What Is The Deal With......

The Flyers, Senators, and the Flames. The biggest surprise early on in the 2006-07 season, is not the fast start of the Sabres, the Wild, or even the Black Hawks, it is the utter inaptitude of the Flyers, Sens, and Flames. First, lets break down their seasons so far, the Flyers in their first 7 games are 1-5-1 (ouch), they have scored only 13 goals in 7 games, less then 2 a game (ouch), and have given up 30 (eeeks). The Senators in their first 6 games are 2-4-0, they have scored only 11 goals, yep less then 2 a game (whhaaaa!!!), and have given up 16 (meh, not bad). The Flames in their first 7 games are 2-4-1, the have scored 15 goals, a smidgen or 2 a game (the famous Tanguay effect), while surrendering 21, or exactly 3 a game (Kipper where art thou).

Okay the Flyers, oh the Flyers, are in a mess, Snider is pissed, Clarke is amiss, and Hitchcock, according to his backup goalie, is empty up there. The fit is going to hit the shan in Philly, methinks. The demotion of Nedved, and 2 other lesser lights (I know their names, but its too much of an effort to try and spell them..One sounds like a terrorist attack on a gardener, the other is all Greek to me), was only the opening volley. Snider from what I have read is about to blow up the whole thing in Philly (the garden as well). But where to begin, is there a quick fix, would firing the coach, give the Flyers that new coach bounce? What about finally taking Bobby Clarke to task, for his inability to assemble a team that can compete in the "new NHL". I think it is time to kick both Bobby, and Hitchcock to the curb, sacrifice this season perhaps, and start anew. But well I am not a Flyers fan, and I know Bobby Clarke is sacred and all in Flyers lore, so who knows???

The Sens, those kings of the regular season, talent to spare, but the hearts of mice come playoff time. The Sens took it in the ass because of the salary cap, they were forced to choose between Chara, and Redden (book is still out on that one), and the dealt away Havlat, who just so happens to be the NHL's early season points leader. I think the Sens front office has to be blown up, Muckler, like Clarke has been able to compile consistently competitive regular season teams...However, the Sens playoff failures, and their slow start this year, must have Mucks, and Murray on a short leash.

Finally the Flames, the Flames, have the best collection of young defensemen in the league, and the reigning Vezina trophy winner behind the pipes. Offence has and still is the Achilles Heel for the Flames. Alex Tanguay, is a solid hockey player, and will fit in nicely with the Flames, once he gets used to the system, but he was not exactly what the Flames needed to stem their offensive woes...The Flames need a center, and until the find a capable center, offence will always be tough to come by in Calgary.

Of the 3 teams I mentioned I think the Flames have the best chance of getting there act together, too much grit and heart on that team to think other wise. The Senators will make the playoffs, but I think the Flyers might be toast.....Should be fun to watch, I think the Flyers blink first.