Seravalli: Are the Flyers better?
Video: After all their moves, are the Flyers better than last season? The Daily News' Frank Seravalli weighs in on which direction the Flyers are heading and if Steven Stamkos could come to Philadelphia with CineSport's Noah Coslov.
Seravalli: Are the Flyers better?
Video: After all their moves, are the Flyers better than last season? The Daily News' Frank Seravalli weighs in on which direction the Flyers are heading and if Steven Stamkos could come to Philadelphia with CineSport's Noah Coslov.
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Comments (84)
...No— petemagoop
Comment removed.- Not going to be better this year in my opinion. But, they will in 2012-3. Some of the younger players will hopefully break through by then (JVR, Giroux, Shenn) to form a strong nucleus. Then, we can surround them with a stud or two with the following expiring contracts (Jagr $3.3m, Carle $3.4m and/or Coburn $3.2m). Will need $ to lock in JVR long-term though!— mm9518
- Any team that doesnt have Carter is a better team. Ay-Oh-Flyers!— CFA
- ...from NHL.com--->>CBJ-5th most improved in the league — petemagoop
How could you possibly tell just by the line up? Until they actually step on the ice, its all speculation. You can run all the numbers you want and simulate every possible scenario, but you'll never know until they start playing.- Better? We'll see. Am I more interested to watch this season? Definitely. Anything is better than the Carter/Richards vanishing act.— n62
Apparently some believe the Flyers are much better: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/756232-philadelphia-flyers-with-jaromir-jagr-why-theyre-the-team-to-beat-in-the-east- More important than better is that they are different. The same old same wasn't going to do it. Even if this isn't the team to bring the Cup back at least the FO has taken the first steps to that end.— 2ndNlong
- ...get to your room Stewie — petemagoop
- No... Ilya is a better goalie but will fold like a lawn chair under the pressure he will face in Philly.
Disappearing act... that role will now be filled very well by Jagr.— Newsreader55 - Ilya is a better goalie but will fold like a lawn chair under the pressure...Oh, really? Is that why the Russian held opponents scoreless for 229 minutes and 42 seconds of playoff hockey, which included Anaheim's first-round Game 7 victory at Calgary and two home wins against the Avalanche. Three consecutive playoff shutouts doesn't sound like "folding" to me.
- Notwithstanding how good (or not) IB is, he will face far and away more pressure in Philly than anywhere else he has played. That's the way it is, to quote Walter Cronkite. Moreover, I don't really expect he's as good as Bernie Parent or Ron Hextall. The pressure of trying to get it done after 37 years might daunt Patrick Roy or Martin Brodeur, two who were able to get it done elsewhere and are arguably among the ten best of all time, with BP. — BEMiller
- I'm not too sure how much Walter Cronkite knew about hockey...But as far as being "daunted" by 37 cupless years, the Hawks ended a 50 + year drought in 2010 and newcomer Antti Niemi didn't seem to be bothered in the least.
- I think he got yanked that year for poor play (under pressure). — Newsreader55
- Here's Bryz hoisting the Cup, doesn't seem to be feeling any pressure: http://piercedbyalance.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Stanley_Cup_Champion_Ilya_Bryzgalov.jpg
- Uh, Newsreader55...would that be the same Jagr with two cup rings, bronze medal and World Championship?— Joe
- Umm... I think that happened 19 years ago. — Newsreader55
- 19 years ago? May 11, 2011 Jagr scores a hat trick to eliminate Team USA and lead the Czech Republic to the bronze medal: http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/15053716/jagr-scores-hat-trick-helps-czechs-bounce-us-at-worlds
- Let's put that accomplishment in perspective. The hat was against the USA...Finland won gold over Sweden. Jagr did it against a bunch of minor league, junior, college or European pro league players. While most of the world's best were in the NHL playoffs or chose not to waste their time with international exhibition hockey.
- I hope better overall attitude and chemistry. Lots of lucky things happened to reach the finals in 2010. Still concerned about their scoring. Jagr may not work out. Their defense is getting old and needs to start infusing some younger defensemen (though this may not be the year for that to happen).— rdparlow
- No...however, i like the team moving forward— puckdaddy
- Definitely not better, but who cares about that? The important thing is that they all get along just swell.— e.p.r.
- CFA- Carter has the third most goals of any NHL players the last three years. Flyersfan4life-that's not a national writer, just another flyers homer article. Joe-Two cup rings are from 20 years ago, the world championships are a joke with few NHL players because it's during playoffs and he had little to do with the Bronze medal. He'll score 20 goals but that's it. Giroux will face top lines every night and will be less effective then he was during the playoffs without a vet like leino that can skate with him. JVR had one good month of playoffs and won't add up to points lost from the departed. Defense is weak and old. This team is nowhere close to as good as last year.— theeutmost
- No .... the flyers are worse off. This is good news.
— Sidney Crosby - LOL How could any team be worse than the Penguins?
2011 - Leading Tampa Bay three games to one, then losing three straight to choke out of the playoffs.
2010 - Eliminated on home ice by the number 8 seeded Canadiens, then booed off the ice in their last game ever at the igloo.
And Pittsburgh fans still come to our site talking trash...
LOLOLOL - Want list:
- a team that plays hard all 3 periods.
- a team with a killer instinct.
- a goalie that pitches the occasional shutout.
- their all-star defense protect leads!
- consistently win face-offs
too much to ask? Maybe. They better make another move.— alathosco 
of course they are better— jamarder- The Flyers were better the minute they shipped "The Jersey Shore On Ice" out of town. Everything else is a bonus...— 7xChamp
- The question really can't be answered until about April/May of next year— shawnmac
- You have hit one on the head, here, although it will be answered during the entire season and, possibly, on into the playoffs. — BEMiller
- This season could be a nightmare and this is why I want to see one year deals for veterans like Drury, Hannan etc etc.
In case Flyers going to have a disaster we can unload upcoming UFA for picks and prospects as well as high salary players. Timonen, Hartnell.
— Nitroglycerin - From mid January right through their elimination they were ranked about #20. Not a playoff calibur team. Actually, they were an embarassment to watch and call Flyers.
Of course they're better, they couldn't have been much worse.
If they perform this way next year then Lavioleete needs to go too.— dedhed - Are you kidding? The Flyers lost two solid players and replaced them with a has-been and some other role players. I don't understand what Holmgren is doing. The extra money is burning a hole in his pocket. He paid way too much for all these new signings.— Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
- Better this upcoming year record wise? No. Better in the locker room? YES. Better down the stretch run of seasons? Can they be worse? Better in the future? Yes— twpman
- The Flyers need to put an offer in for Drew Doughtry already. I would rather have them spend 8 mil a year for 5 yrs on Double D than piddle away the rest of their space on 2 3 mil guys and couple of mil guys. Get DOuble D and use the youth from the minors to fill in the gaps.— LGbalsac
- I am getting burned out by Stamkos. TB, s---h---i----t or get off the pot already.Anyway, I will settle for Purcell— debbyt
- Patience debbyt----Homer is like a cat, sitting in wait for his prey to make its next move--TB. — Romus
It's rather soon to make any comparisons. The question ought to be posed to Lavy. He should then be able to assemble some projected lines. But we're a long way from camp. And not everyone is signed.
Pure speculation now.— Poppys- we have replaced one guy who didn't really like to play hard (carter) with another guy who didn't really like to play hard and is 15 years older (jagr). so i say it's a wash, minus 15 years.— tockeyhockey
- Comment removed.
- Hartnell - Briere - Voracek
JVR - Giroux - Jagr
Simmonds - Talbot - Schenn
Sestito - Betts - Nodl
Better than last year? No. Further in the playoffs? If D stays healthy, yes. Better equipped to resign JVR and Coburn? Yes. Better situated for '12-'13? Yes, when Couturier and Schenn are both producing these deals will look much better. The trades made the core of this team younger with more upside, they did not increase the likelihood of a Cup in '12.— sla6yer - They wont make the playoffs. The new 40 year old girl will be waived. Holmgren will be fired at the end of the regular season.— BehnW
- Doesn't matter because the Caps signed THE GREATEST GOALIE EVER, Vokoun, and win go 82-0, then sweep their way to the Cup! Hang it up!— MichaelZoe
- If the Washington Catapults were to win 82 games (LOL), they'd go out in a sweep in the first or second round. The much over-rated AO would take care of that, since he is a player who has NEVER been able to play to the hype! — BEMiller
- Check the top 50 NHL regular season faceoff leaders...see Richards there? Nope. Jeff Carter, on paper, also was a league-leader in "winning goals" for the past 6 years of his career. I think more than Crosby and Malkin and close to Ovechkin. Without the stats in front of me, Carter prob scored in the top 2-5 players in the past 6 years in game winning goals. Would you EVER say Carter was really a clutch player? Chemistry and system will determine how effective they can be.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20112ALLAASAll&sort=faceOffWinPctg&viewName=faceOffPercentage— MichaelZoe - ...Zenon Konopka #4
...Brad Richards #48
...Mike Richards #57
...Danny Briere #66
...Steven Stamkos #74— petemagoop - I always find this sort of silly question to be "amusing", or, something? Paper is one thing, and the games another. Any one can say anything about the paper, but the games will do all the "talking", so to put. I still think a good part of the Flyers record for next season will be based upon whether or not Chris Pronger can come back and how well he will be able to play. Moreover, I do see the SITUATION--i.e. the goalie--as improved, but I'm not sure how much. I certainly don't think this guy is in a class with Bernie Parent or Ron Hextall!— BEMiller
- R they better? Come game time. We will see— Flyers_70
- Richards and Simmonds are basically a wash in goals. Yes Richards was great on PK, but so is talbott. oh yea and we have everyone playing their natural positions. One More thing a top 5 GOALIE! add in 7-9 shutouts... we will be the same but start slower.— fman727
- Improvements: Captain, Goaltending, Speed, Forechecking, Youth potential, nucleus of young players for a long long run. Question marks are goal scoring, power play and faceoffs......... I think the flyers have done enough to solidify the power play and I believe the scoring will improve as the season progresses (we need another quality forward).... I don't know enough about faceoffs; so I would like to be enlightened on that issue. I agree about finding a star young defenseman....I would like to grab either Doughty or Stamkos....either one would be a miracle and would make me a happy fan..... Stamkos makes more sense if you want to make a run now....Doughty is a more long term move to solidify the defense.... I say right now, probably not better....but by the second half of next season (if we add a quality forward in the future), i think we will be a better team and better suited for a Cup run...not only that, this team in terms of forwards will be built for the long haul. The Jagr haters are idiots...I think he is good for 50-70 points....that kind of production (the low end) garnered upwards of 4.5 million in the market....Jagr is a bargain at 3.3 for one season...not only that, he brings experience and leadership....I bet Voracek idolized him as a kid...and the knock on Voracek has been his conditioning....What better mentor than Jagr....Jagr had major conditioning issues as a youth; hopefully Jagr can help him develop good habits in that regard....
the people who mention trading JVR are ludicrous; does anyone take these people seriously? i believe JVR is going to have a big season this year.....hopefully he has worked on his shot...if he gets that part of his game going, he will be a star....— feudal_nobility09 - Giroux, JVR, Schenn, Couterier et al = Stanley Cup— Romus
- Even if they are worse which they are not, it's difficult to miss the playoff's in the NHL..if anything they are good enough. Any hockey fan knows that the real season begins in the playoffs, healthy teams and rested teams go deep. I agree with the common sense reply that we don't know what to expect till the season starts, but I'd rather have this team than last years team, we will see from there. We have the goal tending and the defense, now all we need is for some players to step it up past the blue line, and a couple of these players have a breakout year, and they could make a run..have faith...Go Flyers !!!!!— TexasYankee
- I just want to point out that former Washington goaltender Jim Carey won the Vezina Trophy. Ilya Bryzgalov's nomination was more a nod to his play behind an inept offensive team, than saying he is a clutch goalie and will have a long and successful career. This year's Flyers have a chance of missing the playoffs if they don't get leaps forward from a lot of players. JVR was incredible in the playoffs this year, and the team was still 4 and 8.— Hexy4GM
- Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were the reason the Flyers could never be consitant. Jeff Carter was a shallow womanizer and Mike Richards had his own personal problems.— Ferrell31
- yes, they are much better positioned for success now.— LGbalsac
- I keep hearing this line of "once Jagr saw what this new flyers team was, he just had to be a part of it".....but if even the media and the fans as a whole have no idea what, or even who would be on, this team is. How did he. I just don't really buy it. But oh well, one other line i keep hearing from fans is that this makes next year way more interesting that it would have been with business as usual, I totally agree.— Chutley26
- I noticed you left Simmons off of your list of players acquired. What's the matter Mr. Flyer? Way to make the kid feel welcome.— JLH
- It doesnt matter in any case because pittsburgh came very close to winning the cup with all of thier top players out. Pittsburgh will dismantle this team without even breaking a sweat, and having a competitive team is what its all about. This team is niether competitive NOR competent.@@@@— Penguins_Playoff_Chokers
LOVE seeing how much i get to you. My bud and i laugh and high five and discuss how you wouldnt have anything to say if it werent for the protection of the computer...I'll tell you what,starting from 1980 lets count stanley cups together. Ready i'll go first. 1991...ok yr turn........dude yr turn..........Penguins_Playoff_Chokers are you there??? Oh yr not playing right?? Oh thats right, you cant LOL. YOU DONT HAVE ANY CUPS. how pathetic....do you wanna use your scoring championships against our stanley cups?? ok go ahead. Oh none of those either??? Oh jeez, we got like 15 i just assumed because pittsburgh had soooo many that phili would have atleast one....nothing. What a poor poor city for atheletics..anyway,, Pittsburgh, where all the elite talent is. Sidney Crosby, best in the game. YEEEEAAAHHGHHHHHHH!!!!! WOOOOOOOO
— Flyers=35yrsNOcupLOL!! - Your argument is original and we've never heard that before... Were you one of the three pens fans they had back when they were coming in last place for how many years straight which enabled them to draft fleury, crosby, malking and stall? The fact that you're tossing high fives about posting comments on a Philly site just kinda makes it sad — eburd983
- HexyGM, they were 4-7 in the playoffs. You can not have 8 losses if you won, one of 2 series. But you knew that.— Flyers2001
- Comment removed.
- They will not make the playoffs.— Newsreader55
- If the Flyers stink, and don't make the playoff this year...they need to get more legitimate, high draft picks. All teams that won the cup recently, except maybe Detroit, had periods when the team stunk. Then, they drafted talent. The Flyers have not won it all since 1975....this fact alone will not bring a Stanley Cup here. I can wait longer, not that there is a choice.— road515
- Maybe we will KNOW how good they are when they play. The Carter/Richards Flyers....well, just how good were they? We really still don't know.— road515
- Yes!— Batt13
- We give up our 2 highest scorers; overpay for a slightly above average goalie and get some kids who have proven nothing! Oh, yeah, I forgot, one over the hill Jagr! So, no, we are not better, we're far worse!— JBinPA
- I hope so! Such a tough call. I think Holmgren realized that the record from the regular season means nothing when it comes to post-season. Flyers came in in the 7-spot and made the Stanley Cup. Came in at #2 and were swept. I think this team will lose more games than last years, because it's not built for long-term winning streaks, but it is built for clutch and post-season play.
SO. Unless they really stink, they will make the post-season, and once there, they should face the Caps in the Eastern Finals (on paper). An injury to Pronger or Jagr will hurt their chances in the post-season though, but I think...regular season, not as good--post-season, they have a chance at the Cup. (1 in 8 is my guess.)— pillsbury - Are the Flyers better? The answer to that question will take 2 to 3 years to be told. I think Pronger really had a lot to do with the Richards deal. Carter You saw coming but Rich was a shock. If those two were really creating havoc in the locker room then the deal had to be done. Frankly I really could care less about Pronger. He shows up one game and takes the next two off. Remember a fellow named Lindros? He did the same thing and what did we give up for him lots of money Hexy and Peter the great. Yes I agree, we needed solid goaltending and I believe that we got that. What we really needed was a defense that could keep up with the rest of the league. The we give up Powe. I am so confused. All I keep seeing is Pronger passing the puck to the wrong team time and time again. Richie and Carter I wish You well. Why is that Philadelphia is known around the league as the city with no brains in the trading department. Oh and by the way I have been a Flyers fan for 36 years now and still wear the Orange and Black. I only hope the right decisions were made. "Let's Go Flyer's"— forcheck
- Next year they will not be better.! -forcheck I agree Pronger is a scumbag. He didnt rush back last yr in the playoffs bc he wanted to see Richie and Carter fall flat on their faces. No doubt he was behind running Richards out of town. Off topic but why do people keep saying IB is the first real goalie since Hextall?? Do people remember Hextall? He was the worst and single handily lost playoffs series.— BringBackTheGuffaw
- They haven't won the cup...period. Carter/ Richards had their time...NEXT!— Phillyfan666
- forcheck- go look at how many years philly traded away a high draft pick for marginal talent. Has happened plenty.
whatsthe411- there is absolutely nothing right about what you said in your post. Your theroies are rediculous, and i dont care what you smell. Niether does anyone else. Sounds to me like you are just parroting what you hear others say....On a side note philly is not as good defensively as yinz are over-rating them to be. Seriously. Matt Carle?,Braydon Coburn? Whatever no name that took ODonnels place?? LOL
How much do you wanna bet PIT has better defensive numbers next year?
— Flyers=35yrsNOcupLOL!! - You are a typical Pens fan.. You sounds like an idiot and give true Pens fans (what few of them there actually are) a bad name. I am from Western PA and a Die hard Flyers fan who despises the Pens, but I give them their respect when due. Any year they do not win a cup go to the finals, etc. that is a CHOKE... The reason is simple: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. You When you have 2 of the 4 perhaps best players in the world on your team and you don't consistently make it to the finals every year, you are underachieving. They Flyers on the other handNEVER had the best player in hockey on their team let alone 2 of the best! and we STILL make the play offs every year and we STILL seriously compete for a Cup every year.. Btw, the Pens only have 1 more Cup than us and it took you 25 years to get your first one. The Pens and the Flyers came into the league the same year and we won a Cup 5 years into the league.. The First on-original 6 team to win a cup AND have been to the Finals more times than any other team since the expansion era (9 I believe). I do not care if we do not win it every year, making the play offs every year and that many Cup appearences is deffinitely something to be proud of... Oh, and by the way, if you are such a big Pens fan why the hell do you spend so much time on our website? haha... You must be the most popular loser at your Pittsburgh based office with your "witty" comments and you "awesome" harassment of Flyers fans.. Keep up the good work chump and don't quit your day job — PhillyPhanatic25
- You are a typical Pens fan.. You sounds like an idiot and give true Pens fans (what few of them there actually are) a bad name. I am from Western PA and a Die hard Flyers fan who despises the Pens, but I give them their respect when due. Any year they do not win a cup go to the finals, etc. that is a CHOKE... The reason is simple: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. You When you have 2 of the 4 perhaps best players in the world on your team and you don't consistently make it to the finals every year, you are underachieving. They Flyers on the other handNEVER had the best player in hockey on their team let alone 2 of the best! and we STILL make the play offs every year and we STILL seriously compete for a Cup every year.. Btw, the Pens only have 1 more Cup than us and it took you 25 years to get your first one. The Pens and the Flyers came into the league the same year and we won a Cup 5 years into the league.. The First on-original 6 team to win a cup AND have been to the Finals more times than any other team since the expansion era (9 I believe). I do not care if we do not win it every year, making the play offs every year and that many Cup appearences is deffinitely something to be proud of... Oh, and by the way, if you are such a big Pens fan why the hell do you spend so much time on our website? haha... You must be the most popular loser at your Pittsburgh based office with your "witty" comments and you "awesome" harassment of Flyers fans.. Keep up the good work chump and don't quit your day job — PhillyPhanatic25
- So whats the story of the day? Crosby is concussion free and Malkin MCL is like new? MCL grade 3 tear in particular is nothing to worry about.
That’s cool.
— Nitroglycerin - not...even...close. they mortgaged their future to get a goalie then didnt resign their talented young players because they wanted a 36 year old to play in a city where he is hated. i applaud you flyers organization.— b20k
- So, not really sure why we went so nuts on offense. They were top of the league throughout the majority of the year - then some key players were injured - and voila - the slump - unfortunately, it was at the wrong time - the wind down to the playoffs - do you really think that if the same type of situation injury-wise arises next season, there won't be struggles. I'd say that are about the same, they shifted the power - from offense, back to defense somewhat. But, that is putting a LOT of pressure on the goalie to win games - what would happen if he was injured - we'd be at a back (leighton - as it is likely they'll trade Bob) - and then with a weaker offense - that would be interesting... Hope for the best, plan for the worse
— unmovedmover67 - you are foolish - how can you even conjecture as to why Pronger didn't come back to play - have you ever had a back injury? It totally saps your strength, and at his position, how could he expect to be productive - in fact it likely would have been detrimental - you are a fool good sir— unmovedmover67
- Are they better this year... no. Are they a contender this year... no. Will we finish ahead of Boston, Washington, Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh in the standings, No. We will fight it out with Buffalo, Rangers, Canadiens and a couple of others for positions 5 through 10. They've gotten younger not better and it will take a couple of years for this team to mature and gel. In 2013 we will have a great group of forwards and will be an exciting team to watch but for now it's another year of patience and if only's— lockmaster
- Name a team that blew itself up, canned its developing players and marched on to victory within two seasons by adding to its already aging roster. Anyone?
Very shortsighted moves by the Flyers, hoping fans and opposing teams are distracted by shiny objects. The former will fall for it as evidenced by this board. The latter run over them like a bug on the road. - As for long term planning...if JVR's agent was paying attention, they're going to go find a deal anywhere that Holmgren won't match. Assuming Holmgren doesn't dump JVR at the deadline.
Unfortunately for Giroux, he's probably stuck in Philly for a couple more seasons.
- Potentially better in goal- playoff performance will be the determinant. Not better on D. Pronger and Kimo a year older- that alone renders them weaker. Forwards - will not be better next year- maybe 2-3 years down the road. All in the team is weaker for next year. They should be better in goal and up front in the out years....but they have a looming train wreck on the blue line.......beyond next year.— Northcountry
- Better. Best goalie since Bernard Marcel. Build out from the goalie with youth and grit. Bobbie Clarke must be very upset. There is a future now but there was none with Richards and Carter and their no trades. We are once again a viable franchise.— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
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Frequent Flyers is your home for news and analysis of all things orange and black.
Reach Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com.
Frank Seravalli
Daily News Sports Columnist
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