I think Lyubimov is somwhere between Mika Pyorala and Raffl. A guy who can chip in 7-12 goals over a full season and give you good 2-way play. But really, bounces aside, having 76 on any line pretty much ensures it will not be an offensive powerhouse of a line.
- jmatchett383

You know I've listed several lines here and there and they all have VDV as a scratch but that said, only 4 guys have more goals on the team than VDV and the Flyers have the 2nd most goals in the league so its not like they have struggled to score for the most part save a few games.

You know I've listed several lines here and there and they all have VDV as a scratch but that said, only 4 guys have more goals on the team than VDV and the Flyers have the 2nd most goals in the league so its not like they have struggled to score for the most part save a few games.
- nastyflyergirl

I'm sure guys like Leier, NAK, Fazeleev, etc. also have skates that pucks can deflect off of.

https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-carolina-hurricanes-game-recap/c-284140272

What the heck!!!

Why is Leighton playing back in the NHL again?! My day is ruined!
- coffee junkie

this made me as happy as i was for stolarz. big fan of ML's. dude never gave up. i fully expect him to somehow ridiculously end up on the flyers for the 19th time before he retires.

Millennial!....

My problem with that was once it got going it didn't allow the normal crowd interactions to happen since as soon as a whistle blew it started. It's fine every now and then but constant it's as annoying as the Montreal ole song
- dragonoffrost

I sit in 221 for most games I attend and when the wooo started a few times people countered (or tried to at times) with a lets go Flyers chant.

I think he should have had the first one but I chalk that up to nerves. he looked a little nervous at the get go but relaxed after that goal. I was happy with his game. was disappointed they sort of fell asleep at the wheel in the third allowing the last 2. Mason is the guy but I would like to see Stolarz get several starts this year. He very well could be the backup next year.

Speaking of, when does the expansion draft happen? is it before or after free agency starts. Its going to be interesting to see what the Flyers do with the goaltenders. you have to figure Vegas will select 2 NHL goalies (Murray would be one I would think unless the Pens figure out a way to get Fleury to waive his NMC) and then 1-2 prospects. Subban could very well be one from Boston who will protect Rask. I would hate to see the Flyers lose a kid like Stolarz after investing so much time in him as a prospect.
- nastyflyergirl

i don't read to much into his performance either way. 1st NHL start. nerves. at home. family there. etc. he played well. they won. it's good for everyone.

I'm not a fan of huge goalies, as you know, but i think he's exceptionally quick for someone so big. especially his legs. i'm eager to see him get an opportunity eventually. we really have a lot of promise in the pipeline - him, lyon, hart....even the euros. it's going to pan out.

i'm sure stolarz will get protected.

I'm sure guys like Leier, NAK, Fazeleev, etc. also have skates that pucks can deflect off of.
- jmatchett383

There's a lot to be said for going to the net, and getting there at the right time.

There's a lot to be said for going to the net, and getting there at the right time.
- MJL

I'm sure that those players are also capable of doing this. Willing is a different matter, but not ability.

Mason still hasn't found his groove and no need to poop on Stolarz. He clearly has a bunch of things to work on to make it at the NHL level, but he's got time.
- Scoob

i feel like mason has turned the corner. he's looked sharper and seems confident now to me. i didn't catch all of the NY game, so i don't know if he was good or not. he just struggles on breakaways - in game and in the SO. not sure he'll ever get better at that. it's a weakness in his game. aside from those chances, i like how he's playing.

the masses think he sucks. they can die in a grease fire.

He's on the West Coast, he'll be on later.
- jmatchett383

I can definitely see him being a target, especially if he shows that he has legit NHL potential.
- Scoob

In comparison to what the Flyers may be exposing I could see them take Stolarz. thats why I was wondering then the draft takes place. if its before free agency then protect the kid and sign a UFA (I still want Mason to be the guy) after the draft. if its after then, well that makes it a difficult situation

i feel like mason has turned the corner. he's looked sharper and seems confident now to me. i didn't catch all of the NY game, so i don't know if he was good or not. he just struggles on breakaways - in game and in the SO. not sure he'll ever get better at that. it's a weakness in his game. aside from those chances, i like how he's playing.

the masses think he sucks. they can die in a grease fire.
- hammarby31

They'll go up in Flames

i don't read to much into his performance either way. 1st NHL start. nerves. at home. family there. etc. he played well. they won. it's good for everyone.

I'm not a fan of huge goalies, as you know, but i think he's exceptionally quick for someone so big. especially his legs. i'm eager to see him get an opportunity eventually. we really have a lot of promise in the pipeline - him, lyon, hart....even the euros. it's going to pan out.

i'm sure stolarz will get protected.
- hammarby31

Stolarz is the one that worries me. They have to expose one goalie signed past this season. Right now, they don't have anyone who fits that bill. If they sign and expose Mason or Neuvirth, they'll get claimed. Do they sign a guy like Emery for the league minimum for a year, expose him, and then have him retire after the expansion draft?

Before...happens at the end of june. Selections get announced the 21st they've announced. Vegas will take at least 3 and maybe 4 goalies

From the NHL...they've got the finish of PEB
- YuenglingJagr

thanks

In comparison to what the Flyers may be exposing I would see them take Stolarz. thats why I was wondering then the draft takes place. if its before free agency then protect the kid and sign a UFA (I still want Mason to be the guy) after the draft. if its after then, well that makes it a difficult situation
- nastyflyergirl

Still raises the question of which one you expose.

I'm certainly not a goaltending expert, but I think that when a goaltender is quiet in the net, so to speak, they're on their game. There's an economy of movement, and they're always balanced and square. Price makes a lot of saves look easy and routine, when they're really not. Then you see shooters hesitating, and making bad decisions simply because they don't think they can beat him.
- MJL

I agree, which is why I couldn't stand guys like Hasek

I'm sure guys like Leier, NAK, Fazeleev, etc. also have skates that pucks can deflect off of.
- jmatchett383

you're preaching to the choir when it comes to VDV. saying the guy has 4 goals. Not saying I want him in the lineup.

I don't really hate Leighton. Arguably, without him, they don't make the playoffs in 2010, let alone reach the Cup Finals. I know it ended poorly and yeah, that goal sucked (believe me, I know, I was there), but Leighton definitely contributed to the success of that team.

Leighton's journey through professional hockey is mind boggling.
- johndewar

they don''t make it without him period. nobody remembers that when he came off the bench against boston it was literally his first game dressing with the team in about 2 months after suffering a high ankle sprain. he was really on a roll late in the season, too. they're facing elimination and he comes in mid game with the season on the line. no big deal.

but, but, but THAT LAST GOAL! THEY LOST THE CUP BECAUSE OF HIM. HE SUCKS. AAAAAAAAH!

what about powe turning the puck over on a failed clear. or timone getting beaten badly to the outside by kane? none of those mistakes matter.

I sit in 221 for most games I attend and when the wooo started a few times people countered (or tried to at times) with a lets go Flyers chant.
- nastyflyergirl

I was a few sections over in 218 and as the night went on that Woo just grew to a point of (frank) it we can't stop it so let the idiots have their fun. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point again. I mean it was bad in the parking lot people were still doing it and others then were yelling shut up that's annoying.

Well, granted, that's a goal that hammarby, or even the carcass of Harambe, could stop. But yeah, they don't make it there without him...but it still (frank)ing sucks.
- jmatchett383

sure. i COULD make it. i'd probably have been scored on 92823829 times before that though, so it wouldn't have mattered.

Well done, sir, well done
- Scoob

i agree. +1.

I don't really hate Leighton. Arguably, without him, they don't make the playoffs in 2010, let alone reach the Cup Finals. I know it ended poorly and yeah, that goal sucked (believe me, I know, I was there), but Leighton definitely contributed to the success of that team.

Leighton's journey through professional hockey is mind boggling.
- johndewar

I actually didn't mind Leighton. He played pretty solid all of 2010 except for the Final. Vs Montreal he was an absolute machine.

That was a difficult play, even for a top goaltender. Sometimes the location and angle of the shot, is going to make a rebound almost impossible to prevent. I think that was one of those occasions.
- MJL

100% agree.

sure. i COULD make it. i'd probably have been scored on 92823829 times before that though, so it wouldn't have mattered.
- hammarby31

I agree. And yes, I do remember that game with the combined shutout was his first game since late March (Minnesota, I think?). And he was a huge reason they got there, maybe the biggest reason. And there were other players who made bad plays on that sequence. But still, letting in a goal from that angle at that time in my direct line of sight...it's an image that is burned into my memory.

I sit in 221 for most games I attend and when the wooo started a few times people countered (or tried to at times) with a lets go Flyers chant.
- nastyflyergirl

how i miss watching games with you.

they don''t make it without him period. nobody remembers that when he came off the bench against boston it was literally his first game dressing with the team in about 2 months after suffering a high ankle sprain. he was really on a roll late in the season, too. they're facing elimination and he comes in mid game with the season on the line. no big deal.

but, but, but THAT LAST GOAL! THEY LOST THE CUP BECAUSE OF HIM. HE SUCKS. AAAAAAAAH!

what about powe turning the puck over on a failed clear. or timone getting beaten badly to the outside by kane? none of those mistakes matter.
- hammarby31

The whole Boston series was probably the craziest and most stressful hockey I ever watched especially after they made it to game 7. When Leighton was thrown into that game, I was sure that we were done because he hadn't played in so long. He played amazingly up until the final really.