I respectfully disagree that he is playing well. The place the Flyers are in the standings is certainly respectable. Heading into the season I would be happy if I was told they would be in the 4-6 position with 20 games left in the season. That being said I thought they could struggle to find offense losing Richards, Carter, Leino, in my wildest dreams I never thought they would be at the top of the NHL in scoring. If was told that, I would think with the "upgrade" in net they would be contending for a President's Trophy.
- PLindbergh31

My coment read "Breeze is playing well under his expectations"

My coment read "Breeze is playing well under his expectations"


- 77rams

Great article as usual Bill.

CORY SCHNEIDER ANYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you guys think on the idea of getting a young goalie before the deadline and the Flyers potentially buyout the remainder of the Bryz contract IF needed next year (the buyout cap hit would be 1.7 M for 16 years - capgeek).

I'm aware it's very unlikely, but I would love if Homer traded for Cory Schneider before the deadline. This makes sense by clearing cap space for next year (we need to sign a couple of defensemen) and it gives us a very legitimate option if Bryz doesn't get his game back come playoff time (which is very very likely) and the flyers would hopefully have a bona fide goaltender since Hextall.

The guy is definitely NHL ready: .929 and .930 save pct. in 58 games (last 2 seasons). Keep in mind this is a Vancouver team that plays a better defensive game then the Flyers.

Flyers GM would obviously have to give up something substantial:

JVR + Bobrovsky for Schneider + 2nd round pick

It frees up 6 M for next year = 4.25M (JVR) and 1.75M (BOB)

With that cap space, we can resign Schneider (RFA) and a couple of defensemen over the summer (UFA: Carle - Kubina - Grossman) or others UFA or RFA
Flyer are deep enough up front, and it gives the opportunity for Couturier to get more ice time and develop.

Im interested in what you guys think.


LETS GO FLYERS .... CLAP CLAP....... CLAP CLAP CLAP

Great article as usual Bill.

CORY SCHNEIDER ANYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you guys think on the idea of getting a young goalie before the deadline and the Flyers potentially buyout the remainder of the Bryz contract IF needed next year (the buyout cap hit would be 1.7 M for 16 years - capgeek).

I'm aware it's very unlikely, but I would love if Homer traded for Cory Schneider before the deadline. This makes sense by clearing cap space for next year (we need to sign a couple of defensemen) and it gives us a very legitimate option if Bryz doesn't get his game back come playoff time (which is very very likely) and the flyers would hopefully have a bona fide goaltender since Hextall.

The guy is definitely NHL ready: .929 and .930 save pct. in 58 games (last 2 seasons). Keep in mind this is a Vancouver team that plays a better defensive game then the Flyers.

Flyers GM would obviously have to give up something substantial:

JVR + Bobrovsky for Schneider + 2nd round pick

It frees up 6 M for next year = 4.25M (JVR) and 1.75M (BOB)

With that cap space, we can resign Schneider (RFA) and a couple of defensemen over the summer (UFA: Carle - Kubina - Grossman) or others UFA or RFA
Flyer are deep enough up front, and it gives the opportunity for Couturier to get more ice time and develop.

Im interested in what you guys think.


LETS GO FLYERS .... CLAP CLAP....... CLAP CLAP CLAP
- Chris48

You heard something ? or is this just a suggestion? IMO i'd rather go for lindback. He could be had for cheaper and preds would prob trade him being they are deep in goalie department. Im not so sure the canucks are that sure about louongo that they would trade shneider. Linback a huge goalie that scouts are saying could develop into another rinne.

After reading yet another great synopsis on a Flyers game by Bill, I have this to say: when and if it is announced this team will not be blessed by the presence of one Chris Pronger—the Flyers need to hand the C to Scott Hartnell. He has everything this team needs from a leader. What he did last night was put this team on his back and said F you to losing! That is what was missing when the other captain was here. Pronger gives you that aspect to but his career is conceivably over. Yes, Giroux is a great player, but I don't know he's a leader. Hartnell has shown throughout this season that he has what it takes when the chips are down. Furthermore he's faced adversity on and off the ice yet still is dominating out there. He might not ever reach the point totals again, but he gives you that never say die attitude and that's all you need from a captain. Also I think he's grown up a lot in our very eyes.

All I'm gonna say about the goaltending is, deja vue. Time to start looking elsewhere for the answer to this riddle. I start with the coaching staff. Too many goalies have wilted here. Whether Bryzgalov wants to listen to Reese or whatever something isnt clicking and it's time to eliminate the common denominator if his season doesn't improve. Can't keep giving Reese a pass and throwing goalies on the scrap heap.

After reading yet another great synopsis on a Flyers game by Bill, I have this to say: when and if it is announced this team will not be blessed by the presence of one Chris Pronger—the Flyers need to hand the C to Scott Hartnell. He has everything this team needs from a leader. What he did last night was put this team on his back and said F you to losing! That is what was missing when the other captain was here. Pronger gives you that aspect to but his career is conceivably over. Yes, Giroux is a great player, but I don't know he's a leader. Hartnell has shown throughout this season that he has what it takes when the chips are down. Furthermore he's faced adversity on and off the ice yet still is dominating out there. He might not ever reach the point totals again, but he gives you that never say die attitude and that's all you need from a captain. Also I think he's grown up a lot in our very eyes.

All I'm gonna say about the goaltending is, deja vue. Time to start looking elsewhere for the answer to this riddle. I start with the coaching staff. Too many goalies have wilted here. Whether Bryzgalov wants to listen to Reese or whatever something isnt clicking and it's time to eliminate the common denominator if his season doesn't improve. Can't keep giving Reese a pass and throwing goalies on the scrap heap.
- JoeRussomanno

Reese has only been here like 2.5-3 years or something

After reading yet another great synopsis on a Flyers game by Bill, I have this to say: when and if it is announced this team will not be blessed by the presence of one Chris Pronger—the Flyers need to hand the C to Scott Hartnell. He has everything this team needs from a leader. What he did last night was put this team on his back and said F you to losing! That is what was missing when the other captain was here. Pronger gives you that aspect to but his career is conceivably over. Yes, Giroux is a great player, but I don't know he's a leader. Hartnell has shown throughout this season that he has what it takes when the chips are down. Furthermore he's faced adversity on and off the ice yet still is dominating out there. He might not ever reach the point totals again, but he gives you that never say die attitude and that's all you need from a captain. Also I think he's grown up a lot in our very eyes.

All I'm gonna say about the goaltending is, deja vue. Time to start looking elsewhere for the answer to this riddle. I start with the coaching staff. Too many goalies have wilted here. Whether Bryzgalov wants to listen to Reese or whatever something isnt clicking and it's time to eliminate the common denominator if his season doesn't improve. Can't keep giving Reese a pass and throwing goalies on the scrap heap.
- JoeRussomanno

Yeah im not a big fan of reese either. I dont know why they are so high on him. IMO your golaie coach should have been a good goalie with accomplishments.. What the hell has jeff reese accomplished?

Yeah im not a big fan of reese either. I dont know why they are so high on him. IMO your golaie coach should have been a good goalie with accomplishments.. What the hell has jeff reese accomplished?
- EastBeast18

He got a lot of credit with turning Khababulin into a winner in Tampa

He got a lot of credit with turning Khababulin into a winner in Tampa
- eayost

That was 8 years ago. What has he done here? Every goalie under him here has wilted into almost a 3 goals a game goalie. Time to reconsider that coaching position I'm sorry. The guy didn't come here and forget how to play goalie. He has the ability, so what's the problem? Good Coaches, Coach the mental aspects too and quite Frankly I doubt Reese has that. Yes I heard Bryz tunes him out. Why is that? Maybe his coaching really does suck. IF so then get someone who doesn't. In the same token you tell Bryz if he don't get it together under this new guy, he's next.

He got a lot of credit with turning Khababulin into a winner in Tampa
- eayost

True...but cmon isnt seem weird that no goalies work out here? I mean bryz was a good goalie..came close to vezina once ..now he comes to philly and sucks??? I know the pressure of huge contract and philly itself could be factor..bit im not so sure.

True...but cmon isnt seem weird that no goalies work out here? I mean bryz was a good goalie..came close to vezina once ..now he comes to philly and sucks??? I know the pressure of huge contract and philly itself could be factor..bit im not so sure.
- EastBeast18

It seems really weird and I personally don't think it's all the goalies. Bryz gets beaten over and over by the same type of shot and through the five hole. He wasn't that bad before, why now. There's been other mitigating factors such as bad bounces, and play in front of him, but the guy was a horse in Phoenix. He faced over 30 shots a game there and looked a lot better. If we just had the 2011 PHX Bryz this team would be a lock for the cup. Coaches get fired all the time and mainly because they lose the team, or the team doesn't respond to them. Well I think that can be said here for the goaltending Coach, I'm sorry.

That was 8 years ago. What has he done here? Every goalie under him here has wilted into almost a 3 goals a game goalie. Time to reconsider that coaching position I'm sorry. The guy didn't come here and forget how to play goalie. He has the ability, so what's the problem? Good Coaches, Coach the mental aspects too and quite Frankly I doubt Reese has that. Yes I heard Bryz tunes him out. Why is that? Maybe his coaching really does suck. IF so then get someone who doesn't. In the same token you tell Bryz if he don't get it together under this new guy, he's next.
- JoeRussomanno

Look, I'm not going to defend Reese tooth and nail here, but I imagine things are more complicated than just "replace the coach". Bryz is more fundamentally flawed than that right now.

And who are the goalies that "wilted" under Reese? He hasn't been here long enough for a real trend analysis. Emery was great up until he had a fluke/crazy nerve thing or whatever. Then we're down to Leighton and Boucher? C'mon, those guys are what and who they've always been under everyone they've played for. Frankly, they both had potentially their best parts of their careers here (I guess for Boucher his best part was his rookie year). Then we have Bob, who is a still developing young kid, and Bryz. That's it, that's the record.

Whether it's true or not I don't know, but Tocchet was tweeting last night that he didn't feel Bryz prepared enough for this season over the offseason and is paying the price now. I don't know if Tocchet knows anything or is making up stuff, but there is the unconsidered possibility in your analysis that Bryz is somewhat, or bears the majority of the blame for his own play this year. Just a thought.

Yeah im not a big fan of reese either. I dont know why they are so high on him. IMO your golaie coach should have been a good goalie with accomplishments.. What the hell has jeff reese accomplished?
- EastBeast18

I disagree with this statement wholeheartedly.

To be a COACH, you need to be a TEACHER. You need to know your fundamentals and just know your stuff. You need to be knowledgeable, a good motivator, and you need to develop an acceptable relationship with your players. That makes a good coach.

If you're all of the above, AND successful in the sport you played, then you have the credentials to evolve into a GREAT coach.

Look at the best coaches in any sport. Herb Brooks, for one, didn't exactly light the world on fire with his hockey skills. But do we need to talk about him as a coach? How about Scotty Bowman? Connie Mack? Coach K? Torre? The list goes on and on. The best coaches usually were never good players.

An interesting story- the best contact hitter ever in baseball, Ted Williams, tried out being a hitting coach. The players said he was terrible. Because he could do it, doesn't mean you can teach it.

However, I agree with scrapping Reese. He hasn't done a thing for this team....

Yeah im not a big fan of reese either. I dont know why they are so high on him. IMO your golaie coach should have been a good goalie with accomplishments.. What the hell has jeff reese accomplished?
- EastBeast18

Scotty Bowman barely played as a pro, but he's won a ton of Stanley Cups as a head coach. The key for a coach is to be able to teach guys to be better, not to have been great themselves.

Wayne Gretzky was a lousy coach.

I haz an eye for defense.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1081035-nhl-trade-rumors-philadelphia-flyers-are-still-in-rick-nash-sweepstakes
- Buzzo

i would think long and hard about that trade offer, even more so if they'd consider taking carle (which is highly unlikely given that carle is a rental). but i'd much rather keep that young talent and go after a piece like gaustad or pahlsson

srsly, people--if you're going to continue reading bleacher report, at least take it for what it is: people with absolutely no sources or connections writing (terribly so) what they think or want to happen.

I haz an eye for defense.


- rockychocbill

he has been excellent.

So this is boring no rumors out there sounds like we are done making moves gonna be a boring day tomorrow

This is called taking one (or two) for the team. He was possessed last night. I wish the Calgary photog actually captured (or NHL.com displayed) one of his goal celebrations too.

You heard something ? or is this just a suggestion? IMO i'd rather go for lindback. He could be had for cheaper and preds would prob trade him being they are deep in goalie department. Im not so sure the canucks are that sure about louongo that they would trade shneider. Linback a huge goalie that scouts are saying could develop into another rinne.
- EastBeast18

It's only a suggestion. I came across a few rumours speculating the Flyers might consider Nabokov or even Giguere for the playoffs, but I doubt Homer is looking for a rental goalie or looking at all. About the Canucks, TSN (Mckenzie I think) reported that Vancouver's GM wouldn't move Schneider unless a deal or offer came along that knocked his socks off.

Maybe JVR + Bobrovsky could make it happen.

Lindback is a good option also but his stats are down this season (.897 - 10 games played) vs last years (.915 - 22 games played). Rinne keeps up impressive numbers with the same team in front of him.

Vancouver are tied long term with Luongo and can't afford the two of them next year. Schneider is RFA and due for a raise next year and many scouts, analysts, even Vancouver fans think he's ready for the number 1 job.

With the never-ending goaltending problems in Philly, I personally would rather pay extra (JVR + BOB for example) for someone more consistent and with more upside to FIX the problem now and also for the future of the franchise.

This is called taking one (or two) for the team. He was possessed last night. I wish the Calgary photog actually captured (or NHL.com displayed) one of his goal celebrations too.



- rockychocbill

It was classy of Giordano to not punch Hartsy after he fell

Columbus wants Briere for his cap hit to keet above the minimum while only paying him 60 cents on the dollar....

It's only a suggestion. I came across a few rumours speculating the Flyers might consider Nabokov or even Giguere for the playoffs, but I doubt Homer is looking for a rental goalie or looking at all. About the Canucks, TSN (Mckenzie I think) reported that Vancouver's GM wouldn't move Schneider unless a deal or offer came along that knocked his socks off.

Maybe JVR + Bobrovsky could make it happen.

Lindback is a good option also but his stats are down this season (.897 - 10 games played) vs last years (.915 - 22 games played). Rinne keeps up impressive numbers with the same team in front of him.

Vancouver are tied long term with Luongo and can't afford the two of them next year. Schneider is RFA and due for a raise next year and many scouts, analysts, even Vancouver fans think he's ready for the number 1 job.

With the never-ending goaltending problems in Philly, I personally would rather pay extra (JVR + BOB for example) for someone more consistent and with more upside to FIX the problem now and also for the future of the franchise.
- Chris48

How, exactly, is Schneider more consistent? He's never been a full time starter and he's played behind a better team in Vancouver than Bryzgalov has in Philly.

loui erikson bill