That team still has the personnel to get into the playoffs and make some noise. He doesn't have to go all Guy Boucher/Jacques Lemaire, but yeah a more D-oriented, opportunist approach would seem like a reasonable adjustment. I wish the Flyers could pick up a few more points against the Pens while Bylsma and Co. are struggling to figure things out, but they don't play each other again until the middle of Feb. By then I expect we'll be back to saying how great Bylsma is at getting the best from his players.
- Lexington Flyer

I hope they don't go that route. I do not want to watch a trap game but I would like to see slightly (as you said) more defensive oriented game. Thats what I been saying, we still have talent and should not be scoring 6 goals in 6 games. I agree, Bylsma will get it figured out and get into the playoffs as 6 seed.

Age should have nothing to do with it Bob, it should be the most deserving. What's the excuse for Hartnell not making it?
- Schenn2shine

I'm thinking it has to do with them not being likely to come and not wanting to suspend them for not showing.

I think Lilja and Mab should switch names. Lilja is by far a bigger Burdon.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think one has that much better then the other.

With Thomas, average cap hit for NHL All-Star goalies is $3.21 million
- bradleyc4

I'm sure age is a bit of a factor there, as the most expensive goalies are also the oldest of the group.

Not taking anything away from Neal, the guy is a great player with one of the better wrist shots in the game, but Harts is having an all star season so far.

Maybe people think its only because he is playing with the little genius, but Flyers fans who watch every game know Harts has been great, its not just due to Giroux.

wait, is Neal even on the list?
- Marc D

Hartnell should have made it over Ovechkin

Hartnell should have made it over Ovechkin
- aightwebang17

lilja should have made it over wideman.

lilja should have made it over wideman.
- OrangeBlack27

lol

lol
- aightwebang17

lolja amiright

lolja amiright
- Don'tForgetTocchet

- aightwebang17

What a maniac.

I'd trade Read... And, he'd probably welcome it. Right now - with the full line up -he's a 4th liner with Coots and Rinaldo or HarryZ. Frankly, I think Rinaldo/Coots/HarryZ make a fine line (actually better than when Read is in the line). I don't really want to trade Read, but I would do he were part of a package to get a better defenseman.
- leon neon

They have some serious skill with Couturier and Read on the "4th line".

Its a great thing, they will get some decent match ups and put up points

Read is the ultimate utility guy, he plays in every situation, 1st line to '4th' line, PK, PP, and can even play point on the PP. Takes faceoffs or plays on the wing.

He has speed and can score. Low cap hit. Defensively responsible.

I don't really want to trade that kind of player, role guys like him contribute a ton to winning teams.

Age should have nothing to do with it Bob, it should be the most deserving. What's the excuse for Hartnell not making it?
- Schenn2shine

They would decline the invitation... and have in the past....

They would decline the invitation... and have in the past....
- jak521

Who's they?

They would decline the invitation... and have in the past....
- jak521

Apparently Selanne did decline and suggested Perry according to Chris Johnson.

They have some serious skill with Couturier and Read on the "4th line".

Its a great thing, they will get some decent match ups and put up points

Read is the ultimate utility guy, he plays in every situation, 1st line to '4th' line, PK, PP, and can even play point on the PP. Takes faceoffs or plays on the wing.

He has speed and can score. Low cap hit. Defensively responsible.

I don't really want to trade that kind of player, role guys like him contribute a ton to winning teams.
- Marc D

i'm not trying to single you out...but it seems like there are a bunch of people on this board that look at these "trade proposals" only from the aspect of LOSING something they know and like. i'm not saying the grass is always greener, but still....

Who's they?
- Schenn2shine

sounds like selanne and lidstrom at least. according to bobby mac.

Apparently Selanne did decline and suggested Perry according to Chris Johnson.
- bodiva88

Remember all the media hoopla when a bunch of them were banged up a few years back and declined, and then the NHL stepped in and said they would suspend them?

sounds like selanne and lidstrom at least. according to bobby mac.
- OrangeBlack27

sounds like selanne and lidstrom at least. according to bobby mac.
- OrangeBlack27

I think this year they have avoided naming clearly injured guys and guys who are older may have gotten the opportunity to say whether they wanted to participate. I'm sure the league wanted to avoid the stupidity of disciplining guys who had real or imagined injuries and used them to opt out of playing. When that happened (last year?) it was pretty embarrassing for the league.

Sergei Bobrovsky continues to play good hockey. And the Philadelphia Flyers continue to reward him for it. After shutting down Carolina on Tuesday, he'll get the nod between the pipes again tonight on Long Island.

That will give Bobrovsky 17 appearances on the year to Ilya Bryzgalov's 29. That's by no means an even split, but it probably is more than Peter Laviolette envisioned using his backup goalie -- especially considering how much of a commitment the organization made to Bryzgalov in the offseason. It's not a shock that Bobrovsky has performed well though. In the 2010-11 campaign, he surprised a lot of people by posting 28 wins and a 2.59 goals against average as a rookie.

The key for the Flyers is keeping Bobrovsky rolling while still finding a way to get Bryzgalov back on track before the playoffs. They have the offensive firepower to win most regular season games anyway, but the goal for this year was clearly playoff success. And the club will need consistently strong play in net to achieve that.

- Luke Lapinski

I think this year they have avoided naming clearly injured guys and guys who are older may have gotten the opportunity to say whether they wanted to participate. I'm sure the league wanted to avoid the stupidity of disciplining guys who had real or imagined injuries and used them to opt out of playing. When that happened (last year?) it was pretty embarrassing for the league.
- bodiva88

they picked Timonen and he stated several weeks ago he could use the time off and would likely decline

I think this year they have avoided naming clearly injured guys and guys who are older may have gotten the opportunity to say whether they wanted to participate. I'm sure the league wanted to avoid the stupidity of disciplining guys who had real or imagined injuries and used them to opt out of playing. When that happened (last year?) it was pretty embarrassing for the league.
- bodiva88

exactly. they're just picking the replacements without naming the original choice.

Sergei Bobrovsky continues to play good hockey. And the Philadelphia Flyers continue to reward him for it. After shutting down Carolina on Tuesday, he'll get the nod between the pipes again tonight on Long Island.

That will give Bobrovsky 17 appearances on the year to Ilya Bryzgalov's 29. That's by no means an even split, but it probably is more than Peter Laviolette envisioned using his backup goalie -- especially considering how much of a commitment the organization made to Bryzgalov in the offseason. It's not a shock that Bobrovsky has performed well though. In the 2010-11 campaign, he surprised a lot of people by posting 28 wins and a 2.59 goals against average as a rookie.

The key for the Flyers is keeping Bobrovsky rolling while still finding a way to get Bryzgalov back on track before the playoffs. They have the offensive firepower to win most regular season games anyway, but the goal for this year was clearly playoff success. And the club will need consistently strong play in net to achieve that.

- Luke Lapinski
- JFlyers00

Bob has earned the right to start. Bryzgalov needs to get himself together and start stopping the puck. I have full confidence he can do that.

I'd trade Read... And, he'd probably welcome it. Right now - with the full line up -he's a 4th liner with Coots and Rinaldo or HarryZ. Frankly, I think Rinaldo/Coots/HarryZ make a fine line (actually better than when Read is in the line). I don't really want to trade Read, but I would do he were part of a package to get a better defenseman.
- leon neon

Read is a player who is on pace for 27 goals and is an all situations player. He plays on the PP and the PK. And he averages over 17 minutes a night.

Bob has earned the right to start. Bryzgalov needs to get himself together and start stopping the puck. I have full confidence he can do that.
- stveshdy

I agree. I would ride the hot hand as well.