Is Gustafsson really just that bad or am I expecting to much??

Is Gustafsson really just that bad or am I expecting to much??
- Flyers_1488

What, exactly, were you expecting?

I guess the “action” in Chuck Fletcher’s “bias for action” statement refers to the action of sitting on your hands. A few minor trades and a couple bad free agent signings. IMO he has until the end of next season to get this team fixed or he should be fired, although I wouldn’t be surprised if he is fired this offseason. He has pretty much done nothing since he got here so it is tough to tell if he is even capable of making a hockey trade, value for value.

Move some core players and bad contracts out, i’m looking at you Voracek, Hayes, and Ghost, and find some younger cheaper players that actually play both offense and defense...maybe even someone that finishes their checks.

Shake these players up either through trades or benching veterans or changing captains or asking anyone with a NMC to waive it...at least pretend to care about this sinking ship.

I guess the “action” in Chuck Fletcher’s “bias for action” statement refers to the action of sitting on your hands. A few minor trades and a couple bad free agent signings. IMO he has until the end of next season to get this team fixed or he should be fired, although I wouldn’t be surprised if he is fired this offseason. He has pretty much done nothing since he got here so it is tough to tell if he is even capable of making a hockey trade, value for value.

Move some core players and bad contracts out, i’m looking at you Voracek, Hayes, and Ghost, and find some younger cheaper players that actually play both offense and defense...maybe even someone that finishes their checks.

Shake these players up either through trades or benching veterans or changing captains or asking anyone with a NMC to waive it...at least pretend to care about this sinking ship.
- darkerens

This is exactly the approach that Fletcher shouldn't have.

The Flyers has their legs going last night, and for I think the first time this entire season they moved their legs for 60 full minutes. And you can see the results, the Flyers dominated the game against a good team, at least territorially. But where the Flyers lost the game is their continued inability to bury their chances. Odd man rush after odd man rush resulting in 0 shots on goal. A late PP that was completely disasterous, and another PP where the Flyers best scorer Farabee sat on the bench. Every team makes mistakes and when you are not burying your chances, those mistakes get amplified, as it was in the OT session. The bottom line for me is this Flyers team can play sound defensively when they feel like it, but they lack 1. Toughness and Strength on the backend as evident on that first Islander goal, 2. The skill and mindset necessary to finish plays and 3. an effective PP. I would say as a player this one hurts more than the 9-0 score, because they came out and played the right way and still took the loss.

Elliott Friedman says the Flyers are more interested in Ryan Ellis than Mattias Ekholm.

Also they're looking at Marc Staal
- Tomahawk

This was the guy on NHL Tonight Pregame last night whose name I didn't get! Yes, he was talking about Ellis making more sense for the Flyers to give up assets for because he is signed for 6 more seasons after this one and has requested a trade from Nashville.

Is Gustafsson really just that bad or am I expecting to much??
- Flyers_1488

Mistakes get amplified when you don't bury your chances.

I'll take Staal as a cheap rental to play on the 3rd pair and on the PK. Won't change anything but it's better than paying a kings ransom for a player who won't change anything.
- MJL

Ellis won't change anything? You're joking right? Ha ha ha

Ellis won't change anything? You're joking right? Ha ha ha
- jd250

This season, no he won't. Which is why I wait until the off season to make a smart trade.


Why aren't you disappointed? You've repeatedly said that Ekholm is better than Ellis. Is Eliis the new team savior?

This season, no he won't. Which is why I wait until the off season to make a smart trade.
- MJL

Ok, so you would be up for getting Ellis in the off season? If so I am with you on that, because he is a good player with the attitude I think this team needs.

Ok, so you would be up for getting Ellis in the off season? If so I am with you on that, because he is a good player with the attitude I think this team needs.
- jd250

Why aren't you disappointed? You've repeatedly said that Ekholm is better than Ellis. Is Eliis the new team savior?

This season, no he won't. Which is why I wait until the off season to make a smart trade.


Why aren't you disappointed? You've repeatedly said that Ekholm is better than Ellis. Is Eliis the new team savior?
- MJL

Not disappointed because I like both of them. Ellis has a winners attitude and is very good offensively, but lacks some size. Ekholm has the size and toughness factor, and has good offensive capability, though not as much as Ellis. Either player would be a nice improvement for this team, however if I were Fletcher I think I would pick Ekholm if he was willing to sign longer term with the team.

Not disappointed because I like both of them. Ellis has a winners attitude and is very good offensively, but lacks some size. Ekholm has the size and toughness factor, and has good offensive capability, though not as much as Ellis. Either player would be a nice improvement for this team, however if I were Fletcher I think I would pick Ekholm if he was willing to sign longer term with the team.
- jd250

You keep mentioning Ekholm and toughness. That's not his game. He is more finesse than toughness. How else is Ellis different from Ekholm?

Morning Flyers fans, how we doing today?

Elliott Friedman says the Flyers are more interested in Ryan Ellis than Mattias Ekholm.

Also they're looking at Marc Staal
- Tomahawk

Said this a few weeks go, hom or Gudbradson (sp). Very predictable really.

Morning Flyers fans, how we doing today?
- login

Morning Flyers fans, how we doing today?
- login

- Bendecko

(not really though)

The most aggravating part of that loss is if we played like we did last night we would probably be one of the top two seeds in our division but this team has no desire to play good hockey consistently

Farabee made a couple of mistakes last night that cost the team... a shame because he's been playing so confidently.

This is exactly the approach that Fletcher shouldn't have.
- MJL

You’re right, stay the course it is working great. Maybe if we keep the core together one or two more year they will figure it out? I see a whole lot more moral victories and actual defeats in our future if that happens. I look forward to reading the “much better effort tonight”, “we’re getting our chances”, and “we competed for 60 minutes” posts after each loss as they continue pile up.

This was the guy on NHL Tonight Pregame last night whose name I didn't get! Yes, he was talking about Ellis making more sense for the Flyers to give up assets for because he is signed for 6 more seasons after this one and has requested a trade from Nashville.
- jd250

Fact check...and this one is funny

https://www.traderumours....job-by-NASCAR-racer-35383

You keep mentioning Ekholm and toughness. That's not his game. He is more finesse than toughness. How else is Ellis different from Ekholm?
- MJL

You don't watch many Nashville games do you? I have watched several Nashville games over the past month and Ekholm is tough, he makes people pay for going into corners with him, battles hard in the slot area and is willing to take a hit to make a play (unlike Sanheim and Myers). I haven't been able to watch Ellis because he has been hurt, but I think his game is more offensive given his size.

Is Chucky still employed by the Flyers or is that just a rumor? It's now or never! While I'm not advocating a panic move the dude should at least show signs of life. Either admit that you're throwing in the towel or do something now to give this team a chance. Of course, one could argue that he threw in the towel when he did nothing to replace Niskanen and perhaps the players sense this. One other thing, is Hayes on something? He must of had four or five good chances to shoot from danger scoring areas last night and it's like he was paralyzed every time. At least it looks like Sanheim took my advice and cut his hair(do they read this thread?). Perhaps now he'll stop playing like a little girl(he looked better last night).

My "way too late" observation about the current make up of this team. It seems that when things are down and we're not going well instead of doing the little things to get back into a game or at least start playing better, our top players try for that beautiful play or goal. Instead of skating hard, getting in on the forecheck, finishing checks, playing with balls, we try for that beaut and it seems to snowball on us.

Thoughts?

Fact check...and this one is funny

https://www.traderumours....job-by-NASCAR-racer-35383
- NC Flyers Fan

Freak'n trolls ... but better that Ellis is not that kind of player to request a trade publicly like that, which at the time I read it I thought was strange.