First impressions on 0-2 Flyers
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
First impressions on 0-2 Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE: Zac Rinaldo will miss a minimum of one week because of a lacerated right leg, GM Paul Holmgren said. Tye McGinn will be recalled from the Phantoms.
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BUFFALO - A dozen first impressions on the 2013 Flyers, who are 0-2 for the first time since 2008:
1. Luke Schenn needs to play with more discipline AND more physicality. That’s a fine line, and it takes time to find the right balance.
2. Brayden Schenn has not been that effective on the top line. But it’s early and he deserves a longer look-see before Wayne Simmonds or Jake Voracek is moved to the first unit.
3. The power play is out of sync and dearly misses the injured Danny Briere, who won’t be back until Saturday at the earliest. In addition, the team has been weak on faceoffs.
4. The defense played well in the opener against the Penguins, but left Ilya Bryzgalov out to dry in Sunday’s 5-2 loss in Buffalo. They allowed 41 shots against the Sabres, a team that should have looked rusty because it was playing its first game.
5. Scott Laughton, the team’s No. 1 pick, plays with a tenacity and poise beyond his years. He will give the Flyers a difficult decision on whether to keep him here after he plays five games.
6. The penalty kill has been atrocious. Yes, there have been some bad bounces, but they are giving teams too much room. Opponents are 5 for 9 on their PP against the Flyers, including an empty-net goal. Luke Schenn and Ruslan Fedotenko are newcomers on the team's PK.
7. It’s only two games, but the Flyers have not displayed enough physical play. They have one of the league’s biggest D corps and need to show that size DOES matter.
8. Bryzgalov has been mostly sharp, and the 0-2 start can’t be pinned on him.
9. Don’t expect Flyers management to be patient, especially in a 48-game season. If they start this year like they did the lockout-shortened 1995 season (3-7-1), a major move is coming.
10. The Flyers miss Jaromir Jagr’s presence a lot more than many probably imagined.
11. Rinaldo has played with lots of fire (nine hits in less than 12 minutes), but is now sidelined by a leg injury. The Flyers need to play with Rinaldo's passion.
12. It’s still early, even in a shortened season. Exhale. Breathe. Didn’t that feel good?
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Comments (49)
- If ever there was a year to not write off players after 2 games, this is that season. No way you can claim Simmonds has peaked at his age with any merit. Too early to write the final page on the Schenns. Brayden Schenn may not now or ever be a first liner but that doesn't make him a bust. Far too early to judge Luke Schenn. Laviolette is going nowhere. That's beyond ridiculous. Watched the Kings, 2013 version, and I wasn't impressed. But, again, it's early.
— Claudio Vernight - No Hexy, I am not incorrect on Couts. You are blaming B. Schenn for everything, and the kid has been a non-factor both directions. I am saying that the guy who has been on the ice for 7 of the 8 goals against the Flyers is at least somewhat to blame. You defend 1 of those 7 goals-- fine-- i'll give you that without argument....what is your response to these three?
Goal 1 vs. Pens: Flyers lose face-off and Couts stands there, motionless, long enough for me to yell "Couts get to the point!!!" before he starts moving, the pass goes to the point, no one to defend (it should have been Couts), shot, score.
Goal 2 vs. Pens: Couts gets abused by Malkin on face-off, failing to even tie him up in the slightest, allowing him to pass the puck for a quick one-timer, goal.
Goal 1 vs. Sabres: On the PK, Couts is caught out of position and fails to rotate in time to the man he is responsible for, goal. Even Pierre on NBC noted that Couts blew that one.
You keep saying Bryz is playing well, so whose fault are those three goals then? Hint: B. Schenn was not on the ice for any of them, sorry.
At times, you really seem to know what you are talking about, but your hatred of the Richards trade blinds you to any reality beyond Schenn/Simmonds (and by the way, Simmonds was probably the best Flyers on Saturday by most people's account, blown open net and all, as he was very strong on the puck all game).
And PS, Coburn is the only D-man of value on this team? I think if you asked any team in the NHL if they could have Carle or Timonen this year, EVERY SINGLE ONE PICKS TIMO. Get over your man crush. - Yes, we could really use Matt Carle and his -2 so far this season (nice -3 game against the Islanders last night). Let's compare to your whipping boys....
Braydon Schenn: 1
Luke Schenn: 1
Wayne Simmonds: -1
Matt Carle: -2 - @Claudio Vernight, if you read closer at what I had written, you will see that I said Brayden Schenn is a bust as a "blue chip prospect." What you typed, seemed to actually agree with that statement.
As far as Simmonds. I am a fan of his. I have followed his career long before he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. I love his effort. He is not, however, an immensely skilled player. He scored a lot of power play goals last season. He is a guy that chips in the occasional goal. Always has been that guy. Even in junior hockey. You hope for him, but you can't count on him to score goals. I don't know how long you have been a Flyers fan, but Simmonds is more like Trent Klatt than he is a John Leclair.
I did not write this team off after 2 games. I wrote them off long before they played those 2. Last season ended because the Philadelphia Flyers refuse to work without the puck. That has not been corrected. Laviolette will not finish this season. He never should have started it, to be honest.— Hexy4GM - "He scored a lot of power play goals last season. He is a guy that chips in the occasional goal."
Hmmm....if you count 17 even strength goals last year as "occasional." Your beloved Richards blasted only 11, and so did Carter. Hartnell had 21 and Giroux 22, so 17 looks pretty darn good in my book for a guy playing on the 2nd/3rd line most of the year.
You can call last season a fluke (as you have), but let's not take away from what it was-- Simmer was very productive. You should be particularly impressed with his play, especially since he had to play a lot of the season with Schenn, who you are convinced sucks. Just makes his 17 even strength goals all the more impressive. - Well I go back to Simon Nolet and Gendron and Sudsy Sutherland and you can't go back any further than that. I saw the old Philly Ramblers play aw well if you're interested in history.
I think Laviolette is an upper echelon coach and you are not at all persuasive on that point.
Goals are goals and you need people who score garbage goals as well as 'skill' goals. They all count and there is no such thing as style points.
If you wrote the season off before it started, then all you are seeking is to validate your point which seems to be that Hextall is the solution. It's not an important point and you don't make it very well even though you seem to have the data before you.— Claudio Vernight - "Big and slow. How can a professional organization be so miserable at recognizing goaltending and defensemen? Who was the last Flyer drafted defenseman that made the All-Star game?"
Well put, schnitzel. The theory that goalers are commodity items, like light bulbs, has become absolute doctrine, not to be questioned. There's a related theory that size = good for defenseman that is held equally beyond question and is equally wrong.
Unfortunately these have been huge blind spots with the Flyers for approximately 30 years. Worse, there's no end in sight until the last of the Clarke era lifers has been pensioned off and an entire new approach has been put in place. I for one would love to see Ron Hextall's return to Philadelphia as a revolutionary GM, but I can't imagine why he'd want to do so after winning it all in southern California.— 1940LaSalle - "The NHL is also trying to cut down on deliberate slashing to the hands / wrists, usually done in an attempt to slow down a player."
The Sidney Crosby Rule! - "scottstvens" is right about one thing: Phily sports is pathetic --particularly when I have to point out to so many morons so many times that a cluless g.m. of the Phillies who turned a potential dynasty into useless trash is not someone that fans accustomed to decent teams would tolerate...fans who support losing trash and imbeciles to run them are losers— warbiscuit
- @snipes, so...you are blaming Couturier for losing a face-off, and being a penalty killer. Go back and watch the numerous odd-man rushes and breakaways.
You talk about my hatred of Schenn and Simmonds, but the reality is that there is love for them despite their history. Tavares-Hedman-Duchesne-Kane-Schenn-EkmanLarsson...which of those names doesnt belong? Give ya a hint, it's Schenn. I don't blame him for any of the losses this season. in fact, he is hardly playing enough to be a factor in either direction. I think Simmonds is great at what he does. I am simply telling you, he is not a goal scorer. You want to think he is. Last year, Simmonds had a good stretch and tallied a lot. He was terrible in the playoffs. He is not an elite goal scorer. That is a fact. That is why i am telling you....Simmonds scored 28 goals last year. More than he ever scored in any season as a pro, or in junior hockey. I am sure the fickle fans of Philadelphia will turn on him soon.— Hexy4GM - No, I am blaming Couts for being defensively irresponsible on two goals, and losing a face off and then failing to tie up Malkin in any way in order to prevent the play from happening on a 3rd goal. You are not blaming Bryz, and as I mentioned, Schenn (and Simmonds) have not been on the ice for 7 of the 8 goals....Couts has. The goals are someone's fault, and it is not Schenn or Simmonds.
Do I think Couts was a great defensive player last year, yes. Has he been a great defensive player this year, no, and you can't chalk everything up to "being a penalty killer." That fact does not give him a pass for poor play.
Last year you went on and on about how Simmonds is not a goal scorer, and then he notches 28. You never, EVER, give him his fair due beyond a backhanded compliment (such as "Simmonds is great at what he does. I am simply telling you, he is not a goal scorer"). Can't you just say something positive about the guy without chopping him down at the same time? He had a good year last year; he was perhaps the best player on the ice on Saturday. Give him some credit, some REAL credit.
P.S. - you are basing how Simmonds will do going forward by reflecting on his first 3 seasons instead of last year? Chew on this:
Mike Richards: 11, 10, 28, 30 (those are Richards's goal totals his first 4 NHL years, in order)
Wayne Simmonds: 9, 16, 14, 28 (those are Simmonds's goal totals his first 4 NHL years, in order)
Those look pretty similar to me, except Simmonds had to play his first 3 years on a defense first team, while Richards benefited from playing on an offense first team (and had Forsberg, one of the best passers of all time, feeding him the puck). Last year the roles were reserved, and Simmonds notched 10 more goals than Richie. - Wellwood to first line. Recall Terry Murry to oversee defense. Control Lavy's offense. Need a defensive trap strategy and we don't have time this year. Slow defense without CARLE and Gus. Shenn is awful but so was JVR.— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
- @snipes, you are being foolish. I'd like you to go back and re-read my posts on this thread. None of them are regarding placing blame on these losses, and assigning fault to a player for a goal against. I simply responded to your blame. You want a shorthanded winger to charge the point...that is poor defensive hockey. On the PK he must remain tight in the defensive box. Otherwise it creates a 4 on 3 down low. I will not waste precious font explaining the responsibilities of a center on every play.
As far as the Schenn and Simmonds comments I make...you are interpreting them as you choose. I use them as an example of the mistakes this organization is making. Trading away a leader, who has won at every level (including the NHL one now) for the hopes that Schenn (who has a 3.1 million dollar cap hit) will one day develop, is a mistake. I like Simmonds a lot. He just isnt a natural goal scorer. Mike Richards is not a goal scorer either. He is a 'pass first' player who plays the point on the power play. Your goal comparisons are ridiculous. You take the fact that I say Simmonds is not a natural goal scorer as an insult. I am telling you that it is simply a fact.
I am going to assume that you now hate Couturier. You have criticized his play, therefore you think he is not a good player.— Hexy4GM - Hexy-- sorry to say it, but you are wrong about the coverage re Couts. Go watch the video. There was 1 Pen forward lined up in front of Bryz, not two, and he was marked by L. Schenn. Thus, there was no one for Couturier to cover other than the point man (or double team the guy already covered by Schenn). But no, Couts hung out, eventually allowing himself to be tied up by the Pen forward once he finally decided to move to the point. It was a dumb hockey play, and i bet he would be the first to admit it. Don't act like you know all about hockey; it is obvious you do not.
P.S. - I like Couturier a lot, especially how he played last year, but he is KILLING the team this year. He was on ice for both goals tonight against the Devils, and he made two bad plays that led to the first goal. He has been on the ice for 9 of 10 goals now.... - I am so glad the lockout ended when it did. I needed to have a little more misery in my life sooner than having to wait for the Phillies to ruin my year. If the team was playing like this 34 games into the season would we panic?— djw26
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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