I think Murray has gotten a reputation of being able to work with and develop young defensemen over the years, going back to his Washington days.
- johndewar

So like Rod Langway and Scott Stevens? I'll sure he put in a lot of work there...

All this following two soldiers run down and one killed by an Islamic terrorist two days ago in Quebec,
- MBFlyerfan

I wouldn't glorify this clown by calling him a "terrorist":

Yes, probably. Based on what we have seen from Berube and his use of the personnel he has at his disposal, I really doubt he would give Ghost the same amount of playing time he is getting in the AHL.

Should Berube be fired? Maybe. Who do you replace him with? Torts?
- mcefalu

Torts would at least hold guys accountable for their play. The rest of his poop im not crazy about.

This team does need a good kick in the ass though.

Why even have a gm? Why even play the games? Why do anything. Just tank I get it, it worked for two teams in the history of the league so that's how it must be done... And there's no reason that ghost couldn't get pp time here, that's a silly assumption.
- JoeRussomanno

I am so confused. We killed our GM for bring Sbisa up early but now we are saying Ghost needs to come up. We want patience but 6 games in we think it is better for some of the prospects to be up. What is the harm in letting guys like Gostisbiere, Laughton, Lerier, Alt, Haag log heavy minutes in the AHL. Let them play all situations.

Torts would at least hold guys accountable for their play. The rest of his poop im not crazy about.

This team does need a good kick in the ass though.
- hereticpride

Can you imagine Torts speaking to the Philly media? He would end up in jail for assault in about a week.

Yes, probably. Based on what we have seen from Berube and his use of the personnel he has at his disposal, I really doubt he would give Ghost the same amount of playing time he is getting in the AHL.

Should Berube be fired? Maybe. Who do you replace him with? Torts?
- mcefalu

NEVER EVER!!! I wouldn't fire him mid season. That was the issue last year. I get that we're tanking this season and it's going to be painful I just don't agree that Gostisbehere didn't win a job in the preseason or that he wouldn't be an upgrade on at least 4 of our current defensemen. Hell, Alt might be an upgrade on two or three of them.

I wouldn't glorify this clown by calling him a "terrorist":


- Tomahawk

That's right out of the CNN/Fox News playbook, though.

Can you imagine Torts speaking to the Philly media? He would end up in jail for assault in about a week.
- mcefalu

I would actually love to see that. It would be public shaming of those bozos we havent seen since Pronger

So like Rod Langway and Scott Stevens? I'll sure he put in a lot of work there...
- mayorofangrytown

I think if you look at Murray's stops, he had some young defensemen who he helped out with.

You can disagree, but that is the dude's reputation.

NEVER EVER!!! I wouldn't fire him mid season. That was the issue last year. I get that we're tanking this season and it's going to be painful I just don't agree that Gostisbehere didn't win a job in the preseason or that he wouldn't be an upgrade on at least 4 of our current defensemen. Hell, Alt might be an upgrade on two or three of them.
- mayorofangrytown

I'd be fine with Alt or Manning coming up. They both have at least a year in the AHL under their belts.

I agree that Ghost out played some of the vets, but I want to give him just a few months to see where he's at in the AHL and then see about bringing him up.

I just feel like we'll have a better idea of what this team really is in December. There won't be many (if any) doubts at that point. And if Ghost is playing lights out, then yeah bring his a$$ up

C'mon man, who has Murray developed in the minors? He's been mostly an NHL head coach. "A proven developmental guy" my @$$.

Why is he going to develop bad habits in the NHL as opposed to the AHL? Who is he learning bad habits from? Berube? What if Murray were the Flyers coach and Berube was the Phantoms coach. You bringing the kids up then? If not than the coach is meaningless.

I'm all for giving the kid some seasoning but this reasoning makes no sense to me. You're regurgitating the company line man.
- mayorofangrytown

No, I'm not.

Against better competition, a player who isn't ready can easily develop bad habits. We are watching Luke Schenn struggle to overcome bad habits learned from being dropped in the deep end of the pool.

The Kings, almost to a man, credit Murray with instilling them with the dedication and discipline to be a good defensive team. Murray also did a good job with young defensemen as a Flyers assistant.

If the coach is dedicated to developing the kids, and not worried about trying to nurse a mediocre team into the playoffs, then fine, if the kid can handle the level of play, bring him up.

[quote=Tomahawk]I wouldn't glorify this clown by calling him a "terrorist":




No, I would say its accurate.

I am so confused. We killed our GM for bring Sbisa up early but now we are saying Ghost needs to come up. We want patience but 6 games in we think it is better for some of the prospects to be up. What is the harm in letting guys like Gostisbiere, Laughton, Lerier, Alt, Haag log heavy minutes in the AHL. Let them play all situations.
- J35Bacher

You're applying a cookie cutter mentality just because sbisa failed so will everyone else, yet you guys wanna tank b/c it worked 2-3 times in the last 30 years so it must work, for the flyers. Yup I can see the cause for confusion.

I am so confused. We killed our GM for bring Sbisa up early but now we are saying Ghost needs to come up. We want patience but 6 games in we think it is better for some of the prospects to be up. What is the harm in letting guys like Gostisbiere, Laughton, Lerier, Alt, Haag log heavy minutes in the AHL. Let them play all situations.
- J35Bacher

You're applying a cookie cutter mentality just because sbisa failed so will everyone else, yet you guys wanna tank b/c it worked 2-3 times in the last 30 years so it must work, for the flyers. Yup I can see the cause for confusion.

That's right out of the CNN/Fox News playbook, though.
- bradleyc4

How so?

No, I'm not.

Against better competition, a player who isn't ready can easily develop bad habits. We are watching Luke Schenn struggle to overcome bad habits learned from being dropped in the deep end of the pool.

The Kings, almost to a man, credit Murray with instilling them with the dedication and discipline to be a good defensive team. Murray also did a good job with young defensemen as a Flyers assistant.

If the coach is dedicated to developing the kids, and not worried about trying to nurse a mediocre team into the playoffs, then fine, if the kid can handle the level of play, bring him up.
- Jsaquella

Murray was also the last Flyer head coach to bring along a defenseman that the Flyers actually drafted.

I am so confused. We killed our GM for bring Sbisa up early but now we are saying Ghost needs to come up. We want patience but 6 games in we think it is better for some of the prospects to be up. What is the harm in letting guys like Gostisbiere, Laughton, Lerier, Alt, Haag log heavy minutes in the AHL. Let them play all situations.
- J35Bacher

Sbisa spent most of his first two seasons in the WHL. He wasn't damaged by being in the NHL in his first two seasons. He was just a promising prospect with lots of puck skills who never developed.

There's nothing wrong with having the kids develop in the AHL if NHL professionals on the team are better than them. They aren't. That's the issue. I don't need Gostisbehere or any of them here right now but at some point they need to come up and take over for the current crop of aging trash and why is next year so much better than December of this year?

There is always a choice. Couts may be the best for that job to try to win games in Oct. 2014 but it may hinder the long term role they project for him in years to come.

If Couts is your #2 center then you need to find someone else for the shutdown role, even if that person isn't as good as him.
- Flyers_01

I totally agree that they have to get some more options so that it all doesn't fall on Couturier. Which includes a top defense pair. But that's a GM issue. My point is don't criticize the coach when he uses the only legitimate option he has.

You're applying a cookie cutter mentality just because sbisa failed so will everyone else, yet you guys wanna tank b/c it worked 2-3 times in the last 30 years so it must work, for the flyers. Yup I can see the cause for confusion.
- JoeRussomanno

Just because Gostisbehere outplayed the lousy guys on hand doesn't mean he's NHL ready. He's an impressive kid, and he's got a bright future. Playing 30-40 AHL games won't change that

No, I'm not.

Against better competition, a player who isn't ready can easily develop bad habits. We are watching Luke Schenn struggle to overcome bad habits learned from being dropped in the deep end of the pool.

The Kings, almost to a man, credit Murray with instilling them with the dedication and discipline to be a good defensive team. Murray also did a good job with young defensemen as a Flyers assistant.

If the coach is dedicated to developing the kids, and not worried about trying to nurse a mediocre team into the playoffs, then fine, if the kid can handle the level of play, bring him up.
- Jsaquella

Luke schenn struggles cause he's slow, immobile and has poor decision making/hockey sense. A guy like ghost needs to learn to better away from the puck. I think he can learn that in the NHl as well as he could the AHL. He has a lot of mobility and shown some real ability with the puck on his stick, unlike several forwards and dmen on this team.

I totally agree that they have to get some more options so that it all doesn't fall on Couturier. Which includes a top defense pair. But that's a GM issue. My point is don't criticize the coach when he uses the only legitimate option he has.
- MJL

...and also dont criticize the player for doing the job he is put in....

Sbisa spent most of his first two seasons in the WHL. He wasn't damaged by being in the NHL in his first two seasons. He was just a promising prospect with lots of puck skills who never developed.

There's nothing wrong with having the kids develop in the AHL if NHL professionals on the team are better than them. They aren't. That's the issue. I don't need Gostisbehere or any of them here right now but at some point they need to come up and take over for the current crop of aging trash and why is next year so much better than December of this year?
- mayorofangrytown

Wrong. Sbisa made the Flyers in his draft year, stayed up for over half the season and spent a lot of time as a healthy scratch & left wing.

Can you imagine if the Flyers went into the season with Holmgren still as the GM?

I'm starting to think that hiring Hextall this past offseason was as much of a pre-emptive strike against Holmgren rather than a proactive move to retain Hextall.

/adjusts tin foil hat

I'm all for McDavid which all Flyers fans should be right now. But, beat those (frank)ing poop eating penguins and slap their fans around. Nothing would be better than having the worst team in the league beat the Penguins.

How so?
- MBFlyerfan

sensationalism

fear-mongering