What The Hell Has Happened To My Flyers?

[NJCardFan]

I've been sitting on this subject for quite sometime because I've been contemplating the subject and for the life of me I can't find the answers but what in the blue hell is wrong with my beloved Flyers? I know there are some hockey fans here so maybe someone can help me out here. I mean, once upon a time this was the most feared team in hockey and if nothing else one of the most consistent. With the exception of a few years in the early 90's(90-94) they made the playoff every single year since 1973 and had 101 points last season. Now they are the worst team in the league by almost 20 points. What's worse, once upon a time, every team including the great Canadien teams of the late 70's were intimidated by playing in Philly. This season the Fly-boys have won a whopping 4 home games. 4! Wha? And it's not like the team is that different. Any answers? Anyone?

[RipperEagle]

I've been sitting on this subject for quite sometime because I've been contemplating the subject and for the life of me I can't find the answers but what in the blue hell is wrong with my beloved Flyers? I know there are some hockey fans here so maybe someone can help me out here. I mean, once upon a time this was the most feared team in hockey and if nothing else one of the most consistent. With the exception of a few years in the early 90's(90-94) they made the playoff every single year since 1973 and had 101 points last season. Now they are the worst team in the league by almost 20 points. What's worse, once upon a time, every team including the great Canadien teams of the late 70's were intimidated by playing in Philly. This season the Fly-boys have won a whopping 4 home games. 4! Wha? And it's not like the team is that different. Any answers? Anyone?

NJ, it still hasn't sunk in to me either. And when I start cheering for the Penguins now over the FLYERS something is terribly wrong.

I think, since you asked for answers from ANYONE, that the situation slowly molded and then all of a sudden...BOOOOOOOM!

Think about it, how many years did this team make the playoffs, fall on their faces, get back in, have a great season, and then repeat. It's like rinse, lather, wash, and repeat.

Appearently the quarterfinals loss this past year to a (in my honest opinion) a better Buffalo Sabres team was the final straw. However, I still blame former GM Bobby Clarke for all this. He, in my eyes, made one good trade when he traded Rod Brind'Amour for Keith Primeau. But the Eric Lindros trade fell apart, blew up, and threw the remaining debri everywhere. And for taking, what, 14 years to finally do something about it Clarke steps down. It's in my honest opinion that the man had little to no credentials to be the GM when they appointed him. What business sense did he have? Getting smashed in the head with a hockey puck and his teeth knocked out while Dave Schultz and the gang protected him don't count either.

Now for this year's team, I think the problem above all else is goaltending. I mean come on, Rob Esche and Nittimayki I wouldn't trust with an open net let alone with a game on the line. I really thought Esche was going to be a good one but he fell by the way-side...that kinda reminds of Brian Boucher and Roman Chechmanek come to think of it.

But that's not to say that the talent isn't there: Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter, and RJ Umberger are great, but I got to wonder about Peter Foresberg. And Geoff Sanderson? Didn't that guy, like, clunk out after he left Colombus?Oh, and let's not talk about Derrian Hatcher: talk about a goon gone soft over the time.

Bottom line NJ is I honestly believe this team has shitty goaltending but also was poorly managed by the GM and coach. But to fire Ken Hitchcock wasn't the answer and Clarke knew it which is why he resigned.

And the four home wins...when they played Pittsburgh a week ago I heard their were only 2,000 people in attendence. Nothing sends a message like that huh?

Look forward to your reply and/or a possible debate on this...

Peace NJcardsfan.

[AussieCardinal]

Well as much as i would love to rub into the fact that we have completely destroyed the Flyers in every encounter this season (Penguins)

I have to say that im just as shocked as u guys. I can remember thinking everytime we would play the Flyers that we would end up losing, for the Flyers were just too quick and physical to handle. Clearly i cant comment on the Front Office dramas that have been mentioned, but i think i can say with u guys agreeing is that when their out on the ice, most nights they really look like they
1. Dont want to be there;
2. Have no structure or plan.

I look back at the 8-2 lose that my Pens gave u as a clear example of a team that looked completely unorganised and uninterested.

[RipperEagle]

Well, there goes one person off the roster:

Flyers Acquire Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall and Two Draft Picks for Peter Forsberg

Flyers center traded to Nashville

(February 15) - The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have acquired 6’2, 205-pound defenseman Ryan Parent, 6’0, 197-pound right wing Scottie Upshall and a first round pick and third round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for center Peter Forsberg, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren.

“Peter could not commit to signing an extension because of his uncertainty. Therefore, we had to do what was best for the future of the team,” said Flyers Chairman Ed Snider. “Peter is a tremendous player and person. I would like to thank him for all that he did for this franchise. We wish him the best.”

“When it became apparent that we couldn’t sign Peter, we took the opportunity to acquire some outstanding young talent which will help the team as we build for the future,” said Holmgren.

Parent, 19, has recorded three goals and six assists for nine points and 62 penalty minutes in 32 games for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League this season. He was named the Storm’s captain prior to the start of this season. In four seasons with the Storm (2003-04 through 2006-07), Parent has registered 10 goals and 45 assists for 55 points and 238 penalty minutes in 216 regular season games. A native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Parent was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team following the 2005-06 season. He was a member of the Canadian National Team, which won the gold medal at the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships. He was drafted by Nashville in the first round (18th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Upshall, 23, has posted three points (2G,1A) and 18 penalty minutes in 14 games for the Predators this season. He missed 22 games from November 16 through January 29 due to a groin strain sustained at Columbus on November 15. In 77 career regular season games over parts of four NHL seasons (2002-03 through 2006-07), Upshall has recorded 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points and 52 penalty minutes. He was drafted by the Predators in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Last season, Upshall recorded eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points and 34 penalty minutes in 48 regular season games for Nashville. His +14 rating led the Predators for the 2005-06 season.

Forsberg, 33, registered 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points and 72 penalty minutes in 40 games for the Flyers this season. Over the last two seasons with the Flyers (2005-06 and 2006-07), Forsberg recorded 30 goals and 86 assists for 116 points and 118 penalty minutes in 100 regular season games. He was signed as a free agent by the Flyers on August 3, 2005.

I'm not entirely surprised.

Nice short stay for someone who we DRAFTED IN 1991 and didn't see for 14 FREAKING YEARS!

[ArizonaGuy]

The flyers are my favorite nhl team as well. This season has surley been a rough one. The major downfall is that we lost eric dear.... and the rest of our defense is way too old/slow (see dareian hatcher)

the trade for parent/upshall/1st/3rd round picks all for impending free-agent peter "the great" forsberg is just what we needed. This season was lost long ago. He was going to walk after the season anyway so lets **** (please, no offense meant) another team. parent is gonna be good by all accounts, and upshall had a goal in his flyer debut. Then we got a 1st and 3rd round picks this season. That was the kinda deal we needed to make. We will most likley end up with the #1 overall selection this upcoming draft, then on top of it we draft first in each round and have another 1st and 3rd to play with.

I dont know if since we are seriously suppose to be rebuilding if we would trade any of those extra picks for players or just select some prospects. Remember we also have alot of $$$$$ to spend this summer on free-agents so we will be an much improved team next year :toot:

[NightHawk11and81]

The Flyers did not adequately prepare for the new NHL. Philly is too old and slow to compete with the team in place now. Once they rebuild after this ugly season, I expect to see the Flyers move back to where they belong, but right now, they don't have enough young talent to compete with teams like Buffalo, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Carolina or my Senators.

[AussieCardinal]

Lets Go Penguins Lets Go

[MEDIC-T]

Well as much as i would love to rub into the fact that we have completely destroyed the Flyers in every encounter this season (Penguins)

I have to say that im just as shocked as u guys. I can remember thinking everytime we would play the Flyers that we would end up losing, for the Flyers were just too quick and physical to handle. Clearly i cant comment on the Front Office dramas that have been mentioned, but i think i can say with u guys agreeing is that when their out on the ice, most nights they really look like they
1. Dont want to be there;
2. Have no structure or plan.

I look back at the 8-2 lose that my Pens gave u as a clear example of a team that looked completely unorganised and uninterested.The Flyers are pathetic.They actually make the Cardinals look like a good organization at times.They need lot's of help.At least the Cards have and now are doing positive moves/changes for their organization:happy:

[NightHawk11and81]

Lets Go Penguins Lets Go

The Penguins are really ticking me off, they just won't lose. I've got nothing against Pittsburgh, and I don't mind seeing them do well, but I sure don't want to see them in the first round.

[NJCardFan]

The Flyers did not adequately prepare for the new NHL. Philly is too old and slow to compete with the team in place now. Once they rebuild after this ugly season, I expect to see the Flyers move back to where they belong, but right now, they don't have enough young talent to compete with teams like Buffalo, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Carolina or my Senators.


This hits the nail squarely on the head. Clarke, as good a GM as he was, never adjusted his philosophy to match the game. When other teams were out there drafting and trading for faster players, Clarke would scoop up all of the mucker and grinder types or the big players. Sort of the opposite of what Keith Snyder did when the teams was first formed in '67. But, Ripper, you have to remember that Clarke wasn't the GM when the Flyers got Lindros so he wasn't at fault when Jay Snider traded away the future of this team(Forsberg included) for Lindros but Clarke was certainly at the helm when Lindros left albeit when he was a shell of what he could have been.

What still gets me is the suddeness of this collapse. I mean go from 101 points to the worst team in the NHL by 20 points is mindboggling. They do show flashes like when we beat Detroit and then the Rangers last night but as was said, to say the goaltending stinks would actually be a compliment. And, you know the sports situation in Philly is bad when the local papers try to talk up the Wings(Lacross) and the Kixx(Indoor soccer).

[AussieCardinal]

The Penguins are really ticking me off, they just won't lose. I've got nothing against Pittsburgh, and I don't mind seeing them do well, but I sure don't want to see them in the first round.

I just hope we can play like this right up till the playoffs.

First lose in 16 games:oops:

[NightHawk11and81]

I just hope we can play like this right up till the playoffs.

First lose in 16 games:oops:

As long as I don't have to see the Penguins in the first round, that's fine with me, except for their three games with Ottawa in the final month and a half.