Bottom line is the entire roster is/has been for too many years poorly constructed. There simply isn’t enough talent to compete. Burn it down to the ground and start over. I wish the current ownership would walk away, I wish the GM would be replaced, and wish we had a legit head coach with the balls to make players accountable. Pipe dream, I know.

It's hard. Enjoy total off-days on the schedule. Plan stuff to do with my wife and kids when I get back. Commiserate with colleagues and with Flyers Alumni guys (most of whom still follow and care about the team, even ones who say they don't care anymore). Watch the Phantoms, who have turned things around a bit although it's a fragile turnaround. Watch a junior game, alternatively. Work on the Joe Watson book a bit.
- bmeltzer

Like I told you last year, this is an NHL bottom feeder franchise whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It's nothing short of a circus this year. They are a punchline. The last decade has been an embarrassment. Not going to even get into the fact we are going on half a century without a Cup.

There is no end in sight to any of it. It's a disgrace what is going on from top to bottom.

What a dumpster fire.

True, you know I meant season
- Angus4444

Technically, I'd only know what you mean by what you write. The rest is just a guess, which might be an impertinent thing to do.

The team has just lost 10 in a row .. AGAIN ... they scored 1 goal against a very bad Columbus team ... they once again made another mediocre goalie look like Patrick Roy, and you want me to get excited about a kid's Corsi??? How many shots on goal did Frost get? How many goals did his line score to help the team win? The Flyers PP was again 0 for 4, what did Frost do on the 2nd PP unit to actually generate a scoring chance? Sorry, I could care less about his possession numbers!
- jd250

Not bad as made me chuckle

Case in point: In the third period, he got out one shift with Giroux and suddenly came alive.
- bmeltzer

That’s not saying much. Everyone plays better with Giroux.

That’s not saying much. Everyone plays better with Giroux.
- psuhockey

Then it's settled. Everyone on this team is a bust without Giroux.

Meatloaf sandwich for lunch?

That’s not saying much. Everyone plays better with Giroux.
- psuhockey

And how does everyone play when their 5-on-5 linemates are current day JvR+Mayhew or MacEwen + Bunnaman/Cates? Because those have been his main linemates for the past eight games. Is THAT putting an offensive player in position to succeed?

As relates to the power play, it's a mess on both units.

What a dumpster fire.
- Nh_kong

Apparently the record for the most losses by the team is 12 and not 10. Soon we’ll surpass that mark. I think the penguins 18 game record is in jeopardy too. That would be a nice feather in our caps. Longest unbeaten streak and longest losing streak too. Go for gold guys.

Seeing that Mayhew played in the Wild organization and is from Michigan certainly explains a lot. But is giving a purpose to the friends of Chuck Fletcher and Kevin Hayes really the best use of the Flyer’s hockey team? Is giving a purpose to former Flyer’s the best use of the Flyer’s management staff?

And how does everyone play when their 5-on-5 linemates are current day JvR+Mayhew or MacEwen + Bunnaman/Cates? Because those have been his main linemates for the past eight games. Is THAT putting an offensive player in position to succeed?

As relates to the power play, it's a mess on both units.
- bmeltzer

Bill, why in the world would Fletcher be able to make any more trades for this team ? This is a disaster. And to all the folks that thought Risto would be getting a raise this off season, I think not. If we re-sign him and G I think I’m done with this team, they need to go in a different direction.

And how does everyone play when their 5-on-5 linemates are current day JvR+Mayhew or MacEwen + Bunnaman/Cates? Because those have been his main linemates for the past eight games. Is THAT putting an offensive player in position to succeed?

As relates to the power play, it's a mess on both units.
- bmeltzer

Then Bill help ne understand then WTF is the GM and coach doing?

How and why doesn't the GM explain to the coach he needs to play in a consistent top 9 role to evaluate him? Any other role is unacceptable at this point.

Any person can see they are complete buffoons except the ones making the decisions.

[quote=Shrike]Seeing that Mayhew played in the Wild organization and is from Michigan certainly explains a lot. But is giving a purpose to the friends of Chuck Fletcher and Kevin Hayes really the best use of the Flyer’s hockey team? Is giving a Where does this friends of Kevin Hayes narrative come from? what am i missing here?

Seeing that Mayhew played in the Wild organization and is from Michigan certainly explains a lot. But is giving a purpose to the friends of Chuck Fletcher and Kevin Hayes really the best use of the Flyer’s hockey team? Is giving a purpose to former Flyer’s the best use of the Flyer’s management staff?
- Shrike

Hearing Mayhew was once Wild property after his goal, right away I thought to myself “why am I not surprised?”

Chuck is even worse a manager than I thought. I was all for Chris Stewart being signed here if he could offer some skill sets of ten years ago and fight. He could barely do either. I don’t know what the Hayes connection is, where we had to have him but trading and signing for all of his buddies (Yandle, Atkinson, Brown) is most certainly a bad sign. This isn’t a country club. If you need to bring in friends, bring in friends who have accomplished something. Not one’s who need favors.

Then Bill help ne understand then WTF is the GM and coach doing?

How and why doesn't the GM explain to the coach he needs to play in a consistent top 9 role to evaluate him? Any other role is unacceptable at this point.

Any person can see they are complete buffoons except the ones making the decisions.
- hello it's me 2050

Don’t worry, when Ellis is back this will all be sorted out haha

The team has just lost 10 in a row .. AGAIN ... they scored 1 goal against a very bad Columbus team ... they once again made another mediocre goalie look like Patrick Roy, and you want me to get excited about a kid's Corsi??? How many shots on goal did Frost get? How many goals did his line score to help the team win? The Flyers PP was again 0 for 4, what did Frost do on the 2nd PP unit to actually generate a scoring chance? Sorry, I could care less about his possession numbers!
- jd250

I didn't ask you to get excited about anything. It's simply factual information that shows that he was not terrible in the game last night. Make it into something it's not all you want. Yes, the team just lost 10 in a row....AGAIN. So focus on the rookie Frost who has played 42 games or so in the NHL. The question is what did Giroux, Konecny, Farabee and Atkinson do on the PP? Or how about Provorov or Yandle? You know, the veteran experienced players on the team.

Meatloaf sandwich for lunch?
- hello it's me 2050

Dat aint right

I didn't ask you to get excited about anything. It's simply factual information that shows that he was not terrible in the game last night. Make it into something it's not all you want. Yes, the team just lost 10 in a row....AGAIN. So focus on the rookie Frost who has played 42 games or so in the NHL. The question is what did Giroux, Konecny, Farabee and Atkinson do on the PP? Or how about Provorov or Yandle? You know, the veteran experienced players on the team.
- MJL

Frost was absolutely invisible for two periods, he had a decent third. The PP is a mess, it’s foolish to focus on one player.

Bill, why in the world would Fletcher be able to make any more trades for this team ? This is a disaster. And to all the folks that thought Risto would be getting a raise this off season, I think not. If we re-sign him and G I think I’m done with this team, they need to go in a different direction.
- ClaudeFather

This is direct turnabout on Ristolainen. You seemed to like him earlier in the season.

Frost was absolutely invisible for two periods, he had a decent third. The PP is a mess, it’s foolish to focus on one player.
- ClaudeFather

I wouldn't say invisible. He made a few plays in the first two periods but nothing special overall. He needs to play with better players.

And how does everyone play when their 5-on-5 linemates are current day JvR+Mayhew or MacEwen + Bunnaman/Cates? Because those have been his main linemates for the past eight games. Is THAT putting an offensive player in position to succeed?

As relates to the power play, it's a mess on both units.
- bmeltzer

I understand Frost's line mates are a joke, but at least with MacEwen I see a player that is trying out there, making plays, even 1 against 3 plays. What is Frost doing with the time he has? When has Frost made an assertive play like we see MacEwen do game after game? With Frost's supposed top 6 skills, at least get some shots on goal and create some scoring chances. He doesn't even do that. What kind of player are we talking about that apparently can't make an impact unless he plays with all stars? Is that what we are saying Frost is?

Kid, make a play .. stand out ... do something that says you want to be on this team!

This is direct turnabout on Ristolainen. You seemed to like him earlier in the season.
- MJL

Its not a matter of not liking Risto, its doing what is best for this team's future. Right now this team is in no position to be signing a defenseman like Risto at $5.5-6M per. They need to gain as many assets as they can and retool with younger, faster and more skilled players.

Firing the pres/gm, asst gms, advisors, scouts, medical staff, and coaches before fixing the roster is the most important thing here. This management staff can’t be allowed to further devalue the roster.

This is direct turnabout on Ristolainen. You seemed to like him earlier in the season.
- MJL

I still think he’s been ok here, but I had hoped this team would be a playoff team. It is clear that it’s a disaster of epic proportions. There is no need to sign a player like Risto right now with the direction things are going.