Sportsnet has Flyers finishing 9th in the East

[brelic]

Can't find the issue online, but I read through it on the iPad. 

 

Anyway, the write up is not great (e.g. the identify the team's biggest weakness as goaltending), but I think 9th is about right. Bubble playoff team, finishing just short of a playoff spot.

 

I'll post the text once I find it.

 

 

[Vanflyer]

(e.g. the identify the team's biggest weakness as goaltending),

 

Thats intriguing to me and I am holding my breath that Masons good season was not like his calder season (ie flash in the pan).

 

9th sounds about right. We are three pieces / maturity away from being a contender imo.

[murraycraven]

I think that is about right... anywhere from 7-9 if they stay relatively healthy.   Building for the future...   This year I hope they make the playoffs but really want to see the growth/maturation of Schenn (the good one) and Cooter. 

[Mad Dog]

Yep, this team should be just about equal to the last-year Flyers team.  But if Mason's performance of the last year was a fluke (I sure hope not), then we are in a real trouble. 

[mojo1917]

I don't think this is a bad hockey team , it surely isn't an elite team but I think they can be good none the less.

 

I agree with @Vanflyer in that they are a few pieces away, I do not think the offseason moves netted any gains.  I don't feel as though Hartnell for Umberger is addition by subtraction.  I do think this team will play hard and be entertaining with the style Berube wants to play, if they move their feet for 60 mintues a night, we will be entertained.   

 

I don't feel like it will be long before the Flyers are a true contender in the East, there are good prospects, good players on the big club , i think 14 grows a lot this year and I think 10 starts to live up to his billing when he was the centerpiece in the Richards trade. 

[pilldoc]

From my post in another thread.....

 

So what to expect this year? I figure much of the same as last year. A team that is not really all that bad and not really in the top echelon of NHL teams. There will be nights we will explode on them and will want to rip them to shreds. Then there will be stretches where they can do no wrong and play brilliantly.   I think finishing anywhere from 7-9 is realistic. 

[Vanflyer]

I don't feel as though Hartnell for Umberger is addition by subtraction.

 

Not to derail the topic, but that one still chaffs my arse a bit.

[ruxpin]

9th is pretty fair.   I agree with those who are hedging with 7-9, but really, 9th is as good a prediction as any.

 

And since last year was coach, this year has to be goalie.  If that's the case, 9th could even be high.

[intheslot]

Anything short of 81 wins they better rebuild. !!!(sar)

[aziz]

9th is pretty fair. I agree with those who are hedging with 7-9, but really, 9th is as good a prediction as any.

That feels about right, but... I'm struggling to come up with 4 decidedly better teams in the east, much less 8. I'd say Boston, but they are starting to crumble imo. Last year's Rangers overachieved like whoa and aren't likely to do so again. Pittsburgh is less today than they were three months ago. Montreal remains price and subban and not much else. Columbus is up and coming, but don't know they are "there" yet. Detroit keeps getting older. Tampa? Maybe. Luongo can only do so much in Florida. Carolina is going to be terrible. Buffalo is horriaweful. As is Ottawa. Washington = mess. Are the isles really a superior team? That leaves Toronto and the debbies.....

The Flyers do kinda feel like a bubble team right now, but I don't know there is the competition in the east to actually push then onto that bubble. Everyone else has pretty serious issues, too.

[Samifan]

Anything short of 81 wins they better rebuild. !!!(sar)

@intheslot, great profile pic!

[radoran]

Mason's "great season" was statistically almost identical to Bryz's first season.

#flyersptsd

Team needs to earn the playoffs. There aren't enough teams they are decidedly better than.

[Mad Dog]

 There aren't enough teams they are decidedly better than.

 

And there aren't too many teams they are decidedly worse than, either... which is why middle-of-the-pack is a fair expectation.

[aziz]

And there aren't too many teams they are decidedly worse than, either...

 

well, there are the non-controversial ones:  toronto, buffalo, carolina, ottawa, washington, new jersey, florida.  i guess those are the decidedly worse catagory.  then the "some people will disagree but i think they are wrong" teams, the arguably worse catagory:  montreal, columbus, NYR, NYI, tampa, detroit.  finally, pittsburgh is no better, though no worse.  the only team i can say is better than philly is boston.

 

i put the flyers in the top quarter of the conference, though that has more to do with the rest of the conference than it does any amazing team building in philly.

[Polaris922]

well, there are the non-controversial ones: toronto, buffalo, carolina, ottawa, washington, new jersey, florida. i guess those are the decidedly worse catagory. then the "some people will disagree but i think they are wrong" teams, the arguably worse catagory: montreal, columbus, NYR, NYI, tampa, detroit. finally, pittsburgh is no better, though no worse. the only team i can say is better than philly is boston.

i put the flyers in the top quarter of the conference, though that has more to do with the rest of the conference than it does any amazing team building in philly.

While I'll agree your team fights to the death with my Pens... To say we're no better is kidding yourself. We held first overall in the east (despite numerous injuries) the majority of the season only losing it when Boston went on a red hit streak nobody could match. We also went conference finals. No better? If anything our team improved this season over last by adding bottom six NHL players as opposed to AHLers.

Having said that... I put you guys 5-6 in the conference, not 9.

[Mad Dog]

@aziz

 

I think the Rangers are better, quite frankly.  And I think they are better by a wide margin.  I think the Rangers are a fundamentally sound, defensively strong team.  And I am afraid the last year was a norm for them.  I know you feel differently, but I believe the Rangers are for real.  They can stiffle the best of them with their defense.  Alain Vigneault finally got them playing a very responsible hockey, which is something they haven't had for as long as I can remember watching that team.

 

Tampa, Islanders, and Columbus - I agree.

 

Detroit and Montreal, I think, have an edge over the Flyers, albeit a thin one.  I think kthis will be the year when Max Pacioretty breaks out.  And if Markov stays healthy, this will be a tough team to play against. 

 

Pittsburgh - agree as well.... at least on paper.  What boggles my mind is how that team finishes on top almost every year.  The only conclusion I can reach is they are built for regular season - not the playoffs.

[Mad Dog]

While I'll agree your team fights to the death with my Pens... To say we're no better is kidding yourself. We held first overall in the east (despite numerous injuries) the majority of the season only losing it when Boston went on a red hit streak nobody could match. We also went conference finals. No better? If anything our team improved this season over last by adding bottom six NHL players as opposed to AHLers.

Having said that... I put you guys 5-6 in the conference, not 9.

 

If I am a betting man, I 'd say Hornqvist won't replace Neal's production.  But I may be wrong, obviously. 

[ruxpin]

That feels about right, but... I'm struggling to come up with 4 decidedly better teams in the east, much less 8. I'd say Boston, but they are starting to crumble imo. Last year's Rangers overachieved like whoa and aren't likely to do so again. Pittsburgh is less today than they were three months ago. Montreal remains price and subban and not much else. Columbus is up and coming, but don't know they are "there" yet. Detroit keeps getting older. Tampa? Maybe. Luongo can only do so much in Florida. Carolina is going to be terrible. Buffalo is horriaweful. As is Ottawa. Washington = mess. Are the isles really a superior team? That leaves Toronto and the debbies.....

The Flyers do kinda feel like a bubble team right now, but I don't know there is the competition in the east to actually push then onto that bubble. Everyone else has pretty serious issues, too.

That's probably fair.

Boston

Montreal

Tampa

Penguins

The rest of 5-10 could probably finish in any order but things need to fall right or, conversely, go wrong for each.

In no real order:

Columbus

Rangers

Washington

Red Wings

Flyers

Toronto - - this is a stretch but for argument sake.

I agree nearly point for point on your comments about other teams. All have question marks but I do like Columbus for fifth.

See how it shakes out but the Flyers have such a bbubble team feel to them. I'm hoping some of their question marks go right and we have playoff hockey but I have a feeling it'll probably come down to the last weekend either way.

[radoran]

I'd put them on the bubble for the 2 in the east and a strong contender for a wild card. Hut with the new setup, I think it is much tougher to get in out of the Metro.

Outright dismissing Conference Finalists when you are one playoff series better than Edmonton over the past two seasons is a mistake.

This is prove it time for the post-trades team. I think this team has another gear it can get to and we'll just see if it comes together.

[ruxpin]

If I am a betting man, I 'd say Hornqvist won't replace Neal's production. But I may be wrong, obviously.

I really liked that trade. I think he actually comes close and saves them the drama /theatrics.

Overall, I haven't liked much else about the Penguins offseason. I do think they've taken a small step back but not nearly enough for the rest of the pack to catch up to them.

[pilldoc]

 If anything our team improved this season over last by adding bottom six NHL players as opposed to AHLers.

Having said that... I put you guys 5-6 in the conference, not 9.

 

you consider Car-bomb . ahem I mean Carcillo an NHL player.   (kust kdding)  I get your point, but you guys have alot new faces.  I am very curious to see how your new coach makes everyone gel together.

 

Having the likes if Sid / Malkin /  and MAF will always keep you in the top of the division for now. 

[pilldoc]

That's probably fair.

Boston

Montreal

Tampa

Penguins

The rest of 5-10 could probably finish in any order but things need to fall right or, conversely, go wrong for each.

In no real order:

Columbus

Rangers

Washington

Red Wings

Flyers

Toronto - - this is a stretch but for argument sake.

I agree nearly point for point on your comments about other teams. All have question marks but I do like Columbus for fifth.

See how it shakes out but the Flyers have such a bbubble team feel to them. I'm hoping some of their question marks go right and we have playoff hockey but I have a feeling it'll probably come down to the last weekend either way.

 

I think that is probably spot on.  I really can't argue for or against any of the teams the way you have them placed.  In all fairness, as of right now I think the Eastern Conference, as it stands now, is the weaker of the two. 

 

[Polaris922]

If I am a betting man, I 'd say Hornqvist won't replace Neal's production. But I may be wrong, obviously.

Hornqvist won't be far off IF he gels ... He's a 20+ scorer in Nashville with nobody on his line. Malkin has to improve that. We'll see...

[Polaris922]

you consider Car-bomb . ahem I mean Carcillo an NHL player. (kust kdding) I get your point, but you guys have alot new faces. I am very curious to see how your new coach makes everyone gel together.

Having the likes if Sid / Malkin / and MAF will always keep you in the top of the division for now.

I said that counting on Carcillo NOT to make the team!

[pilldoc]

I said that counting on Carcillo NOT to make the team!

 

oh so you are hoping and praying!   Should I order you a Carcillo jersey if he does make the team!