They just don't have the players and talent to contend in the deepest division in the league.
- Pixote Andolini

I blame every GM past present and future.
I also blame every failed prospect for not trying harder or being coached better and then going to other teams and having success.
I blame coaches that had no biz being coaches from college and former player coaches who couldn't reach players here but could in St Lois.
I blame Fred Shero for winning that first cup and making me a Flipping Flyer fan.
If I could have only embraced the LA Kings purple and gold years or even the Gretzky years I could have felt the elation of a cup win...Idiot!!

Good chance the process will take even longer due to aging players with high cap hits clogging up the cap. Well said. Hey, are they relevant again?
- MJL

Lead by ex selke. His new contract didnt even kick n yet. You need vets though right Cliff

Final score of tonight's game will be 5-2 Devils. They have the speed and the Flyers don't. On a positive note, the sun came up today!!

Agree. I have been waiting 46 years. I would console myself with the fact that we were bridesmaids many times throughout. Lately It’s been nothing. No direction, no identity and nothing on the horizon that gives me hope. I’m afraid I’ve seen my last cup. I think I’ll go pull out the bunting piece that I tore down from the Spectrum’s 3rd deck balcony on the afternoon of May 19th, 1974, wrap it around my shoulders and have a good cry… then it’s on to the Eagles’ game.

Unfortunately this season is becoming eerily similar to last year…I agree there are some improvements, but maybe just not enough…time will tell.
- landros 2

Brain cloudy, weren't we 11-4 last year before wheels flew off and we blew a gasket?
Could be we are worse already record wise?

Agree. I have been waiting 46 years. I would console myself with the fact that we were bridesmaids many times throughout. Lately It’s been nothing. No direction, no identity and nothing on the horizon that gives me hope. I’m afraid I’ve seen my last cup. I think I’ll go pull out the bunting piece that I tore down from the Spectrum’s 3rd deck balcony on the afternoon of May 19th, 1974, wrap it around my shoulders and have a good cry… then it’s on to the Eagles’ game.
- Gogol

Very easily could have won the Cup in 1980,1985,1987,1997,2000,2004 and or 2010!! I'm not going to go into the reasons why they didn't cause I don't have the time. The last 10 years have been a disgrace though. Not enough sugar in the world to cover that shyte up.

Is it though? Look at stadium attendance for Hawks turn of the century. Look at same for Pens you know when.Was it the worst for those sports franchises?

In the NFL I agree with you. Thats why Chip Kelly was fired before season even ended, when fans started to leave during games. But not in the NHL.

The only way this franchise will turn around if fans reduced support (by say 20%) from competence (at best) and only returned to near 100% for contending (at least)

No franchise can absorb a 20% drop year after year. Damn straight the same Dave Scott will do what is needed to build a better team.
- PT21

Attendance average didn't drastically decline from the time before Hextall to during the Hextall era. It was generally between the 19,200 and 19,800 range. So why then did Scott and Holmgren fire Hextall stating that they wanted to team to be relevant again and wanted a more aggressive GM?

Brain cloudy, weren't we 11-4 last year before wheels flew off and we blew a gasket?
Could be we are worse already record wise?
- konalover711

They weren’t playing very well, despite that record last year. The play eventually matched the record. You might be right, maybe they aren’t as good. But I also think the major pieces missing this year has hurt. (Hayes and Ellis). Early on this year I thought they at least looked like they were progressing, that has stopped. The organization is in a tough spot….I really don’t know what the “right” answers are….but something has to give.

Very easily could have won the Cup in 1980,1985,1987,1997,2000,2004 and or 2010!! I'm not going to go into the reasons why they didn't cause I don't have the time. The last 10 years have been a disgrace though. Not enough sugar in the world to cover that shyte up.
- Phillywhiteout

They had zero chance in 97 IMO. No shock they were swept.

any link to the birds that can be shared?

They weren’t playing very well, despite that record last year. The play eventually matched the record. You might be right, maybe they aren’t as good. But I also think the major pieces missing this year has hurt. (Hayes and Ellis). Early on this year I thought they at least looked like they were progressing, that has stopped. The organization is in a tough spot….I really don’t know what the “right” answers are….but something has to give.
- landros 2

I agree with this. I expected the team that was put together to win about 6 games in the post season.

But seeing them play now, they do seem to be a team who know that deep down, they are not good enough. Like when they go down 4-0 and cannot summon up a pulse, and can't spoil the shutout. Or when they go down 6-3 and the last minute give up more chances against than for.

That is usually the sign of a team that is being asked to overachieve. A flameout is actually possible.

They weren’t playing very well, despite that record last year. The play eventually matched the record. You might be right, maybe they aren’t as good. But I also think the major pieces missing this year has hurt. (Hayes and Ellis). Early on this year I thought they at least looked like they were progressing, that has stopped. The organization is in a tough spot….I really don’t know what the “right” answers are….but something has to give.
- landros 2

Agree,
losing Ellis and Hayes hurts.

Of late, we just can't seem to ever have someone come up and light it up and show to be a pro for the next few years.

Did you catch how fast Tampa revamped their third line...of course throw in an ex flyer who was a 4th liner here...
Coaching?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/28/21 @ NJ; Phantoms Update
- bmeltzer

5 game losing streak -- can't wait to see the changes the coaching staff will make to shake things sup

It's basically near the point where I stop complaining and just become apathetic. That is the worst thing for any sports franchise is when fans stop caring.
- PLindbergh31

These last two seasons I have missed watching more games than I have in the last 20 years

I just do not seem to have the energy to sit through the suckiness any longer

Very easily could have won the Cup in 1980,1985,1987,1997,2000,2004 and or 2010!! I'm not going to go into the reasons why they didn't cause I don't have the time. The last 10 years have been a disgrace though. Not enough sugar in the world to cover that shyte up.
- Phillywhiteout

Could have..should have still equals zero though right now I would be happy with just an entertaining team on the upswing vs a boring team with no future of success.

I agree with this. I expected the team that was put together to win about 6 games in the post season.

But seeing them play now, they do seem to be a team who know that deep down, they are not good enough. Like when they go down 4-0 and cannot summon up a pulse, and can't spoil the shutout. Or when they go down 6-3 and the last minute give up more chances against than for.

That is usually the sign of a team that is being asked to overachieve. A flameout is actually possible.
- PT21

Asking this team to not hemorrhage scoring chances game in game out is not asking a team to overachieve.
Either the players are not a good fit for AV’s system or they don’t have the mental fortitude to play his system.
Either way it’s basically the same thing.
AV needs to adjust his system to fit the players he has.

Agree,
losing Ellis and Hayes hurts.

Of late, we just can't seem to ever have someone come up and light it up and show to be a pro for the next few years.

Did you catch how fast Tampa revamped their third line...of course throw in an ex flyer who was a 4th liner here...
Coaching?
- konalover711

Losing a 3C and a good, not great, defenseman isnt the problem. If a team cant absorb a couple of injuries , that arent to elite players, the problem is deep. Its the depth of the roster including the Phantoms.

So how long is Thompson out

Losing a 3C and a good, not great, defenseman isnt the problem. If a team cant absorb a couple of injuries , that arent to elite players, the problem is deep. Its the depth of the roster including the Phantoms.
- hfc355

The issue is again not depth. They have depth. It's the mix of players that is the issue. How many legitimate playmakers and play drivers does this team have? Giroux. Konecny when he is on can but not consistent. Couturier can control possession and normally put up points. That's about it right now. They don't have a defense that is strong in play driving. They don't have that elite attacking defenseman that top teams have. They looked at last year and saw certain things. This is a classic case of overcorrection. Despite claims that they do, this team does not defend well. Defending well in today's NHL is doing what it takes to defend less. Defending is losing hockey. Atkinson is a nice player but the loss of the qualities that Voracek brought was not replaced. Contrary to popular opinion, a physically aggressive defenseman in Ristolainen was not what was needed. You need a defenseman who can win board battles and play soundly in his own end but your top 4 needs to play with speed and move the puck quickly and attack in the offensive end. Ellis is pretty good player but he actually has to be able to play.

Asking this team to not hemorrhage scoring chances game in game out is not asking a team to overachieve.
Either the players are not a good fit for AV’s system or they don’t have the mental fortitude to play his system.
Either way it’s basically the same thing.
AV needs to adjust his system to fit the players he has.
- bird_dog_pa

It's a combination of injuries, talent and coaching. There are things that the coaching staff can do to help.

The issue is again not depth. They have depth. It's the mix of players that is the issue. How many legitimate playmakers and play drivers does this team have? Giroux. Konecny when he is on can but not consistent. Couturier can control possession and normally put up points. That's about it right now. They don't have a defense that is strong in play driving. They don't have that elite attacking defenseman that top teams have. They looked at last year and saw certain things. This is a classic case of overcorrection. Despite claims that they do, this team does not defend well. Defending well in today's NHL is doing what it takes to defend less. Defending is losing hockey. Atkinson is a nice player but the loss of the qualities that Voracek brought was not replaced. Contrary to popular opinion, a physically aggressive defenseman in Ristolainen was not what was needed. You need a defenseman who can win board battles and play soundly in his own end but your top 4 needs to play with speed and move the puck quickly and attack in the offensive end. Ellis is pretty good player but he actually has to be able to play.
- MJL

Answer this through someone else....
Who is amongst this plethora of depth you speak of?

These last two seasons I have missed watching more games than I have in the last 20 years

I just do not seem to have the energy to sit through the suckiness any longer
- corduroy

My pattern is watch till they blow a lead or fall behind by 2, turn off revisit and watch them F up some comeback or just see them flounder.
Never watch shootouts as outcome is Pre Ordained by Jebus.

Final score of tonight's game will be 5-2 Devils. They have the speed and the Flyers don't. On a positive note, the sun came up today!!
- Phillywhiteout

Flyers win. 😆

Just when you think the Eagles have their QB of the future…

Just when you think the Eagles have their QB of the future…
- landros 2

They do not and most have correctly thought otherwise.