the DIVX icon is a nice tough
- BulliesPhan87

Yeah I don't know what that's all about.

I'm going to give a quick view of Ghost (I've seen him maybe 10 times over the last 2 years):

There is no denying he has great speed, great offensive instincts, and a freaking cannon of a shot (I'd put money on over 100 MPH). He's the type of player who stands out, and may be the most dynamic defender the organization has ever drafted.

That said, he is definitely a work in progress, and the championship game was a perfect picture. He loves to shoot, which is a good thing. However, his shot selection leaves a bit to be desired, and that won't get any better in the next 4 months. He needs some time to figure out when to shoot and when to pass. Now, how much of this was based on coaching (did the coach urge him to shoot a lot) and personal choice is up for debate.

Also, he is a BIG risk taker. Again, the Finals showed this. The play where he dove on the puck to prevent a 2-on-0 is a HUGE no-no. It was great that it worked out, but that won't work 100 times out of 100 in the NHL. Also, he's so much more naturally gifted than everyone else at the college level that he can make up for his gaffes. At the NHL (and even AHL) level, again, he will get exposed.

For the record, I'm very excited about him. I've been singing his praises since he was drafted and I first saw him play. However, he is still very much a work in progress. It's most likely that his game will have to be somewhat broken down and then re-established to become a more complete player. Now, if he comes into camp and preseason and blows people away, then yes, he should get a shot. However, if we're putting him in just because he brings a dynamic that we don't have, but will be net negative due to his (correctable) flaws, then he should be in the AHL.

If it comes down to it, I'd err on the side of caution because this kid looks so special. This team likely is not a Cup Contender next year, and a year of development in the AHL would not be a bad thing for him, while a rush to the NHL may be detrimental. I'd choose patience and development for a year (or at least 1/2 year) over throwing the kid in and hoping he doesn't hit a wall and become frustrated and depressed. But, now that we have a new toy, I understand why people want to play with it right away.

We didn't actually have that this season and we won't have it next season, either. Even if you want to claim that MacDonald is just a third pairing guy (the only third pairing guy to lead his team in TOI/G in the playoffs), him + LSchenn = $8.6 million in 14-15.

The Flyers tight cap situation had more to do with Pronger.
- Feanor

timo 6m coby 4.5
schenn 3.6 mez 4
gross 3.5 streit 5

cheapest pair was 7.6 coming into this season. that is freaking insane. Do you get my point? OUR D COSTS WAY TOO MUCH.

I know. It's hard to get star players by picking 15th overall each year and having very little cap space because you've signed aging stars like Brand or Webber.

Im fine with them hitting the reboot button and stockpiling as much talent as possible. They will have 4 top 10 picks in 2 years. 1 of them is bound to be an all star. Maybe even 2 of them. Suddenly, Philly becomes more desirable for bigger free agents and now you can put together a true contender.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, I know they basically chose the only path they had: tear it down and rebuild. This MCW kid seems like a bonafide NBA player (but prob. not All-Star material). Either way, I won't care unless they make the Conference Finals, at which point I'll put one leg on the bandwagon.

giroux won't win the hart cause he showed no heart in the playoffs sad fact

I'm going to give a quick view of Ghost (I've seen him maybe 10 times over the last 2 years):

There is no denying he has great speed, great offensive instincts, and a freaking cannon of a shot (I'd put money on over 100 MPH). He's the type of player who stands out, and may be the most dynamic defender the organization has ever drafted.

That said, he is definitely a work in progress, and the championship game was a perfect picture. He loves to shoot, which is a good thing. However, his shot selection leaves a bit to be desired, and that won't get any better in the next 4 months. He needs some time to figure out when to shoot and when to pass. Now, how much of this was based on coaching (did the coach urge him to shoot a lot) and personal choice is up for debate.

Also, he is a BIG risk taker. Again, the Finals showed this. The play where he dove on the puck to prevent a 2-on-0 is a HUGE no-no. It was great that it worked out, but that won't work 100 times out of 100 in the NHL. Also, he's so much more naturally gifted than everyone else at the college level that he can make up for his gaffes. At the NHL (and even AHL) level, again, he will get exposed.

For the record, I'm very excited about him. I've been singing his praises since he was drafted and I first saw him play. However, he is still very much a work in progress. It's most likely that his game will have to be somewhat broken down and then re-established to become a more complete player. Now, if he comes into camp and preseason and blows people away, then yes, he should get a shot. However, if we're putting him in just because he brings a dynamic that we don't have, but will be net negative due to his (correctable) flaws, then he should be in the AHL.

If it comes down to it, I'd err on the side of caution because this kid looks so special. This team likely is not a Cup Contender next year, and a year of development in the AHL would not be a bad thing for him, while a rush to the NHL may be detrimental. I'd choose patience and development for a year (or at least 1/2 year) over throwing the kid in and hoping he doesn't hit a wall and become frustrated and depressed. But, now that we have a new toy, I understand why people want to play with it right away.
- jmatchett383

This is an excellent post.

You're kinda Leight, Bro. Where have you been?

I think it was. I think Bob Clarke fired himself and Ken Hitchcock the same day because he knew the Flyers had to have Mike Richards and Jeff Carter make it, and he knew that Hitch thought Richards was a checker and that Hitch would never be able to handle Carter not doing some of the things Carter does
- AllInForFlyers

Can you say that again, but a little differently? That was a very long thought, and I stayed up till midnight to rewatch Vikings (yes, watched it twice) and cannot comprehend it.

giroux won't win the hart cause he showed no heart in the playoffs sad fact
- 2Real

Troll 101

This is an excellent post.

You're kinda Leight, Bro. Where have you been?
- PhillySportsGuy

1440 minute penalty, Use of Profanity.

timo 6m coby 4.5
schenn 3.6 mez 4
gross 3.5 streit 5

cheapest pair was 7.6 coming into this season. that is freaking insane. Do you get my point? OUR D COSTS WAY TOO MUCH.
- FlyersSteve118

That is why some people are scared of the MacDonald deal -- if it works out that he doesn't get exposed in Top 4 situations, great. Then $5 million is totally fine.

But if he has to be sheltered and is on the third pair, or is exposed in the Top 4...then no matter whose fault it was, or what market value of a UFA dictates, then the Flyers are totally in a vulnerable spot

Troll 101
- PhillySportsGuy

he had to promise games for us to win them why not just play every game like you want to win

The thing about the Flyers is that for all the heat that Clarke and Holmgren take, they honestly do defer to their coaches when it comes to who plays and who doesn't, who stays and who doesn't. They try to give the coach the benefit of the doubt, more often than not, IMO

They're big boys; nobody held a gun to their head when they moved guys. But I could go through a list of guys who likely got moved because the coach simply wouldn't play them -- and it's a list of guys that maybe, just maybe, the GM should have stepped in and said, "Wrong, chief. Play them or you're the one getting gone"
- AllInForFlyers

That tells me the GM has a lack of vision or poked the wrong coach for his tastes. Overall, I think Homer has done an admirable job and transitioned the team into a post lockout era. I just think a fresh look couldn't hurt, but I don't think Holmgren has been a horrible GM or necessarily deserves to be fired.

Yeah, I know they basically chose the only path they had: tear it down and rebuild. This MCW kid seems like a bonafide NBA player (but prob. not All-Star material). Either way, I won't care unless they make the Conference Finals, at which point I'll put one leg on the bandwagon.
- jmatchett383

MCW looks real good. I think he led all rookies in almost every category. The fact that Hinkie found the diamond in last year's poop draft, makes me confident in him.

Noel may never be an offensive force, but I feel safe saying he will be a very good defensive player. He was the best defensive player in college basketball as a freshman before getting injured. He averaged 4 blocks per game

he had to promise games for us to win them why not just play every game like you want to win
- 2Real

Yeah I mean, Wayne Gretzky never lost a game in which played badly. Same for Godie Howe and Bobby Orr. What a bunch of lazy, horrible players we have on this team, all of them.

MCW looks real good. I think he led all rookies in almost every category. The fact that Hinkie found the diamond in last year's poop draft, makes me confident in him.

Noel may never be an offensive force, but I feel safe saying he will be a very good defensive player. He was the best defensive player in college basketball as a freshman before getting injured. He averaged 4 blocks per game
- PhillySportsGuy

I think MCW was the big fish in a little pond. It's easy to look good when you're getting the majority of the good chances because the rest of the team is so terrible. Once/if they start filling out the roster, we'll see if he's the real deal or not.

Can you say that again, but a little differently? That was a very long thought, and I stayed up till midnight to rewatch Vikings (yes, watched it twice) and cannot comprehend it.
- jmatchett383

Sure:
The narrative was that the Flyers' coaches might drive personnel decisions more than most, which puts the GMs in a bind.

One example that was given was Laviolette's handling of Couturier last season, which was brutal.

My contention was that Bob Clarke knew that Ken Hitchcock was the wrong coach for the Flyers during the rebuild that was needed in 2006/07, because Hitchcock thought Mike Richards was a third-liner. Jeff Carter's inconsistency also would've bothered Hitch, so Clarke fired him, then resigned, because he knew that if Richards and Carter failed to make it big, the Flyers were screwed

giroux won't win the hart cause he showed no heart in the playoffs sad fact
- 2Real

giroux wont win the hart because he simply does not deserve it this year because there is a better candidate on the ballot. it has nothing to do with his playoff performance. its a regular season trophy anyway

he had to promise games for us to win them why not just play every game like you want to win
- 2Real

Yup. They lost because G didn't try hard enough and didn't have enough heart.

giroux won't win the hart cause he showed no heart in the playoffs sad fact
- 2Real

I won't argue that Giroux came up small offensively for them in the playoffs, but saying he had no heart? In fact he looked pissed every time the Schenn line got an o-zone start over his line in game 7.

That tells me the GM has a lack of vision or poked the wrong coach for his tastes. Overall, I think Homer has done an admirable job and transitioned the team into a post lockout era. I just think a fresh look couldn't hurt, but I don't think Holmgren has been a horrible GM or necessarily deserves to be fired.
- funmaster18

I agree.

FWIW, I'm guessing Holmgren might even sense his time is coming up. I don't think Ron Hextall comes here unless he's promised something better than his current role.

Sure:
The narrative was that the Flyers' coaches might drive personnel decisions more than most, which puts the GMs in a bind.

One example that was given was Laviolette's handling of Couturier last season, which was brutal.

My contention was that Bob Clarke knew that Ken Hitchcock was the wrong coach for the Flyers during the rebuild that was needed in 2006/07, because Hitchcock thought Mike Richards was a third-liner. Jeff Carter's inconsistency also would've bothered Hitch, so Clarke fired him, then resigned, because he knew that if Richards and Carter failed to make it big, the Flyers were screwed
- AllInForFlyers

This might be a stupid question, but does the GM make the call on hiring/firing coaches? I thought that was higher up the ladder, with input from the GM.

giroux won't win the hart cause he showed no heart in the playoffs sad fact
- 2Real

You're (frank)ing with everyone, right?

You're (frank)ing with everyone, right?
- johndewar

Well, he IS a Sharks fan, so....

I think MCW was the big fish in a little pond. It's easy to look good when you're getting the majority of the good chances because the rest of the team is so terrible. Once/if they start filling out the roster, we'll see if he's the real deal or not.
- jmatchett383

He played well when the team still had Turner and Hawes.

MCW is definitely the best player from last year's draft so far. I think Oladipo and Noel have a chance to pass him.

Still, they traded Jrue Holiday for a future center who may be able to anchor your defense and another top 10 pick in a very deep draft.

Even if you overlook the tanking, it was still a good personnel decision.

He played well when the team still had Turner and Hawes.

MCW is definitely the best player from last year's draft so far. I think Oladipo and Noel have a chance to pass him.

Still, they traded Jrue Holiday for a future center who may be able to anchor your defense and another top 10 pick in a very deep draft.

Even if you overlook the tanking, it was still a good personnel decision.
- PhillySportsGuy

I farted.