So it is deceiving when the Flyers beat a good team. If the Blackhawks actually played the way they do against the top teams in the league, the Flyers would get smoked.
- psuhockey

I was going to post almost the same thing verbatim. Some days you just don't have it. That extra level of skill can sometimes get you those three or four plays a game that turn into a couple of goals and a victory. Even Schenn, who I've been more supported of than many, has a little skill but relies on hard work to generate his offense more than anything. They just have too many players that fall in that boat.

That's why I went with Read over Raffl. Raffl is pressing really noticeably, and Read's been very comfortable looking. Just figured an all over new look would benefit both
- Jsaquella

Phone it in to Hak. I can stop by Boruks house to ask him to pass it on for you. Oh wait, you dissed his suit so I doubt he'll do it

The thing that bothered me the most last night was the same thing that has bothered me going on 4 years.

After the Devils tied the game, I am hard pressed to remember a moment where the Flyers won a race to a loose puck.....and most of the time they weren't even in the same zip code.....or won a puck battle where the outcome was in doubt...which wasn't often.


They only began winning races and battles after they pulled the goalie, and even then it was mostly because they were going 6 on 5.

But you could see they cranked up the effort level for that final 2 minutes. Where was that effort for the previous 35 minutes?

Maybe it is lack of talent, but I think they DO have talent on this team. This team is sorely lacking in leadership.
- MBFlyerfan

They lack a lot.
First off leadership. Over the last few years they've lost Pronger, Lappy, Briere, Hartnell and Timonen. Those guys have not been replaced both on the ice and in the room.

They also lack skill and speed on D which helps kick start the offense.

They lack size and strength up front and on D which hurts them in puck retrieval and in winning battles both along the wall and in front of the net.

They lack speed and skill up front and have no pure shooters anywhere in the lineup.

I do like the prospect pool and I'm really hoping they can land a pure goal scorer with their first pick in 2016, but either way, it's gonna be at least a couple of years before this team is a contender.

DON'T YOU KNOW?!?! FLYERS ARE GOING TO SUCK IT BIG TIME THIS YEAR AND THEN ALL THE CHITLINS' ARE A COMIN UP!!
- Streit2ThePoint

not sure how many people can really expect them to be much better if at all from last years team.

Well as far as players coming up, that I don't think will happen this year. maybe one here or there though not permanent. in the future yeah a little to get excited about with the kids on D though not all will pan put.

Interesting.

How about this:

24-28-17
89-10-93
12-21-20
Tim Brent-25-76

Lecavalier showed last night that he's not a fit. Call up a Phantom(which they're going to do for the road trip anyhow) and play him.
- Jsaquella

I'd be fine with that. I'd also be fine at giving Leier a look. He's been playing very well and he brings some more speed to the lineup.

I'd be fine with that. I'd also be fine at giving Leier a look. He's been playing very well and he brings some more speed to the lineup.
- BiggE

I'm ok with it, but here's the thing. Is he really exponentially better than anyone he'd be replacing? Who are you taking out of the top 9 to add Leier in?