The problem will end up being that the players who CAN finish are not Torts type players. That is where it will come to a head.
- MBFlyerfan

The PP ends up as a top reason the Flyers will miss, whether a 4 minute PP with zero results or the with the 2 minute PP, just didn't give them a goal in this stretch that they needed. Yea, no high end talent to close but the coaches own it too. Torts not talking about it, is akin to excusing it. They had enough talent to be better, better coaching would have helped.

Some interesting stats from this season. The Flyers are top 10 in the league in high danger chances generated and are top 10 in limiting high danger chances from their opponents. The problem is the Flyers have only 79 high danger goals which puts them 21st in the league. As bad as the goaltending has been lately the Flyers are still 8th in the league in high danger goals against. Add to this the worst PP in the league and one can conclude what we already know, the Flyers can't finish! It's not the archaic system that is the problem, it's mostly the ability of the players on the ice. IMO, it's time for Briere to stop hoping things will click with some players and really start revamping this roster. That means saying goodbye to players like Laughton, Atkinson, Farabee, and yes, even TK if his salary demands are too high. Teams need players like Poehling, Cates and Hathaway in their botton 6 so I am fine with them staying, but the Flyers need more skill in their top 6, and true 1C to bring it all together.
- jd250

As with any team, lack of elite talent is the Flyers biggest issue. That doesn't change that the Flyers will never win anything with the systems an style of play under Tortorella. Not to mention his player handling and his propensity to favor role players. As well as poor in game strategy.

It is incorrect to put Farabee in the same category as Atkinson and Laughton.

As with any team, lack of elite talent is the Flyers biggest issue. That doesn't change that the Flyers will never win anything with the systems an style of play under Tortorella. Not to mention his player handling and his propensity to favor role players. As well as poor in game strategy.

It is incorrect to put Farabee in the same category as Atkinson and Laughton.
- MJL

add in, he needed to set the PP and give the players a chance to grow together, for better or worse. Constantly moving them around, sitting Coots in favor of a Cates or Ryan P, Zam the only D who had success, criminal.

add in, he needed to set the PP and give the players a chance to grow together, for better or worse. Constantly moving them around, sitting Coots in favor of a Cates or Ryan P, Zam the only D who had success, criminal.
- wcorvette

His overall player handling is pretty poor.

Some interesting stats from this season. The Flyers are top 10 in the league in high danger chances generated and are top 10 in limiting high danger chances from their opponents. The problem is the Flyers have only 79 high danger goals which puts them 21st in the league. As bad as the goaltending has been lately the Flyers are still 8th in the league in high danger goals against. Add to this the worst PP in the league and one can conclude what we already know, the Flyers can't finish! It's not the archaic system that is the problem, it's mostly the ability of the players on the ice. IMO, it's time for Briere to stop hoping things will click with some players and really start revamping this roster. That means saying goodbye to players like Laughton, Atkinson, Farabee, and yes, even TK if his salary demands are too high. Teams need players like Poehling, Cates and Hathaway in their botton 6 so I am fine with them staying, but the Flyers need more skill in their top 6, and true 1C to bring it all together.
- jd250

Weird to be top 10 both for allowed and for creating ish danger chance with such an out dated archaic system that can’t win in todays NHL. Odd.

His overall player handling is pretty poor.
- MJL

thinking he let the PP to his assistant, that was an obvious mistake, something that bad for so long, needed a shake up in leadership. Their overall play masked the PP challenge and Torts kind of ignored it.

I agree completely. The only problem would be after year 2 the league would have known there was something wrong and if the Flyers had waited it out, they not only would have wasted 3 years but also got nothing once his college career was over. So there is the trade-off.
- jd250

College career is after 4 years ? No? I still think the right move was to wait him out. Although unlike some I like Drysdale. I don’t think it’s fair market but it’s still early.

thinking he let the PP to his assistant, that was an obvious mistake, something that bad for so long, needed a shake up in leadership. Their overall play masked the PP challenge and Torts kind of ignored it.
- wcorvette

No doubt. Tortorella has self admitted that he doesn't know how to coach offense. Rocky Thompson is not effective. Shaw can stay as an assistant but then Tortorella and Thompson need to go. Of course, a new HC would want to choose his own assistants.

Weird to be top 10 both for allowed and for creating ish danger chance with such an out dated archaic system that can’t win in todays NHL. Odd.
- landros 2

that is the rub with Torts, I don't have an issue with how he had them playing, you add an MM and you have a better scoring team. Torts roster calls, finally caught up with him, going down the stretch with no set lines. Now the D, this team could not afford to lose Walker, but Torts with Johnson and Staal was comical. You lose a good puck moving D, then you add those 2, you basically told your team, we are going from attack hockey to defend hockey. A lot of what Torts did prior worked, and that covered some of his questionable decisions, nothing worked in the end.

Ha ha, 340 comments on here today. Yeah, there ain't a chance in hell that I'm back reading any of it. I can only imagine.
- Phillywhiteout

Smartest post I've read today.

Some interesting stats from this season. The Flyers are top 10 in the league in high danger chances generated and are top 10 in limiting high danger chances from their opponents. The problem is the Flyers have only 79 high danger goals which puts them 21st in the league. As bad as the goaltending has been lately the Flyers are still 8th in the league in high danger goals against. Add to this the worst PP in the league and one can conclude what we already know, the Flyers can't finish! It's not the archaic system that is the problem, it's mostly the ability of the players on the ice. IMO, it's time for Briere to stop hoping things will click with some players and really start revamping this roster. That means saying goodbye to players like Laughton, Atkinson, Farabee, and yes, even TK if his salary demands are too high. Teams need players like Poehling, Cates and Hathaway in their botton 6 so I am fine with them staying, but the Flyers need more skill in their top 6, and true 1C to bring it all together.
- jd250

They're mostly a team that attacks off the rush. And when they're in the ozone they're mostly cycling and putting everything on net. It's not a team that has a lot of brilliant passing sequences or elaborate setups. It's not a team that forces the opposing goaltenders to open up by quickly moving the puck east/west. They aren't forcing defenses into misreads or 1v1 mismatches. They're mostly straight forward, fire away and pray... with very little net front presence to jump on second chances.

And yes, their guys aren't good finishers. TK's really their only efficient finisher and even he flubs a lot of quality chances. Tipp is a chance generation machine but his finish leaves a lot to be desired. Dudes like Farabee and Foerster are hot and cold. And they regularly have dudes like Poehls and Laughts in offensive situations where they have no business being in.

The talent on the team needs to be improved. The way they attack should be improved. And player deployment is plain bad.

Torts has a hand in all three problems.

They're mostly a team that attacks off the rush. And when they're in the ozone they're mostly cycling and putting everything on net. It's not a team that has a lot of brilliant passing sequences or elaborate setups. It's not a team that forces the opposing goaltenders to open up by quickly moving the puck east/west. They aren't forcing defenses into misreads or 1v1 mismatches. They're mostly straight forward, fire away and pray... with very little net front presence to jump on second chances.

And yes, their guys aren't good finishers. TK's really their only efficient finisher and even he flubs a lot of quality chances. Tipp is a chance generation machine but his finish leaves a lot to be desired. Dudes like Farabee and Foerster are hot and cold. And they regularly have dudes like Poehls and Laughts in offensive situations where they have no business being in.

The talent on the team needs to be improved. The way they attack should be improved. And player deployment is plain bad.
- Tomahawk

Mostly individual efforts. It shows how poorly coached they are offensively. Both at 5 on 5 and on the PP. Talent is a big part of it but it's coaches and systems also. Some don't understand that not all high danger chances are created equal.

Living in your head rent free.

Just to show that as usual, you have no clue. Recent examples of when I admitted that I was wrong was when I predicted the Flyers would win the Columbus game and when I predicted with about 8-10 games left that I thought the Flyers were going to make the playoffs. Just another example of how you don't have the facts when you call me out.
- MJL

did yo get your 8 hours sleep? that is key to a healthy life

You don't have the common sense to realize that if you did that with the sole purpose of getting a reaction from black hand, then it is you that is being owned. You instigated it. Meaning he is living in your head.
- MJL

cliffs buzzword of the day.

As with any team, lack of elite talent is the Flyers biggest issue. That doesn't change that the Flyers will never win anything with the systems an style of play under Tortorella. Not to mention his player handling and his propensity to favor role players. As well as poor in game strategy.

It is incorrect to put Farabee in the same category as Atkinson and Laughton.
- MJL

why is it incorrect? he wants to see him traded. so in that context nothing incorrect about it

Some interesting stats from this season. The Flyers are top 10 in the league in high danger chances generated and are top 10 in limiting high danger chances from their opponents. The problem is the Flyers have only 79 high danger goals which puts them 21st in the league. As bad as the goaltending has been lately the Flyers are still 8th in the league in high danger goals against. Add to this the worst PP in the league and one can conclude what we already know, the Flyers can't finish! It's not the archaic system that is the problem, it's mostly the ability of the players on the ice. IMO, it's time for Briere to stop hoping things will click with some players and really start revamping this roster. That means saying goodbye to players like Laughton, Atkinson, Farabee, and yes, even TK if his salary demands are too high. Teams need players like Poehling, Cates and Hathaway in their botton 6 so I am fine with them staying, but the Flyers need more skill in their top 6, and true 1C to bring it all together.
- jd250

- are all high danger chances the same or treated equally?

- the problem is the flyers just are not a good team and lack talent all over the lineup

- cates and GH cost too much to be playing 4th line. Not a good use of money

- they need more than 1C. much more

- their offensive system, whatever it is, isnt good enough.

College career is after 4 years ? No? I still think the right move was to wait him out. Although unlike some I like Drysdale. I don’t think it’s fair market but it’s still early.
- landros 2

If Drysdale tops out as 2nd pair and PP specialist, what would Cutter have to be to make the trade even? Not considering the pick that was included.

His overall player handling is pretty poor.
- MJL

you posting 16 hours a day is criminal

They're mostly a team that attacks off the rush. And when they're in the ozone they're mostly cycling and putting everything on net. It's not a team that has a lot of brilliant passing sequences or elaborate setups. It's not a team that forces the opposing goaltenders to open up by quickly moving the puck east/west. They aren't forcing defenses into misreads or 1v1 mismatches. They're mostly straight forward, fire away and pray... with very little net front presence to jump on second chances.

And yes, their guys aren't good finishers. TK's really their only efficient finisher and even he flubs a lot of quality chances. Tipp is a chance generation machine but his finish leaves a lot to be desired. Dudes like Farabee and Foerster are hot and cold. And they regularly have dudes like Poehls and Laughts in offensive situations where they have no business being in.

The talent on the team needs to be improved. The way they attack should be improved. And player deployment is plain bad.

Torts has a hand in all three problems.
- Tomahawk

There are things Torts does extremely well. Probably a reason he keeps getting jobs. His Systems like a lot of different systems have their positives and their negatives. Part of the reason why Torts systems had success this year is because he demands buy in or he makes it tough on that player who’s not buying in accountable.
That’s the issue most have with him….how he achieves that accountability. The one thing Torts has always realized is if you don’t have that buy in regardless of wha X’s and O’s You roll out it, your team won’t be successful.
Now after watching this poop show for the last decade I like that for the most part this team did buy in. There’s no secret they over achieved with the talent they have. Unfortunately though when they hit that rut they don’t have that offence to bale them out. They don’t have the skill level to bale out that poor of goaltending.
You get running around trying to do to much and it snow balls.
As far as Torts Future…I’m sceptical he’ll be here for to much longer…that demand really only works when you have success. Not all, but some of these players will start to tune out the message simply because they are not getting the results.

couple of questions for conversation


who can take a solid step forward with a good off-season? A step that would make you want to see them on the roster next season?

What are the Zam's and the Brinks worth trade wise now? Who is your dark horse to be traded and bring a needed piece back?

What will the big move be?

There are things Torts does extremely well. Probably a reason he keeps getting jobs. His Systems like a lot of different systems have their positives and their negatives. Part of the reason why Torts systems had success this year is because he demands buy in or he makes it tough on that player who doesn’t accountable.
That’s the issue most have with him….how he achieves that accountability. The one thing Torts has always realized is if you don’t have that buy in regardless of wha X’s and O’s You roll out it, your team won’t be successful.
Now after watching this poop show for the last decade I like that for the most part this team did buy in. There’s no secret they over achieved with the talent they have. Unfortunately though when they hit that rut they don’t have that offence to bale them out. They don’t have the skill level to bale out that poor of goaltending.
You get running around trying to do to much and it snow balls.
As far as Torts Future…I’m sceptical he’ll be here for to much longer…that demand really only works when you have success. Not all, but some of these players will start to tune out the message simply because they are not getting the results.
- landros 2

did they really over achieve though? doesn't look much diff standings wise from last season.

their "over achieving" to me is because so many other teams faltered.

If Drysdale tops out as 2nd pair and PP specialist, what would Cutter have to be to make the trade even? Not considering the pick that was included.
- wcorvette

It tough to deal in hypotheticals. I’m simply saying in my opinion they should have waited him out….perhaps that threat alone might have actually led to him playing here. 19 year olds have been known to change their mind. Agents don’t make $ with their players playing at UBC.

did they really over achieve though? doesn't look much diff standings wise from last season.

their "over achieving" to me is because so many other teams faltered.
- hello it's me 2050

From a skill point to their spot at the 70 game mark…yes I think they did. It wasn’t even the point total. I saw a team that was in almost every game from a competitive point of view. I hadn’t seen that from a Flyers team in a very long time.

It tough to deal in hypotheticals. I’m simply saying in my opinion they should have waited him out….perhaps that threat alone might have actually led to him playing here. 19 year olds have been known to change their mind. Agents don’t make $ with their players playing at UBC.
- landros 2

yea, didnt reply that part, but I can see waiting it out could change things. I probably default to DB knew more than we did, felt like moving him had to happen. Sucks, I ws hyped for Cutter.

that is the rub with Torts, I don't have an issue with how he had them playing, you add an MM and you have a better scoring team. Torts roster calls, finally caught up with him, going down the stretch with no set lines. Now the D, this team could not afford to lose Walker, but Torts with Johnson and Staal was comical. You lose a good puck moving D, then you add those 2, you basically told your team, we are going from attack hockey to defend hockey. A lot of what Torts did prior worked, and that covered some of his questionable decisions, nothing worked in the end.
- wcorvette

yeah but MM would be relegated to the 4th line then scratched the moment he doesn't block a shot with his face.