I dunno, still feel like that he wasn't the problem.
- Tomahawk

At this point, I could see it going either way. All I know for certain is that they picked the poorest time possible to make the change. Once they elected to give him the start of the season to sort it out, they should've committed to it for... well, at least for longer than three games.

Lavi wasn't the problem, but I'm not sure he was part of the solution either.
- jmatchett383

Depends on where the organization wanted to go. It seemed the players they were bringing in were more on pace with a defensive-first mindset. Laviolette will never coach that way, and rightfully so.

If John Scott is going to get voted into the all star game we need to get off our asses and get AMac or Vinny there.
- hereticpride

For once I agree with a sentiment held by J Tanner...since the ASG is a joke anyway, take it all the way and vote in guys like that.

I dunno, still feel like that he wasn't the problem.
- Tomahawk

I wanted him gone, freely admit it, don't feel bad that he was fired.

I don't think he's a bad coach, but I didn't care for a lot of things he did. I hate how he handled goalies, I disliked that he was very inflexible-something Ilya Bryzgalov spoke about during the puck talks event in Philly a few weeks back-and I felt like the team had tuned him out. In games against certain teams, it seemed there were no strategical adjustments-teams like the Rangers & Devils ate the Flyers up consistently, and they never really adjusted to what those teams did.

He's had great success in the NHL and I actually enjoy watching his system when it's firing on all cylinders. But he needs the horses to run it, and he's shown an unwillingness to make changes to better suit his players. I wanted a coach who was more adaptable, more willing to bend.

Then let him rot. He really isn't hurting the Flyers if you think about it.

The Flyers need high end players not supporting players. At this point under the hard cap they can only be had in the draft as very few good young players are moved anymore. So having that extra money means isn't going to get them a top notch 2nd line center or a stud defenseman in their prime. It would be more overpriced vets with his cap money anyway. So let him rot for two more years.
- psuhockey

He's not, and they can allow him to rot.

Me, I'd rather do a buyout, take the dead cap space for a couple years, and have room to call up kids from the AHL in case of injuries or if they earned a look see.

I wanted him gone, freely admit it, don't feel bad that he was fired.

I don't think he's a bad coach, but I didn't care for a lot of things he did. I hate how he handled goalies, I disliked that he was very inflexible-something Ilya Bryzgalov spoke about during the puck talks event in Philly a few weeks back-and I felt like the team had tuned him out. In games against certain teams, it seemed there were no strategical adjustments-teams like the Rangers & Devils ate the Flyers up consistently, and they never really adjusted to what those teams did.

He's had great success in the NHL and I actually enjoy watching his system when it's firing on all cylinders. But he needs the horses to run it, and he's shown an unwillingness to make changes to better suit his players. I wanted a coach who was more adaptable, more willing to bend.
- Jsaquella

And you got Berube...

At this point, I could see it going either way. All I know for certain is that they picked the poorest time possible to make the change. Once they elected to give him the start of the season to sort it out, they should've committed to it for... well, at least for longer than three games.
- BulliesPhan87

Yeah, overall Homer was a pretty erratic GM. Guy has a good eye for amateur talent... team-building and pro talent? Forget about it.

I'd go to him at the end of the regular season and say, Vinny, I want a promise that you will either retire or agree to a mutual termination on July 2nd, after your bonus is paid, or we will buy you out in June.
- Jsaquella

Assuming that could be done, and I'm not sure that it could be, which of those options would give him the bigger payout?

I understand that. But I think that he realizes at this point that won't happen here. So if his #1 desire is to play, might as well go play in the AHL/Europe (if that's an option he wants to pursue) and hope you catch the eye of an NHL team.
- jmatchett383

True, I just don't think he has the desire to play that badly.

He's said a couple times-or hinted anyhow-that he doesn't intend to play until the end of his deal. If that's the case, I can see not wanting to deal with buses and Econo Lodges in the AHL or deal with playing in Europe.

Late response, but Goulbourne was never really undisciplined. He's a fighter-and a good one-and a lot of his PIMs came from fighting, where a lot of Rinaldo's PIM in junior was due to undisciplined play.

Goulbourne was never really a Rinaldo's clone, and he's made huge strides the past couple seasons. I still feel he was a reach, but the kid is definitely a prospect, who should make it to the NHL and provide good 4th line or even bottom six play, and even be a decent PK option.
- Jsaquella

guys with fighting reputation sometimes come into the ahl with the sole intent of establishing themselves and sometimes forget how to play hockey. Therefore leading to a lot of penalties; minor and major. Glad to see he isnt following that pattern. Yeah still a reach though when you see him making progress and possibly being able to contribute to the flyers it’s a good sign.

Assuming that could be done, and I'm not sure that it could be, which of those options would give him the bigger payout?
- Scoob

The buyout.

At this point,
- BulliesPhan87

Do you use that same avatar on Twitter?

He's not, and they can allow him to rot.

Me, I'd rather do a buyout, take the dead cap space for a couple years, and have room to call up kids from the AHL in case of injuries or if they earned a look see.
- Jsaquella

They can accomplish that with trades of other people.

Do you use that same avatar on Twitter?
- Scoob

guys with fighting reputation sometimes come into the ahl with the sole intent of establishing themselves and sometimes forget how to play hockey. Therefore leading to a lot of penalties; minor and major. Glad to see he isnt following that pattern. Yeah still a reach though when you see him making progress and possibly being able to contribute to the flyers it’s a good sign.
- rinaldo

Very true. In Goulbourne's case he was already playing a defensive forward role and killing penalties. He does hit and he's a fast skater, so in that respect he's like Rinaldo, but he was never really a guy that had a rep as a loose cannon, running around and hitting people and being reckless.

He never had a year where he had more suspensions than points.

I wanted him gone, freely admit it, don't feel bad that he was fired.

I don't think he's a bad coach, but I didn't care for a lot of things he did. I hate how he handled goalies, I disliked that he was very inflexible-something Ilya Bryzgalov spoke about during the puck talks event in Philly a few weeks back-and I felt like the team had tuned him out. In games against certain teams, it seemed there were no strategical adjustments-teams like the Rangers & Devils ate the Flyers up consistently, and they never really adjusted to what those teams did.

He's had great success in the NHL and I actually enjoy watching his system when it's firing on all cylinders. But he needs the horses to run it, and he's shown an unwillingness to make changes to better suit his players. I wanted a coach who was more adaptable, more willing to bend.
- Jsaquella

For sure, nowhere near perfect, but if you hold him up next to his peers, he's comes out looking pretty darned good overall.

Really really liked his fire and his overall philosophy -- Flyers would have been ahead of the curve in terms of attacking/possession if they had kept him around.

True, I just don't think he has the desire to play that badly.

He's said a couple times-or hinted anyhow-that he doesn't intend to play until the end of his deal. If that's the case, I can see not wanting to deal with buses and Econo Lodges in the AHL or deal with playing in Europe.
- Jsaquella

Exactly, he still has a certain desire to play, but it's in the NHL, nowhere else. If that won't happen, there are worse things to get paid for than playing shinny with your kid.

The buyout.
- Jsaquella

Thanks. I'm sure he'd prefer getting full contract payment, but that is out of his hands so making any offer where one choice nets him less than he'd get with a buyout is pretty much a waste of time.

They can accomplish that with trades of other people.
- psuhockey

Sure, but Lecavalier will still take up a roster spot and $4.5mm in cap room. Even though you can fit that, if you sustain two short term injuries, the you're forced to play him because you can't even call a guy up-assuming 14 forwards(including Vinny), 7 D & 2 goalies.

- BulliesPhan87

The short-lived dog-pile on the NHL-XM "parody" tweet yesterday made me chuckle.

Not sure if leight, but Morin's second AHL fight. The guy's closer to his size and older and Morin still manhandles the guy:

Late response, but Goulbourne was never really undisciplined. He's a fighter-and a good one-and a lot of his PIMs came from fighting, where a lot of Rinaldo's PIM in junior was due to undisciplined play.

Goulbourne was never really a Rinaldo's clone, and he's made huge strides the past couple seasons. I still feel he was a reach, but the kid is definitely a prospect, who should make it to the NHL and provide good 4th line or even bottom six play, and even be a decent PK option.
- Jsaquella

Rinaldo career high in AHL: 60 games...3 goals 6 assists (331 PIM!!!)

Goulbourne this year: 22 games....6 goals 4 assists (15 PIM)

Read's been doing a lot of the stuff that makes it possible for the puck to end up on Simmer's stick, in scoring position.
- Tomahawk

we seem to have alot of these guys. wonder we'll be when the season ends

Not sure if leight, but Morin's second AHL fight. The guy's closer to his size and older and Morin still manhandles the guy:


- jmatchett383

He's going to break his hand.
They let them fight, they should make them take helmets off first.

For sure, nowhere near perfect, but if you hold him up next to his peers, he's comes out looking pretty darned good overall.

Really really liked his fire and his overall philosophy -- Flyers would have been ahead of the curve in terms of attacking/possession if they had kept him around.
- Tomahawk

Agreed. I like Laviolette, but there were just some elements I didn't like