Yep. They won. Ugly, but a win is a win. Gostisbehere played OK, Hextall has made it obvious he wants Ghost in the AHL awhile longer and is going to be beating the phones to land a solid veteran, rather than even coming close to rushing the kids.
- Jsaquella

Signing a turd like Ryan Whitney instead of letting ghost take his lumps in the big leagues is cuttng his nose off to spite his face.

Signing a turd like Ryan Whitney instead of letting ghost take his lumps in the big leagues is cuttng his nose off to spite his face.
- JoeRussomanno

No, it's staying true to Hextall's plan. He's not going to rush the prospects if he feels they're not NHL ready. He's saying that the long term success of guys like Ghost, Morin and Sanheim are more important than the current season.

No, it's staying true to Hextall's plan. He's not going to rush the prospects if he feels they're not NHL ready. He's saying that the long term success of guys like Ghost, Morin and Sanheim are more important than the current season.
- Jsaquella

He's staying true to a fault which is bad. Ghost looked ok last night but he was still better than schenn and as good as anything MDZ has shown this season. Ghost is ready and now the organization AND the fan base have to be patient.

Signing a turd like Ryan Whitney instead of letting ghost take his lumps in the big leagues is cuttng his nose off to spite his face.
- JoeRussomanno

So Ryan Whitney, Nick Schultz, Jeff Petry... maybe give Theo Peckham and Mark Fraser a call, too?

All-Time ex-Islanders/Oilers defense... what could go wrong?

He's staying true to a fault which is bad. Ghost looked ok last night but he was still better than schenn and as good as anything MDZ has shown this season. Ghost is ready and now the organization AND the fan base have to be patient.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm not sold he is ready. Looking good in pre-season and during 12 minutes in one regular season game don't necessarily equal ready.

Maybe he's worried if he kept Gostisbehere that Berube would not give him the minutes Hextall feels are necessary to develop. Maybe he's not worried about the Flyers this season and expects a down year.

I'm not sold he is ready. Looking good in pre-season and during 12 minutes in one regular season game don't necessarily equal ready.

Maybe he's worried if he kept Gostisbehere that Berube would not give him the minutes Hextall feels are necessary to develop. Maybe he's not worried about the Flyers this season and expects a down year.
- Jsaquella

If hextall expects a down year there really is no reason to not just play him see what you have. If berube is that much of a meat head then fire him.

So Ryan Whitney, Nick Schultz, Jeff Petry... maybe give Theo Peckham and Mark Fraser a call, too?

All-Time ex-Islanders/Oilers defense... what could go wrong?
- Tomahawk

1-2 years ago I might've cringed now I just expect that

What's available outside the NHL is that much better then Manning as an example? Why waste assets on a mediocre d-man, when the organization has that down in the AHL? I would be disappointed if Hexy acquires someone's slop. If he is worried about rushing the prime prospects, a guy like Manning can do a similar job then a Whitney or Morris who are currently outside of the NHL. Also, no need to use a draft pick on an aging d-man some team is willing to part with because he isn't good anymore.

If hextall expects a down year there really is no reason to not just play him see what you have. If berube is that much of a meat head then fire him.
- JoeRussomanno

Actually, there is a reason to not play him. If the team is a poop show, then it's real easy to develop bad habits. I don't understand what's not to get here. Hextall's said all along that he's going to bring the kids along slowly, and that they wouldn't be rushed.

What's available outside the NHL is that much better then Manning as an example? Why waste assets on a mediocre d-man, when the organization has that down in the AHL? I would be disappointed if Hexy acquires someone's slop. If he is worried about rushing the prime prospects, a guy like Manning can do a similar job then a Whitney or Morris who are currently outside of the NHL. Also, no need to use a draft pick on an aging d-man some team is willing to part with because he isn't good anymore.
- ravishingone

This is a valid one. It's possible that Hextall doesn't think Manning or Lauridsen or even Alt is a viable option.

Which would obviously mean we can cross their names off the list of possible future Flyers third pair guys.

This is a valid one. It's possible that Hextall doesn't think Manning or Lauridsen or even Alt is a viable option.

Which would obviously mean we can cross their names off the list of possible future Flyers third pair guys.
- Jsaquella

You are correct, that can be the only real conclusion. We'll now see if Hexy hoards his assets much like Lombardi did with the Kings up until the Richards and Carter trades. I just hope he has minimal interest giving up draft picks for a 6th-7th d-man. They already have a bunch of those guys in the organization. I think he'll do the right thing.

You are correct, that can be the only real conclusion. We'll now see if Hexy hoards his assets much like Lombardi did with the Kings up until the Richards and Carter trades. I just hope he has minimal interest giving up draft picks for a 6th-7th d-man. They already have a bunch of those guys in the organization. I think he'll do the right thing.
- ravishingone

So far he's tried to sign free agents. I'd expect calls to Morris, Salo, Coliacovo, etc. If he kicked tires on trades it's for a guy he'd probably see as a long term addition. I don;t see him dealing for another 5th defenseman.

Actually, there is a reason to not play him. If the team is a poop show, then it's real easy to develop bad habits. I don't understand what's not to get here. Hextall's said all along that he's going to bring the kids along slowly, and that they wouldn't be rushed.
- Jsaquella

If players are gonnaa develop bad habits, that's on the coach.

If players are gonnaa develop bad habits, that's on the coach.
- JoeRussomanno

It can be, and I mentioned Berube.

The trouble is, maybe Hextall is still evaluating. Maybe he doesn't have what he feels is a viable option to replace Berube without giving up an asset.

I get it, I'm excited for Ghost & the other kids to play. But I'm also OK with the cautious approach. Hextall wants to build an organization that has success. He's going after a solid base where guys actually develop in the AHL, and he wants that to be a foundation of winning.

I'm fine with that. If Ghost has to take the slow boat, It's fine.

What's available outside the NHL is that much better then Manning as an example? Why waste assets on a mediocre d-man, when the organization has that down in the AHL? I would be disappointed if Hexy acquires someone's slop. If he is worried about rushing the prime prospects, a guy like Manning can do a similar job then a Whitney or Morris who are currently outside of the NHL. Also, no need to use a draft pick on an aging d-man some team is willing to part with because he isn't good anymore.
- ravishingone

Manning is still developing, check back in another decade.

He's staying true to a fault which is bad. Ghost looked ok last night but he was still better than schenn and as good as anything MDZ has shown this season. Ghost is ready and now the organization AND the fan base have to be patient.
- JoeRussomanno

He looked a little green defensively a few times, but that's to be expected. I think bing the great skater that he is allows him to adjust to the NHL level a little more quickly, but id like him to get a bit more polished defensively in the AHL. His offensive skills are obvious.

I sti think he'd be ok if they left him up long term, I just think getting him more time in the AHL would really help him out.

I would be much more confident in bringing up Laughton over ghost for the long term right now.

If players are gonnaa develop bad habits, that's on the coach.
- JoeRussomanno

It's kind of like having your middle schooler enroll in college courses... yeah, they'd probably learn a thing or two, but there'd be this wide gap of understanding since they missed a fundamental step in the process -- most of the poop would just go over their heads. Not every kid can Doogie Howser it, at least w/o some long-term detriment. Look at poor MDZ.

Manning is still developing, check back in another decade.
- JoeRussomanno

Manning is the phantoms streit.

I'm not sold he is ready. Looking good in pre-season and during 12 minutes in one regular season game don't necessarily equal ready.

Maybe he's worried if he kept Gostisbehere that Berube would not give him the minutes Hextall feels are necessary to develop. Maybe he's not worried about the Flyers this season and expects a down year.
- Jsaquella

I don't fault Berube whatsoever for not using an inexperienced, undersized Dman in the 3rd period of a tight game. Any other coach would have done the same.

It can be, and I mentioned Berube.

The trouble is, maybe Hextall is still evaluating. Maybe he doesn't have what he feels is a viable option to replace Berube without giving up an asset.

I get it, I'm excited for Ghost & the other kids to play. But I'm also OK with the cautious approach. Hextall wants to build an organization that has success. He's going after a solid base where guys actually develop in the AHL, and he wants that to be a foundation of winning.

I'm fine with that. If Ghost has to take the slow boat, It's fine.
- Jsaquella

I'm fine with cautious approach to a point, but the problem I'm seeing is, there's injuries and this team has a good nucleus hitting its prime so instead of playing a guy who is arguably better than three of the dmen we have, hextall is going to insist on being patient B/c a handful of prospects that were "rushed" didn't pan out to be Norris trophy winners. Ghost isn't exactly a 19 year old junior player anymore. Morin and sanheim, yea you can keep them down I understand that, but the guys in their lower 20's lighting it up in the AHL, you can give them a look wi

Well, if they're going to improve the blue line with a top 4 addition, I'm assuming B. Schenn would be the center piece. I can't say I'm thrilled with that prospect, but some of the young forwards at the AHL have taken steps forward so far this season. Frenchie seems to be a capable two-way center in this league, so dangling B. Schenn and replacing him with one of the kids to improve the blueline might be the way to go.

It's kind of like having your middle schooler enroll in college courses... yeah, they'd probably learn a thing or two, but there'd be this wide gap of understanding since they missed a fundamental step in the process -- most of the poop would just go over their heads. Not every kid can Doogie Howser it, at least w/o some long-term detriment. Look at poor MDZ.
- Tomahawk

I think your analogy is way off, it's more like taking an honors student senior and plopping him into sophomore college with ghost.

He's staying true to a fault which is bad. Ghost looked ok last night but he was still better than schenn and as good as anything MDZ has shown this season. Ghost is ready and now the organization AND the fan base have to be patient.
- JoeRussomanno

I thought Del Zotto was very good last night, all around. So were Schultz and Grossmann. Actually, Del Zotto has played better of late even without the puck (though there is still room for improvement).

Last night, the Flyers biggest problem was that they couldn't cope with the Red Wings' puck possession ability and couldn't move the puck up the ice even when they did finally get hold of it. For much of the second period in particular, the Flyers couldn't even get dump-ins in with puck pursuit the Red Wings zone much less come anywhere near carrying it in.

He's staying true to a fault which is bad. Ghost looked ok last night but he was still better than schenn and as good as anything MDZ has shown this season. Ghost is ready and now the organization AND the fan base have to be patient.
- JoeRussomanno

It's not bad it's a good plan, why do they need to rush the kid, are they close to being a cup team?

No, let them develop.

It's not bad it's a good plan, why do they need to rush the kid, are they close to being a cup team?

No, let them develop.
- ob18

They're not rushing him if he's already better than the bottom half of your blueline