Flyingswede

Spot on!

I dont hink that will happen to Giroux. He is almost flawless. But Jeff and Mike wasnt and it takes so little it seems...

The biggest mistake was to give Richards the C so early. In my opinion he couldnt handle it and I dont think he enjoyd it.

Suter isn't what Philly needs. And we'd have to overpay him as a UFA. No thanks.

Totally agree! Im sick of overpaid UFA signing.

for some reason we Americans feel the need to judge people's behavior, some of it is our obsession with celebrity culture, some of it is based on strong moral convictions, some of it is immaturity.... some of it is the technology we all possess with our smart phones and connectivity to one another. i get bummed by reports of athletes acting the fool, but also get bummed that so many people seem to take satisfaction when it happens. i don't think our society is made better by judging each other so harshly.

Interesting post, dont get me wrong, I didnt mean its ok to behave lika a jackass. I think an organisation must have rules and moral standards wich the players obey. But sometimes I think its to much focus on other stuff than hockey. No human is flawless and if some one is I dont want to know that person becouse that person cant be human I think its important that players behave like rolemodels and sets good example but at the same time the judging is to harshly just as you say!

Yes, well, Williams was a "disappointing" first round pick who was "always injured" and had "questionable commitment" when he was here.

Of course, he's now on the Cup twice...

He was also drafted two years *after* Gagne and played four seasons here.

For discussion, I'm not "bitter" about Richards and Crater winning the Cup (I am somehwat bitter about how they handled Simon Gagne).

To me, Crater and Richards are two players who got the swift kick in the pants that they needed when they got dealt and it was a wake up call they were certainly not going to get in Philadephia with two decade-long contracts with NTCs. To look at their achievement in LA and in any way equate it to what they "would" have done if here this season just doesn't hold up to scrutiny for me.

I'm frustrated with the organization's "chasing the Dragon" approach towards player development. The Flyers have consistently drafted well, but they (and the fanbase) tends to sour on players that aren't immediate "impact" players.

These are the top Flyer draft picks prior to Crater/Richards who made any significant impact in the NHL:

* Cup winners

Williams* gets dealt for a rental of Danny Markov

Sharp* for Matt Ellison

Seidenberg* for "shutdown center" Petr Nedved

Zubrus for Mark Recchi Version Two

Pitkanen for Smith and Lupul

Niinimaa for McGillis

Gagne* for Matt Walker and a fourth rounder

Prospal for Daigle

add in Woywitka for Comrie, Boucher for Esche/Handzus

Of those, maybe two? three? went in the Flyers' favor?

I do think that the Richards and Crater trades benefitted the Flyers then, now and in the future. But I also hope we avoid fire sales of "disappointing" first round picks who are "always injured" and have "questionable commitment".

Who knows how many Cups they'll win somewhere else...

I think SHarp for Ellison must be the trade of all times! I consider prospal for diagle an excellent move compared to sharp for ellison.

Anyone else see on the "ticker banner" on the NHL Network at the bottom of the TV where they scroll Twitter posts, there was a Twitter from Lupul that said " I guess Richards and Carter do have what it takes. Sorry Philly!" What a d**k.

Well we have simmonds and ssssssssch enn! who? what?

I can't root for the Kings either. However, I understand why Homer had to do that trade. Richards and Carter were primed to be the cornerstone of the team back when they won the Caulder Cup. However they had some parting behavior that was frowned upon by the organization. They didn't want another Pele incident. They were asked not to live in center city, but then they did, along with others Eager, Upshall, Lupul, Carcillo, Hartnell. As Homgren traded away each of their partying friends Richards and Carter were pissed. Richards took much of it personally, refusing to represent the organization for certain events.

In addition, the Flyers went through coaches to find the right mix for Richards and Carter. Hitchcock was fired because he was too hard on them. Stevens was their friend. He covered for them and felt they would change once they were given leadership responsibilities. But that didn't work, Pronger was brought in, this pissed of Richards more. The team became divided in the lockerroom. Stevens was ultimately fired. Lavy tried to bring it all together, Richards and Carter refused to participate in a team "Dry Island" but this time it wasn't going to be the coach that was fired.

In a nutshell, I blame Richards and Carter, so I'm glad they are gone. Holmgren had to make the trades. If Carter was traded solely, the team couldn't go forward with a pissed off Richards as captain so they had to trade both. The Flyers are better off without them. Couturier and Schenn have as much talent or more.

Interesting. I've never looked at it like that, and I guess much of what you write is right. But, I want to win a cup! I couldnt care less about drinking and partying as long as they are happy in the organisation and play well. In USA it seems like its so important what the players say or do after the game. In my world hockeyplayers is hockeyplayers. They are paid to play and as long as they play good their should be on the team.

Yeah but they still will win the cup so I guess that will be a kind of revenge for them. I never liked Carter but I liked Richards.

To see Carter and Richards playing the final with Kings. I cant help rooting for the devils just becouse of that. I cant understand why Homer had to do that trade, I guess it must have to do with Stevens some how. Why do you trade two key players like that the year after we went to the final. Now it seems like we lost that trade...

I root for the big bucks on a defenseman. I think our offense os ok, its one of the best in the league but it wouldnt hurt to get alittle more firepower.

Where do you want to spend the most money? Not according to Homer, what do YOU think. I still think we need a golie, we need it bad. On the other hand, golie is not everything. Rangers couldnt win against devils despite having Lundqvist and im sure that alot of you wouldt have been happy if we signed Lundqvist last year instead of Bryz.

Bryz could be enought if we had 1 or 2 top defensemen coming in and 1 winger. I think we lack a top sharpshooter. Would you go for Parise before Suter? I would be satisfied if we could loose some depth to bring in both Suter and Parise. Jagr will probebly not be around, and the some with Pronger.

I think LA king will take Rangers with 4-1 but if devils gets to the final I think it will be a much more even serie. Devils play a very simple hard hitting physical game and Kings have not met anything like that yet.

Kings is like a freight train this playoffs.

There is nothing wrong with Peter Laviolette's system. I like his system. I like seing us own the puck and play aggresive offensive hockey. If you play it like the Devs or Tampa bay it will be a long boring 82 games season. There is nothing wrong with the system, just the players and the spirit. Every system works if you have all players behind it. And you need a little bit of everything in all systems. The grit players, the enrgy players, the playmakers, the snipers, a puckmoving defensman, stay at home defenseman, good golie etc etc.

Okidoki, just a feeling I have since Justin williams with canes and Patrick Sharp won it with chicago.

I guess it includes all teams. But its irritating anyway.

I doubt it was right to trade Richards. Carter I couldnt care less about but Richards is that really important playoffs player you need, that you need bad!

Seems like LA kings is the best team in the NHL today. I seriously doubt that devils or Rangers can do anything. Kings will probebly win the final 4-1.

Look past the years flyers seems to have a history of trading players who wins the cup with the new team. To name a few of em':

Forsberg

Recchi

Justin Williams and Brindamour

Patrick Sharp

@doom88

I don't get the "feel bad for him". HE is the one that wanted the BIG bucks AND LONG term contract. I don't give a flying eff his is poor ego is injured because the fans scrutinize his game. They don't make 10M in one year of 51m over 9 years. Cry me an effing river.

I will never be able to get behind this guy.

Breezy first year with the Flyers: 33W-16L-7OTL-6SOL, salary> 10M

GAA: 2.48, Sv Pctg: .909

Bobs first year with the Flyers: 28W-13L-8OTL-0SOL, salary> 1.75m

GAA: 2.59, SV Pctg: .915

If I was Breezy I would STFU and go cash my checks and do the best to prepare for a better year- of just say eff off to NHL and go play in the KHL (where team Russia did NOT want him for the World Championships!).

I agree but at the same time, how much invovled is he in his contract signing? I guess a agent did all the work and telling Bryz what to do... I think bryz would have sign anything becouse the he havent a clue.

I dont think its a philly thing. Sport journalists failed in sports and thats why they instead write about it and they want to be buddies with the players. Any players who doesnt respond to this will get the cold from media.

He is right when he says its about the skating. We doesnt skate. I see a devils who lets the puck do the wprk and we is chasing it. We are standing still too much. We MUST skate. We must move.

Nickelback sucks

SoCalFlyfan! Maybe you were right about this. Its seems like the flyers got carried away winning over the pens pretty simply. And now they doesnt reload för the devils. I see less threat from devils during the games still we play worse than against pens. When pens attacked us every dude on the ice played his best. When devs attacks every dude is giving 70%.

And what about the offensive play? When we pressure them I think devils make alot of misstakes... we have to keep up the pressure against them and NOT let them take control of the game.

I think we can win this serie if we play really hard in your face offensive hockey.

Cmon'

Great series all around, but you guys are acting like beating the Pens is our 'Stanley Cup'.

...Now we have Giroux and Hartsy firing off T-shirt cannons at Nickleback concerts and Giroux being photoshopped as Jesus.

We can enjoy this a little but Lavi still needs to figure out how to beat a defensively sound team Like the Rangers, Bruins, Preds and Blues. Until then, I'm keeping a straight face...and not shaving my beard.

~SoCalflyfan

I get your point and I agree but on the other side I dont give a **** CARY ME AWAY!

I prefer Devils. You just dont know where you have Florida. We have been playing bad against them this season but good against the Debbies.

@Flyingswede

I really doubt that. The Flyers this season are the most viewed franchise by the numbers. They are an exciting team to watch, and I think the total NHL viewership is more important to Bettman than Sidney Crosby.

If you're right thats just awesome. Didnt know that

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH

Fantastic game! I love how we ended this serie. Im happy for Gustafsson scoring a goal too. How freakin good doesnt it feel to win against the pens. And Buttman will probebly cry himself to sleep tonight loosing Crosby early in the PO.