When you think it's bad cause of in action look at Carolina with their gm being super active. They gave up lindholm who is tearing it up for ferland and dougie who now they wre trying to move. Gave up skinner and hes killing it. Traded for a goalie who is awful.

True, but I am not only referring to JvR. People point to goaltending issues or defensemen, but the biggest issue for this team is the forwards. When a team is struggling this bad this is when it is the easiest to evaluate the players. The bottom of the barrel tends to have the brightest spotlight on them.

The best teams in the league don't all have the best players in the league, no matter how much people want to believe that. When a team is winning it's much easier to deal with the ugly.
- Glak18

A player like JVR can score 37 goals on a good team. The issue is he won't score at that level on a bad team and he stands out like a sore thumb because there isn't much more to his game.

so much sadness and despair....I'm just going to leave this here as a reminder

Frost-Giroux-TK
JVR-Coots-Jake
Lindblom-Patrick-Allison
Nak-Misha-Laczynski

this could easily be next year....

Don’t get me wrong...I really like Ghost. But the ideal partner I am describing and Ghost don’t match up—which is what I mean by “fit.”

Doesn’t mean that I don’t think Ghost can’t fit another role and do it well.
- NC Flyers Fan

I'm not sure if you have some kind of different or obscure defense partner outside of the normal realm of NHL hockey or something but I assure you in today's NHL game, Gostisbehere is a fit.

For those who are putting the blame on one player for how the season has gone, the most notable Wayne Simmonds, I need this question answered.

So many keep putting out that he’s in decline, which as a 30 year old player is hard to argue. He doesn’t handle the puck well, he’s turning over pucks. All of this would make you correct.

My question is, in what area of the game is Simmonds declining in? Simmonds has been playing on the third line being center with Jordan Weal or Voroybov. The Wayne Simmonds I know normally plays on the second line with the likes of Danny Briere, Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Vincent LeCavalier.

So in what are of Simmonds’ game makes it obvious to you that Simmonds is cooked based on this season?

so much sadness and despair....I'm just going to leave this here as a reminder

Frost-Giroux-TK
JVR-Coots-Jake
Lindblom-Patrick-Allison
Nak-Misha-Laczynski

this could easily be next year....
- juiced

And you believe having giving rookies at forward is an improvement?

A player like JVR can score 37 goals on a good team. The issue is he won't score at that level on a bad team and he stands out like a sore thumb because there isn't much more to his game.
- MJL

Agree 100%. My expectations for him on the Flyers after the signing 20-25 goals playing the same limited minutes he did on the Leafs and someone to strengthen the 1st or 2nd PP unit. Now if he was on pace for 30+ goals my complaints would still be the same. Just like Leafs fans wanted to trade him last year and the year before, his shallow game gets old after awhile.

so much sadness and despair....I'm just going to leave this here as a reminder

Frost-Giroux-TK
JVR-Coots-Jake
Lindblom-Patrick-Allison
Nak-Misha-Laczynski

this could easily be next year....
- juiced

I look forward to Lindblom and Patrick both snapping their 20+ game goalless droughts this season.

For those who are putting the blame on one player for how the season has gone, the most notable Wayne Simmonds, I need this question answered.

So many keep putting out that he’s in decline, which as a 30 year old player is hard to argue. He doesn’t handle the puck well, he’s turning over pucks. All of this would make you correct.

My question is, in what area of the game is Simmonds declining in? Simmonds has been playing on the third line being center with Jordan Weal or Voroybov. The Wayne Simmonds I know normally plays on the second line with the likes of Danny Briere, Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Vincent LeCavalier.

So in what are of Simmonds’ game makes it obvious to you that Simmonds is cooked based on this season?
- SuperSchennBros

Skating, physicality, winning board/puck battles, work ethic

so much sadness and despair....I'm just going to leave this here as a reminder

Frost-Giroux-TK
JVR-Coots-Jake
Lindblom-Patrick-Allison
Nak-Misha-Laczynski

this could easily be next year....
- juiced

That's a whole lotta players with limited pro experience being thrown into the fire.

I'm not sure if you have some kind of different or obscure defense partner outside of the normal realm of NHL hockey or something but I assure you in today's NHL game, Gostisbehere is a fit.
- MJL

You once again misunderstand me. Ghost is most definitely a fit in the NHL. Depending on partner and defensemen on his team, he is top 4/5 in total ice time and PP1 on nearly any NHL team.

Skating, physicality, winning board/puck battles, work ethic
- Glak18

Don't worry, he'll find a way to shout this down. This has been pointed out at least twice in this blog, he just wants to scream from his mountain.

Don't worry, he'll find a way to shout this down. This has been pointed out at least twice in this blog, he just wants to scream from his mountain.
- jmatchett383

Yeah I know, he gets all upset when his favorite players get picked on

He sure knows how to pick em.

Yeah I know, he gets all upset when his favorite players get picked on

He sure knows how to pick em.
- Glak18

LOL

Skating, physicality, winning board/puck battles, work ethic
- Glak18

When was Wayne Simmonds ever a good skater? If you really put skating as an area where Simmonds had been declining, I’m not sure you ever knew Wayne Simmonds.

Now if you are trying to say his reflects aren’t as quick, you might be on to something. You definitely could be on to something in terms of not winning puck battles. This is an area where you can decline from.

I think Ron Hextall took the physicality out of this team. I don’t think Simmonds lost his ability to hit, he’s been hitting lately, which we haven’t seen in awhile. Hitting is also something you need to be willing to do, not something a guy really declines. I don’t think Simmonds lost his ability to be physical or his ability to fight. Nobody is beating up Simmonds.

A declining trait is more along the lines of having good puck handling skill and years down the road, not being able to do it anymore. Simmonds has never been that guy. Scoring is another example but Simmonds is scoring about as much as anyone with lesser linemates.

I don’t think you named declining traits.

You once again misunderstand me. Ghost is most definitely a fit in the NHL. Depending on partner and defensemen on his team, he is top 4/5 in total ice time and PP1 on nearly any NHL team.
- NC Flyers Fan

Gostisbehere when he is right is a top pairing defenseman. Other than on the PK, he should be getting heavy minutes. The NHL game today is a passing, skating, puck moving league. The best teams control the neutral zone and the blue lines and play in the other teams end more. In that scenario, Gostisbehere is an elite player. If he was bigger and stronger, and was better suited to play around the net and in the corners, he'd be among the best all around defenseman in the league. Like pretty much the entire team, he has just lost his way this year. He has the ability to make a big impact on the game and for a team.

Agree 100%. My expectations for him on the Flyers after the signing 20-25 goals playing the same limited minutes he did on the Leafs and someone to strengthen the 1st or 2nd PP unit. Now if he was on pace for 30+ goals my complaints would still be the same. Just like Leafs fans wanted to trade him last year and the year before, his shallow game gets old after awhile.
- Glak18

Obviously this team is very inconsistent and we see that most players on the team have a higher gear. JvR is not one of those players that I've seen that in this year. Does he have a higher gear? Can he knock someone off the puck? Does he get a burr under his saddle for anything? That's one of the things that I didn't like about him when he was first here. I was hoping he matured and got better. Other than goal scoring, to this point, I don't see it. I don't think his compete level is high. He could be so much better.

As they used to say on The Monty Python Show, “Now for something completely different” (as in enough talk about how bad the Flyers suck)...

https://youtu.be/HHWewjbAKSg

Anyone see this AHL fight last night between Jarred Tinordi and Andrey Pedan? Tinordi got smoked!

On another note, until watching this video, I didn’t realize Kevin Bieska had been relegated to the minors.

Did we trade Simmonds yet?

Obviously this team is very inconsistent and we see that most players on the team have a higher gear. JvR is not one of those players that I've seen that in this year. Does he have a higher gear? Can he knock someone off the puck? Does he get a burr under his saddle for anything? That's one of the things that I didn't like about him when he was first here. I was hoping he matured and got better. Other than goal scoring, to this point, I don't see it. I don't think his compete level is high. He could be so much better.
- MJL

I saw so much more of that from him last year in Toronto. A little bit of snarl I had never seen before. I was excited to see him come here. Idk if it's his early season injury. Our team being so bad (we know he doesnt drive play himself). I dont think trading him is the answer. Have to figure out how to get him going at some point.

I hear Amac is popular in the locker room...like really popular.

Gostisbehere when he is right is a top pairing defenseman. Other than on the PK, he should be getting heavy minutes. The NHL game today is a passing, skating, puck moving league. The best teams control the neutral zone and the blue lines and play in the other teams end more. In that scenario, Gostisbehere is an elite player. If he was bigger and stronger, and was better suited to play around the net and in the corners, he'd be among the best all around defenseman in the league. Like pretty much the entire team, he has just lost his way this year. He has the ability to make a big impact on the game and for a team.
- MJL

There are a handful of players I wouldn’t trade. Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Nolan Patrick, Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and Shayne Gostisbehere. I wouldn’t trade any of these players because I see what they have to offer.

However, I’ve never shied away or will ever shy away from not believing he’s a top pair defenseman. He isn’t. I agree he’s among the elite in terms of generating offense from the blue line but he’s a one dimensional player who needs to be sheltered in defensive situations.

For those who are putting the blame on one player for how the season has gone, the most notable Wayne Simmonds, I need this question answered.

So many keep putting out that he’s in decline, which as a 30 year old player is hard to argue. He doesn’t handle the puck well, he’s turning over pucks. All of this would make you correct.

My question is, in what area of the game is Simmonds declining in? Simmonds has been playing on the third line being center with Jordan Weal or Voroybov. The Wayne Simmonds I know normally plays on the second line with the likes of Danny Briere, Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Vincent LeCavalier.

So in what are of Simmonds’ game makes it obvious to you that Simmonds is cooked based on this season?
- SuperSchennBros

Who is putting all the blame on Simmonds?

He's getting talked about because he's the one core guy that needs a contract this summer.

We'll deep dive into talking about moving JVR and Jake in the off season. Maybe even G too. But those aren't contracts that are likely to be moved in season. We're heading towards the trade deadline and that puts the focus the UFAs, of which Simmonds is most notable.

Who is putting all the blame on Simmonds?

He's getting talked about because he's the one core guy that needs a contract this summer.

We'll deep dive into talking about moving JVR and Jake in the off season. Maybe even G too. But those aren't contracts that are likely to be moved in season. We're heading towards the trade deadline and that puts the focus the UFAs, of which Simmonds is most notable.
- hereticpride

As Jake said... this cores been together a while and hasn't sustained success. I'd be nervous if I'm anyone not named claude giroux.

What does that mean ? Claude Giroux will retire a flyer imo. And he should.

Are there birds available?
- Scoob

Pigeon