I had a weird feeling the defense would stay frustratingly healthy this season. Sucks that the injuries are happening to people we like haha.

I don't buy into the criticism of hakstol for matchups. The only thing that I really have a problem with so far is the tendency to dump and chase. Last night the forechecking was not able to sustain any pressure and we literally just kept giving them back the puck and letting them come up the ice.

It works fine when the forecheck is on and the neutral zone is controlled, but it is very frustrating to watch the team keep dumping the puck when they are down a goal with 5 minutes left


@ whoever mentioned Mason getting beat on the breakaway...I agree he was a bit deep, but you also have to remember the latvian locomotive was coming in with a ton of speed. I thought he timed the shot very well too. Just sucks Johnson made the save a few seconds earlier
- YuenglingJagr

I don't believe we're dumping in the puck and just giving it right back to them. I just saw a flat out lack of effort, most notably the top line, which is more likely to carry the puck into the zone. For me the straw that stirs the drink on that top line is Claude Giroux who got frustrated early. Was it Giroux who couldn't read and react on Ennis in time before the first goal? Was it Giroux who took a bad penalty leading to the second goal? We're doing fine but Giroux is getting frustrated early against a bad team all the while of getting hemmed into our own zone. I saw a few dumps to make a line change but nothing that frustrated me too much. Right now I feel like our fourth line is outshining our first line, which isn't a good sign. With this said, Bellemare goes down and the different looks Hakstol was forced to throw on the ice after losing a responsible defensive center hurt us some. There were times when thought Gagner's line generated the most.

Yup. Also he may want Vinny on his forehand in the D zone, he needs all the help he can get. Offensively, VDV will be expected to do the corner work while Vinny likely tries to find some open space in the middle. Either way, I really doubt he gets more than 8-9 minutes max at ES.
- BiggE

I have no problem with this. 8 to 9 ninutes seems about right.

I don't believe we're dumping in the puck and just giving it right back to them. I just saw a flat out lack of effort, most notably the top line, which is more likely to carry the puck into the zone. For me the straw that stirs the drink on that top line is Claude Giroux who got frustrated early. Was it Giroux who couldn't read and react on Ennis in time before the first goal? Was it Giroux who took a bad penalty leading to the second goal? We're doing fine but Giroux is getting frustrated early against a bad team all the while of getting hemmed into our own zone. I saw a few dumps to make a line change but nothing that frustrated me too much. Right now I feel like our fourth line is outshining our first line, which isn't a good sign. With this said, Bellemare goes down and the different looks Hakstol was forced to throw on the ice after losing a responsible defensive center hurt us some. There were times when thought Gagner's line generated the most.
- SuperSchennBros

Giroux had the best numbers on the team last night.

Leacavalier will be on the 4th line LW for some reason I cannot decipher. If you don't want him at center, why not put White there and put Vinny on the RW where he played last season?

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...id=1001&id=858582&lang=en

Props to the reporter who asked the right questions, but Hakstol wasn't giving any detailed answers.
- Feanor

Never under any circumstances question this guy. He's Coached 8 gamea. What a crock, he's had all summer and a training camp to learn about the players and what they were about to accomplish as individuals last season.

Again, I'm loving the start but this is a valid question.

Giroux had the best numbers on the team last night.
- Feanor

Okay, that's great. He should, he's the captain. He also made a great play for the eventual tying goal. Giroux also had another terrible start to last night's game.

It's nice to see a coach who is actually in shape.

Never under any circumstances question this guy. He's Coached 8 gamea. What a crock, he's had all summer and a training camp to learn about the players and what they were about to accomplish as individuals last season.


- SuperSchennBros

Okay, come clean, you're Lecavalier's dad, right?

If Vinny gets 9 minutes even strength time I would be shocked.

Given the shortened bench problem of late, forward ice times have gone up, but before that, Hakstol was typically playing his persona non grata players 6 min or so a game. When Gagner came in that's all he played until lately. In fact the entire Laughton line saw 6-7 min games multiple times. I think it's fair to say Haks trusts Vinny less than Gagner (and Umby and Laughts and Schenn and Simmer), and Gagner got stapled to the bench at first when he had to be subbed in.

If Vin sees 9 min, great. That means Flyers probably got a big lead or he played well.

Never under any circumstances question this guy. He's Coached 8 gamea. What a crock, he's had all summer and a training camp to learn about the players and what they were about to accomplish as individuals last season.

Again, I'm loving the start but this is a valid question.
- SuperSchennBros

You're right. He did. And I think he came to his conclusion on Vinny as a player in the time frame you just laid out.

LeCavalier/Luke. Pages and pages.

Again. Sigh.

Leacavalier will be on the 4th line LW for some reason I cannot decipher. If you don't want him at center, why not put White there and put Vinny on the RW where he played last season?

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...id=1001&id=858582&lang=en

Props to the reporter who asked the right questions, but Hakstol wasn't giving any detailed answers.
- Feanor

The only thing I can think of is that it scares Hasktol more to give Lecavalier the defensive responsibilities of a center than it does to stick him on the wing. Thats the only way it makes sense to me, and even if that is the thought process, I'm not sure I agree with it.

If Vinny gets 9 minutes even strength time I would be shocked.

Given the shortened bench problem of late, forward ice times have gone up, but before that, Hakstol was typically playing his persona non grata players 6 min or so a game. When Gagner came in that's all he played until lately. In fact the entire Laughton line saw 6-7 min games multiple times. I think it's fair to say Haks trusts Vinny less than Gagner (and Umby and Laughts and Schenn and Simmer), and Gagner got stapled to the bench at first when he had to be subbed in.

If Vin sees 9 min, great. That means Flyers probably got a big lead or he played well.
- Mononoke

6 minutes is a little low. More like closer to 8 or 9. There were some outliers such as when he benched Simmonds, and he only played 7 and change, and Laughton had a game or two where he was at high 6 or 7, but for the most part on average, it's higher than 6 at ES.

It's nice to see a coach who is actually in shape.
- Scoob

So Hitchcock disgusted you or something?

So Hitchcock disgusted you or something?
- mayorofangrytown

See, I like coaches like Hitch because I can take one look at them and instantly see that I'm in better shape. I find that comforting.

If Vinny gets 9 minutes even strength time I would be shocked.

Given the shortened bench problem of late, forward ice times have gone up, but before that, Hakstol was typically playing his persona non grata players 6 min or so a game. When Gagner came in that's all he played until lately. In fact the entire Laughton line saw 6-7 min games multiple times. I think it's fair to say Haks trusts Vinny less than Gagner (and Umby and Laughts and Schenn and Simmer), and Gagner got stapled to the bench at first when he had to be subbed in.

If Vin sees 9 min, great. That means Flyers probably got a big lead or he played well.
- Mononoke

I think he's going to see a very limited role, and it's obvious the only reason he's dressing is because there's really no other option, except to dress 7 D.

Hakstol isn't really putting him into a position that suits him, but that's the spot they need filled.

LW, RW, center, probably not going to matter. Hakstol has shown through the first 8 games, if you're playing well, and are one of the better players in the game, you will get icetime. Here's Lecavalier's chance.

Hakstol isn't really putting him into a position that suits him, but that's the spot they need filled.
- Jsaquella

And that's how the one-man-propped-up Vinny narrative will continue to live on if he does as expected. He wasn't put in the "right" position to suceed. He needs to be tried out at every position on every line with every possible combination of player. Again. For the umpteenth time. Jury's still out.

And that's how the one-man-propped-up Vinny narrative will continue to live on if he does as expected. He wasn't put in the "right" position to suceed. He needs to be tried out at every position on every line with every possible combination of player. Again. For the umpteenth time. Jury's still out.
- Mononoke

The positions in which Vinny will do best are Left, Right, or Center of the pressbox.

So Hitchcock disgusted you or something?
- mayorofangrytown

lol, no, I just think it's refreshing to see a coach look like he can actually play the game he's coaching.

You're right. He did. And I think he came to his conclusion on Vinny as a player in the time frame you just laid out.
- Mononoke

Except we all know Vinny can't play LW and Hakstol doesn't seem to know this.

It's nice to see a coach who is actually in shape.
- Scoob

So it wouldn't make sense to keep Vandevelde at LW and White at center if Vinny is to be inserted on to the fourth line?

LW, RW, center, probably not going to matter. Hakstol has shown through the first 8 games, if you're playing well, and are one of the better players in the game, you will get icetime. Here's Lecavalier's chance.
- MJL

I have little hope for him at this point.

So it wouldn't make sense to keep Vandevelde at LW and White at center if Vinny is to be inserted on to the fourth line?
- SuperSchennBros

Hakstol is the coach and he has his reasons.

And that's how the one-man-propped-up Vinny narrative will continue to live on if he does as expected. He wasn't put in the "right" position to suceed. He needs to be tried out at every position on every line with every possible combination of player. Again. For the umpteenth time. Jury's still out.
- Mononoke

It sucks, but what can you do? Hope Vinny has a great game

O. M. F. G.