The Hart situation was a blessing in disguise hockey wise. Saved the Flyers from themselves.
- MJL

no argument here.

I didn’t have a problem with his post game presser. He didn’t send Shaw out.
- roenick97

Has any NHL head coach other than Torts sent out an assistant to handle a post game presser this season?

I don't think they burned a year. It was already tolled once, and he's 27 going on 28.
- Feanor

I consider them bringing him for the final few weeks of the season as burning the year. If the Flyers hadn't put him on the roster to finish out the season the contract would've tolled again. Same as what would've happened to Gauthier if they had brought him in after the end of the college season.

No, he's not right and your just being a puppet to everything he says. Effort wise, how did they play in the big games against the big 7? Did it look like they didn't have the balls? All season long this team has played it's balls off for this coach and now he's saying they don't have any? Bullpoop. They're out of gas. Konecny doesn't look close to the player he has been all season. He's ran them into the ground and they're on fumes and hanging on. The coach is an ass.
- MJL

I'm so tired of you blaming the coach everytime there is a down turn. Its lazy and most of all inaccurate. These players are professional athletes. They are not pee-wees. The Flyers have played just about the same number of games and same number of minutes of any other team in the league. But in your mind the Flyers players are tired, but other team's player are not? And the Flyers players are hurt, but other team's players are not hurt? And somehow being hurt or being tired is the fault of the coach in your mind? This is the nature of a long 82 game grind of a season. The players have played hard this season and have clearly exceeded expectations, but what we have seen these past 3 games is a team that is choking against inferior teams. This is not about fatigue, this is about players not being able to execute when the games mean something more. In the end it's all good data, and I sincerely hope Briere uses this data to make the right moves this off season. And no, one of those moves will not be to replace the coach.

I didn’t have a problem with his post game presser. He didn’t send Shaw out. He didn’t storm off the podium. He called out the team. Not only did he call out the team, Torts was saying all the things that get said in here.
- roenick97

great for Torts - his bar is so low that he now gets credit for actually speaking to the media and not storming off. He acted like an ass as usual. ND playing 5 minutes was awesome. The Isles definitely felt his presence.

Ersson has had a good year for a young goalie, but he clearly is struggling. Fedotov looked solid last night, gave them every chance to win. That might indeed be the Tandem next year.
As far as Torts comments last night, no one should surprised. That’s him. It’s his last ditch effort to get this turned around. Call out their man hood….lol… Frankly I don’t see it, but they have surprised me all year. To me the difference has been the goaltending….it’s really given them chances all year. Of late it’s not. Most teams struggle when they are chasing games and that is happening every night it seems.
- landros 2

Yes, Ersson's save pct. has been abysmal lately. He simply isn't stopping enough pucks and giving up at least one bad goal every game.

I consider them bringing him for the final few weeks of the season as burning the year. If the Flyers hadn't put him on the roster to finish out the season the contract would've tolled again. Same as what would've happened to Gauthier if they had brought him in after the end of the college season.
- Flyers_01

I don't think that's true. Gauthier is 20. Fedotov will be 28 in November.

If they hadn't brought him over now he probably never would have played for the Flyers, so Briere made the right move.

I bring up Hart because when he was still here, some had posted that he was too old to still be around for the rebuild and that was one reason that they should move on. Fedotov is 27 so is he too old? I certainly don’t believe that and think he’s likely entering his prime. They have to re sign him.
- Hextall271

I think the difference is that Hart was going to be looking for a 5,6,7 year deal, while Fedotov will probably be getting at best...2 years?

I didn’t have a problem with his post game presser. He didn’t send Shaw out. He didn’t storm off the podium. He called out the team. Not only did he call out the team, Torts was saying all the things that get said in here.
- roenick97

I had no issue with the presser. Fedotov was put in a hard position and the piss poor effort in the 2nd made it worse. Baptism by fire.

I don't think that's true. Gauthier is 20. Fedotov will be 28 in November.
- Feanor

Maybe MJL or someone can clarify it. My understanding is far from perfect on this matter.

I don't think they burned a year. It was already tolled once, and he's 27 going on 28.
- Feanor

He only on a 1-year contract so he's playing out that year now.

He's aged out of slide eligibility so 1-game or 10-games it doesn't matter. It's a year off the contract.

This team is obviously cooked. They just played 15 games in 30 days and have been playing balls to the wall hockey since October. The fact that they had that meager effort in last night's second period with a new goalie between the pipes says it all. They simply have nothing left in the tank. Perhaps this 3 day break recharges the batteries. If not, they will be off to the golf course on April 17th. I know the Torts hate runs rampant on here, but I thought it was a smart decision to put Ivan in for the start of the second period. He had to figure that would light a fire under them, but nope.

torts is a fn fraud. when you gonna realize that? his message is wearing thin. come next November the mutiny will begin in full force.

speaking of Ivan, guess he will be the next flyers player to get over hyped. let him play a nice sample before he is the anointed one or if he falters.

Sam has shown 2 years in a row he "wears" down. Or maybe he just isnt that good. Good be a combo of both. Not like he was lights out in his LHV stint.
- hello it's me 2050

Ersson is showing when the games mean more he is not able to execute. He may end up being a good backup goalie in this league and that is about it. But he is still young so he has time. I was shocked to see Fedotov last night. He played OK for sure, but I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves. I saw some plays last night where he was off his angle and out of position and if not for a block or deflection the Islanders would have score more goals. So we really need to be careful here and let this guy get acclimated to the NHL, get some practices under his belt and get him working with Dillabaugh more. He is big and looks like he can handle the puck well, so he can be a goalie in this league, but like everything else, he needs time and I concerned putting the team on his back right now is not the right thing to do.

I agree but they could have gotten some assets in a trade for him. So that was a miss.
- WhiskeyMan

I think the whole league knew what was going on long before that. No one was going to trade for him. It also explained, at least to me, why they took 2 goalies in the last draft and were so focused on Fedotov earlier. It also speaks to Harts mental issues. Im sure the stress of what he must have known was coming took an effect.

Sure the general public was (rightfully) in the dark, but you can be sure that the NHL was well aware of what was going to happen.

I don't think that's true. Gauthier is 20. Fedotov will be 28 in November.

If they hadn't brought him over now he probably never would have played for the Flyers, so Briere made the right move.
- Feanor

His contract would have rolled over into next season, AFAIK.

I think the whole league knew what was going on long before that. No one was going to trade for him. It also explained, at least to me, why they took 2 goalies in the last draft and were so focused on Fedotov earlier. It also speaks to Harts mental issues. Im sure the stress of what he must have known was coming took an effect.

Sure the general public was (rightfully) in the dark, but you can be sure that the NHL was well aware of what was going to happen.
- MBFlyerfan

The league definitely knew. That is why non of the players involved were extended. It was only a matter of time for the players being charged.

I consider them bringing him for the final few weeks of the season as burning the year. If the Flyers hadn't put him on the roster to finish out the season the contract would've tolled again. Same as what would've happened to Gauthier if they had brought him in after the end of the college season.
- Flyers_01

With Gauthier, once his college season ended last year in early March, the Flyers would have had to sign him to a 3 year ELC. If Gauthier played for the Flyers last season in their final few games, that would have burned the first year of the 3 year ELC. I think this is different to what the Flyers had to do with Fedotov.

I think the whole league knew what was going on long before that. No one was going to trade for him. It also explained, at least to me, why they took 2 goalies in the last draft and were so focused on Fedotov earlier. It also speaks to Harts mental issues. Im sure the stress of what he must have known was coming took an effect.

Sure the general public was (rightfully) in the dark, but you can be sure that the NHL was well aware of what was going to happen.
- MBFlyerfan

Absolutely, it's clear the Flyers were expecting Hart to be charged based on the moves over the past two seasons.

With Gauthier, once his college season ended last year in early March, the Flyers would have had to sign him to a 3 year ELC. If Gauthier played for the Flyers last season in their final few games, that would have burned the first year of the 3 year ELC. I think this is different to what the Flyers had to do with Fedotov.
- jd250

It's not different, it's the same thing.

Fedotov was already tolled/suspended for the season. He'd still be under contract for 24-25 if they hadn't brought him over immediately.

Just like if Gauthier had signed he could either burn a year by just playing a single game, or they could start his ELC the following season.

Fedotov will be a UFA on July 1.

Remember all those unnecessary bag skates back in camp?
- Tomahawk

Yes, and I also remember the good start the Flyers had to the season. They were in shape and ready to play hockey. A team can't make the playoffs in the first few months of the season, but you can surely be out of the playoff picture with a bad start.

Coach Montgomery of the Bruins, the hero of some on this forum, just put the Bruins through a bag skate after the Flyers loss, so it happens all the time, even late in the season.

I agree but they could have gotten some assets in a trade for him. So that was a miss.
- WhiskeyMan

The entire league knew of the pending situation. There was not going to be a trade available.

I'm so tired of you blaming the coach everytime there is a down turn. Its lazy and most of all inaccurate. These players are professional athletes. They are not pee-wees. The Flyers have played just about the same number of games and same number of minutes of any other team in the league. But in your mind the Flyers players are tired, but other team's player are not? And the Flyers players are hurt, but other team's players are not hurt? And somehow being hurt or being tired is the fault of the coach in your mind? This is the nature of a long 82 game grind of a season. The players have played hard this season and have clearly exceeded expectations, but what we have seen these past 3 games is a team that is choking against inferior teams. This is not about fatigue, this is about players not being able to execute when the games mean something more. In the end it's all good data, and I sincerely hope Briere uses this data to make the right moves this off season. And no, one of those moves will not be to replace the coach.
- jd250

No.

The problem is the WAY he has them playing is not a way that can last. His over reliance on role players to play big minutes. His inability to limit certain minutes on players early one so they are fresher at the end of the season.

The way this team was winning was outworking teams. That is not sustainable for a full season.

His PP has been terrible all year. Why was there no change, say in the middle of the season. Fire the guy or get someone who can maybe bring a different idea.

It is not all on Torts but he also can't be the all winning god coach when they win and then escape the backlash for his choices when they lose. A lot of the people I see would rather keep torts as the coach moving forward which I think will hurt this team's rebuild.

I'm so tired of you blaming the coach everytime there is a down turn. Its lazy and most of all inaccurate. These players are professional athletes. They are not pee-wees. The Flyers have played just about the same number of games and same number of minutes of any other team in the league. But in your mind the Flyers players are tired, but other team's player are not? And the Flyers players are hurt, but other team's players are not hurt? And somehow being hurt or being tired is the fault of the coach in your mind? This is the nature of a long 82 game grind of a season. The players have played hard this season and have clearly exceeded expectations, but what we have seen these past 3 games is a team that is choking against inferior teams. This is not about fatigue, this is about players not being able to execute when the games mean something more. In the end it's all good data, and I sincerely hope Briere uses this data to make the right moves this off season. And no, one of those moves will not be to replace the coach.
- jd250

You're not paying attention and most of all are uninformed. They've had to play at a playoff level intensity all season just to compete. Myself and others have posted about the danger of this for a while. I stopped reading when I got to the professional athlete nonsense. What you should be tired of is not having the first clue. About anything. Fedorov sure looked no where near ready to play last night. LOL

I agree but they could have gotten some assets in a trade for him. So that was a miss.
- WhiskeyMan

what team would have traded for him knowing he was is involved on that legal matter?

Yes, and I also remember the good start the Flyers had to the season. They were in shape and ready to play hockey. A team can't make the playoffs in the first few months of the season, but you can surely be out of the playoff picture with a bad start.

Coach Montgomery of the Bruins, the hero of some on this forum, just put the Bruins through a bag skate after the Flyers loss, so it happens all the time, even late in the season.
- jd250

Is it conceivable that they could have had the same decent start w/o being run ragged in camp?