Keep the Core Players, Ditch the System

[Sarcastic]

The Flyers blocked 40 shots during the series. The Pens blocked 14.

The playoffs are all about sacrifice. Once upon a coach, the Pens used to be willing to sacrifice.

That stat is very telling and very alarming at the same time.

[offsides]

When Holmgren blew up the team last offseason, there is no way he made those trades with only the Penguins in mind.

Flyers acknowledged they build their team to beat ours, knowing they had to go through us to get to the finals.

Don't buy this, they built their team to beat us AND a lot of other hockey teams. I still don't understand how you select players that can beat a specific team. What if the team you want to beat changes players\tactics\system? In the playoffs you will meet different types of teams with different styles. To build a team to beat one team is stupid. To me, Holmgren is just like any other GM, he wants the CUP and if the Pens or any one else is in the way, just beat em.

[RxBandit66]

I think Holmgren built the Flyers to be able to play well in all three zones. People talk about how poorly Fleury played.....imagine if Bryzgalov had played well and Pronger had been healthy.

Despite the good job Holmgren did, certain teams like the Rangers had the Flyers' number all season (6-0 against them). The teams with coaches who can adjust on the fly and demand strict discipline from their players (like The Rangers, Sabres, etc) typically fare better against Philly.

Free wheeling hockey clubs who let their emotions get the best of them and have shaky special teams do not typically do well in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ironically, the Flyers of 2008 and 2009 were that exact team. And so was the Caps team the Pens beat three years ago. The Penguins under Bylsma have become that type of team! And that's what is so tragic about this mess. We're becoming the Capitals!

[Penspal]

- I've already mentioned that PLAYOFF shot blocking should be added to the PLAYOFF system, it was sorely lacking.
- The NHL changed the "flow & style" of the game with the subtle addition of "allowed obstruction" late in the season. The Pens were not built for this, and didnt' take advantage
- As RXB66 pointed out, speed increases needed. Should be easy if Pens drop Adams & Asham (grit guys who were slow & PIM magnets in 2012 playoffs)
- A healthy Vitale replaces Adams... FA or farmhand (KV, Sill, other) to replace Asham

[DelPen]

The Flyers blocked 40 shots during the series. The Pens blocked 14.

The playoffs are all about sacrifice. Once upon a coach, the Pens used to be willing to sacrifice.

That stat is very telling and very alarming at the same time.

The bigger probelm was they were in postion to block less than 20 shots.

[RxBandit66]

The Flyers blocked 40 shots during the series. The Pens blocked 14.

The playoffs are all about sacrifice. Once upon a coach, the Pens used to be willing to sacrifice.

That stat is very telling and very alarming at the same time.

The bigger probelm was they were in postion to block less than 20 shots.

Absolutely. I remember when Martin and Michalek first came here, they blocked a ton of shots, especially Michalek. But then, as they became immersed in Bylsma's system, the play of both men deteriorated.