The Flyers season

Sunday May 18, 2008 @ 09:45 PM EDT

Okay first I want to say this all I ask is that you read all of what I have to say and why I say it before you go jumping all over it.

I am very proud of my Flyers and how they defied all odds this season. I like most sports analyst was not too swayed by the offseason moves Holmgren made last offseason and the end of last year. I felt he improved us but that we were not fully fixed and cup ready. I figured we would finish in 4th instead of 5th and that we would have been the 11th seed in the conference. Fortunately for all of us die hard fans and our bandwagon followers we did better then expected this season.

Now here are my thoughts about some changes that may need to take place for us to go further next year and win the cup.

1. John Stevens – He is a great guy and a good coach, but I would like to see him show some passion behind the bench. He is a very quiet guy on the ice while you see Terry Murray more vocal behind him. In game 5 you saw a calm almost non existent Stevens behind the bench. When Millbury asked what his team need to turn things around down 2-0 he said be more composed with the puck. He didn’t say play with more fire, play our game nope just be more composed. I would just like to see the Stevens who called Downie out in a press conference behind the bench. He saw his leaders in uniform were not doing it and as a coach you must step up and not let your guys put their heads down. I would like to see him next season have more passion. Now as far as Homer goes I honestly would not be surprised if he cans Stevens for the simple fact he warned Stevens during the 10 game losing streak that he will not accept embarrassing play or lack of effort. Which is what we all saw in game 5 and Homer told him his job was not safe with a 11th lose. Thankfully the boys responded for him then.

2. Team Needs – We really need more solid defensemen to help our younger skilled guys. Next season I would love to see Timonen, Coburn, Parent, and Jones on our list of 6 defensemen. I would also like to see Homer go after Brian Campbell strong and heavy. Use Danny and Marty to try and pull him in.

Now on the offensive side I would like to see what we can get for Steve Downie and Simon Gagne. While I love Gagne and would not accept anything lower than a top 1 tier young Defensemen. It’s worth feeling out cause we all have no idea how Gagne will rebound next year if he even can. This year for some reason Gagne started playing very timid and not like himself which lead to two more concussions. Maybe he never fully got over the first. As for Downie I know we all love his grit but he is not showing any signs of being the player we need him to be right now. I didn’t get to see Richards from day 1 because he was a Phantom and I only started following them when he won the Calder. But from what I have seen with Downie I just am not getting that Richards feeling. I would rather see him part of a trade that can bring us a good solid proven young winger.

3. Wish List – I would love to see Homer try and get the following players to help us make a great push to the cup next season.

Brian Campbell he would provided us with a offensive point man to help Timo out and is also a stud on defense.

Brad Richards I know this one will be a toughie since he is in love with the Dallas Stars and I think they may have already extended his contract.

Kolzig – I hope that Homer can persuade him to be a backup to Marty next season to help give him some rest during the season. Marty is great but he is not able to play 82 + games straight.

I would also like to see the Flyers make a plunge and maybe pick up one older defensemen who has grit and can help Timonen out on defense with training our young guys.

4. Loosing – Jim Dowd is probably going to go thru with his plans to retire after this season and while he may not have been a 50 goal scorer he did fill a hole we had and will be missed.

I also have a strong feeling that Smith will leave at seasons end for New Jersey there is just way too much talk about it and he has never come out and said he wants to stay in Philadelphia.

Now Thoresen is a player I am still going back and forth with for a few reasons. He is a good gritty player who is tough yet never fights. He is suppose to be a goal scorer not a 50 guy but since becoming a Flyer I am struggling to remember a goal that he has scored. I am starting to think maybe a combined trade with Downie for a good young solid player who has grit but can raise the scoring.

Now I will say this in closing while proud of the effort put forth up till today we still have a lot of holes and for any fan to think we can just sit by this offseason and do nothing is simply crazy. Our Defensive grit is Old (Hatcher, Modry, Smith) our Young guys really are not glove droppers (Jones, Parent, Kukkonen). Yes two of them did fight this year but as we all saw they were not very good at it. I really think that letting Brashear go was a mistake we made while he is not a 50 goal scorer he demanded respect for his teammates on the ice and was a huge force. I would think with him and Cote on our team even more would be fearful. Now granted I don’t think the two should ever skate in the same game unless it’s a team we can get by with just 3 lines against. I just would like some tweaks made no major overhaul that was done last year and while it wasn’t all we needed it was a great start.

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