Vanflyer

With Richards, Williams and Gagne leading the way behind Kopitar, the LAK's moved into first place in Pacific Division. Last night: Kopitar 1g, 1A 2pts Richards 2g (1SHG) 2pts Gagne 1g (SHG), 1A 2pts Williams 1A 1pt

This is a semi-hijack thread post, so I apologize in advance to the OP. We joke about Jeff who, but then out of the other side of our mouths ride JVR. I get why- mostly it is built on the expectation of continual growth beyond last year. While he has not played horribly, I think he has been more off / on and I have seen more brain cramps from him this year in a short amount of time then all last year. His brain cramps have cost. However: I believe he was goaless after the first 17 games last year and had only 3 assists. He has played 17 games this year and has 7g / 7a. On pace for a 30 / 30 year in his 3rd season. In fact, he is 3rd on the team overall in scoring. Now if he could improve his brain cramps, play with more focus and tighten up a more defensively, people would probably be lauding him like others.

That is a GREAT idea. You should send an e-mail to the Flyers with this enormously respectful suggestion. I like the fact that it also bonds Brad and Mark together forever as Flyers. RIP Brad.

Truthfully, with how the Flyers have restructured their pricing, for $20 - $25 per ticket, the Club Box is well worth it for the following reasons: 1) All the sight lines are very good. 2) Personal club bathroom (very clean). Perfect if you have the missus and kids. 3) Cool place to hang out between periods without hustle and bustle and having to sit in your seat. 4) Club level food easy access or order from waitress. Now the negative, and it is a big one: Generally the club boxes are corporate owned and so there are many "sales" types sitting there. Expect to encounter both Flyers fans and those complete disinterested in the game. I have gotten used to this both in the lower level and club boxes and just tune it out. Prices for drinks and food- not much more than lower level but still more. If you use the waitresses, you are looking at gratuity. What I generally do is one of two things: Get some hoagies, sodas and water (ect.) prior to game and put it in a cooler. The kids like this because- truthfully, they usually want the sweets at the game (especially if fed well before the game). Sometimes we will go to the Holiday in pregame and get munchies / apps there. Much cheaper than the stadium. I guess in the end, for a small bump more, you should try the CB experience. It is a hassle free game (no crowded hallways / bathrooms / concessions to deal with). If you get them from the right person, they usually include VIP parking (so another reduced hassle).

Interesting thread from HF Boards: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=1032311

While John's character is affable and easy going, I probably (wince) would prefer John LeClaire be retired instead of The Beasts. That is not to take ANYTHING away from Brad as he was outstanding with the Flyers- yet the 5 seasons only thing compared to LeClairs 10 seasons weighs heavy on my mind. Johnny is the second best LW to ever play for the Flyers (and one could argue perhaps the best because he played in a much more restrictive era and took a pounding, but kept on ticking). It is hard for me to say, especially with the tragic plane crash. But if we are looking at players merits alone, I would prefer to see Leclairs name on the number hanging from the rafters instead of Mccrimmons.

Everyone is saying Patrick Sharp. I am not sure I fully get this. Perhaps I am splitting hairs because of the words "most missed". In his first two years with Chicago, Sharp was barely more than what he was here production wise (not that he got much of a chance here: 40 games one year and only 22 games the next year). He was only getting 10 minutes a night here in Philly. When he went to Chicago, he was bumped up to 13:30, getting extra time both on the PP and PK (second pairing only). His first full season there, he rose to 17:30 a game. Getting an increase in ES, PK and PP. That was on a poor Chicago team (interestingly, that was also the year we finished last in the league). Probably the biggest thing regarding Sharp is that we already had enough Centers (Forsberg, Richards, Carter and Handzus). It was Sharps second full season with Chicago that he had his "break out" year. I think the thing is that Sharp was not going to get the opportunity in Philly the way he did in those early bad Chicago teams. Not because of Hitch or any other coach, but simply because of depth chart. Sharp got the minutes in Chicago and gained confidence and grew as a player. He was 24 when he was traded, so not a baby by any means. People say "horrible trade" etc. etc. But he was the 95th pick of the 2001 draft and had not really shown anything of significance up to the point he was traded. The other thing that has helped him (though he has moved back to Center this year) is that Chicago moved him to wing where he could "rove" more as he is apt to do. In summary, a guy that played only 60 games for us over two seasons (despite blossoming into a very good NHL player) is not on my missed list. I like the Zubrus and Gagne comments.

Not disagreeing, but aside from a "late blooming goalie", its a bit weird for me for someone who will be 26 y/o when awards are announced to get the Calder. Nonetheless, I don't disagree. Couturier is still there for me as well (though he has more games played than Read and plays less minutes).

Okay- fair enough. But the point is this on my end: Miller charged out to get the puck and Lucic was charging in. In regards to stop skating, that is a god send- could you imagine if Lucic kept skating?? In the end, it is a hockey play. I mean what if it is someone like timmo coming from the other wing trying to get there and and at the last SECOND get there and flips the puck to the glass? You have your points and I have mine. At the end of the day, my opinion is that ANY player that plays the puck (with exception of the goalies in either crease or trapezoid) is fare game. Miller was a 3rd defensemen there. If he does not want to get nailed, stay in the crease. Let Luci retrieve the puck and see if the defense can stop the trailers or catch up to him. If he does not want to do that and challenge the play, he is fair game- plain and simple. Truth be told, I would have done the EXACT same thing Lucic did. Back in the days of Roy, Hextall, Smith, Resch and others it wouldn't even be a topic today. I also could name 30 other goalies / teams through the history that would have pummeled Lucic for doing that (thereby prohibiting the hitting of the goalie), but that will digress this thread.

Rad- you really need to watch that video again. Lucic loses control of the puck and is in full speed pursuit. Miller comes out to try and get the puck first- and does. He quickly flips the puck to the boards- just as Lucic gets there and gets nailed. To me its a completely legit hockey play.

Rad- no offense, but your point is invalid. Watch the play again. Miller skated to below the circle PLAYED the puck will an attacker was skating full bore to get to the puck and got leveled just after he shot the puck into the glass. If you don't like the hit, fine, but don't say its because Miller did not play the puck, because he did AND he knew that Lucic was barreling in after pursuit of the puck. What did miller think was going to happen??? That Lucic was just going to bear off and not pursue and give Miller and easy out??

I could not agree more. Its incredulous to me all these people that are protecting Miller. Now, I don't condone running the goalie when he is in his crease, but when he is out of the the trapezoid / crease, he is fair game to me. How people forget Hextall, Resch and Billy Smith. These guys would go to make hockey players and acted just like one, not a pansy. They would take and give hits.

There is always shuffle board. You can drink while doing that- yet there is still the risk you may fall. Asphalt hurts just as much as ice. (Joking of course!!)

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Howe-inducted-into-HHOF.html What a class act.

I was thinking the same thing. The twist would be that Comcast no longer owns the Phantoms (Brooks Group does). My understanding is the Flyers own the players and the Books group owns the operation / business side. Leighton is the starting goalie for the Phantoms and doing quite well. Backlund has not started a game this year (I guess injured). So, unless Toronto wants to give the Phantoms a goalie prospect in return, trading leighton would actually handcuff the Phantoms (believe it or not).

I heard he banged Brindy's wife.

Wow, if true, makes Lindros look like an angel. Allot of people do not realize all the charity work that Lindros did and the hours he spent at CHOP (Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia). I am a bit stunned to read this. Despite never meeting the guy, his time in Juniors (as noted by FC and Jammer) and watching him play in WJHC, he was every bit an affable guy, leader and genuinely nice person.

Here is a link. I just did a filter on all teams + rookies and then sorted by games played. There are 82 rookies that have played this year. You can do different sorts (unfortunately not a team sort, but you can go look team by team or games played). Or just go team by team in the filter drop down (very cumbersome). You could also cut and paste each page (3 pages) into a spread sheet and then sort by team and you would have your answer (probably the easiest thing to do). http://www.nhl.com/i...d=nav-sts-indiv

How can you compare a league (MLS) where the team only plays one game a week to a league (NHL), where teams play 3-4 games a week? The NHL has 41 home games (not including the playoffs) and the MLS a mere 15. Is's an apples to oranges comparison. It would be like comparing hockey attendance to baseball. Baseball plays twice as many games in significantly larger venues and thereby charges significantly less for tickets (making it more reasonable for larger and more frequent attendance).

Hey Mojo- Fair enough. I kind of did not get the hanging around the team thing either, yet we really don't know what his "consultant" role was. The patrick sharp thing is definitely a thorn. Wasnt there also issues with Justin Williams? I guess in the end, I just see him as being a very strict hard ass coach and if you get in his dog house, sometimes its hard to get out. Like you said, he has a new gig, so it water over the bridge. I wonder if Maker is going to move to St Louis.

The year that Colorado won the cup, hexy played a fine year. He was 31w / 13 L / 7 ties. GAA 2.17 and sv pctg .913. The problem was that he was having problems with his groin, but his play was better than crap. His back-up, Garth Snow was crap. We beat Tampa in 6 games in the Quarter finals and then played the Panthers in the conference Semis (the eventual conference winners). We were up 2-1 after the first 3 against Florida. Game 4 we lost in OT 3-4 in Florida and Game 5 we lost in double OT 2-1 in Philly. The 6th game was a 4-1 loss. Florida went on to win the conference in 7 games against the Penguins.

The point about sakic is extremely valid. For me it is very hard to compare. As pointed out, the Flyers were gutted. Yet Colorado (Quebec), not only had our players / picks / cash, but also had Sakic and others than enabled them to get other pieces. Imagine if you will if the Flyers had Sakic before the trade and retained him. No pressure for big E to be the leader and also to be the top centerman. As great a talent as Forsberg was, he has allot of thanks going to sakic- who was a stud (and perhaps the best wrist shot in the league for 10 years). Colorado was able to roll two to three lines (don't our nemesis Claude Lemieux were there too). Ricci was there from us and Chris Simon. Add to that a young Sanids Ozolinch, Adam Foote, Adam Deadmarsh, Mike Keanne and of course Patrick Roy. Interestingly, The Flyers were a really good team that year. But short of the right pieces. Hextall played very well in the playoffs, but the opposition found a way to shut down the Flyers Legion line and they were one and done. As an aside, I read on another post the other day that Ricci was taken 4th overall by the Flyers in the 1990 draft. Guess who was taken 5th: Jaromir Jagr!!! I loved Ricci as a heart and soul third line guy- but man was that a bad pick. Even as selfish as Jaromir was, could you imagine him with Lindros and Leclair? Then you have Renberg on the second line playing with Brind'A mor. That might have gotten us a cup right there (assuming that Jagr would not have been part of the trade to get Lindros). Derien Hatcher went #8 that year.

I always thought the puck had to keep forward progress, so it never crossed my mind that a player could / would stop. If you look at some of the penalty shots over the years, many guys would start to skate laterally to get a different angle going towards the goalie.

Hey Mojo- Kind of talking out of both sides aren't you. You ask what was he doing at NHL Clubs practices when he is the "developmental guy", but then lambaste him as being horrible with young players. He was a consultant for Columbus and as I understand it in a very limited capacity (mostly to get his payday- perhaps something in his coaching contract). Secondly, say what you want, but I don't get the "bad with young players rap". I mean there are two schools of coaches by and large. Hard asses and coddlers. Rarely do you see inbetween (perhaps lavy is, but I lean towards the former more). My point being that Hitch is a great x / o guy and knows the game very well. If you are going to have a knock on him, perhaps it is his defensive first style. He wants everyone to be accountable Redline in. Many do not like it, because they want to let the offensive guys go. Yet, I would put any amount of money down that if we had a player like Kovulchuk on our team, there would be non-stop whining about his defensive game (or complete lack of). This is why everyone likes Coutier so much so far. At 18 years old he plays all three zones extremely soundly and has an innate ability to see things that most his age (an older) do not.

This is nice to see. About 5 years too late imho. But that is life. The only problem with the whole debacle is that Lindros should never have been captain and perhaps he should had some smarts at some point (perhaps after 3 years in the league), to separate himself from his parents and hire an agent. I mean he was already a multi-millionaire at that point.