Any way you look at it, it's awful. The Flyers are 1-7-1 in their last 9. Only laughing stocks Buffalo, Carolina, and Edmonton, and injury-ravaged Columbus have worse records. The penalty kill is dead last. They have been dominated in their last 2 road division games against the Rangers and Islanders. The Flyers are in the bottom handful of teams in shot differential, 5v5 Corsi percentage, and team save percentage. The bottom line, is they are getting whipped.
Everyone knows the defense is not talented enough, but the problems have become much bigger. For one thing, their team defensive coverage is terrible. It seems opponents find countless passing seams to exploit and are quicker to every loose puck, and that's when someone is not completely unmarked in the slot. One could look at the Detroit loss and conclude maybe the rebounds and bounces simply didn't go in favor of the Flyers, but when it happens every night, it's not luck.
Second, the offense is completely reliant on the Giroux line. Giroux is generally doing his thing, Schenn is contributing right now, and Voracek continues to be spectacular. Every other line has disappeared. Lecavalier can't find a role. Umberger has been total deadweight. Couturier handles the puck like a hot potato and immediately looks to get rid of it. Simmonds has faded after his promising start. Then end result is that Giroux and Voracek have been on the ice for every single Flyers goal in the last 4 games.
Bad team defense and completely one dimensional scoring is a recipe for a last place team. The Flyers had a similarly bad start last year amongst the coaching change, but as I've already written, there's no excuse for such a start this year. Furthermore, there is no clear path for the Flyers to crawl out of this mess. I expect things to naturally rebound a little, but given the depth of the problems, hope for a playoff spot appears increasingly distant.
Opinions on NHL topics of the moment, but mostly on the Flyers.
Showing posts with label giroux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giroux. Show all posts
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Out of Hibernation
Yes, the time has come to bring this blog out of hibernation. The Olympics are over, the trade deadline looms, and the stretch run beckons. A good a time as any to start again!
Soooo, to begin with Flyers talk. It was a productive weekend for the Flyers, taking 4 points from division opponents. They are currently in second place, but it's all so tight, that doesn't mean much. A bad week or so and they could easily fall several spots.
I don't have much new to say about the team really, but it does appear the team will go as far as Voracek, Giroux and Mason can take them. Those are the real make-or-break players for me.
Also, this is old news, but let's take a minute to marvel at the Flyers' third period excellence. With the win yesterday, the Flyers extended their franchise record of 12 wins in a season when trailing in the 3rd period. Simply setting the record is impressive (it was held by the powerful 1997 Lindros Stanley Cup finals team), but more impressive is where they came from.
Last year, the Flyers were -15 in the 3rd period, 28th in the league. When Laviolette was fired this year, they were being outscored 6-1 in the 3rd period. Now the Flyers comeback like crazy, are 2nd in the league in 3rd period goals, and are +9 overall in the 3rd. Where did this come from? It's hard to say. I'll just enjoy it for what it is.
Trade Deadline
The NHL trade deadline is Wednesday at 3pm. I don't expect (nor do I want) the Flyers to be buyers at the deadline this year. They are missing too many pieces to make a rental worthwhile, and lack disposable pieces to trade away. Still, the trade deadline could be pretty interesting league-wide.
The Blues have already made a big move getting Ott and Miller from Buffalo. They look primed right now.
Kesler wants out in Vancouver, and reportedly Pittsburgh has already made a big offer (please Flyers stay out of this---there is no room for him on this roster).
The Islanders are almost surely trading Thomas Vanek and Andrew MacDonald.
The Rangers may trade their captain if they can't get Callahan signed, and Marty St. Louis is another captain that wants to be traded (a ridiculous story overall).
Moulson? Ehrhoff? Edler?
There's a lot to chew on. Granted, trade deadlines are a lot of talk and a little action the last few years, but the cap is going up next year, and teams can trade salary so maybe we'll see some action.
Regarding the Flyers, the only trades acceptable to me are for long-term investments on defense. I personally believe the Flyers must rebuild their defense from scratch, so any youth or quality is welcome. By the same token, Mezo may intrigue some playoff teams looking for depth at the back end of their defensive corps, so he may be heading the other way from Philadelphia.
Soooo, to begin with Flyers talk. It was a productive weekend for the Flyers, taking 4 points from division opponents. They are currently in second place, but it's all so tight, that doesn't mean much. A bad week or so and they could easily fall several spots.
I don't have much new to say about the team really, but it does appear the team will go as far as Voracek, Giroux and Mason can take them. Those are the real make-or-break players for me.
Also, this is old news, but let's take a minute to marvel at the Flyers' third period excellence. With the win yesterday, the Flyers extended their franchise record of 12 wins in a season when trailing in the 3rd period. Simply setting the record is impressive (it was held by the powerful 1997 Lindros Stanley Cup finals team), but more impressive is where they came from.
Last year, the Flyers were -15 in the 3rd period, 28th in the league. When Laviolette was fired this year, they were being outscored 6-1 in the 3rd period. Now the Flyers comeback like crazy, are 2nd in the league in 3rd period goals, and are +9 overall in the 3rd. Where did this come from? It's hard to say. I'll just enjoy it for what it is.
Trade Deadline
The NHL trade deadline is Wednesday at 3pm. I don't expect (nor do I want) the Flyers to be buyers at the deadline this year. They are missing too many pieces to make a rental worthwhile, and lack disposable pieces to trade away. Still, the trade deadline could be pretty interesting league-wide.
The Blues have already made a big move getting Ott and Miller from Buffalo. They look primed right now.
Kesler wants out in Vancouver, and reportedly Pittsburgh has already made a big offer (please Flyers stay out of this---there is no room for him on this roster).
The Islanders are almost surely trading Thomas Vanek and Andrew MacDonald.
The Rangers may trade their captain if they can't get Callahan signed, and Marty St. Louis is another captain that wants to be traded (a ridiculous story overall).
Moulson? Ehrhoff? Edler?
There's a lot to chew on. Granted, trade deadlines are a lot of talk and a little action the last few years, but the cap is going up next year, and teams can trade salary so maybe we'll see some action.
Regarding the Flyers, the only trades acceptable to me are for long-term investments on defense. I personally believe the Flyers must rebuild their defense from scratch, so any youth or quality is welcome. By the same token, Mezo may intrigue some playoff teams looking for depth at the back end of their defensive corps, so he may be heading the other way from Philadelphia.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Flyers Finding Their Niche
I have written that this year's Flyers really aren't all that good a team, and I haven't seen anything to make me change my mind. They're not contenders, but they are finding their niche as a bubble playoff team.
After a pretty rough start, the Flyers took 7 of 8 points from a 4 game homestand. The wins were hardly commanding victories, but they scrapped out the wins against other bubble teams. They followed that up with a humbling loss in Toronto, before a gritty win in Winnipeg.
The lesson learned from this stretch is we've seen how the Flyers have to win games this year. They don't have the firepower to outscore teams like last year; 4 and 5 goal performances will be rare. Bryzgalov is playing excellent however, as he is tracking the puck very well, and really battling and recovering better. The Flyers also are doing more to collapse around the net in ways they desperately needed to last year.
The Flyers can get some wins this year in this fashion, but it's all pretty fragile. For one, this team is completely dependent on Bryzgalov (hard to believe we're saying that about Bryzgalov after last year, or the Flyers in general, well, ever). Partially because Bryzgalov has been very good, and partially because the backup goalie situation is so lousy.
It's also fragile because of the youth up front. Giroux is looking overwhelmed with Hartnell and Jagr out of the lineup. Recently, Read, Voracek and Schenn have stepped up their play, but who knows how that will keep up. It will be a struggle all season, but hopefully Hartsy and Mesz will be back relatively soon, which will help.
Speak of Jagr...
Jagr is one of many recently departed Flyers doing very well thus far. Jagr has become a key piece on offense for Dallas, and is leading the team with 11 points in 13 games. The Flyers are missing him this year more than I expected. Also;
-Matt Carle is playing big minutes in TB (which shouldn't be surprising) and already has 2 goals. The other key departure for the Flyers this year.
-JVR has 8 goals in 13 games, a pretty stark change from the 11 he scored in 43 for the Flyers last year. Many of these have been of the tap-in variety, finishing off others' plays (he only has 2 assists), but there's nothing wrong with that. He's playing well and with confidence, but there's no need for Flyers fans to panic about that trade at the moment.
-Similar to JVR, Jeff Carter has 6 goals (and only 1 assist) in 11 games for the offensively challenged Kings.
Put all this together, and you can see all the offense that has gone out the door from Philadelphia. That kind of goal-hawking from JVR and Carter is certainly a missing ingredient from this year's Flyers roster.
But Don't Panic
The Flyers have obvious needs, which my man Bill Meltzer accurately describes and prioritizes; "1) a puck-moving defenseman who can play 20+ minutes per game, 2) a scoring winger who possesses both good size and a consistent willingness to work in the "greasy" areas of the ice (though I might go a little more towards high-end skill players who snipe, in the mold of Perry or Iginla mentioned below), 3) a backup goaltending upgrade in case of a long-term injury to Ilya Bryzgalov, 4) a fourth-line center who is strong on defensive zone face-offs." http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=49290#.UR0bGqWyD9l
Despite this, it DOES NOT make sense for the Flyers to go chasing down trades. For one, they are not a contender this year, so trading more youth and picks is a bad idea. The Flyers have very few high-end prospects, and are generally depleted of prospects outside the NHL from trading away so many picks under Holmgen. Second, these are tough holes to fill, as evidenced by the Timonen contract signed last week.
Clearly the Flyers looked around and saw Timonen was their only option for a number 1 defensemen next year. He is old, and isn't the defensemen he used to be, but the Flyers renewed him at a very high cap number (shockingly high at first glance) because they had no other choice. After accepting that reality, my only regret is that they couldn't get Kimmo to resign for say $4.5m instead of 6. $1.5m in cap space will make a difference if the Flyers pursue Iginla or Perry as free agents after this season...
After a pretty rough start, the Flyers took 7 of 8 points from a 4 game homestand. The wins were hardly commanding victories, but they scrapped out the wins against other bubble teams. They followed that up with a humbling loss in Toronto, before a gritty win in Winnipeg.
The lesson learned from this stretch is we've seen how the Flyers have to win games this year. They don't have the firepower to outscore teams like last year; 4 and 5 goal performances will be rare. Bryzgalov is playing excellent however, as he is tracking the puck very well, and really battling and recovering better. The Flyers also are doing more to collapse around the net in ways they desperately needed to last year.
The Flyers can get some wins this year in this fashion, but it's all pretty fragile. For one, this team is completely dependent on Bryzgalov (hard to believe we're saying that about Bryzgalov after last year, or the Flyers in general, well, ever). Partially because Bryzgalov has been very good, and partially because the backup goalie situation is so lousy.
It's also fragile because of the youth up front. Giroux is looking overwhelmed with Hartnell and Jagr out of the lineup. Recently, Read, Voracek and Schenn have stepped up their play, but who knows how that will keep up. It will be a struggle all season, but hopefully Hartsy and Mesz will be back relatively soon, which will help.
Speak of Jagr...
Jagr is one of many recently departed Flyers doing very well thus far. Jagr has become a key piece on offense for Dallas, and is leading the team with 11 points in 13 games. The Flyers are missing him this year more than I expected. Also;
-Matt Carle is playing big minutes in TB (which shouldn't be surprising) and already has 2 goals. The other key departure for the Flyers this year.
-JVR has 8 goals in 13 games, a pretty stark change from the 11 he scored in 43 for the Flyers last year. Many of these have been of the tap-in variety, finishing off others' plays (he only has 2 assists), but there's nothing wrong with that. He's playing well and with confidence, but there's no need for Flyers fans to panic about that trade at the moment.
-Similar to JVR, Jeff Carter has 6 goals (and only 1 assist) in 11 games for the offensively challenged Kings.
Put all this together, and you can see all the offense that has gone out the door from Philadelphia. That kind of goal-hawking from JVR and Carter is certainly a missing ingredient from this year's Flyers roster.
But Don't Panic
The Flyers have obvious needs, which my man Bill Meltzer accurately describes and prioritizes; "1) a puck-moving defenseman who can play 20+ minutes per game, 2) a scoring winger who possesses both good size and a consistent willingness to work in the "greasy" areas of the ice (though I might go a little more towards high-end skill players who snipe, in the mold of Perry or Iginla mentioned below), 3) a backup goaltending upgrade in case of a long-term injury to Ilya Bryzgalov, 4) a fourth-line center who is strong on defensive zone face-offs." http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=49290#.UR0bGqWyD9l
Despite this, it DOES NOT make sense for the Flyers to go chasing down trades. For one, they are not a contender this year, so trading more youth and picks is a bad idea. The Flyers have very few high-end prospects, and are generally depleted of prospects outside the NHL from trading away so many picks under Holmgen. Second, these are tough holes to fill, as evidenced by the Timonen contract signed last week.
Clearly the Flyers looked around and saw Timonen was their only option for a number 1 defensemen next year. He is old, and isn't the defensemen he used to be, but the Flyers renewed him at a very high cap number (shockingly high at first glance) because they had no other choice. After accepting that reality, my only regret is that they couldn't get Kimmo to resign for say $4.5m instead of 6. $1.5m in cap space will make a difference if the Flyers pursue Iginla or Perry as free agents after this season...
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Raise the Red Flag
I think it's going to be a looooong season for Flyers fans. The Flyers simply don't look like a very good team, and there is no cavalry on the way. They have few assets to trade, and Hartnell and Meszaros will not be back any time soon. Overall, I think Flyers fans need to buckle down for lots of joyless 2-1 hockey games this season, and making the playoffs will be a struggle.
Facts:
-The Flyers have outscored opponents 7-6 in 5-on-5 play this season. This puts them among the stingiest 5-on-5 teams in the league, but at least it's a positive differential.
-The Flyers have been shorthanded 31 times this season. That is the second most of anybody in the league.
-The Flyers penalty kill is operating at a pitiful 66.7%. That is 29th out of 30 teams.
-The Flyers power play is at 13.5%. That is 24th.
-The Flyers are being outscored 9-4 in the first period. Three of those goals came against Florida, meaning they've been outscored 9-1 in the first period of all their other games.
Problems:
-Teams are focusing all their attention on Giroux, and he is really struggling because of it. No one else on the Flyers strikes fear into opponents or creates mismatches.
-No spark from the wings. Save for Matt Read's outburst against Florida, the Flyers wings have done little to create offense. They try to score all their goals from the doorstep, as that is the skill set for guys like Knuble and Simmonds. Still, this is too predictable and easy to defend if no one is stretching the defense.
-The power play is awful. Just awful. Confusion, hesitation. Often times they can't even enter the zone.
Solutions:
-Fix the power play. Okay, so that is easier said than done, but this should be the predominant project for the coaches. Spend an unbalance amount of time on it. Get those zone entries straightened out, which currently look haphazard. Get Voracek off the point. If this team is looking for dirty goals from Knuble and Simmonds, get a shooter back there.
-Shoot! The Flyers pass up countless shooting opportunities for one more pass into the slot. This relates to the power play and lack of wing play, but when struggling on offense, get the puck to the net! Even if they don't have natural snipers in the lineup, you've got to try, and stop making it so easy for the defense to collapse in the slot.
-Load up the first line. The Flyers are going for the balanced approach, but the result is a bunch of mediocre lines and an overwhelmed Giroux. Take some pressure of Giroux, and put him and Briere on the same line. Round out the line with Simmonds or Knuble. I noticed Giroux and Briere were together late in the 3rd last night, but with all the PPs I couldn't tell if that was a one time thing, or if was simply a temporary change while trailing late.
-Stay out of the box. If your penalty kill sucks, being among the league leaders in times shorthanded is unforgivable.
Facts:
-The Flyers have outscored opponents 7-6 in 5-on-5 play this season. This puts them among the stingiest 5-on-5 teams in the league, but at least it's a positive differential.
-The Flyers have been shorthanded 31 times this season. That is the second most of anybody in the league.
-The Flyers penalty kill is operating at a pitiful 66.7%. That is 29th out of 30 teams.
-The Flyers power play is at 13.5%. That is 24th.
-The Flyers are being outscored 9-4 in the first period. Three of those goals came against Florida, meaning they've been outscored 9-1 in the first period of all their other games.
Problems:
-Teams are focusing all their attention on Giroux, and he is really struggling because of it. No one else on the Flyers strikes fear into opponents or creates mismatches.
-No spark from the wings. Save for Matt Read's outburst against Florida, the Flyers wings have done little to create offense. They try to score all their goals from the doorstep, as that is the skill set for guys like Knuble and Simmonds. Still, this is too predictable and easy to defend if no one is stretching the defense.
-The power play is awful. Just awful. Confusion, hesitation. Often times they can't even enter the zone.
Solutions:
-Fix the power play. Okay, so that is easier said than done, but this should be the predominant project for the coaches. Spend an unbalance amount of time on it. Get those zone entries straightened out, which currently look haphazard. Get Voracek off the point. If this team is looking for dirty goals from Knuble and Simmonds, get a shooter back there.
-Shoot! The Flyers pass up countless shooting opportunities for one more pass into the slot. This relates to the power play and lack of wing play, but when struggling on offense, get the puck to the net! Even if they don't have natural snipers in the lineup, you've got to try, and stop making it so easy for the defense to collapse in the slot.
-Load up the first line. The Flyers are going for the balanced approach, but the result is a bunch of mediocre lines and an overwhelmed Giroux. Take some pressure of Giroux, and put him and Briere on the same line. Round out the line with Simmonds or Knuble. I noticed Giroux and Briere were together late in the 3rd last night, but with all the PPs I couldn't tell if that was a one time thing, or if was simply a temporary change while trailing late.
-Stay out of the box. If your penalty kill sucks, being among the league leaders in times shorthanded is unforgivable.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Out of Sorts
0-3 last night, and 0-3 on the season. Another pretty ugly loss last night. The Flyers aren't getting killed or run out of the building in these losses, but they're sloppy and at times it feels futile. Now some have turned and said "but the Flyers started 0-3 in the last lockout season, and ultimately went to the conference finals!" The reality is that that Flyers team started 3-7-1, and after back to back 3-0 losses to Ottawa and Florida, two of the worst teams in the league at the time, Clarke traded Mark Recchi. I doubt Holmgren has any similar tricks up his sleeve to acquire a #1 defensemen along with a player who would score 50 goals three years in a row.
What is the problem? There are many;
-No chemistry amongst the forwards, and the chances they do get, there's no finish. No one is shooting with confidence or showing any creativity, other than Giroux.
-Young players who played during the lockout look out of sorts. Couturier has really struggled, and Read has been pretty invisible. Schenn has some good moments, but not enough.
-The defense looks haggard. Grossmann is really laboring, struggling with forecheckers, the puck, and notably getting outskated. Timonen isn't doing much. Schenn has been average, Mesz has been pretty good, and Coburn can only do so much himself.
-General disorganization. Failed coverage on faceoffs has led to goals. Failed coverage down low has led to goals. Special teams have been terrible. The Flyers have also been burned by bad changes. All this in 3 games.
-Bad bounces. It's hard to say how much is teams making their own luck, but the first period against the Devils was probably their best this season, yet they trailed 2-0 after it. Against Buffalo, there were 3 questionable calls in the crease directly leading to goals or potential goals, and all three went in Buffalo's favor.
-Bad first periods. The first 15 minutes against the Penguins were terrible, leading to a 2-0 hole. Another slow start in the Buffalo game creating a 1-0 deficit, and another 2-0 hole last night. Outscored 5-0 in the first period so far this season.
I'm not sure what the remedy is here, as Laviolette did the line shuffling prior to the New Jersey game Maybe throw in Leighton and see if the team responds? I think the most important thing right now is to focus on special teams, where they've been outscored 7-1 in just three games. That is inexcusable.
What is the problem? There are many;
-No chemistry amongst the forwards, and the chances they do get, there's no finish. No one is shooting with confidence or showing any creativity, other than Giroux.
-Young players who played during the lockout look out of sorts. Couturier has really struggled, and Read has been pretty invisible. Schenn has some good moments, but not enough.
-The defense looks haggard. Grossmann is really laboring, struggling with forecheckers, the puck, and notably getting outskated. Timonen isn't doing much. Schenn has been average, Mesz has been pretty good, and Coburn can only do so much himself.
-General disorganization. Failed coverage on faceoffs has led to goals. Failed coverage down low has led to goals. Special teams have been terrible. The Flyers have also been burned by bad changes. All this in 3 games.
-Bad bounces. It's hard to say how much is teams making their own luck, but the first period against the Devils was probably their best this season, yet they trailed 2-0 after it. Against Buffalo, there were 3 questionable calls in the crease directly leading to goals or potential goals, and all three went in Buffalo's favor.
-Bad first periods. The first 15 minutes against the Penguins were terrible, leading to a 2-0 hole. Another slow start in the Buffalo game creating a 1-0 deficit, and another 2-0 hole last night. Outscored 5-0 in the first period so far this season.
I'm not sure what the remedy is here, as Laviolette did the line shuffling prior to the New Jersey game Maybe throw in Leighton and see if the team responds? I think the most important thing right now is to focus on special teams, where they've been outscored 7-1 in just three games. That is inexcusable.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Season Review
All playoff exits feel disappointing. Through the ups and downs, fans always convince themselves that their team can win any series. The Flyers flame-out was sudden, but in the long view, it makes a little more sense.
At no point this season did I think the Flyers were really primed for a serious cup run. They were too young up front, having traded away their core forwards. Then things started going pretty well, but Pronger went down. Without Pronger, I thought a long playoff run was precluded.
The Flyers defensive and goaltending struggles reinforced that perception, until March shutouts made me begin to think I could be wrong. The defense showed hope, and they could score whenever they needed to. Eventually however, the gas tank ran dry and ingrained problems caught up to them.
It was a memorable and exciting season, and I could not label this team as underachievers. That's pretty much all you can ask for as a fan.
PLAYER REVIEWS
Forwards:
-Giroux. The burden fell to him to step up with Carter and Richards gone, and he responded with an MVP caliber season that Richards or Carter never produced.
-Briere. A very poor regular season, largely saved by 8 playoff goals. His overall game never really fired on all cylinders though, even in the playoffs.
-Voracek. His 49 points is not all that impressive, but he was a valuable player for the Flyers, and I certainly didn't see anything like conditioning or effort issues that his old CBJ coach criticized him for on the way out. He may never break 25 goals or 65 points, but I could see him being a winger on a quality top line.
-Hartnell. A quiet playoffs shouldn't dilute a career year, and I think he was playing hurt anyway. Consistently energetic, physical, and showed a finishing touch I didn't think he had. All this after a pre-season lost to health concerns and a terrible start.
-Jagr. 54 points in 73 games, veteran leadership, and the self-proclaimed "most enjoyable year" of his career. That qualifies as a success. Jagr did have some nagging groin issues, and his energy level fluctuated throughout the year, so it remains to be seen if he will be back.
-Schenn. 18 points in 54 games is an unimpressive line, but he improved as the season wore on, and I'd go so far as to say he was the Flyers' best player in game 1 of the Pittsburgh series. I expect him to take the next step in his career next year.
-Read. He turned out to be one of the best rookies in the league. 24 goals, played everywhere on the front line, and in all situations. Pretty much ideal.
-Simmonds. Almost doubled his career high in goals, largely due to 11 PP goals. He looks to be a streaky scorer going forward, as he battles and puts himself in good positions but doesn't have very soft hands, his physical initiative will make him a fan favorite.
-Talbot. Gave the Flyers everything they could hope for. A lunchpail player and team guy, he went from 8 goals last season with Pittsburgh to 19 this year, and he and Giroux were lethal shorthanded in the playoffs.
-Couturier. Surpassed all expectations this season, with 13 goals and logged big minutes in the playoffs. Remarkable for an 18 year old, I could not identify any clear deficiencies in his game. What a draft day steal, he could be a key player for the Flyers for a long time.
-Wellwood. Nothing spectacular, but a young, speedy player that should be an asset for bottom lines and depth next year.
-Rinaldo. Did all that could be asked of him. Not a high skill guy, he successfully brought a lot of energy and spark to the Flyers. He will have to continue to work on his discipline, though in his defense, he is clearly targeted by the officials and is on the short end of a lot of marginal calls.
-JVR. I think JVR had a very disappointing season. Yes, he had injuries, and his point production was decent before all the injuries. Still, I wrote that his early stat line flattered his play even before all the injuries, and there's no escaping the reality of the 11g, 13a, 43gp for a player who was supposed to score 30+ goals this year. He was very good in game 1 against NJ, but did little else in that series.
-Shelley. Yes, he is still on this team.
Defense:
-Timonen. Another year of wear and tear on Timonen's body, he still was able to be the Flyers top defensemen this year. Injuries severely limited him in the playoffs.
-Meszaros. Was inconsistent all year, never finding the form he had most of last season. Then his season was cut short by an injury. Maybe next year will be a bounce back season.
-Coburn. Unremarkable regular season, but logged huge minutes in the playoffs.
-Grossmann. The strong, defense-first, shot-blocking defenseman the team needed. He has bad knees though, so let's hope they hold up.
-Carle. The team's de facto number 1 defensemen this year, covering a lot of territory and eating minutes. A very good chance that his time as a Flyers is over, however.
-Kubina. He could not provide the reliable veteran presence the team was looking for---too old and slow, and picked up some injuries too. Little chance of him returning.
-Pronger. His season never really started, and his career may be over. It's a shame his time with the Flyers was so short-lived.
-Gustafsson. He really made some nice strides this season, though he could struggle at times. Skilled and smart, but undersized. It will be interesting to see what he can do next year in extended time.
-Bourdon. Another pleasant surprise, as his career seemed to have stalled in the minors. Looks like he might have an NHL future yet.
-Lilja. Seldom used in the regular season, played decently in the playoffs. Too old and slow to play a significant role.
Goalies:
-Bryzgalov. Things did not go as planned, though he was amazing in March. Too inconsistent and gaffe prone, but on and off the ice. Seemingly has some growing up to do, though a full season in Philly under his belt will help. Expectations will remain high with his 9 year contract. I am optimistic.
-Bobrovsky. Started the season strong, but on the whole did not take the next step in his career this year. Now heading into the last year of his contract with the Flyers.
At no point this season did I think the Flyers were really primed for a serious cup run. They were too young up front, having traded away their core forwards. Then things started going pretty well, but Pronger went down. Without Pronger, I thought a long playoff run was precluded.
The Flyers defensive and goaltending struggles reinforced that perception, until March shutouts made me begin to think I could be wrong. The defense showed hope, and they could score whenever they needed to. Eventually however, the gas tank ran dry and ingrained problems caught up to them.
It was a memorable and exciting season, and I could not label this team as underachievers. That's pretty much all you can ask for as a fan.
PLAYER REVIEWS
Forwards:
-Giroux. The burden fell to him to step up with Carter and Richards gone, and he responded with an MVP caliber season that Richards or Carter never produced.
-Briere. A very poor regular season, largely saved by 8 playoff goals. His overall game never really fired on all cylinders though, even in the playoffs.
-Voracek. His 49 points is not all that impressive, but he was a valuable player for the Flyers, and I certainly didn't see anything like conditioning or effort issues that his old CBJ coach criticized him for on the way out. He may never break 25 goals or 65 points, but I could see him being a winger on a quality top line.
-Hartnell. A quiet playoffs shouldn't dilute a career year, and I think he was playing hurt anyway. Consistently energetic, physical, and showed a finishing touch I didn't think he had. All this after a pre-season lost to health concerns and a terrible start.
-Jagr. 54 points in 73 games, veteran leadership, and the self-proclaimed "most enjoyable year" of his career. That qualifies as a success. Jagr did have some nagging groin issues, and his energy level fluctuated throughout the year, so it remains to be seen if he will be back.
-Schenn. 18 points in 54 games is an unimpressive line, but he improved as the season wore on, and I'd go so far as to say he was the Flyers' best player in game 1 of the Pittsburgh series. I expect him to take the next step in his career next year.
-Read. He turned out to be one of the best rookies in the league. 24 goals, played everywhere on the front line, and in all situations. Pretty much ideal.
-Simmonds. Almost doubled his career high in goals, largely due to 11 PP goals. He looks to be a streaky scorer going forward, as he battles and puts himself in good positions but doesn't have very soft hands, his physical initiative will make him a fan favorite.
-Talbot. Gave the Flyers everything they could hope for. A lunchpail player and team guy, he went from 8 goals last season with Pittsburgh to 19 this year, and he and Giroux were lethal shorthanded in the playoffs.
-Couturier. Surpassed all expectations this season, with 13 goals and logged big minutes in the playoffs. Remarkable for an 18 year old, I could not identify any clear deficiencies in his game. What a draft day steal, he could be a key player for the Flyers for a long time.
-Wellwood. Nothing spectacular, but a young, speedy player that should be an asset for bottom lines and depth next year.
-Rinaldo. Did all that could be asked of him. Not a high skill guy, he successfully brought a lot of energy and spark to the Flyers. He will have to continue to work on his discipline, though in his defense, he is clearly targeted by the officials and is on the short end of a lot of marginal calls.
-JVR. I think JVR had a very disappointing season. Yes, he had injuries, and his point production was decent before all the injuries. Still, I wrote that his early stat line flattered his play even before all the injuries, and there's no escaping the reality of the 11g, 13a, 43gp for a player who was supposed to score 30+ goals this year. He was very good in game 1 against NJ, but did little else in that series.
-Shelley. Yes, he is still on this team.
Defense:
-Timonen. Another year of wear and tear on Timonen's body, he still was able to be the Flyers top defensemen this year. Injuries severely limited him in the playoffs.
-Meszaros. Was inconsistent all year, never finding the form he had most of last season. Then his season was cut short by an injury. Maybe next year will be a bounce back season.
-Coburn. Unremarkable regular season, but logged huge minutes in the playoffs.
-Grossmann. The strong, defense-first, shot-blocking defenseman the team needed. He has bad knees though, so let's hope they hold up.
-Carle. The team's de facto number 1 defensemen this year, covering a lot of territory and eating minutes. A very good chance that his time as a Flyers is over, however.
-Kubina. He could not provide the reliable veteran presence the team was looking for---too old and slow, and picked up some injuries too. Little chance of him returning.
-Pronger. His season never really started, and his career may be over. It's a shame his time with the Flyers was so short-lived.
-Gustafsson. He really made some nice strides this season, though he could struggle at times. Skilled and smart, but undersized. It will be interesting to see what he can do next year in extended time.
-Bourdon. Another pleasant surprise, as his career seemed to have stalled in the minors. Looks like he might have an NHL future yet.
-Lilja. Seldom used in the regular season, played decently in the playoffs. Too old and slow to play a significant role.
Goalies:
-Bryzgalov. Things did not go as planned, though he was amazing in March. Too inconsistent and gaffe prone, but on and off the ice. Seemingly has some growing up to do, though a full season in Philly under his belt will help. Expectations will remain high with his 9 year contract. I am optimistic.
-Bobrovsky. Started the season strong, but on the whole did not take the next step in his career this year. Now heading into the last year of his contract with the Flyers.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Devils Game 4 Review
Well, it was fun while it lasted. The Flyers may not be officially eliminated, but it would take a miracle. 3-1 comebacks are quite rare, and the Devils dominated game 2 and 4. It's very hard to envision the Flyers mounting any comeback of consequence. Maybe I'll give them a 1-in-3 chance of winning game 5, mainly because I have tickets to the game and I don't want to feel like I wasted my money.
The Devils have completely swarmed the Flyers. Game 1 started off this way, but everyone wrote it off due the Devils being sharp and the Flyers waking up from the week-long layoff. Instead, that trend has accelerated.
I feel like there's a "chicken and the egg" scenario at play. The Devils forecheck has overwhelmed the Flyers, and now they look confused and are being completely outskated. Which came first? The overwhelming forecheck making the Flyers look slow, or the Flyers simply didn't have jump which allowed the Devils to forecheck so effectively?
I think it's probably the tactics. The Flyers forwards try to leave the zone so quickly, as they have all year, but the Devils have successfully pressured the Flyers defensemen. Without the time or ability to find the forwards, the defensemen keep playing the puck to empty space, and the Devils get there first.
At the same time, I don't discount the Flyers mental let-down from beating Pittsburgh. They put so much energy and passion into this series, it was like they couldn't get up for this series mentally. The situation was ripe for a letdown, and the Flyers fan base was certainly lulled into a false sense of security--"we killed the mighty Pens, so we'll crush the Devils easily." Admittedly, I didn't think a letdown would become a total disintegration like we are seeing though.
The Flyers look confused and tentative, and Laviolette probably does not have some magic elixir up his sleeve. The Devils might put them out of their misery pretty quick.
Notes:
-An up and down night for Giroux. He scored a nice shorthanded goal, allaying my fears that the rumors of his bad groin would prevent him from bursts of speed. After scoring however, he was more interested in barking at the ref than anything else. It was a bad sign, indicating his emotions were getting away from him.
Later, after the officials blew a call on Brodeur for playing the puck outside the trapezoid, Giroux again assailed the officials, then took out his frustration with a dirty check to Zubrus's head. This was pretty much the type of headshot for which I roasted Malkin and Neal. Late, opportunistic headhunting. If it was my NHL, Giroux would be suspended. As it is, given that Giroux didn't make an egregiously illegal hit by leaving his feet or throwing an elbow, has no prior history, and Zubrus wasn't hurt, I suspect all we'll see is a fine.
-Speaking of Brodeur, his special treatment from the refs continues. The interference call on Hartnell was blatantly wrong, as Hartnell was clearly checked into him, and at mild contact Brodeur wildly kicked his legs and threw his arms around. He also dodged a penalty for handling the puck. That's 3 games in a row where Brodeur has drawn a penalty on the Flyers when there simply wasn't much (or anything at all) there. [JVR called for slashing in Game 2 when going for a loose puck, Schenn makes slight skate-to-skate contact and Broduer flops in game 3].
-The Flyers' lines are all mixed up. Couturier played, but barely. This broke up his checking line with Wellwood and Talbot, so Wellwood also barely played. I do support Laviolette's decision to break up the Jagr-Giroux-Hartnell. Whether it's injuries or whatever, their not playing well individually or collectively.
-Regarding Bryzgalov, anyone who tries to pin this debacle on the goaltending is an idiot. The Flyers were dominated in games 2 and 4, but the game was close to the end because of Bryzgalov. I don't like how he threw up his hands after the Devils' 3rd goal last night though, even if it was shockingly bad coverage. For once the Flyers can reflect on their playoff run and don't need to ask themselves how they were sabotaged by goaltending.
The Devils have completely swarmed the Flyers. Game 1 started off this way, but everyone wrote it off due the Devils being sharp and the Flyers waking up from the week-long layoff. Instead, that trend has accelerated.
I feel like there's a "chicken and the egg" scenario at play. The Devils forecheck has overwhelmed the Flyers, and now they look confused and are being completely outskated. Which came first? The overwhelming forecheck making the Flyers look slow, or the Flyers simply didn't have jump which allowed the Devils to forecheck so effectively?
I think it's probably the tactics. The Flyers forwards try to leave the zone so quickly, as they have all year, but the Devils have successfully pressured the Flyers defensemen. Without the time or ability to find the forwards, the defensemen keep playing the puck to empty space, and the Devils get there first.
At the same time, I don't discount the Flyers mental let-down from beating Pittsburgh. They put so much energy and passion into this series, it was like they couldn't get up for this series mentally. The situation was ripe for a letdown, and the Flyers fan base was certainly lulled into a false sense of security--"we killed the mighty Pens, so we'll crush the Devils easily." Admittedly, I didn't think a letdown would become a total disintegration like we are seeing though.
The Flyers look confused and tentative, and Laviolette probably does not have some magic elixir up his sleeve. The Devils might put them out of their misery pretty quick.
Notes:
-An up and down night for Giroux. He scored a nice shorthanded goal, allaying my fears that the rumors of his bad groin would prevent him from bursts of speed. After scoring however, he was more interested in barking at the ref than anything else. It was a bad sign, indicating his emotions were getting away from him.
Later, after the officials blew a call on Brodeur for playing the puck outside the trapezoid, Giroux again assailed the officials, then took out his frustration with a dirty check to Zubrus's head. This was pretty much the type of headshot for which I roasted Malkin and Neal. Late, opportunistic headhunting. If it was my NHL, Giroux would be suspended. As it is, given that Giroux didn't make an egregiously illegal hit by leaving his feet or throwing an elbow, has no prior history, and Zubrus wasn't hurt, I suspect all we'll see is a fine.
-Speaking of Brodeur, his special treatment from the refs continues. The interference call on Hartnell was blatantly wrong, as Hartnell was clearly checked into him, and at mild contact Brodeur wildly kicked his legs and threw his arms around. He also dodged a penalty for handling the puck. That's 3 games in a row where Brodeur has drawn a penalty on the Flyers when there simply wasn't much (or anything at all) there. [JVR called for slashing in Game 2 when going for a loose puck, Schenn makes slight skate-to-skate contact and Broduer flops in game 3].
-The Flyers' lines are all mixed up. Couturier played, but barely. This broke up his checking line with Wellwood and Talbot, so Wellwood also barely played. I do support Laviolette's decision to break up the Jagr-Giroux-Hartnell. Whether it's injuries or whatever, their not playing well individually or collectively.
-Regarding Bryzgalov, anyone who tries to pin this debacle on the goaltending is an idiot. The Flyers were dominated in games 2 and 4, but the game was close to the end because of Bryzgalov. I don't like how he threw up his hands after the Devils' 3rd goal last night though, even if it was shockingly bad coverage. For once the Flyers can reflect on their playoff run and don't need to ask themselves how they were sabotaged by goaltending.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Devils Game 3 Review
The margin of error is now officially gone for the Flyers, and they face a virtual must-win on Sunday.
It was the most evenly played game of the series, and the result was in a precarious balance throughout. The Devils appeared to be playing with more desire and purpose, and were deserved winners.
This year's Flyers squad has experienced more than their share of ups and downs. They seem unstoppable one game, and completely incompetent the next. I think many fooled themselves that, after beating the mighty Pens, the Flyers had turned a corner and become a different, more powerful team. Truthfully, the Flyers were still the same team---often irresistible on offense but terribly inconsistent and inattentive.
The Devils were a much trickier match-up than people wanted to acknowledge. Now the Flyers have to start skating and banging again, as the Devils are simply playing with much more jump.
The time for jumping off a bridge has not yet come. This is a remarkably resilient team, so let's see how they do in Game 4. Nothing is too big for this team to accomplish.
Notes:
-It's time for Claude Giroux to re-assert himself. He's allowed to have bad games, but he and his line have not mounted consistent threats. The Flyers need him again. It may also be time to completely change his linemates.
-Brodeur has the officials eating out of his hand. His complaints about the game 1 winner being goaltender interference, a claim completely without merit, has led to a very quick whistle or penalties every time the Flyers get near him. The Schenn interference penalty was completely overblown contact, though I won't complain too much because the Flyers were only on a powerplay due to an erroneous call on Kovalchuk for shooting the puck out of play. Conversely, Kovalchuk rung a potential game winner off the post on a play where a Devil lost his edge and interfered with Bryzgalov. Clearly there are different standards for each goalie.
-The Devils continue to outskate the Flyers, and Parise in a particular had a rocket up his ass last night. If the Flyers don't match the Devils jump, they will not win.
-The Flyers power play is playing incredibly loose and careless. Most of their problem against the Devils is in gaining the zone, something they accomplished easily against the Pens. Still, clarity of purpose has been lacking in all aspects of their game, and nowhere is this more clear than on the PP. Additionally, these hopeless Flyers power plays are having the negative effect of sparking the Devils in the moments thereafter.
It was the most evenly played game of the series, and the result was in a precarious balance throughout. The Devils appeared to be playing with more desire and purpose, and were deserved winners.
This year's Flyers squad has experienced more than their share of ups and downs. They seem unstoppable one game, and completely incompetent the next. I think many fooled themselves that, after beating the mighty Pens, the Flyers had turned a corner and become a different, more powerful team. Truthfully, the Flyers were still the same team---often irresistible on offense but terribly inconsistent and inattentive.
The Devils were a much trickier match-up than people wanted to acknowledge. Now the Flyers have to start skating and banging again, as the Devils are simply playing with much more jump.
The time for jumping off a bridge has not yet come. This is a remarkably resilient team, so let's see how they do in Game 4. Nothing is too big for this team to accomplish.
Notes:
-It's time for Claude Giroux to re-assert himself. He's allowed to have bad games, but he and his line have not mounted consistent threats. The Flyers need him again. It may also be time to completely change his linemates.
-Brodeur has the officials eating out of his hand. His complaints about the game 1 winner being goaltender interference, a claim completely without merit, has led to a very quick whistle or penalties every time the Flyers get near him. The Schenn interference penalty was completely overblown contact, though I won't complain too much because the Flyers were only on a powerplay due to an erroneous call on Kovalchuk for shooting the puck out of play. Conversely, Kovalchuk rung a potential game winner off the post on a play where a Devil lost his edge and interfered with Bryzgalov. Clearly there are different standards for each goalie.
-The Devils continue to outskate the Flyers, and Parise in a particular had a rocket up his ass last night. If the Flyers don't match the Devils jump, they will not win.
-The Flyers power play is playing incredibly loose and careless. Most of their problem against the Devils is in gaining the zone, something they accomplished easily against the Pens. Still, clarity of purpose has been lacking in all aspects of their game, and nowhere is this more clear than on the PP. Additionally, these hopeless Flyers power plays are having the negative effect of sparking the Devils in the moments thereafter.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Penguins Game 6 Review
Flyers nation can now exhale.
Anxiety was rising, but instead the Flyers turned out their best 60 minutes of the series. Giroux provided the early boost, and the Flyers circled the wagons and survived the Penguins furious counter-punch. That would prove to be Penguins' best shot.
I was oddly confident this morning. Rationally, I should've been very concerned about the Flyers shorthanded defense, and Bryz looking physically hampered, but instead I just thought to myself that there was no way the Flyers would let this series get away from them. They were going to win this game. This team has been way too resilient this year, never giving up. Yes, the Penguins were a more focused team than earlier in the series, but this Flyers team always answers the bell.
I'm already looking forward to the next round, and pulling hard for both Washington and Ottawa to complete their upsets and leave a clear path to the finals for the Flyers. Either way, it will be great not to have to think about punks like Malkin, Neal and Letang for 6 months.
Notes:
-The Flyers really tightened up defensively. Bryzgalov faced hardly any clean looks, and didn't have to move laterally nearly as much. As a result, he looked more comfortable and made all the expected saves. Also, the Flyers blocked 40 shots today, more than the previous two games combined (and double the 20 they blocked in game 3, their previous series high).
-Gustafsson came in and played like a champ. His ice time rose from ~12 minutes in game 5 to ~22 in game 6, nearly all at even strength. That was more than Timonen and Carle at even strength this game. Timonen actually played less than 7.5 minutes at even strength, and 15 overall.
-After going for 1/3 on the power play today, the Flyers percentage dropped to 57% (12/23) for the series. The Pens themselves went 31% (9/29), a damn good number in any other reality, but also gave up 3 shorthanded goals. Mind you, the Pens were one of the best penalty killing teams in the league this year and set a franchise record for PK percentage.
-Crosby was nearly invisible today, and I suspect he is not 100% after getting nailed on the chin by Malkin last game. Malkin was very good, scoring one, hitting a post, and generally wreaking havoc in the Flyers zone around the net.
Anxiety was rising, but instead the Flyers turned out their best 60 minutes of the series. Giroux provided the early boost, and the Flyers circled the wagons and survived the Penguins furious counter-punch. That would prove to be Penguins' best shot.
I was oddly confident this morning. Rationally, I should've been very concerned about the Flyers shorthanded defense, and Bryz looking physically hampered, but instead I just thought to myself that there was no way the Flyers would let this series get away from them. They were going to win this game. This team has been way too resilient this year, never giving up. Yes, the Penguins were a more focused team than earlier in the series, but this Flyers team always answers the bell.
I'm already looking forward to the next round, and pulling hard for both Washington and Ottawa to complete their upsets and leave a clear path to the finals for the Flyers. Either way, it will be great not to have to think about punks like Malkin, Neal and Letang for 6 months.
Notes:
-The Flyers really tightened up defensively. Bryzgalov faced hardly any clean looks, and didn't have to move laterally nearly as much. As a result, he looked more comfortable and made all the expected saves. Also, the Flyers blocked 40 shots today, more than the previous two games combined (and double the 20 they blocked in game 3, their previous series high).
-Gustafsson came in and played like a champ. His ice time rose from ~12 minutes in game 5 to ~22 in game 6, nearly all at even strength. That was more than Timonen and Carle at even strength this game. Timonen actually played less than 7.5 minutes at even strength, and 15 overall.
-After going for 1/3 on the power play today, the Flyers percentage dropped to 57% (12/23) for the series. The Pens themselves went 31% (9/29), a damn good number in any other reality, but also gave up 3 shorthanded goals. Mind you, the Pens were one of the best penalty killing teams in the league this year and set a franchise record for PK percentage.
-Crosby was nearly invisible today, and I suspect he is not 100% after getting nailed on the chin by Malkin last game. Malkin was very good, scoring one, hitting a post, and generally wreaking havoc in the Flyers zone around the net.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Penguins Game 3 Review
"[The Flyers] seem to bring out the worst in me."
-Sidney Crosby, 4/2/2012
I was a little nervous going into this game, for two reasons. One, the Flyers were terrible in day games this season, with even worse first periods than usual. Second, I said after game one that the Pens were being distracted by trying to hit too much and punish the Flyers physically, and I thought being on the road they might tone it down and played more poised hockey. Neither of those occurred.
The Pens got an early gift goal from Bryzgalov, but then on a PP (for what appeared to be a phantom high sticking call), Giroux made a good play shorthanded, and Fleury put the puck in his own net trying to cover a loose puck. It was all downhill from there.
As the game wore on, the Penguins became a total embarrassment. Asham's high crosscheck to Schenn (and punch to the back of the head while Schenn is defenseless and face down on the ice) after Schenn made a perfectly legal check was a disgrace. Things got worse, as another melee was caused when Crosby was determined to cause trouble, slashing Bryzgalov after he covered the puck, prodding Voracek and hassling Timonen until Giroux finally stepped in and went with him. Letang beat up Timonen (whom I've never seen fight) then petulantly tried to shoosh the crowd.
Apparently that wasn't enough, as Neal threw 2 dirty hits in the space of a minute after the game was out of reach. He launched himself at Couturier well after the puck was gone, and quite frankly it would've been an illegal charge even if Cooter still had the puck. As it was, it was an indefensible hit. Then he stayed on the ice and hit Giroux in the head with another late hit. At the ensuing stoppage Crosby was grabbing Hartnell (apparently to keep him away from Neal), and when Hartnell engaged Crosby, Adams starting punching him in the back of the head. Once the two squared to fight and grappled, Adams starting pulling Hartnell's hair. What is this? A lunch time scrap between middle school girls? Ridiculous.
The NHL would be wise to suspend both Asham and Neal for this nonsense. For one, their actions merit suspension in any scenario. Second, the outcome of the series is all but settled, and the NHL should reel it in rather than invite more cheapshots or score-settling in an inconsequential game.
The Penguins should be embarrassed enough by allowing 20 goals in three games to their hated rival, in a series in which they were favored. I guess that wasn't enough, and they've turned themselves into a farce. This series was there for the taking for them, with 3-0 and 2-0 leads in the first two games. The Pens were unable to control their passion and quite frankly lost their cool and their minds trying to prove something, and they psyched themselves out of the series. Crosby was definitely right with the quote above.
Notes:
-I hope Couturier, Giroux and Schenn are okay after absorbing cheapshots. Giroux appeared woozy and stumbled after being hit by Neal.
-It shouldn't be lost in the shuffle that Bryzgalov let in 2 terrible goals again today. He's looking leaky and his 5-hole has been gigantic. This series is a goalie's nightmare, but this will have to tighten up against the likes of the Rangers and Bruins.
-With 20 goals, the Flyers have scored several more goals than any other series has featured COMBINED between the two teams.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Penguins Game 2 Review
Numb.
That is pretty much I feel. I had to check the score again this morning to make sure all that stuff really happened last night. That game had so many amazing, "momentum changing" plays that it was just surreal. The Bryzgalov save on Letang followed by Flyers SHG, the Pens scoring another goal in the final minute of the first, Couturier scoring with 2.8 secs left, Bryzgalov giving up a bad goal to start the third and Cooter singlehandedly getting it right back, Jagr getting the game winner, topped off by 2 hat tricks. Ridiculous.
Nothing in this series would surprise me anymore, so I don't want to presumptuous about what's going to happen next. What is clear though, is that the Penguins are utterly incapable of holding a lead against the Flyers. This is a carry-over from the regular season. I also said the first goal wouldn't matter much in this series given the offense capabilities and defensive carelessness of both of these teams, but I sure thought multiple goal leads would matter. Not so much. It is hard for me to imagine the Penguins winning 4 of 5 games when no lead is safe.
Notes:
-Did I say something about Giroux being invisible in game 1? People probably noticed his hat trick and three assists last night. It felt like November again with Giroux doing it all.
-As good as Giroux was, Cooter was nearly as good. Matched up against the presumptive MVP of the season, Cooter smoked him. It's not hyperbole to talk about his future franchise center potential. Of all the pieces moving in the Richards and Carter deals last summer, Cooter may be the best player of them all. There is nothing missing from his game. Skating, passing, a quick accurate shot, size he knows how to use, and off-the-charts awareness.
-Stats:
-Cooter was the second teenager in NHL history to score a hat trick, with the other coming in 1945.
-Cooter and Giroux teamed up as first pair to get a hat trick in the same playoff game since 1990.
-The Flyers trailed 2-0 for the 9th time in their last 14 games.
-Not a great game from Bryz, though he did make a few big stops which is really all you ask for in a game like that. Let's just enjoy...
-On the same play, what they don't show on that NBC broadcast is one of the worst dives I have even seen a hockey player make. Kris Letang brings soccer-style "play-acting" to the NHL, as Matt Read bumps him in the arm and Letang throws his head back, screams in "pain", and goes down like a sack of bricks. Lost in the shuffle of all of last night's madness is the Penguins shameful diving. Letang and Crosby throw their head back any time anything happens (you might think guys with concussion histories would be a little more careful about the potential whiplash!), and Neal has been guilty of some serious embellishment on two calls this series too. No one even pointed it out on a broadcast last night, but in typical Penguins fashion, Kunitz breaks his stick with a slash on Coburn's ankle, and seconds later a Penguin flops at the slightest contact and draws a penalty. Disgraceful.
-27 minutes of ice time for Coburn last night, including 24 at even strength. That is 5 minutes more than anyone else on the team.
That is pretty much I feel. I had to check the score again this morning to make sure all that stuff really happened last night. That game had so many amazing, "momentum changing" plays that it was just surreal. The Bryzgalov save on Letang followed by Flyers SHG, the Pens scoring another goal in the final minute of the first, Couturier scoring with 2.8 secs left, Bryzgalov giving up a bad goal to start the third and Cooter singlehandedly getting it right back, Jagr getting the game winner, topped off by 2 hat tricks. Ridiculous.
Nothing in this series would surprise me anymore, so I don't want to presumptuous about what's going to happen next. What is clear though, is that the Penguins are utterly incapable of holding a lead against the Flyers. This is a carry-over from the regular season. I also said the first goal wouldn't matter much in this series given the offense capabilities and defensive carelessness of both of these teams, but I sure thought multiple goal leads would matter. Not so much. It is hard for me to imagine the Penguins winning 4 of 5 games when no lead is safe.
Notes:
-Did I say something about Giroux being invisible in game 1? People probably noticed his hat trick and three assists last night. It felt like November again with Giroux doing it all.
-As good as Giroux was, Cooter was nearly as good. Matched up against the presumptive MVP of the season, Cooter smoked him. It's not hyperbole to talk about his future franchise center potential. Of all the pieces moving in the Richards and Carter deals last summer, Cooter may be the best player of them all. There is nothing missing from his game. Skating, passing, a quick accurate shot, size he knows how to use, and off-the-charts awareness.
-Stats:
-Cooter was the second teenager in NHL history to score a hat trick, with the other coming in 1945.
-Cooter and Giroux teamed up as first pair to get a hat trick in the same playoff game since 1990.
-The Flyers trailed 2-0 for the 9th time in their last 14 games.
-Not a great game from Bryz, though he did make a few big stops which is really all you ask for in a game like that. Let's just enjoy...
-On the same play, what they don't show on that NBC broadcast is one of the worst dives I have even seen a hockey player make. Kris Letang brings soccer-style "play-acting" to the NHL, as Matt Read bumps him in the arm and Letang throws his head back, screams in "pain", and goes down like a sack of bricks. Lost in the shuffle of all of last night's madness is the Penguins shameful diving. Letang and Crosby throw their head back any time anything happens (you might think guys with concussion histories would be a little more careful about the potential whiplash!), and Neal has been guilty of some serious embellishment on two calls this series too. No one even pointed it out on a broadcast last night, but in typical Penguins fashion, Kunitz breaks his stick with a slash on Coburn's ankle, and seconds later a Penguin flops at the slightest contact and draws a penalty. Disgraceful.
-27 minutes of ice time for Coburn last night, including 24 at even strength. That is 5 minutes more than anyone else on the team.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Monthly Update
First, the stats and how they've changed in 2 months since I last did a monthly update.
Goals - 3.31/game (2nd, -1)
Goals against - 2.86/g (22nd, -3)
Faceoffs - 47.8% (27th, +2)
Power play - 20.7% (4th, +8)
Penalty kill - 82.6% (15th, -1)
Shots For - 32.4/g (5th, +3)
Shots Against - 29.0 (8th, -1)
Notes
-The big triumph here is the power play, that has really been clicking lately.. Hartnell has been a big part of that, and the Flyers have been doing a good job with traffic in front getting deflections.
-Giroux and Jagr have slowed down. Jagr has mainly been slowed down by injuries, and Giroux has yet to re-gain his mojo after the concussion. I *hope* it's not because of lingering concussion issues. Giroux is still making plays and getting assists, but his goal scoring is way down. Since the concussion, he only has 2 goals in 17 games, and has gone goalless in 12 games. Before the injury, he had 16 goals in 28 games.
-As far as trade options for defensemen go, I saw something online about how the Caps may be shopping Jeff Schultz. Schultz, is 25, 6'6", in the 2nd year of a $2.75x4 contract, and is a stay at home defensemen. He has mostly been a healthy scratch since Dale Hunter was hired, but is a former first round pick with 346 games under his belt and played ~20 minutes a night last season. I am not aware of any indicator that the Flyers actually have interest in Schultz, but he might be the kind of big, defensive defensemen the team is looking to add. Or maybe the Flyers won't see him as a worth upgrading to from Bourdon, who has been decent.
Goals - 3.31/game (2nd, -1)
Goals against - 2.86/g (22nd, -3)
Faceoffs - 47.8% (27th, +2)
Power play - 20.7% (4th, +8)
Penalty kill - 82.6% (15th, -1)
Shots For - 32.4/g (5th, +3)
Shots Against - 29.0 (8th, -1)
Notes
-The big triumph here is the power play, that has really been clicking lately.. Hartnell has been a big part of that, and the Flyers have been doing a good job with traffic in front getting deflections.
-Giroux and Jagr have slowed down. Jagr has mainly been slowed down by injuries, and Giroux has yet to re-gain his mojo after the concussion. I *hope* it's not because of lingering concussion issues. Giroux is still making plays and getting assists, but his goal scoring is way down. Since the concussion, he only has 2 goals in 17 games, and has gone goalless in 12 games. Before the injury, he had 16 goals in 28 games.
-As far as trade options for defensemen go, I saw something online about how the Caps may be shopping Jeff Schultz. Schultz, is 25, 6'6", in the 2nd year of a $2.75x4 contract, and is a stay at home defensemen. He has mostly been a healthy scratch since Dale Hunter was hired, but is a former first round pick with 346 games under his belt and played ~20 minutes a night last season. I am not aware of any indicator that the Flyers actually have interest in Schultz, but he might be the kind of big, defensive defensemen the team is looking to add. Or maybe the Flyers won't see him as a worth upgrading to from Bourdon, who has been decent.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Midseason Player Reviews
I don't like rating players by grades, and there's no use denying every player faces different expectations and different roles. I'm going to simply assume some degree of subjective expectations and rate players with a stock-rating flavor.
Outperform
-Claude Giroux. No brainer here. Last season he looked like a promising young center, but was arguably the 4th most visible center on the team. With Richards and Carter traded to make room for a goalie, Giroux faced a lot of pressure to be the offensive lynchpin. He has responded with an MVP caliber season.
-Jaromir Jagr. Sticking with Giroux's line, no one was sure how Jagr would perform after three season out of the NHL. 50 points? 60 points? He still couldn't do a point a game, could he? Apparently yes. After a slow start, he found his legs and has looked fantastic, and is a key offensive player for the Flyers. Nagging injuries are the only thing slowing him down now.
-Scott Hartnell. And now to complete the Giroux line! Hartnell got off to a very rocky start, missing preseason time due to medical tests, and his place in the lineup was very much at risk with 2 points in 7 games and Simmonds on the top PP unit. Placing him with Jagr and Giroux has been magic, as every player has looked better since this trio was complete. Hartnell has 35 points in 34 games since then.
-Matt Read. On pace for 25+ goals, and an offensive factor every night. What more could the Flyers want from him?
-Jake Voracek. His pace of ~50 points isn't going to turn many heads, and is line with his career averages, however I think he is playing better than that. Didn't start off great, but he is up on his skates attacking the defense every night. It's not a coincidence that the Flyers go on win streaks when he is playing his best. Early in the season I talked about Jagr replacing Leino's offensive contribution, but it's actually been Voracek carrying the puck, making plays, contributing what the Flyers would've hoped for from Leino.
-Kimmo Timonen. He has played big minutes and piled up the points, and looks to produce at a rate not seen since his best years in Nashville.
-Max Talbot. Has played reliably all over the lineup, and at midseason is already near career highs in goal scoring and points.
-Sean Couturier. I didn't listen to scouts early this year when they nearly unanimously predicted Cooter would make the big team. I looked at the roster and though, nah. Instead, Cooter has simply made it impossible to take him out of the lineup, playing like a veteran.
-Harry Zolneirczyk. Despite being sent down early in the season, he has come back and looked great on the 4th line--energetic with occasional scoring. Thumbs up, though to maintain a role like this in the NHL he will have to have an increased role on the PK.
-Zac Rinaldo. I was pretty skeptical of this wild man coming into the season. Although he seems targeted by officials, he has general kept it under control, potted a goal here or there, and aggressively sought contact on the ice.
-Marc-Andre Bourdon. His ascent to the NHL hasn't really gone like many in the organization may have hoped, but he has played within himself and looked like he belongs in the NHL.
Market Perform
-Danny Briere. A pretty ho-hum regular season for Briere. He's been there for some key goals, but hasn't looked consistently dangerous and is on pace for his lowest point totals for a full season as a Flyer (when healthy). I am giving him somewhat of a pass due to raising his game in the playoffs the last two years, and the expectation that he will do it again.
-Matt Carle. Carle continues to hum along, playing big minutes and getting decent point totals. I still say he has the worst shot on the team though, so there's always that to infuriate Flyers fans when he gets so many chances with skating and awareness on the ice.
-Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds teased Flyers fans early this year and preseason with some offensive skill, however Flyer fans have seen some stone hands since then. Simmonds is always battling out there, but his offense probably will never be more than occasional and streaky.
-Braydon Coburn. Quiet but largely steady from Braydon.
-Sergei Bobrovsky. Bob continues to progress nicely, and currently sports a much better stat line than Bryzgalov. He probably deserves a chance to get some starts and be given a chance to run with it.
-Andreas Lilja. Doing exactly what was expected; old and slow, occasionally physical defensemen.
Underperform
-Brayden Schenn. I don't like putting him here, as when I see him play I see a skilled and intelligent player, and injuries never really gave him a chance. Still, on January 1, there he was with 0 points and -7 in 8 games. Hopefully, the second half will treat him better (and the signs are already good).
-James Van Riemsdyk. Looking at a low 40s point season, and is not visible many nights. This is even when I commented earlier this season that his points line flatters his play. He was supposed to progress more than this by this point.
-Andrej Meszaros. The team's best defensemen last year, he struggled early. His play has improved, but his overall body of work is not what Flyers fans were hoping for.
-Ilya Bryzgalov. If you've read this blog, or even followed the Flyers at all, do I need to say anything? Not playing like the top goalie the Flyers signed him to be. He still can figure it out though.
-Jody Shelley. Yes, he is still on this team.
No Rating
Chris Pronger, Erik Gustafsson
Outperform
-Claude Giroux. No brainer here. Last season he looked like a promising young center, but was arguably the 4th most visible center on the team. With Richards and Carter traded to make room for a goalie, Giroux faced a lot of pressure to be the offensive lynchpin. He has responded with an MVP caliber season.
-Jaromir Jagr. Sticking with Giroux's line, no one was sure how Jagr would perform after three season out of the NHL. 50 points? 60 points? He still couldn't do a point a game, could he? Apparently yes. After a slow start, he found his legs and has looked fantastic, and is a key offensive player for the Flyers. Nagging injuries are the only thing slowing him down now.
-Scott Hartnell. And now to complete the Giroux line! Hartnell got off to a very rocky start, missing preseason time due to medical tests, and his place in the lineup was very much at risk with 2 points in 7 games and Simmonds on the top PP unit. Placing him with Jagr and Giroux has been magic, as every player has looked better since this trio was complete. Hartnell has 35 points in 34 games since then.
-Matt Read. On pace for 25+ goals, and an offensive factor every night. What more could the Flyers want from him?
-Jake Voracek. His pace of ~50 points isn't going to turn many heads, and is line with his career averages, however I think he is playing better than that. Didn't start off great, but he is up on his skates attacking the defense every night. It's not a coincidence that the Flyers go on win streaks when he is playing his best. Early in the season I talked about Jagr replacing Leino's offensive contribution, but it's actually been Voracek carrying the puck, making plays, contributing what the Flyers would've hoped for from Leino.
-Kimmo Timonen. He has played big minutes and piled up the points, and looks to produce at a rate not seen since his best years in Nashville.
-Max Talbot. Has played reliably all over the lineup, and at midseason is already near career highs in goal scoring and points.
-Sean Couturier. I didn't listen to scouts early this year when they nearly unanimously predicted Cooter would make the big team. I looked at the roster and though, nah. Instead, Cooter has simply made it impossible to take him out of the lineup, playing like a veteran.
-Harry Zolneirczyk. Despite being sent down early in the season, he has come back and looked great on the 4th line--energetic with occasional scoring. Thumbs up, though to maintain a role like this in the NHL he will have to have an increased role on the PK.
-Zac Rinaldo. I was pretty skeptical of this wild man coming into the season. Although he seems targeted by officials, he has general kept it under control, potted a goal here or there, and aggressively sought contact on the ice.
-Marc-Andre Bourdon. His ascent to the NHL hasn't really gone like many in the organization may have hoped, but he has played within himself and looked like he belongs in the NHL.
Market Perform
-Danny Briere. A pretty ho-hum regular season for Briere. He's been there for some key goals, but hasn't looked consistently dangerous and is on pace for his lowest point totals for a full season as a Flyer (when healthy). I am giving him somewhat of a pass due to raising his game in the playoffs the last two years, and the expectation that he will do it again.
-Matt Carle. Carle continues to hum along, playing big minutes and getting decent point totals. I still say he has the worst shot on the team though, so there's always that to infuriate Flyers fans when he gets so many chances with skating and awareness on the ice.
-Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds teased Flyers fans early this year and preseason with some offensive skill, however Flyer fans have seen some stone hands since then. Simmonds is always battling out there, but his offense probably will never be more than occasional and streaky.
-Braydon Coburn. Quiet but largely steady from Braydon.
-Sergei Bobrovsky. Bob continues to progress nicely, and currently sports a much better stat line than Bryzgalov. He probably deserves a chance to get some starts and be given a chance to run with it.
-Andreas Lilja. Doing exactly what was expected; old and slow, occasionally physical defensemen.
Underperform
-Brayden Schenn. I don't like putting him here, as when I see him play I see a skilled and intelligent player, and injuries never really gave him a chance. Still, on January 1, there he was with 0 points and -7 in 8 games. Hopefully, the second half will treat him better (and the signs are already good).
-James Van Riemsdyk. Looking at a low 40s point season, and is not visible many nights. This is even when I commented earlier this season that his points line flatters his play. He was supposed to progress more than this by this point.
-Andrej Meszaros. The team's best defensemen last year, he struggled early. His play has improved, but his overall body of work is not what Flyers fans were hoping for.
-Ilya Bryzgalov. If you've read this blog, or even followed the Flyers at all, do I need to say anything? Not playing like the top goalie the Flyers signed him to be. He still can figure it out though.
-Jody Shelley. Yes, he is still on this team.
No Rating
Chris Pronger, Erik Gustafsson
Friday, December 16, 2011
Major Headaches
A lot has changed quickly in the current concussion storyline. A week ago, I probably would've posted somewhat lightheartedly about the Flyers concussion disclosure history--trying to explain away injuries as neck soreness, dehydration, and now with Pronger, a mystery virus. It's not that Pronger's and Giroux's uncertain issues weren't serious, but there was the expectation that they'd be back sooner or later.
All that has changed. Pronger has now been diagnosed with severe post concussion syndrome, and is out for the season. And in direct contradiction of his previous statements, Holmgren discloses that Giroux's symptoms have actually been getting worse every day.
For the wins to keep on coming, several players will have to contribute to the best of their abilities. The current winning streak is largely thanks to goal scoring streaks from Hartnell and Simmonds, quality goaltending from Bryz and Bob, and quality playmaking from Jagr and Voracek. (Take note Flyers fans, but with Giroux out of the lineup, Hartnell is the team's leading scorer!) The Flyers have also gotten some bounces, and understandably, the Caps more or less gave up the other night when they conceded the second goal of the game to Bourdon from Rinaldo and Shelley.
What to do about Pronger
Tangibly, Pronger brought three things to the Flyers; veteran leadership, defensive anchoring, and a power play presence. As the Flyers try to fill those holes, it would be impossible to do all three in one player, and even getting two would be a stretch. I think the Flyers will not even try to fill the leadership void from the outside, and focus on the defensive and power play shortcomings.
First you have to assess the cap space. Presuming the Flyers approach the stretch with the following lineup, my math says they would be spending $60.08 against the cap;
On the power play end of things, a guy like Bryan McCabe is unsigned, and might sign for very little ($1 million?). He's a flawed player, but a PP specialist. I also saw Marc Crawford suggest the Flyers trade for Sergie Gonchar this morning, possibly shipping out Schenn, but I'm not crazy about trading Schenn before he's ever had a chance with this team for a 37 year old defensemen signed for $5.5 this year and next.
It's also a little early for teams to decide they are going to be sellers, and looking to unload their pending UFAs, so it's hard to speculate what else is available by trade.
Long story short, the Flyers have a few million dollars to plug holes, but they have to decide if they are willling to trade picks and prospects, and which need is more pressing--PP or defensive help. The most likely scenario is a trade for defensive defensemen I think.
All that has changed. Pronger has now been diagnosed with severe post concussion syndrome, and is out for the season. And in direct contradiction of his previous statements, Holmgren discloses that Giroux's symptoms have actually been getting worse every day.
Holmgren on December 12: "Claude is continuing to feel better"While the Flyers continue to pile up wins on the ice and sit in first place, the season is in a very delicate place. The Flyers aren't the only ones with concussion issues, as recent names added to the concussion casualty list include Sidney Crosby (the best player in the league), Jeff Skinner (reigning rookie of the year), and Milan Michalek (NHL leading goal scorer).
Holmgren on December 13: "Claude reported not feeling very good today. Over the past few days, his symptoms have gradually gotten worse. He will be out indefinitely with a concussion."
For the wins to keep on coming, several players will have to contribute to the best of their abilities. The current winning streak is largely thanks to goal scoring streaks from Hartnell and Simmonds, quality goaltending from Bryz and Bob, and quality playmaking from Jagr and Voracek. (Take note Flyers fans, but with Giroux out of the lineup, Hartnell is the team's leading scorer!) The Flyers have also gotten some bounces, and understandably, the Caps more or less gave up the other night when they conceded the second goal of the game to Bourdon from Rinaldo and Shelley.
What to do about Pronger
Tangibly, Pronger brought three things to the Flyers; veteran leadership, defensive anchoring, and a power play presence. As the Flyers try to fill those holes, it would be impossible to do all three in one player, and even getting two would be a stretch. I think the Flyers will not even try to fill the leadership void from the outside, and focus on the defensive and power play shortcomings.
First you have to assess the cap space. Presuming the Flyers approach the stretch with the following lineup, my math says they would be spending $60.08 against the cap;
Hartnell Giroux Jagr Meszaros Carle BryzgalovThat leaves the Flyers with just over $4 million to play with in cap space, assuming they don't cut or trade away anyone.
Simmonds Briere Read Timonen Coburn Bobrovsky
Voracek Talbot JVR Bourdon Lilja
Harry Z Cooter Schenn Gustafsson
Rinaldo Shelley
On the power play end of things, a guy like Bryan McCabe is unsigned, and might sign for very little ($1 million?). He's a flawed player, but a PP specialist. I also saw Marc Crawford suggest the Flyers trade for Sergie Gonchar this morning, possibly shipping out Schenn, but I'm not crazy about trading Schenn before he's ever had a chance with this team for a 37 year old defensemen signed for $5.5 this year and next.
It's also a little early for teams to decide they are going to be sellers, and looking to unload their pending UFAs, so it's hard to speculate what else is available by trade.
Long story short, the Flyers have a few million dollars to plug holes, but they have to decide if they are willling to trade picks and prospects, and which need is more pressing--PP or defensive help. The most likely scenario is a trade for defensive defensemen I think.
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Day After
Just a few thoughts now that the initial shock has worn off.
-Trading both Richards and Carter seems to lend credence to the idea that there were locker room issues with the young players on this team. Going back even further, every last piece of the "Old City Crew" has been shipped out; Upshall, then Lupul, now Richards and Carter. Seems a long time ago Stevens was coaching that big group of young forwards.
-I have to assume Pronger will be named the captain, as he kind of assumed the role of de facto captain last year anyway.
-As much as I like the deal, Simmonds, Voracek and Schenn will not be able to match the outgoing production of Richards and Carter this year. They are still young and developing, and are where Richards and Carter were a few years ago. Can they develop quick enough to win before Timonen and Pronger get too old?
-I really don't think I'll miss Carter too much, but the Richards trade does make me a little nervous. Richards looked out of shape to me down the stretch this year, but he can still do a little bit of everything and never quits. All is well if Schenn develops as most expect he will, and he's not a dissimilar player to Richards. However if Schenn fizzles by any significant amount, the Flyers will have traded their captain in his prime and not have too much to show for it.
-Apparently the Flyers almost sent Richards to the Leafs for Kulemin and Kadri, but the Leafs couldn't make up their mind. Also the Flyers apparently asked for Ryan Johansen, another center (and #2 on hockeysfuture.com top prospects behing Schenn) from Columbus. Maybe if Columbus had given in on Johansen the Flyers wouldn't have traded for Schenn? Who knows, who cares.
-There are some ridiculous rumors floating around about the Flyers chasing Brad Richards or Steven Stamkos. I can't imagine it. The Flyers opened up some cap space, but not that much cap space. Future acquisitions should be to round out the chemistry of the forwards at reasonable prices, not expensive high-end players. Cole, Gagne...etc.
-I'd also try and get Leino back because of his chemistry with Briere. People forget how much this team relied on that line up through January, because quite frankly Richards, Carter, and Pronger were having pretty sleepy seasons.
-The team is placing the offense into Claude Giroux's hands. He is the new franchise center, a role he seemingly was eager to accept this season anyway. With any luck, Schenn will be there supporting him sooner rather than later.
-The only thing the Flyers didn't address yesterday was young defensemen. Presumably the Flyers will take a defensemen with the #8 pick, though personally I would even look for a deal to trade Versteeg+#8 pick for a top notch defensive prospect who is close to NHL ready.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
It's officially over
As expected, the Bruins series ended promptly this year. It was a comprehensive thrashing. There's really not much else to say about it, other than that it shouldn't be all that surprising given the way they looked at the end the season in general; disorganized defensively, tentative, physically unassertive.
I wanted to believe the Flyers would shape up and return to midseason form after some inspired play against Buffalo, but that proved to be a temporary flash against an inferior opponent.
Quick season review:
What went right?
-Giroux emerged as the best player on the team.
-JVR took a big step forward, and should be a key player next year.
-The Meszaros transaction worked out great, being the team's best defense from start to finish this year. He is signed for 3 more years at $4m per and looks to be the heir apparent to leading the defense as Pronger's and Timonen's ice time declines due to age.
-Bobrovsky showed a lot of promise, with his best hockey coming in November. That said, I strongly believe his NHL game is not a finished product, and there's no way I'd enter next season with him as the undisputed number 1.
-Nodl's first half.
-The defense was much stronger 1-6, at least when the roster was healthy.
What went wrong?
-Pronger had a mediocre regular season, had injury problems, and essentially missed the end of the season and playoffs. Honestly I didn't care too much about his regular season because he's a playoff player, but that didn't really work out this year, did it.
-Timonen had his worst season as a Flyer, particularly in the playoffs. Along with Pronger, questions have to be asked how much their skills will diminish in the next season or two and if they are breaking down. Timonen is 36 years old and said it himself that he only has so many season in his "stumpy legs." Maybe he was just playing injured in the playoffs...we'll have to see.
-Richards had an uninspiring regular season, and a particularly disappointing playoffs. I still say he was injured/out-of-shape. I hope for his sake it was injured and not the latter. There's also a lot of chatter about his lack of leadership, but I know nothing about what is really happening in "the room", so I can't speak to that.
-The Versteeg trade is looking like a real dud. He played a little better in the playoffs, but never contributing in any significant way. He will have to do better next year to earn the $3m cap hit, or the Flyers should start looking to remedy the mistake of acquiring him in the first place.
-Nodl's second half, the return of Andreas No-Goal.
-Goaltending was not good enough. It was rendered irrelevant in the Boston series, but the Flyers eeked by a much inferior Buffalo team after what was, taken collectively, probably the worst goaltending performance in a playoff series I've ever seen.
-The power play was really bad, somewhat inexplicably so.
-The Hartnell-Briere-Leino line lost its mojo in the second half of the season. For last year's playoffs and the first half this year, they were pretty easily the Flyers best 5v5 line, manufacturing scoring chances and pinning in the other team. Just as an example, Leino's 6 points in 11 playoff games this year is a far cry from his 21 in 19 games last year.
-100 straight games without a shutout. It's hard to pin down the exact reasons for this, but I say roughly 2/3rds goaltending and 1/3 poor defensive zone coverage and lapses. Much of a shutout is solid defense combined with a flawless performance by a goalie.
There is really no clear path forward for the Flyers. That's not to say they're all of a sudden a bad team, I just mean that management could go in several completely different directions. The only move I think they HAVE to make is a meaningful solution in goal. What they should do with the skaters however (and if they should shake up the lineup) is very subjective, but almost nothing is off the table.
I wanted to believe the Flyers would shape up and return to midseason form after some inspired play against Buffalo, but that proved to be a temporary flash against an inferior opponent.
Quick season review:
What went right?
-Giroux emerged as the best player on the team.
-JVR took a big step forward, and should be a key player next year.
-The Meszaros transaction worked out great, being the team's best defense from start to finish this year. He is signed for 3 more years at $4m per and looks to be the heir apparent to leading the defense as Pronger's and Timonen's ice time declines due to age.
-Bobrovsky showed a lot of promise, with his best hockey coming in November. That said, I strongly believe his NHL game is not a finished product, and there's no way I'd enter next season with him as the undisputed number 1.
-Nodl's first half.
-The defense was much stronger 1-6, at least when the roster was healthy.
What went wrong?
-Pronger had a mediocre regular season, had injury problems, and essentially missed the end of the season and playoffs. Honestly I didn't care too much about his regular season because he's a playoff player, but that didn't really work out this year, did it.
-Timonen had his worst season as a Flyer, particularly in the playoffs. Along with Pronger, questions have to be asked how much their skills will diminish in the next season or two and if they are breaking down. Timonen is 36 years old and said it himself that he only has so many season in his "stumpy legs." Maybe he was just playing injured in the playoffs...we'll have to see.
-Richards had an uninspiring regular season, and a particularly disappointing playoffs. I still say he was injured/out-of-shape. I hope for his sake it was injured and not the latter. There's also a lot of chatter about his lack of leadership, but I know nothing about what is really happening in "the room", so I can't speak to that.
-The Versteeg trade is looking like a real dud. He played a little better in the playoffs, but never contributing in any significant way. He will have to do better next year to earn the $3m cap hit, or the Flyers should start looking to remedy the mistake of acquiring him in the first place.
-Nodl's second half, the return of Andreas No-Goal.
-Goaltending was not good enough. It was rendered irrelevant in the Boston series, but the Flyers eeked by a much inferior Buffalo team after what was, taken collectively, probably the worst goaltending performance in a playoff series I've ever seen.
-The power play was really bad, somewhat inexplicably so.
-The Hartnell-Briere-Leino line lost its mojo in the second half of the season. For last year's playoffs and the first half this year, they were pretty easily the Flyers best 5v5 line, manufacturing scoring chances and pinning in the other team. Just as an example, Leino's 6 points in 11 playoff games this year is a far cry from his 21 in 19 games last year.
-100 straight games without a shutout. It's hard to pin down the exact reasons for this, but I say roughly 2/3rds goaltending and 1/3 poor defensive zone coverage and lapses. Much of a shutout is solid defense combined with a flawless performance by a goalie.
There is really no clear path forward for the Flyers. That's not to say they're all of a sudden a bad team, I just mean that management could go in several completely different directions. The only move I think they HAVE to make is a meaningful solution in goal. What they should do with the skaters however (and if they should shake up the lineup) is very subjective, but almost nothing is off the table.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Game 2 Review
A wild game yesterday, with the Flyers coming out on the right side in the end. Hard to read too much into a game like yesterday with the first period being all over the place, and the rest of the game being a never ending stream of powerplays. Still, I thought it was a better effort from the Flyers. In my opinion, Miller did not play appreciably worse than game 1, where so many wanted to say he stole the game with 35 saves, yet the Flyers hit 5 goals and it wasn't just a lucky afternoon.
Comments;
Goaltending
The obvious question, though I don't think it's really a question anymore; Bobrovsky cannot start game 3.
Okay, I admit I'm a little biased. About a month ago I decided I would go with Boucher for the playoffs. Recent events have made Boucher the obvious choice for game 3, and I just can't see how starting Bobrovsky for game 3 is a defensible position.
Subjectively, Bobrovsky still has some obvious flaws in his game that he hasn't been able to meaningfully address this season. Foremost among them is discomfort with the puck around the net and goalline, and getting small on long shots (I've been beating these horses for a while). Those traits were on full display on the goals 2 and 3 yesterday respectively. Goal 2 in particular was badly misplayed by Bobrovsky, flailing in the crease instead of simply holding the post. Now the Flyers weren't exactly on lockdown for any of the three goals, but Bobrovsky looked completely out of sorts on all of them, and flopping around like a fish on the first goal which is something new for him. Right now, Bobrovsky has lost his way.
Objectively, the numbers are stunning. Bobrovsky has started 7 consecutive games, and has won zero with a .889 save percentage. Let me say that again--DURING THE MOST IMPORTANT STRETCH OF THE SEASON, BOBROVSKY HAS STARTED 7 CONSECUTIVE GAMES AND WON NONE. Even more distressing, in each of the two virtual must-win games for the Flyers (finale versus Islanders and game 2 against Sabres) Bobrovsky was pulled 12 minutes into the game after giving up 3 goals and looking lost. It is somewhat miraculous that Boucher has come into both of those and gotten the win.
I can't blame Laviolette for picking his guy and giving him the keys to the team. However Bobrovsky is not winning and is losing his way. In picking the Sabres to win the series in 7, I stated that I did not think Bob was capable of carrying the load, and worried that by the time Laviolette was ready to take him out, it would be too late.
Well, here is the moment of truth. Bobrovsky may have proven to be level-headed and resilient this season, but this is not just a matter of Bobrovsky bouncing back after a bad game. Bobrovsky is struggling badly and has been disastrous in 2 of his last 3 outings, yet the series is still 1-1. What will Laviolette do? For me the choice is easy. Granted, other writers are making the argument he should stay in, so who knows what will happen. I do have to say though, I find many those arguments completely misguided and unconvincing.
Richards
I'm beginning to think Richards is either sick, injured, or out-of-shape. He can't keep up with the pace of his teammates right now, and is constantly a step slow. He's not been much of a factor thus far.
Carter
Not much better than Richards, though showing less obvious signs of ailing. Just been a nonfactor, plain and simple.
JVR
Arguably the Flyers best forward thus far. He's made real nice strides this season, though maybe not the giant leap Giroux made last year in the playoffs.
Giroux
Speaking of Giroux, he has undoubtedly established himself as the offensive leader of this team. He even had the two biggest hits of the game for the Flyers last night. During the broadcast, the announcers said that, when asked who was the most competitive guy on the team, Briere answered Giroux. It's showing.
Versteeg
I haven't been impressed with Versteeg overall, but he was better last night.
Power play
Still awful. Thankfully the Flyers got one powerplay goal, but they were still 1-10 overall, including two embarrassing lengthy 5-on-3s. I think if the Flyers blew all those second period PPs and didn't score on any of them, they probably would've lost the game yesterday. Maybe getting Pronger back would help?
Pronger
Looks like Pronger won't be back for game 3, and who knows beyond? Even when he does come back, will he be as dangerous on the PP with his bad hand affecting his shot? Tomorrow will be 2.5 weeks since his "setback". Was his setbreak re-breaking his hand? Considering that he's still not shooting on it, yet was shooting on it 9 days after surgery last month, I think that's a real possibility.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Game 1 Review
I didn't have a good feeling about this series, and the Flyers did nothing for me tonight to change any of those worries.
Yes, the Flyers held a clear territorial edge in the play, had 35 shots, and probably outchanced Buffalo about 2-1. Much of the post-game talk was Miller, and Richards said if they continue to play like that, they'll have success.
I disagree. How many times did the Flyers get a great look where you get on the edge of your seat? Damn few. The only decent chances they had were jam plays where you hope somebody pokes the puck in the net when the goalie is down. Miller was solid but didn't do much of note.
This team is still afflicted with stop-and-pass syndrome. I lost count of all the times where the Flyers had odd-man numbers on a rush or around the goal and the puck carrier just stops skating, drifts and throws a hopeful pass into the slot which bounces away harmlessly. It's like the Flyers are afraid to carry the puck to the net or shoot from anywhere but the slot (a play which Buffalo took away). Briere and Meszaros are the only guys willing to shoot. This is the way they've been playing the last month, and it's doubtful it will change now. Carry the puck towards the net aggressively and force the issue!! Coasting and passing to the slot every time is predictable and easy to defend. I don't expect the Flyers to score many goals this series.
Other individual thoughts:
The good
-Real good game for JVR. Probably the Flyers best forward tonight.
-Good first period from Leino, and he created several chances overall.
-Can't fault Briere for anything tonight. He probably had the most hits of any Flyer.
-Bobrovsky gets a pass tonight. Was pretty good in the limited chances he faced, though he gave up a poor rebound that led to the only goal.
The not-so good
-Versteeg is really doing absolutely nothing for me (which has been the case since he arrived)
-Carter did nothing with the puck. He had a few scoring chances, but those came from hanging out away from the puck where Giroux and JVR set him up with their hard work.
-Good to see Richards come out with fire, but he did nothing this game and spent more time yelling at the refs than anything else. Same anonymous play as stretches of the regular season for him this year.
-The PP looked totally hopeless, not that there could've been any reasonable expectation of flipping the switch on that.
-Giroux is trying, but is out of sorts right now. Stickhandling 1-on-4 during the last PP?
My standing prediction was Buffalo in 7. 6 games is looking more likely.
Monday, March 28, 2011
What changed?
As the Flyers skid to the finish, I was wondering what has really changed here. The only thing that really jumps out at me is that the Briere/Leino line hasn't been nearly as productive recently. I wouldn't say Richards or Carter has been playing great recently, but no worse than earlier this year. Do the numbers bear this out?
Some quick splits, focusing on even strength play only:
Even strength points/game, +/- per game, Pre-allstar game-->March
Leino: .58, +.4 --> .38, -.38
Briere: .74, +.34 --> .54, -.08
Hartnell: .56, +.32 --> .15, -.08
Richards: .58, +.28 --> .46, +.31
Carter: .64, +.36 --> .64, +.55
Giroux: .58, +.22 --> .62, +.31
So focusing only on even strength play, the Flyers' stars are doing pretty much the same recently. The big difference is the Leino line.
I am of the opinion that the Leino line carried this team for the first half of the season, consistently creating far more scoring chances than other lines. I would love to see chances or penalties drawn per line, but alas. The statistics above show that line has been far less productive at even strength recently (look at the +/-) and I don't think most noticed how much the Flyers leaned on that line for success. Kind of shocking what happens when you take it away, even with the other stars holding steady.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Baby Steps
Put the Chara hit aside for a moment, which has everyone hyperventilating, and last night was a good step in the right direction for the Flyers last night. Second win in a row, after a fairly sleepy win over the atrocious Oilers.
More importantly, the Flyers were skating harder for the entire game. It was still a close game where the Flyers benefited from a garbage goal, but the Flyers generated more chances, hit a few posts, and looked a little more purposeful on the power play.
Individual player thoughts;
-Really could stuff from Carter, using his speed and size, and evidently filling a need the Flyers have really missed recently.
-Carcillo has likely earned his spot in the lineup for the time being, as there's no reason to take him out for Nodl or Zherdev.
-I'm not really pleased with Richards offensive zone play. Overhandling the puck, and constantly trying very low percentage diagonal passes, especially on the PP.
-No Pronger, and apparently he let loose after the Oilers win, not being satisfied. Apparently Giroux was one of his targets? Not sure. I wouldn't say Giroux was bad against the Oilers, though he did pass up many good shooting opportunities for bad passing decisions.
Chara
The Chara controversy is still boiling. Probably influenced by the fact that it happened in Montreal to a hometown player, the PM of Canada is commenting, Air Canada is making threats about abandoning the league, and there is an open police investigation.
People need to simmer down. My opinion of the hit hasn't changed since my last post, where I said Chara bears some responsibility for not better recognizing his surroundings and letting up, but there just isn't much evidence of intent on a freak occurrence. In particular, a criminal investigation where the police would have to show Chara did something well beyond the type of contact a hockey player accepts the risk for AND that Chara intended to injure, seems like a complete waste of time. Still, the NHL doesn't look good by giving him no suspension whatsoever, and Bettman makes d-bag comments responding to Air Canada.
As lawyers say, bad facts make bad law, ie if we attempt to tailor rules to a freak or unusual circumstance, the rule ultimately doesn't work very well when applied elsewhere down the road. The NHL has to take a hard look at many things revolving around league discipline, head injuries, and IMO Bettman's leadership for on-ice issues, but this is not a good hit to make a rallying cry around league actions for head injuries. That said, no one is happy with league discipline actions, and it should be addressed in a meaningful way in the offseason (IMO house cleaning of leadership positions, but that's a topic for another day).
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