Here we go again with the fiction and imagination. Are those goalies 6-7? What do shorter goalies have to do to look over defenders that a 6-7 goalie doesn't have to do?
- MJL

Need to look around the traffic, not over it. Rule applies to goalies of all ages, heights and persuasions.

If Poehling is out and Luchanko is set down what are they doing at center?

Coots
Frost
The Room
Cates
- mickel25

On Tyler Johnson....

Johnson has not yet signed with a team, but is working out in Boston and staying in game shape...He is a center and still has speed to his game...The Flyers are only one team that I've heard is discussing this internally.. He is an American player and John Tortorella knows his game well... speaking of Tortorella, the seat is getting hot. There are subtle and not-so-subtle smoke signals that leaders in "the room" who've just about had enough of their bench boss. The main thing "Torts" still has in his favor is that CEO Dan Hilferty is a huge believer in him and both GM Danny Briere and POHO Keith Jones still see more positives than negatives for now in keeping the status quo. Johnson is someone who could bring some added veteran stability to an overall young team

/****/

such incompetence.

If Poehling is out and Luchanko is set down what are they doing at center?

Coots
Frost
The Room
Cates
- mickel25

Cates should be getting more time at Center anyway. He proved two years ago he can be at least serviceable there and played at a level probably higher than whatever his upside is at wing.

On Tyler Johnson....

Johnson has not yet signed with a team, but is working out in Boston and staying in game shape...He is a center and still has speed to his game...The Flyers are only one team that I've heard is discussing this internally.. He is an American player and John Tortorella knows his game well... speaking of Tortorella, the seat is getting hot. There are subtle and not-so-subtle smoke signals that leaders in "the room" who've just about had enough of their bench boss. The main thing "Torts" still has in his favor is that CEO Dan Hilferty is a huge believer in him and both GM Danny Briere and POHO Keith Jones still see more positives than negatives for now in keeping the status quo. Johnson is someone who could bring some added veteran stability to an overall young team

/****/

such incompetence.
- hello it's me 2050

Is that info from Friedman? Doesn’t shock me at all. Torts has a shelf life and I think the team is indeed sick of him. The constant blender and mind games with the teams leaders. I’d be happy if they fired him today as long as they brought in a younger coach better suited to the current game and development young players. Preferably from outside the org.

Is that info from Friedman? Doesn’t shock me at all. Torts has a shelf life and I think the team is indeed sick of him. The constant blender and mind games with the teams leaders.
- Hextall271

no pelle eklund home page

no pelle eklund home page
- hello it's me 2050

Hilarious. Shows you how often I read those rumours.

Hilarious. Shows you how often I read those rumours.
- Hextall271

I believe it. I said Johnson months ago as a guy they may target.

Also, players get tired of him is believable knowing his history. If they did fire him and cut the cord completely. Would love to see if Torts then buries the orgini-eye-zation at some point.

The core of this team should have been moved years ago. To keep this losing group around is/was a bad idea. This group just doesn't work.

I haven't really kept up with Viktor Soderstrom much, not sure if he has the IQ of a potato, but wonder if he could be a target for the Flyers?

I know he is back in the SHL and his dream has always been to be a Flyer. Probably not expensive and suppose to be a good puck mover....

Utah needs some RHD vet with their season injury issues....

Risto for the rights to Soderstrom?

Please!

Both points are nonsense. NHL history is rife with examples of young players developing into stars starting on losing teams. They develop and the team wins. You and others keep mentioning Buffalo, which is just one team and is not proof of your position,
Chicago and San Jose are losing. Are you telling that Celebrini and Bedard aren't going to develop? How is Michkov developing on this losing team?
- MJL

If their respective teams continue to lose year after year, none of these players will reach their potential.

I haven't really kept up with Viktor Soderstrom much, not sure if he has the IQ of a potato, but wonder if he could be a target for the Flyers?

I know he is back in the SHL and his dream has always been to be a Flyer. Probably not expensive and suppose to be a good puck mover....

Utah needs some RHD vet with their season injury issues....

Risto for the rights to Soderstrom?

Please!
- Glak18

I’d do risto and retained for a potato.

Need to look around the traffic, not over it. Rule applies to goalies of all ages, heights and persuasions.
- 26912 PP

Brian Boucher, a former NHL goalie disagrees.

Cates should be getting more time at Center anyway. He proved two years ago he can be at least serviceable there and played at a level probably higher than whatever his upside is at wing.
- 26912 PP

Cates showed that he can play the center position defensively but not offensively. Offensively he has been a black hole at center. He has shown a much higher overall upside playing on the wing than he has at center. Albeit in a smaller sample.

I believe it. I said Johnson months ago as a guy they may target.

Also, players get tired of him is believable knowing his history. If they did fire him and cut the cord completely. Would love to see if Torts then buries the orgini-eye-zation at some point.

The core of this team should have been moved years ago. To keep this losing group around is/was a bad idea. This group just doesn't work.
- hello it's me 2050

They can’t get rid of Tortorella without putting the bullseye on themselves. I hope he stays all year and it’s a complete disaster.

If their respective teams continue to lose year after year, none of these players will reach their potential.
- jd250

That's your opinion but I believe it to be incorrect.

I believe it. I said Johnson months ago as a guy they may target.

Also, players get tired of him is believable knowing his history. If they did fire him and cut the cord completely. Would love to see if Torts then buries the orgini-eye-zation at some point.

The core of this team should have been moved years ago. To keep this losing group around is/was a bad idea. This group just doesn't work.
- hello it's me 2050

Flyers don’t have the gumption to do what needs to be done. Still adhering to an outdated philosophy like Don Quixote. Just like in the story the Flyers are a laughing stock.

Any radio hits from Jonesy discussing the season so far?

Cates showed that he can play the center position defensively but not offensively. Offensively he has been a black hole at center. He has shown a much higher overall upside playing on the wing than he has at center. Albeit in a smaller sample.
- MJL

based on what? his very small sample size at the end of a bad season. how much weight should that carry?

38 points at center as a rookie is solid production. took a step back last year. though was also not 100%.

Brian Boucher, a former NHL goalie disagrees.
- MJL

He does? Don't recall Bouch saying Fed should be using his height to look over screens. Thats because thats not how its been done for the past 35 years or so. You don't use the butterfly and look over screens. You keep a bend in your knees so you can load which supports lateral movement as well. Heard many a goalie coach remind goalies on the ice. If you stay too high, you cannot retreat down to a butterfly position especially in the best league in the world where shooters will pick you apart and there is a ton of traffic. The advantage Fed should have actually is when he is down in the butterfly in general as he should take away more net up top. Again, you dont play the butterfly and look over screens. I have a goalie rink near my house which our kids play at all the time and they always have clinics reiterating this point over and over... This is at all stages of the game. Also, there are many pods talking about this exact point and the problem with adjusting to the NA game.

I understand the desire for a top 5 pick and this team certainly needs another one for sure. The other potential benefit with being out of the playoffs early enough is the team can sell more pieces at he deadline for picks or younger prospects. But I hate the losing to be honest. It is not good to insert 18 and 19 year old kids into a losing culture, because 1. they don't develop and 2. this is what they become accustomed to. Just look at the Sabres if you want proof. So for those reasons, I would rather the Flyers winning and taking the next step, and finding a way to get the players they need via trades and free agency.
- jd250

Lazy narrative. All the anti-tankers use to say look at Edmonton and Buffalo but Edmonton has conveniently been left out lately.

Any radio hits from Jonesy discussing the season so far?
- Feanor

He was just on the Fan 550 saying it was always his dream to be poho

He does? Don't recall Bouch saying Fed should be using his height to look over screens. Thats because thats not how its been done for the past 35 years or so. You don't use the butterfly and look over screens. You keep a bend in your knees so you can load which supports lateral movement as well. Heard many a goalie coach remind goalies on the ice. If you stay too high, you cannot retreat down to a butterfly position especially in the best league in the world where shooters will pick you apart and there is a ton of traffic. The advantage Fed should have actually is when he is down in the butterfly in general as he should take away more net up top. Again, you dont play the butterfly and look over screens. I have a goalie rink near my house which our kids play at all the time and they always have clinics reiterating this point over and over... This is at all stages of the game. Also, there are many pods talking about this exact point and the problem with adjusting to the NA game.
- 26912 PP

Yes, he said exactly that during the telecast last night. Most goalies aren't 6'7" like Fedotov is.

based on what? his very small sample size at the end of a bad season. how much weight should that carry?

38 points at center as a rookie is solid production. took a step back last year. though was also not 100%.
- hello it's me 2050

It was longer than the - end of the year. He even got Selke votes and played the entire yr. Let's not act like it did not happen. Torts is just enamored with speed. He was hurt last year and was not really given an opp at a top 9 spot last yr in the center position. He can be a 3rd line center in this league and put up 35 to 40 pts w no pp time while being responsible. Still does not really get Frost to start executing on his chances, nor does it insert a rocket of Selkes ars, but it would be an improvement over Poehling who belongs at 4C.

Lazy narrative. All the anti-tankers use to say look at Edmonton and Buffalo but Edmonton has conveniently been left out lately.
- psuhockey

I keep telling Buffalo that if they acquired The Room for Ostlund they would be better off…but they are stubborn and won’t listen!

Yes, he said exactly that during the telecast last night. Most goalies aren't 6'7" like Fedotov is.
- MJL

I saw the between periods back and forth. He never said he should be looking over screens. Ya know cause no one does that. Taller goalies are even more susceptible to giving up goals through the 5 hole or down low when transitioning to the butterfly. This is not 1975. Kinda goalie 101 kinda of a nonsense discussion

It was longer than the - end of the year. He even got Selke votes and played the entire yr. Let's not act like it did not happen. Torts is just enamored with speed. He was hurt last year and was not really given an opp at a top 9 spot last yr in the center position. He can be a 3rd line center in this league and put up 35 to 40 pts w no pp time while being responsible. Still does not really get Frost to start executing on his chances, nor does it insert a rocket of Selkes ars, but it would be an improvement over Poehling who belongs at 4C.
- 26912 PP

The smaller sample was his time at wing. He struggled putting up 35 to 40 points with 1st line center ice time. He is not capable of putting up that point total at 3C. Cates does not have the puck skills to play center offensively.