No thanks to jack Johnson. No clue defensively.
- flyguy12

you could say similar things about carle when we got him- johnson's still developing at 25.

Bryz should have shut his pie hole. Cracking under that little bit of adversity at the start of a season gives me all the confidence in the world come playoffs. Not.
- rockychocbill

My confidence level in Bryzgalov has nothing to do with what he says to the press. I could care less about that.

Subban is intriguing, actually I think he would be a great Flyer. I don't want any part of JJ.
- Marc D

he's the guy I really want who could be realistic

That rumor again? If anything I'd much rather go after Voynov than Schenn. LA is hurting way more for a forward too.

what sport does john smallwood cover? because he should not be allowed to talk hockey because he is clueless, and why is he always on talking hockey?

he's the guy I really want who could be realistic
- isaiah520

I think the Habs will keep him.
Why do you think he is on the trading block?

An honest team Captain leads by example, an argument can be made that Timonen is the Flyers best player, he brings it every night, and has earned the right to speak his peace. When he calls someone out, that player should realize he isn't doing HIS job.
- PLindbergh31

He has earned the right to speak his peace in the locker room around the team. To lead by example on the ice, and in the locker room. Comments made to the press don't have to be included for him to do so. And do you really think that Bryzgalov needs Timonen to tell him that he didn't do his job yesterday?

Hasn't Simmonds been awesome? He's just so much better than I expected at this point. It really does point out how it takes any guy a bit to become accustomed to a new team.
- bodiva88

look at his points compared to richards

you could say similar things about carle when we got him- johnson's still developing at 25.
- isaiah520

I disagree. Carle has been fairly sound positionally since being acquired. Jj is basically a rover that lacks hockey sense. Bad combo IMO

The media thing I don't worry about, if Bryzgalov doesn't have enough of a thick skin to handle that aspect, he came to the wrong place.
- PLindbergh31

Then why was it a problem earlier in the year with some of the comments that Bryzgalov made?

I think the Habs will keep him.
Why do you think he is on the trading block?
- Marc D

I don't think he's on the block, but because of his warts -and they are well chronicled- I see it as a possibility. we might tear our hair out sometimes w/ him, but he never plays afraid...even vs the Bs. we could sure use his uncanny ability to get shots thru as well. somewhat of a long shot.

trade JVR for a puck mover like subban, not a def dman like schenn...esp w/ the uncertainty w/ carle. don't like pk? fine- j Johnson. GMs are putting their reps on the line for guys who pass the puck out of the zone or rush it and provide some O as well. would schenn bring Neal and niskanen?
- isaiah520

There is a entire history of NHL trades for defenseman. Not every trade has been for a puck mover.

Couts had a very poor backcheck on one of the goals yesterday, I believe it was the 3rd Rangers goal. Uncharacteristic for him but he needs to realize that he can't lolly gag back like that. Giroux was setting a good example earlier this year but it has seemed to tail off lately.
- Just5

Couturier was going for a line change before the puck was out of the Flyers zone.

So it's a rebuilding year. And Bryz has shown signs of steering the ship back into a positive direction, only to have a poor performance against one of the NHL's top team. So if we put all of our eggs in a 9-year contract, why are people jumping off bridges after 1/18th of the contract? As you stated, it's a rebuild year; where is the patience?

And no player "earns" the right to single out ONE player to the media, of all people. I don't care if it was Pronger or Kapanen or Laperierre. It just shouldn't happen. Bryz was wrong to do it; so is Kimmo.

And don't mistake me sticking up for Bryz as my endorsement of his MVP-calibre season. He has fallen grossly under everyone's expectations. I get on him all the time for his soft goals and turtle-like reflexes. However, I'm not ready to buy out his contract yet, and I'm certainly not ready to say that he is the reason this team lost on Sunday.
- steelydan

I disagree. Carle has been fairly sound positionally since being acquired. Jj is basically a rover that lacks hockey sense. Bad combo IMO
- flyguy12

certainly agree to disagree, but I remember carle as a guy who would have his share of brain farts and as a dman who would get turnstiled too easily when he first got here. I think carle has come a long way and he will prob fetch ~ 5MM as a ufa.

look at his points compared to richards
- 2Real

I love the Richards trade and would do it 9 times out of 10. But Richards is clearly the best player out of himself, Simmonds, and Schenn. Now the combination of Simmonds and Schenn plus Schenn's potential? That's what makes the deal near impossible to turn down.

I don't think he's on the block, but because of his warts -and they are well chronicled- I see it as a possibility. we might tear our hair out sometimes w/ him, but he never plays afraid...even vs the Bs. we could sure use his uncanny ability to get shots thru as well. somewhat of a long shot.
- isaiah520

What are these well chronicled warts? I haven't seen any credible info that Subban is available.

There is a entire history of NHL trades for defenseman. Not every trade has been for a puck mover.
- MJL

since the lockout, that's what GMs are making sure they have enuf of. so if carle leaves,..

certainly agree to disagree, but I remember carle as a guy who would have his share of brain farts and as a dman who would get turnstiled too easily when he first got here. I think carle has come a long way and he will prob fetch ~ 5MM as a ufa.
- isaiah520

Carle has never been a bad defender in his entire time as a Flyer. He's upgraded the defense here since day 1, and has gotten better and better.

certainly agree to disagree, but I remember carle as a guy who would have his share of brain farts and as a dman who would get turnstiled too easily when he first got here. I think carle has come a long way and he will prob fetch ~ 5MM as a ufa.
- isaiah520

I Can agree with all of these pts!

He's gonna get paid well. As a ufa, I think flyers will not be able to extend him prior to ufa

since the lockout, that's what GMs are making sure they have enuf of. so if carle leaves,..
- isaiah520

There's been a handful of teams that have had that need. A top defensive defenseman who makes a good first pass, is just as valuable to a team. Especially one such as the Flyers, who have that need. Each situation is unique depending on the needs of the team.

My confidence level in Bryzgalov has nothing to do with what he says to the press. I could care less about that.
- MJL

Good.

My take on it is: early season comments + mid season soft goals = playoff meltdown.

Who's talking about credibility of a player? I personally have no problem with what Timonen said. But calling out a player on your team to the press is either throwing a teammate under the bus or it isn't. Regardless of who says it.
- MJL

Fair enough. Bryzgalov's play deserves to be called out. If someone interprets that as throwing him under the bus so be it.

I posed this question about three weeks ago, and I didn't see any answers that explained why this was the case:
A lot of folks have blamed the Flyers defensive coverage as to one of the reasons Bryzgalov has struggled, that being said how can it be explained that Curtis Sanford of the Blue Jackets has posted a significantly higher save %'s than Bryzgalov has? Does Columbus have fewer defensive zone coverage breakdowns than the Flyers do? Hard for me to imagine the worst team in the NHL would be better defensively than a top 10 team.

He is an American classic.
I am not a big Madonna fan but did like her show yesterday.
- Marc D

As is Madonna. Thus her selection.

The one real disaster recently has been Black Eyed Peas, who are more "relevant" to current pop culture, but unlikely to have the staying power of the "classic" artists they've selected since they've started doing this.

Couturier was going for a line change before the puck was out of the Flyers zone.
- MJL

I just saw the highlight. Just looked like he couldve made a better effort to get back.