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Howie58

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Posts posted by Howie58

  1. 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.  

     

     

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  2. 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.  

  3. 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

     

  4. 14 minutes ago, mojo1917 said:

    t's a shame this entertaining season is ending this way, however, maybe it highlights the true talent level of the club and will spur people to action.

    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. 

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  5. 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?

     

  6. Greetings:

     

    The Flyers are mild favorites (-135) with a 57% win probability.  I don't make this stuff up.

    https://www.bleachernation.com/picks/nhl-picks/2024/04/08/flyers-vs-canadiens-prediction-live-odds-stats-history-and-picks-tuesday-april-9-2024/

     

    There isn't much difference between the teams statistically other than defense, where we're middling and they're near the bottom:

    https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-phi/2024/04/09/2023021242

     

    Miracles never cease to happen.  We might be respectable.  

     

     

  7. 16 minutes ago, flyerdog said:

    Well we all knew that things would eventually catch up with the team.

     

    Let's face it, they have overachieved all season, and Owen Tippet and TK cannot provide all the offense...guys like Atkinson, Coots have been painfully absent...those guys should be good for at least 15 - 20 goals, maybe more...

     

    Giroux was once convinced that Farabee would break all HIS records as a Flyer and for a small window, it looked that way...no so anymore...and the way he was playing a couple years ago, we all thought Farabee was destined to be the next 'C'.  But he has proven to be way too streaky...

     

    PP is STILL a problem...and imo a lot of it is that we don't have that guy that strikes fear into opposing teams, like a Matthews, Ovie, Stamkos, McDavid..the last guy with that aura was Giroux...guys that draw all the attention while secondary players capitalize on chances..well the closest we have now is TK..(maybe Tippett as well) but then our secondary guys aren't capitalizing...

     

    as far as Ivan....I didn't see the game, but from what I saw, a couple goals were fundamentally based errors which hopefully "Dilly" can fix...I'm not writing him off yet, but he has 4 periods of NHL experience, he still has a lot to learn about the NHL game, and a lot to work on...

     

    the fact that they made him the backup speaks more about the Petersen/Sandstrom disasters more than anything....backup G needs to be high on the priority list for the offseason. 

     

    I also wouldn't mind seeing them make a splash in FA/trade  for a premiere forward since, yet again they won't be in a position to draft one. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Your assessment speaks to a systems issue. Our first round picks have been a problem for the last 10 years, and that goes beyond draft position. Our complementary trade and signings are problematic--we sacrifice picks and sign subpar players to outrageous salaries and long terms. This is a mess.

     

    Short-term, we are paying a price for losing Hart and Walker. I agree 100 percent that others aren't contributing as expected. BTW, I am hoping that Coots does not become another VLC. Atkinson may be a spent force, and he has another year. 

     

    Goal. That is the Flyers Black Hole. 

     

    Digging out of a systems problem takes time. Briere and Jones are under no illusions. Short-term, I am worried that the Torts Effect is wearing out sooner than we thought. I wonder if he will last his four years?

  8. 21 minutes ago, GratefulFlyers said:

     

    something tells me he's going to be real good tomorrow night. Seeing Fedotov struggle a bit...in a weird way may have helped Ersson. Or else I'm crazy. Or both!

    No shame in a little craziness. 

     

    We tried hard. But skill and being in the right time and place matter. As for The Dude, the smaller rink and faster pace may take some adjustment. 

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  9. Greetings:

     

    Much to my surprise, the Flyers are favored (-148)

    https://winnersandwhiners.com/games/nhl/4-6-2024/philadelphia-flyers-vs-columbus-blue-jackets-prediction-746/

     

    The teams aren't that different statistically, though the Flyers D is better:

    https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cbj-vs-phi/2024/04/06/2023021222

     

    What's left in the tank?  Will Ersson hold down the fort?  

     

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