Is this team a failure?
Posted 7:10 PM ET | Comments 1
fail·ure (fāl'yər) Pronunciation Key
n.
The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends
One that fails
The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short
A cessation of proper functioning or performance
Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission
A decline in strength or effectiveness.
The definition of failure is very interesting when looked at in it's true form. Most people consider failure as a something that they should be ashamed of, but in some cases I think that the failure to achieve lofty and realistically unattainable goals is not actually failure.
Philadelphia was far and away the worst team in the NHL last year and had the statistically worst season since their inception in 1967. The team was not a team, they did not play well together for any length of time and the distraction surrounding the team carried over to the on ice product. Was that team a failure? Absolutely. They were a failure on so many levels that I would say that they really did fail themselves, the fans and all the people who had the unfortunate time of watching the debacle that was the Flyers.
Now we get to this year, which could have been nothing but a step up from where they were last year. Philly fans and Philly media and Philly players all have very lofty goals and ambitions about how their teams should be doing, regardless of where they have been or what they have to work with. While this has been said a billion times by sports writers from hockey cities in Canada and the US, Paul Holmgren was able to stop the bleeding this year and put together a very solid plan, long term, that will make the Flyers viable contenders again for years to come.
So this year a lot has happened.
The Flyers signed Daniel Briere, Kimmo Timonen, Lasse Kukkonen, Jason Smith, Joffrey Lupul, Mike Richards (long term extension), Scott Hartnell, and have some great young kids in Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, and Braydon Coburn that Homer was able to get last year for Forsberg and Zhitnick. I would say that there was a bit of genius that happened there to get that core group of players signed for the next few years.
These signings mentioned above do not include the fact that the Flyers were going into camp with a perceived number 1 keeper, finally, in Marty Biron. Like most other Flyers fans I have spoken to, I was hopeful that Marty would be the savior for us in net, if for no other reason than it was time that Philly put the #1 tag on a keeper and left it there. We see how well that worked out once again, but I would say that the goaltending, while a major part of the issue this year is not the main focus of our issues.
OK. So. Is this team a failure? Let's look at what they have accomplished so far, with 17 games remaining in the season.
Power Play:
Last year the Flyers were the 28th ranked team on the Power Play with 14 shorties scored against them. 14.1%
This year the Flyers are the 2nd ranked team on the Power Play with only 6 shorties score against them. 22.3%
A power play percentage increase of 8.2% in one year is staggering.
Outcome: PASS
Seriously! The #2 ranked PP in the league?!?! That right there is enough to not call them a failure.
Total Points:
Last year (total) - 56 points
This year (so far)- 74 points
Outcome: PASS
What an amazing first half the Flyers had when all the key elements were healthy. I can honestly say that I am very very excited about the future.
Playoff contention:
Last year the Flyers were out of playoff contention by the beginning of December and that is being generous.
This year the Flyers have a very real shot of making it into the playoffs despite their recent lack of inspired play.
Two scenarios:
1. Make the playoffs
Outcome: PASS
2. Miss the playoffs
Outcome: PASS
I have to give them a PASS for either scenario due to the fact that they have played way above and beyond what they did last year, have grown in leaps and bounds as a team and have shown that they are capable of winning long term. All Flyers fans want them to make the playoffs, but they are not going to go anywhere this year, so why worry about it. Next year is completely different. (OF COURSE I want them to get into the playoffs, but with the injuries and man games lost, I would not be as crushed as years past.)
Penalty Kill:
Last year they were very good - 84.5%, one of the top teams in the league and one of the only true bright spots with the team last year.
This year - not so good. We bring in a veteran defenseman known for blocking shots and letting his body get abused and we drop in our penalty killing percentage to 82.2%.
Outcome: FAILURE
When you achieve as much as they have on the offensive side of the puck, you need to make sure to keep up your ability to defend the shorthanded situation.
Shorties:
With the above said - Philly has been phenomenal on the kill scoring shorties. They have already scored 13 shorties and could score more.
Last year they scored 15 shorties, and I think part of the reason was the fact that teams knew Philly was going to be aggressive on the kill. It's all they were good at last year really!
Outcome: PASS
I love shorties! They are such killers of the other team, sucks the life right out of them.
Goaltending:
Statistically the goaltending has been much much better than last year. In actuality I think the Flyers have a long way to go when it comes to their keepers. Why is it that since Pelle Lindbergh that the only long term fan favorite goalie for the Flyers was a head case - whom I loved BTW - named Ron Hextall? Goalies and Philly don't seem to get along so well and it just plain sucks.
What to do about the goaltending? Name a number 1 stick to it and if the guy has a bad stretch let him work it out and get back on his game. PERIOD! Don't screw with their heads, it's not the right way to handle it.
Outcome: FAILURE
Yell and scream and kick and shout, but I would have given them a PASS if they would have named either Marty or Nitty as the number one. I don't care which, but this team seems to play better when they know who their keeper is. That has been proven for years and years of me watching that team.
So - my overall assessment of the Flyers with 17 games to go is that no matter what happens throughout the rest of the year, playoffs or not, they are not a failure and have had a very positive season in many many regards.
PASS
Hold our heads up high Flyers fans, this team will be a force to reckon with for years to come. Paul Holmgren has done a fantastic job over the last 12 months, and I am glad to say he is our GM.
n.
The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends
One that fails
The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short
A cessation of proper functioning or performance
Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission
A decline in strength or effectiveness.
The definition of failure is very interesting when looked at in it's true form. Most people consider failure as a something that they should be ashamed of, but in some cases I think that the failure to achieve lofty and realistically unattainable goals is not actually failure.
Philadelphia was far and away the worst team in the NHL last year and had the statistically worst season since their inception in 1967. The team was not a team, they did not play well together for any length of time and the distraction surrounding the team carried over to the on ice product. Was that team a failure? Absolutely. They were a failure on so many levels that I would say that they really did fail themselves, the fans and all the people who had the unfortunate time of watching the debacle that was the Flyers.
Now we get to this year, which could have been nothing but a step up from where they were last year. Philly fans and Philly media and Philly players all have very lofty goals and ambitions about how their teams should be doing, regardless of where they have been or what they have to work with. While this has been said a billion times by sports writers from hockey cities in Canada and the US, Paul Holmgren was able to stop the bleeding this year and put together a very solid plan, long term, that will make the Flyers viable contenders again for years to come.
So this year a lot has happened.
The Flyers signed Daniel Briere, Kimmo Timonen, Lasse Kukkonen, Jason Smith, Joffrey Lupul, Mike Richards (long term extension), Scott Hartnell, and have some great young kids in Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall, and Braydon Coburn that Homer was able to get last year for Forsberg and Zhitnick. I would say that there was a bit of genius that happened there to get that core group of players signed for the next few years.
These signings mentioned above do not include the fact that the Flyers were going into camp with a perceived number 1 keeper, finally, in Marty Biron. Like most other Flyers fans I have spoken to, I was hopeful that Marty would be the savior for us in net, if for no other reason than it was time that Philly put the #1 tag on a keeper and left it there. We see how well that worked out once again, but I would say that the goaltending, while a major part of the issue this year is not the main focus of our issues.
OK. So. Is this team a failure? Let's look at what they have accomplished so far, with 17 games remaining in the season.
Power Play:
Last year the Flyers were the 28th ranked team on the Power Play with 14 shorties scored against them. 14.1%
This year the Flyers are the 2nd ranked team on the Power Play with only 6 shorties score against them. 22.3%
A power play percentage increase of 8.2% in one year is staggering.
Outcome: PASS
Seriously! The #2 ranked PP in the league?!?! That right there is enough to not call them a failure.
Total Points:
Last year (total) - 56 points
This year (so far)- 74 points
Outcome: PASS
What an amazing first half the Flyers had when all the key elements were healthy. I can honestly say that I am very very excited about the future.
Playoff contention:
Last year the Flyers were out of playoff contention by the beginning of December and that is being generous.
This year the Flyers have a very real shot of making it into the playoffs despite their recent lack of inspired play.
Two scenarios:
1. Make the playoffs
Outcome: PASS
2. Miss the playoffs
Outcome: PASS
I have to give them a PASS for either scenario due to the fact that they have played way above and beyond what they did last year, have grown in leaps and bounds as a team and have shown that they are capable of winning long term. All Flyers fans want them to make the playoffs, but they are not going to go anywhere this year, so why worry about it. Next year is completely different. (OF COURSE I want them to get into the playoffs, but with the injuries and man games lost, I would not be as crushed as years past.)
Penalty Kill:
Last year they were very good - 84.5%, one of the top teams in the league and one of the only true bright spots with the team last year.
This year - not so good. We bring in a veteran defenseman known for blocking shots and letting his body get abused and we drop in our penalty killing percentage to 82.2%.
Outcome: FAILURE
When you achieve as much as they have on the offensive side of the puck, you need to make sure to keep up your ability to defend the shorthanded situation.
Shorties:
With the above said - Philly has been phenomenal on the kill scoring shorties. They have already scored 13 shorties and could score more.
Last year they scored 15 shorties, and I think part of the reason was the fact that teams knew Philly was going to be aggressive on the kill. It's all they were good at last year really!
Outcome: PASS
I love shorties! They are such killers of the other team, sucks the life right out of them.
Goaltending:
Statistically the goaltending has been much much better than last year. In actuality I think the Flyers have a long way to go when it comes to their keepers. Why is it that since Pelle Lindbergh that the only long term fan favorite goalie for the Flyers was a head case - whom I loved BTW - named Ron Hextall? Goalies and Philly don't seem to get along so well and it just plain sucks.
What to do about the goaltending? Name a number 1 stick to it and if the guy has a bad stretch let him work it out and get back on his game. PERIOD! Don't screw with their heads, it's not the right way to handle it.
Outcome: FAILURE
Yell and scream and kick and shout, but I would have given them a PASS if they would have named either Marty or Nitty as the number one. I don't care which, but this team seems to play better when they know who their keeper is. That has been proven for years and years of me watching that team.
So - my overall assessment of the Flyers with 17 games to go is that no matter what happens throughout the rest of the year, playoffs or not, they are not a failure and have had a very positive season in many many regards.
PASS
Hold our heads up high Flyers fans, this team will be a force to reckon with for years to come. Paul Holmgren has done a fantastic job over the last 12 months, and I am glad to say he is our GM.
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28 Jones.
Great blog, I agree totally with it. The only disagreement I have is about the keeping a number one goaltender. Listening to Bill Clement on XM, he said Nitty had worked out a deal with Stevens. Apparently he had no problem being backup but didn't want to only play 6-8 games a season if he was the hot hand. Granted he hasn't always been the hot hand and still been played, I agree with you there. But that is just something to take into consideration when giving them a failure for playing both. Great job either way.