One win is not a streak.. but two wins.. well.. now we have ourselves a streak!

Let's go flyers!!!

Team positive on this board today!

Wooooooooo!!
- Bob Habib

And the streak's beginning would be...wait for it...Tuesday! :-)

Flyers need a solid win where they take a lead and maintain it through the third. Their last two wins were come from behind scrambles against the Pens and Buffalo. They haven’t had a convincing win against a playoff contender in over a month. The last was 7-4 against the Caps pre COVID. Time to get down to business and play with some consistency.
- Djapana

That was this season, not pre-covid.

Myers is not the only option left. Gostisbehere has been playing with Provorov for how many games now? Myers is being benched for the reasons I've given. It's obvious to see in his play. Coaches will accept bad reads or turnovers to a degree. They won't accept for a young player to be non-competitive on the puck.
- MJL

True that AV has played Ghost with Provorov, but its clear that its not working, he basically stated that yesterday. He is looking for Myers to step into that role, which I am sure was the plan all along going into this season and probably the reason Fletcher didn't try to hastily fill in the off season. The question is, do you give it the entire season for Myers' game to improve enough and risk missing the playoffs, or do you go until the deadline and make a deal if a player you like is available?

With the way they have played so far, they are fortunate their record and spot in the standing isn't in terrible shape.

Outside of a handful of players (Farabee, JVR, Couturier) majority of the roster is underachieving.

The big concern is the mix on the backend. It isn't good. A substantial upgrade is imperative. I do not have any confidence Fletcher will be able to make a solid trade. He's mismanaged the blueline terribly. Bringing back Hagg and Braun very questionable. Signing Gustafsson please. Losing Friedman for nothing and moving Morin to the wing. It has pretty much been a disaster.
- PLindbergh31

The defense has been an ugly mixed bag for sure. A positive here and there cancelled out by a hulking mistakes. The chemistry and slotting was a big question before the season started. By all indications, Fletcher tried to find other options to help and there wasn’t anything available. I am still hopeful that some support for the blue line can be brought in before the trade deadline.

The Flyers have two options as I see it: 1. fill the top pairing role now, or 2. miss the playoffs this year and try to fill that role in the offseason, unless Myers shows he can do it. If the Flyers choose option 1, Myers would be a valuable trade chip because he is a young RHD defenseman. I mean, do you think any team is going to give up a potential top pairing defenseman for a draft pick? The Flyers have no other defensive prospect in their system that would entice a team to trade with them.
- jd250

You ever hear of Yegor Zamula or Cam York? You're wrong.

Agreed. So many of their issues that is even affecting individual players is their lack of attention to detail defensively. Team wide. Improve that and with their offensive talent, they'd be a good team. Not in the upper echelon but in that second tier. There isn't going to be a player available at the deadline that would make a bigger impact than that. There isn't going to be a difference maker available.
- MJL

Maybe it is time to remove some of those said players if they are not getting with the program.

The first step of our defense getting fixed is Provorov needs to play much better, he has not been playing to what he is capable of. The D-zone coverage is an absolute mess, for the forwards included. I know most teams used that F1/2/3 approach in the Dzone but that’s what leads to these wingers in front like TK covering no one. I’d rather have the actual center down there.
- ClaudeFather

I hear what you're saying but you just can't play that way in the NHL. First forward back has to play the center spot defensively.

The defense has been an ugly mixed bag for sure. A positive here and there cancelled out by a hulking mistakes. The chemistry and slotting was a big question before the season started. By all indications, Fletcher tried to find other options to help and there wasn’t anything available. I am still hopeful that some support for the blue line can be brought in before the trade deadline.
- NC Flyers Fan

How bout Chara for 800k? Is that better than Gustafsson at 3 million?

Just heard on NHL radio that the Bruins still have all 8 games against Buffalo yet to play.

I hear what you're saying but you just can't play that way in the NHL. First forward back has to play the center spot defensively.
- MJL

Yea, just annoying seeing a winger stand there covering no one but that just ties into this awful Dzone coverage in general.

True that AV has played Ghost with Provorov, but its clear that its not working, he basically stated that yesterday. He is looking for Myers to step into that role, which I am sure was the plan all along going into this season and probably the reason Fletcher didn't try to hastily fill in the off season. The question is, do you give it the entire season for Myers' game to improve enough and risk missing the playoffs, or do you go until the deadline and make a deal if a player you like is available?
- jd250

If it's not working, it's not because of Gostisbehere. It's because Provorov has been sub par for a while now.
When looking at any trade, just making the team better for a player you like is not the only factor that needs to be considered.

You ever hear of Yegor Zamula or Cam York? You're wrong.
- eabrenner

Zamula is struggling on the Phantoms according to all reports I have read, so he is not even close to getting to the next level. York just completed his 1st college season and most likely will be back for another, so he is at least another year before he plays his first pro game. If you are a team trading an established top 4 defenseman, these players will not interest you.

That was this season, not pre-covid.
- eabrenner

Yes they beat the Caps on 2/7. By pre COVID I meant before the team lost so many players to the COVID protocol list.

How bout Chara for 800k? Is that better than Gustafsson at 3 million?
- PLindbergh31

Why would Washington trade us Chara?

And obviously Chara went to Washington for a reason. You always operate on this assumption that Fletch didn't make an offer to Chara. How do you have this insider info?

That being said, I thought the Gustafsson signing was questionable. Im fine with them signing Braun and Hagg.

Zamula is struggling on the Phantoms according to all reports I have read, so he is not even close to getting to the next level. York just completed his 1st college season and most likely will be back for another, so he is at least another year before he plays his first pro game. If you are a team trading an established top 4 defenseman, these players will not interest you.
- jd250

I disagree. If you're a team trading an established player for future assets, both Zemula and York would interest that team. Without a doubt.

A step is one foot at a time. A hop is both feet at the same time.

A win tonight extends the streak to two games. :-)
- Scoob

Exactly my point! One foot after the other, one win needs another to start a streak.

Hopple off, now.

(You mean you can’t hop on one foot at your age. )

Just heard on NHL radio that the Bruins still have all 8 games against Buffalo yet to play.
- MBFlyerfan

I think the Bruins are more looking forward to the 3 games left with the Flyers.

If it's not working, it's not because of Gostisbehere. It's because Provorov has been sub par for a while now.
When looking at any trade, just making the team better for a player you like is not the only factor that needs to be considered.
- MJL

Ok, lets explore Provorov's game for a moment. Is he not playing well right now because of the rotating partners he has had throughout this season, and the number of minutes he has been asked to play night after night, and the feeling that he has to overcompensate for the many gaps in coverage the Flyers have each game, or is it that his overall game is regressing on its own with no outside influences?

Zamula is struggling on the Phantoms according to all reports I have read, so he is not even close to getting to the next level. York just completed his 1st college season and most likely will be back for another, so he is at least another year before he plays his first pro game. If you are a team trading an established top 4 defenseman, these players will not interest you.
- jd250

Well that's just false. There are bad teams out there looking to re-build that have good defensemen that would love York and probably Zamula. That said, I don't see either being offered and I hope they don't.

Why would Washington trade us Chara?

And obviously Chara went to Washington for a reason. You always operate on this assumption that Fletch didn't make an offer to Chara. How do you have this insider info?

That being said, I thought the Gustafsson signing was questionable. Im fine with them signing Braun and Hagg.
- MBFlyerfan

Not talking about trading for him. He was a free agent was he not?

Well that's just false. There are bad teams out there looking to re-build that have good defensemen that would love York and probably Zamula. That said, I don't see either being offered and I hope they don't.
- eabrenner

See this is just what I don't understand or agree with. If you are correct and teams would be interested in Zamula or York, why wouldn't you trade them now to get a top 4 D that helps your big club right now? Is York right now helping the Flyers? Is Zamula? I would give either of these players up in a heartbeat if I can get a solid top 4 guy that I can sign longer term and will stabilize my D right now!

Ok, lets explore Provorov's game for a moment. Is he not playing well right now because of the rotating partners he has had throughout this season, and the number of minutes he has been asked to play night after night, and the feeling that he has to overcompensate for the many gaps in coverage the Flyers have each game, or is it that his overall game is regressing on its own with no outside influences?
- jd250

The minutes that Provorov has been asked to play is not different than any other season. He has carried a large load since his rookie season. Gostisbehere is playing well on that pairing. In my opinion the Flyers poor overall team defense is the biggest factor in the team's issues and in individual players issues. Making a trade is not the miracle fix.

How bout Chara for 800k? Is that better than Gustafsson at 3 million?
- PLindbergh31

My head says, do I have to answer that? But honestly, as a UFA Chara could pick his destination among his suitors. I really don’t know if the Flyers were in on him.

As for Gus, in a limited 3rd pairing, I think he has value on the power play. Regardless of what is said about him and Ghost having different styles of play, I can only think that if Ghost were to be used in trade, having Gus makes more sense.

See this is just what I don't understand or agree with. If you are correct and teams would be interested in Zamula or York, why wouldn't you trade them now to get a top 4 D that helps your big club right now? Is York right now helping the Flyers? Is Zamula? I would give either of these players up in a heartbeat if I can get a solid top 4 guy that I can sign longer term and will stabilize my D right now!
- jd250

Why don't we try and trade every young player we have to try and get a better or more established player for now? If that is the standard? What is the goal?

There is a simple question. Does making that deal elevate the Flyers to become a legitimate cup contender. Does it put them on par with teams like TB and Vegas? If the answer is no, then why give up the future for a marginal upgrade.

Does Andy Andreoff shop at the same big boy pants store as Nate Thompson?