ruxpin

@Vanflyer

I just think it's his ceiling.

FYI...I picked the Flyers with all my remaining tokens in Pick'em. So the Flyers are pretty much screwed tonight.

Reese took the Flyers within two wins of the Stanley Cup with Brian "Uh oh" Boucher and Michael "Leaky" ******* Leighton. He's not the problem. Move along.

Berube has shown success coaching the PP/PK over his tenure, and Lavy seems to lean on Berube significantly. I know he wasn't a stud player, but nor was Bylsma. Maybe Berube has more to offer than he is given credit here (a damn near certainty...sheesh).

Lavy is a proven winner, and the offense shows up. He is also a constructive criticism coach (remember 24/7, and the contrast between he and Torts). He manages games well aside from goalies, as evidenced by his knack for timely timeouts, overall solid roster decisions/scratches, and line combinations/adjustments/lack of adjustments in the name of continuity.

I am very under-impressed with McCarthy. Can the Flyers promote Hatcher or involve Pronger (not at games due to light and noise) here?

What about Lappy to coach the PK? Maybe a Hatcher or Desjardins on the defense.

Or, maybe Shelly could (literally) rip the door off of the locker room, throw it in the center of the room (next to the logo, not on it of course), and yell at the guys who actually get to play. Shelly presumably works hard, but doesn't get to play - and these other gifted guys aren't appreciating what chances they have.

At the very least, it produced a humourous scene in my head where Shelly yells "Shelly Smassshhhh".

If Shelley is going to do anything with the locker room door, I'm hoping it's walking out through it never to return.

Yes it was to you, and thanks for the response. As there aren't exactly a lot of elite goalies magically available, I wonder who the Flyers could possibly bring in? I sincerely think Bob will better than Bryz (at the highest point in his career, and I know there were good moments). Bob has his head on straight, works hard, and constantly improves. No one will mistake his potential for Carey Price, but even Price took a few years before he got to 'that' level.

I can't say with any degree of certainty that Bob will be a starter, bust/flash in the pan, the best Russian goalie ever, or any point in between. It depends too much on coaching, team style, and management by the head and goalie coaches. I am probably too optimistic, but at least there is a goalie with potential in O&B for once in a long time. I will admit I have hope for Bob, justified (imo it is) or not.

Well, keep the faith because Bob is probably the best option we have right now. Although I do think (hope?) that Bryz will be better next year.

In any case, calling Bob a career backup and answering the question "who else do we bring in" are entirely two different exercises. Bryz and Bob are it, and I don't see how any other options are possible. I suppose they could Mogilny Bryz, but that would be a horrible mistake. Short of that, I don't think you can spend anymore salary on that position.

Best guess is you shore up the defense and hope it's enough to compensate for only average, inconsistent, goaltending.

I cannot believe Flyer fans STILL have to talk about this. Years and years of the front office not trying, then they go out and sign a "top flight" goalie only to find out they've bought a grounded SST. And here we are...

Oh, another thought... I don't know how this works in the 'real' world but why can't pronger hang around the team more? Go to home games and watch, then mentor individual players in between players, or even rip the team a new one if need be or encourage them when they are doing it right?

In some cases, that might work, but it's always better for your leader to actually be on the ice. But in this particular case, it's my understanding that Pronger really isn't up to even doing that. The guy is apparently having a really bad time of it.

Last year was a case of mis-management by Lavy with the crazy rotation of Bob/Boosh. Hasn't been that great this year either. That's by far Lavy's biggest weakness as a coach IMO.

Agreed.

So you want to give up the prospect of developing Bob why? What route do you suggest instead?

Hi Doom,

Hard to tell on here sometimes. Was that to me?

Don't give up developing Bob, but he's a career backup. We need to work on getting a starter if Bryz isn't going to be it, because Bob won't be.

If you're in a fantasy league that rewards penalty minutes as well as scoring, Hartnell is gold.

Bob is a backup = Nitty.

That is all.

Not sure, doom. But the PK sucks, too, so...

i have said this doom has said this and maybe even you have said this... is the chief the right guy to be responsible for the defense ?

No. He is not. It's as dumb as hiring an offensive line coach as your defensive coordinator. It's just plain stupid.

As for the team, I think we're seeing from the team quite a bit better than what should have realistically been expected coming into the season. Unfortunately, some of our weaknesses were supposed to be covered by a #1 goalie and a #1 defenseman. One forgot how to play and the other is hurt.

I know some of the offseason moves made it seem as if they were in "win now" mode, but I think with all the rookies on the team that thought was a little foolish.

I read the Timonen thing that Sheridan wrote ( http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20120212_Phil_Sheridan__After_loss_to_Rangers__Timonen_offers_harsh_assessment_of_Flyers.html )

Interesting that he mentions system...as noted on this site...but I also find it stunning that he seems to call out the goaltending by being so complimentary of the Rags' goalie. Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.

To be honest, I don't share the criticism about lack of effort. Not in the way I saw it the past few seasons, anyway. I just see a team with a bunch of young kids who ARE going to be inconsistent, especially as the season progresses and the exhaustion sets in. I think Holmgren HAD to expect this a little but thought he was covered by his goalie signing and Pronger/Timonen on the back end. Best laid plans, and all that. Some of the very things that have made them competitive (some really successful rookie years) are the same things that on the flip side are weaknesses (too many rookies). The Flyers just don't have some of the tools right now to cover up glaring weaknesses.

How is that working out in Phoenix?

LOL Exactly who I had in mind while raising my concern (not sure it's "concern") about Columbus.

@Digityman made a quote in another post mentioning that hockey may not be doing well there for reasons other than ownership anbd business practices. The Blue Jackets tried moved into an area that is already hard-core Ohio State fans. Its tough to think that an Ohio citizen would shun an Ohio team because they've been rooting for an Ohio team for the past 50 years, but it's true. Which is why you never hear the citizens of Wisconsin clamoring for an NHL team. They have the Badgers and that's plenty. The great state of Minnesota has only ONE professional hockey team. You don't like the Wild (or the North Stars for that mattter)? There's always the Gophers.

Fair points. Agreed. Just trying to give Columbus the benefit of the doubt (the city, not the franchise).

LOL @ "Hartnell Down!"

The All-Star weekend won't draw attention to the slumping Blue Jackets team in an effort to make them better. It's comepletely aside from that. The Jackets will be the same team after the ASG as they were before. It will, however, give the fans a chance to really sheer again, and lift their spirits.

Completely agree that will be the sum reality of it (a chance to cheer again, and then back to slush). But my point--fear?--is it's not "completely aside from that" from the league office point of view (I agree that in reality it is completely as you describe). It's an attempt by the league office to keep hockey relevant in an area in which it will become less and less so due to management/ownership incompetence. It's a shame, too, because hockey could actually do well there if it wasn't run by Larry, Curly, and Moe.

I don't know how I feel in theory about the league simply taking over an organization that has proven itself horribly incompetent. Who defines that and what's the criteria? But it just seems like Columbus would be a good case.

Interesting topic. Keep it the way it is. I suppose I haven't seen a large enough sampling, but I don't recall seeing many concussions that had anything whatsoever to do with stretch passes or a lack of a red line. I see a lot of hits from blind sides in the high slot or elsewhere in one of the defensive zones. There are some in the neutral zone, but again, I don't think very many have anything to do with the lack of a red line.

Doom88 and others are correct about better helmets, etc., but I think as they learn more they'll realize this is about the neck and not specifically the head. (obviously, the resulting concussion is in the head, but I'm betting they find that the root cause is from the neck/spinal cord). They need to figure out a way to support the neck better, and I'm not sure how they do that and not restrict peripheral vision (which may actually end up causing more injury.

Just clarify...my slam wasn't on Columbus. Hockey could very well work there. It won't with the current ownership and management of the Blue Jackets. And now the league will try to artificially pump it up rather than making sure the product is good.

And so the league push to try to save a sh!tty organization in Columbus begins. Want to save the franchise? Take it from the owners and sell it.

Couldn't do any worse,may even do a little better.

Tell me you're not serious. If you are, I have only one question: exactly how hard did you hit your head?

In a list that includes Jeff Hackett, Leighton is the worst goalie to ever wear a Flyer uniform. I want nothing to do with him.

It's interesting that for always being in our division that the Isles make no one's list. They don't make mine, either. 30 years ago, yeah, but not now.

For me:

1. Pittsburgh

2. New York Rangers

3. New Jersey Devils

4. Washington Capitals

5. Boston Bruins

It's funny. Without the nonsense on the silly.com board, I wouldn't even think twice about Buffalo or Toronto. Sure, we have (Buffalo) or had (Toronto) some playoff history against both, but I just don't circle the calendar for games with them like I do for the other five. None of the other teams in the league come close to that list for me.

What do you think the caption of this should be?

Thanks for the room, Mario. oh, did I get it all?

I would not trade for Staal. The Leafs can have him.