To be fair the way the criteria is worded for the Norris trophy, Offensive is a big part of it. However for the Selke, points shouldn't have anything to do with it but you don't have a shot realistically if you're not at least a decent offensive player.
- MJL

Still don't care for it with the Norris. Some of our recent winners are pretty much weak in their own ends. Burns and EK play a Ghost brand of d. Now Heggman and Doughty are quality defensive defensemen as well. The other two play d a bit like matadors.

AV would not have been my first choice. The biggest thing is he and Fletcher seem to be on the same page. The players will know that it's my way or the highway. They need the urgency right out of the gate. It's hard to maintain that work ethic for 60 minutes over 82 games. Guys will coast if they can. Being strong on the puck, along the boards and in the corners as well as net front is hard painful work.
- jaws1955

Who would have been? Mine was Quenneville but that was off the table already.

That whole "points thing" annoys me. The award is for the best defensive forward. Similar to to way the Norris goes to the d man that gets the most points. It's also not uncommon for the Hart to go to the Art Ross winner more often then not. Or at least top 10 in scoring. Looking at you Taylor Hall you (frank)ing thief. Carey Price not withstanding, guess when you will your team to the playoffs you can win the Hart as a goalie.
- jaws1955

Yes but the thing is points should matter. The fact that you can match the best defensive players in the game and put up top offensive numbers SHOULD give you the edge.

AV would not have been my first choice. The biggest thing is he and Fletcher seem to be on the same page. The players will know that it's my way or the highway. They need the urgency right out of the gate. It's hard to maintain that work ethic for 60 minutes over 82 games. Guys will coast if they can. Being strong on the puck, along the boards and in the corners as well as net front is hard painful work.
- jaws1955

That is why I believe Torts is a good coach. The guy is a richard and doesnt care about whether the players like him. He doesnt get attached to player either. If you get on his bad side it doesnt matter who you are.

That is where I feel a lot of coaches fail. As humans we get attached people we spend time with, we care about each other and even though are arent supposed to be these guys friends, you cant help but get into that sort of rythmn and get comfortable with the guys and that leads to the coach getting lenient with some guys or letting things go. Players will take advantage of these things.

My former boss was similar. We knew exactly what we could and couldnt get away with and we continued to do things that we normally wouldnt be able to do like just get up in the final hour of the day and play pool for 15 mins, as long as our numbers were solid we could do that. At my fast food job, I ate a ton of food there that you are supposed to pay for, we all knew when we could get away with it and we did. I baked doughnuts and would help myself to one every once in a while. Joke was on me though as I gained weight because of it.

Who would have been? Mine was Quenneville but that was off the table already.
- MBFlyerfan

Probably Ted "I can't get a job in the NHL" Nolan

Who would have been? Mine was Quenneville but that was off the table already.
- MBFlyerfan

Would have liked Q but he wasn't coming here regardless. I still remember the end for AV with the Rags. They dropped in a hurry. But Q had the same issue in Chicago. All coaches get fired, the teams get older, you lose UFAs the message gets stale. I may have been leaning a bit towards Gordon. But I listened to AV and he talks the talk. I also feel like Fletcher had him at the top of his short list and if so, I like the way he went and got his guy.
If this team adds a couple of guys and these ass wipes get heads on str8 and buy in, this can be a good team as soon as next year. They have talent and just need structure and quite frankly a better EFFORT EVERY (frank)ING NIGHT FOR GODS SAKE.

Yes but the thing is points should matter. The fact that you can match the best defensive players in the game and put up top offensive numbers SHOULD give you the edge.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Yeah, but it should be good numbers and great defense, not great numbers and weak defense. Heggman and Doughty do both well, i think guys like Burns and EK are meh defensivly but great offensively. I think both Heggman and Doughty have been hosed out of at least one more each. Kind of like G last year with the Hart. The problem isn't with the wording of the rules, the problem is the guys that get to vote. Too many nut jobs with an agenda.

That is why I believe Torts is a good coach. The guy is a richard and doesnt care about whether the players like him. He doesnt get attached to player either. If you get on his bad side it doesnt matter who you are.

That is where I feel a lot of coaches fail. As humans we get attached people we spend time with, we care about each other and even though are arent supposed to be these guys friends, you cant help but get into that sort of rythmn and get comfortable with the guys and that leads to the coach getting lenient with some guys or letting things go. Players will take advantage of these things.

My former boss was similar. We knew exactly what we could and couldnt get away with and we continued to do things that we normally wouldnt be able to do like just get up in the final hour of the day and play pool for 15 mins, as long as our numbers were solid we could do that. At my fast food job, I ate a ton of food there that you are supposed to pay for, we all knew when we could get away with it and we did. I baked doughnuts and would help myself to one every once in a while. Joke was on me though as I gained weight because of it.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Cant stand Torts. I'm still pissed about that ridicules team he helped put together for what did they call it? Canada cup. The USA team was old, slow, plodding and a complete embarrassment to our country.
I do agree you can't be friends with the team. A mutual respect yes, buddies, no.
It's a fine line to walk. To nice, you wind up with this year's team. To tough and they will tune you out and you are looking for a new job.
One advantage this coming year is that Neither AV or Fletch has any history with any of the current players in the system. Hopefully they can give an unbiased evaluation and get everyone slotted correctly, even if that happens to be on a different team. There will be some moves. I just hope Fletch doesn't go crazy.

Cant stand Torts. I'm still pissed about that ridicules team he helped put together for what did they call it? Canada cup. The USA team was old, slow, plodding and a complete embarrassment to our country.
I do agree you can't be friends with the team. A mutual respect yes, buddies, no.
It's a fine line to walk. To nice, you wind up with this year's team. To tough and they will tune you out and you are looking for a new job.
One advantage this coming year is that Neither AV or Fletch has any history with any of the current players in the system. Hopefully they can give an unbiased evaluation and get everyone slotted correctly, even if that happens to be on a different team. There will be some moves. I just hope Fletch doesn't go crazy.
- jaws1955

That’s the good thing these guys are fresh eyes.

That’s the good thing these guys are fresh eyes.
- Just5

Check back with me this time next year after the Flyers sweep whom ever they play in the first round. 😁.
I'm in wait and see mode now. Fletch has some work to do this summer. AV has to work this summer and get this team properly focused right out of the gate.
The games after Dec were a lot of fun to watch. Win or lose, I want to see complete effort and be entertained. They made things exciting til the last week when they ran out of gas. I'm hoping for a much improved team and for them to be fun to watch.

Feeling a little better after watching the presser. I wasn’t to excited about the hire.
I am willing to give the guy a chance. He seems like a good guy. Tough and demanding but fair.
I would have no problems if I was a player and knew where I stood with the coach goodnor bad.
Coaches need to be just as consistent as the players.
One thing I liked was that he feels that you build your system and style around the players you have.
If that really is the case then things are looking better in flyer land.

AV would not have been my first choice.
- jaws1955

What coach would have been your first choice and I dont mean that in a snarky manner.

All appearances are that Q was not available to anyone but FLA so he wasnt an option.

With what we have seen with the "core" of this team, how long do they actually do what AV is preaching? His system seems to be about responsibility, the core says "we need to do a better job...", but never do.

Who would have been? Mine was Quenneville but that was off the table already.
- MBFlyerfan

Everyone has a guy even if it's a buzz-worthy junior coach.

Whatever eventually works is the right decision, and.....

I am totally in the A/V Club.

With what we have seen with the "core" of this team, how long do they actually do what AV is preaching? His system seems to be about responsibility, the core says "we need to do a better job...", but never do.
- corduroy

He gets a first season welcome to PHI pass. In my book.

What coach would have been your first choice and I dont mean that in a snarky manner.

All appearances are that Q was not available to anyone but FLA so he wasnt an option.
- opeth_pa

Q would have been on the top of my list but he was never coming here. We don't know who may have come along. Never been a big AV fan but he sounds good and has done it with several teams. If he gets the most out of these guys we have a pretty good team. I thought Gordon did a good job but AV has the track record.
He could well be just what this team needs. While I love watching all the kids develop at the end of the day I want the team to be good and fun to watch. Playoffs a must, second round too.
I'll reserve judgement of both AV and Fletch until I see what happens this year. Color me "cautiously optimistic " about next season. Let's see what else Fletch does this summer. You can be sure some changes are coming.

What coach would have been your first choice and I dont mean that in a snarky manner.

All appearances are that Q was not available to anyone but FLA so he wasnt an option.
- opeth_pa

Ted Nolan will be successful eventually, I wanted it to be us.

He crawled out from nothing. And made a career.

He is the perfect bridge coach.

He gets a first season welcome to PHI pass. In my book.
- DrMidnite

And if the same issues remain from the previous three coaches?

He gets a first season welcome to PHI pass. In my book.
- DrMidnite

Im not sure if he does from anyone else.

I think the mandate is to get in to the playoffs and make some noise when they get there. And that means win a round.

Im not sure if he does from anyone else.

I think the mandate is to get in to the playoffs and make some noise when they get there. And that means win a round.
- MBFlyerfan

We will see what happens. None of this bubble team crap. Playoffs and round two. Plus a fun team to watch. No free pass. This guy just got $25 mil to coach. I expect him to win. This team has talent. They need to perform up to their capabilities.

With what we have seen with the "core" of this team, how long do they actually do what AV is preaching? His system seems to be about responsibility, the core says "we need to do a better job...", but never do.
- corduroy

Agreed. For me, the core’s time is up. I’m trading Voracek in order to switch up the player mix.

They’ve already had enough chances and been through enough coaches.

Agreed. For me, the core’s time is up. I’m trading Voracek in order to switch up the player mix.

They’ve already had enough chances and been through enough coaches.
- StepfordSam

I'm not opposed to moving Jake, IF we get a player of value back to replace him. He does a lot on this team. It will.leave a hole. He most likely is the best and fastest skater on the team.
It's consistency, when Jake is on his game, he is great. When he isn't skating to his ability he is below average.

Ted Nolan will be successful eventually, I wanted it to be us.

He crawled out from nothing. And made a career.

He is the perfect bridge coach.
- DrMidnite

It would not surprise me if Ted Nolan never coaches again in the NHL.

Idk how Jonesy says that hit on Oshie isn't dirty.

It would not surprise me if Ted Nolan never coaches again in the NHL.
- MJL

Agreed.