GratefulFlyers

9 hours ago, Samifan said:

Brink looks tiny out there but was playing feisty. 

His assist on Laughton's goal - the work he did along the boards to get control, flick it to Farabee (i think) - was great to see Brink able to win that puck battle.

41 minutes ago, Samifan said:

Ersson sucks at handling the puck.

 Not usually but that early giveaway could’ve been deadly but the way he instantly recovered and snagged that point-blank shot….that was a jump outta out of our seats moment around here.
 

Crazy how karma or whatever the heck it is works sometimes…You, you of all people go to a ‘Canes game to see your Flyers and run into a guy wearing a Voracek sweater…omg that is rich! Gotta love it.  

5 minutes ago, Howie58 said:

I can't recall a Flyers team that skated this well in ages. 

I can't either. Maybe all the way back to when Richards was captain, Pronger on the blue line...a bunch of not-quite-ready-for-prime-timers in net... Once Fletcher took over the teams Giroux had to lead were like sheep compared to this bunch (maybe not that bad lol).

5 minutes ago, AlaskaFlyerFan said:

I don’t think Frost was trying to pass there.

Oh you think he was trying to score? Could be, trying to shoot it makes sense. But it didn't get tipped or anything - and the puck went right onto TK's tape. ... I don't know.

1 minute ago, AlaskaFlyerFan said:

He had the goalie moving but missed the net.  Canes come right down and score.

Story often told in Flyersland this year... not as bad as other years but those near-misses in OT can kill you. Not sure Farabee's shot qualifies as a near miss though ... went about 6 feet over the bar WTF... at least hit the pads force a save...

1 minute ago, mkscrewy said:

i hate 3-3 OT.

you and me both brother. stupidass way of settling a pro hockey game.

Frost with another huge skill play - backhand pass btw his legs to TK coming around from behind the net.

TK got noticed on that one... tying goal and his first in awhile... good work that whole line.

9 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

Look at our other centers, Laughton, Poehling and Cates, these guys are third and fourth liners at best.

Poehling has deceptive speed and good hands. Spending most of the season skating 12-15 mins he hasn't racked up many points but I don't think anyone knows his ceiling.

Frost has come alive and like you say it shows what's missing.

TK has the vision to be a good setup guy but he's in funk ... barely noticeable the past 10+ games. I really expect he'll be scratched when Couturier gets back in.

21 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Okay I didn't mind bringing in Johnson but this sounds a little overcooked - what is he angling for a contract?

edit: good crowd in Carolina... Farabee went down hard took a puck in the face - crowd gave him a nice round of applause when he skated off... don't hear that as much these days.

Ugh was that a soft goal? I saw the end of the replay looked pretty far out near the blue line ... edit: never mind it was from btw the circles good shot.

So now it's 2-1 - do the Flyers get blown out or can they keep it close? 'Canes can really own a team with their forecheck when it's going good.

2 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

We have ONE blue chip prospect, a bottom feeding farm system.

It took awhile to wreck the pipeline it'll take awhile to fix it. Briere's been GM for one year and he (and his team) drafted that "ONE blue chip prospect." 

As for Tortorella I know his rep. Some of it's deserved most of it isn't. Anyway ... you say he's not the coach for a rebuild? Good then. According to you the Flyers aren't rebuilding so they oughta be just fine.

Until we know for sure - until enough time has gone by to prove whether or not Jones/Briere are as creative as they'll need to be to pull this off - to build a Cup champion w/out stripping it to the rafters, w/out "tanking" - Tortorella's as good as anyone behind the bench. If he starts wearing thin after awhile so what? FFS he can't "ruin" anybody in the process no matter what Dubinsky says (though he may hurt some feelings).

3 hours ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

 

According to Daily Face Off - Roster in Raleigh - Couturier won't play tonight. Looks like the same lineup that went against the Leafs.

2 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

es, he's getting a team to overachieve. Does that really do us good in the long run? It gets us the kind of draft picks that are never going to put us over the top...more middle 6 and bottom pairing guys. To go with the middle 6 and bottom pairing guys we have. 

I hit "Good Post" but this is a stretch. Not the "more middle 6..." part I agree with you there - but the cause. You're saying the guy who's getting this bunch to overachieve is the problem? In other words if Tortorella weren't so damn good at his job the Flyers might've sucked and gotten a better pick this year.

Okay so I stretched it there myself but in essence that's what you're saying: the Flyers are badly served by a "hold 'em accountable" type coach and they'd be better off with a Bruce Boudreau teddy bear type for now.

I don't recall if he was available at the time but I wish Barry Trotz was coaching the Flyers these days. Hell I would've even taken JQ with all his bad choices (and bad PR) over Tortorella. But the point is...

2 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

the Flyers badly need an injection of pure talent and to replenish it's farm system.

Yes they do. So why is Tortorella (or any head coach) an obstruction to that? I'm not saying head coaches are innocent bystanders. And we know Tortorella shares the GM's vision because he said so. But you're well aware the GM delivers the roster. Sounds to me like your problem is with Jones and Briere.

In any case whether it's John Tortorella or Dave Tippett, Claude Julien or Mike Babcock - whoever is behind the bench, given the same roster they'll all take the team to (roughly) the same spot at the end of the season.

45 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

This pisses me off because I wanted to see how they truly measured up vs the top team in my eyes in the East.

So Couturier is scratched again? Say it ain't so...

I don't see the lineup online yet but you sound convinced we won't see #14 out there tonight.

1 hour ago, flyercanuck said:

Because if its because he struggled, why in the F*** is Atkinson (0 G 0 A in last 16 games, yes he missed last game, what took you so long?) playing? Or Deslauriers ( 1 point in last 32 games...Flyers are 4-8 when he fights, and been outscored 45 -27 even strength with him on the ice)? Because they both flat out suck.

That Deslauriers point was a GOAL! First one of the year! Game 68 or whatever it was... His fights are likely in games where the Flyers are struggling, already behind the 8-ball not a huge surprise the record is bad.

But anyway...I don't get you sometimes. You know the game you know the NHL so why try to sell that because ND rarely puts up points he has zero value? Hey if you're just venting no problem. And that would be understandable coming from someone who hates this entire not-quite-a-rebuild thing the Flyers are doing.

edit: of course his contract is too long. A 4-year deal was dumb at the time looking back now just as dumb. Prob the only way to keep the cap hit down but $2.5/2 is better than $1.75 for 4. If Fletcher had to have him that is...

Back to benching Couturier, Flyers' fans have been clamoring for years for a HC who holds everyone accountable. Now we got him and it's still no good.

It seems to me regardless what you think of Tortorella you have to admit he's pressed most of the right buttons this year.

3 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

12-14 is where it needs to be kept and he has a chance I think.

Probably right I agree. And although they don't award the Selke to 12-min guys he doesn't have to win the trophy just play like a contender for it. Hopefully next year he's not only 100% healthy but ready and up to speed for an 82-game schedule, which clearly he wasn't this year.

56 minutes ago, Howie58 said:

Longer-term,  the real question is Coots' value to the team if he's a fraction of the former Selke winner.

Right now it's hard to imagine him playing Selke-candidate hockey ever again but who knows. He missed a lot of time; nobody expected his return would be problem-free. He's obviously dealing with some physical issues and now maybe a "Tortorella issue."

Tortorella’s probably tempted to ice the same team so what are the odds the captain sits again? The Flyers finally beat Toronto but it cost them something  … weird: it turned Couturier into a victim.

Any other player gets scratched starts grumbling about “the way I been treated around here lately” I wouldn’t think twice but Sean Couturier? Yeah that was a little weird. 

yawn... oh look Dubinsky's ragging on Tortorella again...

@mojo1917 I think we know all that. But I see a player choosing to play; I don't see "mismanagement." Of course there's pressure to play. No doubt Couturier felt it just as Simmonds did in his day. But that's pro sports my friend...

Maybe Tortorella did cut Couturier's ice time solely because of the injury. And? Is that something "less than" - something "other than" managing one of your players?

17 minutes ago, mojo1917 said:

but somewhere there needs to be an adult in the room that says, hey bud you probably ought not play on that knee with the torn mcl.

Professionals right? Ultimately each one is his own "adult in the room." Once the medical staff clears him for contact it's still up to him to announce he's ready to go. I don't pretend to know how it works on every team in the NHL but I do know the player makes the final call on his readiness.

8 minutes ago, CoachX said:

I don't think I understand this POV. How do you "run" a player into the ground? Do you make them play more games than other players in the league? Do you make them skate more shifts? Has any Flyer come out and said they need a rest because they are playing too much? Do other teams do this, or is it just the Flyers? Im pretty sure most players only sit out games due to injury where the CAN'T play

the only one I remember is Bobrovsky and that was all Laviolette FWIU. Played him past his waiver-exemption and in the process overworked him into some bad starts in the POs that year. But he's the only one I recall. I'm not sure who @radoran is referring to on April 13th - Simmonds complained about too much ice time? Can't be...has to be someone else...

@radoran YOU ARE HEREBY CALLED TO ANSWER THE CHARGE OF WILLFULLY ... oh well could've been funny but I cramped up. Anyway who are the Flyers honoring on April 13th and what's his story?

1 minute ago, mojo1917 said:

I'm not sure of the long-term ramifications though, seems like an easy first step to losing the room he's so proud of .

could be...benching your captain is such a momentous decision it's bound to have unintended consequences. The good news is all the evidence suggests the entire organization is proud of "the room" this year. I expect the players will do whatever it takes to keep it intact, just as I expect Couturier's disappointment, anger etc. will quietly fade away and he'll be back in the lineup tomorrow night.

TK on the other hand...I smell it coming...healthy scratch. How will he handle it? Hopefully we don't find out but he hasn't scored in a month. He needs some goals ASAP.

great to see Ersson bounce back and have a real good game.

Laughton 2 plays of the game, taking the penalty prevented a goal then comes out of the box and scores. York/Sanheim had a great night too. Flyers bent but didn't crack!

so far the "shake up" is having a good effect. Early goals in the first 2 periods - great to see. .both teams  hitting some posts tonight..

FROST with a goal - wow that was from out in the parking lot! Holysh.. top of the zone - couple good screens by the Leafs thank you...

3-0 Flyers. Now they just can't have a 10-minute collapse and give them all back.

2 hours ago, radoran said:

Finally, "to win the game" is specifically NOT what they said this season was about. It was about developing culture and obviously accountability for everyone is part of that.

According to Tortorella it's always been about "winning the next game" and "we can't worry about the standings" and "we're focused on X-team" etc. That's been his message all season. The culture change had to happen first - obviously. They all said changing the room was Priority One. But trying to win every game - every shift - is integral to that; it's an indispensable part of the attitude change.

2 hours ago, radoran said:

But benching your month-old captain IS a bold move.

To say the least! I give up trying to figure Tortorella. I gave it a shot. I agree with his decision to bench Couturier at some point but why tonight I have no idea. It's such a huge game; just for FOs alone I'd have Couturier on the ice. 

edit: Maybe benching Couturier is a way sending the strongest message possible to the entire room. When the coach benches the captain things are obviously not going well. Lot of goals given up too few scored and Couturier's been as "meh" as anyone. Next one is Konecny he looks like a shell of himself lately.

Benching Couturier (or TK) says it loud and clear: nobody is "safe." That's all I got.

47 minutes ago, mojo1917 said:

I really don't see where this treatment benefits Couturier in the least. 

That's because it's not supposed to benefit the player, not primarily. You hope you get a Sanheim response but it's about winning the game. Apparently Tortorella thinks other guys are going better; hard to argue with him there...

Did Tortorella mismanage Couturier this year? I'm sitting pretty far away to make that call. He's been steadily decreasing his ice time the past few months so we know Tortorella's managing his ice time. What else should he be managing for Couturier?

As far as naming him captain I highly doubt the C is weighing him down.

We don't need to look hard for why he's a healthy scratch tonight: watch him play and it's kind of a no-brainer.

edit: Isn't this what everyone said they wanted, a HC who would "hold players accountable no matter who they are?" Yes. Many of us said that - even specifically pointing out Frost's benching but not Atkinson (favoritism!). Atkinson but not Couturier (hypocrite!). And now Couturier is making the popcorn and it's 100 variations of "Tortorella sucks." You guys kill me!

22 hours ago, mojo1917 said:

The ship is taking on water, I'm okay with it. 

A swoon will improve the draft position. It's all winning from this point forward. 

I'll get there eventually but not tonight. I hate losing to the Leaves.

A higher draft position is a good thing of course - still rather see them make the POs.