Don't be a fool. I clearly stated in my reply that I said that I believed the Flyers were going to make the playoffs with about 8 games to go. That doesn't change my other numerous statements made all season long on the issue I saw with the team and with Tortorella's coaching. Washington and the Isles struggling at the time was the factor that led me to believe that the Flyers would limp into the playoffs. I did not feel that the Flyers would fall off as hard as they have.
- MJL

They blue balled me big time. This collapse hurt. I miss the meaningful hockey games where we were competing just over a month ago
- Bob Habib

It is very disappointing…I really enjoyed watching them up until a couple of weeks ago.

I watched the Sean Couturier post game interview and I have seen zillions of his interviews over the years. Usually after something like this, with season at stake, SK's face is set, and he looks troubled, grim, even haunted

Today he was super chill. Certainly doesn't seem to be taking it personally.

Team has quit.

I don’t think Briere is surprised. I mean he did trade for Erik Johnson, a center that was never going to suit up for the team and a reclamation project for this magical playoff push. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

My only hope is Briere is smart enough to know exactly where they are and what they have, and with some luck what he needs to do. But it’s a long shot. Even if he does, will be permitted to do what is needed?
- funmaster18

There is no timeline for this team. That is the reality. The only thing that has to happen is the continual stockpiling of high draft picks. Konecny needs to go what is the point of keeping him around

I watched the Sean Couturier post game interview and I have seen zillions of his interviews over the years. Usually after something like this, with season at stake, SK's face is set, and he looks troubled, grim, even haunted

Today he was super chill. Certainly doesn't seem to be taking it personally.

Team has quit.
- PT21

then bring back Torts for another full year and let them know that sh!t isn't working here

I think they quit as well. Yes, they played grinding hockey all season, but so do other teams. Some of the games like Chicago, Columbus, and Montreal were winnable. We also just aren't that good and it's like they stopped caring after working so hard. It's a shame.
- Don Nachbaur

I agree and thats what I saw as well. They didn't have the same drive, whether fatigue or giving up, but it doesn't take much energy to block a shot. If they still cared they would still be playing with the same heart and I just haven't seen that at all. Not even a shred of that same fire.
This ending hurts, man. I thought we'd squeak into the playoffs and give a team their run for the money in the first round. Instead, we're close to ending the season on a 10 game skid

And that's what we can take from this season. Some of the kids have stepped up. Frost seems to have found his game.
York has raised his ceiling substantially.
Tippet took big steps.
Tk kept his trade value up (hopefully they make the right decision).
If ersson wasn't run into the ground he has shown that he is a decent to good goalie.
Foerster is a damn good hockey player!? A 200 foot player at that.

I'm just disappointed that we didn't get to see the kids play more. I'd have liked to see Ginning and Attard over the corpses of Johnson and Staal, too.
- Bob Habib

I could see playing Johnson and Staal if they were outplaying the younger guys. They are not.

I watched the Sean Couturier post game interview and I have seen zillions of his interviews over the years. Usually after something like this, with season at stake, SK's face is set, and he looks troubled, grim, even haunted

Today he was super chill. Certainly doesn't seem to be taking it personally.

Team has quit.
- PT21

I'm glad to see others seeing it as well. There is no other explanation for the complete 180 that this team has gone through

Did torts talk?

Yes, they're physically and emotionally spent. They played at playoff level intensity to compete. Impossible to do for a full season.
- MJL

So funny...you bash them all season and now are defending them. I can't believe you are not gloating. They are millionaires and get paid to play 7 months. Most of us work 12 months and don't get to mail it in a few weeks at a time on our jobs. Yes, I agree that physically and emotionally they are spent, but so are a lot of other teams/players. Torts isn't the only evil slavedriver in the NHL. Good teams find a way to win, especially against teams like Chicago and Columbus.

I could see playing Johnson and Staal if they were outplaying the younger guys. They are not.
- landros 2

Exactly. That's not having an eye towards the future. There is no reason whatsoever to play them over ginnig and attard....
Hell, ccallup a kid or two to play some games

It is very disappointing…I really enjoyed watching them up until a couple of weeks ago.
- landros 2

Same here!

I agree and thats what I saw as well. They didn't have the same drive, whether fatigue or giving up, but it doesn't take much energy to block a shot. If they still cared they would still be playing with the same heart and I just haven't seen that at all. Not even a shred of that same fire.
This ending hurts, man. I thought we'd squeak into the playoffs and give a team their run for the money in the first round. Instead, we're close to ending the season on a 10 game skid
- Bob Habib

Look, the score was 9-3 and it's a blowout. Massive defensive breakdowns, turnovers and the related bad goaltending. Goals are what always matter the most. However in the game, shot attempts were 72-65 Flyers. Scoring chances were 36-31 Flyers and high danger scoring chances were 19-9 Flyers. Right now, their structure and team defense is horrendous and they can't score. They're physically tired and spend emotionally from giving it their all for the majority of the season and the physical toll from that and the shot blocking. They're out of gas but they haven't quit. What team is going to purposely roll over and give up everything they worked for down the stretch with the playoffs in sight? Because of why, Couturier getting benched? Doesn't add up.

I agree and thats what I saw as well. They didn't have the same drive, whether fatigue or giving up, but it doesn't take much energy to block a shot. If they still cared they would still be playing with the same heart and I just haven't seen that at all. Not even a shred of that same fire.
This ending hurts, man. I thought we'd squeak into the playoffs and give a team their run for the money in the first round. Instead, we're close to ending the season on a 10 game skid
- Bob Habib

Yes, I felt the same way. I guess I was caught up in what was a fun season overall. Maybe Sean Walker really was the glue that held this team together

So funny...you bash them all season and now are defending them. I can't believe you are not gloating. They are millionaires and get paid to play 7 months. Most of us work 12 months and don't get to mail it in a few weeks at a time on our jobs. Yes, I agree that physically and emotionally they are spent, but so are a lot of other teams/players. Torts isn't the only evil slavedriver in the NHL. Good teams find a way to win, especially against teams like Chicago and Columbus.
- Don Nachbaur

Half of Columbus line up was AHLers and we still got curb stomped.
There's no excuse for that other than they don't care anymore and there's a reason why they stopped caring, whatever it may be

No one predicted this type of collapse. Absolutely no one.
- landros 2

Correct.

I have been very skeptical of whether they are on the right track and whether the results in standings really reflected where they were in a rebuild process...

But that is long term. Short term, I had them winning 6 games in the playoffs. Can't lie about that.😀

Torts very reeled in, trying to save his job, not burying the players and even complementing them.

this offseason is going to be very interesting.

Did torts talk?
- Just5

Yes

then bring back Torts for another full year and let them know that sh!t isn't working here

- anti-lame

That’s the beauty of the situation. They can’t fire Tortorella this offseason and they can’t bring back the core of this team.

Look, the score was 9-3 and it's a blowout. Massive defensive breakdowns, turnovers and the related bad goaltending. Goals are what always matter the most. However in the game, shot attempts were 72-65 Flyers. Scoring chances were 36-31 Flyers and high danger scoring chances were 19-9 Flyers. Right now, their structure and team defense is horrendous and they can't score. They're physically tired and spend emotionally from giving it their all for the majority of the season and the physical toll from that and the shot blocking. They're out of gas but they haven't quit. What team is going to purposely roll over and give up everything they worked for down the stretch with the playoffs in sight? Because of why, Couturier getting benched? Doesn't add up.
- MJL

It's not simply because SC got benched. It's a culmination of being abused and had head games played with everyone all season
The players today aren't the same anymore. Coaches can't do this. Sutter got the axe for the same reasons.
You've said all along that jorts is archaic but now don't even have the possibility that the players have had enough?? After torts bashes them all and blamea everybody else for everything?
I get what you're saying but you've got to accept that it's a possibility they've simply had enough.
They're beaten up and hurting and torts is never happy. It gets old. If it's not fun anymore then they won't play the same. It's clearly not gun to them anymore.
We csn disagree, but it's veey possible that the players had enough. I bet if torts stays half of them will be happy to be traded this off season.
We can revisit what they think about torts in a few years when he is gone and when these guys play for other teams.
Until then, nobody knows what really happened and I don't care to argue about it because it's all a guess

That’s the beauty of the situation. They can’t fire Tortorella this offseason and they can’t bring back the core of this team.
- psuhockey

The players will change. Konecny, possibly sanheim gone

Wasn't predicted by you. You had them making the playoffs.
- Phillywhiteout

so did you and everybody else, you (frank)ing flipflopper, stfu

It's not simply because SC got benched. It's a culmination of being abused and had head games played with everyone all season
The players today aren't the same anymore. Coaches can't do this. Sutter got the axe for the same reasons.
You've said all along that jorts is archaic but now don't even have the possibility that the players have had enough?? After torts bashes them all and blamea everybody else for everything?
I get what you're saying but you've got to accept that it's a possibility they've simply had enough.
They're beaten up and hurting and torts is never happy. It gets old. If it's not fun anymore then they won't play the same. It's clearly not gun to them anymore.
We csn disagree, but it's veey possible that the players had enough. I bet if torts stays half of them will be happy to be traded this off season.
We can revisit what they think about torts in a few years when he is gone and when these guys play for other teams.
Until then, nobody knows what really happened and I don't care to argue about it because it's all a guess
- Bob Habib

Tortorella has been Tortorella the entire season. He is what he is. I don't see the players as a whole, who have busted their ass all season for the same coach, just suddenly coming to the collective position that they've now had enough and they're going to purposely quit on the season as a team, with the playoffs in sight. Not buying it. Not for a second.

Yes, I felt the same way. I guess I was caught up in what was a fun season overall. Maybe Sean Walker really was the glue that held this team together

- Don Nachbaur

It's funny how it fell apart when he left.. coincidental timing, of course.
I undwrstand not wanting to pay walker 5m a season as of right now, but if the cap goes up as much as predicted the next few years then 5m in the next 3 seasons isn't that big of a deal. That second pairing was honestly our best pairing.
If we legitimately go full rebuild then it's a good move. If they half ass it again then I'd rather watch exciting hockey at least.
This off season will be very telling.

Look, the score was 9-3 and it's a blowout. Massive defensive breakdowns, turnovers and the related bad goaltending. Goals are what always matter the most. However in the game, shot attempts were 72-65 Flyers. Scoring chances were 36-31 Flyers and high danger scoring chances were 19-9 Flyers. Right now, their structure and team defense is horrendous and they can't score. They're physically tired and spend emotionally from giving it their all for the majority of the season and the physical toll from that and the shot blocking. They're out of gas but they haven't quit. What team is going to purposely roll over and give up everything they worked for down the stretch with the playoffs in sight? Because of why, Couturier getting benched? Doesn't add up.
- MJL

Also, I'm surprised we scored 3 goals! Admittedly I turned it off way before that.