So you don't think a different player wearing the 'C' would cause any change at all to the dynamics on this team? Its all a moot discussion anyway, it will never happen. This org would never do that to G unless he wanted to drop it.
- jd250

If anything it would be detrimental to the team

One guy isn’t going to help, but adding guys that love that part of the game is over due....word was the Flyers looked for some pieces over the break but apparently didn’t act on them. I mean Fletcher isn’t stupid, he see’s what we all see. The problem is only going to get amplified as the Flyers play the same teams over and over again. I’m not advocating adding guys who can only fight....but guys who actually who engage in the physical part of the game.
- landros 2

Yes I wasn’t advocating for a fighter. Those days are over for the premeditated fights. I just want some players with a pulse. I want a guy on every line that fits the skill set of said line but he’s a wiener to play against.

It is these 3 for sure, but I also include Voracek, Hayes and Provorov, because they are your highest plaid players. Leadership comes with the paycheck whether you like it or not. I don't mind saying it, I love G, but I really wouldn't mind seeing how the team would play with Couturier wearing the 'C'.
- jd250

It's not about the letter on the sweater and who wears it. It's about the leadership group leading on the ice. Letter or no letter. Starting with Giroux.

Probably still recovering from his inauguration day celebration. Happy to be able to go a few days without Sheldon telling us all how dumb we are compared to him on a hourly basis.
- MBFlyerfan

👍

Nobody. He practiced on the side with myers coots. If you want me to be honest it seemed like the flyers wanting to limit contact to only necessary contact (games)
- Tfaehner

I guess. At least he skated and he's supposed to play tomorrow.

I think PT and Login are house shopping.
- Angus4444

LOL

If anything it would be detrimental to the team
- ClaudeFather

When has a stripped captaincy ever resulted in an immediate team turnaround?

I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Usually it just blows up into a gigantic soap opera.

Yes I wasn’t advocating for a fighter. Those days are over for the premeditated fights. I just want some players with a pulse. I want a guy on every line that fits the skill set of said line but he’s a wiener to play against.
- Angus4444

The premeditated fights are done but I agree having guys willing to do it and stand up for their team mates....I agree skill is always going to be king, but having guys to help create space for the skill guys has always and will always be needed. I’ve said that this team is deep...they have pieces....I just don’t think they have the right pieces to solve the puzzle.

The premeditated fights are done but I agree having guys willing to do it and stand up for their team mates....I agree skill is always going to be king, but having guys to help create space for the skill guys has always and will always be needed. I’ve said that this team is deep...they have pieces....I just don’t think they have the right pieces to solve the puzzle.
- landros 2

I can see that, I do believe if there wasn't a flat cap and expansion coming Fletcher would have done some tinkering, especially when Nisk retired.

So your number 2 overall pick who needs all the reps he can get being replaced by a guy who shouldn't even be in the AHL. This is classic Flyers (why they will always be 3 years way). Flyers love them unskilled vets -

Their struggles predate Coots' injury and Niskanen's retirement, and Gus arriving, so it's not a problem that's going to be magically solved by some silver bullet trade or roster reshuffling. They've been terrible clear back to the original return to play.

Old hockey cliche applies here... they need to really focus on keeping things simple while they work to rebuild their structure, competitiveness and confidence. And learn to play as a group again.
- Tomahawk

Amen, brother! Couldn't have said it better myself. I'm not sure why, but it's like Jekyll/Hyde with this team. They looked like legit contenders pre-COVID and like they didn't belong in the playoffs against Montreal and the Islanders. If it wasn't for Hart standing on his head multiple games, I doubt they would have made it out of the first round.

Give them a few games to try to adjust with the lineup changes due to energy and then hit the panic button if they get swept by the Devils. I've been watching & playing hockey my entire life and while I admit that I am not all-knowing like some posters, I do agree with those that believe the team is easy to play against. I use that term to reflect a lack of a few things and don't just think there is a magic formula to solve it. #1 - they don't have anyone with game breaking speed to worry about. #2 - they don't have many players that are relentless forecheckers to spread around the lineup. #3 - they don't have any really hard hitters to make other teams concerned about heading into corners or skating with their heads down. #4 - they don't have any pure snipers to punish teams for taking dumb penalties against us. I don't think this a reason to have heart failure. If they had all of those things we'd be playing in the SCF every year. Hopefully these holes will be filled (either internally or externally). I don't think Fletcher, AV or the players are oblivious to these needs, but you can't fit square pegs into round holes. Give it a chance to play out.

When has a stripped captaincy ever resulted in an immediate team turnaround?

I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Usually it just blows up into a gigantic soap opera.
- Tomahawk

Yea exactly. The one “smooth” transition lately has been Kopitar but the Kings have had one good season since the change. Who wears the C has no impact on the playing when we are talking about an in-house switch. The media would have ammo for weeks, that’s about it.

So your number 2 overall pick who needs all the reps he can get being replaced by a guy who shouldn't even be in the AHL. This is classic Flyers (why they will always be 3 years way). Flyers love them unskilled vets -
- mr4tno

da fuq are you talking about?

Give them a few games to try to adjust with the lineup changes due to energy and then hit the panic button if they get swept by the Devils. I've been watching & playing hockey my entire life and while I admit that I am not all-knowing like some posters, I do agree with those that believe the team is easy to play against. I use that term to reflect a lack of a few things and don't just think there is a magic formula to solve it. #1 - they don't have anyone with game breaking speed to worry about. #2 - they don't have many players that are relentless forecheckers to spread around the lineup. #3 - they don't have any really hard hitters to make other teams concerned about heading into corners or skating with their heads down. #4 - they don't have any pure snipers to punish teams for taking dumb penalties against us. I don't think this a reason to have heart failure. If they had all of those things we'd be playing in the SCF every year. Hopefully these holes will be filled (either internally or externally). I don't think Fletcher, AV or the players are oblivious to these needs, but you can't fit square pegs into round holes. Give it a chance to play out.
- daddytc

I've been listening to a lot of hockey on the radio and national commentators and eventually the talk gets around to discussing the Flyers. They all agree that the Flyers are not playing well right now but they still expect the Flyers to be one of the better teams this season when all is said and done. How can that be with all the holes on the team that you see?

I'm as frustrated as everyone else but we all know this team is going to go on some 10-12 game win strick and pull you right back in when you're ready to throw in the towel.

Seems to be that way the past few seasons.

I'm as frustrated as everyone else but we all know this team is going to go on some 10-12 game win strick and pull you right back in when you're ready to throw in the towel.

Seems to be that way the past few seasons.
- Pelle31Forever

That might not be enough this season and thats the issue

I've been listening to a lot of hockey on the radio and national commentators and eventually the talk gets around to discussing the Flyers. They all agree that the Flyers are not playing well right now but they still expect the Flyers to be one of the better teams this season when all is said and done. How can that be with all the holes on the team that you see?
- MJL

Injuries happen to every team - some more than others. As long as this team puts in a good effort - they'll be at the top at the end. The 1st 3 lines need to look at the 4th for inspiration.

SuperSchennBros

What is it what you want to achieve with physical play after being down 3 to 1 in Boston.You will not get the game back
First period play was ever the problem no matter who played
Now team is balanced if you look at line combination but not skills
Let Pitlick,Grant and Thompson walk was not a good idea and Niskanen was a huge surprise as well
- goenzoy

I have no idea what you’re talking about. My comment didn’t say a single thing about the need for physicality. I agree with the person who said it but I didn’t say anything about physicality.

To many average NHL players maybe. Need more x rated talent to get to the other side of the hill.
- Landsbergfan

I have no idea what you idiots are talking about.

I've been listening to a lot of hockey on the radio and national commentators and eventually the talk gets around to discussing the Flyers. They all agree that the Flyers are not playing well right now but they still expect the Flyers to be one of the better teams this season when all is said and done. How can that be with all the holes on the team that you see?
- MJL

How many of those radio and national commentators watch all the Flyers games and are intimately involved in the day to day with the team? I bet not many if any at all. I think they just spew what the conventional "wisdom" was when the season started, which was "the Flyers have a nice mix of veterans and young players, they are getting Lindblom back from cancer, and don't forget he was their leading scorer last year before he got diagnosed, and they finally have a great goalie in Carter Hart".

I've been listening to a lot of hockey on the radio and national commentators and eventually the talk gets around to discussing the Flyers. They all agree that the Flyers are not playing well right now but they still expect the Flyers to be one of the better teams this season when all is said and done. How can that be with all the holes on the team that you see?
- MJL

IDK how others feel, but it feels very odd to have my concerns blown off by other teams fans with a quick “The Flyers are going to be fine...really” and yet it is somewhat reassuring.

Several years ago I got roasted here for saying the root cause of the Flyers problems was simple. The very expensive core of the team including the two guys making over $8 million per (G & Jake), along with sub par goalies and slow, unskilled forwards would continue to plague this team. Dumping the puck in and giving chase is a sure fire way to miss the playoffs. A complete rebuild was the only answer as well as a new way of playing the game. I took so much grief I stopped posting.
Well the two $8 million guys are still here, and the forwards while getting younger and faster, are still not as skilled as the elite teams players seem to be. The goalies are better but the dump and chase is alive and well.
This team still isn't capable of a cup. It's 46 yrs and counting. Disgrace.

Their struggles predate Coots' injury and Niskanen's retirement, and Gus arriving, so it's not a problem that's going to be magically solved by some silver bullet trade or roster reshuffling. They've been terrible clear back to the original return to play.

Old hockey cliche applies here... they need to really focus on keeping things simple while they work to rebuild their structure, competitiveness and confidence. And learn to play as a group again.
- Tomahawk

Been saying this for years and will keep saying it till he is gone! G is the problem.
blah blah the numbers this and the numbers that but it doesn't matter what HE does when its a team game!

Give them a few games to try to adjust with the lineup changes due to energy and then hit the panic button if they get swept by the Devils. I've been watching & playing hockey my entire life and while I admit that I am not all-knowing like some posters, I do agree with those that believe the team is easy to play against. I use that term to reflect a lack of a few things and don't just think there is a magic formula to solve it. #1 - they don't have anyone with game breaking speed to worry about. #2 - they don't have many players that are relentless forecheckers to spread around the lineup. #3 - they don't have any really hard hitters to make other teams concerned about heading into corners or skating with their heads down. #4 - they don't have any pure snipers to punish teams for taking dumb penalties against us. I don't think this a reason to have heart failure. If they had all of those things we'd be playing in the SCF every year. Hopefully these holes will be filled (either internally or externally). I don't think Fletcher, AV or the players are oblivious to these needs, but you can't fit square pegs into round holes. Give it a chance to play out.
- daddytc

I have to agree with your 4 points here, its exactly what I observe each game I watch this team play. However I actually want to be rooting for this team to be competing in the SCF every year, and the gaps you list here must be addressed before that can happen!