fanaticV3.0

Was he high when he wrote that piece?

He gives Akeson a B based on 8 games, Gill a B+ based on 6, but refuses to grade Downie?! If you are going to judge a kid based on 8 games, I think you can muster up the energy to come up with an opinion on a player who played 51 games this year. I don't care that he was injured , if you didn't see enough from him to know he doesn't want to be here, you shouldn't be covering the sport. Plus, he played 51 games Frank! Christ!

Luke Schenn a B?! I have no words for this.

Hartnell is never going to come close to 37 goals ever again. If you are going to judge a guy by the best year of his career, which is flawed to begin with, at least recognize the fact that this was actually one of the best years (statistically) of his career despite the "only 20" goals. I don't even disagree with the grade he gave him, but rationale is weak.

I'm sorry, but the love affair with Raffl has to stop. I really like him, hope he stays for a long time (I legitimately mean that, I value a good role player), but he scored 9 goals for Christ's sake. He should be back on the 3rd line with Read and Couturier. It's where he belongs and where he can make the most impact.

I give Frank a B, but only because he's a boob.

Thanks for posting mojo...

 

I think the article is very fair.  Right now I think B Schenn is the biggest question mark on this Team in terms of where he plays and how he develops.  There are nights I see some flashes of a player that can play at a very high level.  These types of nights are only offset by long stretches of mediocrity, and frankly, unnoticable play.  It is like he disappears for stretches.  

 

He is still very young and I think most were hoping for a quicker development.  I think there are two scenarios here:  1) VLC gets moved in the offseason and Schenn is the center or 2) VLC's contract is not movable and he is traded for an impact player.   As much as he frustrates me I do not want to move him...

 

I think the Player and the skills are there - sometimes I question the motivation.   Again, Schenn is an anomoly to me right now but I would rather see his development w/ the Flyers.

I don't have any stats to say who played where more often, but every article I have read about the VLC/Schenn/2nd line center/wing/demotion to the 4th line center scenario stated that Schenn has played more games than VLC as the 2nd line center. He has been giving the opportunity, but just hasn't claimed the spot as his own.

He doesn't strike me as a great center anyway, but that's another discussion.

Then you need to watch it again. When you ride a guy's back into the ice there's no in intended to it. I understand your disdain for the neck brace gimmick. But it doesn't change the medical reports by professional neurologists that are a matter of record in the courts. The injuries are real, and to defend Bertuzzi on this blows my mind. He'd be arrested anywhere in the US or Canada and rightly so. That was as cowardly an attack as the NHL has seen.

I haven't thought about this piece of hockey history in a long time. I just watched the video for the first time in I don't know how long. He not only drove Moore's face into the ice - after jumping on his back - he followed him around for several seconds clutching and grabbing at him the entire time. He clearly planned and intended to hurt him.

I can't believe Bertuzzi is still playing. That's a disgrace.

Seen the video a hundred times. I still say it looked unintended. The extra thousand pounds of teammates piling on top did not help either.

 

In any case,ill just agree to disagree. I saw the video of him acting like he was too stiff to move during the press conference then ripping the neck brace off like it was nothing. Then he always dodged allowing second opinions to examine him.

 

Cash grab.

"That kid's a piece of sh-t." - Todd Bertuzzi.

Unintended, right.

Yes thats it cause that is what i said....4 points and the Cup is ours.....ah no i said we'll start with a goal and go from there baby steps. I see reading comprehension isn't your strong suit.... 

Baby steps? Do you know anything about what kind of player he is? Stats, strengths, weaknesses, and that kind of stuff? I would have liked to seen a goal from him too, but his career avg in the playoffs is .52 ppg. You aren't going to get much more out of Scott Hartnell - points wise - than you did this series. He was slightly below his avg this year, but 1 more point would have put him above his career PO ppg average. You aren't going to get much more than 3-4 points out of a guy like that in a 7 game series.

If you are going to hate a guy, hate him for something that's actually true.

Up until a few days ago, I thought the same way. But @fanaticV3.0 did raise a good point that these kinds of contracts/deals don't seem to really hurt us. Homer/Flyers always seem to find a way out of it. Richards and Carter had deals that I thought were untradeable... he shipped off both of them in the same afternoon. Bryz? Bought out. 

 

Let's see what he has up his sleeve for VLC, Hartnell, MacDonald....  

 

Unless Streit gets hurt, I think that's an ok contract.

Hartnell is overpaid, but hasn't the guy proven his worth (on some level)? He just came off one of his most productive seasons as a pro, was one of the only guys who threw a hit in the POs, and he never complains. I don't think he's the kind of guy - or at that point in his career yet - where we talk about what "needs to be done" with him.

I'm not sure MacDonald is yet either, but only because of his age.

VLC can and should be moved or bought out if he can. I don't think that's likely to happen, but if you can do it do it. Until that happens, work with what you have. Give the 4th line thing (with special team minutes) a legit shot. What else you gonna do, play a bunch of muckers and grinders there who won't do anything anyway? It will create depth, match up problems, and give Schenn time to prove whether he can center a 2nd line or not.

Why not you do it all the time.

 

Besides i'm entitled to my opinion...and i'm not asking to much.

Oh well hey, since you're playing the opinion card, that negates anything and everything. You can't be wrong then, because it's your "opinion".

A GOAL....we'll start slowly and go from there.....not asking him to win the conn smythe just a goal in 7 games...i know, i know the nerve right!!!!!!

So 4 points in 7 games shuts you up, but 3 and you're bitching like a girl on her period? Because that makes sense.

Man, there is a stat!  Who would have thought right!

I used to hate the guy. He's still not my favorite player in the world - I think he's kind of dumb to be honest - but he's obviously not "on the decline" yet. He's not the smartest or most talented guy, but you can't honestly complain about him this year. It's one of the best years of his career points wise and he's one of the few guys on this team (they're small/soft imo) that hits or tries to get things going physically.

What have you done for me lately, nothing you did in the regular season (which the last half he did nothing really in) gets you anything in the playoffs . I talking about the 7 games in the playoffs he looked like a turd on skates in the playoffs he lead the team in shots and all he could muster was 3 points.....he is a boat anchor.

 

The best thing they can do now is just get him off the first line. I mean i know they are stuck with him till about 2025 but jeezus can some one get him some training wheels????? If they keep him off the 1st i'll be happy for now.

And you expect what from him? A ppg (or something in that range)? Don't be an ass because you don't like the guy. As you point out, he lead the team in shots, he was third on the team in hits, and what you're mad because he only had 3 points? It's called perspective. Get some.

Who gives a phuck????????

 

its a what have you done for me lately league...Vinny had 100 points in a season in 2006 what does that have to do with now...not a damn thing just like Hartnell....i don't care what he's done in the past i go by what he did this past playoffs 3 points in 7 games lead the team in shots on goal during the playoffs and he score the same amount of goals as me....can 't give him a pass he is making to much money....he sucks donkey balls and doesn't belong on this team anymore but with his turd contract hey are stuck with him.

The past? What are you talking about? I am talking about now. He had 52 points. That is his 3rd best year of his 13 year career.

Actually, from what I recall, during his first full year with thew Flyers, he *was* doing just about all these things Polaris is talking about.  Then it almost looked like somebody flipped the switch and we started seing a totally different player. 

Any guy who can come in here and give it his all the way he did and then just call it quits after 11 games like that is a grad A loser. I was pissed when the trade happened, and hate Downie, but I'm glad Talbot is gone too. Only a mentally weak player phones it in and gets mopey as quick as he did.

One thing we definitely need is a center. Twelve of them just isn't enough

I can seriously see the old man suggesting to Homer and whoever else is involved in making personnel decisions that we could use another center. He's like the opposite of Andy Reid with LBs and WRs.

The number of players drafted vs. number of players who make the league is staggeringly low.

 

The number of players who make the league vs. the number of players who make an actual impact is smaller still.

 

 

 

 

Hell, they brought back Downie of all people.

I know. That's why I don't go apeshit over prospects anymore until they prove they can stay with the team. I think the last time I did that was when we were worst in the league and actually thought two 2nd year players would just come in and be our 2nd and 3rd line centers. I like this young core and don't want any of them moved anywhere in the off season. But the last thing this team needs right now is more unproven youth. Most of the names people are tossing around won't even be in the organization in a few years.

I'd love to know the percentage of players who come from the AHL. Most kids who are thought to be legit prospects spend little-to-no time there. I'd love to know some legit names who spent significant time in that league and went on to become NHL players.

The good news about Downie is that he was so bad we don't have to worry about them bringing him back. It's obvious he's not wanted.

That is fine with me if you want to discount that but picks like those two right there are prime example of why guys want Homer ran out of town....had he made tow bad picks like....to it all needs to be part of the evaluation process not excluded...and those are just two examples....there are more.

 

Oscar Moller #22 same year as Hickey!

I'm not discounting them. It's just that it's only examples.

it makes no sense honestly.   it is not happening!!

 

 

LOL!  I just laughed out loud on that ... well played!

I don't get excited about players not yet in the league. I can't stand when people hype up prospects as if it's a given they're going to make the big club. It irks the hell out of me. Talk to me when they have made the team and proven they can stay in the line up.

Plus, this team already has a ton of youth. Youth is not what this team is lacking. Their problems - which everyone pretty much agrees are a top line winger and defense - are not going to be fixed by the likes of Laughton, Morin, Ghost, etc.

I LOL'd when rad posted the idea of them coming back - because I could actually see it happening. I can see it now, the old man barging into Hextall's office, "You know what this team needs? Centers!"

Exactly Hexy is the one who drafted two bust in back to back years.... the great Thomas Hickey(4th overall 2007) and Colten Tuebert (13th overall 2008)!!!!!

 

So yeah how is this any better?????

 

Not just you anyone who thinks so explain.....please.

I'm not going to write off Ron Hextall because of two picks. I just don't get how people can razz the old man over the "new perspective" comments, but then talk about how bad they want Hexy to take over.

none of those kids are ready for next year...  Ghost might have an outside chance but none of them will be on the opening roster.  

I seriously want to scream when I see people suggest any of them as options to fill our holes for next season.

Hextall's first move is to recapture the magic from "his" Cup run in LA and trade for a couple experienced players to round out the Flyers' core.

 

I can see it now... "Richards and Carter Return to Philadelphia"

 

Sure, why not? We can always use another center or 12.

I actually thought Hartnell was one of our better players in the first couple of games of the series. At least he showed up. 

I hated him a few years ago, and still think he's overpaid, but I'm with you. I've warmed up to him. I think he shows up (at least tries) on a regular basis. I mean Jesus Christ, he had his 3rd highest year in points, all 3 of which came as a Flyer. What's the problem (from fans perspective)?

Hard (impossible?) to say, isn't it?  Whose to say who else we would have offered a horrible contract if we hadn't offered to Hartnell and Vinny and Bryz, etc.  because we at that point didn't have the opportunity/money to do it.

 

Again, like you, it's not really about the money.  It's about bringing in some old guy that Tampa just paid to NOT play for them and taking up one of 50 allowable contracts and whatever number roster spots instead of an Akeson all year or whomever.

 

It's not my money.  It's just kind of astounding that someone who has 5 cars would go out and throw 2014 BMW money on a 1983 Dodge K car and then wonder why it isn't performing up to the new beamer standards.

While I agree, the fact that they can afford to keep doing that tells me it hasn't hurt a ton. If there's a FA they want, and he wants to be here, I seriously doubt money is going to be an issue.

Bingo!

 

Fan outrage is not really about the money because we don't pay it (well we do, but in small chunks). It's really about handcuffing the team and putting it in a position of weakness.

 

For example, someone here mentioned Niskanen at $5M. Well, not in Philly. They just gave an inferior player more money in MacDonald. So Niskanen has that leverage over Homer.

 

"You paid a guy who's never even reached 30 points in his career $5.25M per year? I just got 46 this year, biatch. It's gonna cost you a lot more than that."

I don't know if it really has though. That's what I'm asking at least. I'm not saying good we do it, and it's a trend I'd like to see stop (curtailed at least), but I'm just not so sure how badly it's messed the team up. They still have a pretty nice young core to build off of.

I think there is a big difference b/t Coaches and GMs that have come in.   The GM makes the deals, makes the trades and adds players to the Team.  Coaches are given the players and generally have no say in the management of the Team (well, except Hitch hating Sharpe).  I for one do not believe there will be a new perspective until Snider is out of the picture.

1. I agree. I think the old man is the one behind the "now, now, now" philosophy.

2. That being said, the philosophy has changed over the years. Gone are the days where the team is dominated by players like Roenick, Amonte, Recchi. We still have that element in the likes of Lecalvier, but this team has not gone through two eras of a youth-led roster. First was the Richards and Carter era, now this core.

who the H knows what goes on behind closed doors in the Flyer's mgmt offices. we've speculated quite a bit that Snider is pulling the strings. he very well may be. but, one would have to think that bringing Hexy back into the fold after a successful cup run with LA... you'd have to think that part of the reasoning in bringing him back is to signal an acceptance to doing things a different way. 

 

I would like to think that Hexy came back with an understanding that he'd eventually take over for Homey and run things HIS way. But, we'll probably never know either way. 

Like hiring two cup-winning coaches from outside the organization (Hitch and Lavi)?

I agree but the argument that is coming is "Hexy went to LA and was in a different organization, yadda, yadda, yadda...  He won a cup there too...."

Hitch and Lavi won cups in other places too.