Howie58

11 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

On a good note , it took forever ,but we finally did draft some offensively skilled ,shoot first players that seem more exciting than the players we have now. Wisdom, Brink, Foerester and Desoyners all seem to be highly skilled. We also have two big guys that can shoot Allison and Ratcliffe. If Coots gets trade it has to be for blue chip  young players.

Dear RJ:

I would like to see the youngins flounder at first and grow up as a kick butt squad, than continue to watch us win against the weaklings and stink against the big boys. 

Greetings:

We come into the game as mild favorites (-129). It looks like Hart versus Georgiev.  That is a matchup of sub-.900 goalies.  Georgiev has had problems this season, like Carter Hart.  

https://www.docsports.com/free-picks/nhl-hockey/2021/philadelphia-flyers-vs-new-york-rangers-prediction-3-17-2021-nhl-pick-tips-and-odds.html

Can we tighten up the D?  Does Farabee continue his 5x5 assault?  With save percentages below .900, we probably can't expect someone to steal a game.  

26 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

Haha , report me , Im already on double secret probation. If a rebuild is really on the horizon then it makes sense to shop Coots , see what kind of offers we get, because he can get us a much bigger return than anyone else we have. Kinda like when we traded Recchi for Desjardins , Leclair and Dionne. I love Coots but , no point in keeping him if we are rebuilding. Of course ,we only do the deal if it makes sense and we get exactly what we want. If the deal is not totally in the Flyers favor, then don’t do it.

This would be tough for the fans, but as others have noted, he will be getting a huge salary boost post-'22.  Giroux's  current contract ends as well, and I am not sure the franchise will want to continue a long-term contract signing at current salary.  Current contenders might want a boost.   Voracek is the big, long albatross.  But carrying him would mean less if we have freedom elsewhere.  

I wouldn't mind a "process," if we started drafting some exciting players. We hoped for that after the 2010 blowup.  Hmmmmm.

Greetings:

I won't argue over two points. But the effort we needed to get them is disturbing.  You'd reckon that going up 2-0 against a sub -.500 squad, it would be easy to put the game away.  Not a chance with this gang.  

I don't think Hart was awful.  But we continue the bang-bang giveaways/leaks.  Sad.

58 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

Sell in the off-season. Unload the failed core, don’t give up any prospects, just get rid of the perennial veteran failures .  Sell Mortimer ,sell !!!

"Trading Places!  Wonderful!!!

Watching the Flyers is like watching "Tora, Tora, Tora." You know the **** will not agree to less aggression in Asia. We will get caught with our pants down. The Arizona will blow up....The O and B will take a lead, blow it, our D will get blown passed, give up 2 goals in 2 mins. It is hockey version of "Groundhog Day."

27 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

The big question is, will G agree to something like that? Most guys try to get one last big payday and they usually want too many years on top of that. 

If he doesn't, it is time to part ways. The salary cap doesnt allow for sentimentality. Remember Jerome Iginla.

5 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

Do you really think it’s wise to give Giroux another contract?  If it was for one or two years and for less $$ than he’s making now, then maybe, but only if we unload two other big contracts somehow.  We still have JVR, Hayes and Voracek ‘s bloated contracts, plus Coots salary is gonna double, plus Hart , Laughton and Sanheim , and others are due contracts.  So if we somehow unloaded two of those highly paid players, then maybe you let G retire a Flyer , but if we are stuck with those other three , then there is no way I waste big $$ on G. I would free up $$ for a potential impact FA , not waste 7 or 8 million on a guy who is fading.

Dear RJ:

We agree; that's why I said restructuring.  If he is re-signed, I suspect it is less than half the salary and a few years. Age and productivity matter!

Here's an interesting article on the team.  We are not a definite buyer or seller at the tradeline.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/flyers-face-tough-trade-deadline-133501304.html

Fletcher has no easy path forward.  As this post notes, our expensive elders aren't easily movable.  We may not see a good D-man without major sacrifices.  

If I were Fletch: Collect draft choices, look forward to a restructuring of Giroux's next contract, and pray that Hart really is a franchise goalie.  

Gosh, now I almost feel guilty starting a thread....but I get some of what's felt here.  No...a lot.  

Most of us are emigres from Philly.com and joined up 2011 or thereabouts.  Reflecting on the last decade, we've been a team wallowing in mediocrity.  Having another mediocre season after last season's upswing is disheartening.  There's no other way to look at it.  

Maybe Fletcher represents a break from the Snider-vision past.  Maybe not.  One thing that's gone through my mind lately is our first-round draft picks.  Rubstov, Morin, and Patrick may not help us much.  Laughton will be a pillar.  Provo...yes.  The rest...a blur with a promising Farabee.  Meanwhile, our D, which we thought to be a pillar....

Well, we carry on.  

Greetings:

The O and B are mild favorites, but we have lost nine of the last 15 and the Rags may be a franchise on the way up.  Kincaid may be in goal for the Rangers. He is playing well for them. 

https://www.covers.com/nhl/flyers-vs-rangers-picks-predictions-march-15-2021

I suspect that next 7-10 games will say a lot about our season.  Candidly, Niskanen's departure may explain part of what we're seeing, but it can't be the the sole explanation.  The players seem to respect AV.  From my vantage, there's a talent problem. Meanwhile, as some have noted, watching this team is tough.  

54 minutes ago, Samifan said:

So what you're saying is don't even bother to watch.

I have been watching as a long time fan and in the hope the O and B will be a good break from COVID stress. Of late, they make me wonder if I will live to see another Cup, and they have added to stress.  

Greetings:

It is hard to believe we are mild favorites:

https://www.docsports.com/free-picks/nhl-hockey/2021/washington-capitals-vs-philadelphia-flyers-prediction-3-13-2021-nhl-pick-tips-and-odds.html

The only place we're better statistically is in faceoffs, but that hasn't meant a lot for the O and B  in recent seasons:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/2021/03/13/2020020433

It looks like Samsonov between the pipes for the Caps.  I'll be equally nervous with whomever we throw in goal given recent play.  You'd think/hope the team would adapt and learn with these back-to-backs but that might not be the case.   

We are a month from the trade deadline.  

We are sub-.500 against the rest of the division.  Granted, we have some tough competitors.  That said, we don't seem to be where we need or hoped to be a year or two ago.  As a long-time fan, it is sad.  

2 hours ago, flyer4ever said:

Maybe we should blame the scouts.

Greetings:

Mr. Pryor has joined Hexy...maybe that will help us compete against Pitt.....

I gave up after 4-1.  This was sloppy.  I wouldn't fault Elliott.  

We were badly outskated and outworked.   Sitting Myers may not matter as a signal. 

Hello:

Odds are on the Caps.  It looks like Samsonov versus Elliott:

https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/2021/03/11/washington-capitals-at-philadelphia-flyers-odds-picks-and-prediction-2/

I thought AV would give Hart an opportunity to de-funk.  I guess not.

These bang-bang goals behind our D are becoming "chronic."  Scratch that--they are.  I am sure AV has a Martini over it regularly.  I guess the question is personnel.  

A few years back we hoped Sam would be a porch-clearing presence.  Nope. Our newbies are "mobile" but not muscular and the forwards stand around waiting and watching.  I don't think we make the playoffs with this crap.  Some of the media pundits are saying that AV is telling CF to make a move.  

Greetings:

The Caps are a mild favorite and much better than the O and B over the last 10:

https://www.covers.com/nhl/capitals-vs-flyers-picks-predictions-march-11-2021

It looks like Samsonov in goals for the Caps.  The choice for the O and B---interesting. 

There may be a lot of frustration here because, as noted, we are getting sick of being a year away from being elite...and not getting there.

I don't want to run Hart out of town.  There are serious D lapses that would probably challenge any goalie, but may hurt a youngin more.  

As I have said before, we had two "visions" heading into the season.  The first is our 9-1 + entry playoff run.  The second was the so-so performance we saw against MTL and NYI.  Right now, we seem to be closer to the latter.  Our D seems to have serious lapses.  Our special teams are mediocre.  

Bottom line--we may be a marginal playoff squad in a tough division.   I can't see this team taking out the squads currently above us in the rankings.  

1 minute ago, flyercanuck said:

Cause who doesn't want to watch another promising goalie win a Vezina...on another team?

You raise a great point. I am not anti-Hart.  The issue might be that his development is coming during a condensed season and with a 35 year-old stablemate.   I don't think the Flyers will part with him at this juncture.  I suspect next year may be the time they figure out his long-term fit.

Writ large, we are at 1/3 of the season +.  I agree with comments about that our prospects aren't what they've been cracked up to be.  I also worry about running Elliott into the ground.   Lyon is on the taxi squad but I am unsure what happens if he's called up.  He isn't waiver exempt.  

I watched the presser on the Center Ice feed.  AV spoke about Hart's play and noted that all players go through bad stretches, and that fortitude gets them back on track.  I can't argue that. He also said there are many games ahead in a short period.  Ditto.

But....how many starts will he give Hart if he continues to play small (two reporters asked about that) and gives up goals early?  I think the O and B can't give him more than five games to get in a groove before thinking about a Lyon spot start or other.  Moose can't play another 30+ games this season without problems.  I don't think we have a goalie controversy, but it may turn into that unless Hart picks it up.  I like the guy, but as the announcers and AV said, we need points.  At what point does the team lose confidence in him?

Greetings:

The O and B are heavy favorites, as you might expect:

https://www.docsports.com/free-picks/nhl-hockey/2021/buffalo-sabres-vs-philadelphia-flyers-prediction-3-9-2021-nhl-pick-tips-and-odds.html

I hope they Flyers don't have their eyes on the rematch with Washington. They also need win all three periods.   It looks like the two Carters going against each other between the pipes.