Yawn

[Howie58]

 

 

 

Howie said....My deep concern is that Voracek and G may be at the end of their primes by the time we build a good surrounding cast.  

 

Howie is absolutely right, by the time we rebuild ,Giroux and Voracek are  on a down swing  . None of our top defensive prospects are NHL ready, and even if they were, its another 2-3 years before they gain the experience to be trusted in key situations We have a couple of small skilled forwards  in the juniors like, Kubel and,  Konecny  ,who is our top  prospect and he  is 2-3 years away. We have Cousins and Leier in the AHL, but they are third liners, and we don't have much else. As I see it ,the only "potential" star forward is Konency . We are really lacking some big sized skill guys. So its a good 4-5 years before our prospects are contributing on a consistent basis. Do we really think a bunch of 21-2 year olds are gonna come in and take over the leadership and play great night after night? Look at how long we are waiting for B Schenn to be a factor, look how many years it took for Voracek to come around. We have some good prospects but we didnt draft  Ray Bourque and Mike Bossy, guys who can step in and dominate immediately. We certainly need several more skilled forwards and specifically a power left wing with size and skating ability. We hope all our dmen pan out, but there may be a lemon in there and its highly unlikely all reach their potential. So we still have a long road ahead. I would hope for a horrible season this year and a top 5 pick and hopefully we get a power left wing. I would also look to see what teams would offer for Giroux and Voracek. We can easily get 2 top prospects and a first rounder for each guy. That's moving 2 huge salaries and getting 6 players in return for 2. That's the only way to build  team quick. I'm not saying we trade anyone just for the sake of it, but if some team was willing to give us some top young talent I would certainly listen. AND when I say top prospect I'm talking blue chip prospects like Nick Ritchie, Josh Morissey, Michael Del Colle, ...guys of that caliber...for example.

 

Ron and Colleagues:

 

Last night I attended the Panthers-Caps game and saw Kusnetsov (sp) score the gamewinner; his 5th of the year. I asked myself why we don't get some kids like that.  Having a new coach achieve similar results might force Hexstall's hands.  We may need to bring the youngins up earlier than hoped and trading a Simmonds, G, or V for other "assets" becomes more palatable/necessary.

 

Our unwillingness to accept a few good years of terrible performance means we don't get the top 10 game changing picks.  That's been a perennial topic on this board.  Maybe we will keep the folks we draft and see them grow...wouldn't that be nice?

 

The upshot is that our "rebuild" may have to  be compressed.  As an aside; I find our GF/GA very unsettling.  The top line's underproduction is hurting. And Streit is the only D-man who seems to score.  Not good.  But Neiburg's article in the Inquirer today is right: We will have to patient.  I don't think the next year or so will bring much change.  I am beginning to wonder if this year's squad will be .500.  

 

Howie

[sarsippius]

To be honest, I called for a rebuild the moment Pronger's career was ended. We lost our franchise defenseman with no young guy in the pipeline to replace him. Especially after we traded Carter and Richards. More players should have followed them that season (Hartnell, Briere, Timonen, Carle, Coburn) and Bryz obviously should never have been signed. 

 

That's funny, because I actually thought we WERE going for a rebuild when Richards and Carter got traded!.....then Homer just couldn't help himself, again

[canoli]

Having a new coach achieve similar results might force Hexstall's hands. We may need to bring the youngins up earlier than hoped and trading a Simmonds, G, or V for other "assets" becomes more palatable/necessary.

 

 

I can see why this sounds tempting How - esp after the last couple games, the team looking flat, uninspired, playing down to the competition (or equal to them maybe?) - but I think most of the Flyers' big pieces are plenty good enough to build a foundation.

 

Giroux, Voracek, Couturier (who I really like), Simmonds, Mason and Neuvirth.

Read? I tend to add him to this "foundation players" list.

Likewise BSchenn.

 

I'd keep / re-sign MDZ, White, Bellemare, Laughton

 

That leaves some bargaining chips, trade bait - Streit, Luke, Manning...the prospects in Allentown...

 

It's Hakstol's first year and it's a "big ask" to transform an old, top-heavy team into an agile, quick-reacting transition team.

 

2 things I'd like to see this year from Hakstol:

 

1) Get the FO% up

2) Make the PK top 5 in the league

 

The PP was great last year I sure don't want to "fix" it too soon if it isn't broken. But if it stays where it's at right now (12.5%) much longer I'd like to see a 3-pass rule - no more than 3 w/out a SOG.

 

I'm no coach but it seems to me Face Offs and Special Teams are areas of the game that highlight a team's strengths and weaknesses. Individual heroics need not apply; I hope Hakstol concentrates some energy on demanding better results out of FO circle and on special teams.

[Flyingswede]

Its a funny situation right now. We have a great youth-coach trying to spark old tired players. Lol. This is a doghouse season, atleast something new has begun. 1. Hextall 2. Hakstol. We all know what players we doesnt want on the team but cant get rid off. Hextall knows it, Hakstol knows it and the fans knows it. We just have to wait... there is no other way. Just wish Hextall could have waited to bring Hakstol in, I dont really understand what he is doing here now.

[Howie58]

I can see why this sounds tempting How - esp after the last couple games, the team looking flat, uninspired, playing down to the competition (or equal to them maybe?) - but I think most of the Flyers' big pieces are plenty good enough to build a foundation.

 

Giroux, Voracek, Couturier (who I really like), Simmonds, Mason and Neuvirth.

Read? I tend to add him to this "foundation players" list.

Likewise BSchenn.

 

I'd keep / re-sign MDZ, White, Bellemare, Laughton

 

That leaves some bargaining chips, trade bait - Streit, Luke, Manning...the prospects in Allentown...

 

It's Hakstol's first year and it's a "big ask" to transform an old, top-heavy team into an agile, quick-reacting transition team.

 

2 things I'd like to see this year from Hakstol:

 

1) Get the FO% up

2) Make the PK top 5 in the league

 

The PP was great last year I sure don't want to "fix" it too soon if it isn't broken. But if it stays where it's at right now (12.5%) much longer I'd like to see a 3-pass rule - no more than 3 w/out a SOG.

 

I'm no coach but it seems to me Face Offs and Special Teams are areas of the game that highlight a team's strengths and weaknesses. Individual heroics need not apply; I hope Hakstol concentrates some energy on demanding better results out of FO circle and on special teams.

Sir Canoli:

 

It is good hearing from you...sipping a Merlot as we speak.  

 

Coots is a keeper.  I doubt a shutdown dude of his caliber comes along every day.  G and V are good.  But I really wonder if they will be in good shape with a new "nucleus?"  I really hope we don't have a declining core.

 

Somewhere along the way we need a Reggie Leach who puts the fear of G_d into opposing teams.  Watching the Caps and Panthers last night was a joy in terms of skating and "flash."  We seem to dump, chase, and fumble.

 

I seem to recall we had a great power play a few years back.  And we had face-off specialists.  So your assessment on that score is spot on.

 

For the money, are fourth line seems to be the best bet. They hit and play with enthusiasm.  PEB's absence is sad.  

 

I will try to stay up for a portion of the Vancouver game. 

 

Take care!!!

Howie