HOLMGREN

Seriously, How does Paul Holmgren still have a job.

1980 - First U.S.-born player to score a hat trick in a [Stanley Cup] Finals game?

Paul Holmgren!

Holmgren became the first former Flyer to be named the team's Head Coach. During his first season as coach the Flyers made an unexpected run to the Wales Conference Finals before bowing out to the [Montreal Canadiens] in six games. This playoff run included an improbable 4 games to 3 second-round victory over Mario Lemieux's [Pittsburgh Penguins]; with the clincher coming on the road in a thrilling game 7!!

• 1981 - Played in []NHL all-star game in LA with an assist!

scored over 27 goals TWICE

60 plus points a few times, and the clincher is.. Knocked out referee Andy Van Hellamond with one punch haha

So far the Flyers have definitely been a letdown, but this team has some great young players on it due to Homer's moves. Let's not forget that he took over a team that in 2006-07 finished dead last in the league. Since then the Flyers have made the playoffs every year and went to the Cup in 2010. He has made some questionable moves that were overly agressive, the Bryz signing is definitely one of them. Briere's long term deal and big cap hit was controversal for many Flyers fans as well. (Although I think many Flyers fans like Briere because of how well he plays in the playoffs)

For the first time that I can remember in a long time, the Flyers biggest problem is lack of offense. Right now it looks like getting rid of guys like Carter, Richards and JVR and getting younger guys is going to be a tough hurdle for this team in this locked out season. Defense and goaltending have been surprisingly solid, I think many Flyers fans would agree that those were our biggest concerns in the offseason.

Briere is past his prime and is no longer the threat he once was. The younger guys aren't good enough yet to be consistent on a line with Giroux. I think he really benefitted from having Jagr on his line last season, someone who he could set up with his shift moves. Giroux is not Stamkos, he is a set up guy and right now they don't really have anyone who is great with him on a line.

The Flyers have tried to win the Cup every year that Homer was GM and made big moves to try to get that accomplished. The team was always up close to the salary cap and had a boatload of 20+ goal scorers that were used as trade bait over the years. Right now he is left with a team that has a lot of potenial for the future, but still has a lot of kinks in it and will have some growing pains. You can definitely look back on what Homer has done and question a lot of it.

The Flyers definitely have a lot of work to do if they want to get back to the playoffs. However, I don't think they are as bad as their 2-6 record shows. With the exception of one game, the Tampa game, they have played well enough to have a chance to win in all of those games. Granted they  I think as the season progresses, the guys will gel together better and start winning some of these close games, rather than lose them. At this point, I think the team is clearly not a contender for the Cup. And with the shortened season, this slow start could bite them in the ass and cause them to miss the playoffs for only the second time in 17 years.

But, I don't think Homer totally deserves to be crucified. Do I look back at some of the moves he made and see that they weren't the best moves? Absolutely. Coming into this season with Leighton as the backup is unexcusable and a really bad decision. I like the players the organization has drafted under him and I like a lot of the young players he brought in. There is still plenty of hockey to be played and there are a lot of adjustments that Laviolette needs to make. The power play is just downright awful, there were times tonight where the Flyers PP made the Caps PK look like the Rangers. They could not bring the puck in the zone and would get one shot and out.

All that being said. I think I can speak for many Flyers fans when I say while it is a let down not winning the Cup, we understand that it is not an easy task to do. Not making the playoffs however, is entirely unacceptable. If this team does not turn it around this season and at least start playing well towards the end of the year, there may be some changes coming in the next year or two.

It's not panic mode yet. It is still very early and I still believe that if the D and Bryz can continue to play solid, the offense will come around.

nice Fly, very nice dude.

Coming into this season with Leighton as the backup is unexcusable and a really bad decision.

i think oxyconklin is available...


:)

Fly, The defense is not that good. In fact if it wasnt for Bryz they would of been blown out in alot of games. This team is a turnover machine. I see alot of behind the back passes in our own zone which is totally stupid. They always go for that one extra pass instead of shooting. I will say with all their trouble right now that they can turn it round. Remember that last strike shortened season they went 3-7 and I think made it to the ECF. Ya never know. As I sit here game after game yelling at the tv I still root for them. Im not jumping ship just yet. What do ya think of that elbow to simmonds head? There should be a suspension for that! Go Flyers!

Holmgren Should be fired primarily for this reason, regardless of how this team performs:

New CBA, new market values for players, and he was late to the party when it came to some aspects of managing contract slots and structures within the Hard cap.    I would put him in the bottom third of gms able to construct a team within in a multi-year framework without wasting cap space and assets.

Other reasons to get canned:

• Pronger gamble (I liked it at the time, until the major injury, but it was more risk than I would have wanted to take on) has been a complete disaster.   Lupul, Sbisa, a first, 25 million, 9-15 million more (depending on buyout), and a 35+ contract that stays on the books.   This was the big move and one nice year with a playoff run isn't enough, no where close, and it will continue to be worse over time.   It was a big bet that failed, many get fired for less.
• Neglect of the system or failure to manage it and contract limit rules.  By ignoring contract limits and the pools in the rest of the league, Holmgren has completely failed to improve his system.   Dozens of players have been waived that would have upgraded his talent pool (important for development of NHL capable prospects) around the league.  Because he has burned up all his contract slots early and often, he's been unable to take on some of the waived players and in some cases, he's had to dump low picks and prospects just to make an acquisition.
• Driving the market up.   Routinely overpaid for players in FA or in extensions.   One can only waste so much of the bosses' money.
• Draft history, in 6 years of drafting, well, there is very little on the roster from it.   Many of the players acquired with picks aren't of any help right now either
• If he has to fire his coach, I don't trust him to find the coach to match the players (I have little to base that opinion on)

I still think PHI makes the playoffs and does well in the ATL, but with the changing landscape the new CBA brings and with the holes in the organization, I think he has to go for PHI to be more successful moving forward.     He's made a number of excellent moves, but they haven't been enough to offset what I consider to be larger problems.

If the expectation level has been reduced to just making the playoffs and maybe winning in the first round, Then Holmgren is the man for the job. If at anytime in the future the expectation becomes winning the Stanley Cup, then you obviously need to make a change.

I did not realize that Holmgren had knocked out Van Hellamond untill Alfred pointed that out. I recant my previous position on Holmgren. Give him a lifetime contract....

If the expectation level has been reduced to just making the playoffs and maybe winning in the first round,

Maybe moving forward.   But I think he's gone through too much of the boss' cap space and dollars to be given a pass at this point.

I wouldn't want him dealing with Giroux's , Schenn's, Couturier's, and (dare I say) Rinaldo's extensions after what he's done to this point.   

He'll still be paying at least part of the contracts on Hartnell, Bryz, and Pronger in 4 years.

If the expectation level has been reduced to just making the playoffs and maybe winning in the first round, Then Holmgren is the man for the job. If at anytime in the future the expectation becomes winning the Stanley Cup, then you obviously need to make a change.

Obivously the goal is to win the Cup, but you have to be realistic as well, things don't just happen instantly. The Flyers have a ton of young players and it is going to take a couple of years of them playing with each other to become a team that can win the Cup. You don't trade away your captain, a 40 goal scorer, lose your best defensemen, get a ton of young guys and expect to win the Cup immediately. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just delusional. Like I said, I think Holmgren deserves another year or two before you can totally throw him under the bus. The Flyers may not be in a complete rebuild mode, but they are in a transition period. And unlike teams like the Penguins who just suck for years hoping to get the first pick, the Flyers are remaining competitive while trying to get back to a Cup calibur team.

I read that Homer may have an interst in Iginla. Go for it Homer, mortgage your future some more. In Homer I trust!

Fly---Congratulations on being mediocre, The Flyers have obviously mastered that art. After all 1975 is a long time ago. But Good Luck on another year of making the playoffs. We in Pittsburgh have greatly enjoyed our 3 Stanley Cup championships since 1991.

We in Pittsburgh have greatly enjoyed our 3 Stanley Cup championships since 1991.

It's really amazing what happens when one is lucky enough to win the lottery every time there is a generational prospect that comes along. Isn't it? 

Fly---Congratulations on being mediocre, The Flyers have obviously mastered that art. After all 1975 is a long time ago. But Good Luck on another year of making the playoffs. We in Pittsburgh have greatly enjoyed our 3 Stanley Cup championships since 1991.

And ignored the team in years where they wished they were good enough to even be mediocre.

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments, brogan.

Alfred I was actually at the game he punched Van Hellamond in the chest, more of a jab,Andy said after the game the league would take of it during interviews, I think he ended up with a short suspension considering the act.

Tough to be a sports fan in Philly these days. Flyers are doomed to fail as long as Holmgren is the GM. Get ready for a trade for a 35 year old that he will extend a 7 year contract to with a No-Trade clause.

no kidding Burgh...So what did Baxter do that upset him so much? (probably a high stick to the jaw haha)