FD19372

Hextall was given the GM position about 5 years too late  . 

You are out of your mind.

If only their GM was Paul Holmgren, lol. Did you guys think I was serious?? The worth of these players isn't anywhere NEAR E Kane in equal value.

How about L. Schenn. :-)

VLC, L Schenn and a 1st for E Kane. Done.

His concussions cut short his career but if you project his numbers over a 20 year period, especially before his concussions, he certainly would get in.

In a word, no. In two words, HELLLLL NO!!!

The Flyers should try  L Schenn and Hartnell for Kane, before both Schenns, if they can afford or would want #19's ridiculously overpaid contract.

The laughing would only stop if Regis led them to a Cup... Lol

Then we will know the apocalypse has officially begun.

So, we had a discussion in another thread about the handshake line which brought up mention about other traditions that are silly and past their usefulness (if they ever had that).  I'll start with my list.  Feel free to add your own.

 

1) Handshake Line

It's goofy.  Hockey is the only adult sport in which this is done and there's a reason for it:  it's a contrived exercise forcing winners to lie and tell the other team they did a good job (they didn't, they lost) and for the losers to basically thank the winners for beating them.  Yeah, sportsmanship and all that rot, but when the majority of the players just wade through the line with the rote "good job, good job, good job" it's farcical.  Nothing wrong with individuals or groups of individuals being good sports and shaking hands, congratulating, etc., on their own like they do in some other sports (football, in particular), but eh, I don't like the handshake line.  It smells to me.

 

2)Throwing Octopuses on the ice

Come on.  Seriously?  A perfectly good meal and you're throwing it on the ice?   All the people unemployed in Detroit that could use the food and we're just throwing the stuff around.  Get a good deep fryer or grill and a good dipping sauce and enjoy.  Next thing you know Chicago's going to start throwing deep dish pizza and mustard.

 

3)The Kate Smith Video.

The woman is dead.  Lauren Hart does a better job, is much more attractive, and is alive.  It's 40 years ago people.  I realize we won back then, but let's how about build a team that wins the Cup so 40 years from now we can a grainy video of Lauren singing long after she's gone or too old to see or hear it.

 

4)The National Anthem(s)

You know, while I'm on the singing thing, in the same vein as the Handshake Line, why?  For whom?  First, very few are paying the slightest bit of attention.  No one really removes their hats anymore (except for Philly fans after someone scores two goals and they think it's a hat trick) or puts their hand on their hearts.  And no one waits for the song(s) to be done to start cheering and carrying on and calling for the beer guy.   Plus, hockey has become such a multi-national sport that if we're going to play anthems we should all stand there for 50 minutes until all the represented countries get to play their videos of dead women (don't laugh, the Russian video of Catherine the Great with her horse is really quite good--if a bit disturbing).

 

5)The New York Islanders

I ask you.  Why?  For whom?

 

6)Don Cherry

See #5.  The suits are disturbing and I often feel like I should squeegee my television screen when he's done.

 

7)Announcers in Pittsburgh and Columbus saying incredibly stupid crap after home team goals are scored.

Does this really work for folks out there or is just as annoying to you?  I thought it was just a Paul Steigerwald thing, but in the playoffs I had the honor of hearing the Jackets' guy doing the same thing.   So, a Penguin (or Jacket, but less likely so we'll use a Penguin) scores.  With a guttural voice that sounds like he's currently being sodomized and rather enjoying it, he says "And Nash scorrrrrrezzzz.  Stick a pencil in my butt and call it a happy meal!"    What?  Or, "And Crosby scorrrrezzz....Call my sister and tell her the condom broke!"    Seriously, though, it's almost always stupid and always unnecessary.  Be excited about a goal if you want to, but the Sid Marty Kroft drug party lines need to go.

 

Okay, that'll get off to a good start.  Go! 

I would add not calling Crosby for diving a tradition that they need to away with.  The handshake line in hockey is the classiest tradition in sports (unless your name is Milan Lucic) and should be left as is. No other professional sport does this, so I would disagree with that and anthems but I like everything else on your list.  I would also add the Chelsea Hammer song to that list being played after every Chicago goal. So damn annoying.  Also, Mike Emerick broadcasting games is another tradition NBC can stop. 

"People who like me in Boston" - by P.K. Subban with foreward by Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

"Players over 30 that I don't want on my team." by Paul Holmgren, Bob Clarke and Ed Snider. 

I will happily argue that point with you anywhere at anytime.  Have they fallen short?  Yes.. but the Penguins have still won more playoff series' under Bylsma than any other teams out there with the exceptions of Chicago and Boston.  And a LOT of that is attributable to Crosby.  He's the best, hands down.. but he's struggled mightily these past two playoff seasons for some reason.  

    I'll take Toews over Crosby for sure, any day of the week. He is NOT the best, hands down.  Crosby might, MIGHT still be the best offensive player in the game, but there are at least 5 players right now that I would take over #87.  Bylsma might take the axe for their lack of production, but his players fold up and get blown away from the playoffs like a cheap tent. It's not his fault, but it's always easier to fire the coach then the players (see Laviolette). 

1. What was your favourite Holmgren trade/move?

 

2. What was the worst Holmgren trade/move?

 

3. What should be Hextall's first order of business?

As I've trained my parakeet to say, "Fix the defense".

Danny Briere, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Ilya friggin Bryzgalov are all still playing hockey.

The only one I'd undo is maybe Briere, So don't get me wrong. It just kinda sucks that they're all still going and we're out in seven against the Rangers who can't seem to compete against the damn penguins who I feel secure we could have continued to dismantle.

Grumble grumble grumble.

The only one I have a problem with still being in the playoffs is Jeff Carter. He was a lazy floater and a bum when he was here, and still basically is. I'm rooting for the rest of these guys including Bryz, who while he said some things that made me think he was out there in space like a Russian cosmonaut, played pretty well and hard much of the time.

Hopefully he goes home to Minnesota and maybe gets an assistant GM job there or somewhere else. I don't know about Hextall's experience level or if it will matter anyway with Snider in charge, in terms of decision making. He will probably be next in line, however. Holmgren gives too much money to mediocre and/or old talent that doesn't produce and I'm tired of it.  Before he trades Gostesbierre for another 35 year old, he needs to be relocated to another position in the organ-eye-zation.  I really don't think this team is that far from being a contender for the Cup, now that we have a very good goalie. They NEED a fast d-man back there to play major minutes. I really just don't trust that he won't screw everything up, and before he does, Holmgren needs to go.

Get in the Delorean. Back to the future, Eddie.

I predict Hextall becomes our GM and Holmgren becomes chief  of yodeling at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

Yes, this and every loss that eliminates your favorite team hurts, especially to a much disliked archrival. I am beyond thrilled, however, that we finally have not just a legit #1 but in my mind, a near future Vezina candidate in Steve Mason.  MacDonald was a nice addition, but honestly, the defense needs a major overhaul with quicker players who can skate and do a better job with the puck.  Too many of these guys don't know how to handle the puck in itself, let alone be able to skate with it. In addition, guys like Akeson and Gus need to be given a full-time starting role on this team, and not bounced up and down between the NHL and AHL. I would like to see more of McGinn also.

WE FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART  HOMER NEEDS TO GO

The problem really is who's doing the hiring. You want Clarkie back? It's the ol' boy network.

Hartnell, Coburn, and Downie can all go. I also think we can do better than Timonen at this point, same with Lecavalier. Kimmo is the consummate professional and solid but his skills are declining.

Flyers all the way, baby!

Careful what you wish for B21 (but you're right). 

My prediction is 4-2 Flyers. Read, Giroux (with the game winner in the 2nd), Simmonds, and Timonen with the goals. Giroux is first star with a goal and an assist. The power play wins it for them, going 2 for 4.  The key in this is getting the first goal and taking the Rangers slob fans out of it a little bit. Make Lundqvist think to himself early about the line from the Pink Floyd song "Brain Damage",  "There's someone in my head, but it's not me."

Greetings:

 

I concur with the article.  Notice it isn't authored by Carchidi or Seravalli, who might get burned for this level of candor. Sorry folks, but I do see the Rangers as a more talented team. And I am deeply concerned with the DNA of this team:  Does the GM owner and his staff continue to put physical strength and toughness ahead of speed and skill?  I've said it before and I will say it again--our poor performance in the shootout may give an indicator of what this team is made of--good to above-average mucker-grinders.  If their "balance" was so good, why aren't some folks scoring to make up for Giroux who is being hacked and checked constantly?  The D is obviously in need of a remake. Goaltending--I think we will still have questions coming out of the season. Mason may be an upgrade. But beyond him, then what?

 

Best,

 

Howie

Does the owner and his staff continue to put physical strength and toughness ahead of speed and skill? Yes indeed. No "culture" change needed, however.

Actually, I think Sielski is right on. This series is no fluke. They are NOT NEARLY quick enough defensively, and have too many forwards that disappear for long stretches. Lecavalier has fit right in to that mold. They finally have a goalie worth a damn, and they need to build from Mason on out. Defense retooling time.  The Rangers are simply more talented, and in addition, they have a defense first system that relentlessly frustrates the hell out of the Flyers.

There is a multitude of problems; not just the defense and not just the goaltending.  The Flyers are NOT having a good playoff series so far, no matter how you look at it. 

 

But to this topic. Tiimo is looking bad.  He looks old, slow and not physical.  I htink it's just time to admit the guy is done.

 

I didn't think they fared well against the Rangers before the series even started, but I haved to say I am shocked at how grossly the Rangers outperformed the Flyers so far.  It's just not a pretty series to watch from the Flyers' fans perspective.

 

I say if they lose tonight, it's pretty much over.

No. If they lose tonight, it IS over. Start picking out caskets for the season.

I AM Definitely Not A doughburn Fan But Him And Timmo have 0 Pts And Are A Combined -8. That's Terrible Numbers For Your #1Pairing. Time For Timmo To Move On And Trade Doughburn.

Doughburn and BSchenn + for Weber. Done deal. 

Any way I could switch to the Wales Conference to get away from VanFlyer    ?