Manning at AHL level is physical and an offensive contributor but has defensive issues (improved over time but still not much more than average). At NHL level, he has tried to play very simply and conservatively but it has caught up with him.

Alt is a better defender than Manning but not sure he is any better of an NHL option. All the injuries last year set him back quite a bit. Has yet to get back even to where he was at the end of his AHL rookie year where he seemed close to being ready to take next step being a viable, no-frills NHL 6D. Went backwards last year.
- bmeltzer

Bill....you have just been hired as the Flyers GM...what do you do first?

As someone mentioned before regarding G and Jake on another club and how well they'd perform.. I literally had this convo last night with friends watching the game. The thing is, the two of them were able to put up points despite having he same roster this year, but teams have caught on. Very rarely do Jake and G touch yhe ice and not have the best line defensively against them. If the flyers could effectively role more than one line with offensive threat these guys would finally get the space they need. Last year they were able to and I mainly think because most didn't expect Jake to pop out like that but boy is our team figured out. Shut those two down, shut everyone else down. We desperately need a top line LW. I'm getting very tired of Raffl
- arichardson22

We need 2 LW and a 2C, IMO.

Here is my roster moving forward.

LW - Giroux - Jake
LW - C - Schenn
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny

I trade Read for a pick. Simmonds has a lot of value in the league. He should bring you one of the pieces you need. The draft should bring another one. I like Schenn a little bit more, but I'm ok really if they traded Schenn and kept Simmonds as an alternative. But once Konecny is ready, one of Simmonds / Schenn should go.

And Laughton has value for a lot of teams as the 3C. We have Couturier. Couts is better both offensively and defensively. So Laughton could bring you a 2nd line LW or be in a package for a top tier player.

Bill....you have just been hired as the Flyers GM...what do you do first?
- vejim

Run

We need 2 LW and a 2C, IMO.

Here is my roster moving forward.

LW - Giroux - Jake
LW - C - Schenn
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny

I trade Read for a pick. Simmonds has a lot of value in the league. He should bring you one of the pieces you need. The draft should bring another one. I like Schenn a little bit more, but I'm ok really if they traded Schenn and kept Simmonds as an alternative. But once Konecny is ready, one of Simmonds / Schenn should go.

And Laughton has value for a lot of teams as the 3C. We have Couturier. Couts is better both offensively and defensively. So Laughton could bring you a 2nd line LW or be in a package for a top tier player.
- TheGreat28

I'm hesitant to move Simmonds Bc he brings more grit than anyone on ice, but he does have value. I honestly not sure what Raffl could fetch but I wouldn't mind moving him and/or read at deadline for picks. but not sure when best time to move Simmonds would be. Deadline thins year? Offseason at the draft? Or next year deadline

Hell, I'd just flat-out waive him at this point. I know he's young and has a chance to improve, etc. but at the present moment, he is in no way ready to hold down a top-6 spot. I'd swap him with Hagg or Ghost right now, at least mix it up.

Edit: Although not a dirty play, his career highlight as an NHL player may be significantly injuring Connor McDavid.
- jmatchett383

To me it's been evident that Manning is a below average NHLer by at least by game 4. I'm all for chances for everyone and I can look past a couple mistakes but even prior to the Connor McDavid injury, he clearly allowed a routine pass to the point ment for him out of the zone. Somehow it got behind him. In my opinion, he's not hard on that puck.

I'm hesitant to move Simmonds Bc he brings more grit than anyone on ice, but he does have value. I honestly not sure what Raffl could fetch but I wouldn't mind moving him and/or read at deadline for picks. but not sure when best time to move Simmonds would be. Deadline thins year? Offseason at the draft? Or next year deadline
- arichardson22

I think if the Flyers were willing to take back a junior player with maybe more upside, then the TDL might make sense. He could help a team make a push this year but is still a young, valuable piece with a decent cap hit for the future.

I only move him in the right deal though, not just trade him to shake things up.

And one of those two LW has to have skill, speed, AND size/grit. That is definitely missing.

Not to jump into the doom and gloom session (which is totally warranted). On a brighter note I feel like Laughton is starting to hit his stride a bit. I've watched him quietly improve most games. And as much as I cried when Grossmann left and was resolved to hold it against Gagner he really is one of our faster forwards right now. Yes he's weak defensively but he's out there trying most nights. And Neuvirth has done well for us - a surprise I wasn't expecting.
I just wanted to remind people it's not all crap. Will we make playoffs? Nope. Will there be more terrible games? Yep. Will we see some moves now? Probably not. Will we see moves at the trade deadline? Most likely.
Here's hoping McDavid heals quickly. I didn't think Manning was to blame for that, at the time it looked like he hit a rut and slammed into the boards awkwardly. Manning didn't help but it wasn't intentional.

We need 2 LW and a 2C, IMO.

Here is my roster moving forward.

LW - Giroux - Jake
LW - C - Schenn
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny

I trade Read for a pick. Simmonds has a lot of value in the league. He should bring you one of the pieces you need. The draft should bring another one. I like Schenn a little bit more, but I'm ok really if they traded Schenn and kept Simmonds as an alternative. But once Konecny is ready, one of Simmonds / Schenn should go.

And Laughton has value for a lot of teams as the 3C. We have Couturier. Couts is better both offensively and defensively. So Laughton could bring you a 2nd line LW or be in a package for a top tier player.
- TheGreat28

I would keep Simmonds and move Schenn. I like how you have Raffl on the 3rd line because that is where he should be

We need 2 LW and a 2C, IMO.

Here is my roster moving forward.

LW - Giroux - Jake
LW - C - Schenn
Raffl - Couturier - Konecny

I trade Read for a pick. Simmonds has a lot of value in the league. He should bring you one of the pieces you need. The draft should bring another one. I like Schenn a little bit more, but I'm ok really if they traded Schenn and kept Simmonds as an alternative. But once Konecny is ready, one of Simmonds / Schenn should go.

And Laughton has value for a lot of teams as the 3C. We have Couturier. Couts is better both offensively and defensively. So Laughton could bring you a 2nd line LW or be in a package for a top tier player.
- TheGreat28

If you're already convinced after five games and one period of Couturier being used as the center of a 2nd scoring line that he's not up to it, surely the move would be to put BSchenn in the middle on the 2nd line?

Never been an analytics guy, but when you can't generate any shots and add that to the 6 turnstiles we've had on defense these past few games allowing our goalies to take more shots to the face than Lisa Ann equals a 5 game road losing streak .

I wonder how much longer Hextall will remain "patient "?

Connor is having surgery today...out 3 months...broken collarbone...

Never been an analytics guy, but when you can't generate any shots and add that to the 6 turnstiles we've had on defense these past few games allowing our goalies to take more shots to the face than Lisa Ann equals a 5 game road losing streak .

I wonder how much longer Hextall will remain "patient "?
- Pelle31Forever

I think he'll stay the course. I don't expect any moves. He knew this season was going to be rough. I'd actually be disappointed if he started to blow the team up now. They've walked the talk so far, I hope they continue to.
I do expect moves closer to the trade deadline.
It's going to be rough to watch for a bit - no question about that.

Never been an analytics guy, but when you can't generate any shots and add that to the 6 turnstiles we've had on defense these past few games allowing our goalies to take more shots to the face than Lisa Ann equals a 5 game road losing streak .

I wonder how much longer Hextall will remain "patient "?
- Pelle31Forever

I think Hexy is patient but his clown boss is another issue

Connor is having surgery today...out 3 months...broken collarbone...
- iskatefast

We hardly knew you Connor

If you're already convinced after five games and one period of Couturier being used as the center of a 2nd scoring line that he's not up to it, surely the move would be to put BSchenn in the middle on the 2nd line?
- Feanor

No, I'm convinced of that based on about the last 100-125 games. You look at the stats, I look at the player. You're thinking that his potential has been diminished by lack of OZ starts and his linemates. True, to some point. You seem to think it's exponential. I think it's marginal.

Take Edmonton for a minute. Ignore McDavid, bc he is clearly on a whole other plane. But if you take RNH and put him with Simmonds and Read. Do you think that line generates a lot more shots/chances/points with him than it would with Couturier?

Yes, Couturier has needed better linemates. But he hasn't exactly made anyone better, either.

PS: The team just doesn't see Schenn as a center. Not sure they even see him as part of the core either.

Connor is having surgery today...out 3 months...broken collarbone...
- iskatefast

(frank)ing Manning. Can't do anything right.

This one was real, real ugly. If Neuvirth hadn't played out of his mind -- even better than in his two shutouts, as a matter of fact -- this could have been anywhere from 7-2 to 10-2 even figuring that the Oilers would not have had an empty netter late.
- bmeltzer

It's really starting to look like it's going to be worse this season than last. There's simply no quick fix coming. The only trades that we'll make are at the TDL to unload anyone with value that's not a core piece. We're at five in a row now, I just remember that 10 game skid in 06-07.. reminds me a lot of how this team is.

We hardly knew you Connor
- vejim

Should be back just in time for the next time they play the Flyers...

I would keep Simmonds and move Schenn. I like how you have Raffl on the 3rd line because that is where he should be
- 3flyerkids

I think Schenn brings more 5 on 5, and is only a shade below Simmonds on the PP. I'd personally keep him.

But I think the team will likely follow your course and keep Simmonds and get rid of Schenn.

On Raffl, at some point we'll need to start asking if last year was just an anomaly from playing with G and Jake or his trend still up. To quote Tomahawk, water finds its level. I don't think it's this low. But it may not be the high-water mark of last year either. I've always thought of him more as a 3 LW guy who can move up for stretches.

Connor is having surgery today...out 3 months...broken collarbone...
- iskatefast

I know it was an accident but Manning should have been out there on the PP to begin with. It's a blunder on top of a blunder.

Connor is having surgery today...out 3 months...broken collarbone...
- iskatefast

That sucks. You could tell the way he was holding his shoulder skating off there was a problem.

Just an unfortunate play all around. One I am amazed doesn't happen more often with the speed of these players and the lack of ability to obstruct.

Thanks Bill. I believe that a new player trophy should be created at the end of the season; "The Neuvirth/Mason Award" for the goalies with the least goal support, and the most shots against.
Hats off to Neuvirth for putting up with nearly 50 shots, and not calling out the team. Both goalies have been troopers, and I wouldn't be surprised if Neuvy told the Flyers to keep their money, and run for the hills after this season.
I thought that once Hartzy, and Rinaldo left, our dumb penalties would go away. Nope. Some other guys have stepped up to take over that honor.
I would no longer play Manning after his involvement with McD's injury. He hasn't been good the last few outings, and I am beginning to think that he is a better player in the AHL. We gave him a chance, now put him back...lol.
Live, play a horrible game, lose, repeat..... This is becoming a bad Tom Cruise movie...doh.

No, I'm convinced of that based on about the last 100-125 games. You look at the stats, I look at the player. You're thinking that his potential has been diminished by lack of OZ starts and his linemates. True, to some point. You seem to think it's exponential. I think it's marginal.

Take Edmonton for a minute. Ignore McDavid, bc he is clearly on a whole other plane. But if you take RNH and put him with Simmonds and Read. Do you think that line generates a lot more shots/chances/points with him than it would with Couturier?

Yes, Couturier has needed better linemates. But he hasn't exactly made anyone better, either.

PS: The team just doesn't see Schenn as a center. Not sure they even see him as part of the core either.
- TheGreat28

The one thing you can do is compare his stats to other players. And since he didn't get much PP time up to this point, those comparable stats have to be even strength stats. And his ES stats are pretty comparable to other 2nd and 3rd line players around the league. That is a fact.

I cant believe Hexy and Snider are going to be able to sit back and watch this all season. Something has to give.
- GOA88

What are they suppose to do? Flyers need help up front but cant fign any FAs because of Vinny, Umberger and AMac. Flyers need better D but noting we can do until the young D blossom into top 4 Dmen. To make a trade you have to give to get. Flyers don't have much to give. To get rid of key pieces is just going to make the process longer. The team wont be any better.

I cannot believe that people are actually blaming Hakstol for this teams inability to play.