What I want to see from now on.

by JpH89 on Dec 5, 2009 12:42 AM EST

So today was pretty big, but I see the signing of Laviolette as a sign of better things to come. For him to be successful, though, will be to correct the mistakes that were made by Stevens.

The first thing that needs to be done is for Laviolette to make himself known. I want him to beat the living hell out of any player thats not giving 100%. It always seemed as though Stevens was never hard enough on the players, and that led to the lackluster that ultimately got him fired. No more of this "3rd line better then the 1st line shit" or "why is Aaron Asham better then Carter tonight."

The lines need to be adjusted, and kept in place. Im tired of new lines every game, it builds no chemistry. I don't want Giroux playing center, its a wast of his talents, especially with Carcillo and Lappy. Put him on the top line with Richards and Danny, and let Carter center Hartnell and JVR. It would be nice to see a line play more then 3 games with the same players.

Not too much with the D, just don't wanna see as much pinching. It seems as though Coburn or Carel are always playing catch up. I know its there style, but Im getting pissed of seeing all the odd man rushes against us. Other then that the defense has been pretty solid.

I think Laviolette can bring us back to the top, but its up to the players(looking at Richards and Carter the most) to start playing like they can. If not, then we can start looking at the trading block next.

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I read somewhere once that a good coach knows which players needed to be patted on the back, and which players need to be yelled at to get them motivated. Hopefully Lavvy (is that his new nickname now?) understands that.

by NoalB on Dec 5, 2009 11:17 AM EST reply actions

The Lines

Just something to consider. Maybe we put Carter on the top line at RW, then slide Danny down to the second line as the center. Dannys a natural center, and Im starting to think Carter might be more useful on the wing (given his scoring abilities).

Maybe something like this
JVR-Richards-Carter
Hartnell-Briere-Giroux

It would load up that first line, but last year, Danny and Claude played great with each other, so I think the second line would still be pretty strong.

Another thing I think this team needs is a Blair Betts return, but as someone pointed out (I think it was MarioD, but Im not sure) once you dislocate the sholder the first time, its basically game over.

by philiafan14364 on Dec 5, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions

I would like to see Carter centering Hartnell at some point soon. They worked really well together last year, but that was sort of pushed aside this year for some reason.

by Ben Feldman on Dec 5, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Dannys a natural center, and Im starting to think Carter might be more useful on the wing (given his scoring abilities).

This is something Ive thought about a lot myself. Carter’s “natural” position may be center, but his skill set is much more suited for the wings. He’s a North-South type player who’s game is flying up the ice with his speed and letting that shot go. Centers are generally supposed to be more creative with better playmaking ability. I wouldnt mind the top two lines looking something like this:

JVR-Richards-Giroux
Hartnell-Briere-Carter

the 3rd and 4th lines will have to continue to be a mix and match until Powe and Betts return. God we really miss those two

by njh3293 on Dec 5, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

Not too much with the D, just don’t wanna see as much pinching.

Oh no, they’re going to do more of this.

by MarioD on Dec 5, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions

so Coburn is gonna be worse at his job, perfect

by JpH89 on Dec 6, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

I think Briere needs to Center one of the lines

Hartnell – Richards – Giroux
Van Riemsdyk – Carter – Asham?
Nodl – Briere – Pyorala
Carcillo – Kalinski – Laperriere

When (IF!) the Flyers can get healthy

Hartnell – Richards – Giroux
Van Riemsdyk – Carter – Asham
Gagne – Briere – Powe
Carcillo – Betts – Laperriere

Defensemen (Timonen and Coburn need a benching)

Carle – Pronger
Bartulis – Parent
Tollefsen (if possible) – Syvret

IF they get healthy

Timonen – Coburn
Carle – Pronger
Tollefsen – Parent

Power Play Unit 1

Forwards: Hartnell – Carter – Briere
Defensemen: Timonen – Richards

Power Play Unit 2 (until healthy)
Forwards: Van Riemsdyk – Kolinski – Giroux
Defensemen: Richards – Pronger

Penalty Kill: Unit 1
Forwards: Richards – Laperriere
Defensemen: Carle – Pronger

Penalty Kill Unit 2
Forwards: Carter – Hartnell
Defensemen: Timonen – Coburn

Penalty Kill (3-men):
Forwards: Richards
Defensemen: Timonen – Pronger

by FlyersGoalies1and27 on Dec 6, 2009 1:50 AM EST reply actions

Carter is definitely a winger in a centerman’s position. That said, if you pair him with another center-winger, like Giroux or Briere, it shouldn’t be an issue. What IS an issue is the way that the Flyers forwards are pressing so hard to score that they are ignoring their defensive responsibilities! This ain’t the Red Wings (prior to this season); you can’t just assume that you’ll pressure the offensive zone enough to effectively kill the other team. You have to skate back, cover your own zone, and then run with the opportunities good team defense gives you. I think the reason Timonen and Coburn look so bad is because they are not getting ANY support, while in the past there was always a third Flyer with them in the back of the defensive zone. In my mind, Carter is Public Enemy #1 for that infraction – he’s decided that he’s a scorer and hasn’t played defense all season. Remember him playing well against other teams top lines a couple seasons ago? Where’s that guy?
All that being said, I do agree that the line combinations need some stability. Unfortunate about the injuries, but now Briere is back so you can set them up pretty well. Once Gagne and Powe are healthy – not to mention Mr. Betts (WE MISS YOU) – you can juggle again.

Hartnell – Carter – Briere
JVR – Richards – Giroux
Carcillo – Lappy – Asham
Cote – Pyorala – Laliberte

Oh, and the Phantoms call-ups (ASIDE from Laliberte) have been AWFUL this year. Nodl still sucks, Kalinski isn’t there yet, etc etc.

The best thing to come out of the last few weeks has been the play of Oskar Bartulis – as obviously noticed by Holmgren and evidenced by the shiny new contract Barty got. Suggesting that Tollefsen is better just because he takes the body more is silly – Barty has been quietly doing his job VERY well on the back end. No huge hits (Tolly), no slick passes (Syvret), … but also NO mistakes. I’ll take that any day. I would like to see if Syvret and Barty have similar NHL chemistry as they did in the AHL, but Parent is evidently an NHL-caliber player too … sounds like there’s trade bait in the winds!!!

by MaximumTalbot on Dec 7, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions

What IS an issue is the way that the Flyers forwards are pressing so hard to score that they are ignoring their defensive responsibilities

This is what Holmgren, and no Laviolette, want them to do.

by MarioD on Dec 7, 2009 11:13 AM EST reply actions

Your right, the brand new coach and the GM want the players to ignore defense. I bet that’s how he won a cup in Carolina!

by orangeandblack20 on Dec 7, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

You can tell that after 1 day of practice with the new coach?

by Mike B on D on Dec 7, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

You can tell that from everything he has said and what he’s instituted. He wants four men in the offensive side of center ice when the other team has the puck.

by MarioD on Dec 8, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

I think the Montreal game made my point quite clearly. In fact, other commentators have pointed out the lack of forward support in the defensive zone.

by MaximumTalbot on Dec 8, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions

it's time for the front office to go...

holmgren is a good soldier but a dumb ass gm… he keeps trading above average players (upshall, umberger, lupol, sbisa, sharp, etc) for less than he gets back… signing briere (who is very nice player but not a superstar) for megabucks and giving up 2 first round picks for pronger who’s on the downside of his carreer were completely stupid moves… the team needs a serious overhaul… until they get a real top line center… and all star quality Ws this team is going to be 500 at best. Since they have no draft choices there is not much too look forward to for years to come…. I say get rid of homer… clarke… and everyone connected to them and start fresh… unload briere… and gagne (he’s done)… release cote… put everyone on the block including richards… carter… etc.. they can’t buy a goal anyway… suck it up and start over!!!!

by Elmo the faithful fan on Dec 8, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions

If you’re going to go that route, I think you keep Richards, Giroux, JVR, Pyorala, Pronger, Timonen, Bartulis. Maybe then this team can actually build for three “scoring lines,” instead of having too much talent down the middle and not enough on the wings to support, and trying to have three scoring lines anyway.

by Ben Feldman on Dec 8, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions