Flyers show character flaws - again
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers show character flaws - again
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH - The Flyers, it has become clear, have serious character flaws.
When they get a break - like the gift goal goalie Marc-Andre Fleury handed them early in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins - they fail to keep a deflated opponent down.
And when they face adversity - like when Simon Gagne’s second-period goal, which would have given the Flyers a 2-1 lead, was disallowed - they fold.
About a minute after the goal was nullified because Ville Leino made what the referees called “incidental contact” with Fleury, Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead of its own.
Funny team, these Flyers. They were woefully inconsistent under John Stevens. Up and down. Up and down. The same thing has happened under Peter Laviolette.
This just in: It’s the players, not the coaches.
This team lacks leadership and character.
Not to mention goal scorers.
Trailing 2-1 in Saturday’s second period, the Flyers’ Claude Giroux broke in alone, but lost control of the puck and got off a weak shot.
Giroux is going to be a terrific player down the road. Right now, though, he and most of his teammates are in hard-to-fathom scoring funks.
Consider the following slumping players:
- Darroll Powe: 0 goals in his last 27 games.
- James van Riemsdyk: 0 goals in his last 14 games.
- Arron Asham: 1 goal (scored Saturday) in his last 14 games.
- Dan Carcillo: 2 goals in his last 14 games.
- Danny Briere: 1 goal in his last 11 games.
- Giroux: 2 goals in his last 21 games.
- Mike Richards: 2 goals in his last 12 games.
- Scott Hartnell: 3 goals in his last 29 games.
The Flyers, who suffered another goalie injury (see accompanying story), fell to eighth place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, and they are in danger of falling out of the playoffs. Atlanta, which is in ninth, can climb to within two points of the Flyers with a win Saturday night.
Flyers fans deserve better. They have filled the Wachovia Center to 99.8 percent capacity this season. They are being cheated of their hard-earned money by a team that takes periods off and, too frequently, plays without a sense of urgency.
Comments (63)
I won't deny their lack of heart or drive to fight through the penalties. There needs to be some major changes. I am also disappointed that nothing about the incompetent refereeing that was going on. I guess the Inquirer writers will get fined if they talk too much about it. The referee used the replay to make a call, when he did NOT initially indicate goal or no goal. The NHL needs to make a rule that a referee MUST indicate goal/no goal, and not use replay to make the call. On top of that, one of the Flyers ( I forget who) gets crosschecked from behind to make room for the Pens player who scored the goal? Give me a damn break. Look, I won't deny that they have to fight through this and they did throw in the towel, but the ridiculous calls happened too much and it took the wind out of their sails. Its hard to come back when you're playing 7 on 5 all night long. And its not just the Flyers--there are a few other teams in the officials' sights. Just watch--its going to come to a head, and someone who is at the end of his career is going to absolutely annihilate a top player, and when someone else comes in 'to defend', he's going to get a spear to the face. The NHL as it is refuses to provide a balanced and reasonable basis for penalties, and is not holding these officials to the standard they should be. Integrity of the game? Bettman and Campbell have thrown that away for a lucrative deal with Versus network. YAY!!!— ena1977- So maybe I should watch Life instead of the game maybe???— hero
Comment removed.- Hero: Unfortunately blocked shots are not winning them games and I think that Lappy's rating after yesterdays game was -3. This team needs some big scorers,playmakers and damn good goaltending and right now, the group they have is not cutting it. The goaltending on this team for the past couple of years has either been substandard to bad and now it has reached an all time level of horrible. Real teams step up in times like this, not use it as an excuse.— jacdjc1
- jacdjc1....from the games I've watched, that no-talent hack Lappy has more blocked shots than the goalies do. It doesn't seem to matter who the goalie is on this team, they ALL end up getting hurt anyway. Must be something in the water. I guess Richards got the big contract and no longer thinks he has to work to prove himself?? The officiating DOES have something to do with this tho, I think anyway. If that was Crosby or Ovie getting elbowed in the head instead of Carcillo or hit from behind like Gagne was from Volchenkov it would have been a 5 min major PLUS suspensions. Fedotenko had a beautiful crosscheck on Betts to get the puck for Cooke's goal, not called. Cooke holding Bartulis' stick 3 seconds after he left go of it, no penalty. And the no goal call, what about the playoffs last year when Crosby slid INTO Biron in the crease and the puck caromed off him into the net??? Of course THAT was a good goal. Obvious double standards. Anyway...send Giroux and JVR to the Phantoms and bring someone else up. Can't be any worse.— hero
- Instead of having a "Fan Appreciation Night" to show much they care about their loyal fans, why not show this apprecation on the ice instead?— Ruffles
- Maybe Giroux didn't score because Fleury threw his stick at him?— tpcapone30
- What is the Flyers biggest flaw? Having a washed up hasbeen as the general manager and then having 2 no-brained a**holes who back him. Holmgren has given away the future of this team by signing no talents hacks that he "coveted" like Lappy and giving out NTC's to players who are either penalty or injury nightmares, and keeping the likes of Cote on the roster. I see a lot of disappointment in the future for Flyer Fans!!! I hope Luukko thinks Holmgren did a great job when the Flyers are not in the playoffs this season because they DO NOT deserve to be there!!!!!— jacdjc1
- retzlaff, if you can tell me what players were out there trying something, then maybe I'll have some respect too. This team is going nowhere fast.— Crazee Bizee
- Umberger, Upshall, Knuble, Lupol. All lost in a span of 2-3 years for no good reason, other than mismanagement of the salary cap. Lupol was traded for Pronger but still. That's 4 goal-scoring forwards plus Carter not playing for this team right now.— bobbyd24
- retzlaff missed the point, and "fans" like him are the actual problem. If Snider had to deal with fans that actually expect him to be successful this franchise would not be in the dreadful state that it is now, and will be for the near future at least. A question for retzlaf, if you think Carchidi is fantasizing, what in the world are you doing while watching flyers games? If you've been seeing "players who are out there trying", you're the one experiencing something that's not real.— FlyFifty8
- When the goal wasw disallowed and the camera was focused on the bench you could tell by the players body language that the game was over. This teams lack, of whatever you want to call it, comes down to the players. They have already changed coaches--that didn't work. The GM needs to go along with the players. When your 3rd and 4th lines outshine the so-called scoring lines, there is definitly a huge problem. The only way Snider and company make changes is when it affects them in the pocket.— GETTHETRUTHOUT
- They have no character to actually be flawed. These Flyers have taken on the personality (or lack thereof) of their captain - whiney... pouting... childlike... gutless... heartless... Nope - don't see 'character' in there anywhere.— raoool
- i think retzlaff missed the point. the problem is that the players aren't "out there trying" to do anything but stink up the building. hartnell is just unwatchable. he's become avery-lite. and while almost the entire team has been an embarassment, i refuse to call out gagne or pronger. gagne is one of the most consistent producers this team has ever seen. ever. give pronger the C. get us a goalie. and send hartnell to the phantoms.— mrkmcc
- Cant believe not one word from Homer or other upper management about the debacle that took place yesterday! Someone has to say something, do something! Yes, this team sucks right now, but they dont need help from the league or officials to find the abyss...— TNFlyerNut
- Comment removed.
- Flyers about to miss the playoffs and the Sixers are a complete disaster. Ed, or Mr. Snider as I guess he requires his employees to address him as (a little pompous Eddie??), please take your trophy wife and retire to Malibu once and for all!!— efgold
- Comment removed.
- One of the most interesting aspects of the post-lockout NHL is how the GM role has changed. Deep-pocketed teams like the Flyers can't simply spend their way out of trouble anymore. It's essential to have a top-tier manager in the driver's seat. We're seeing what happens in Philadelphia when we don't. The Devils have won three Stanley Cups since 94-95. Why? Yes, Martin Brodeur had much to do with it, but the real credit goes to GM Lou Lamoriello in my opinion. The Devils simply don't make the player evaluation-contract valuation-salary cap management mistakes the Flyers have made for years. Homer's spending spree after Clarkie's retirement reminds me of an 18-year-old kid maxxing out their first credit card. The bill's coming due now, I'm afraid, and it looks like we'll be in debt for years to come.— 88etrain
- Comment removed.
- It's easy to get dispirited or look like you're not trying when Boucher is giving up goal after goal. Leighton gave us a change to be a threat in the playoffs. Boucher makes missing the playoffs seem like a lock. Without any picks and few assets teams would want, it's going to take something drastic to get a legit goalie in the offseason.— Snap Crackle Propp
- Duffers, right on man! Sam, you need to take in easy on the players take periods off, what's up with that?— Fabulous
- PhillyWise - We were in the Stanley cup finals against the Pens? When was this and where was I? People bashing Richards - He cant force Briere, Hartnell and Gange to stop being terrible any more than you can. Gange is too afraid of injury, Briere hasn't been worth half of what we paid for him, and Hartnell plain looks drunk on half of his shifts. The D has been inconsistent, and the goaltending has been a nightmare. Emery was good till hurt, Booche went from bad to worse, and if it wasn't for Leighton we'd be so far out of the race this article would be irreverent. The rest of the cast are role-players and/or scrap heap quality players. This isn't Richards fault any more than it was Stevens. You cant expect A quality results with a B or C quality roster.— comusosan
- Ernie D , the Flyers STINK— Anthony77
- retz, if all you want is cheerleading the Flyers have their own website you can refer to.— th
- Johnsb- the nature of sports is that hindsight has to be used to evaluate performance. At the time, yes, the Coburn deal was very good. But he has regressed dramatically to the point of being a marginal 5th or 6th defenseman. The Timonen and Briere deals were, again, good at the time, but it's obvious than Holmgren overpaid them both by at least a million per season (more like a few million in Briere's case). The jury's still out on the Pronger deal. He has been their best defenseman for sure, but giving up what amounts to 3 first rounds picks (including the impressive Sbisa) looks to be disasterous for a team that is more than a stud defenseman away from being a contender. The problem many people have with Snider is that he's loyal to a fault. Just look at the hocley staff- it's littered with ex-Flyers who frankly never jumped out at anyone as being the sharpest minds in the game- Dave Brown, Craig Berube? Ed Snider was a great, hands-on owner when money wasn't as big a factor. But in today's sports world, while he is still a pretty good businessman, he appears to be incompetent as an owner/chairman/whatever.— duffers
- How can Mike Richards possibly wear a jersey with the 'C' tomorrow?... In over 17 mins of ice time, Richards had no goals, assists, or even a tape to tape pass...never saw him with the puck in a scoring position...never got involved physically...compare that to the Penguins captain...over 19 mins of ice time, 3 assists, 6 shots on goal, drew a penalty...Richards maybe a top line player on the Flyers team, but as far as the rest of the league is concerned, he is a average third line player at best...there is no way he deserves to be the captain for the next game, and definately not for the next 12 years ...— kadhia
- Retzlaff, The point of the piece is that they aren't really trying. The fact that Carchidi's post strikes so many people as risky or challenging shows how much of a free ride this team has gotten for a long time. You want to note your displeasure - stop going to games, stop patronising the advertisers. It's like any other business.— roadtriptoday
- Is there a single player on this team who would be "untouchable"? I dont think so...— Brauny
- Is there a single player on this team who would be "untouchable"? I dont think so...— Brauny
- Salary cap mismanagement and bad contracts seem to be the hallmark of our winter sports teams under the guidance of Comcast/Spectacor. Love Pronger as a player but the trade was brutally bad. Bye bye scoring depth (Lupul,Knuble). So long youth (Sbisa and 2 high draft picks). Hello mediocrity.— Rick Wise Guy
- They havent lost just a single game They have lost many and they have the same mo the last 3 seasons late in the season when the games are tough and teams are desperate.They just got lucky in 07-08 backing into the playoffs. Soft, disjointed easily pushed off pucks and soft hands turned into hands of stone. Not playing for each other, not caring, there is some cancer in that dressing room and the GM is to blame for assembling this cast of fair weather players who are undersized or play that way, weak willed and largely gutless. This coach knows how to win, the players are flawed, they are folding like a cheap tent in windstorm. They did the same thing to Stevens and are doing the same thing now, though Stevens couldnt empty his boot with instructions on the bottom of the heel (as a coach) another charity job in the organIzation— Steelmanpa
- LOL..... is this team really any different than the team from a couple years ago? The results dont look any different....— Brauny
- My two cents is that we shouldn't overreact. 1) Everybody has enjoyed knocking Homer around the past few weeks, but does anybody remember what an utter mess this team was just a few years ago? They completely sucked. After they blew Clarke out, Homer made some sharp deals...Coburn, Timonen, he's brought Pronger in here, signed Hartnell (he was better when he actually gave a damn). Homer helped resurrect this franchise in record time!!!! 2)There's nothing wrong with management. Why call for Snider's head? What will that really accomplish? Will that REALLY change the chemistry in the locker room? Will that REALLY change the effort level on the ice?? Give me a break. Snider stands willing to drop $$$ on players and always has...that's the most you can ask for from executive management in pro sports. 3) Bottom line, this team has no leadership and no character. Here's what I would do: trade Richards for a strong goalie. Richards has overstayed his welcome in Philly and he's definitely not captain material. But, he definitely has value on the open market -- so leverage that into a top goalie. Next, bounce Boucher. He's not starter material and he's unreliable as a backup, at best. I like Leighton and I think he's worth keeping as a backup for whomever we could get in return for Richards (and maybe somebody else in a package). Outside that, we have a strong core --- JC is a big-time goal scorer, Giroux has a bright future, JVR has a bright future, Coburn has a bright future, Timonen and Pronger will be around for a while. There are a lot of good things going on here...let's just address two things (leadership with Richards) and goaltending (with Boucher).— johnsb9041
- With the Capitals in the Ovechkin era and the Pens in the Crosby/Malkin era, it's going to be super tough for the Flyers or any of the other Eastern Conference teams to get to the Cup Finals for the next few years at least. So,rather than have a "go for it" mentality every year (like trading major draft picks for Pronger)...have a longer term strategy. Get younger and faster; get a goalie you can build around; and get one big enforcer (Boogaard, Parros, etc.) who can serve the job of three mediocre players (Carcilo, Asham, LaPerriere). I'd rather lose with young kids making mistakes than watching some of the players you see now such as Coburn (The Invisible Man)and Hartnell (more interested in his hair than his game).— MikefromNJ
- MEMO TO COMCAST: This level of play is not acceptable! Clean house before you play in front of an empty house! Flyers fans are loyal but we are not stupid and we wont put up with this garbage for much longer. I cant see renewing my season tickets for this level of play...— Brauny
- GM has to go! Laviolette wont be successful with all of these players who were put together to play a different style than the style that he coaches. Another good fit by Homer! Lets bring in a new coach to play a different style but keep all the same old players and expect different results. Are you kidding me?— Brauny
- Fraud Street Bullies.— MaC130
- I am no longer a Stepford. Got Union season tickets and will not be paying attention to the Flyers the rest of this year or next year unless the core group of inconsistent (heartless) players are shipped out. Enough is enough. You still like this team, Homer?— johnnygriswold
- Telling it like it is! I agree with every word!— flyers1313
- Seems like they have stunk ever since Palin dropped the puck. Bad karma is a nasty thing Snider.— JonKap
- Way to go Sam! This team is a bunch of mutts. Who can you build around for the future?...........................(I'm still waiting for an answer)...— Brauny
- This situation is not going to get better unless there are a lot of empty seats in the Wachovia Center. Flyer fans are too loyal and the NHL knows it. What incentive is their to win if you sell out the building win or lose. I don't belive in coincidence and I find it odd that the big market teams have not been able to win a cup in quite awhile. The markets that have problems filling the building seem to have more success. Just in case you haven't heard, the HBO documentary on the Broad Street Bullies will air on Tuesday May 4th at 10PM. I believe this will be HBO's first sports documentary on hockey. Take that and stick it Pittsburgh fans. The Flyers have the loyal Flyers Fans to thank for being so honored.— Flyers_Fan
- I've attended most of home games this year and what is happening is not a surprise. Look at this team. Is Carcillo a top six forward? He is for the Flyers. Your best goaltender was picked up off the waiver wire. One of your top 6 Defenseman came from the waiver wire. These guys spend too much time standing around waiting for something to happen instead of forcing the issue. Here's something else to think about. Outside of Backlund there is no help coming from the Phantoms. The Flyers do not have a first or second round pick in the upcoming draft. The way things are going this year, it wouldn't surprise me if they missed the playoffs and won the draft lottery and didn't get the top player because they traded it for Pronger. Here is something else to think about. I don't see this team beating either Pittsburgh or Washington in a series in the next 5 years. That means the 40th anniversary of not winning a cup is just around the corner.— Flyers_Fan
retzlaff -- what city do you live in??? This is PHILLY, where we take our sports seriously. Don't like it? Move to Atlanta and follow the mighty Thrashers....you can be one of their 300 fans. Thought for a second there Mike Richards or Danny Briere or HairBoy Hartnell were reading the comments here and posted as "retzlaff" : "demean athletes who just lost a game". I heard similar words from our laid-back Captain both last year and this in the stretch drive after each inexplicable loss..... If it IS you, Richie: Hello! Guess you're not talking to Carchidi for the next fortnight, eh? :-)- Thanks for finally having the balls to tell it like it is. Richards should be stripped of the C ASAP, Snider , Lukko and Holmgren need to go , but the Fans need to stop sipping the 35 yr old champagne and stop filling the building— ghost78
- Here's the real kicker, we're paying Briere and Hartnell a combined 10.7 million dollars this year. Ryan Miller......makes 6.25 million this year. When will this management group start feeling the heat? Who are the robots still going to this slop they call games??— tim17600
- So, what you guys are saying...it's Snider's fault, and Pronger needs to have the C on his chest in order to be a team leader and yell at people? Hah, OK.— sf1027
- wow is this where sports writing has gone...do we take it this seriously...these games...for some putz to sit behind a word processor and demean athletes who simply lost a game. I have more respect for players who are out there trying something than some guy who only fantacises about playing sports at that level.— retzlaff
- Well it won;t get better in the off season. No 1st round picks, large multi-year contacts, and no trade clauses means more of the same. I like Homer but his player management/trades leave lots to be desired. If I managed my department at work like this the CEO would cut me loose.— whsbuss
- Get a goalie. There are no untouchables here. JVR for Halak. Carter for Halak. Richards for Halak. You can trade Briere and Hartnell. Soft, soft, soft. Make them an offer they can't refuse, or let em play in the AHL. Give up a prima donna to get rid of these contracts. Kerry Price if you can't get Halak. They can't keep both. Get a goalie.— JimDunfee
- This team is filled with players who don't care whether they win or lose. They need to blow this team up and trade EVERYBODY they can next season and get a good young goalie to build a team around. Mike Richards can be the first to go. He is a pathetic excuse for a captain of a hockey team. Ed Snider and Peter Luukko - PLEASE RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. You've helped destroy this franchise.— jibberjabber
- Trading all those draft picks for Pronger is really going to hurt now. That is NOT a knock against Pronger - he's easily our best d-man, and maybe he should wear the C and really lay into some of the other players on this team like the deserve to be. If I hear about one more "team meeting" I'm going to puke. The time for meetings is over. It's obvious they have the talent to beat teams at will and this is (at least offensively) a mental and leadership issue.— jimmycrackcorn
Richards no longer playing with"an edge". Poor team motivator; in fact I don't know who could be captain...Pronger seems content to play uninspired and collect his big $$. Time to follow the Phillies and stop this self-abuse of watching a team with lackluster play prolong any further agony.— dogman5- Nothing new to report here. Can't call the young guys young anymore. Last time I checked, Ovechkin and Crosby are the same age as Captain incredible Mike Richards. Rip the C off his chest, give it to Pronger next year. Trade him for all I care. Team has gotten progressively worse since they lost to Penguins the in Stanely Cup Finals three years ago.— PhillyWise
- Finally! A Flyers beat writer who has the guts to state the obvious: No Character, No Leadership in the room. Wow, you're going to be chastised and ostracized now, Sam -- but good for you. Where's Seravalli and @tpanotch with these words? Richards is too young to wear the C, it should be Pronger's. And the NTC/NMC guys (Briere, Hartnell, Gagne) certainly aren't earning their over-inflated salaries. Gotta break up this core of gliders and get some more guys who care in here. Can the heart of Lappy and Betts be transplanted into these other prima donna's, please?!?
- You summed it up perfectly. This will be no one year turnaround.— pointgiven28
- Agree They can't score even with all the money they shelled out . . lemme tell you .. . . Flyers ain't cheap . . they've paid their players well and they're treated well . . . this is becoming really hard to watch . . an i'm a big fan— ingy9
- Glad to see you calling these players out, I think even the Stepfords are getting fed up with this team. I wonder how long Richards will freeze you out if he reads this?— ForWhoForWhat?
- This group of players is heartless and/or gutless. A total lame effort from start to finish. They are an embarrassment to the orange and the black.— AreaMan
- One more stat: Snider, 0 Stanley Cups in last 35 years.— FlyFifty8
- Nothing will change until Snider stops running the Flyers. Sam, could you PLEASE speak with someone at Comcast and let us know WHY they have Snider running the Flyers. If it's a contractual thing, then I can at least UNDERSTAND why. I know he has managed the Flyers very profitably for them (did I answer my own question), but that appears likely to change. There MUST be someone out there that can manage the Flyers with an eye towards the future instead of constantly looking to the distant past for success. Can we please get someone from Comcast to comment on the state of the franchise??!— FlyFifty8
- Sam, you are now barred from the Flyers dressing room, per Peter Luukko.— BobbyD
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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
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