For the first time in my life I enjoy watching the sixers more. There I said it.

- Richard_wilderness

Look, I get it. You're upset. You're emotional. But come on, to say that Giroux is not elite is just ludicrous. Same with Jake.

The problem is 1) they're putting too much pressure on themselves. 2) There is no real secondary threat so teams can key on them.

They desperately need a second line that can generate offense off the rush. Couturier is just not the guy. I would have tried Schenn there, but realistically, they really need to upgrade. It's why I wanted Strome or Barzal at the draft (though I'm thrilled with Provorov too).

My big concern is that Hextall is locked into Couturier and Laughton. Giving them a shot is fine. But if he fixates on that combination thinking he is closer than he is (meaning, needs to trade fewer pieces) then I think we're in trouble.
- TheGreat28

the Problem isn't that Hextall is locked into Couturier and Laughton...Its the Plugs he has playing with them...This team lacks skill.. Giroux can only do so much. Vorecek has been embarrassing. There are too, too many passengers on this team and we have a GM that appears either unwilling or unable to do anything to help. It's going to be a long year.

Voracek has had one elite season thus far in his career. He just got paid a boatload of money based on that one year. Flyers better hope he's a 70-80 point player for the money they gave him.
- PLindbergh31

Then we mark Hexy's first bad contract signing

That pie is half-baked at this point. Ghost hasn't exactly been lighting it up with the Phantoms. He's not going to make this team a playoff contender either. Unfortunately that lost year really slowed his development.
- TheGreat28

He'll be up soon

This team is stuck in no man’s land. If they really truly want to rebuild it needs to be stripped down completely. Whether you finish 5th or last in the division means nothing. The parts they have do not work. That is as clear as day. They lack talent up and down the lineup. It is full of average players overall.

There are so many pieces on this team that need to be moved out. Individually they have players that have value to other team’s imo. Hextall/Holmgren overrated players on this roster. They need to be moved while they still have value. Claude and jake will be past their prime when this team is ready, if ever in the near future, to contend. Certain players like read if you have to sell low now then so be it.

Tired of the excuse that vinny, amac, and umberger they and their contracts are holding this team back. While there is some truth to it is a lame scapegoat excuse.
- rinaldo

I really don't think the moves need to be that drastic. Everyone needs to relax. If they make major trades now, they're going to get fleeced. And then everyone on HB is going to royally freak.

Stay the course. Make a few trades at the deadline to acquire picks. If a sweetheart deal comes along to trade a Schenn or a Simmonds for a high-end prospect in the minors, then consider it. But otherwise make a trade or two at the draft to start balancing the forward mix. Maybe they'll get lucky with the ping pong balls and get a top 5 pick.

Over the summer they can look at buyouts and additional trades.

the Problem isn't that Hextall is locked into Couturier and Laughton...Its the Plugs he has playing with them...This team lacks skill.. Giroux can only do so much. Vorecek has been embarrassing. There are too, too many passengers on this team and we have a GM that appears either unwilling or unable to do anything to help. It's going to be a long year.
- landros 2

More excuses for Couturier. First usage. Now linemates. Next it will be the ice surface, or start time, or the....

Maybe Couturier is just the duck of the "Walks and Quacks like" fame.

Don't get me wrong. He is a tremendous asset. I absolutely want to keep him as part of the core. But I think he'd more even more effective offensively in the 3rd line role. No pressure on him there. Clearly he is also pressuring himself trying to live up to the 2nd line center role.

Stay the course doesn't work when the core is only looking worse and worse over multiple seasons and coaches.

This team needs change.

He'll be up soon
- PhillySportsGuy

I hope not. Last year during his cup of coffee, he was pretty much muzzled. That took away alot of the attributes that make him a real threat. I can totally see that happening again.

Let him learn some D in the A. Let him learn when to pinch and when not to. They'll have more confidence in him when he finally does come up.

Stay the course doesn't work when the core is only looking worse and worse over multiple seasons and coaches.

This team needs change.
- hereticpride

Yes, it does need change. But it needs to be controlled change, not chaotic change.

Thanks Bill. After the second period, I turned the game off. The players seemed flat, and lifeless once again. If a team stands our players up, and makes them work for the puck, they get frustrated, and bang their sticks. Nice response guys. Rather than step up, and work harder, they decide to get angry, and whine. Maybe they don't have the skill level of a playoff team, however I am starting to question their character as well.
The forwards are now passing the puck rather than shooting the puck when they get a chance. Thus, more turnovers are being made, and the other goalies look like a champ. If our forwards went up against LaBarbera, he would be leading the league in GOA, and SV%. And, when they do shoot, 50% of the shots are not on net. Really?
I just want the guys to be competitive, and win a game, here, and there; or at least more than 22 games this season. This is sad.

What has Couturier shown to make you think that? Have you seen Couturier make amazing passes where his wingers are just blowing the shot? Because that would be a symptom of great center/bad wingers.

I see a guy that, offensively, is slightly above average but is just clearly not going to be the catalyst - word of the day - to raise his linemate's game.
- TheGreat28

He has scored at a 2nd line center. Yes. He is not a toews but he is a good second line center. But he is a center that needs a play making winger.

Couturier is the least of my worries. I know the team isn't a good mix. I see hakstoll was given 5 year deal for reason. They finally have talent in the system. After this deadline they could move some money and contracts put and try to reshape this roster better. Just looking at the system I feel Konecny would be a good fit with couturier is he has that playmaker skills which has would complement couturier better.

Can they (coaches) not see that the players are not fast enough to play the dump and chase?

Hinkieing?
- PhillySportsGuy

Lol, on the bright side, at least Hexy picked the right draft years to go tankin'.

They need to swindle a couple more 1sts before the season's over, lol.

Yes, it does need change. But it needs to be controlled change, not chaotic change.
- TheGreat28

I don't even know what this means. No one is expecting Hextall to make the first trade offers he gets.

Voracek has had one elite season thus far in his career. He just got paid a boatload of money based on that one year. Flyers better hope he's a 70-80 point player for the money they gave him.
- PLindbergh31

2.5 elite seasons

Lol, on the bright side, at least Hexy picked the right draft years to go tankin'.

They need to swindle a couple more 1sts before the season's over, lol.
- Tomahawk

Could this be the year we actually get the ping pong ball luck. We should have Kane. Time for karma to give us Matthews.

I hope not. Last year during his cup of coffee, he was pretty much muzzled. That took away alot of the attributes that make him a real threat. I can totally see that happening again.

Let him learn some D in the A. Let him learn when to pinch and when not to. They'll have more confidence in him when he finally does come up.
- TheGreat28

At some point, you just need to take a leap of faith. He's 23 and packed on muscle in the offseason. It's not like theres pressure on him to win right now. The team isn't really competitive. No matter when you call him up, he's going to make mistakes. Tbh, waiting is only going to delay his development. He's not the type of player who will lose confidence with 1 bad game. He's a highly confident player.

I just don't understand why other college players make the jump from college to the NHL very quickly, but Ghost needs lots of seasoning. He was arguably the best player in college. He needed to add muscle and he has.

I really think that the right couple of moves can move the team in the right direction.

Here's the kind of trade I'd like to see.

Simmonds + Laughton to Buffalo for Reinhart, and maybe a pick. It would probably take that much to get Reinhart. But it helps both teams. Buffalo gets a checking line center and a RW that can help on the powerplay. They've got Eichel and ROR, so they're set down the middle.

For this year, we can play:

Raffl - G - Jake
Leier- Reinhart - Gagner
Read - Couturier - Schenn
Umberger - PEB - White/VdV

Maybe at the TDL, trade Read for a pick and move up Umberger.

Then you draft one of those top three wingers. They're probably not ready to come in next year, so you'd have to fill the gap with a FA. But let's say in 2 years you have:

Tkachuk - G - Jake
LW - Reinhart - Konecny
Raffl - Couturier - Schenn

That LW spot could be NAK/Lindblom or a FA. Or a player you get with a pick you get from trading Streit or others this year.

Look, they're not going to do this specific plan. But something like this is all that is needed.

More excuses for Couturier. First usage. Now linemates. Next it will be the ice surface, or start time, or the....

Maybe Couturier is just the duck of the "Walks and Quacks like" fame.

Don't get me wrong. He is a tremendous asset. I absolutely want to keep him as part of the core. But I think he'd more even more effective offensively in the 3rd line role. No pressure on him there. Clearly he is also pressuring himself trying to live up to the 2nd line center role.
- TheGreat28

don't get too tied up with talk of first line vs. second line vs. third line....The NHL has basically done away with the conventional 4th line, so basically all the line better serve a purpose...all lines on good team need to produce. I don't over value Laughton or Couturier, but think both would flourish more offensively if their wingers were more skilled. I will continue to cheer this year, but it going to be painful to watch at times...they are not very good. At the start of the year I thought they would challenge for a playoff spot, but now it's painfully evident that they are not a good team at all and the youngsters are still not ready to provide the Flyers with any kind of secondary scoring thats required to challenge for the playoffs.

Lol, on the bright side, at least Hexy picked the right draft years to go tankin'.

They need to swindle a couple more 1sts before the season's over, lol.
- Tomahawk

They really do. I look at guys like BSchenn, Simmonds and Streit as possible trade chips that could bring back a 1st rounder or more. Not saying trade all 3, but I would certainly move at least 1 of them.

If they're going to be bad, they might as well be real bad and just acquire as many picks as possible while the bad contracts run their course. It would be pretty awesome if they had the best farm system in hockey coming in while also having lots of cap space to work with.

I don't even know what this means. No one is expecting Hextall to make the first trade offers he gets.
- hereticpride

People are saying trade everyone. Now. No player untouchable. (frank) em all. Massive rebuild. Get er done Hexy. That's chaotic change. Trading way too many moving parts, and overreacting quickly to their lackluster play.

They need to make a few judicious moves. And they need to make them at the right time. TDL. Draft. Summer. If something great came along now...fine. But right now they're dealing from a position of weakness.

I really think that the right couple of moves can move the team in the right direction.

Here's the kind of trade I'd like to see.

Simmonds + Laughton to Buffalo for Reinhart, and maybe a pick. It would probably take that much to get Reinhart. But it helps both teams. Buffalo gets a checking line center and a RW that can help on the powerplay. They've got Eichel and ROR, so they're set down the middle.

For this year, we can play:

Raffl - G - Jake
Leier- Reinhart - Gagner
Read - Couturier - Schenn
Umberger - PEB - White/VdV

Maybe at the TDL, trade Read for a pick and move up Umberger.

Then you draft one of those top three wingers. They're probably not ready to come in next year, so you'd have to fill the gap with a FA. But let's say in 2 years you have:

Tkachuk - G - Jake
LW - Reinhart - Konecny
Raffl - Couturier - Schenn

That LW spot could be NAK/Lindblom or a FA. Or a player you get with a pick you get from trading Streit or others this year.

Look, they're not going to do this specific plan. But something like this is all that is needed.
- TheGreat28

It would take a lot more than that to get Reinhart. They also don't need a checking forward like Laughton when they have two who can defend better and score way more (O"Reilly and Reinhart)

At some point, you just need to take a leap of faith. He's 23 and packed on muscle in the offseason. It's not like theres pressure on him to win right now. The team isn't really competitive. No matter when you call him up, he's going to make mistakes. Tbh, waiting is only going to delay his development. He's not the type of player who will lose confidence with 1 bad game. He's a highly confident player.

I just don't understand why other college players make the jump from college to the NHL very quickly, but Ghost needs lots of seasoning. He was arguably the best player in college. He needed to add muscle and he has.
- PhillySportsGuy

I thought he was their best D man in the pre season.

Could this be the year we actually get the ping pong ball luck.
- J35Bacher

I'll go with.... no.

They really do. I look at guys like BSchenn, Simmonds and Streit as possible trade chips that could bring back a 1st rounder or more. Not saying trade all 3, but I would certainly move at least 1 of them.

If they're going to be bad, they might as well be real bad and just acquire as many picks as possible while the bad contracts run their course. It would be pretty awesome if they had the best farm system in hockey coming in while also having lots of cap space to work with.
- PhillySportsGuy