In comparison to the rest of the league they are slow, what are you not understanding? I absolutely agree that they do themselves no favors the way they play but to sit here and say they are an average skating team is just false. They are a slow team compared to the rest of the league.
- ClaudeFather

The Flyers are an average skating team. What I understand that you apparently don't is how they play, is what makes them look slow. They spend a large part of the game defending and then chipping pucks out or putting them into 50/50 battles along the wall. If they do hit a forward, it's on a stretch pass where that player has no where to go, so they dump it in and go for a change. They don't break up plays in the neutral zone to create transition. The Flyers don't create speed or make plays to use the speed they have.
Watch tonight's game and contrast how the two teams play. Watch how NJ will curl players back deep and take a short pass to build speed through the neutral zone. Watch how other teams hit a pass in the neutral zone and then have teammates skate up a lane in puck support on a give and go to build speed and attack the blue line. The Flyers don't do any of this.

Perhaps they are slow, AND do a poor job at coaching a game to allow better transition play up the ice.

Sometimes the truth doesn’t lie in the extremes, and a bit more in the middle. Although I appreciate both points.

When your top two centres by design, are Couturier and Hayes, that does influence how you can attack.

I’d add a 3rd piece, and say they struggle because of a lack of skilled puck handlers. Konecny and Atkinson might have legs, but rarely do they have the ability to transition creatively like a Voracek.

It’s a skill issue first and foremost, and this team sits where they have for a decade because of their continued fascination with trying to chase a cup with a lineup of secondary players, bereft of the high end talent that’s required to even sniff real success.

Perhaps they are slow, AND do a poor job at coaching a game to allow better transition play up the ice.

Sometimes the truth doesn’t lie in the extremes, and a bit more in the middle. Although I appreciate both points.

When your top two centres by design, are Couturier and Hayes, that does influence how you can attack.

I’d add a 3rd piece, and say they struggle because of a lack of skilled puck handlers. Konecny and Atkinson might have legs, but rarely do they have the ability to transition creatively like a Voracek.

It’s a skill issue first and foremost, and this team sits where they have for a decade because of their continued fascination with trying to chase a cup with a lineup of secondary players, bereft of the high end talent that’s required to even sniff real success.
- FlyerFan3260

The Flyers had one of the top players in the league for a good many years in Giroux. After 2010, they never built the team around him good enough.

The Flyers had one of the top players in the league for a good many years in Giroux. After 2010, they never built the team around him good enough.
- MJL

They are set to do the same with Couturier, even if I don’t place Sean nearly on the same level as a prime level Giroux.

I really do wonder what kind of vision Fletcher is selling to Scott here. Marked improvements with picking in the middle of the first round annually?

Gaudreau somehow signing in Philadelphia in the summer isn’t propelling this franchise forward enough.

The overall direction is the biggest current issue. The worst possible thing to happen is some sort of hot streak if they manage to stay healthy for a bit. It will allow the beats to drum up further support for a truly failed architect. Fan frustration, and low attendance numbers compared to successful seasons needs to continue.

I don't want to go from Covid to strippers, and as such, this will be my last non-hockey post on this blog.

There was a period in the mid to late nineties when I frolicked with a vengeance. Part of said frolicking involved partaking big time in the pleasures of paid female companionship, in all its forms.

My two faves at that time were Signatures on 13th and Locust and Wizards at 38th and Chestnut. Both those places were wild. In those times, before gentrification, you would encounter a gauntlet of pushers and pimps along 13th street. They would offer you everything. I mean everything and no I will not say what the range of that everything was.

You know that old Eddie Murphy comment about strip clubs. Well, he never went to Wizards. The things they allowed to go on there were unreal.

Led to some bloody awkward moments too. One time, I stroll into Signatures around 1 AM or so. I had spent some of the afternoon that day chatting up a stunning barista in a very well known center city cafe, a trendsetter at that time. She attracted many the young man then to that counter.

Well, god help me, there she is on the stage, and her # is about to begin. I stand there, stunned and transfixed. Problem is, she also stands there, transfixed. Suddenly, real life intrudes. She gets bashful on that stage, because I am there. I cannot move because she is. The manager gets antsy. Still she stays clothed, just swaying her hips and in place. Our eyes are locked.

The music stops. The manager has a word with her. The cognoscenti get impatient. She looks at me beseechingly. And gentleman that I am, I get the message, and I leave.

Next day, she makes me a great cappuccino. We don't mention anything about the previous night.
- PT21

Intriguing story….read on…thought you might of married the girl…obviously not.

The Flyers are an average skating team. What I understand that you apparently don't is how they play, is what makes them look slow. They spend a large part of the game defending and then chipping pucks out or putting them into 50/50 battles along the wall. If they do hit a forward, it's on a stretch pass where that player has no where to go, so they dump it in and go for a change. They don't break up plays in the neutral zone to create transition. The Flyers don't create speed or make plays to use the speed they have.
Watch tonight's game and contrast how the two teams play. Watch how NJ will curl players back deep and take a short pass to build speed through the neutral zone. Watch how other teams hit a pass in the neutral zone and then have teammates skate up a lane in puck support on a give and go to build speed and attack the blue line. The Flyers don't do any of this.
- MJL

I literally mentioned in my first post about how they play, idk why your are choosing to die on this hill that the Flyers are an average skating team, they aren’t. They are one of the slowest teams in the league

Just look to our own division, Flyers are easily the slowest team.

Just look to our own division, Flyers are easily the slowest team.
- ClaudeFather

It’s an argument I get the passion behind. They are been woefully boring to watch for a long time.

One does have to admit though, that coaching is definitely a part of it.

I just have a hard time getting excited about such issues, when there are large problems afoot.

The GM remains the single biggest flaw. We are very much in mirror stages of his Minnesota tenure. Struggling to be average, and nothing more.

How he is being given any time to evaluate anything, after having multiple seasons at doing so, or a chance to hire another HC is beyond me. Apparently the Vancouver Canucks have a higher level of self respect.

Just look to our own division, Flyers are easily the slowest team.
- ClaudeFather

Agree. On ours our fastest skater is easily number 4 or 6 on other teams. No question.

It’s an argument I get the passion behind. They are been woefully boring to watch for a long time.

One does have to admit though, that coaching is definitely a part of it.

I just have a hard time getting excited about such issues, when there are large problems afoot.

The GM remains the single biggest flaw. We are very much in mirror stages of his Minnesota tenure. Struggling to be average, and nothing more.

How he is being given any time to evaluate anything, after having 3 yell seasons to do so, or a chance to hire another HC is beyond me. Apparently the Vancouver Canucks have a higher level of self respect.
- FlyerFan3260

The coaching is for sure a problem but to watch this team and not think they lack the foot speed and overall speed that other teams have is absurd

Allison no lower than 3rd line, IMO. He and Hayes will work well together.
- iamscore2day

I hope so but he still needs to prove it to me. I have high hopes for him but he has to start with staying healthy.

The Flyers are an average skating team. What I understand that you apparently don't is how they play, is what makes them look slow. They spend a large part of the game defending and then chipping pucks out or putting them into 50/50 battles along the wall. If they do hit a forward, it's on a stretch pass where that player has no where to go, so they dump it in and go for a change. They don't break up plays in the neutral zone to create transition. The Flyers don't create speed or make plays to use the speed they have.
Watch tonight's game and contrast how the two teams play. Watch how NJ will curl players back deep and take a short pass to build speed through the neutral zone. Watch how other teams hit a pass in the neutral zone and then have teammates skate up a lane in puck support on a give and go to build speed and attack the blue line. The Flyers don't do any of this.
- MJL

Really, this.

Not a team of Hal Gills and Jason Allisons at all... but damned if they don't look like it sometimes.

The coaching is for sure a problem but to watch this team and not think they lack the foot speed and overall speed that other teams have is absurd
- ClaudeFather

It's a part of the equation, but I do put more blame on the centermen for making it more noticeable.

I am openly not a fan of how the Flyers have chosen to voluntarily build their team when looking at the middle of the ice.

I would urge you to look past skating speed, because there is a lot more to it. Concerns with moving Voracek, one of the few forwards who was a net positive in terms of a creative transition game was a valid thought in the summer.

It's just a poorly assembled, and flawed team on so many fronts. Lacking high end talent. I don't know how many more seasons people need to be shown that to believe it. Coaching is a huge factor, but it's not the main culprit.

It's a part of the equation, but I do put more blame on the centermen for making it more noticeable.

I am openly not a fan of how the Flyers have chosen to voluntarily build their team when looking at the middle of the ice.

I would urge you to look past skating speed, because there is a lot more to it. Concerns with moving Voracek, one of the few forwards who was a net positive in terms of a creative transition game was a valid thought in the summer.

It's just a poorly assembled, and flawed team on so many fronts. Lacking high end talent. I don't know how many more seasons people need to be shown that to believe it. Coaching is a huge factor, but it's not the main culprit.
- FlyerFan3260

Again, I’m not arguing that. I’m fully aware what this team is doing and how it is constructed. When AV has them chipping a puck in with one guy flat footed and zero guys coming with speed to retrieve the puck you look pretty damn slow.

Again, I’m not arguing that. I’m fully aware what this team is doing and how it is constructed. When AV has them chipping a puck in with one guy flat footed and zero guys coming with speed to retrieve the puck you look pretty damn slow.
- ClaudeFather

It's just about solutions at this point, the problems are easy to point out.

I do believe the top 4 defenders, even with Ellis hurt are at an average level when it comes to being able to assist in the transition game. Vigneault's asinine schemes mask some of their abilities.

Provorov has taken a lot of heat, but while some of it warranted a lot isn't. His strength in moving the puck up ice is in his skating not passing. Defensemen were not allowed to be part of that transition scheme, nearly always looking for hail mary passes or caveman like rims up the boards.

I am heading off topic, but there was so much wrong with what Vigneault had them doing. The fact remains, that Fletcher doubled down on making this offseason's moves ones to cater to his head coach. Stuck by him after last season, and in turn already blew off one of our legs this season.

They look slow, because of the men entrusted with the direction of coaching, and building this team. That needs to be fixed first, or we can continue to believe misguided notions of things like poor player effort.

Marchand is light years ahead of TK, Marchand brings it every single night, TK is an inconsistent player
- ClaudeFather

Not disagreeing with you ... I think I already posted that TK was an enigma because he was inconsistent.

Marchand is light years ahead of TK, Marchand brings it every single night, TK is an inconsistent player
- ClaudeFather

Not disagreeing with you ... I think I already posted that TK was an enigma because he was inconsistent.

Serious question. It does look like the Flyers might be sellers at the deadline and possibly even sooner. With Giroux being a UFA in the offseason what do you think would be a reasonable bid to get him? The Jets look like they have lost Blake Wheeler for the rest of the season and as such do you think a package consisting of the following makes sense:

TO WPG: Claude Giroux

TO PHI: 2022 first round pick, Dylan Samberg (defensive prospect)

Serious question. It does look like the Flyers might be sellers at the deadline and possibly even sooner. With Giroux being a UFA in the offseason what do you think would be a reasonable bid to get him? The Jets look like they have lost Blake Wheeler for the rest of the season and as such do you think a package consisting of the following makes sense:

TO WPG: Claude Giroux

TO PHI: 2022 first round pick, Dylan Samberg (defensive prospect)
- TheUltimateJet

Samberg is a 22 year old, 6'3" 190 lb, LH Dman that was the 43 overall pick (2nd rd) by the Jets in 2017 with no NHL experience to date. Doesn't look to be much of an offensive producer.

At this point, I'm not sure what to expect as a fair return for G. Would like to think it's a 1st and at least a clear-cut NHL roster player. Just keep in mind that G does have a clause, so he would have to want to go to WPG for any deal with the Jets to happen

eye vomit

Serious question. It does look like the Flyers might be sellers at the deadline and possibly even sooner. With Giroux being a UFA in the offseason what do you think would be a reasonable bid to get him? The Jets look like they have lost Blake Wheeler for the rest of the season and as such do you think a package consisting of the following makes sense:

TO WPG: Claude Giroux

TO PHI: 2022 first round pick, Dylan Samberg (defensive prospect)
- TheUltimateJet

while interesting i honestly think it will come down to Giroux. The teams he is willing to waive for and have to consider how it may impact his family. If he is available and is willing to waive. i would imagine it would be for the top teams. Not saying Winnipeg isn't one of them, but may be just on the outside. He may also not consider it due to his family. But just guessing. also there may be a small bidding war between two or three teams if he is willing. but again just guessing. The teams right now i could see him being interested in going to.

both florida teams. Avalanche, Vegas, Wash, maybe toronto/jets.

So always a chance. Also for G i would hope they would ask for perfetti and that 1st rounder. but who knows.

I read back on some of the comments and see that the speed thing has come up once again. I have been saying that this team is slow at the forward position for 5 years now and I stick with that evaluation. Hayes, JVR and Couts are slow. That is 3 of your veterans hogging lots of cap space. TK may be the fastest on this team, but his lack of stick handling ability(puck fumbles) kind of diminishes returns on his speed. I always hear about Laughts' speed, but don't see it too much. Giroux has lost a step and he was never the best of skaters. Atkinson isn't as fast as I thought he was....could go on, but I'm getting dizzy.

Eh man. I disagree. Marchand has elite hands in tight, and elite ability to read plays. I haven't seen either from TK.
- PT21

I have seen that in TK, that PP pass to JVR the other game was totally a Marchand type of play. The big difference IMO is Marchand legs are always moving, TKs are not.

Devils have an 8 game losing streak sandwiched around two curb stompings of the Flyers. Maybe try beating them tonight.
- PLindbergh31

Yep.

Let’s go Flyers!

I have seen that in TK, that PP pass to JVR the other game was totally a Marchand type of play. The big difference IMO is Marchand legs are always moving, TKs are not.
- jd250

Marchant is one of the most complete players in the entire league. He does everything well.

K is one dimensional. Just different players. However, Konecnys passing has been pretty damn good of late. I’m sure the goals will come.

Also I wonder how many other fanbases in the nhl complain about how fast their players are..

Agree w some on here that the puck moves faster than a player and maybe it’s our system that is the issue. As in if you are chasing the puck constantly it prob makes you look kinda slow.

The one thing I do know is Konecny and Atkinson are very good skaters. That much most in the league and just an in person eye test will confirm.