Torts, forget the Frost stuff for now

If he really wanted to win, would he not sit ND after that game. A pens team, who is not that good, just caved in the 4th line
- wcorvette

With Cates injured, currently don't have a 13th forward. Probably will put Cates on IR and call up a player for the road. Don't see Deslauriers sitting. Too valuable in the room.

Foretser is now tied with Ovi in goals this season. The caps really need Ovi to start being Ovi.
- WhiskeyMan

Father time is undefeated. He may just be getting old and he knows that team isn't competing for any more Cups. He'll probably get his act together, but gonna be hard to break Gretzky's record.

I personally don't think that the Caps or the Flyers are a playoff team. I keep waiting for the Devils to get their act together.
- MJL

Agreed. I still feel that way too. The Devils will blow by both of them at some point.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Beat Penguins in OT, 2-1
- bmeltzer

Walker +7.. 11 points
Seeler +12.. 6 points- tied for 5th in NHL blocked shots
combined salary of 3.4M

best value on the team, I would like to see them play more minutes perhaps closing out games . Seem to be more steady than the #1 pairing lately.

Do the Pens even play the 3rd and 4th line
- wcorvette

Ha ha, their 3rd and 4th lines are brutal. If their aging stars don't perform every night they are cooked. The Flyers are already in better shape than 3 division rivals (Caps, Pens and Isles). Now we have to hope that management doesn't eff it up!

Walker +7.. 11 points
Seeler +12.. 6 points- tied for 5th in NHL blocked shots
combined salary of 3.4M

best value on the team, I would like to see them play more minutes perhaps closing out games . Seem to be more steady than the #1 pairing lately.
- 3flyerkids

Sanheim can't keep playing 26 minutes a game. He just can't handle it and yes, I agree they need to put more of a load on those two guys.

Carter Hart was awesome
- Rayc16

One of the best games I have seen him play. Its performances like this that make me believe he is more than capable of leading a team to a cup.

Rough first half of the game for Sanheim
- wcorvette

His play has tailed a little bit, well maybe a bit more then a little bit…maybe he shouldn’t be leading the entire NHL in ice time. They need to find that sweet spot…interesting that there were so many scouts at the game last night…you know they weren’t there to see Pitt who is all in…I thought Sean Walker picked a good night to play a string two way game.

The Caps are going to crash and burn as I've been saying, and the Flyers actually looked like the better team against the Isles and the Isles are a bunch of aging veterans. This is gonna be a big test for the new operations crew running this team.
- Phillywhiteout

I posted it a week or two ago, the Flyers are better than the Islanders, Caps, Penguins and Blue Jackets. The Flyers are a playoff bubble team right now whether we like it or not and this will complicate what Briere does as we get closer to the deadline.

Ha ha, their 3rd and 4th lines are brutal. If their aging stars don't perform every night they are cooked. The Flyers are already in better shape than 3 division rivals (Caps, Pens and Isles). Now we have to hope that management doesn't eff it up!
- Phillywhiteout

I guess they feel they owe it to the old core to see if they can catch lightning in a bottle one last time…but early returns do not look promising.

Mentioned during the broadcast scouts from 12 teams were in attendance.
Looking at Hart and Walker? I like Hart alot, but that is now a position of strength for the Flyers with Ersson and then Kosolov coming next year.

Torts, forget the Frost stuff for now

If he really wanted to win, would he not sit ND after that game. A pens team, who is not that good, just caved in the 4th line
- wcorvette

I have to look it up but after the early shift in the 3rd where the 4th line was trapped on the ice again, I don't recall seeing them the rest of the 3rd period. If that is true, good for Torts for shortening the bench there.

I posted it a week or two ago, the Flyers are better than the Islanders, Caps, Penguins and Blue Jackets. The Flyers are a playoff bubble team right now whether we like it or not and this will complicate what Briere does as we get closer to the deadline.
- jd250

They might be…but if Briere is smart he sell’s high on some assets…this is where it becomes tough for DB….is it a mirage? Personally I think they are what we see but, I still think and hope he sells between this morning and the deadline. Don’t by the BS some spew about there being no market.…there’s always a market when you have teams looking to buy and teams willing to sell.

Agreed. I still feel that way too. The Devils will blow by both of them at some point.
- Phillywhiteout

Or maybe they are a young team that is tired of listening to their old coach?

I guess they feel they owe it to the old core to see if they can catch lightning in a bottle one last time…but early returns do not look promising.
- landros 2

Yeah, they really have no choice at this point. They may still wake up (can their PP get any worse?), but in no way do I see them as Cup contenders at this point.

Agreed. I still feel that way too. The Devils will blow by both of them at some point.
- Phillywhiteout

The team with most talent doesn’t always win. NJ has to learn how to put it all together. If they do they could be special.

Love what torts has done with the locker room, the culture is winning games, despite our lack of talent. And its rare we come out and play with no effort. The days of G and Jake are long history. Wouldve been great to have this culture when the skill of those guys were still here.

They might be…but if Briere is smart he sell’s high on some assets…this is where it becomes tough for DB….is it a mirage? Personally I think they are what we see but, I still think and hope sells between this morning and the deadline. Don’t by the BS some spew about there being no market.…there’s always a market when you have teams looking to buy and teams willing to sell.
- landros 2

I think the Flyers are what they are, that is, if they stay healthy they can sneak into the playoffs and be a tough out in the 1st round. Hart is certainly capable of stealing a series also. But in the big picture, is that what is best for the Flyers at this stage of the rebuild? If you ask Torts he will tell you there is nothing better for the development of a young team than a playoff series. This is why I think if this season continues as it has for the Flyers, it will be very hard for DB to sell pieces at the deadline, not because other teams won't be calling, but because of the message it will send to the players.

Yeah, they really have no choice at this point. They may still wake up (can their PP get any worse?), but in no way do I see them as Cup contenders at this point.
- Phillywhiteout

I have a feeling that when that pp wakes up (and it will) that will be a tougher team to beat. There is just too much skill that can come at you while your a man down.

Love what torts has done with the locker room, the culture is winning games, despite our lack of talent. And its rare we come out and play with no effort. The days of G and Jake are long history. Wouldve been great to have this culture when the skill of those guys were still here.
- bradster

If only Hextall hired Torts instead of Hakstol, what a player G would have been. Jake would been gone the very next season.

I don't understand why everyone is always harping on Tortorella, he has the team winning and in a playoff position, so far. Isn't that the whole point? The Flyers are like the Coyotes in that they are somewhat of a lunch bucket group, but both coaches have them playing above their expected levels.

Sanheim can't keep playing 26 minutes a game. He just can't handle it and yes, I agree they need to put more of a load on those two guys.
- Phillywhiteout

Well it would help him if he didn't get stuck out on the ice in the 2nd and 3rd period for 3+ minute shifts. I put that on the 4th line, specifically Deslauriers inability to get the puck past the red line, both times.

Father time is undefeated. He may just be getting old and he knows that team isn't competing for any more Cups. He'll probably get his act together, but gonna be hard to break Gretzky's record.
- Phillywhiteout

Agreed, the team is going nowhere fast, he needs to average 23 goals a season for the rest of his contract to break the record.

One of the best games I have seen him play. Its performances like this that make me believe he is more than capable of leading a team to a cup.
- jd250

So glad the previous gm made moves that make them contenders for the cup

The team with most talent doesn’t always win. NJ has to learn how to put it all together. If they do they could be special.
- landros 2

Agreed. They are the scariest team to me going forward. They are loaded and still have more young talent on the way. They may need to find a legit goalie at some point, but there aren't many weaknesses on that team and they will probably only get better going forward.