Howie58

Dear SC: I know you are in part joshing me, but seriously, I am not saying we are on the verge of greatness. But we finished above .500 and our longest losing this year was eight games, not 10. That's improvement. I agree there's no one player who's that great. But the product is more competitive.

I just want to emphasize something in my original post. Yes, we have made progress. But that's benchmarked to the post-Bubble funk that took out AV/Yeo and gave the second-worst season in in history. We have a long way to go before we are top-10. One observation I'd make is that the fans apparently gave the team an ovation after Game 82. The fanbase appreciates the effort we got most games. That's important. I recall the fear some had that Comcast and brass couldn't tolerate a long rebuild--lost revenue, lost fanbase, etc. My gut says Briere, Hilferty, and Jones see a fanbase that will play the long game as long as there's effort and incremental improvement. By the way, I posted eons ago about the fact that former Sharks GM Doug McClean was adamant about not signing contracts over five years. I am surprised that the NHLPA fleeced the owners (or vice versa) in allowing eight year contracts in a sport with this degree of physical contact. I am like McClean--I wouldn't do more than five years. By the way, part of his rationale was that top free agents did not want to come to a team with aging, non-competitive, overpaid superstars. This is a collective bargaining issue worth revisiting.

Strange.

@BobbyClarkeFan16 has posted wisely. That said, personnel matter. Putting aside the PP, our historical record in the SO and PP since inception is league-worst. That stretch covers a long stretch and I believe a half dozen coaches. I think that reflects the DNA problem I mentioned earlier. We put physicality over skill in player choice, and I think we've paid dearly. It wouldn't surprise me if the dismiss or reassign Thompson. Then we see if things get much better.

I said it a few weeks ago, and it's worth noting here--Bill Meltzer is correct that the O and B may be faced with some buyout/dead cap issues in this rebuild. I think Cam Atkinson is a good example for the coming year: https://thehockeywriters.com/flyers-buy-out-atkinson-2024-offseason/#:~:text=Since his return from injury – after missing,so the Flyers would be saving some money. Another candidate here might be Cal Petersen, though he could continue to get buried. Nic D--he appears to be losing favor with Torts--wonder about him. While his is an unlikely buyout candidate, Coots value-added could be iffy. I hope we see a rejuvenated version next year. Otherwise, we are grossly overpaying for a 3C, and the Captain no less.

Greetings: Well, we are not going into the post-season, something that may or may not make people happy given itsimpact on standings and draft. Regardless, I wanted to do a post-mortem thread. To start, here's a good take by Jordan Hall. It is the glass half-full, half-empty model: Flyers vs. Capitals: Promise followed by drop-off, 2023-24 season ends on final day – NBC Sports Philadelphia Are we better than expected? Check? Are there some good young players? Check? Does our PP stink? Check--and last night, Boosh contrasted the excellence of the PK with the putrid PP. Is our goaltending a question mark? Yes? We could go on. My take: We have lanced the boil of the Gordon-Vigneault-Yeo Era and back to where we were under Hakstol. The team is playing "structured" hockey. But as was case under Hakstol (whose winning percentage isn't that bad), we can only win low-scoring affairs in which the goaltending is above-average to excellent (contrast our sub.900 overall save to Sam's percentage in wins--often above .920), and the team effectively suppresses the opposition with blocked shots and tight D. Otherwise, we have problems, even against teams we should beat. That gets back to the DNA problem--we trade and draft for players "who make us tougher to play against," thinking that means being physical, ala Nic D, when we need snipers, finishers, and "game changers." I hope against hope that DB and KJ get it. We have to draft difference makers, and we should emulate Bill Zito of my backyard Panthers and make smart trades that upgrade talent, instead of trades that lock us into mediocrity for years. As I said a few days ago, there is probably legitimate debate about Torts being the best person at this stage of development. But a coach can only teach so much. Rocky Thompson may be an awful power play coach. But I don't think you have the worst PP in the league for three years running due solely to coaching. I think our PP reflects the relatively low-caliber talent of our players. Without that high-end talent, we will always be two years away from being two years away. Howie

Well, our PP almost gave them a goal. We need greasy stuff against Lindgren.

Greetings: The Flyers are favored (-135) with a 54% projected win probability: https://www.dimers.com/bet-hub/nhl/schedule/2023_190_phi_wsh There isn't much difference between these teams statistically and they've split the first two meetings: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/2024/04/16/2023021299 And as the season ends, and I post what might be the last game thread of the season, the Chairman of the Board and Paul Anka come to mind: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/franksinatra/myway.html Playoffs or not, I hope the season ends with a good effort.

I wonder if he could be talked into coaching. There's another Lappy. He'd instill a lot of good stuff into the Youngins.

Well, can they score on a 5 on 3?

Greetings: The O and B are favored (-125) with a whopping 51% win probability: https://www.fanduel.com/research/flyers-vs-devils-prediction-nhl-odds-4-13-2024 NJ is a better faceoff squad; otherwise stats aren't much different other than PP. They've taken 2 of 3 so far this season: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-phi/2024/04/13/2023021274 This is likely to be matchup of two goalies with sub-.900 save percentage. Character matters--I hope the O and B put up a good fight.

After reading the recaps, it appears to be the kind of game we can win. Our goalie was well above average--something like a 960 save percentage. Apparently, our D was OK....and we actually scored. That is "structured" Flyers hockey....the Hakstol-Torts link. Jordan Hall even used that in his write up. Yeah...to win, particularly against a good team...that's our path forward. On a positive note, I'm glad Cates seems to be finding some late-season scoring.

Yes, after waiting 49 years for a Cup, this is divine intervention, telling me to stay away.

I missed the game....and they win. Serves me right.

Is Torts the right guy? My take: Talent is the problem, coaching isn't. The last 20+ years should convince us that's the case. Could someone be marginally better? Maybe. Then we have to weigh the benefits versus the cost of change and evaluation with a new system. I agree with Mike Sielski (not a friend of Torts) that the collapse over the last few weeks is likely to extend the "rebuild." The microscope on the likes of Frost, Farabee, Sanheim, Ersson, Drysdale, and whomever will be more intense, likely leading to their separation. Long-term, that may be good. But the turnover will be costly next season. BTW, a less costly interim move might be to kick Torts upstairs in some management capacity and let Shaw become the new coach. Again, I think another coaching change will do little positive at the margin. Torts is already half way through the contract, and rumor has it eating another 8 million is not high on the minds of Comcast.

Greetings: The Rags are favored (-218) with a 65% win probability. They are 9-0-1 against over the last 10. https://www.dimers.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-vs-ny-rangers-prediction-odds-nhl-picks-4112024 Statistically, the only place we are close is in penalty kills: Otherwise, we're world's apart: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-phi/2024/04/11/2023021257 This team has given us fits for a long time. Given the current state of the Flyers, I wonder if the Rags will have two or more players two goals apiece? A Kreider or Zibanijed hat trick wouldn't surprise me.

So, the guy is soft. Yikes. Well, my concern is why do we want someone like this? We need people who can break down an opponent's defense. This reads like another 4th liner. We've got those...maybe too many.

Greetings: I'm sure many of your saw this and I mentioned it in another thread: https://phillyhockeynow.com/2024/04/08/philadelphia-flyers-sign-oscar-eklind-unknown-swedish-prospect/ I am not a pro scout. And for all I know, this kid (he is 25, which isn't so young) may be a diamond in the rough. But...doesn't this sound like Throwback Thursday? Wouldn't we rather read about signing a speedy winger rather than a "hulking" 6'4" possible bottom six player? Is this a cheap substitute for Nic? Is our cupboard in LVH that barren? Again, he may bring things to the table that aren't clear to an outsider. But the optics aren't great for a team that needs speed and skill. One man's thought! Howie

Yep! Torts had a marginally competent squad earlier in the season. Then came legal, medical, and trade "issues." The remnant is sub-par, and candidly, our young "scorers." aren't scoring. Our goaltending--boy, what we thought was a strength may not be. This is going to be a long summer, and buyouts may be atop the list of "to-dos," just to clear cap and roster space.

Greetings: I think this is a good take on the loss and its fit in recent Flyer history: https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-vs-canadiens-the-worst-loss-of-the-john-tortorella-era/576970/ Jordan Hall is part of the organeyezhasion--this is sober coming from the inside. Tortorella's post-game presser was somber. But he did touch on the painful reality of talent (or lack thereof). On that score (no pun intended), the ELC to this gentleman doesn't make sense. He is projected as a bottom-six dude. https://broadstreetbuzz.com/posts/flyers-sign-swedish-winger-oscar-eklind-to-entry-level-deal Are they buying out Nic? Do they think a hulking forward "makes them tougher to play against?" Reading about signing a speedy winger might mean more to this team. What the hell do I know?

Our goalies are about a .750 percentage. That ain't good. Granted, their D stinks. But they can't make critical stops.

From your lips to God's ears. Next year at this time, it may be Coots!

Well, doing laundry is better than watching this excrement. Yikes.

They can't muster offense in the crease. We miss too many shots. And of course, an inept PP.

Remember, Chuck said there was competition for his services.