Adamflyers

You're not 100% wrong on this one….the brass of this team ultimately is the reason they can't seem to get over the hump. They bring in some talent, but can't figure out the way to build around it, they get disillusioned, trade away the talent, and start over. It is truly a never ending cycle and it is getting harder to endure. With that being said, fans have very right to get on players who are not performing up to their contracts. You have talented players like Giroux who go 15 games into the season without a goal, the team is sinking faster than the Titanic, and you expect people to sit back and say nothing? Yes, every fan base has people who go overboard and proclaim the guy a talentless bum who should be traded away, but that is not representative of the entire base. No player is exempt from criticism and no player should be.

Lucky for me, I have a pass to get into the Cadillac Grille tonight. I will be drinking a few whiskey's before the game, because that is the only way I can enjoy an entire Flyers game so far this year...stinkin drunk! Lets go Flyers....please stop this progression towards a drinking problem!

I was not disappointed because I was not expecting much! I agree with you though, that it was not a pretty win and it did nothing to make me think that everything is now moving in the right direction. Of course, it is not realistic to think that Berube would have righted this sinking ship after one practice. I wish I could tell you that you are crazy and they looked amazing, but I saw exactly what you saw. It's just gonna take patience from everyone.

I honestly don't think there is much in the way of mass hysteria or too many people standing on the ledge. Besides a few who have claimed they are done with the team, most people were just letting off steam yesterday (Myself included) I personally was upset to see Lavi go so early in the season, but after having time to think about it, his days were numbered no matter what and I don't think he would have gotten these guys turned around before the axe fell. So then there is the decision to hire Berube. At first glance, it looks horrible, but upon hearing what people have to say about him as a coach, I am certainly willing to give him a fair chance. I'm not a Homer hater, but I am really getting sick of him being let off the hook for some of the major disasters that have happened on his watch, namely the Bryzaster and subsequent trading of Bob. I would hope that Homer is now on the short leash that Lavi was cut loose from. There have been good things that he has done, but I'm having a hard time getting past the Bryz/Bob debacle, especially after seeing other people taking the fall for where the team is right now.

I think everyone appreciates all the good things this team has done. I defend them to the hilt when people say they are a poor franchise, but when is being competitive no longer good enough? What is holding them back from taking the next step? Those are fair questions and they deserve honest answers. Everyonew, including Ed, needs to look at themselves in the mirro and determine what needs to change to get past simply making it to the cup finals. I think after watching this team for so long, we all have a ton of perspective. We, the paying customers, do have every right though to question why we have not won it all in 40 years. Being a competitive team is great, but unless you have something to show for it, it loses it luster.

I don't disagree, but the only way the reins of the team will be taken from Snider will be from his cold, dead fingers.

My point exactly! Hopefully Berube proves us all wrong (Why do I feel like I make that statement at least 2-3 times per year with this team!)

Sometimes the worst players make for good coaches. They may not have the physical ability to be one of the best players, but they know the game well and they know how to teach and earn the respect of their players. I have no idea if Berube is that coach and I not that thilled that we have to find out, but hopefully we will be pleasantly surprised.

I love that some of the media went after Homer and Snider with tough questions. Those were questions that needed to be asked and the fans deserved to hear their answers, as crappy as they were.

Obviously, but Eskin just called them out on the point I was making...they have gone through something like 11 coaches in the past 20 years. I don't have the exact numbers and I don't always use Eskin as a good source, but I'm pretty sure his numbers are close.

Changing the GM may not do anything immediately, but changing the GM is what needs to be done. Homer has made too many mistakes and his head should have been on the chopping block along with Lavi's. I get that Lavi was on a short leash after a tough season last year, but to just consistently blame the failures of the Flyers on every coach that has come through is getting old. I'm not buying it any more. We all appreciate the willingness to spend money from the ownership and get big named players, but how can this team ever grow under a system when the players and coaches are changing every few years. I'm not saying a new system may not be needed, but come on, how many times do we have to go through this?

"Okay, campers, rise and shine. Don't forget your booties because it's cold out there today. It's cold out there every day. But there's another reason why today is especially exciting. The big question on everybody's lips- Do you think Phil will come out and see his shadow? That's right, woodchuck chuckers. It's Groundhog Day!" Because THIS TIME, a new coach will fix everything! When you take the position to be Flyers head coach, you might as well be standing in line with cows at a slaughter house!

I wasn't really expecting much out of this season anyway. I'm more excited just to see something different than the slow, plodding offense that they had under Reid. Kelly probably doesn;t have all of "his players" yet. He is working with what he was left with, so my guess is over the next couple years he will have the guys at the helm that he really wants and I don't think Vick or Foles are either of them.

Just be thankful you didn't break the old Billy Beru!

Glad you all enjoyed the write up and I'm glad it brought some new member onto the board as well! Pretty cool that Meltzer linked to it. It really got me jacked up for hockey season!

Thanks HF! I'll get that pic up there shortly

I don't have much to add. Poulin hit pretty much every point that I was able to remember as well! The only thing I can add is to that story about Gretzky saying Hexy was the best goalie he had ever played against. Hexy reminded us that it was during the 1987 finals that Gretzky said that, and that even though Wayne is a very good and gracious guy, he wonders if it was more of a mind game to get in his head and make him overconfident. He said that if Wayne was being sincere that it was a very nice thing to say though and that he is honored that he ever thought that about him. Pryor was talking about Ghost and someone asked him when he thought Ghost would be ready to leave college and enter the pros. Pryor said that kids just have to be ready to enter the pro game. He said imagine forcing any kid into a situation he is not ready to handle. You are not going to get the results you are looking for because the kid isn't ready and doesn't want to be there. He said these kids make the decision to leave college, not the team. He never really said when he thought Ghost would be ready, but he sounds high on him and is excited to see him make the jump. The only other thing I can add is that we both picked up the vibe that everyone within the org is very high on Laughton. Sounds like we should expect to see him up with the team soon. Homer cautioned that he didn't expect it to be this year, but they all sound like they expect him to be an impact player for this team in the near future. I just tried to upload a great pick I snapped of Hexy, though I don't know that it worked. It is on my hard drive and it asked for a URL to post it, so I have a feeling that won't work. Do pics have to be on the web to work here? I was right, it didn't work. Can someone tell me what I need to do to add a pick. I'm really not technologically challenged, I just don't know all the features of this site that well! Thanks to HF for telling me how to attach pics!

As far as I know, the other major American sports, with the exception of the NFL, has guarenteed contracts. Thats one thing I love about the NFL is when a guy's production drops or he becomes a locker room cancer, they can just cut him.

What have you been drinking Jammer? You know 4 out of 5 of those kids will be traded in the coming years for 35 year old veterans who will bring leadership and experience to our team!

Thesaurus? What type of dinosaur is that again?

Don't know much about him, but this was an entertaining clip

Smart GM's get Stanley Cups while dumb/reactionary GM's get buyouts! I think the smart ones are happy with their Stanley Cups

Hawks winning was the lesser of 2 evils for me. What really chaps my behind is that both the Bruins and the Hawks were non-playoff teams not all that long ago and they were both playing for their 2nd Cup in a few years. The Flyers make moves to stay comptetitive, but those moves ultimately keep them from going all the way. It frustrates the hell out of me that their desire and passion for winning it what keeps them from doing so. Build a freakin core and stick with them, don't trade away all the young kids and draft picks for once and maybe the Cup will be paraded down Broad Street again! Thats my rant for the morning.

I didn't like the original contract signed, but I loved the player we got! His playoff performances were so much fun to watch and he is one of my favorite Flyers because of it. I wish him nothing but the best, unless he ends up with the Rags or Pens!