Not to pee in anyone's cheerios...BUT

[wbon22]

I have seen in three different threads that the Flyers would be playing for the cup, and barely lost to the Rangers and ......

Yes, had Steve Mason played the Flyers MIGHT have beaten the Rangers. BUT, they were still completely stymied 5 on 5. The Rangers rolled 4 lines consistently causing all kinds of problems for match ups and the Rangers played a consistent system with all 4 lines.

The Flyers still would have holes, they would just be deeper in the playoffs. Without Mason the defense is more suspect than with him. Not all of the Flyers forwards know how to backcheck...or are willing to on consecutive shifts. The Flyers only have two lines that can consistently generate offensive pressure and forecheck....

Yes, it is heartening to think how close this team got to advancing. Yes, it is wonderful that they even made the playoffs with the start they had and all of the holes that have been addressed all over this board...but what is most important is not "oh, they coulda if they only" but addressing the holes and moving forward.

Sorry...had to get that out....

 

[awaz]

They're not going to blow it up and they shouldn't be thinking about blowing it up. That's the point we're trying to make. There shouldn't be anything brewing, there doesn't need to be a major acquisition on defense.

 

[FlyerFinFan]

Agreed Awaz and I'm expecting one of the rookie dmen to make this team which will improve the D corps if this happens. I also believe that Laughton will do the same for the forwards. Plus some of the younger guys will get better hopefully they learned something from the playoffs...

 

[wbon22]

I don't feel a "blowing it up" so much as something from left field.

I still think that the makings of 4 solid rollable lines is there and that with the right continuity the PP and PK could be AWESOME.

Any team that starts with Giroux is in a good place. Add Cooter and you have a 1/2 offense/defense punch at center that is pretty much second to none. The issue is that there are two other lines ...oh and the blue line.

 

[JBM73]

From Bill Meltzer:

"...Ron Hextall was an important part of the management team that helped assemble the Kings' nucleus. Likewise, Phantoms coach Terry Murray was the one who, as LA's coach, painstakingly taught many of the Kings players to put a commitment to team defense ahead of personal stats.

The playing style that Flyers head coach Craig Berube wants his team to play is pretty damn close to the one that has brought LA one Stanley Cup and to currently within four wins of a second championship. Philly does not yet have the personnel to execute their system as well as Los Angeles does theirs. That is the challenge that new general manager Hextall faces."

 

[lasgop8]

I have seen in three different threads that the Flyers would be playing for the cup, and barely lost to the Rangers and ......

Yes, had Steve Mason played the Flyers MIGHT have beaten the Rangers. BUT, they were still completely stymied 5 on 5. The Rangers rolled 4 lines consistently causing all kinds of problems for match ups and the Rangers played a consistent system with all 4 lines.

The Flyers still would have holes, they would just be deeper in the playoffs. Without Mason the defense is more suspect than with him. Not all of the Flyers forwards know how to backcheck...or are willing to on consecutive shifts. The Flyers only have two lines that can consistently generate offensive pressure and forecheck....

Yes, it is heartening to think how close this team got to advancing. Yes, it is wonderful that they even made the playoffs with the start they had and all of the holes that have been addressed all over this board...but what is most important is not "oh, they coulda if they only" but addressing the holes and moving forward.

Sorry...had to get that out....

Yes we have holes to fill and yes we need to address them but if Mason plays every game we win the series.