Howie58

Bear: I agree wholeheartedly. And I add a friendly amendment. If we look at the Flyers since the first lockout, it is two flukey playoff runs, the worst season in history, and nothing but inconsistency during that stretch. We need the proverbial outside set of eyes. And that may not happen unless Comcast tells Snider to take a back seat. Or until he passes. Best, Howie

How about Dave Poile from Nashville...bring in Trotz too. Seriously, if the guy can do what he's done with a far lower budget, think about what Comcast bucks would do. And his dad was our GM... Best, Howie

Hello PG: I suspect it is all of the above. This game epitomized "Flyers Hockey" this season: poor goaltending, shoddy defense, inconsistent effort. This game may force Homer to think about his own work. It may put Lavi on the line. I cannot even begin to comprehend the D or Bryz. Yikes is all I can say. It is no fun watching this team. As I said a few months ago, you knew why the Flyers of '06-'07 were bad...Lasse Kukkonen, etc. This is a very different story. Best, Howie

I agree with this. Bryz has not been the entire problem but he is not worth his cap hit. I suspect he and Briere may be buyout material. Once again, the question has to be asked...what can't this franchise "grow" or keep its own G and D? And for that matter, as expensive as he was, Bobo is playing well with Columbus...our system apparently has nobody of value for backup....and Gustavson was not very effective last night... Best, Howie

Thanks to all for clarifying this may have as much to do with slots as cap. Sestito is expendable with Rinaldo as "Bowling Ball." Leighton is something of a tragedy or comedy or both. Neil Little was spared the indignity of frequent up and down. Leighton's time here speaks to the inability of this franchise to develop or keep its goalies. Antero Baby...come back from Europe...we need you. Best, Howie

Jack: I agree. Is this cap clearing for a trade? Boy, our backup goaltending doesn't leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Best, Howie

Your points are well taken. He is burly...Flyers like that. One thing is certain--Meznaros's health is uncertain. Yes, he is going to play again in a week but today's Inquirer story reminds the reader that Mez's playing time has steadily declined since 2009. I have to wonder if Homer is thinking his career is on the fritz. Peace, Howie

Greetings: This one doesn't make sense to me unless there is reckoning of future years at much lower cap hit. He is "only" 33--what's left in the tank is anyone's guess. I can't see much of a short-term jolt for this...he has no goals in 11 games. Per General McAuliffe at Bastogne: "Nuts."

Flyercanuck: This is a good question and thread, if only because decisions on "stay the course versus blow-up" will come sooner rather than later in a shortened season. I say yes to parting with both of them. Sadly, I really wonder what we will get at this juncture. Briere's skills seem to be sapped and he gets knocked off the puck. Timonen's contract means he ain't a cheapie rental (thanks Homer). Peace, Howie

Greetings: It was hard to stay awake at stretches; not sure if that's the Leafs' D or our ineptitude. Cripes...how many passes to phantom players at the blue line did we witness? Bryz was OK, not stellar. But I wonder if Scrivens' play makes a buyout of our six million dollar man more likely? This team needs a spark. I am worried about Lavy's preparedness. Peace, Howie

I hope you are right and they show some spunk early on. Trying to understand the ups-and-downs of this squad leads to your own mood swings.

Wow: I am getting senile. I was thinking Luke would be facing Braden. Yikes...Monday. Sorry. Peace, Howie

Greetings: This evening's game may be one of the "pivotal" ones so far. It's the possibility of hitting.500 and a reset. But it is also a home test to see if they can learn from the earlier Leaf loss. Schenn vs. Schenn is an interesting sideshow. Bryz versus Scrivens is a lot more important, and as Carchidi is right to assert that Ilya's performance of late has been a bit rocky. I also look to see if Gus on D continues to show some mobility that we lack otherwise. Our young forwards are showing some "The Right Stuff." But our D is positional and not too mobile. Bottom line: I hope we don't fall asleep during the opening period. We could withstand 12-1 shot totals against WPG. The Leafs will draw more blood. LGF, Howie

Bear: I want to leave downtown Miami a bit early today to make the game. I think it will be a benchmark for the rest of the season. Peace, Howie

I didn't think Ruff was so hated here. Putting that aside, I think Donnellon's piece in today Inquirer was pretty savage. He came out and said the team pretty much sucked and the inconsistency is wearing thin.

Hello: I work not say the season is fake but it is compressed. That magnifies everything. Our daughter is marginally competent. Scoring is there in theory. In practice it's inconsistent. We beat Pitt and lose to Florida...In 24 hours. We get angry at each other. That's understandable after a 38 year drought. Lavy may be part of the problem. But Homer, Snider, and shortsightedness are bigger issues. Bring on Dave Poile and Barry Trotz...and have Lukko tell Brian Roberts to assume a direct control over operations. Peace, Howie PS: I think Ruff will get hired within 12 months.

The boys are earning their keep. This is actually fun to watch.

Greetings: We agree that 9-10 years is too long. But my gut says we don't need that in the "New NHL." Three-four years would build a foundation for a decade. But that kind of patience isn't around the franchise...management and fans. But we have had 37+ years of frustration to show for it. I also think (and this is partially broken record, forgive me) that at some point many folks begin to forget the Cup years and history before the first strike. Seen in that light--our franchise has been inconsistent. Two fluke-type Cup runs, the worst season in franchise history...and 100+ point seasons with little to show for it. It's tough. Maybe we need Trotz and Poile! Peace, Howie

Rux: Good point. But our "rebuild" seems to be going backward. The forwards may be moving forward. The D and G...shaky ground. Our lack of patience is also, I think, a factor. Thanks for moderating. Howie

Greetings: I often tell my students that comparisons of the extreme cases reveal a lot. Looking at the standings this morning made me think about us versus the Blackhawks. Here we are, just shy of three years after meeting in the Cup Final. They are atop the standings in their division and in points. We are going nowhere and heading for the bottom. So...what does it mean? 1) Being lousy a few years in a row means accumulation of Toes, Kane...Giroux is good but not in their league..or Stamkos, etc. 2) Quenneville may be a better coach than Lavy? 3) Tallon-Bowman are better judges of talent than Homer, et. al? 4) Above-referenced GMs can hold a core together better in a Cap era than Homer and Philly? 5) We say bye to Emery...and keep the likes of Boosh and Leighton? I don't know all the answers. But the comparison seemed interesting. My deep fear of this season is the Flyers will learn nothing from it. They are "Path Dependent." They will deploy the same scouts, same whatever...and not ask some tough questions. Meanwhile, three years after the fact, the Hawks are Cup contenders, and we are trying to find some bearings. And our top scorer is an unheralded free agent, not a draft pick, something that can be viewed as a good thing...or an indicator that our drafting isn't so good. Peace, Howie

Tonight we saw that against a so-so team, they can survive if Bryz is at the top of his game and they avoid dumb penalties. The forwards show promise but the D is lackluster. I am not happy at all either. Per my comment...dismissing the coach lets Homer off the hook. But it also covers up a strategy of win now, and forever lose the Cup. Best, Howie

P: Good to hear from you. Your reasoning is good. I just see a lot of defensive lapses that result in bang-bang goals. Our goal scoring is anemic--maybe I see the potential from the forwards but worry about the upper bounds of this defensive corps...which has limited puck movement skills. Best, Howie

Another loss or two like this and our friend Lavy will be scapegoated and released. This is not a coherent group. The defensive lapses are awful. Best, Howie

Sestito may have earned himself a long-term slot. Injuries are giving the 4th line some time to show their stuff. It's great. Howie

About the only acquisition target mentioned in this slew of articles that makes any sense to me is Stephen Weiss. He is 29 and quite durable. If we go for some 35+ dude and sacrifice picks and youth it will only confirm what BOI says--an aging owner is forcing shortsighted, desperate moves. That said, another part of these talks is the shorter season. Within a compressed time frame, teams may decide to be buyers or seller sooner or later. The trade deadline may not mean as much. I hope we build around a nucleus and stop our perpetual blow-ups. Best, Howie