Tim Panaccio: Do You "Like" The Flyers Roster?

the flyer's offence and goaltending are not an issue, even if Briere gets an amnesty, a core built around Giroux, Couturier, Schenn, Voracek, Simmonds, Hartnell, Read, Talbot and up and comers in Laughton, Cousins will be just fine.

Bryz and Mason look like a more than capable 1-2 punch given the team can actually limit some chances.

On D, though, the flyers are not good, and it's a trickle down effect they need.

Timonen and Grossmann are capable of being a good second pairing, just as Coburn-Meszaros are capable of being a third pairing.

Schenn could be a great match for a #1 offensive Dman, similar to what Methot has been in Ottawa with Karlsson and Gonchar.

It's just that #1 guy who can move the puck that's missing, you have great forwards but they need someone to get the play moving for 25 minutes a game.

If I'm Philly, I take a shot at Pietrangelo, and if that fails look at moving a high pick and a prospect or solid but unspectacular roster player for one of the big two out of winnipeg. Byfuglien or Enstrom would get that offence moving again at full speed.

Did you 'Like' the team that went to the finals? Because had we stopped the season at 48 games we'd have been out of the playoff's as well. We've already had a substantial rebuild and a lot of young developing players. I agree with Homer, I like our team when we are healthy, a good mix of Youth and Veteran presence. Adding more Youth at this point would destabilize the team, not improve it. And to not give our Youth time to grow would have us trading away unrealized assets.

We have to let his weird half season go as an anomaly and development year. Had this team 10-20 more games playing as they were at the end, I like this team's chances for a playoff spot. Don't be shocked if they go into next season with almost the same roster, and don't be shocked when they start to do well.

Im curious as to why the Media didn't ask Hartnell to name names like they did with Bryzgalov. Hartnell said the same things pretty much that Bryzgalov said. Funny how depending on who it comes from, changes how it's perceived.

Im curious as to why the Media didn't ask Hartnell to name names like they did with Bryzgalov. Hartnell said the same things pretty much that Bryzgalov said. Funny how depending on who it comes from, changes how it's perceived.
- MJL

I don't like the way the media has treated Bryz...but, like I tell my kids, if you act like a Richard-head people will treat you like a Richard-head.

I don't like the way the media has treated Bryz...but, like I tell my kids, if you act like a Richard-head people will treat you like a Richard-head.
- Dkos

If you're saying that Bryzgalo acts like that, I don't agree.

Wish there was a way to amnesty some of the members of the Philly media. Bunch of drama queens.

Of course Homer is going to try to improve the defense even though he "likes" it but realistically, what options does he have? UFA d-men pool is dry. Teams would ask for the moon in a trade even for mediocre defense men given that the Flyers are dealing from a position of weakness.

I like that Homer and the team has shown patience so far and I want them to continue to do so. Try to build through the draft. Draft the best available player and hopefully it is a D-men. Stay patient with him through ups and downs. Stop spending to the cap limit. Strike at the right time in terms of going all in.

And the GM failed miserably last summer and steadfastly refused to recognized the problems on the back end.
- tpanaccio

Uh, no? Holmgren threw monumental offers at the two best defensemen at whom he could throw contracts. He didn't refuse to recognize back end problems, he just failed to solve them.

I really dislike this entire blog post.

Did you 'Like' the team that went to the finals? Because had we stopped the season at 48 games we'd have been out of the playoff's as well. We've already had a substantial rebuild and a lot of young developing players. I agree with Homer, I like our team when we are healthy, a good mix of Youth and Veteran presence. Adding more Youth at this point would destabilize the team, not improve it. And to not give our Youth time to grow would have us trading away unrealized assets.

We have to let his weird half season go as an anomaly and development year. Had this team 10-20 more games playing as they were at the end, I like this team's chances for a playoff spot. Don't be shocked if they go into next season with almost the same roster, and don't be shocked when they start to do well.
- flyler

But can you really say no to them offering a sheet to Pietrangelo?

But can you really say no to them offering a sheet to Pietrangelo?
- JAKEw1234

this is the inevitable 'NO WAY THAT COULD GO WRONG' post

If you're saying that Bryzgalo acts like that, I don't agree.
- MJL

yes, that is what I'm saying. I don't spend any more time in the Flyer's locker room than you do, but that is the impression I get from those that do (like Tim P, Bill Meltzer, and Bryz's former teammates).

I am not sure which Flyers' fans cringe when they hear Holmgren say "I like our team." Quite the opposite--I think many of us find it refreshing that managment is exercising patience in young players development. (Bobrovsky, after all, was not Holmgren's call.)

Why do you say that Holmgren failed to address the team defense? What, prey-tell, would you have liked him to do last off season? He did go out and get Luke Schenn--who performed admirably this year. Holmgren did sign Shea Weber, who, unfortunately, had his poisonous contract matched by Nashville. And, furthermore, I do not hear too many fans in Tampa clamoring with excitement that Matt Carle is signed for five more years at $5.5mil.

I do not fully blame Laviolette, either. He chose to give his players rest in the early part of the season rather than holding practices. That makes sense because of the brutality of the Flyers' early season schedule, but also makes it difficult to make adjustments in addressing the problems from the 2011-12 season.

Do I like this team--yes (for the most part). I like this team more than many Flyers teams in recent memory. I think they have balance down the center and some good young wingers. Am I disappointed, of course. But I was also disappointed after 2006-07 when Carter, Richards, and Umberger were sorting things out.

No need to overreact--it was a half season.

On second thought, can we use our amnesty clause on Tim?

Tim Panaccio: Do You "Like" The Flyers Roster?
- tpanaccio

A big part of the Flyers problem this past season, was that the coach spent the first month and a half running a system ill-suited for the players on his roster.

Yes, the GM failed to compensate for the losses of Jagr and Carle, but the Flyers still had enough talent to be a top 8 team in the East. There were several players that underachieved, too. But there were also several players that were put in roles that they simply were not able to succeed in.

The issues with the coach are not just based on 2013-or at least they shouldn't be. I have issues with Laviolette's poor record over the past two to three years against the Rangers, Devils, Bruins and Lightning. I have issues with his handling of Bobrovsky that led to the team massive commitment to Bryzgalov. I don't think he's handled Couturier or Schenn especially well.

He's slow to adjust and when he finally simplified his system and forced the forwards to pay more attention to a two way game, not only did the team defense improve, they started to be more effective at 5 on 5.

Had Laviolette simply used that simplified approach out of the gate, I think that the Flyers are getting ready to play a playoff game tonight, instead of golfing.

Yes, I would have fired Laviolette, and I would have done it back in March. But since he's staying, I hope that he can adjust in a more timely manner, and get the entire team playing on the same page, rather than counting on minor tweaks that fail to take into consideration the abilities of his roster.

You can't tell me Laviolette isn't somewhat to blame after seeing the work done by Paul MacLean or Randy Carlyle or Todd Richards

A big part of the Flyers problem this past season, was that the coach spent the first month and a half running a system ill-suited for the players on his roster.

Yes, the GM failed to compensate for the losses of Jagr and Carle, but the Flyers still had enough talent to be a top 8 team in the East. There were several players that underachieved, too. But there were also several players that were put in roles that they simply were not able to succeed in.

The issues with the coach are not just based on 2013-or at least they shouldn't be. I have issues with Laviolette's poor record over the past two to three years against the Rangers, Devils, Bruins and Lightning. I have issues with his handling of Bobrovsky that led to the team massive commitment to Bryzgalov. I don't think he's handled Couturier or Schenn especially well.

He's slow to adjust and when he finally simplified his system and forced the forwards to pay more attention to a two way game, not only did the team defense improve, they started to be more effective at 5 on 5.

Had Laviolette simply used that simplified approach out of the gate, I think that the Flyers are getting ready to play a playoff game tonight, instead of golfing.
- Jsaquella

Here here.

This times a billion.

yes, that is what I'm saying. I don't spend any more time in the Flyer's locker room than you do, but that is the impression I get from those that do (like Tim P, Bill Meltzer, and Bryz's former teammates).
- Dkos

How many of Bryzgalov's former teammates have you heard from? You know what I find funny. And this is not to you but out in general. One of the criticisms that fans have levied against Bryzalov is that he's thrown players on the team under the bus so to speak. Which I also don't agree with. And part of the "evidence" used to come to some of the conclusions that some have come to, is what a former teammate such as Derek Morris has said about Bryzgalov. Well what exactly is Derek Morris doing there? Is he not throwing Bryzgalov " under the bus"? I find that ironic

Here's how I see it. Bryzgalov is a flake, and an off the wall character. The way he expresses himself, and his inflection, isn't really likable. And I beleive that he has trouble expressing in the right way what he wants to say. Call him eccentric or whatever. But is he a bad guy, or he has he really said anything to the media that was out of line? In my opinion he hasn't. So whoever in the Flyers lockeroom doesn't like Bryzgalov for whatever reason, needs to get over it. Because it unprofessional.

this is the inevitable 'NO WAY THAT COULD GO WRONG' post
- BulliesPhan87

Well I mean, a few things could go wrong, but the upside is so much greater. What could go wrong is St. Louis matches, we don't get pietrangelo, and our relationship is strained for further negotiations. If he matches, we'll lose our 1st round pick for the next 4 years. That's bad, but then again, Pietrangelo. A solid number 1 for the next decade. Then we would have mez or coburn plus some other assets to try to trade for a 1st rounder and lessen the pain. We'd also lose about a week of negotiation time, which isn't too good either, but if Homer were to time it correctly, it could work well. I mean, the down side is totally manageable imo. Homer's learned lessons since he made that offer sheet to Weber. The plus side now is St. Louis is in more of a sticky situation and isn't really able to just say "MATCH IT!" almost as soon as it's offered. They've got much more to manage then Nashville did, their main goal that offseason was to keep Weber and try to rebuild around him. St. Louis has 2 more really expensive defenseman, plus 3 more RFAs on top of them to worry about, as well as building up their forward strength. It's much more possible for us to get Pietrangelo now with an offer sheet than to get Weber last off season

In Defense (pardon the pun) of Homer

"'I still like our team. When we are healthy, we’re a good team. We had a lot of unhealthy players this year. I think we will better next year. We will look around and makes ourselves better. Let’s see what we can come up with.' - homer"

He has to say this... Anything else hurts his barging position with his trade partners. What would you rather him say - we're terrible and are willing to trade anyone to upgrade our defense.

"And the GM failed miserably last summer and steadfastly refused to recognized the problems on the back end."

Refused to recognize problems? You don't throw an offer to Webb, if you don't recognize a problem. Recognizing a problem and being able to solve a problem is a huge difference. Homer may have actually won last summer, if you saw the actual deals on his desk. If teams only wanted Schenn, Coots, and a #1 pick in a deal for a #1 defenseman - then he may have won.

And, more to Homer's defense. The previous 3 years the Flyers made it into the playoffs. If you look at the year-end roosters, There is not a dramatic change.

09-10 SCF, top 4 were great with line 3 below average (it may have cost them the cup).
Pronger - Timmo - Carle - Coburn - (others)

10-11 Playoff team, pretty much the same crowd but adding ODonnell and Mez - much better line 3 combinations. Pronger had a half year.
1/2Pronger - Timmo - Carle - Coburn - ODonnell - Mez

11-12 Playoff team, Odonnell is replace by Grossman. Lost Pronger
Timmo - Carle - Coburn - Grossman - Mez

12-13 No Playoffs, Schenn is replaced by Carle. Injuries; Mez (11gm), Grossman (30gm), Coburn (33gm). Injuries force AHL'ers to step up.
Timmo - Schenn - Coburn - Grossman - Mez

Homer can't control injuries. He did the best he could to patch holes, with out selling the farm (we should be thankful). Homer can't make other teams trade us #1 defenseman for peanuts. Homer can't make UFA sign with us (he can try - Suter was never a real option - Homer knew this, but took a shot .)

How many of Bryzgalov's former teammates have you heard from? You know what I find funny. And this is not to you but out in general. One of the criticisms that fans have levid against Bryzalov is that he's thrown players on the team under the bus so to speak. Which I also don't agree with. And part of the "evidence" used to come to some of the conclusions that some have come to, is what a former teammate such as Derek Morris has said about Bryzgalov. Well what exactly is Derek Morris doing there? Is he not throwing Bryzgalov " under the bus"? I find that ironic

Here's how I see it. Bryzgalov is a flake, and an off the wall character. The way he expresses himself, and his inflection, isn't really likable. And I beleive that he has trouble expressing in the right way what he wants to say. Call him eccentric or whatever. But is he a bad guy, or he has he really said anything to the media that was out of line? In my opinion he hasn't. So whoever in the Flyers lockeroom doesn't like Bryzgalov for whatever reason, needs to get over it. Because it unprofessional.
- MJL

Neither of us has any first hand knowledge of Bryz, so we are both talking out of our behinds. I guess we see things differntly. I don't think he comes off as unlikeable. I find the way he talks amusing and likeable. He seems bright and engaging, but from things reporters (like Tim and Bill Meltzer) said he is not liked by many of his teammates and coaches. Maybe he is a bad guy in private, maybe he's got a personality disorder, maybe it's something more than just eccentricity...I don't know. I haven't heard him say anything so terrible either, but the fact is that he has acted goofy and he has called attention to himself in front of the media. He is somewhat responsible for the attention he gets. As far as his teammates being unprofessional...I haven't seen evidence of that.

In Defense (pardon the pun) of Homer

"'I still like our team. When we are healthy, we’re a good team. We had a lot of unhealthy players this year. I think we will better next year. We will look around and makes ourselves better. Let’s see what we can come up with.' - homer"

He has to say this... Anything else hurts his barging position with his trade partners. What would you rather him say - we're terrible and are willing to trade anyone to upgrade our defense.

"And the GM failed miserably last summer and steadfastly refused to recognized the problems on the back end."

Refused to recognize problems? You don't throw an offer to Webb, if you don't recognize a problem. Recognizing a problem and being able to solve a problem is a huge difference. Homer may have actually won last summer, if you saw the actual deals on his desk. If teams only wanted Schenn, Coots, and a #1 pick in a deal for a #1 defenseman - then he may have won.

And, more to Homer's defense. The previous 3 years the Flyers made it into the playoffs. If you look at the year-end roosters, There is not a dramatic change.

09-10 SCF, top 4 were great with line 3 below average (it may have cost them the cup).
Pronger - Timmo - Carle - Coburn - (others)

10-11 Playoff team, pretty much the same crowd but adding ODonnell and Mez - much better line 3 combinations. Pronger had a half year.
1/2Pronger - Timmo - Carle - Coburn - ODonnell - Mez

11-12 Playoff team, Odonnell is replace by Grossman. Lost Pronger
Timmo - Carle - Coburn - Grossman - Mez

12-13 No Playoffs, Schenn is replaced by Carle. Injuries; Mez (11gm), Grossman (30gm), Coburn (33gm). Injuries force AHL'ers to step up.
Timmo - Schenn - Coburn - Grossman - Mez

Homer can't control injuries. He did the best he could to patch holes, with out selling the farm (we should be thankful). Homer can't make other teams trade us #1 defenseman for peanuts. Homer can't make UFA sign with us (he can try - Suter was never a real option - Homer knew this, but took a shot .)
- leon neon

This. All of it. GMs have to say things generally and positively if they involve an area you are looking to make changes to. It's why he was easy to say that Bryzgalov didn't live up to expectations this year. Bryz didn't live up to expectations, and if he is going anywhere this offseason, it will be after a buyout. He=omer doesn't need to convince any other teams that Bryz is good, or that he's "happy with Bryz". You are spot on my friend.

Neither of us has any first hand knowledge of Bryz, so we are both talking out of our behinds. I guess we see things differntly. I don't think he comes off as unlikeable. I find the way he talks amusing and likeable. He seems bright and engaging, but from things reporters (like Tim and Bill Meltzer) said he is not liked by many of his teammates and coaches. Maybe he is a bad guy in private, maybe he's got a personality disorder, maybe it's something more than just eccentricity...I don't know. I haven't heard him say anything so terrible either, but the fact is that he has acted goofy and he has called attention to himself in front of the media. He is somewhat responsible for the attention he gets. As far as his teammates being unprofessional...I haven't seen evidence of that.
- Dkos

How do you think members of the media are aware that some of his teammates don't like Bryzgalov? Frank Seravalli claims that multiple players came to him and asked him to write the story about Bryzgalov allegedly napping during a meeting. If any of that is true, then those teammates have acted unprofessionally by violating the privacy of the locker room and the inner sanctum of the team.

Well I mean, a few things could go wrong, but the upside is so much greater. What could go wrong is St. Louis matches, we don't get pietrangelo, and our relationship is strained for further negotiations. If he matches, we'll lose our 1st round pick for the next 4 years. That's bad, but then again, Pietrangelo. A solid number 1 for the next decade. Then we would have mez or coburn plus some other assets to try to trade for a 1st rounder and lessen the pain. We'd also lose about a week of negotiation time, which isn't too good either, but if Homer were to time it correctly, it could work well. I mean, the down side is totally manageable imo. Homer's learned lessons since he made that offer sheet to Weber. The plus side now is St. Louis is in more of a sticky situation and isn't really able to just say "MATCH IT!" almost as soon as it's offered. They've got much more to manage then Nashville did, their main goal that offseason was to keep Weber and try to rebuild around him. St. Louis has 2 more really expensive defenseman, plus 3 more RFAs on top of them to worry about, as well as building up their forward strength. It's much more possible for us to get Pietrangelo now with an offer sheet than to get Weber last off season
- JAKEw1234

I'm just not wild about putting our eggs all in one basket and sitting around for a week of free agency again. I have no doubt St. Louis would match any offer sheet, anyways. I'd love to get that defenseman, but I'm not confident in the OS approach anymore.

How do you think members of the media are aware that some of his teammates don't like Bryzgalov? Frank Seravalli claims that multiple players came to him and asked him to write the story about Bryzgalov allegedly napping during a meeting. If any of that is true, then those teammates have acted unprofessionally by violating the privacy of the locker room and the inner sanctum of the team.
- MJL

And if there is anyone in the Flyers' media-team who's word I take as gold, it is Frank Seravalli

I'm just not wild about putting our eggs all in one basket and sitting around for a week of free agency again. I have no doubt St. Louis would match any offer sheet, anyways. I'd love to get that defenseman, but I'm not confident in the OS approach anymore.
- BulliesPhan87

I'm never confident in it. It's worked twice in NHL history and in both cases the guy who signed the offer sheet was gone within a few years. One was Chris Gratton, the other was Dustin Penner.

Teams will not let premier players walk via an offer sheet.

I'm never confident in it. It's worked twice in NHL history and in both cases the guy who signed the offer sheet was gone within a few years. One was Chris Gratton, the other was Dustin Penner.

Teams will not let premier players walk via an offer sheet.
- Jsaquella

Especially top tier defensemen in a league starved for them. You may as well be offer sheeting Wayne Gretzky in his prime.

Especially top tier defensemen in a league starved for them. You may as well be offer sheeting Wayne Gretzky in his prime.
- BulliesPhan87

The only way to do it is if the other team is extremely cash strapped or cap strapped. Even then, it's a long shot.

The Ducks had cap troubles when Edmonton offer sheeted Penner.