So almost 60% of their attempts on net were thwarted....
- Tomahawk

Yes, but as we noted with Grossmann, being good at blocking shots is a bad thing, as are body checks. Because numbers. So really, it's a...good thing that the Flames blocked the Flyers' shots???

It is just ugly to watch - bad passes and bad decisions all over the ice.

G's 2 one 1 was probably the worst I have ever seen him execute. Coaches need to show this to young players on exactly what not to do on a 2 on 1.

I expected this type of win/loss record from this team this year. I suspect most Flyer fans did too. I didn't expect how painful was going to be to watch having no offense.

I was afraid the Flyers were fighting above their weight class earlier in the season when they seemed to get off to a decent start. I guess I was right.

He'll be bought out in the summer. There's just no way the Flyers can have him on the team next season.
- Feanor

In my opinion, if Lecavalier doesn't retire or opt out, I absolutely have him on the team next season. The Flyers are not going to be a contender next year. A buyout puts cap penalties on the team for 4 seasons. Lecavalier has long stated that he never wanted the last year of the deal, but the Flyers added it to lower the cap hit. Let him sit, and practice, and be done and clear with the hit after next season. That is the absolute right approach. A buyout of Lecavalier is foolish in my opinion.

The same issues of slow starts and inconsistent efforts has existed now under at least 3 coaches, Laviolette, Berube, and now Hakstol. I know what that says to me. Playing Chris Conner is not the equivalent of Johnny Gaudreau in the lineup.
- MJL

Conner also had a nightmare time just trying to catch up with the team and get on the ice for practice. There's plenty to complain about but I don't think Conner not playing in Edmonton, and the performance of Giroux are issues.

http://highlandparkhockey...aring-for-three-game.html

Chris Conner was called up by the Philadelphia on Sunday and needed to travel across the continent to make it to his destination in Vancouver for Monday night's game. The travel to Western Canada was anything but convenient.

"My first flight I went up and I had to land again because there was something wrong with the motor," Conner recalled. "It had to come back and land in Newark, then that one got cancelled."

After his first flight was cancelled, Conner changed flights and left Newark to Vancouver with a stop in Toronto. Due to the flight delays, he didn't practice with the Flyers on Sunday. He was the 13th forward and a healthy scratch for their games Monday night against Vancouver.

He then flew with the team from Vancouver to Edmonton (1 hour, 25 minutes) and sitting as a healthy scratch Tuesday night, Conner flew with the Flyers from Edmonton to Calgary (45 minutes) on Wednesday before finding out he was being re-assigned back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Seeing 40 and 23 both on the right side of PP2 was bad enough, but when Vinny's pass got by Manning and led to that scoring chance in the 1st, I damn near lost it.

Two struggling guys anchoring the wall. Great idea.
- tangent_man

Yeah, no idea how either got PP time, let alone together. It's a head smasher.

These one goal games arepainful and just blow.
Jake..13 GP.. ZERO goals and 4pts. Sorry my man, you are not doing your job. Have to wonder if he could contribute we would have a couple more wins
Not all his fault but he has not got it done.

Gagner has 10GP and 5pts is a plus player and yet our coach plays Vinny

Conner also had a nightmare time just trying to catch up with the team and get on the ice for practice. There's plenty to complain about but I don't think Conner not playing in Edmonton, and the performance of Giroux are issues.

http://highlandparkhockey...aring-for-three-game.html
- Feanor

That's a lot of work, but I'm assuming Conner's on a 2-way deal, so he probably didn't mind all that much.

Yeah, if you click the link you'll see he says exactly that.

In my opinion, if Lecavalier doesn't retire or opt out, I absolutely have him on the team next season. The Flyers are not going to be a contender next year. A buyout puts cap penalties on the team for 4 seasons. Lecavalier has long stated that he never wanted the last year of the deal, but the Flyers added it to lower the cap hit. Let him sit, and practice, and be done and clear with the hit after next season. That is the absolute right approach. A buyout of Lecavalier is foolish in my opinion.
- MJL

You've seen what happens when Vinny is the 14th forward, and you're really OK with it happening again next season? I don't think Hextall will be.

The Flyers would gain $1.6m in space for 16-17 which could be vital with the Voracek and Couturier extensions kicking in, and the 3rd and 4th years of the Vinny buyout are only $916K.

And there's also no guarantee he will retire after 16-17. That might have been his intention when he signed the contract, but things are very different now. He could very well want to see out the full contract as a way of sticking it to the Flyers, even though the reality is it's not their fault his level of play fell off a cliff. In which case the Flyers would also be gaining $2.1m in cap space for 17-18.

Yeah, if you click the link you'll see he says exactly that.
- Feanor

Sorry, I missed that last line. A thousand apologies.

So almost 60% of their attempts on net were thwarted....
- Tomahawk

The most annoying part is that they can't even get the shot past the first defender. Point shots are constantly blocked by the forwards. It would be more forgivable if the opposing defenseman were doing the blocking

Couts beasting last night

Vinny -7 in 3.5 minutes of action

Having a legit #1 starting goalie just isn't the Flyers' way. We'll be fine as soon as we find the next Leighton/Boucher combo. Who needs stability in net, anyway?
- jmatchett383

My reason isn't about masons play but more for the future. He will be a FA in 16_17. He'll probably be wanting 6 million a season. I just think I would rather ride with neuvirth and then see where stolarz and Sanderstrom are.
II think Sanderstrom is the future goalie for this franchise.

My reason isn't about masons play but more for the future. He will be a FA in 16_17. He'll probably be wanting 6 million a season. I just think I would rather ride with neuvirth and then see where stolarz and Sanderstrom are.
II think Sanderstrom is the future goalie for this franchise.
- J35Bacher

Goalies almost never return a lot in trades, so while I'm not opposed to moving Mason I doubt the return will be worth it.

If he wants a $6m extension he better get that SV% up close to .920 for this season and the next one.

Yeah, if you click the link you'll see he says exactly that.



You've seen what happens when Vinny is the 14th forward, and you're really OK with it happening again next season? I don't think Hextall will be.

The Flyers would gain $1.6m in space for 16-17 which could be vital with the Voracek and Couturier extensions kicking in, and the 3rd and 4th years of the Vinny buyout are only $916K.

And there's also no guarantee he will retire after 16-17. That might have been his intention when he signed the contract, but things are very different now. He could very well want to see out the full contract as a way of sticking it to the Flyers, even though the reality is it's not their fault his level of play fell of a cliff. In which case the Flyers would also be gaining $2.1m in cap space for 17-18.
- Feanor

Yes I'm absolutely okay with that. It's not about how much they'll gain next year, it's about how much cap space they'll lose for 4 future seasons. What's more important, having cap space next year, or in future years when the team is hopefully ready to do something? If this team doesn't get it together soon , it will be two straight years out of the playoffs and it's time to blow it up and move the tradeable veterans and go with a youth movement with a sprinkling of vets. Cap space won't be an issue, and when they need it re-sign some young players, there won't be buyout money from Lecavalier still on the books.

The turnover on the first goal was on Vinny, not Manning. Yes, Manning slipped, but at least he came back and tried to make a play.

And if you Manning haters will notice, the 3rd period was the best one he has played all year. Two great scoring chances, good passes, and he played well in his own zone. Yes, he will probably be scratched if the Russian comes back, but at least there were finally some positives for him by the end of the game.

My reason isn't about masons play but more for the future. He will be a FA in 16_17. He'll probably be wanting 6 million a season. I just think I would rather ride with neuvirth and then see where stolarz and Sanderstrom are.
II think Sanderstrom is the future goalie for this franchise.
- J35Bacher

If we're looking to be a contender, I want a #1 goalie, not a "Well, let's hope one of these guys pans out." Mason probably has another good 6-7 years in him. We should be able to move out some of these high-priced contracts by then.

Again, for the first time since the mid-90's, we have stability in net. I'd like to keep it that way instead of searching the bargain bin again.

I agree about Sandstrom, but he's going to need time in the AHL and some NHL grooming, which is probably 5-6 years away. That's assuming he comes over to North America and pans out...

Goalies almost never return a lot in trades, so while I'm not opposed to moving Mason I doubt the return will be worth it.

If he wants a $6m extension he better get that SV% up close to .920 for this season and the next one.
- Feanor

And I get that too. I guess I am just not as high on some guys as others. Everyone has opinions about what guys values are. Like Simmonds. I am just not super high on him. I feel like he is Clarkson. Trying to be too much of a goal score and getting away from things he did when he did score. If that makes sense. Read is also someone i am ok moving. A guy I wouldn't mind trying to get would be Leo karmorov from Toronto. Plays with edge. Can chip in goals. Kill pk. Plays with speed. Good defensively. But he will probably go to playoff team at TDL.

If we're looking to be a contender, I want a #1 goalie, not a "Well, let's hope one of these guys pans out." Mason probably has another good 6-7 years in him. We should be able to move out some of these high-priced contracts by then.

Again, for the first time since the mid-90's, we have stability in net. I'd like to keep it that way instead of searching the bargain bin again . Neuvirth was a number one goalie too. I would be OK with Mason I guess. I am just not a huge Mason person. That's all.

I agree about Sandstrom, but he's going to need time in the AHL and some NHL grooming, which is probably 5-6 years away. That's assuming he comes over to North America and pans out...
- jmatchett383

Bill,
What happened to Sanheim? How bad is the injury? Wow 6 games in a row is disappointing. I just don't get why we can't score aside from the fact most shots don't make it to the net. I thought Simmonds had a strong 3rd period and it made me think that this deadline he may be a hot commodity for teams to ask about adding for playoff push/depth.
- arichardson22

We cant score goals because short of Giroux and a struggling Voracek\Simmonds you have no goal scorers or offensive threats on this team.

I dont get the riding Hakstol..I really dont...If it was Bowman in there it wouldnt make a difference because their isnt enough talent on this team. I dont agree with ever seeing B Manning or Vinny on a PP at this point but you cant just run Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Schenn and Streit out there ever PP..

All that being said, we all knew this was a throw away season I just hate Hextalls approach of no way a young player comes up until he is 101% ready because that means we havent even started going through their growing pains yet.

All that being said, we all knew this was a throw away season I just hate Hextalls approach of no way a young player comes up until he is 101% ready because that means we havent even started going through their growing pains yet.
- opeth_pa

Do you discount the possibility that calling up a young player to play on a bad team before the player is ready to play full time in the NHL, can be detrimental to his development?
This is not just a physical game, it's also mental. Think about how hard the jump from juniors, to the AHL, then to the NHL is, and then what kind of environment those young players will be placed in, where even established NHL players are struggling. All of that can lead to confidence and self doubt issues, where it can snowball and set a young player in a hole, and delay his development. There is no way I subject a young prospect to this situation right now.

Out of curiosity: Do you think that George McPhee thought Homer was joking at first when the Eminger for 27th deal was proposed?

Out of curiosity: Do you think that George McPhee thought Homer was joking at first when the Eminger for 27th deal was proposed?
- jmatchett383

who wouldnt take Eminger over Carlson?

Do you discount the possibility that calling up a young player to play on a bad team before the player is ready to play full time in the NHL, can be detrimental to his development?
This is not just a physical game, it's also mental. Think about how hard the jump from juniors, to the AHL, then to the NHL is, and then what kind of environment those young players will be placed in, where even established NHL players are struggling. All of that can lead to confidence and self doubt issues, where it can snowball and set a young player in a hole, and delay his development. There is no way I subject a young prospect to this situation right now.
- MJL

I think it depends on the player. A young player your expecting in a top 6 roll I might agree. But I think a player who expect to play a bottom 6 roll could play well. I think depending on moves at deadline you might see some guys come up if money is moved. I am intrigued by martel. His speed and skills I am hoping for him to be our Tyler Johnson/ Tyler ennis typetype.

We finally, FINALLY, have strong goaltending. I would not trade either based on age.