Yea but if there is an issue there it will affect play. You don't have coaches for window dressing. And there is a clear drop off to what he did in PHX to here. Yes I get big market and all that but when the puck drops and the game starts that all gets pushed aside and in game like last weekend has me wondering where just the basic fundamentals are. Any great coach will stress them to players.
- JoeRussomanno

I think there's so much there that could be affecting his play that simply waiving a wand and changing goalie coaches isn't going to suddenly turn things around.

I think the problem is more complex than a simple coaching disagreement.

Bryzgalov is used to playing 65 games or more. It's a far different system. Different city with much higher expectations and pressures. Much more hostile press corps. New conference.

Then the season starts, he does good out of the gate, but the defensive breakdowns, combined with bad luck and shaky play seems to have hurt his confidence. Then having to split time with Bob was a big adjustment. I think a lot of it has snowballed on him.

That's not an excuse, but an explanation. He could help a lot by making the routine saves routine again. The other stuff isn't going to change, until he plays better. The good thing is he obviously does want to play better. I'd be a lot more worried if he wasn't obviously trying to figure things out.
- Jsaquella

This is a great analysis. Too often we try to look for one aspect as the answer to a problem. For goaltending it's not, and I think all the factors you list are playing a part. In the end, it's about feeling confident in your game. Goaltending is such a mental position. He's gotta get back into the right frame of mind, feeling big in net, confident in his D etc...and it seems Philly is a hard place for anyone to do that.

That's the thing, I think they needed a Hitchcock, somebody that could walk into the room with a Stanley Cup ring and say, "You guys can have one of these, too. Just follow me"

Hunter's used to dealing with kids, and has done a great job in the OHL. But the cred as a NHL head coach isn't there. Kind of like what happened to Wayne Cashman in Philly.
- Jsaquella

No doubt a proven coach would have been a better option to go with in that locker room.

And therein lies part of the problem. His relationship with Reese is a "work in progress" (to use a hackneyed phrase), because he's been resistant to Reese's input but Reese is a hands-on type of coach. It doesn't make one man right and the other one wrong, but so far they've been trying to find a middle ground.

From what I have heard, there is no personal animosity between the two -- I want to be clear about that -- but their working relationship hasn't been as smooth as it ideally could be.

Laviolette and the Flyers brass consider Reese an excellent goaltending coach, so I don't think he's going anywhere. He and Bryzgalov need to find ways to strengthen the relationship. I believe that Reese has been making those efforts. Hopefully, Bryzgalov is receptive.

And, no, I do not think this is why Bryzgalov has struggled this year. I think it's an ancillary issue that is just part of the "noise" in the goalie's head that I referenced yesterday.
- bmeltzer

this is very tongue in cheek, BIll. I don't want either guy out. But on one hand we have a big money goalie who is struggling and a coach that seems inable to get through to him. It's not like you said about one guy being right or wrong, just are they compatible? If not then imo some serious considerations have to be made.

Yea but if there is an issue there it will affect play. You don't have coaches for window dressing. And there is a clear drop off to what he did in PHX to here. Yes I get big market and all that but when the puck drops and the game starts that all gets pushed aside and in game like last weekend has me wondering where just the basic fundamentals are. Any great coach will stress them to players.
- JoeRussomanno

IMO it looks like Bryz's mechanics are off. Its like his timing is off too. Pucks sliding between pads, under sticks... Sticks not in the right position. Being a fraction of a second late on glove saves, or going post to post...

To me it really does seem like someone tried to tweak his game, and messed up his mechanics... Ask any golfer or pitcher, or bowler.... try and change 1 little thing can completely throw you out of whack... Maybe its the same for goalies...

Bryz's struggles are on him, not Reese.
- funmaster18

Granted, but sometimes coaching can really help a player.

I don't know how much Reese was behind getting Leighton to play so well. The Flyers basically did to Montreal what the Rags do to the FLyers this season through those 3 games, don't give them anything close to the net. The Boston series and Chicago weren't impressive for Leighton at all imo.
- JoeRussomanno

Yea the D was great but i cant sit here and say it was all defense and he didnt do anything he did have what 3 or 4 shutouts i remember.... i remember him stonein Cammalleri like 3 times in a row... but yea the flyers steam rolled the Habs

I think the problem is more complex than a simple coaching disagreement.

Bryzgalov is used to playing 65 games or more. It's a far different system. Different city with much higher expectations and pressures. Much more hostile press corps. New conference.

Then the season starts, he does good out of the gate, but the defensive breakdowns, combined with bad luck and shaky play seems to have hurt his confidence. Then having to split time with Bob was a big adjustment. I think a lot of it has snowballed on him.

That's not an excuse, but an explanation. He could help a lot by making the routine saves routine again. The other stuff isn't going to change, until he plays better. The good thing is he obviously does want to play better. I'd be a lot more worried if he wasn't obviously trying to figure things out.
- Jsaquella

Absolutely. That's the big picture here, and Bryzgalov hasn't handled it well. The stuff with Reese is ancillary to that.

why cant they just cut players like in football. That i think would work out better.
- Philly1980

Because hockey players have a union with a bit more concern for the players than the fake union the NFL has.

I think there's so much there that could be affecting his play that simply waiving a wand and changing goalie coaches isn't going to suddenly turn things around.
- Jsaquella

But great coaches get fired all the time because the team stops responding. What if it's just a matter of having the right guy get the most out of him? Sean Burke was doing something right. He can't get Labarbera to play but he sure got Smith and Bryz too. Then again maybe these two just need time to get in sync with each other, not sure...

It's a confidence issue. It's like watching a hitter during a long hitting drought. The swing gets all out of whack, and every time they're at the plate, they try to do way too much to break the slump.

That's where Bryz is.
- jd342

Agreed. Look at some of the goals he's allowed of late. The Gaborik goal against the Rangers that made the game 2-1, Bryzgalov was obviously trying to prevent a cross crease pass, rather than just hug the post and rely on the defense to cover the pass.

He did the same thing on Saturday, forget which goal, but it was a two on one. He got caught cheating to the shooter, which left him vulnerable on the short side.

The bad luck and spotty play has him cheating and guessing. That has to stop.

Granted, but sometimes coaching can really help a player.
- PLindbergh31

He may not be the right guy to get him out of his funk, I just don't think he's the reason he's in it.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
TB has traded Steve Downie to Colorado.

But great coaches get fired all the time because the team stops responding. What if it's just a matter of having the right guy get the most out of him? Sean Burke was doing something right. He can't get Labarbera to play but he sure got Smith and Bryz too. Then again maybe these two just need time to get in sync with each other, not sure...
- JoeRussomanno

I'm sure that if it was seen as a key issue a change would be made. Right now, I just want to see positive change in his game. He's got to simply chalk up Saturday to a bad game and go out and play good tonight and moving forward.

He may not be the right guy to get him out of his funk, I just don't think he's the reason he's in it.
- funmaster18

Agreed.

Agreed. Look at some of the goals he's allowed of late. The Gaborik goal against the Rangers that made the game 2-1, Bryzgalov was obviously trying to prevent a cross crease pass, rather than just hug the post and rely on the defense to cover the pass.

He did the same thing on Saturday, forget which goal, but it was a two on one. He got caught cheating to the shooter, which left him vulnerable on the short side.

The bad luck and spotty play has him cheating and guessing. That has to stop.
- Jsaquella

Yea I think the tighter play in front will get him spinning in the right direction for sure. Gotta feeling this team does something special in the spring and just like 2010 all the stuff that happened up until may won't mean crap in years to come.

I'm sure that if it was seen as a key issue a change would be made. Right now, I just want to see positive change in his game. He's got to simply chalk up Saturday to a bad game and go out and play good tonight and moving forward.
- Jsaquella

Yes I would like that approach.

Agreed. Look at some of the goals he's allowed of late. The Gaborik goal against the Rangers that made the game 2-1, Bryzgalov was obviously trying to prevent a cross crease pass, rather than just hug the post and rely on the defense to cover the pass.

He did the same thing on Saturday, forget which goal, but it was a two on one. He got caught cheating to the shooter, which left him vulnerable on the short side.

The bad luck and spotty play has him cheating and guessing. That has to stop.
- Jsaquella

Its prolly a mixture of things theres been alot of backdoor wide open nets that the defense has just took a poop on so i dont know if he cheating because of that... either way i just think he need to keep things simple just stop the puck... easier said then done...another thing is the soft goals which sucks because most games he was playing well and then boom.. just needs to keep it simple

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
TB has traded Steve Downie to Colorado.
- PLindbergh31

That one surprises me. Downie seemed to have found a home in Tampa.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
TB has traded Steve Downie to Colorado.
- PLindbergh31

interesting

Because hockey players have a union with a bit more concern for the players than the fake union the NFL has.
- bodiva88

I agree but some contracts are crippling teams...

That one surprises me. Downie seemed to have found a home in Tampa.
- bmeltzer

Yep. He has played well there. I guess Stevie Y is in sell mode. I have a feeling St. Louis finds himself with the NYR in a few days. Back with Tortorella and Richards.

That one surprises me. Downie seemed to have found a home in Tampa.
- bmeltzer

Still haven't seen the return. Know that Panotch reported that the Avs asked about JvR, maybe Downie was plan B

Still haven't seen the return. Know that Panotch reported that the Avs asked about JvR, maybe Downie was plan B
- Jsaquella

or plan C

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
TB has traded Steve Downie to Colorado.
- PLindbergh31

dominoes