As pissed off as I am at tonight’s game-and Jesus I am fucking pissed-It is entirely about tonight. There’s aspects of the playoffs that bother me, but nothing I’m actually mad about. I said last September, i felt they’d make the playoffs & win a round or two.

So overall it’s a success. We saw a load of really good young players step into big roles and play really well. The future is very bright & for the first time in a long time, we may have a franchise goalie-& he just turned 22. But it’s not just Hart.

4 of the top 6 D are under 25, and 3 of the top 4 are 23 or 24. Even up front kids like Konecny, Lindblom, Aube Kubel & Farabee played varying roles & for the most part did well. There’s a lot to be excited about.

And something to remember, there’s no better teacher than failure & mistakes. These playoffs should be an excellent learning experience for the younger Flyers who are just stepping into big roles over the past year or two.

Even some vets had outstanding regular seasons and followed with strong work in the playoffs. Hayes, Laughton & Voracek were all solid for the majority of the playoffs. The Flyers overall window is really just opening.

There’s concerns too. I think Vigneault & his staff did a great job in regular season, but struggled in the playoffs. I think they tried to rope a dope both the Habs & Isles. The trouble is the Isles had the firepower & coaching to exploit it.

Execution was an issue, as well. Some of that is coaching, some is probably young players that were under the pressure of the playoffs. Whatever the reasons, the Flyers were not able to adjust enough.

Other key veterans struggled to produce. Couturier made mistakes he rarely makes over a whole season in back to back games. Guroux couldn’t buy a goal. Niskanen struggled. I do wonder if some of that is due to the far more conservative approach the coaches seemed to apply

The special teams were mediocre(PK) & flat out awful(PP). That is going to require a good long look at coaching & deployment. There should be enough talent to fix it, but it’s going to require a lot of unbiased analysis & open mindedness.

As for the off season, we’ll see some change, but those clamoring for Giroux or Voracek to be gone, realize a flat cap really limits the Flyers ability to move $8mm players. I suspect JvR & Ghost will be heavily shopped, because they’re the most ill suited to fit AVs system

That said, Fletcher could get creative. Patrick will hopefully be healthy. Frost should probably get a good long look. Others like Laczynski & Allison should push hard. Maybe the COVID-19 situation makes Cam York turn pro early.

Anyhow, I’m not trying to sway anyone. Rage about tonight. It’s cathartic. My catharsis is trying to analyze the situation & trouble shoot it. Your way might be to vent. It’s all good. Hopefully that anger/frustration/disappointment clears in the hard cold light of the morning

Cheers to whoever lasted all the way through lol. We had a largely enjoyable season, have a bright future & our Flyers are relevant again.