It looks like Pronger is coming back in some capacity!!
- Sublime55

Poor JVR is gonna lose his #.

Get the onions first.

https://www.si.com/nhl/20...overy-philadelphia-flyers

Just saying, Chris Pronger's wife does that whole one leg bent and one leg straight pose perfectly.

AV nominated for the Jack Adams trophy.

Well deserved.

https://www.nhl.com/flyer...rtcYIIm_NKtZ0KdtQcXHhKHhs

I do. Bring on the Pens! If the Flyers play the way they're capable of, they can beat them. If they can't beat the Pens, then they don't deserve to move on. That simple.
- MJL

Lets look at the pros and cons in general of not going full steam ahead once assured of being in the playoffs:

Pros -
resting players (not relevant here)
Not getting injured (relevant here)
Trying out different line combos/experimenting (relevant here)

Cons:
Not getting into playoff mindset before it starts (relevant here)
Not having home ice advantage (relevant here)
facing higher seeds and therefore on balance stronger teams (relevant here)

I would argue that for the vast majority of teams, the cons outweigh the pros. And that is why you don't see teams want to just coast into playoffs even if they knew they are already in. They don't have the mindset - oh bringing on whoever, wherever (home ice or not), if we don't deserve to beat them, we don't deserve to win. Which is largely what your argument essentially boils down too.

Lets look at the pros and cons in general of not going full steam ahead once assured of being in the playoffs:

Pros -
resting players (not relevant here)
Not getting injured (relevant here)
Trying out different line combos/experimenting (relevant here)

Cons:
Not getting into playoff mindset before it starts (relevant here)
Not having home ice advantage (relevant here)
facing higher seeds and therefore on balance stronger teams (relevant here)

I would argue that for the vast majority of teams, the cons outweigh the pros. And that is why you don't see teams want to just coast into playoffs even if they knew they are already in. They don't have the mindset - oh bringing on whoever, wherever (home ice or not), if we don't deserve to beat them, we don't deserve to win. Which is largely what your argument essentially boils down too.
- PT21

Well then let's hope they don't play the Penguins, Bruins, Lightning, Blues, Avalanche, or Golden Knights because they're all good teams that can beat us.

Hopefully our 4 matchups are Montreal, Rangers, Florida, and Minnesota so that we don't have to play anyone with a record close to ours. God forbid we actually have to play a good team.

I agree that getting into "game shape" and developing a good attitude is important, and I don't think he was dismissing that, But the fact that people are afraid of us playing the Penguins need to realize that we're likely going to have to beat very good teams, like the Penguins, if we want to win the Cup.

Lets look at the pros and cons in general of not going full steam ahead once assured of being in the playoffs:

Pros -
resting players (not relevant here)
Not getting injured (relevant here)
Trying out different line combos/experimenting (relevant here)

Cons:
Not getting into playoff mindset before it starts (relevant here)
Not having home ice advantage (relevant here)
facing higher seeds and therefore on balance stronger teams (relevant here)

I would argue that for the vast majority of teams, the cons outweigh the pros. And that is why you don't see teams want to just coast into playoffs even if they knew they are already in. They don't have the mindset - oh bringing on whoever, wherever (home ice or not), if we don't deserve to beat them, we don't deserve to win. Which is largely what your argument essentially boils down too.
- PT21

You are looking way too much into this, it’s all about the playoffs, it’s a playoff mindset for everyone. Stop overthinking it.

Get the onions first.

https://www.si.com/nhl/20...overy-philadelphia-flyers
- NC Flyers Fan

Interesting and great read. I hadn't heard that the cancer was in his ribs.

Well then let's hope they don't play the Penguins, Bruins, Lightning, Blues, Avalanche, or Golden Knights because they're all good teams that can beat us.

Hopefully our 4 matchups are Montreal, Rangers, Florida, and Minnesota so that we don't have to play anyone with a record close to ours. God forbid we actually have to play a good team.

I agree that getting into "game shape" and developing a good attitude is important, and I don't think he was dismissing that, But the fact that people are afraid of us playing the Penguins need to realize that we're likely going to have to beat very good teams, like the Penguins, if we want to win the Cup.
- jmatchett383

There is a difference between running scared of anyone and doing the best you can to maximize your chances. The latter does not imply the former, which seems to be the predominant misunderstanding here.

Interesting and great read. I hadn't heard that the cancer was in his ribs.
- MBFlyerfan

Sadly, that's really not good.

There is a difference between running scared of anyone and doing the best you can to maximize your chances. The latter does not imply the former, which seems to be the predominant misunderstanding here.
- PT21

Be careful what you wish for. Everyone was excited that we got to play the Devils in 2012 after the Pens. We beat the Pens, lost to NJ.

Yes, you want to maximize your chances of winning. I think having the last change in 4/7 of games is more important that matchups because, again, you can't choose who you play, and you have to beat good teams to win the Cup.

If the Pens lose out to Montreal, then they won't have to play them. If the Pens win the first 2 rounds, the Flyers will have to play them whether they finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. So yes, try to get the highest seed possible, but when all's said and done, you play who you play and deal with it.

Oskar Lindblom getting a masterson nomination and now Alain Vigneault with a Jack Adams. I think it’s a no brainer Sean Couturier gets a nomination for the Selke. I don’t think I’ve seen the Flyers get real Recognition unless your name is Lindros or Giroux. Even putting Giroux’s name out there is a stretch. Guy finishes season in points two years with 102 points and still nothing.

Poor JVR is gonna lose his #.
- Tomahawk

Pronger wore 20 didn't he?

Be careful what you wish for. Everyone was excited that we got to play the Devils in 2012 after the Pens. We beat the Pens, lost to NJ.

Yes, you want to maximize your chances of winning. I think having the last change in 4/7 of games is more important that matchups because, again, you can't choose who you play, and you have to beat good teams to win the Cup.

If the Pens lose out to Montreal, then they won't have to play them. If the Pens win the first 2 rounds, the Flyers will have to play them whether they finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. So yes, try to get the highest seed possible, but when all's said and done, you play who you play and deal with it.
- jmatchett383

Bold

1: Life is random. That does not however mean all possibilities have equal likelihood, which is a mistake we often make. Look at the overall stats of a #5 team defeating a #4 team and compare it with say, a #8 team beating a #1 team. You will, I suspect, find the former is much higher.

2. Remember that having a higher seed means you also increase chances of having last change(which you say you value) in further rounds of playoffs.

3. We generally agree, then.

More specifically though, Pens are my dark horse for surprising a lot of people. I think this layoff benefits them a lot. They get rested, players heal. I think this long rest format benefits teams that are more star than system. Just my guess. Also, Malkin would tend to be much more effective in their home games against us than playing in Philly. Crowd noise and booing and tight checking clearly got to him. Now there will be no such distractions.

Will I be as depressed as I currently am after reading that story about Lindblom, full of dangerous details, if we play the Pens? Of course no. Bring them on, is what I would say. Would I rather we never get to that stage? You bet.

Pronger wore 20 didn't he?
- corduroy

25 I believe

Bold

1: Life is random. That does not however mean all possibilities have equal likelihood, which is a mistake we often make. Look at the overall stats of a #5 team defeating a #4 team and compare it with say, a #8 team beating a #1 team. You will, I suspect, find the former is much higher.

2. Remember that having a higher seed means you also increase chances of having last change(which you say you value) in further rounds of playoffs.

3. We generally agree, then.

More specifically though, Pens are my dark horse for surprising a lot of people. I think this layoff benefits them a lot. They get rested, players heal. I think this long rest format benefits teams that are more star than system. Just my guess. Also, Malkin would tend to be much more effective in their home games against us than playing in Philly. Crowd noise and booing and tight checking clearly got to him. Now there will be no such distractions.

Will I be as depressed as I currently am after reading that story about Lindblom, full of dangerous details, if we play the Pens? Of course no. Bring them on, is what I would say. Would I rather we never get to that stage? You bet.
- PT21

Why are you babbling on about this nonsense, we are going to play who we play.

Why are you babbling on about this nonsense, we are going to play who we play.
- ClaudeFather

https://www.flyersteamfan...R1cr_ZgkcIfC3o8fTEh5AKk3g

25 I believe
- ClaudeFather

nope -- it was 20

https://www.hockey-refere...om/teams/PHI/numbers.html

nope -- it was 20

https://www.hockey-refere...om/teams/PHI/numbers.html
- corduroy

I like that list of every number , forgot mike Comrie played here.

25 I believe
- ClaudeFather

That is MOAT's all-time favorite captain and player, Keith Primeau

25 I believe
- ClaudeFather

Dang, why do I remember him as #25 too?

(oh he was #25 in Anaheim)

Dang, why do I remember him as #25 too?

(oh he was #25 in Anaheim)
- Tomahawk

Haha so not a terrible memory, just a bad one.

Lets look at the pros and cons in general of not going full steam ahead once assured of being in the playoffs:

Pros -
resting players (not relevant here)
Not getting injured (relevant here)
Trying out different line combos/experimenting (relevant here)

Cons:
Not getting into playoff mindset before it starts (relevant here)
Not having home ice advantage (relevant here)
facing higher seeds and therefore on balance stronger teams (relevant here)

I would argue that for the vast majority of teams, the cons outweigh the pros. And that is why you don't see teams want to just coast into playoffs even if they knew they are already in. They don't have the mindset - oh bringing on whoever, wherever (home ice or not), if we don't deserve to beat them, we don't deserve to win. Which is largely what your argument essentially boils down too.
- PT21

You're not making sense here. Obviously my comment and reply to you was not about coasting at any point but rather about fearing playing the Pens. It was pretty clear.

You are looking way too much into this, it’s all about the playoffs, it’s a playoff mindset for everyone. Stop overthinking it.
- ClaudeFather

Exactly. PT21 overthinks everything. To the point of lacking common sense.

The exhibition game with the Penguins is perfect to set the mood and light a fire for a fast start.