Curiously, they recalled Boucher. Letsle
- Jsaquella

The all star approach to goaltending - 1 per period

The question is why don't they? Do they choose not to play that way? I don't think so. I think they are making aggressive risky choices because that is what is demanded of them. It's how this Coach wants them to play.
- MJL

Because they can get away it.

They've got leeway because of stature, reputation, skill-set and terms of contract. They're not lazy or stupid, they've just got more leash when it comes to rolling the dice on risky plays. Sometimes they fall into the habit of making questionable gambles.

No coach is going to tell their players to take risks at their own blueline, or to try to clear the puck up the middle, to pinch when nobody's there to cover for you. The line between being aggressive and playing unsound hockey really isn't that fine.

You're seeing less aggressive play now. And simpler plays, because they have no choice. So they've changed team wide how they play.

Either way, if it's what I think it is, or it's that you don't think players are paying the price for not playing the right way. It falls on the same guy.
- MJL

Because, you know, it's all Lavi's fault (or Bryz's, or Homer's, or Snider's, or the Economy's, or Osama bin Laden's).

did '80 ask if we got seth jones yet??????

did '80 ask if we got seth jones yet??????
- Crimsoninja

I'm lurking to tell him he has to wait until Monday.

There's roughly 34 rookies across the NHL that are averaging over 1:00/game on the PK. 11 of them are forwards.


- Tomahawk

For some reason I'm having to repeat what I've stated. I've never said that Rookies aren't used, or shouldn't be used on the PK. There are 30 teams in the League. Teams generally use two groups of Forwards, and two groups of defenseman on the PK. So even if it's limited to that. That's 8 players per team that are regulars on the PK. Which mounts to 240 players. You named 34.

So I'll again ask, what type of players do NHL teams mostly use on the PK? Veterans or Rookies?

The Flyers generally disagree with that, too.

Whereas, the Devils, Penguins and Wings don't seem to have a problem with it at all, and they obviously don't know what they're doing at all.


- Tomahawk

There are 30 teams in the League. You named 2 teams. Which currently are both out of a playoff spot. So again, let's look at the norm. And not the outliers.

Are you talking about Adam Hall or some Couturier doppelganger who's actually above 50% in FO's? Because if you're talking about Hall, and he's really that instrumental to success, why has he spent so much time on waivers this year, as well as time a full year in the AHL not too long ago? You're throwing the word "key" around a bit loosely to me.

The Flyers were good on the PK before Hall's arrival, btw.


- Tomahawk

Yes, the Flyers sure were. But I'll restate again, that the Flyers are having to rely too much on Claude Giroux for defensive zone starts, because he was the Flyers only viable faceoff player before Hall's arrival. I'd rather use a player like Hall on those situations, then Giroux. And use Giroux for offensive zone starts and key offensive situations. The word "key" is really a simple word to understand. Key situations in a game are defensive zone draws against top lines, both in ES play, and on the PK.

Hard to win jobs when the lineup is "set" before September every year. Like I said, Flyers love to fast-track their 1st-round picks, while letting everybody else languish with the Phantoms. Is it any wonder we can't develop later-round picks with any regularity?
- Tomahawk

Lineup isn't set before September. Every team goes into Camp with an idea of who is going to make the team. Doesn't stop a player from changing that idea.

Isn't the AHL where you let players develop? Especially later round picks? You've got me confused. Haven't you criticized the Flyers in the past for lacking patience with their young players and prospects? Which is it?

I hope Boston is playing better than they played last night in the playoffs.

I think even an injured Pittsburgh team could take them out with the way they played last night.
- johndewar

There's something to be said for the idea that the out of contention teams have players playing for contracts/jobs next year and the playoff teams that have clinched are kind of going through the motions.

Because they can get away it.

They've got leeway because of stature, reputation, skill-set and terms of contract. They're not lazy or stupid, they've just got more leash when it comes to rolling the dice on risky plays. Sometimes they fall into the habit of making questionable gambles.

No coach is going to tell their players to take risks at their own blueline, or to try to clear the puck up the middle, to pinch when nobody's there to cover for you. The line between being aggressive and playing unsound hockey really isn't that fine.


- Tomahawk

It's pretty clear that Laviolette is a Coach who wants to play an aggressive high risk style of play. That includes Forwards up ice on the breakouts for stretch passes and the like. The line is that fine with Laviolette. And he's usually over it. Which is why he has the track record he does have.

Regardless of why the players have leeway, it's team wide. And that's on one guy. The Coach. We can argue on who's fault it is. But it falls back to the same guy. Who let's them get away with it.

Because they can get away it.

They've got leeway because of stature, reputation, skill-set and terms of contract. They're not lazy or stupid, they've just got more leash when it comes to rolling the dice on risky plays. Sometimes they fall into the habit of making questionable gambles.

No coach is going to tell their players to take risks at their own blueline, or to try to clear the puck up the middle, to pinch when nobody's there to cover for you. The line between being aggressive and playing unsound hockey really isn't that fine.

- Tomahawk

Agreed. Once athletes step on their respective field of competition, it's up to them to read, react, and execute.

So I'll again ask, what type of players do NHL teams mostly use on the PK? Veterans or Rookies?
- MJL

I think the answer is pretty obvious... a mix of veterans and youngsters, lol.

There are 30 teams in the League. You named 2 teams. Which currently are both out of a playoff spot. So again, let's look at the norm. And not the outliers.
- MJL

The outliers (DET, NJ, PIT) in this case own quite a bit of hardware.

Yes, the Flyers sure were. But I'll restate again, that the Flyers are having to rely too much on Claude Giroux for defensive zone starts, because he was the Flyers only viable faceoff player before Hall's arrival. I'd rather use a player like Hall on those situations, then Giroux. And use Giroux for offensive zone starts and key offensive situations. The word "key" is really a simple word to understand. Key situations in a game are defensive zone draws against top lines, both is ES play, and on the PK. Not hard to understand.
- MJL

ROLMAO, I can't get over that you're citing advanced stats. What, they aren't "made up numbers" anymore?

Isn't the AHL where you let players develop? Especially later round picks? You've got me confused. Haven't you criticized the Flyers in the past for lacking patience with their young players and prospects? Which is it?
- MJL

Holmstrom is a bit overripe by now, isn't he? 3 years in the USHL, 4 years at UMass-Lowell, 3 full seasons of pro, and a couple of cups of coffee with the Flyers. I'd hardly call that being impatient.

I'm not talking about putting this year's #1 pick on the top PK unit or anything, am I?

There's something to be said for the idea that the out of contention teams have players playing for contracts/jobs next year and the playoff teams that have clinched are kind of going through the motions.
- bodiva88

Very true, but Boston lost 4 of their last 5 coming into last night's game, so they weren't exactly playing like world beaters headed into last night.

The outliers (DET, NJ, PIT) in this case own quite a bit of hardware.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, but who would ever suggest teams like NJ and Detroit don't use rookies in PK situations?

So what are people's thoughts? Mason going to get the last 2 starts?

The line is that fine with Laviolette. And he's usually over it. Which is why he has the track record he does have.
- MJL

Yup, a Calder Cup ring, a Stanley Cup ring, two Finals appearances, almost 400 career wins... yeah, the man is completely out of touch with the way hockey should be played.

But then again, you know better than him, don't you?

Yeah, but who would ever suggest teams like NJ and Detroit don't use rookies in PK situations?
- jmatchett383

- BulliesPhan87

Turntable Turtle. He so crazy!

- BulliesPhan87

This + your avatar = awesome.

Turntable Turtle. He so crazy!
- wolfhounds

He brings my heart calm in these troubled times.

So what are people's thoughts? Mason going to get the last 2 starts?
- FlyersGrace

Eh, I'm ok with splitting the starts. One more game isn't going to tell us anything about Mason that we don't already know to date.

That said, I do hope they find a way to get Mike Knuble on the ice over the next two games. I gotta think this year is it for Mike.

I think the answer is pretty obvious... a mix of veterans and youngsters, lol.


- Tomahawk

No, it's mostly veteran players, with a small percentage of Rookies mixed in. lol

The outliers (DET, NJ, PIT) in this case own quite a bit of hardware.


- Tomahawk

And so do a lot of other teams who do the opposite.

ROLMAO, I can't get over that you're citing advanced stats. What, they aren't "made up numbers" anymore?






- Tomahawk

A player who takes a defensive zone draw is hardly an advance stat. It is real and can be quantified. And was in existence long before behind the net came into existence. Atleast for those who can watch a game and know what's going on without a stat to show them. I don't need a stat to know that Giroux takes far too many defensive zone draws for this team. And that he should be taking far more offensive zone draws. And that not having a veteran checking player who can take those responsibilities off of Giroux, hurts both Giroux and the Flyers.

Holmstrom is a bit overripe by now, isn't he? 3 years in the USHL, 4 years at UMass-Lowell, 3 full seasons of pro, and a couple of cups of coffee with the Flyers. I'd hardly call that being impatient.


- Tomahawk

Didn't realize that you you were only discussing Holmstrom when you made the general statement that the Flyers don't develop later round picks, and let them languish in the AHL.

Eh, I'm ok with splitting the starts. One more game isn't going to tell us anything about Mason that we don't already know to date.

That said, I do hope they find a way to get Mike Knuble on the ice over the next two games. I gotta think this year is it for Mike.
- johndewar

Agreed x 10000. I'm fine with any outcome (barring injuries) as long as Knuble gets to play the last home game and last game this year. If they have to sacrifice a spot for Rusty or Rosehill, so be it.

This + your avatar = awesome.
- Tomahawk

tyvm, though I wish I had a witty response here. I'm slacking today.

Yup, a Calder Cup ring, a Stanley Cup ring, two Finals appearances, almost 400 career wins... yeah, the man is completely out of touch with the way hockey should be played.

But then again, you know better than him, don't you?
- Tomahawk

His Carolina teams won the Cup, and then missed the playoffs the next 3 Seasons.

It seems were at the point where you're now making up stuff that wasn't said. It was never stated that he was out of touch, or hasn't had any success in the League. But it is sink or swim with Laviolette. And he is a guy who wants to play one way, and has trouble adjusting. The best Coaches that achieve long term repeated success are ones that are adaptable, and Coach their teams to play multiple styles of play, to match opponents and game conditions. Laviolette does not seem to be one of those Coaches.

So what are people's thoughts? Mason going to get the last 2 starts?
- FlyersGrace

I don't know. But I like a lot of what I see from Mason.

- BulliesPhan87

I sense regurgitated snails in your future.