fanaticV3.0

That's on the coaches. Vinny doesn't force anyone to play anywhere. He didn't complain one bit when he was demoted (for about 5 minutes) to 4th line center. The almost constant line juggling has "gotten old" as the kids put it. Do other teams do it as much as we do? Is that a thing in hockey now? It's so frequent that it baffles my mind how they think anyone can develop any chemistry.

Yeah, the Rangers are better. So? The Flyers can play better than they have been. I think it's safe to say they really haven't played their best hockey yet. I will also say I think they are capable of beating the Rangers. But overall, the Rangers are a better team. This bugs you?

Guys like Leino are why I always worry about guys like Raffl. I like Raffl's game a lot, but late bloomers scare me.

I don't care what he made in the past, it's not up to us to make up for that. I agree with you about point production though. That's why I said what I said about Carle. I'm ok with him not producing 30-40 a year. I think he does a really good job at a lot of other parts of the game. Much better than Carle imo. I just don't like the deal. He'll end up making several million too much when it's all said and done as far as I'm concerned. What I do like about the deal is that I felt that needed a stud defenseman. While he's not it, they added a pretty good player in the meantime. So if they can add the stud, it's like a bonus.

Agreed, but I prefer his all-around game to Carle's. He's still overpaid, but Carle without Pronger was not pretty in his own end. MacDonald, while overpaid, doesn't need anyone to look like a decent player.

I've grown to like Hartnell over the years. He's not as dumb as he used to be. He's still ridiculously overpaid.

I usually don't like to write a player off after such a small sampling, but Jesus he was terrible. When you factor in the other stuff, no thanks. I'm not interested.

If Boston isn't in the Cup, that would surprise me. I don't think anyone can hang with Boston (in the east) unless Boston beats themselves. They are a few steps above every other team in the east.

No interest in seeing him be the backup next year at all. He got lit up by a non-playoff team, he's too old to where I find it realistic he'll be making the jump, and how often does the AHL produce a legitimate NHL player anyway? I'm not talking about guys who have played in both leagues, but guys who spent significant time in the A and then prove themselves to be bonafide NHLers?

Tell them to nut up, lol. If they are unhappy with him now, they ain't seen **** compared to when we had him. He was sooo frustrating here.

I completely agree with you about JVR. I wasn't sad to see him go and will not criticize them team for parting ways with him. I won't ever criticizing a team for parting ways with a guy who isn't playing well here. Now the return for that trade is awful, and I will criticize that, but I don't miss JVR. He showed no signs of being the player he is now here an would not have become that here. I wish Schenn was a little more consistent, but I'm in no way disappointed in him to the point I want him gone. None of the young guys are going anywhere if I'm in charge right now.

Well if that isn't a fun fact to start off the weekend, I don't know what is.

Agreed. I think there's a good chance they get bounced in the first and if it's against Boston, it could be quick and ugly. If that happens, I'm hoping it annoys them much in the way the slow start this year did.

Doesn't Hartnell make more than that and he's never done either of those two things if I remember correctly? Scare yet, lol? I don't think he gets $3 mil, I'm just sayin'.

The team won one game in their first 8, fired their coach, Giroux didn't score a goal until Nov. 9, and this was the 2nd year in a row he had a bad start. What part of criticizing that is unwarranted or somehow unfair?

Ed Snider, give that man a job!

He reminds me of Timonen in the sense that neither is what you'd call "tough" at first glance. They aren't big hitters, aren't big people in general, and don't every fight, but the both of them are quite physical, talk the talk, and often back it up. They are doers. They will call the team out for playing poorly and get sh!t done when it needs doing.

So what? The team was awful and he personally had a terrible start (for the 2nd year in a row). We're all glad he's straightened that out, and the team is back in the POs, but it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

His contract blows, but his play hasn't really been that bad when you step back and look at the whole season. Him and Schenn were pretty much the only guys producing offensively when the team was awful in the beginning of the season. He's been bounced around from line-to-line and from center to wing throughout the year (and said nothing but the right things when asked about it). He did look very lost/disinterested at a certain point, but when you factor in those things and his health, it hasn't been as bad certain folk like to say. It's been a struggle, I ain't gonna lie, but in a bad year, with injuries, being juggled around, he still manages to get 20 goals. I'd take him over Briere. He's way more versatile. If this is him on a bad year, I give him a pass this year if he gets 40+ points and plays like he's playing now most of the time.

"Not terrible" is about as complimentary as I'll get in regards to his defensive play. He's not the worst, but he's not our top PKer or anything. He's not a PKer period (as of this point in his professional career).

Lol, who would that be? Old people and families? I've actually never been to one.

Having seen him as a pro for a few seasons now, I actually have a hard time believing that. As a pro, the defensive talent isn't there at all. I have a hard time believing he had it and simply doesn't try and use it now.

I remember hearing anything from what you said to he'd replace Richards at both ends of the ice. Defensively speaking, neither is right. He's not a good defensive player, let alone close to the best one on the team (Richards, here at least). Whoever made the comparison to Richards, at least in that aspect of the game, was 100% wrong.

That sounds about right. That's the only thing I'd say in comparing Richards and Schenn too. Neither is a #1, but they're not similar players either.