I agree. A really thorough and in depth article. As long as Bill's writing appears here I will continue to subscribe to this site. Good writing like this deserves to be supported and $20/year is a small price to pay for it.

Great piece on AV. Everything about AV not using his timeouts in an appropriate manner has merit to it. However as you hinted, if the players didn't find themselves down in such a huge hole, the timeout usage wouldn't be an issue.

These losses squarely lay on the players.
- Pelle31Forever

I completely agree with Bill. AV should exhibit more ownership over the team's record.

That what leaders do. If he leads by example there, perhaps, other team leaders will follow.

When was the last time the Flyers won a playoff series. My point is I can’t remember. If the Flyers are a “maybe” playoff team come deadline I say change everything up. I watched what I could during the road trip and I watched vets coast . This has gone on far to long. It’s the same comments, articles, excuses, every single year since Lavy got fired. Not having the Flyers in the playoffs kills me. I’ll watch every game in the playoffs because it’s the best tournament in sports. I’m tired of picking a team to root for since the Flyers are a afterthought once again. Something needs to change big time.
- Angus4444

2011-2012 against the Penguins was the last playoff series they won.
It's pretty important this year to win a round at least.

Hey Bill...thank you for an excellent article. I don't post much but as a fan I know we get frustrated with this team and every now and then we need to be reminded that they are human beings. Having lost both my Mom and older brother to lung cancer in the past 18 months I know what a cancer diagnosis does to your life. It's the worst and I do believe that part of the funk this team is in goes back to Oscar's unfortunate situation. It's not the only thing obviously but it has to play a roll in some of the mental things the team is struggling with. I think they'll figure it out eventually but in the mean time I'm just looking for progress. I do agree that AV has been really
good for this team but needs to look in the mirror a bit more for anwers to the debacle that this road trip has turned into...


- lpclassic1994

I'm so sorry for your immense loss here. I'm currently dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. I took a leave of absence from work to do so. His prognosis is good at this point. I know what that's like and I can't imagine the pain you're going through. There are really no words anyone can say.

Braun out till the All Star break with a groin injury, so at least eight games.

Gotta say Bill, this is one of my favorite blogs you have ever written.
- MBFlyerfan

Yep. The best ones always make me cry. 😭 Thank you, Bill!

Braun out till the All Star break with a groin injury, so at least eight games.
- Feanor

Crap. well looks like Myers will be in full time. I didn't realize his +/- was so good until the other day.

Malkin always steps up when Crosby is out. And usually the team follows his lead.
- Scoob

I think that their goaltending has stabilized a bit as well. Jarry played well and Murray's play has improved.

Bill...I don't disagree with your consensus (I know that thrills you). The central figure of this process is Hart, and we just need to let him mature. The Flyers really have no one to replace Lindblom, and he is missed for all of the reasons you listed. Patrick, Frost, and Farabee are the next ones but only Patrick is even close to being a real 1st or 2nd line contributor, god knows when or if he'll return. Defense is by and large good, but without the forwards coming back to check they and the Goalie are left out to dry. Young teams go up and down...this team will rebound and eventually will become very good or even great.

I'm so sorry for your immense loss here. I'm currently dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. I took a leave of absence from work to do so. His prognosis is good at this point. I know what that's like and I can't imagine the pain you're going through. There are really know words anyone can say.
- MJL

This. @lpclassic1994. You too MJL.

We understand, we are #Oskarstrong.

Braun out till the All Star break with a groin injury, so at least eight games.
- Feanor

Well now we have an answer to the Hagg or Myers equation at least.

I'm so sorry for your immense loss here. I'm currently dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. I took a leave of absence from work to do so. His prognosis is good at this point. I know what that's like and I can't imagine the pain you're going through. There are really know words anyone can say.
- MJL

I hear that..

The hardest thing I have ever experienced was watching my father pass away from Pancreatic cancer at the age of 54 over a 6 month period. At that start he was this tough, broad shoulder fireman that everyone loved and thought was a tank and by the end he was a shell of that person. It was brutal and forced me to grow up and took a good 2-3 years to really feel happy in life again.

I also lost a best friend , grandmother and a few other relationships to cancer.

What I learned through all that is that Cancer is the great equalizer. It doesn't care who you are, what you do , what you are earn or what your role is . Once it impacts your life it levels the playing field and leaves everyone , from the patient to the families, looking and feeling the same.

If anyone on this forum ever needs to vent, rant or cry about how cancer is impacting them I will always listen.

A random person at one of the parks in downtown Philly sat next to me and said I looked like I needed an ear in the months after my father's passing. This person sat with me for almost 2 hours and just talked about life , got up hugged me and walked away..I never saw them again so the best way I can try and pay them back is to make sure Im there for anyone that ever needs the same type of help. =)

Well now we have an answer to the Hagg or Myers equation at least.
- opeth_pa

we will see if hagg has developed any other plan with the puck than to whip it around the boards blindly or chip it out to center ice. i sure hope so since he is in the lineup for a bit.

Hey Bill...thank you for an excellent article. I don't post much but as a fan I know we get frustrated with this team and every now and then we need to be reminded that they are human beings. Having lost both my Mom and older brother to lung cancer in the past 18 months I know what a cancer diagnosis does to your life. It's the worst and I do believe that part of the funk this team is in goes back to Oscar's unfortunate situation. It's not the only thing obviously but it has to play a roll in some of the mental things the team is struggling with. I think they'll figure it out eventually but in the mean time I'm just looking for progress. I do agree that AV has been really
good for this team but needs to look in the mirror a bit more for anwers to the debacle that this road trip has turned into...
- lpclassic1994

really sorry for your loss. just awful

2011-2012 against the Penguins was the last playoff series they won.
It's pretty important this year to win a round at least.
- PLindbergh31

agree, anything less than playoffs and one round win will be a disappointment even with the Lindblom loss.

I'm so sorry for your immense loss here. I'm currently dealing with a family member going through cancer treatment. I took a leave of absence from work to do so. His prognosis is good at this point. I know what that's like and I can't imagine the pain you're going through. There are really know words anyone can say.
- MJL

really sorry to hear that. I hope it works out and he is ok

I hear that..

The hardest thing I have ever experienced was watching my father pass away from Pancreatic cancer at the age of 54 over a 6 month period. At that start he was this tough, broad shoulder fireman that everyone loved and thought was a tank and by the end he was a shell of that person. It was brutal and forced me to grow up and took a good 2-3 years to really feel happy in life again.

I also lost a best friend , grandmother and a few other relationships to cancer.

What I learned through all that is that Cancer is the great equalizer. It doesn't care who you are, what you do , what you are earn or what your role is . Once it impacts your life it levels the playing field and leaves everyone , from the patient to the families, looking and feeling the same.

If anyone on this forum ever needs to vent, rant or cry about how cancer is impacting them I will always listen.

A random person at one of the parks in downtown Philly sat next to me and said I looked like I needed an ear in the months after my father's passing. This person sat with me for almost 2 hours and just talked about life , got up hugged me and walked away..I never saw them again so the best way I can try and pay them back is to make sure Im there for anyone that ever needs the same type of help. =)
- opeth_pa

cancer is just so awful. My father died of lung cancer when he was only 56. I have a friend who is battling breast cancer. I'm sure everyone can mention at least one person they know who has dealt with cancer. just so awful

agree, anything less than playoffs and one round win will be a disappointment even with the Lindblom loss.
- nastyflyergirl

That's fair, but 23 out of 31 teams won't win a playoff round this season. Odds are that the Flyers will be one of them.

Is anyone else sick and tired of Schwartz and his pathetic sticks defense that always burns us??

Great stuff, Bill. Thank you very much!

Some thoughts:

On AV: overall, I too think he’s done a good job, especially in regards to overall system play. I think that in the AZ game and a couple others, an early TO could have helped, but that’s a pretty minor quibble. The one thing I’m not happy with, and I don’t know how much is on him and how much on MT, is the pp.

Hart: I have no worries about Hart. The skill is there as is the mental toughness. Once he has a bit more experience and a bit more consistent play in front of him, he’ll be the #1 goalie they need.

The combined loss of Patrick and Lindblom has been devastating. They don’t have the depth to overcome this. Unlike Pittsburgh, they don’t have a franchise player who can step up the way Malkin has nor do they have the advantage of a coach who has been there long term or kids coming up from an AHL team that plays the exact same system as the parent club.

And that brings me to the GM. While I think he’s done more good things than bad, there is certainly room for improvement. They need to leave themselves a little more room under the cap at the start of next season to give themselves more flexibility to make in season deals. I also think that Gordon has to go at LHV and that AV needs to be consulted before his replacement is hired. Ideally you want a guy who is willing to implement the same system that AV uses with the Flyers. That kind of continuity should make things easier on the call ups that will inevitably occur during the season.

Gotta say Bill, this is one of my favorite blogs you have ever written.
- MBFlyerfan

X2

This. @lpclassic1994. You too MJL.

We understand, we are #Oskarstrong.
- NC Flyers Fan

👍❤️

I hear that..

The hardest thing I have ever experienced was watching my father pass away from Pancreatic cancer at the age of 54 over a 6 month period. At that start he was this tough, broad shoulder fireman that everyone loved and thought was a tank and by the end he was a shell of that person. It was brutal and forced me to grow up and took a good 2-3 years to really feel happy in life again.

I also lost a best friend , grandmother and a few other relationships to cancer.

What I learned through all that is that Cancer is the great equalizer. It doesn't care who you are, what you do , what you are earn or what your role is . Once it impacts your life it levels the playing field and leaves everyone , from the patient to the families, looking and feeling the same.

If anyone on this forum ever needs to vent, rant or cry about how cancer is impacting them I will always listen.

A random person at one of the parks in downtown Philly sat next to me and said I looked like I needed an ear in the months after my father's passing. This person sat with me for almost 2 hours and just talked about life , got up hugged me and walked away..I never saw them again so the best way I can try and pay them back is to make sure Im there for anyone that ever needs the same type of help. =)
- opeth_pa

Thank you. My wife lost her dad from pancreatic cancer over a decade ago and the pain and heartache is immense. Cancer is horrible and hope to God they find a cure soon! MJL, I hope your family member gets better asap!

... I also think that Gordon has to go at LHV and that AV needs to be consulted before his replacement is hired. Ideally you want a guy who is willing to implement the same system that AV uses with the Flyers. That kind of continuity should make things easier on the call ups that will inevitably occur during the season.
- BiggE

I thought this was mentioned in training camp. That Gordon @LV would be using similar systems to the Flyers. I haven’t been able to follow the Phantoms this season as much as I would like...but I thought they were similar.

Would someone please describe the difference between the current Phantoms systems and the ones AV is using with the Flyers.

new lines out for game tomorrow. NAK on 2 Jake on 3 and Farabee on 4. Not a fan thereof.
i still think team better w frost as 3C and raffl as 4c. more skill, scoring. misha has earned return trip to LV, i dont see why AV keeps him here.
i am not encouraged