CoachX

seriously? that's a first .....lol

I'm not surprised that is your reply. Implication can be as obvios as directl black and white statements. I will use this discussion as the basis for my POV. This thread is about an erroneous quote by one of your players. Of course you felt the need to chime in. From that point your entire position is to defend your players in the face of our players, even bringing up issues from over 30 years ago. I don't recall a single Flyer fan bringing up Mario Lemieux, Paul Baxter or Krzysztof Oliwa. The implication of your argument is to show that your players are not as bad as ours, and therefore better. Did you say your team is better? Not directly. You may acknowledge "weaknesses", but you quickly explain them off, or dismiss them as not that bad. This makes you as much of a "homer" as you claim any of us to be.

People who know the Goalie position can evaluate better than I ..... is Bryz horrible, or is he just being hung out? He's seen alot of rubber behind him recently and Florida made him look stupid

Yeah, I can see your point, and you might be right. I still recall seeing times where I think they had a chance to body them and didn't, and not in the places you are referring. Those two are highly skilled for sure. I can respect that. But if they aren't moving around the front of the net, (I know I was talking corners earlier), they need to get hammered. Cindy doesn't play to well when he gets thumped. Just ask Giroux and Hatcher

I don't question his ability to talk hockey... I question his motivation. I am a Flyers fan. I have spen a total of zero minutes on any other teams forum. Yet this clown, whether he talks logic or not, spends a tremendous amount of time in a Flyers forum. I think he secretly wants to be a Flyers fan and is just afraid to come out of the closet.

It was a very exciting game and kept me tuned in to the end. I wish they all could be this spirited. Of course I hate all things Penguins, so it was easy to stay motivated. In the end, the boys came out on top and my night was made. It was good to see some scoring. It was better to see some grit and fight. I liked the enthusiam. After going down by 2, I was fearing the worst. But that second period was awesome. A few things really bothered me though. It was obvious the Pens came out flying and had a plan to get the puck deep. Can this be a blueprint? A scary one. The defense looked pretty bad early on. the other I noticed was the Flyers were taking the body, especially late. Yes the game was physical, but I recall numerous times where guys were in the corners and the defenseman just backed off. If its Crosby or Malkin and you have a chance to hit that guy, you need to do it. A player of that skill can't be given space. In the first period I thought Kimmo was sleep walking out there. Maybe he had a rough day, what do I know. Lastly, can we do something about Tyler "Freakin" Kennedy? that little troll has made a Patrick Elias type of career scoring on the Flyers. I'm sick of that punk. Props to Simmonds for a hell of a fight. Its nice having that guy on the team

Actually no, I never looked at it this way. Now that I do, its glaringly obvious.

Well I guess the Islanders game really solidifys PhilsFanDrew's POV .... Good job young man. Being with Read and Voracek looked like a nice recipe. But I want to see now if this translates into the same thing against better teams. I'm still not convinced this was the right move

So essentially what you are saying is the management is the problem. I agree. The constant for years has been snider and his hiring of former Flyers in key management positions. I get loyalty but c'mon, its time to go in a different direction. I think Snider cannot let go of the past and as he gets older, his perceptions are much like those of Al Davis, Skewed.

This might be the most telling POV of all. I never thought of it that way. Now that I am... I HATE IT! Oakland Raiders + Al Davis = mediocrity Dallas Cowboys + Jerry Jones = mediocrity Philly Flyers + Ed Snider = Yep, you guessed it

Okay, so the Flyers are awful right now. I think most of us can agree on that. By the end of the season, that could change. I personally don't think it will happen. i almost get the same feeling I had in 06-07. i think we are in for a long bumpy ride this season. Prior to the start of the season, there was spirited debate about Giroux being Captain. I rememeber one statement that "he wants to be captain", therefore he should be. So the Flyers made him captain and he is not playing up to the level that he was last year. This too is looking all to farmiliar to me. I felt like the Flyers rushed Mike Richards based on stellar play and promise of a long career, only to see him fold under the pressure, fight with the media, and ultimately get shipped out. I think they once again rushed to judgement and handed to reins to a young player who was not really ready for it, and his play is suffering. Now, I know many of you will say one thing has nothing to do with the other. And this is not a "I hate Giroux" bash session. This is more an opinion of an organization that continues to put the cart before the horse and make decisions in haste that are detrimental to its core players. I for one think they should have held off and named Timmonen or Briere captian, and let Giroux mentor under them a few seasons. Instead he was thrown into the fire. What I see on the ice now is a guy who rarely shoots and is struggling with his game. In other markets perhaps this is an easier transition. But in Philadlephia, where big time athletes have a hard enough time with fans and media, why you would rush this promising superstar to the altar is just baffling at best. I just hope that he doesn't suffer the same fate as Richards.

I realize it is just one game, but Kimmo looked different to me last night. He looked fresh, and perhaps a little edgy. Maybe getting this deal done had something to do with the personal motivation of the player, and perhaps his game gets elevated a touch. I find it interesting that we (forumites) criticize and scrutinize every move the team makes without ever really knowing what is going on inside. Of course, its not like we have any choice, and lets face it, its fun to do. But for years now I have watched Homer do these things and he always seems to have some other angle. A few years back we were an old team with a "we have to win it all" mentality, with few picks in the cupboard and no youth to speak of. However, we now have Simmonds, Schenn (x2), Giroux, Cotourier, Read, Voracek, and Laughon in the wings. And, I really don't have total heartache over Bryz right now, but that could change in an instant. I would guess that there are things in the rules that we are not privy to. I would also guess that Homer has thought this through and has an overall plan that this signing is part of. I won't say it is destined to work, but I am fine with signing timmonen at this price and finding out what comes next. If Homer screws it up, many of us will get what we want anyway, cause he will get his ass fired

The Flyers should stand pat with the current line up and let the chips fall where they may. In the off season, assess the team and take advantage of the contract buy outs and other rules that we problably don't know about. At some point you have to stop tinkering and let things grow

As I was watching the game against Florida, I kept getting this thought in my head ... "BORING"! The game went on and I sat there casually watching while doing whatever else was more interesting. There were no hard hits, no drama, no fireworks and of course, little scoring. It got me thinking how the NHL wants to put this product on the ice with fast moving, high scoring flashy plays. But guess what, it isn't happening. The game I see today is not that much different offensively from all the hockey I have ever watched. I used to remember sitting int eh edge of my seat, not wanting to miss a minute of a game (regardless of score), becasue aything cool could happen (ala the famed Ottawa game). But the league has effectively neutered itself into soccer on ice. I find it funny how the sport is considered too violent. can't the arketing people in the NHL see that violence is a major selling point? The world of MMA fighting is still on the ice and more popular than ever. Boxing, although not as popular as it once was, has transcened time. Football is as close to a gladiator arnea as you might find. Yet this league continues to leash itself to an ideal that is making a struggling sport lose alot of its luster. I want to be clear that I am not writing this about fighting, although that is a vital point. Rather, I am saying that new rules to clean up the sport have made it blah at best. I don't particularly care if george Parros fights Jody Shelley, unless that fight actually has some impact or rlelevance to the game. These side show fights just for the sake of fighting, are stupid. That is what MMA is for. But fights that happen out of emotion and based off the plot unfolding in the current game are awesome. I will use the Erskine hit in Simmonds as an example. I saw that hit as intentional. I wanted to see some type of retribution. I wanted to see drama unfold and two teams go at it. But all we got was a good fight that altered two players night based on a BS rule and screw up by a linesman. I would like to see the instigator rule removed. I want the rule about fighting before the face off removed. I think there is a rule about fighting in the last five minutes of a game. I want that removed. Hockey used to be a war on ice. I want that back. I want more hitting in with the skill play. I like the uniquness of the sport and what it was about. I think it s pretty obvious that the product on the ice today is no where near as popular as it was in the 80'S and 90's.

Try mixing in an armadillo

We actually have four ... we even had a minor league hockey team for awhile. I think we traded them to Mexico though, for 100 pounds of green chile and a case of Dos Equis STAY THIRSTY

EXACTLY! I lolve it

i liked the last McGinn fight and that rinaldo fight against Washington. But your point is well taken, they aren't very exciting. I used to watch games knowing that anytime Brashear took the ice, fireworks were coming. Now, its just the same 'ol stuff. And there is a shortage of Viking women in NM so consider yourself fortunate

yeah there have been guys who were wastes. I would use that term to describe Jody Shelly today. I would agreee on Boulerice as well. But Carcillo in particular was not traded for becasue he was tha ttype of player. Here are some names I think about: Behn Wilson Rick Tocchet Mel Bridgman Scott Mellanby Dave Schulz Dave Brown Ed van Impe Ron Hextall Eric Lindros Its not just the grit of a player, and i applaud your video clips and recognotion of those players, it also about being part of the tradition

Canoli, I am reluctant to address a Pissburg fan, and refuse to do so unless it is essential. However, I would like to offer a POV to this discussion... One of the things that gets overlooked in a conversation of this magnatitude is the dynamic of image. Some would argue it does not win games or championships. Okay, i ackonlwedge that POV. However, in recognizing that this franchise got much of its identity from the Bullies, you have to also acknowledge that the game is not always about the product on the ice. Philadelphia will never lose the identitiy of what those teams meant. Plain and simple, it does no want to. Much like some other teams might be identified for skill, this franchise wants to be recognized as the roughest and toughest. The intangible that brings is what happens in the stands. The energy and electricity in a Philadlephia arena can motivate and inspire its players. After all, tell me what other city would have a billboard with Riely Cote on it? The city loves fighters and wants to always be associated with that persona. Paul Holmgren traded for Dan Carcillo becasue he was trying to bring that back to a team that needed that dymnamic. He wanted a player with some skill who would also fight anybody. He understood how a player like this would be more important to the city, than a princess prima dona who was part of a lethargic group of underachievers. A fan from another city will never understand this becasue it is not logical. Had carcillo panned out to be Scott Mellanby or Rick Tocchet type of player, the trade would be lauded as a great move. He was not that player and was a huge disappointment in the long run. Therefore the move was stupid. I will say this though, I appreciated the move because it showed me that Holmgren was in touched with what I saw as a fan. He tried to put an exciting product on the ice.

that was hurtful

I'm like Cotourier ... just coming into my own. I hope I don't get shipped off

Anyway, back to the thread. Simmonds' nose sure was a mess when Erskine elbowed him. I can only imagine how the rest of his head felt. Thanks I got confused there... I thought this was a thread about the Simmonds hit

I've been 39 for six years. I liked that age so i decided to stay

wow...thats unsettling. The list of young players the Flyers have let go is staggering. Forum memebers have gone on and on for years about how trades have haunted this franchise and the core should be kept intact, with eyes on the future. JVR had a three seasons to solidify himself in this lineup and the frnachise felt he would not live up to expectations. Now 8 games in he is "the one that got away"? WOW! The fickleness of this forum has reached an all time high