Paul Holmgren Realizing The Need For Toughness

I have my ideas why the Flyers lost to Pittsburgh in this years playoff series. I am sure many of the fans and media have their own views as well. I cannot stop thinking about that series; the loose pucks in front, Crosby hanging around the crease, turnovers in the neutral zone, Briere and Gagne avoiding the likes of Kunitz, Staahl, and Talbot like the plague, and Fleury swiping pucks out of the air like a mosquito trap. What General Manager Paul Holmgren has done this offseason has been impressive. The acquisitions of Emery, Boucher, Pronger, Dingle, and Laperriere is a great start to changing the dynamics, chemistry, and synergy of this hockey team. If we look back at this Flyers team now as it stacked up to that dreadful loss to Pittsburgh two years ago in the Eastern Conference finals we are shocked to realize that Kapanen, Thoreson, Umberger, Dowd, Prospal, Lupul, Upshall, Knuble, Cote, and Biron have all been major pieces that are no longer with this team. I guess we could ... (link)