With AMac as their #1 with Coburn out they just beat Dallas and Pittsburgh on the road. But now the people who think CF% by itself determines a defenseman's performance have some new whipping boys.

Detroit 66 CF - Flyers 25 CF = 27%
Kings 65 CF - Flyers 60 CF = 48%

Grossmann - 31-43 = 41.9%
Schultz - 23-36 = 39%
LSchenn - 34-53 = 39%
Ghost - 16-28 = 36.4%
- Feanor

Traid Ghost

Just finished saying this on twitter...

If they can somehow sustain this level of puck support and team defense, they could be a good team. Just worried about old habits creeping in.
- Jsaquella

I don't think they're quite talented enough to sustain this type of play. It's early but I can't see playing Del Zotto for 26 minutes a night being a regular thing because if it is, they'll probably get burnt more often than not. I still think this is a middle of team but it's good to see that it is possible for them to be defensively responsible.

I don't think they're quite talented enough to sustain this type of play. It's early but I can't see playing Del Zotto for 26 minutes a night being a regular thing because if it is, they'll probably get burnt more often than not. I still think this is a middle of team but it's good to see that it is possible for them to be defensively responsible.
- NickTheKid87

Agreed. They have definitely done better than I expected. Being over NHL .500 with the schedule they have had and missing Coburn & the other injuries has been pretty impressive.

Not at all sure it's sustainable, but it's been fun to watch

Wow. OEL is a -11 in 8 games. Hard to believe. The Yotes are awful.
- PLindbergh31

I'll be happy to take him off the Yotes hands!

I'll be happy to take him off the Yotes hands!

- BiggE

Of course. I know +/- isn't the end all be all. But if he's -11 in 8 games, he can't be playing well.

The Canes, and Sabres are two of the worst NHL teams I've seen over the last 20 years or so, granted it's only 10 games but both teams are pathetic. Amazingly only one dman from both teams has a worse +/- than Luke Schenn.

I'll be happy to take him off the Yotes hands!

- BiggE

I didn't realize he was -11. I will be happy just to take Yandle off their hands.

I'll be happy to take him off the Yotes hands!

- BiggE

I am sure Hexy is working on the Yotes and Sabres for a deal

Agreed. They have definitely done better than I expected. Being over NHL .500 with the schedule they have had and missing Coburn & the other injuries has been pretty impressive.

Not at all sure it's sustainable, but it's been fun to watch
- Jsaquella

The defense is troublesome with Coburn and AMac out. If they can stay around hockey .500 until these guys come back, I'll be impressed. The bottom might fall out though as they continue to need to expose MDZ, Grossmann, Schultz, etc. Glad to see that they're not throwing Ghost into the fire though. Hextall and Berube seem to be on the same page with his development.

Of course. I know +/- isn't the end all be all. But if he's -11 in 8 games, he can't be playing well.

The Canes, and Sabres are two of the worst NHL teams I've seen over the last 20 years or so, granted it's only 10 games but both teams are pathetic. Amazingly only one dman from both teams has a worse +/- than Luke Schenn.
- PLindbergh31

that is why the Schenns need to be traded there

What did you guys think of Ghost last night? Personally, i think they should send him back down. It's not the mistakes, or even getting out-muscled a bit. I expected that. I think they have him playing so conservatively at this point that it has taken away the attributes that make him special.

At least twice I can remember him passing the puck back to Schenn in the defensive zone when he had an opportunity to skate it into the neutral zone. Making the safe play is smart, but he has to take some risks in order to be effective.

I think he's better off getting more seasoning in the AHL so he can learn to balance this there.

I think he's not ready yet and they would have been better off bringing up Alt. Hopefully Alt's shoulder is OK.

Grossmann-Streit
MDZ-Alt
Schultz-Schenn

Of course. I know +/- isn't the end all be all. But if he's -11 in 8 games, he can't be playing well.

The Canes, and Sabres are two of the worst NHL teams I've seen over the last 20 years or so, granted it's only 10 games but both teams are pathetic. Amazingly only one dman from both teams has a worse +/- than Luke Schenn.
- PLindbergh31

FWIW, OEL faces the highest quality of competition of all the Coyotes' dmen. He also leads all their dmen in CorsiRel at 10.6. The team has allowed 32 goals while only scoring 21. OEL has 6 points in 8 games but 4 of them came on the PP. He averages about 25 minutes per night, 15 at 5v5. I haven't seen any of his games though.

that is why the Schenns need to be traded there
- vejim

I wouldn't trade B. Schenn, unless it was for a very solid return. At this point L. Schenn isn't even a third pairing NHL dman. He's been awful all year.

What did you guys think of Ghost last night? Personally, i think they should send him back down. It's not the mistakes, or even getting out-muscled a bit. I expected that. I think they have him playing so conservatively at this point that it has taken away the attributes that make him special.

At least twice I can remember him passing the puck back to Schenn in the defensive zone when he had an opportunity to skate it into the neutral zone. Making the safe play is smart, but he has to take some risks in order to be effective.

I think he's better off getting more seasoning in the AHL so he can learn to balance this there.
- TheGreat28

He has looked shaky in his two games but at least he's only averaging 12:34 (10:39 at 5v5) per game. I think with that and all the PP time, the experience will be good for him. If Berube was throwing him out there for 20 minutes a night, I'd be worried about his development.

I wouldn't trade B. Schenn, unless it was for a very solid return. At this point L. Schenn isn't even a third pairing NHL dman. He's been awful all year.
- PLindbergh31

Homer would like to have that trade back

I think he's not ready yet and they would have been better off bringing up Alt. Hopefully Alt's shoulder is OK.

Grossmann-Streit
MDZ-Alt
Schultz-Schenn
- Feanor

I think you're right. Alt getting hurt really screwed them a bit. I'd personally bring up Manning at this point.

I'm not even sure if the issue is that he's not ready. I think they have just hammered into him - play safe, don't try to do too much, etc. Which is usually smart. But he has to take chances to leverage his skills. He's so intent on following their direction, what with Hexy watching him like a hawk and all.

I think he just needs more time in the AHL to get a handle on pro speed, and some seasoning to know when to pinch or make a semi-risky play and when not to.

FWIW, OEL faces the highest quality of competition of all the Coyotes' dmen. He also leads all their dmen in CorsiRel at 10.6. The team has allowed 32 goals while only scoring 21. OEL has 6 points in 8 games but 4 of them came on the PP. He averages about 25 minutes per night, 15 at 5v5. I haven't seen any of his games though.
- NickTheKid87

I know he's a stud. I've only seen him play once this year. I guess their entire team is struggling, and since he faces other teams top lines all the time, he's on the ice for a ton of goals against.

He has looked shaky in his two games but at least he's only averaging 12:34 (10:39 at 5v5) per game. I think with that and all the PP time, the experience will be good for him. If Berube was throwing him out there for 20 minutes a night, I'd be worried about his development.
- NickTheKid87

The minutes don't bother me. But I don't want to turn the Ferrari into the car you use to go get the groceries either. Put him back in the AHL, take the governor off and let him make mistakes there. He'll figure out how to adjust his game, and then you bring him up once things are more stable on the back-end.

The minutes don't bother me. But I don't want to turn the Ferrari into the car you use to go get the groceries either. Put him back in the AHL, take the governor off and let him make mistakes there. He'll figure out how to adjust his game, and then you bring him up once things are more stable on the back-end.
- TheGreat28

Agreed. Give him time to figure out what he can and can't do at this level. Let him get used to the physical game. While I agree that he's not quite ready, he also hasn't been overwhelmed playing at this level, which is a good sign.

I think you're right. Alt getting hurt really screwed them a bit. I'd personally bring up Manning at this point.

I'm not even sure if the issue is that he's not ready. I think they have just hammered into him - play safe, don't try to do too much, etc. Which is usually smart. But he has to take chances to leverage his skills. He's so intent on following their direction, what with Hexy watching him like a hawk and all.

I think he just needs more time in the AHL to get a handle on pro speed, and some seasoning to know when to pinch or make a semi-risky play and when not to.
- TheGreat28

Ghost has struggled, but it's only been 2 games. He's not NHL ready, but he shows flashes of great puck skill. Late in close games the Flyers are essentially playing with 5 dmen. I don't think Ghost is going to last until Coburn and MacDonald return.

Good win for the Flyers...Missing Kopitar is huge not only for his Offense but he's a great back checker. We're also missing Gabrorik, Lewis and Voynov. Never the less I' was impressed with the Flyers game.
- arh777

Little hyoernatremic are we?

Flyers played well without our top defensemen. Looks like having a bunch of mobile puck movers helps this team generate offense, but it seems like we have trouble pushing the pick out of our own zone. They did good containing la to the perimeter for the most part though.

The play of the coots line seems to have dropped off this year. I think they played much better with akeson as the third guy on that line. Umberger would make a our fourth line better and I think it would enhance the third line letting akeson move up.
- FlyersSteve118

Umberger has been very good in his own though, and on the kill

Notice how G gets practically zero pk time

And I love the discipline level of the team. Credit berube, everything between the whistles

I am sure Hexy is working on the Yotes and Sabres for a deal
- vejim

He better be...but I doubt it. Yandle or Myers please

Agreed. Give him time to figure out what he can and can't do at this level. Let him get used to the physical game. While I agree that he's not quite ready, he also hasn't been overwhelmed playing at this level, which is a good sign.
- MJL

Yes, he hasn't been overwhelmed at all. And believe me, I'm not down on him at all either. Personally, I'd tell him in advance that we're gonna give you this road trip in FL to get a few more games under your belt, have a debrief on what we want you to work on with the Phantoms, and then send you back.

The minutes don't bother me. But I don't want to turn the Ferrari into the car you use to go get the groceries either. Put him back in the AHL, take the governor off and let him make mistakes there. He'll figure out how to adjust his game, and then you bring him up once things are more stable on the back-end.
- TheGreat28

He's facing the lowest competition by a long shot too so I don't think these sheltered minutes will hurt him. I wouldn't mind if he was sent back to the AHL either. I'd give him a little more time up here though as to not mess with his confidence. Maybe 5-10 games and then swap him for Alt or maybe AMac or Coburn will be ready to go.