Why are you such an bumhole all the time?
- MBFlyerfan

In his humble defense, the benumbing experience-resistant boosterism of many here can get somewhat exasperating.

There is a difference between the club getting better and the club being a contender. With projected development of Bee and Frost, and Myers and Sanheim and even Provorov, and the health of Lindblom and Pitlick, and the long awaited maturity of Konecny, could we be better? Sure.

But is the betterment enough to make us contenders in the near to interim future?

Give me a break.

edit: Patrick

From Ek's latest blog:

Also, if something isn't done to share revenues or bail out certain teams we could see up to 4 franchises be forced to either fold or re-locate within two seasons....


I'd be fine with that - the folding/relocating part that is, not the bailing out part.
- Scoob

I'm all for the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Penguins going bye bye.

From Ek's latest blog:

Also, if something isn't done to share revenues or bail out certain teams we could see up to 4 franchises be forced to either fold or re-locate within two seasons....


I'd be fine with that - the folding/relocating part that is, not the bailing out part.
- Scoob

I think it's rhetoric. There isn't going to be any teams folding. The lowest valued team in the league is worth 300M. Lots of equity there to withstand a down period.

In his humble defense, the benumbing experience-resistant boosterism of many here can get somewhat exasperating.

There is a difference between the club getting better and the club being a contender. With projected development of Bee and Frost, and Myers and Sanheim and even Provorov, and the health of Lindblom and Pitlick, and the long awaited maturity of Konecny, could we be better? Sure.

But is the betterment enough to make us contenders in the near to interim future?

Give me a break.
- PT21

I'll be the first to admit, I'm as negative as they come. But being a fan of this franchise has conditioned me to become so. There is a large faction of posters, and of this fanbase in general that are fine with anything they do. Never question a thing. Like they have produced to the level of the Oilers of 80's. I'm not asking for a dynasty, that is pretty unlikely in todays NHL. But I'm sorry operating as a large market team for basically 30 years in an uncapped league you have to be able to use your financial advantage over basically 2/3 of the league and win a Cup.

No it was not. What I said was jake for parise. Does either team do it. Then in a f/u post right after I clearly stated this is the type of deal you are probably looking at if you move jake.

Nowhere did I say trade Jake for Parise. Nowhere. Only you and the other dope where laughing as others knew that I never said it.
- login

I saw Hagg take the body a good bit and not just in the D zone. Braun stayed in because of his pedigree, which makes sense against the Habs but he needed to sit a game VS NY

I saw Hagg take the body a good bit and not just in the D zone. Braun stayed in because of his pedigree, which makes sense against the Habs but he needed to sit a game VS NY
- wcorvette

BRAun had a rough go no Doubt.

In his humble defense, the benumbing experience-resistant boosterism of many here can get somewhat exasperating.

There is a difference between the club getting better and the club being a contender. With projected development of Bee and Frost, and Myers and Sanheim and even Provorov, and the health of Lindblom and Pitlick, and the long awaited maturity of Konecny, could we be better? Sure.

But is the betterment enough to make us contenders in the near to interim future?

Give me a break.

edit: Patrick
- PT21

You're the same guy who would've said the same thing about Dallas in the past yet there they are in the finals. During the regular season before the pandemic hit, the Flyers were one of the top teams in the league. With that said, they were still a step below teams like TB. With internal growth of the young players in the next few seasons, why can't the Flyers reach the upper echelon of the league? With a potential superstar goalie in net? If you think that they can't, give me a break.

Also, "I'm leaving Hockeybuzz". Give me a break!

P.S. Before criticizing those who are positive and believe in the future of this team, learn the difference between Patrick and Pitlick.

From Ek's latest blog:

Also, if something isn't done to share revenues or bail out certain teams we could see up to 4 franchises be forced to either fold or re-locate within two seasons....


I'd be fine with that - the folding/relocating part that is, not the bailing out part.
- Scoob

Don't think I've seen MJL with this big of hard on for another poster before.

Don't think I've seen MJL with this big of hard on for another poster before.
- Tomahawk

Hi

In his humble defense, the benumbing experience-resistant boosterism of many here can get somewhat exasperating.

There is a difference between the club getting better and the club being a contender. With projected development of Bee and Frost, and Myers and Sanheim and even Provorov, and the health of Lindblom and Pitlick, and the long awaited maturity of Konecny, could we be better? Sure.

But is the betterment enough to make us contenders in the near to interim future?

Give me a break.

edit: Patrick
- PT21

I don't know, I think the team that was fourth in the conference and sixth in the league at the time of the shutdown would certainly be considered a contender with further development of those you mentioned. And that's without Lindblom and Patrick returning to the lineup as regulars.

I'm all for the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Penguins going bye bye.
- PLindbergh31

Okay, that right there is funny - well played

I'll be the first to admit, I'm as negative as they come. But being a fan of this franchise has conditioned me to become so. There is a large faction of posters, and of this fanbase in general that are fine with anything they do. Never question a thing. Like they have produced to the level of the Oilers of 80's. I'm not asking for a dynasty, that is pretty unlikely in todays NHL. But I'm sorry operating as a large market team for basically 30 years in an uncapped league you have to be able to use your financial advantage over basically 2/3 of the league and win a Cup.
- PLindbergh31

There are psychological reasons for the behavior of the fanbase.

1. People need faith, even when it is misplaced. When my dad was dying of brain cancer, my mom increased her prayers. I told her: you know, it will not make the slightest difference. And she said: well then, let me believe.

2. There is a Stockholm Syndrome of mediocrity acceptance that has seeped in the veins and all kinds of spectacular logical twisting to justify said acceptance.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a poster from yesteryears drop by and say that Tampa Bay also had underperformance from their forwards last year in playoffs, and they stayed put and look at them this year. (Ergo, Flyers are comparable to TB in their forwards because they also just had a rough year and we should emulate them).

Comparing Tampa to Flyers?

Look at the recent records and personnel of the two clubs:

Tampa: in two of the preceding 4 seasons, lost in 7 games in ECF to eventual champions, once with horrendous injuries.
Philly: Never made it past first round in any season.

Tampa: In the preceding 4 seasons, Stamkos, Kuckerov and Point averaging close to ppg in playoffs. Their second line of Palat-Johnson-Killorn was way more effective than our top trio of Giroux-Couturier-Voracek.
Philly: woeful underperformance by core.


Tampa: clearly a team on the cusp, with well defined strengths, and clear needs of veteran D and team toughness. They addressed that decisively the last 2 years and Point developed further as expected and Hedman turned into a beast (though I thought he had a poor game 5).

Us: no well defined strengths anywhere relative to playoff teams except perhaps in goal, and that last ship is yet to sail.

I think our best hope is that the players develop well, and we wait for the Voracek-JVR-Roo contracts to run out in 2-3 years, when we will suddenly have a huge amount of cash and hopefully a bunch of players coming/in their primes + Couts.

Coincidentally, that is when Aho and Point become UFAs.

I don't know, I think the team that was fourth in the conference and sixth in the league at the time of the shutdown would certainly be considered a contender with further development of those you mentioned. And that's without Lindblom and Patrick returning to the lineup as regulars.
- Scoob

I would be more favorable to this point of view if there wasn't a long pattern of underachievement by key players that extends way beyond the past season and that displayed itself again this year.

I could make a case that it wasn't the post-season that was the anomaly. It was a reversion to type. It was the regular season, and really a 20 game odd run in 2020 that was the blip.

I could make a case that it wasn't the post-season that was the anomaly. It was a reversion to type. It was the regular season, and really a 20 game odd run in 2020 that was the blip.
- PT21

We have differing opinions.

We have differing opinions.
- Scoob

Sure, but only mine uses a large database. Yours uses a 20 game one (and that too from the regular season, which tends to be quite dissimilar to the post season).

And further, your mention of the 4th in conference and 6th in league etc elides the fact that they did not win a single game in regulation out of 6 played in that same terrific regular season against Habs and Isles.

Differ all you want, but I don't find much to back up your differing except faith.

There are psychological reasons for the behavior of the fanbase.

1. People need faith, even when it is misplaced. When my dad was dying of brain cancer, my mom increased her prayers. I told her: you know, it will not make the slightest difference. And she said: well then, let me believe.

2. There is a Stockholm Syndrome of mediocrity acceptance that has seeped in the veins and all kinds of spectacular logical twisting to justify said acceptance.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a poster from yesteryears drop by and say that Tampa Bay also had underperformance from their forwards last year in playoffs, and they stayed put and look at them this year. (Ergo, Flyers are comparable to TB in their forwards because they also just had a rough year and we should emulate them).

Comparing Tampa to Flyers?

Look at the recent records and personnel of the two clubs:

Tampa: in two of the preceding 4 seasons, lost in 7 games in ECF to eventual champions, once with horrendous injuries.
Philly: Never made it past first round in any season.

Tampa: In the preceding 4 seasons, Stamkos, Kuckerov and Point averaging close to ppg in playoffs. Their second line of Palat-Johnson-Killorn was way more effective than our top trio of Giroux-Couturier-Voracek.
Philly: woeful underperformance by core.


Tampa: clearly a team on the cusp, with well defined strengths, and clear needs of veteran D and team toughness. They addressed that decisively the last 2 years and Point developed further as expected and Hedman turned into a beast (though I thought he had a poor game 5).

Us: no well defined strengths anywhere relative to playoff teams except perhaps in goal, and that last ship is yet to sail.

I think our best hope is that the players develop well, and we wait for the Voracek-JVR-Roo contracts to run out in 2-3 years, when we will suddenly have a huge amount of cash and hopefully a bunch of players coming/in their primes + Couts.

Coincidentally, that is when Aho and Point become UFAs.
- PT21

I agree with all of this. There are no Hedman, Point, Kucherov on the Flyers. Nothing close.

I agree with all of this. There are no Hedman, Point, Kucherov on the Flyers. Nothing close.
- PLindbergh31

While I would love to have all of those guys, you do not need all three to win a title. TBL is in the finals because they changed how they played. They learned from the CBJ loss last year. They added some grittier players and have made team defense a priority. They already had great goaltending and talent.

I think the Flyers are good at keeping the puck out of there own net. If the top guys would have scored in the playoffs even a little bit more they are in the ECF. The Flyers are not that far off. They are not as good as the Lightning though.

While I would love to have all of those guys, you do not need all three to win a title. TBL is in the finals because they changed how they played. They learned from the CBJ loss last year. They added some grittier players and have made team defense a priority. They already had great goaltending and talent.

I think the Flyers are good at keeping the puck out of there own net. If the top guys would have scored in the playoffs even a little bit more they are in the ECF. The Flyers are not that far off. They are not as good as the Lightning though.
- mickel25

Problem is G, Jake and JVR are declining and while we have some good kids in the system I don’t think we have nearly enough skill up front.

I’m mean really, aside from Coots, does anyone on this team look like a solid 1st line forward?

While I would love to have all of those guys, you do not need all three to win a title. TBL is in the finals because they changed how they played. They learned from the CBJ loss last year. They added some grittier players and have made team defense a priority. They already had great goaltending and talent.

I think the Flyers are good at keeping the puck out of there own net. If the top guys would have scored in the playoffs even a little bit more they are in the ECF. The Flyers are not that far off. They are not as good as the Lightning though.
- mickel25

I would argue that it's easier to add players when one part of your team is world beaters. You know that at least one part of your team is exceptional.

And it's easier to have a team learn to play team defense than have your offensive stars suddenly become game breakers against playoff caliber D.

While I would love to have all of those guys, you do not need all three to win a title. TBL is in the finals because they changed how they played. They learned from the CBJ loss last year. They added some grittier players and have made team defense a priority. They already had great goaltending and talent.

I think the Flyers are good at keeping the puck out of there own net. If the top guys would have scored in the playoffs even a little bit more they are in the ECF. The Flyers are not that far off. They are not as good as the Lightning though.
- mickel25

funny how a guy like Pat Maroon ends up in a cup 2 straight years, not a good skater but doesn't look out of place, just plays to his strengths and plays the right way

Problem is G, Jake and JVR are declining and while we have some good kids in the system I don’t think we have nearly enough skill up front.

I’m mean really, aside from Coots, does anyone on this team look like a solid 1st line forward?
- hereticpride

I know he wasn't great in the playoffs either, but Konecny does in my opinion. He was pretty close to a point per game during the regular season. He has to continue to do that, but I think he can be.

I know he wasn't great in the playoffs either, but Konecny does in my opinion. He was pretty close to a point per game during the regular season. He has to continue to do that, but I think he can be.
- Ftown19125

Don't sleep on Frost, with time he can still be a Briere or at a stretch a G.

Don't sleep on Frost, with time he can still be a Briere or at a stretch a G.
- wcorvette

hope you're right. I want to see him play a season or 2 in the NHL though before i'm saying he looks like a first line player.

Don't sleep on Frost, with time he can still be a Briere or at a stretch a G.
- wcorvette

Do you think that assessment is good enough though? Do the Flyers need more good, but not great players?

Looking at past Stanley Cup winners I don't see many teams that win without a core of great players.