Philadelphia Flyers Fan Confidence Rating: 12/23 Voting
by Travis Hughes on Dec 23, 2009 7:00 AM EST
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PrintAfter a 40-plus point drop in the Broad Street Hockey Fan Confidence Rating a week ago, we probably shouldn't expect a higher number this week. The Flyers have played three games since the last poll and have not shown any signs of recovery, picking up just one of a possible six points. But don't let that make up your mind for you. Do you still believe?
You vote, on a scale of 0 percent to 100 percent, how confident you are in the current direction of the organization as a whole. That means that you're taking into account the team's on-ice performance, management and coaching decisions, and the overall status of prospects and the farm system.
Voting will be open for 24 hours, and the results will be posted on tomorrow morning and graphed alongside previous results. The current graph can be seen after the jump.
So, how confident are you in the current direction of the Philadelphia Flyers? Vote in the poll and let us know how you feel in the comments.
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I am still as unconfident in the direction of this team as I was when Holmgren and Stevens took over 3 years ago. They should have gotten a real GM separated from the nepotism Holmgren shared with this franchise. Ex-players and past heros are a bad format for management, Clarke included. And Stevens was given the coaching job based on his personal relationship with the young star players, which is ultimately what led to the complacency this team has showed. This is why we are here right now and this team doesn’t have the fortitude to dig down and refuse to lose because they were spoiled from the beginning.
Ed Snider loves this team. He wants them to have a chance to win every year. And for the most part, he’s done a fine job of fielding a competitive team year in and year out. But this has not translated into a championship since 1975.
That said, here’s what I don’t get. If you owned a team, LOVED that team, and wanted them to have a chance not just to compete, but to win the Stanley Cup every year, wouldn’t you go out and hire the best minds in hockey – REGARDLESS of whether or not they ever played a single game for your team? I know I would.
Between the minor leagues here in North America, the KHL, and all of the other professional leagues in Europe, there are likely quite a few bright hockey minds out there – people who can easily adapt to change and know what it takes to succeed in today’s game. This applies to everyone from GMs down to scouts. Ken Holland and Mike Illitch have figured this out and, as a result, have had a high-caliber team since 1992. This high-caliber team of theirs has won 4 championships since the 1992-93 season, when they truly became one of the most competitive, talented teams in the NHL.
No disrespect to John Stevens, but the Flyers made a good move in this direction by bringing Laviolette in here. But the trend has to continue if the team ever expects to win another Cup. The Flyers need to be run by, and supported by, the brightest minds in hockey if they TRULY want to have a chance to win every year. But instead they are run by, and supported by, “loyal organizational soldiers.” These folks have done more good than bad, seeing as how the Flyers are second only to the Canadiens in all-time winning percentage. (At least they were before this season started.)
But I’m tired of teams that are “not quite good enough” to win it all. I’m tired of having “Flyers hockey” rammed down my throat when it hasn’t gotten us a championship in 35 years. I have no problem with the history or tradition of the team, but life is change. Nothing is constant. Trying to win the Stanley Cup with an outdated hockey model is like trying to get your taxes in the mail on time after you’ve waited to the last minute and are using an abacus to help you calculate everything. In both cases it is possible but VERY unlikely you’ll get the job done.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
by mikefive on Dec 23, 2009 9:57 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’d rather play Flyers Hockey and lose then play like a Penguin and lose.
by BroadStreetBully on Dec 23, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
Like I said, I have no issue with the history or tradition of the team. But I think we have to be willing to get away from a set-in-stone idea of “Flyers Hockey” if we want to win the Cup anytime soon.
Speaking of “playing like a Penguin,” read CoburnsCuddleBuddy’s article about the Flyers-Pens rivalry. “Playing like a Penguin” does not result in losing because they are built to succeed in today’s game.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Right. Diving will usually get your team a power play. And Diving in the standings will usually get your team a #1 draft pick. Neither of which I want to see our Flyers doing, just because it works.
by BroadStreetBully on Dec 23, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not talking about drawing penalties or tanking seasons or anything like that. Quite frankly I’m sick of the conspiracy theories. Everyone conveniently overlooks the fact that the franchise was bleeding cash and could not afford to put a quality product on the ice for years. I don’t care how Pittsburgh got to where they are – whether or not the draft lotteries were “fixed” or whatever. The fact is that teams like Pittsburgh and Detroit are adaptable to the modern game and have become successful. They have done so by going out and getting some organizational personnel who know a thing or two about what it takes to win in a constantly evolving game. (Detroit is a better model for this than Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh has been doing a couple of things right over the past few years.)
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Umm… They didnt “dive” to get Crosby, every team had an equal chance at him and they got lucky.
by philiafan14364 on Dec 23, 2009 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
No, only certain teams were in the lottery and you get a better chance depending on how bad you were.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Dec 23, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
That’s also incorrect.
Every team was in the lottery, which was weighted based upon playoff appearances in the previous few seasons.
My bad, Marios right. Per Wikipedia:
As a lockout cancelled the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years. According to the draft order, the selection worked its way up to 30 as usual; then instead of repeating the order as in past years, the draft “snaked” back down to the team with the first pick. Therefore the team with the first pick overall would not pick again until the 60th pick. The team with the 30th pick would also get the 31st pick. The draft was only seven rounds in length, compared to nine rounds in years past. The labor dispute caused the shortened draft.
Even so, though, Pitt got lucky that their ball came up first. So I still dont think they took a “dive” for Sidney.
by philiafan14364 on Dec 24, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, I confused it with the current lottery then.
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by Travis Hughes on Dec 25, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
And although we as defensive losers like to believe the Pens got “lucky” by “tanking” is bullsh!t. There have been so many more teams over history that have had multiple first round picks and failed miserably at building a winning team. Look at all the expansion franchises like Ottawa and teams like extinct Hartford and the Islanders. They had so many chances to build from the draft and continually messed it up and gave up on players and stunk. I would stink for five years to be the Pens but history would tell you we would probably mess it up. Hell we stunk in the early 90’s for five years and then traded the keys to two Stanley Cups for Lindros and had nothing around him afterward to truly contend.
Thank you. Pittsburgh won not only because they have the right centerpieces, but the right supporting cast. The Flyers could never build the right team around Lindros and LeClair.
To this day I believe that if they stayed the course with the team at the end of the 1991-92 season, they would have won a Cup or two in the 1990s. They would have had Forsberg and they still would have had several necessary pieces to deal for an elite goalie or additional scoring help – pieces they lost by trading away in the Lindros deal.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Peter Forsberg, as well as Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, a 1st round selection (Jocelyn Thibault) in 1993, a 1st round selection (later traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, later traded to the Washington Capitals – Nolan Baumgartner) in 1994, and $15,000,000 cash.
Work hard, mucking and grinding, vengeful, relentless, heart and grit hockey is not f-ing working. It is passe and ultimately unsuccessful. Legitimate talent wins Cups, legitimate goaltending wins cups. The more successful GM’s in this league (NOT ALL) never even played in the NHL to any regarded success. They make player-personnel and financial decisions based on facts, reality and common sense not what their one dimensional NHL player experience taught them. In order to GM a billion dollar sports franchise you need to have a cold hard CEO mind not a resume which is highlighted by setting the NHL penalty minutes record or being regarded as the most passionate leader in franchise history who broke a russian players ankle once. I am tired of hearing Kate Smith, I am tired of hearing Gene Heart, I am tired of “almost” winning cups against three of the most talented teams in NHL history, I am tired of being happy we won a couple of fights after losing embarrassing games, I am tired being the hard working underdogs. I am 45 years old and watch the 70’s I am tired of those years being the focal point of this teams success. I lived them I don’t need to be continually reminded of them. I defend this organization daily and will continue to do so vehemently, but what everybody thinks of us as a franchise and fan base is correct we are living in the 70’s around here and it has to stop.
Something a friend pointed out to me
30 – 16 – 1
-——————————————————————————————————————-
The record needed by the Flyers in their remaining 47 games to match the point totals of last year’s 8 seed.
Sadly, MarioD seems to have been right again.
Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com
by HockeyOutsiders on Dec 23, 2009 2:04 PM EST reply actions
I think they could be a game away from turning this whole thing around. It (or the lack of it) is totally in their heads.
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I’ve been saying that for about 2 weeks now. The reality is that even if they do turn it around, winning 30 of their next 47 games seems a bit unrealistic.
Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com
by HockeyOutsiders on Dec 23, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Technically possible.
When the Pens turned it around last season, they went 18-3-4 in their final 25 games. They essentially won 5 out of every 7 games.
If the Flyers need to go 30-16-1 for the rest of the season to make the playoffs, they roughly have to win 5 out of every 8 games. That’s possible with this group – in theory.
In theory, communism works too.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
I ask: what is to be gained by pessimism? What do we as fans get out of predicting the demise of our team, that we still watch, despite them not having a spectacular season?
All that can be done is hope for the best, and if you’re really pissed, wear a paper bag over your head. Don’t really know what else to do
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 23, 2009 3:04 PM EST reply actions
I agree with you to an extent—it’s not the losing that I mind so much as the way they are playing throughout this losing streak. Flat-out giving up in games is something I can’t watch.
I’d rather go back to 2006-2007 because at least we knew that team lacked talent but gave max effort. This team doesn’t lack individual talent; it lacks focus, direction and a cohesive plan/identity. I don’t know how you fix that short of overhauling the entire organization. That’s why I’m so down about them.
I think we’re just at the point of yelling at a kid in high school because he is underachieving. There’s no doubt in our minds that the Flyers are better than what their performance is showing, but what can be done. This season turns around when the players turn it around. It’s not about coaching, it’s not about injuries. It’s all about this team waking up one day and deciding to play a full 60 minutes, and then realizing that the only way you win the next game is to play another for 60 minutes.
Laviolette isn’t the issue. The players in the system are the issue. Understanding this, I can’t help but have some optimism for this team. The underachieving child always has the benefit of the doubt
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 23, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Liberty Ballers is already starting to evaluate draft picks… who are currently the top 3 on the NHL board for the next draft?
Don’t have the 1st round draft pick man
Time to start thinking positive about this team, because the other option sees us giving up a lottery pick
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 23, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t get the hype about how Darroll Powe’s going to save the team. Just like I didn’t get the hype about how Simon Gagne and Blair Betts were going to save the team. As mentioned countless times, it’s going to take more than one player’s individual effort to fix this mess.
haha, I was just going to ask you “what hype?”
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 23, 2009 6:32 PM EST up reply actions
Tonight is the start of something new.
Everyone is back there is no excuses anymore. I look for Powe to be a Spark and now atleast a couple of the flyers players will be working hard until the end of the game.
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