The choices we make today echo in the halls of eternity
- Mordecai

To be or not to be...

I know it's all conversation for conversation's sake, but putting sarcasms aside for a second it's pretty early to prognosticate chances. For reference, at the nine game mark last season the Habs were a lock for the cup. Things will change, some teams that should be better will hit snags.
- BulliesPhan87

Injuries will also happen. Just so happens, the Flyers experienced some of theirs (and suspensions) early in the season.

And this is me being a fan, not basing it on anything other than hope: I choose to believe that Morin is going to be capable of helping this team somewhere before the trade deadline, and he will help -- not cure -- some of their defensive problems at ES.

I then choose to believe that Morin will be in the lineup and do more to help the team in the role he plays than whichever player whose spot he takes.

Same with Laughton, if he goes down to LHV -- he can be a better player. If he does, he can come back and help push somebody out of the lineup, or be a potential trade chip.

Raffl will be back. MDZ will be back. They made the playoffs last year with Voracek not having the kind of season he could, Couturier missing chunks of the season, with Mason not playing well until late, with little cap space...there's just reasons for optimism, to me

Hell, Matt Read looks like a different player. That's a positive
- AllInForFlyers

I'm all in with ya.

I am surprised the PK is only 8th worst. That has been bad for 2 whole years now. Despite all of those negatives they are still currently in a playoff spot. The faceoffs and goals against will improve. They have been a lot better at both over the last few years. Factor in the 5% talent upgrade quotient that was provided to me by esteemed hockey stats guy Dr. Corsi Fenwick and this team is a lock for the playoffs.
- mickel25

The first couple games of the season, they were pressuring the shooters, not giving them any time. Now all of the sudden they are reverting back to last year playing passive defense. Didn't they learn by now, this doesn't work!

- YuenglingJagr

Sorry. I'm stealing this.

Sorry. I'm stealing this.
- mayorofangrytown

Jim Benton might be pissed

I know Jake was off the ice for this, but B Schenn should be standing here on the PP always, not stranded in the high slot like a doofus:



He scored so many goals in Brandon like that... his shot > Jake's shot.
- Tomahawk

This has been you mantra for 3 years, and here's the proof.

I'm all in with ya.
- mayorofangrytown

I do worry about their depth. Based on the beginning of the season, they don't look like a team that can handle many injuries to their top 6/top 4. Read is the only player in their bottom 6 to play well. The defensemen have been a disaster. I still have hope for Weise and Cousins, but the bottom of the lineup was a concern of mine coming in and it still is.

Jim Benton might be pissed
- YuenglingJagr

I'll send him flowers

My expectation is to win the cup, or at the very least compete for it. Every year I have the same expectation.

They have it within themselves to be so much better than what they have shown. So infuriating to see them waste their talent like they do.
- MikesPillBottle

You're over estimating what this team should be like minus two top 4 dmen, two top 9 forwards, and with their backup goalie having a shocking start to the season.

You're over estimating what this team should be like minus two top 4 dmen, two top 9 forwards, and with their backup goalie having a shocking start to the season.
- Feanor

I think the Neuvirth thing was kinda downplayed last night because he's coming off such a good season, but he was pretty bad last night. It made the Flyers look worse than they were through 2 periods IMHO!!!!

I think the Neuvirth thing was kinda downplayed last night because he's coming off such a good season, but he was pretty bad last night. It made the Flyers look worse than they were through 2 periods IMHO!!!!
- PhillySportsGuy

1 he had no chance
2 he should've had
3 I'm still not positive it wasn't tipped; if not, he should've had it

And this is me being a fan, not basing it on anything other than hope: I choose to believe that Morin is going to be capable of helping this team somewhere before the trade deadline, and he will help -- not cure -- some of their defensive problems at ES.

I then choose to believe that Morin will be in the lineup and do more to help the team in the role he plays than whichever player whose spot he takes.

Same with Laughton, if he goes down to LHV -- he can be a better player. If he does, he can come back and help push somebody out of the lineup, or be a potential trade chip.

Raffl will be back. MDZ will be back. They made the playoffs last year with Voracek not having the kind of season he could, Couturier missing chunks of the season, with Mason not playing well until late, with little cap space...there's just reasons for optimism, to me

Hell, Matt Read looks like a different player. That's a positive
- AllInForFlyers

I think Provorov and Konecny already looking like they belong in the top 4/top 6 is the biggest cause for optimism.

A few months ago plenty of people would have bet on them both being in Junior right now.

I do worry about their depth. Based on the beginning of the season, they don't look like a team that can handle many injuries to their top 6/top 4. Read is the only player in their bottom 6 to play well. The defensemen have been a disaster. I still have hope for Weise and Cousins, but the bottom of the lineup was a concern of mine coming in and it still is.
- PhillySportsGuy

I have the same concerns but mine have a stupid bend to them. I'm actually concerned that the players on the Flyers roster aren't as good as the players on the Phantoms or at least they aren't significantly better.

So it's not so much depth that's the issue for me but a glut of bandaids that we can't rip off.

I have the same concerns but mine have a stupid bend to them. I'm actually concerned that the players on the Flyers roster aren't as good as the players on the Phantoms or at least they aren't significantly better.

So it's not so much depth that's the issue for me but a glut of bandaids that we can't rip off.
- mayorofangrytown

We should start calling up some of those young guys that are major parts of the Phantoms team that is dominating the AHL.

Just have to wait for that to happen first.

how about Konecny's penalty for delay of game. I need to know if this happens to other teams as much as the Flyers. FFS

I have the same concerns but mine have a stupid bend to them. I'm actually concerned that the players on the Flyers roster aren't as good as the players on the Phantoms or at least they aren't significantly better.

So it's not so much depth that's the issue for me but a glut of bandaids that we can't rip off.
- mayorofangrytown

I would like to see Leier get a shot and perhaps Laughton is better than what they've been sending out. I'm with you though. I don't believe the best guys in LHV are any worse than some of the 3rd/4th line guys on the team now.

I mean Boyd Gordon has been fine from a possession standpoint, but he's getting pretty favorable usage for a 4th liner. I thought he was brought in to take more defensive zone face-offs. He's on pace for 656 total face-offs, which means he's on pace to win 39 more face-offs than an average face off man. That's about 1 more every 2 games. Does that really help the team more than a guy in LHV can? If you're going to give such favorable usage to your 4th line, shouldn't you use more skilled, offensive players to help with the offense?

So I just read about Nikita Tryamkin in Vancouver. For those of you who don't know, he was a 3rd round pick a few years back. After a few KHL years, he came over to Vancouver, but has it in his deal that, if he's not kept on the NHL roster, he can go back and play in the KHL. So basically, even though they don't think he's in good shape/ready to play in the NHL, the Canucks have been carrying him as an extra player they don't plan on playing. They asked him about a temporary conditioning stint, and he declined. Dude is 6'7 and 265 pounds. If I was Vancouver, I'd call his bluff and send him down.

I think Provorov and Konecny already looking like they belong in the top 4/top 6 is the biggest cause for optimism.

A few months ago plenty of people would have bet on them both being in Junior right now.
- Feanor

Absolutely -- Konecny has solidified the Top 6, and when MDZ comes back, a Top 4 of MDZ-Gudas, Provorov-Manning, plus Ghost doing what he does, is comparable to every other team outside of those 4-5 teams at the top of the conference

They are gonna get a third line going, too, when Raffl and Weise come back. I would have Cousins center it, but it doesn't have to be him. But that could be an impact third line if Weise plays a little better and they do get some center play worthy of third-line ability

So I just read about Nikita Tryamkin in Vancouver. For those of you who don't know, he was a 3rd round pick a few years back. After a few KHL years, he came over to Vancouver, but has it in his deal that, if he's not kept on the NHL roster, he can go back and play in the KHL. So basically, even though they don't think he's in good shape/ready to play in the NHL, the Canucks have been carrying him as an extra player they don't plan on playing. They asked him about a temporary conditioning stint, and he declined. Dude is 6'7 and 265 pounds. If I was Vancouver, I'd call his bluff and send him down.
- jmatchett383

With that size aren't you calling his Buff?

I think the Neuvirth thing was kinda downplayed last night because he's coming off such a good season, but he was pretty bad last night. It made the Flyers look worse than they were through 2 periods IMHO!!!!
- PhillySportsGuy

That 3rd goal was especially brutal.

I think Provorov and Konecny already looking like they belong in the top 4/top 6 is the biggest cause for optimism.

A few months ago plenty of people would have bet on them both being in Junior right now.
- Feanor

They haven't even adapted to the NHL yet, and they're already difference makers. Provorov is going to be so good, it's scary.

So I just read about Nikita Tryamkin in Vancouver. For those of you who don't know, he was a 3rd round pick a few years back. After a few KHL years, he came over to Vancouver, but has it in his deal that, if he's not kept on the NHL roster, he can go back and play in the KHL. So basically, even though they don't think he's in good shape/ready to play in the NHL, the Canucks have been carrying him as an extra player they don't plan on playing. They asked him about a temporary conditioning stint, and he declined. Dude is 6'7 and 265 pounds. If I was Vancouver, I'd call his bluff and send him down.
- jmatchett383

That isnt that uncommon anymore. Sergei Plotnikov had a similar clause in his contract (so did Panarin). Plotnikov was scratched for like 2 months until he was traded to the Coyotes.

Fun fact...he got traded when the Coyotes were in Pittsburgh, so he just went to the other locker room

That isnt that uncommon anymore. Sergei Plotnikov had a similar clause in his contract (so did Panarin). Plotnikov was scratched for like 2 months until he was traded to the Coyotes.

Fun fact...he got traded when the Coyotes were in Pittsburgh, so he just went to the other locker room
- YuenglingJagr

I'm guessing it has to do with the NHL/AHL pays with their ELCs???

With Panarin, it makes sense since he was a free agent. But when you use a pick on a player, that's a rough spot.

I would like to see Leier get a shot and perhaps Laughton is better than what they've been sending out. I'm with you though. I don't believe the best guys in LHV are any worse than some of the 3rd/4th line guys on the team now.

I mean Boyd Gordon has been fine from a possession standpoint, but he's getting pretty favorable usage for a 4th liner. I thought he was brought in to take more defensive zone face-offs. He's on pace for 656 total face-offs, which means he's on pace to win 39 more face-offs than an average face off man. That's about 1 more every 2 games. Does that really help the team more than a guy in LHV can? If you're going to give such favorable usage to your 4th line, shouldn't you use more skilled, offensive players to help with the offense?
- PhillySportsGuy

What guy in LHV do you want called up to play 7 mins at ES and 2 mins on the PK? I''m more interested in getting more ice time with Lyubimov who's already on the Flyers.