Their ability to drop gloves is not why they are in the lineup. Tom Wilson is a 20 goal scorer. Chara was one of the best defenders in the last decade. These people can play. Snarl is not our issue.
- Tfaehner

Could not disagree more. Who in the current lineup plays with snarl, or even remotely has opposing players looking over their shoulders?

Could not disagree more. Who in the current lineup plays with snarl, or even remotely has opposing players looking over their shoulders?
- BroadSTmayhem

Not looking over their shoulder but TK is the only guy that plays with edge . Maybe NAK, that’s it. We are not a tough team to play against.

Could not disagree more. Who in the current lineup plays with snarl, or even remotely has opposing players looking over their shoulders?
- BroadSTmayhem

Has having those players stopped the capitals players from getting run ? Did it stop them get absolutely smashed in the bubble last year ? The answer is no. It didn't. Snarl doesn't make you a good hockey team. Toughness does. Toughness isn't punching people in the face.

Has having those players stopped the capitals players from getting run ? Did it stop them get absolutely smashed in the bubble last year ? The answer is no. It didn't. Snarl doesn't make you a good hockey team. Toughness does. Toughness isn't punching people in the face.
- Tfaehner

The Flyers do not play with toughness in any sense.

The Flyers do not play with toughness in any sense.
- ClaudeFather

Right now they are not. Did we last year when we were one the best teams in hockey to end the season ?

Has having those players stopped the capitals players from getting run ? Did it stop them get absolutely smashed in the bubble last year ? The answer is no. It didn't. Snarl doesn't make you a good hockey team. Toughness does. Toughness isn't punching people in the face.
- Tfaehner

I live in northern VA and catch every Caps game. The very few times their players do get run there is a hefty price to be paid. Yes, they got bounced in the playoffs last year, but they more than matched the Isles’ physicality. Dallas and TB are two very physical teams that relied on toughness all year. Worked out pretty well, I’d say.

I live in northern VA and catch every Caps game. The very few times their players do get run there is a hefty price to be paid. Yes, they got bounced in the playoffs last year, but they more than matched the Isles’ physicality. Dallas and TB are two very physical teams that relied on toughness all year. Worked out pretty well, I’d say.
- BroadSTmayhem

Tampa does not rely on fighting and big hits to win games since that is by your definition toughness. Excellent board work, being aggressive in the dirty areas, elite goaltending, and some of the most skilled forwards in the league is why they are the defending cup champions. To suggest fighting as the toughness that got them there is the most obsurd egregious over reaction to an extremely talented team I've ever heard.

A price to pay doesn't prevent the action. Thus its in no way shape or form a deterrent making it not a requirement.

Living in Northern VA and watching caps game doesn't make you an excellent evaluator on why the caps are a good team. They've had their own fair share of absolute let downs and periods of getting slammed. Didnt we smash them like 7-1? Last year. I guess their toughness sure showed us that game.

Tampa does not rely on fighting and big hits to win games since that is by your definition toughness. Excellent board work, being aggressive in the dirty areas, elite goaltending, and some of the most skilled forwards in the league is why they are the defending cup champions. To suggest fighting as the toughness that got them there is the most obsurd egregious over reaction to an extremely talented team I've ever heard.

A price to pay doesn't prevent the action. Thus its in no way shape or form a deterrent making it not a requirement.

Living in Northern VA and watching caps game doesn't make you an excellent evaluator on why the caps are a good team. They've had their own fair share of absolute let downs and periods of getting slammed. Didnt we put them like 7-1? Last year. I guess their toughness sure showed us that game.
- Tfaehner

Never claimed to be an “expert” because I live in N.V. I grew up and spent the better part of my life in South Jersey, and am a proud lifelong fan of the Flyers and every other Philly sports team. I watch Caps games because I love hockey that much and will tune in to whatever game is available to me. I’ve also coached hockey for decades. Doesn’t make me an expert, by any means, but I know a little about the game. Physicality and accountability are a huge part of the game,

Again. I respect your opinion up there on this board more than most. Do we ride it out and admit if the next 6 games don't go our way we likely are on the outside looking in or do we make a move ? The deadline is ironically poorly placed late into the season. Idk that we can wait for it.
- Tfaehner

Unless a really good deal is out there, I ride it out.

Never claimed to be an “expert” because I live in N.V. I grew up and spent the better part of my life in South Jersey, and am a proud lifelong fan of the Flyers and every other Philly sports team. I watch Caps games because I love hockey that much and will tune in to whatever game is available to me. I’ve also coached hockey for decades. Doesn’t make me an expert, by any means, but I know a little about the game. Physicality and accountability are a huge part of the game,
- BroadSTmayhem

Accountability - absolutely. Toughness as defined as fighting and snarl - no. Toughness as being hard to play against ? Absolutely. Tough on the boards. Tough to move off pucks. Tough in the neutral zone.. Tough in front of the net. Id call it necessary. And we are not playing that way.

However like I said and like the game I referenced vs the caps. We were tough to play against last year. For a very long stretch. With mostly the same team. We can play tougher and better. Thats been proven. You dont need to go get car bomb back or promote Morin to do it.

Caps have tons of offensive talent, but also have that element of toughness (i.e. players who willingly get involved physically and drop the gloves)...Wilson, Dillon, Hathaway, Dowd, and now Chara. The team doesn’t get pushed around.

Define “toughness” any way you choose. But to believe the Flyers haven’t been pushed around this season is ludicrous. If I’m the GM and coach I’m looking to add snarl to the lineup.
- BroadSTmayhem

The Flyers aren't getting pushed around. They simply aren't competing enough. Adding a player with "snarl" is not going to change much. I think the Flyers GM is smarter than that.

Could not disagree more. Who in the current lineup plays with snarl, or even remotely has opposing players looking over their shoulders?
- BroadSTmayhem

Couldn't care less about that. Not a need. You're stuck in a time war time warp back in 1975. Your posts and your screen name give you away. You have not evolved with the game.

If the Flyers had Tom Wilson in that game last night, they still would've lost 6-1 and would've likely had to kill off more PP's. "At least we went down swinging"

Yep. Instead of the Flyers being sound structurally and positionally and outnumbering the opposition on the puck. Which is what AV's system is based upon. The Flyers are either having to skate farther or skate to catch up to the opposition. Giving the appearance that the Flyers are a slow team. The quickest way to a point is a straight line.

How often this season have you seen the Flyers cut off a play in the neutral zone and create transition offense the other way? The team that controls the neutral zone, controls the game. Opposition teams have an "EZ pass" to get through the neutral zone with speed.
- MJL

I agree again, but good straight line speed makes up for a lot of sins, and the Flyers struggle in this area, so they have to play perfect structure to compensate. When they do it well, they are very successful, when they don't they are exposed.

Unless a really good deal is out there, I ride it out.
- MJL

Thats what I'm leaning towards. But I'd want to see us make the proper moves post expansion to be a true contender for 2022 in that case. I think with the expansions there's almost no win to adding cause the cost could be double. Unless you can get an UFA and trust them to re sign

I agree again, but good straight line speed makes up for a lot of sins, and the Flyers struggle in this area, so they have to play perfect structure to compensate. When they do it well, they are very successful, when they don't they are exposed.
- jd250

Hockey is rarely a straight line speed game. It is a lot of stops and starts. No team or player is fast when not moving their feet. Nor do the Flyers have to play perfect structure to compensate. You have this idea that the Flyers are a slow team when they aren't. They're not one of the fastest teams but they're middle of the pack. I've demonstrated what makes the Flyers at times appear to be slow with multiple posts.

It's the first time we've seen emotion like this from him. I understand and am ok with that from him last night.

He hasn't played his best but he's getting next to nothing defensively out of this team.
- Pelle31Forever

Hart has been the only player ready to play at the start of these games and has been under siege for the most part. What do you want from him, eventually his walls are going to crack. Even so, out of the 10 goals he gave up against the Bruins I think maybe he would want 2 of those back, the rest were not on him. He also competed to the end in each game and made a ton of good stops.

Hockey is rarely a straight line speed game. It is a lot of stops and starts. No team or player is fast when not moving their feet. Nor do the Flyers have to play perfect structure to compensate. You have this idea that the Flyers are a slow team when they aren't. They're not one of the fastest teams but they're middle of the pack. I've demonstrated what makes the Flyers at times appear to be slow with multiple posts.
- MJL

Yes you did demonstrate that, and made a lot of good points.

How is Voracek showing leadership on the ice? Because he got pissed at a player? How was his leadership on the Coyle goal and to a lesser extent on the Craig Smith goal?
- MJL

I didn't catch the last game, so anything I say only applies up to the 1st game vs Bos.

(ClaudeFather, not specifically calling you out). But I don’t understand many fans - who praise the organization when they bring talent from within via prospects and drafts - then crucify the rookie when they don’t play like Gretzky or Orr in their first few seasons. I don’t get it. Friedman, Hagg, etc may develop into good nhlers.
- leon neon

Hagg is in his 7th year with the Flyers, Friedman is in his 6th. They are what they are and neither is that good, nor are they going to get any better.

Love Andy Reid but Go Bills

Ok I’ll play along.
The flyers are neither fast or tough to okay against right now.
By fast they don’t have the speed to scare the defense to back off giving the second wave of attackers to follow the play with space and get prime shots.
Many times the carry the puck into the zone and either pull up or get pushed to them outside to the corner or behind the net where ultimately they lose a board battle.
That is where the toughness comes in.
I also see a reluctance to drive the net with the puck.
By toughness let’s change that to physicality. Be tough along the boards. Battle in front of the net and make the dmen work to defend. Work to the open spots in the ozone.
As a coach I want my defense, breakouts, neiutral zone defense structured.
In the ozone I want creativity.
I want my guys to be able to read the play get into open areas to create offense.
The forwards also need to recognize the need to get back and defend when puck possession is lost.
If you would ask the Boston players if the flyers were a tough team to play against after Saturday’s game i suspect you would get platitudes on camera but behind the scenes laugh at any such suggestion.

I can say with 100% confidence that they didn't add any of those players because they could fight. Flyers don't have a need for more foot soldiers or role players. They have plenty of that. They need to get better on defense and they need their best players to play like it consistently.
- MJL

If the Flyers foot soldiers could hit and have jam then we have a better team.

During the 1st and 2nd periods last night, I thought there were some improvements. Certainly not in the shooting and scoring chance department, but some better passing and more controlled exits. On the whole, faceoff wins were up so that was not contributing to the possession difficulties.

I’m not sure what they can do about the defense unit as is. If the top 3 right now are Sanheim, Provorov and Braun, I really have giant doubts about keeping Provy-Sanheim together. I think you try each one, drags one and it cannot be worse.

The compete level froze to minus levels in the 3rd. Next game we see who comes to play? Who wants to be part of the solution? Who has the will to win?

Sure they are missing important players to injury. Sure they didn’t have a preseason to get back timing. Sure some bad calls go against you and sometimes things get missed. None of that should affect competitiveness and the ability to improve day by day.
- NC Flyers Fan

Provorov and Sanheim should both play big minutes, just not together.

Provorov and Sanheim should both play big minutes, just not together.
- SuperSchennBros

Absolutely agree.

If the flyers don't show up against NJ for this two game set, I could see two more losses easily. NJ is playing well, and now ahead of us in the standings. It's certainly not panic time, but if they keep this up we're going to have a mountain to climb to get into the top 4.