Flyers' 2011/2012 Season Discussion

[Law Goalie 147]

I'm wondering if this scouting is why Bryz keeps getting torn apart in shootouts. He's stopped what? 1 out of 12 shootout attempts this year?

Very likely: in particular, if he's susceptible to certain kinds of fake shots (depending on the hand of the shooter, angle of attack, speed, etc.), which seems to be the case, they would be all over that.

Typically the goalies who excel in shootouts are either very consistent but extremely well-suited athletically and technically (Garon, Lundqvist, Rinne) or entirely unpredictable (Fleury, Thomas at times, Hedberg). The goalies who don't do so well are the ons who aren't at either extreme: who aren't entirely systematic about it, and who want to react to each shootout as a discrete scoring chance, but whose reactions are nevertheless more or less predictable.

[shooter27 116]

Interesting. I've noticed that he is generally getting beat low in the shootout, primarily stick side, with quick shots. A lot of times it looks almost like he's unprepared for the shot, kind of like he was expecting a move on got caught by surprise.

[TeamBlue96 3]

Best game of the year for JVR last night vs. the Jets.....not sure if it was to the level where the Flyers stop entertaining offers and keep him or if this seals the deal for outsiders wondering about him.

I feel like we should hang onto him -- i don't like giving up so early on players; especially when what's out there won't fill current needs (a consistent goalie). I'm also still a believer in Bryz!

[shooter27 116]

If they're shopping JVR one good game isn't going to change that. Otherwise his performance in the playoffs last year would mean he was not going to be available at all. JVR clearly has talent and potential, but he's never shown any consistency and I've always felt he takes too many games/shifts off, even going back to his time at UNH.

The last part of your statement completely contradicts itself. Either you're a believer in Bryz or you think their only immediate need is a consistent goalie (it's not the only need), it can't be both ways. I certainly think getting a player like Jack Johnson in a JVR deal would fill an immediate need to fill the Pronger void, although after trading for two d-men in the last week, it doesn't make a lot of sense to add another d-man for JVR because it would make one of the previous two trades a complete waste. Unless of course they're thinking of moving someone like Carle for something. I'm not a big fan of the idea of trading for Rick Nash. Number one, I think you have to lose too many players off the current roster. Number two, you just got out from under onerous cap contracts (Carter and Richards) last summer, why put that big cap hit back on the books?

[shooter27 116]

So it looks like Carter is going to LA for Jack Johnson and a 1st. From the Flyers perspective would you rather have what you got for Carter this summer (Voracek, Coturier, and a 3rd) or what Columbus is getting now (Johnson and a 1st)? Although Voracek and Coturier have been very good, given the Pronger injury, I'm not sure I wouldn't prefer Johnson and the 1st.

[troy 12]

I think the Flyers should just trade an assortment of crap for Johnson before he does anything too rash.

[EBondo 233]

I am so sick and tired of the Philly writers being butthurt over Richards and Carter. Mainly Lisa Hillary, Sam Carchidi and Panotch. They're all jokes. It's unbelievable the amount of whining that takes place between those three over Richards and Carter. They were traded SEVEN months ago and yet I still see them writing stories on those two. GET OVER IT.

[Chadd 916]

I miss some of my old drinking buddies from years ago, I can understand it.

[TeamBlue96 3]

The last part of your statement completely contradicts itself. Either you're a believer in Bryz or you think their only immediate need is a consistent goalie (it's not the only need), it can't be both ways.

It does -- but what i meant by that is....he's NOT being consistent at all, however, i do believe that he'll come around. Hence my 'i'm a believer' comment. As a hockey fan and a flyers fan, the believer in me makes it hard to stomach sometimes!

As i stated, the market for goalies wasn't very appealing during the deadline. (Bernier, Schneider, Crawford, Rask etc.) I'd say Schneider being the best but i'm sure the asking price was astronomical. I'm sure Rask was up there, too. Not sure how many more years Thomas can keep up his stellar play.

On a side note -- i'm glad we gave up on trying to get Nash; way too pricey in terms on contract as shooter27 states -- but also the amount of talent to acquire him. Here's a blurb about what the Rangers had to contemplate:

"......He (Glen Sather) is believed to have offered the Blue Jackets a five-asset package including Brandon Dubinsky, 21-year-old top defense prospect Tim Erixon, highly regarded 2011 first-round draft choice J.T. Miller and 2010 second-round pick Christian Thomas, along with a 2012 first-round selection in order to make it happen as yesterday's 3 p.m. trade deadline approached..."

".....there is a difference though between lusting and sinning, the latter the impulse Sather ultimately resisted by rejecting Howson's laughable demand the package include Dubinsky — plus either Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto — plus either Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin — plus 2009 first-rounder Chris Kreider, the Boston College winger who conceivably could join the Rangers when his college season ends — plus a 2012 first-round selection...."

Sounds like the Flyers would've had to part with quite a bit. I'd say a combination Coots/Schenn (as the jackets really wanted a center) Maybe even Reader with a Dman (Coby, Carle or rookies like Bourdon/Gustaffson) and not to mention the draft picks that we'd have to toss in on top.

[EBondo 233]

I miss some of my old drinking buddies from years ago, I can understand it.

I can understand that too. But these are professional hockey writers, and they're whining like 13-year-old girls.

[shooter27 116]

I don't think the Flyers were ever really seriously involved for Nash. I'm sure they had a cursory discussion to find out what it would take, but the assets they would have had to give up plus the cap space he eats up would have been a lot to swallow. Especially when you consider they just moved the faces of their franchise seven months ago at least in part to rid themselves of big cap hits (yes I know there were plenty of other issues). At least with the package CBJ asked for from the Rags, they only had to give up two roster players, with the other two being prospects. From my understanding of the Flyers system, they don't have those types of assets in the system so the trade pieces all would have had to come off the roster, which would have been crippling.

Even with all the talk about Nash over the past few weeks, the Flyers always seemed like a bit of an afterthought. Kind of like people were speculating, "well, the Flyers like to make moves like this and they like big bodies so it would make sense they're involved." Not to mention that the Flyers needed help on the blueline a lot more than they needed anoth scorer. I never even heard of a what a potential Nash package would look like, whereas it seemed like the other teams in the hunt all had a bunch of names being thrown around. Now, I wouldn't be shocked if they got themselves involved for him at the draft, but it just didn't seem like they were a serious candidate at the deadline.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Danny Briere really needs to go to the locker room after acting hurt for minutes, especially when he is grabbing his head. Or at least take a couple shifts off. This isn't soccer!

Pathetic!

I think Vlasic and Rinaldo are both getting suspended. Vlasic's wasnt intentional, but he did give a little shove. Rinaldo targeted the head, but I don't think he made contact.

[troy 12]

I suspected Briere might've taken a fall, but from a different perspective him returning to play and not missing a shift would be lauded by many hockey fans. There should have been a penalty on that play. And Rinaldo is not getting suspended.

[shooter27 116]

I didn't see the Rinaldo hit, but the Vlassic hit definitely looked suspendable to me. Directly from behind, 10 feet from the boards. Briere did pull up and stop in front of him, but he didn't turn, his back was to Vlassic the entire time.

[Dr. Funk 6]

JVR out 4-6 weeks with a foot fracture that will require surgery.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=389325

Despite being a die-hard Pittsburgher, I appreciate the Flyers organization and very much like JVR (had a chance to meet him when I lived in Philly - quality guy). Stinks for him and the squad.

[EBondo 233]

On the bright side, we can hope that the time off will bring a better, stronger JVR come playoff time and maybe we'll see a glimpse of what happened last year. Although with a foot injury it's not as likely, but one can hope.

[5 Minute Major 1]

Long over due retirement of Mark Howe's number 2. One of the guys that got me into playing hockey, especially defense back in the day.

[5 Minute Major 1]

Bryz is out Day to Day w/ a foot fracture. Great!

http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2012/3/27/2906651/ilya-bryzgalov-injury-fracture-philadelphia-flyers

[5 Minute Major 1]

Lindros has been practicing with the Flyers.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Surprise-Lindros-skates-with-Flyers.html?ref=facebook.com

[shooter27 116]

I wouldn't call it practicing. He skated in the morning skate, one time. IIRC, Bobby Clarke used to do that from time to time for years after he retired. Still kind of weird though.

On a side note, it really is jarring to realize that he "only" played 486 games for the Flyers, and that he was only 27 when he had that last concussion in game 7 against the Devils. It really is incredible to think of the numbers he could have put up if he had been healthy.

[EBondo 233]

If you ask me, Lindros had all of the tools to be perhaps the greatest hockey player in the world. It just sucks we'll never get to see that because his one flaw ended up ending his career.

[tdunleavy 0]

I saw Lindros interviewed after the skate yesterday. It's amazing how much more personality players can let out when the media isn't looking to stick it to them.

[Law Goalie 147]

It was neat to see the interviews from the other guys too.

I'm not sure he had just one flaw; he's a pretty classic (if extreme) example of what happens when someone who was physically dominant his whole life starts playing against the toughest players on earth. He couldn't bury his head and skate through people all the time without risking his life; he couldn't leave his hands unprotected without risking his wrists; he couldn't intimidate based on size alone because he was playing against people who wouldn't back down no matter how many times he ran them over.

Had someone taken him aside and convinced him to play like any other star - protect himself, ensure production, get physical only as needed, only more so - he could have been basically impossible to defend coming out of the lockout.

[JCon 6]

It was neat to see the interviews from the other guys too.

I'm not sure he had just one flaw; he's a pretty classic (if extreme) example of what happens when someone who was physically dominant his whole life starts playing against the toughest players on earth. He couldn't bury his head and skate through people all the time without risking his life; he couldn't leave his hands unprotected without risking his wrists; he couldn't intimidate based on size alone because he was playing against people who wouldn't back down no matter how many times he ran them over.

Had someone taken him aside and convinced him to play like any other star - protect himself, ensure production, get physical only as needed, only more so - he could have been basically impossible to defend coming out of the lockout.

It was a terrible time for hockey before the lockout. I used to get so frustrated watching players hanging all over talented forwards, going for the killer hits when it wasn't necessary. Sure, it's exciting to see this unless it's happening to your team or your players. Lindros was a player right in the middle of that, when players like Scott Stevens and Darius Kasparitis made a living taking advantage of players with their heads down. Imagine if he was a smaller guy during that time?

[TeamBlue96 3]

In reference to the game yesterday, 4/1, Flyers or Penguins fan aside -- we all know how strong Crosby is on his feet (in front of the net, in corners). So yesterday's a 'part of the game' cross check from Schenn on Sid was hardly that. Sid flopped! Give me a break. yeah, it was a little late on Schenn's part -- but that kind of stuff goes on in EVERY game. I bet Sid knew it was coming given that he had slashed Schenn right before that and wanted to draw a penalty especially when the first thing he does after hitting the ice is look at the ref.

As Don Cherry has said....Crosby will get his if he keeps playing like a whiny little brat while doing all of the little small things he complains about. This game was a clearcut example of that.