Could failure now lead to future sucess?

Today is the day. And here is something to think about while waiting for the game.

Would a loss actually be better for this franchise in the long run?

The answer is no and maybe.

No, because the Flyers have zero first round picks this year; which is a real shame since there is some elite level talent that will trickle all the way down to the teens, but that Pronger guy is pretty good too.

And maybe, because a collapse like this could be something that will not only shake the players, but also the management into changing their ways.

The players have been inconsistent, and often lackadaisical this season. So maybe young core guys like Richards, JVR, Giroux, and Carter could use this failure as a learning experience and get better from it.

The management, mostly Paul Holmgren and Ed Snider could possibly learn that its not the 90’s anymore. Players like Hartnell and Carcillo aren’t as valuable in today’s NHL. You can’t have two of the most undisciplined players in the league on one roster.

Stop running the club against the cap. The Flyers currently have six players making $5 Million or more per season – only the free spending Rangers equal that amount – and a team that has went over the 100 point mark in 10 straight seasons, the Red Wings, have only three players over $5 million.

The NHL is about skilled depth nowadays. The Flyers took a step in the right direction by picking up Leino, but how about you start playing him?

Also when is European scouting going to become a prominent focus? The Flyers had only four prospect playing in Europe this season. Canadian players are fine, but very few bring the skills the Euros do because of how different the training methods are overseas.

Will goalie finally be a focus? There are several good young prospects out there like Jonathan Bernier (Kings), Cory Schneider (Ducks) and Jhonas Enroth (Sabres) who are all blocked by established goalies in their primes.

It shouldn’t take one of the biggest losses in franchise history to kick start a team into making these changes, but with how stubborn Snider and Homer have proven to be; thats what it’ll likely take.