Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Flyers Fire Blanks Again in 4-0 Loss to Senators

Sorry you have to write on a team so under performing so far this year, Hopefully better games are ahead for yourself and all in flyerland, I've found myself actually shutting games off early this year, something I cant say I've done in the past 25 years.

It is a shame that the recap is better than the actual performance of the team on ice.

Ghost doe

Just got home, missed the game










yay

Just got home, missed the game










yay
- BiggE

Didn't miss much. They were good in the first, then gave up that late one...man. They just cannot score right now.

I'm not losing my poop over the coach, but it is time to seriously shake up these lines. I won't throw out combos -- I'm not a coach. I just have opinions.

But if there are no moves to be made, then you have to utilize what you have differently. You can't keep running these lines out there, not scoring, and wondering why you still aren't scoring -- yes, they aren't the most skilled team. But lines get stale, combos get stale, and you have to try to shake something free here

Didn't miss much. They were good in the first, then gave up that late one...man. They just cannot score right now.

I'm not losing my poop over the coach, but it is time to seriously shake up these lines. I won't throw out combos -- I'm not a coach. I just have opinions.

But if there are no moves to be made, then you have to utilize what you have differently. You can't keep running these lines out there, not scoring, and wondering why you still aren't scoring -- yes, they aren't the most skilled team. But lines get stale, combos get stale, and you have to try to shake something free here
- AllInForFlyers

Change lines, bench one or two guys, swap Leier for Straka, Laughton with Cousins. Other than switching goalies, there are no other internal moves to be made.

Maybe there was a lock-out and we're all dreaming this.

2 points from 30th

We can really do this

We can really tank

Maybe we should give the ice girls a shot. At least my eyes won't bleed when they lose.

Change lines, bench one or two guys, swap Leier for Straka, Laughton with Cousins. Other than switching goalies, there are no other internal moves to be made.
- BiggE

Even if it doesn't work, you have to try -- you have to do something different.

You cannot keep doing the same thing, expecting different results, when this malaise has shown no signs of stopping

That's what is frustrating. I understand that Hextall can't wave a magic wand and make trades for skill and speed that help now and in the future

But what the hell are we doing with the Schenns? Brayden looked MIA again, after a good effort against SJ. It's just not good enough for L1 -- Voracek can't score to save his life right now, Giroux is still getting opportunities here and there, but they just have gotten nothing out of 1LW. They get zero help out of that slot, more often than not, and they clearly need someone to do something

Cousins and/or Straka seem like logical call ups right now...

I'd like to see Jake moved to second line, perhaps have Cousins replace Laughton or let Raffl center the line. Straka LW2/3. Insert Ivan Drago. Voile -- maybe a goal (or two if we are extra lucky!)

Time to blow this up and go full rebuild

It is so sad for the fans that the only reason to watch is to see a recent callup. I can't even call this a dumpster fire anymore, at least a dumpster fire gets rid of trash

Simply unwatchable right now. I am behind the process Hextall implemented of drafting properly and building from within. However, I also need to be somewhat entertained. Gostisbehere and the goalies are the only things "entertaining" about this team.

I would make one move right now. Get a winger to play with Giroux and Voracek. At least we would have one line that could finish. Maybe a guy like JVR from Toronto or Hartnell from CBJ. Oh wait.....

I am just tired of making time to watch this team.

Also, the NHL games in general are pretty boring right now. The pace is great but nothing happens. There seems to be less and less "extra" stuff. Goal scoring seems really low.

Also, Bill you should be knighted or sainted for reporting on this team as diligently as you do. We all appreciate your expertise. Thanks.

I don't even think they need wholesale changes. I'm all for tweaks-get Medvedev in for Gudas or Schultz-I'm not sure massive juggling or mass call ups fix things.

They're actually playing fairly well, just not finishing. They're getting chances, and instead of finding the net, they're hitting posts, missing just wide or getting a bad bounce.

I don't know if Straka, Cousins or anyone else in AHL fixes that. I'm open to line shuffling, but there's no guarantees there, either.

I don't even think they need wholesale changes. I'm all for tweaks-get Medvedev in for Gudas or Schultz-I'm not sure massive juggling or mass call ups fix things.

They're actually playing fairly well, just not finishing. They're getting chances, and instead of finding the net, they're hitting posts, missing just wide or getting a bad bounce.

I don't know if Straka, Cousins or anyone else in AHL fixes that. I'm open to line shuffling, but there's no guarantees there, either.- JSaq

how long do you stick with this then?

Sens fan here - always liked the Flyers and not good to see them struggle like they have the last couple of years. I was really impressed with your new Dman Shane Gostobehere, he looks like a beauty. Seemed like the only Flyer who looked like he had some confidence last night.

welcome to 1968....the expansion years were more exciting

Stick to the plan Ronnie . Still need to evaluate this core to see what you have. All about patience. Build from within.

I don't even think they need wholesale changes. I'm all for tweaks-get Medvedev in for Gudas or Schultz-I'm not sure massive juggling or mass call ups fix things.
- Jsaquella

Manning being a regular in the top 6 and getting the easy minutes that usually go to players with at least an ounce of offensive ability is a major problem with this team, and with this coach.

I figured 20 games was enough time to look at how badly almost every player on the team who was here last season are doing in 15-16 at scoring points.

P/GP change by Flyers forwards
Voracek -0.54
Raffl -0.27
Giroux -0.25
Couturier -0.24
Simmonds -0.22
Vinny -0.21
BSchenn -0.18
White -0.17
Read -0.13
Bellemare -0.07
VdV -0.06

Umberger +0.14
Laughton +0.11

P/GP change by Flyers defensemen
Del Zotto - 0.35
Manning -0.21
Schultz -0.14
Streit -0.06

LSchenn +0.07

Manning being a regular in the top 6 and getting the easy minutes that usually go to players with at least an ounce of offensive ability is a major problem with this team, and with this coach.
- Feanor

the way this team is playing Hexy may not get any value in trades

how long do you stick with this then?
- JoeRussomanno

if a trade that makes sense for now and the future comes along, I'd make it today. But I'm not in agreement with making a move just to make a move. If you want to split Giroux and Voracek, fine, to me that's a tweak, but I'm against doing something bigger just to do something.

If you're going to bring up Straka, who sits? To me the only choices would be Brayden Schenn or Sam Gagner, because they are the only regulars who are out and out one way players that don't fill in on the PK. They're not going to bench Voracek or Giroux. Guys like Read, Couturier, Bellemare, Raffl & VandeVelde have been good at ES and the PK despite not scoring many goals. I mean do you bench a guy who is giving you good two way play to take a chance that a guy from the AHL might score?

Again swapping in Straka for Gagner is pretty much a tweak than a big bold change.

In terms of how long do you wait, I'd say give it until New Years. At that point if it hasn't turned, you're not going to have worries about throwing in the towel on the season, and any changes are less about desperation and more about stockpiling assets for the future.

Sens fan here - always liked the Flyers and not good to see them struggle like they have the last couple of years. I was really impressed with your new Dman Shane Gostobehere, he looks like a beauty. Seemed like the only Flyer who looked like he had some confidence last night.
- tuna99

He's really been on Flyers fans radar for a few years, even before his dominant performance in the Frozen Four NCAA championship a few years back. He's got great speed and a ton of tools. Only knocks are size & play without puck, but he's a hard worker and smart kid, so while he's never going to be Karl Alzner, he should be able to develop his game into something even better