Howie58 Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Greetings:Short-term we are wondering about draft picks, goal, resigning. Fine. Now the toughie: When do we return to the NHL's upper middle class? I am not saying elite. I am not even saying challenge for the Cup. I am saying one notch better than making the playoffs, which in this league, may not be saying much.Will we get there next year? Will it take two years? Or has the poop really hit the fan and we have only one foot in the grave?My belief is that it will take at least two years to get back to the top 10 or so. Our forwards may not be as good as we thought. We know what the D is, and the goal situation is a question mark. My other feeling is that if this team isn't 6-4 or better after 10 games, we have a coaching and/or GM change that brings more uncertainty and chaos. Thoughts?Best,Howie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyerrod Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 @Howie58 I would say that the the Flyers will go as the goaltenders go. Playoffs next year with Mason winning the starter spot and Bryz being bought out following his last chance to show the Flyers he can play. BOOK IT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevluk Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Oh man, now there's a crystal ball question. I love some of the young talent on this team and I dont think that it is out of the realm of possibilities that we are a really strong team in about 2 years. That is a good amount of time for the team to gel, fix some D problems, and hopefully straighten out our goaltending issues. So yeah, I say give them 2 years and they will be able to make some noise in the playoffs again. Or they could totally suck. :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctid Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 I would definitely say we are back in the playoff's next season. We would have been in the playoffs this seasons as well, if only we had more time. During a shortened season, if you stumble out of the gates and have a very bad start, it will be extremely difficult to make the playoffs.This is what happened to us. Obviously, other factors were involved, injuries, sophmore slumps, players playing below par, etc. However, after all said and done...we'd be in the playoffs if this had been a full regular season.To get into the top ten in this league is a different matter. I agree with you Howie, 2 years time and we are back among the best!Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I don't feel we are THAT far off in terms of talent. Implementing an effective system and getting the players to live by it is my main concern about this team. Otherwise I think we are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom88 Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Next season, despite Bryz. Training camp and preseason will be huge for this team's preparation and chemistry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
off_the_post Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 After two seasons the Flyers will be top 10 again. I don't have high expectations on next year's team and with Kimmo 99% retireing thereafter and no immediate successor (as of yet) I am doubtful for the year after next. I am not saying they wont make the playoffs, just when they will be Top 10 again.I would rather have another season like this past one if it meant the flyers do not sign some 35+ 3/4 defenseman to a long term, no movement, etc. contract and try to pass them off as a number 1. @Howie58, thanks for coming up with a topic outside the buyout bryz. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaineFlyFan Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Good post Howie!Yeah, I think I'm with the crew that says we're back in next year making noise. My big question is when does B. Schen turn into the player I thought he was going to be (not that he's "bad" or not playing to "potential" but certainly not a game changer at this point...), and Couts is the other big question for me. I think early next season is make or break for guys like Couts and Schenn.We know what we're gonna get from Vorachek, Simmonds, Giroux, even Rinaldo and Rosehill. But, Have we seen the begining of the fall of Hartnell?? (pun intended) Gagnne will be a non-factor in my opinon wether he's back or not....Heck, he wasn't even getting ice time in LA was he? I would assume Read maintains his level of play hopefully...Seems to be a lot more question marks than certianties. And I didn't even touch on the D ort Goaltending. I really don't feel like goaltending was our issue this year....sure we pay the guy WAY too much, but most nights Bryz (and mason) gave us the chance to win.....period. We couldn't score for a while there and HAVE to stop giving up so many odd man rushes.Talbot? Mez? Chemistry? Mason or Bryz? Possible chnages to the lineup (buyouts/trades/etc.)?? Lot of questions left for me. Again, the play of B. Schenn and Coutier are KEY in how this team will shape up next year IMO......Chatter on boys. good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyerrod Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Gagne will be a non-factor in my opinon wether he's back or not....Heck, he wasn't even getting ice time in LA was he?Gagne was just returning to the ice after having a 2 inch diameter tumor removed from his neck. I think he still has enough left in the tank for a couple of good years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctid Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Good post Howie!Yeah, I think I'm with the crew that says we're back in next year making noise. My big question is when does B. Schen turn into the player I thought he was going to be (not that he's "bad" or not playing to "potential" but certainly not a game changer at this point...), and Couts is the other big question for me. I think early next season is make or break for guys like Couts and Schenn.We know what we're gonna get from Vorachek, Simmonds, Giroux, even Rinaldo and Rosehill.I think B.Schenn is progressing just nicely, even Couts for that matter. Any development of a young player in any sport is expected to be filled with positives and negatives. Just look at L.Schenn, he had an amazing rookie season, then not so much...now he is just starting to come into his own at age 24 with alot of NHL seasons under his belt. Voracek took quite a few years before he became consistent top performer. The kids are fine. They just need to grow and learn the ropes all whilst in the NHL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie58 Posted May 3, 2013 Author Share Posted May 3, 2013 Good post Howie!Yeah, I think I'm with the crew that says we're back in next year making noise. My big question is when does B. Schen turn into the player I thought he was going to be (not that he's "bad" or not playing to "potential" but certainly not a game changer at this point...), and Couts is the other big question for me. I think early next season is make or break for guys like Couts and Schenn.We know what we're gonna get from Vorachek, Simmonds, Giroux, even Rinaldo and Rosehill. But, Have we seen the begining of the fall of Hartnell?? (pun intended) Gagnne will be a non-factor in my opinon wether he's back or not....Heck, he wasn't even getting ice time in LA was he? I would assume Read maintains his level of play hopefully...Seems to be a lot more question marks than certianties. And I didn't even touch on the D ort Goaltending. I really don't feel like goaltending was our issue this year....sure we pay the guy WAY too much, but most nights Bryz (and mason) gave us the chance to win.....period. We couldn't score for a while there and HAVE to stop giving up so many odd man rushes.Talbot? Mez? Chemistry? Mason or Bryz? Possible chnages to the lineup (buyouts/trades/etc.)?? Lot of questions left for me. Again, the play of B. Schenn and Coutier are KEY in how this team will shape up next year IMO......Chatter on boys. good stuff.My concern is that we have lots of turnover...players and coach...heck, maybe even GM is Comcast decides its investment is losing its luster.That could signal a longer rebuild. Best,Howie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJeremy Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 If we draft a real good offensive dman, this year and get then trade Coots for another good young dman, then Laughton replaces Coots, in 2 years Subban is an UFA , we sign him...our defense is rebuilt in 2 years. We also would hope to get lucky and get a good skilled winger in the second round or that Cousins turns out to be a scorer. I think Mason is the real deal, he is quick and has good mechanics, unlike, Bryz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevluk Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Gagne was just returning to the ice after having a 2 inch diameter tumor removed from his neck. I think he still has enough left in the tank for a couple of good years.Totally agree. Gags top line days may be behind him but I think he can still be a big asset to this team on the 2nd or 3rd line as well as his veteran leadership on and off the ice. He has already said he is more than willing to take a home town discount to keep playing and he is almost never a defensive liability on the ice.Overall, I feel the same way about Kimmo. I know he said he most likely will retire after next season but if the Flyers have a young promising team that may be able to make a run in 14/15, I wouldnt be suprised to see him stay on another year or two for one last shot at a Cup. At that point hopefully we'll have a much stronger D corps and Kimmo couod be very effective with less minutes on the 2nd or 3rd pairing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyerrod Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Overall, I feel the same way about Kimmo. I know he said he most likely will retire after next season but if the Flyers have a young promising team that may be able to make a run in 14/15, I wouldnt be suprised to see him stay on another year or two for one last shot at a Cup. At that point hopefully we'll have a much stronger D corps and Kimmo couod be very effective with less minutes on the 2nd or 3rd pairing.Barring any injuries, Kimmo would be a great PP specialist/QB but his minutes need to go down drastically and so does his pay. I would say that should be true for next season but I guess we will see.......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaineFlyFan Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I should of been more clear.....I too think Gagne has another couple years playing at a competative level in the NHL. I actually LOVE gagne and always have. By non-factor I guess I just meant that him being or not being on the team next year does not weigh heavily, in my opinion, to the "big problems" facing this team.....Gagne is a "non-factor" in the big picture of this team.I hope your all right on schenn and Couts. Again, aren't saying they're playing like trash or anything but B. schenn came with some pretty high accolades from scouts if I remember correctly...."best hockey player not playing in the NHL" I think I read somewhere...Perhaps my "expectations" were/are a little high...I was thinking this kid was gonna be a Tavares/Giroux type player in a year or two....Anyway, I'm not a "negative type" poster (at least I hope I'm not) and i do think this team has a pretty solid core to work with moving forward....I just think a lot of it hinges on some of the younger players continuing to progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Flyers miss the postseason again with Bryz posting a .501 save percentage which he blames on coaching, not enough flashy Euros and stepfords. Philly wins the lottery and selects defenceman extraordinaire Aaron Ekblad, who at barely 17 is the best defenceman in the O right now. They then sign Ekblads teammate Mattias Neiderberger and the Flyers go on to win the cup the following year. FC is named mayor of Philadelphia because of his scouting report on the two......and then I woke up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie58 Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 I owe the board an apology. By predicting excellence we will probably tank. Our runs in '08 and '10 were flukes. I might jinx the rebuild.Best,Howie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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