radoran

-Adrian Dater, the fine Avalanche beat writer from the Denver Post, asked Peter Laviolette today if he thought the art of the slapshot from a hard skating winger down the wall was a lost art. Lavvy had one gem of a response:

“I think the last real good one that we had, an old school, old-fashioned, slap drive was Jody Shelley’s in Atlanta last season,” Laviolette said. “It was world class, down the wing, blow it by you. It was epic. “Now, there’s time and space and gaps and everybody’s quick to defend and reloads are hard from behind, but he blocked a shot, got out of the defensive zone and down the wing and he was moving fast and hard and he just wound up and ripped it top shelf. It was a thing of beauty.”

Didn't Hartnell do that earlier this season on Miller? About four minutes after JVR had done exactly the same thing?

Did notice the players reaction on that horrible 2nd goal he gave up? Two of them looked straight to the ceiling, almost like, "not again!" I'm not a goalie, and don't play one on TV, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night. But is it TOO much to ask that when the opposing team has the puck behind our net, to put your effing stick on the ice, and close the 5-hole? For fu*ck's sake...Bryz was sitting on the goal line, stick in the air, and his legs as wide as a new bride on her honeymoon on that deflection.

That's the one that went off one Flyer skate and then off another Flyer skate? That's the "horrible" goal? His teammates were going "how can *that* happen?" - not "how can Bryz let that goal in?" but "how can an errant pass go off two skates and be a perfect shot into the goal?"

Last night Bryz was 1.95 GAA/ .926 SV%, with the game tied on a two-skate deflection from behind the goal. Who stops that? Lundqvist? Brodeur? Fleury? Thomas? Tretiak? Roy? Parent? Plante?

Come on now.

Yes, he didn't look stellar in the carny ride where you get an extra point and giant stuffed bear, but he *was* 1.95/.926 in the game... oh, and Giguere's "win" came on a shot that hit the crossbar (in other words, got by him). In essence, no goalie last night stopped any shootout shooter.

I take some positives out of last night's game: 1.95/.926 is just the start; the fighting back to secure the point on the road in the final minute; strong play from Voracek and Simmonds; a semi-productive nine minutes from Holmstrom (6 for 8 on FOs).

With Bryzgalov my glass if half full - with vodka.

As for Cechmanek, his career NHL GAA/SV% is 2.08/.919 regular season and 2.33/.909 in the playoffs.

Tim Thomas' career NHL GAA/SV%? 2.50/.922 (2.06/.936 playoffs).

Yes, it was "Cechmanek's fault" that the team quit against Ottawa. 100% Cechmanek's fault that the team managed two entire goals in the five game series. Yes, they scored two goals in five games and WON A GAME and it was entirely the goalie's fault that they lost. Book. It.

Because it wasn't Homer's initiative, it was Snider's. When Big Ed says "jump", you say "into the frying pan or into the fire?"

I know it's not popular to bash on Mr. Snider, but this does seem to be his call.

You can't entirely blame Homer for making an offer to a player he was told to acquire.

You can't entirely blame Bryzgalov for signing the deal he was offered.

You also can't assume that scouts/Homer/etc. didn't bring up these potential pitfalls to Mr. Snider when discussing the deal.

You can blame the guy who told Homer that the deal had to be done.

Ed put all his money on #30 - orange and we're hoping that number hits before his is up.

Must be coach in 2012, right rad? Even year, coach, odd year, goalie.

Yep. Lavy will have "mismanaged the goalie situation" and "lost the room" after the playoffs.

Then in 2013 it's Bryzgalov's fault. And 2015. And 2017...

@radoran

This has a boiling mess written all over it.

You are, unfortunately, right. I see this somewhat akin to the "must sign a #1 C" debate over Briere/Drury/Gomez a few years back. The Flyers ABSOLUTELY HAD TO HAVE one of those "top flight, can't miss" guys.

The fact we got Briere, who turned out to be the cheapest and best of the three, is small consolation when they didn't "need" to do that - and they had Richards/Crater already in the system and had drafted Giroux the year before... The guys that also "had to sign one of them" and wound up with Drury and Gomez - how'd that work out for them?

They didn't "need" to go after a goalie, aside from their esteemed 78-year-old owner who really *really* wants another Cup... They certainly didn't "need" one for the NEXT NINE YEARS.

On that note, I absolutely could see Bryz taking a "waiver" out of town - but not for a few years.

I hate to be a voice of negativity, but it's becomeing clearer and clearer by day that Bryz is not the savior we were hoping he would be. Snider panicked and ordered Homer to get a goalie. A good cause, but problem is, there didn't happen to be a real #1 stud free agent golaie available so Homer had to settle for whoever was available.

All of these long term deals have been typical Flyer overreaaching.

This organization appears to start contract negotiations with a free agent that they covet by offering the best possible deal they can come up with.

The fact that this is their default STARTING position weakens them considerably. It also explains the Shelley Situation.

I like Bryzgalov, but think he has some flaws that are compensated by a solid defense. That said, the length and size of this contract is, quite frankly, inexcusable. The only thing I can think is that they will eventually waive him, he will refuse assignment and play KHL.

To an extent, this could be Homer sticking it to the NHL for the Pronger contract SNAFU.

The LTIR exemption isn't something you can sign other players long-term with. It accumulates during the season and - as noted above - only applies in some situations. It adds space to the cap, but doesn't create a season-to-season exemption - you still have to be in compliance (within 10%?) in the offseason.

I do expect the Flyers to spend and get virtually all of the LTIR exemption used over the course of a season - but it seems more useful in terms of bringing up players and making in-season trades.

If you were a relatively healthy player, why on earth would you want to take the Flyers' C?

I say they just retire the C permanently and go with three As.

I would argue that Markhov does, but he is made of glass now and his cap hit is higher than Prongers.

The Markov of two years ago? Yes.

The Markov who missed most of last season and hasn't played this season because of his knee? Not so much.

http://sports.yahoo....=ap-winningwild

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—The Minnesota Wild are playing for their third head coach in four seasons, they haven’t won a playoff series in nearly nine years and their roster is mostly unrecognizable to sports fans outside of—or even in— the state.

Here they are, though, leading the NHL with 43 points at their 30-game mark.

How far can the Wild go?

If I'm moving Carle it's at the trade deadline. Defencemen are valuable assets at that time of year, and I think Carle brings more than Gill in a trade.

I would hope so, too.

He sure looked like it at times early on. But effort and Zherdev can't be mistaken, except when his NHL career is on the line. Then Nicky gives it. As for Voracek, the guy is working hard, especially along the boards.

I like what CSN had with Laviolette before the game talking about Lavy wanting to get Voracek more ice time, but with the top six clicking it washard to get him in. That he was happy to be able to give him more minutes and seemed confident he could take advantage of them.

The fifth goal didn't mean much in the end, but it was a reflection of a strong overall game from Voracek.

I've long thought that Columbus just gives up on any player not named "Nash" too soon. They also expect far too much early. The Flyers have the luxury of putting players like Voracek and Simmonds into roles in which they can develop at a reasonable pace. Hopefully to step into bigger roles as the veterans move along.

You're looking for a Coburn or Carle to step into Timonen's role; Jagr's a UFA and Hartnell's up after next season so talented developing forwards are a terrific asset.

Also, Coburn made the play of the night. If anyone has the replay, they should post it. He pasted OV to the boards, caused a turnover that led to the Talbot goal. He's truly emerging this season as a top pairing guy, and showing why he was a high first round draft pick.

That was a great play - and he got the assist on it, too. Sure, it was a lame secondary assist... ;-)

Coburn is moving into the place where most coaches think defensemen are finally able to be "NHL defensemen" - late/mid 20s. A nice asset to have signed for four years at $4.5M.

And no way I am moving Carle for Gill. What would this trade gain exactly?

$1M in cap space immediately and both are UFAs at the end of the year. That's about it.

I think I was pretty clear I wouldn't want Gill prior to that post, but I was searching in the dark for some sort of rationale.

So "IF" they "had" to move someone to get Gill... Which they don't.

Thus - "but with Carle taking up minutes and elevating play - why bother? "

What I can't understand is why the Flyers are even looking to make a trade? They are playing well right now. Sure they have certain holes, like any team, but to address those holes, you would need to weaken your other spots. Bourdon seems getting more and more comfortable and confident with his game and when Gustavson comes back, they would be in a good shape, even WITHOUT Pronger. But we just won 7 in a raw, did we not? Where are these trade talks coming from? I don't get it.

They're coming from the Bleacher Report - which I wouldn't necessarily take without a salt lick.

it's statements like this:

If the Flyers were able to shed some salary, possibly Scott Hartnell's contract or another big contract,

That reveal the gaps in the "analysis." The Flyers' top five contracts all have NTC/NMCs on them. That makes the "IF" in that sentence the operative word.

That, and the fealty to Kaberle - who IIRC the Flyers were considering trading LINDROS for backinnaday (to give some perspective on the last time Kaberle was worth squat) and who today is chopped liver who was a hanger on in Boston and a complete bust in Carolina - displays the utter lack of seriousness in this "trade proposal."

Scott Hartnell is not taking a trade to Montreal. Book. It. Neither is Briere, Timonen, Bryzgalov or Pronger.

I *might* ship Carle out for Gill - save some cap space this year and both are UFA - but with Carle taking up minutes and elevating play - why bother?

So was Bryz good or did the team shut down the Caps? I see JVR had two points...did he actually show up or were they lame secondary assists? Voracek still the beast of the boards? How did the young Dmen do?

Bryz was solid and you could tell was upset at giving up the shutout.

JVR had some nice moments, but needs to do a lot more to emerge. I wouldn't call both secondaries "lame" but they weren't "write home to mom now" types either.

Voracek was a monster. More ice time, please.

I'm not expecting a Stanley Cup run this year. But watching these young guys fit right in is a real pleasant surprise, and makes the team a lot of fun to watch.

don't expect it. don't rule it out. Watch the season. Enjoy the games.

Flyers are showing that they did get better, cheaper and younger with their offseason moves. I like it.

I've been keeping track of numbers I notice frequently during games (for good and bad).

14 and 24 were noticeable for the good for virtually all of last night.

Couturier has some developing to do, but his hockey sense is undeniable.

I guess I don't see how they fit Gill ($2.25) or Campoli ($1.75) if they can't fit walker ($1.7)

I'd have had more interest in Spacek.

Gomez is making $7.3M each for the next two seasons after this. ANYONE who picks that up is fundamentally insane and should be put in the Mike Milbury Home for Idiot GMs.

NO on Kaberle. NO NO NO NO NO.

And I don't think that Gill or Campoli bring anything to the table for the Flyers.

Gill is -5 after 29 games. Campoli has played two games this season.

Just don't see the point.

Anyone remember Knuble going off on his team mates earlier this season? From the looks of their collective play thus far after coaching change, I have to say that they are still under achieving. Either that or Mike Green is a bigger piece of their offense than anyone realized. It is beginning to look like they are going to need a roster shake up if they want to get out of the pit they have dug for themselves. The next question is, do they move the only guy on the team that had the courage to say something about it(Knuble) or break up the Caps version of the Center City Posse?

I think this is part of the "trade Semin" talk that's going around - breaking up the Caps' CCP... It's got to be something more than "just" the players because they do have some talent on that team. They're just not playing worth a damn.

Also, Knuble's 9 points in 29 games would earn him a nice healthy sized cup of shutthehellup around here.

One would almost have to be a poster on an internet forum to find something to complain about with this team.

Oh, wait...

They have youth, depth, experience, skill and, it appears, drive. The latter being sorely lacking from the Capitals, for reasons which escape me. Do the Caps just not care any more? They were getting embarassed at home and could barely manage any emotion at all. "Fighting back" to 5-1 with 6 to play doesn't really cut it,

If the Flyers are forced to give Marshall and Bourdon any big minutes in the playoffs, then there will be issues. In December, I'm not as worried. This team was put together to not immediately "miss" many big pieces - the crucial one obviously being Pronger (of course).

They have players who obviously want to win. That's just great to see.

If his decision was between the A and Russia, I don't blame him one bit. His decision though rad, is between trying to make an NHL career for himself by working for it, or taking the free ride in the K. That says all i need to know about Mr. Filatov.

The guy seems to have Daigle levels of dedication and commitment.

@radoran

Yah you right, it could be worst. He could have ran his skate blade across his throat. We are very lucky indeed.

He could have plowed right into him and resulted in potential serious injury to BOTH players.

The person who made the mistake here - as Jackson points out - is Giroux, who missed a check.

That said, I don't *blame* anyone for this. It's an accident. Accidents will happen*.

Again, if you can tell me what Simmonds "should have done" in this situation to avoid any and all contact with Giroux, I'm happy to hear it.

I'm not saying this isn't unfortunate. It's a split-second, bang-bang play. In short - it's hockey.

It's just not anybody's "fault".

* TM Elvis Costello

If someone call tell me what Simmonds is supposed to do here that he doesn't do in trying to avoid Giroux, please let me know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3AjW0Vc_AA

It's an unfortunate accident. And these situations are always made worse when players are caught unawares - it's like being in a car accident you're not expecting.