He has a strong wrist shot so the idea is to put him with the two best passers on the team.

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...nsole?id=2015020110-323-h

BSchenn also has a good wrist shot, but for whatever reason he seems to be better suited to the right side.
- Feanor

Agreed. He also works the corners well, is a better passer than Raffl, and better defensively than Schenn.

He has a strong wrist shot so the idea is to put him with the two best passers on the team.

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...nsole?id=2015020110-323-h

BSchenn also has a good wrist shot, but for whatever reason he seems to be better suited to the right side.
- Feanor

I understand the idea, but I think right now splitting G and Jake is working. Obviously Jake isnt doing much at ES with those linemates, but it gives the Flyers 3 legit lines instead of 2.

I would use the lineup you posted once another shakeup is needed or in a game situation. For now I think just switching Jake and McDonald is the right move. 3 skilled lines and 1 that has shown it can at least be + in possession.

Oh, hey, our old friend OKT apparently almost killed a guy in Sweden:

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

No it hasn't he is what he is. A 6 /7 Dman making minimal $ and not a total waste of money. I never said he was a top 4 guy. He is better than Danny Syvret IMO.
- 3flyerkids

So he's so way better than Luke Schenn?

I think he could be a better fit than Raffl or Schenn on the LW of the top line for 2 reasons. First, he just looks more comfortable at LW than Schenn does and second, he seems to have better hands and better offensive instincts than Raffl.
- BiggE

I like Laughton but I don't think he'll be anymore effective than either player. Raffl and Schenn are going to be the guys expected to drive to the net and do the dirty work in the crease. Both guys are much stronger and more physically filled out than Laughton to fill this role with the likes of G and Jake.

So he's so way better than Luke Schenn?
- SuperSchennBros

I never said he was " way better" than Luke Schenn. What I said was IF we are playing Luke at the 6 Dman position and paying 3.5M, I would rather have Manning at that position and pay him 650K.
Schenn has been better this year, but I would still trade him at deadline or sooner.

Poor guy, that sucks. Yeah, you really have to be cautious with someone in that situation. Flyers fans know all about the cumulative effects of concussions. Between Lindros, Primeau and Pronger, we've had way too many.
- BiggE

Roenick and Gagne can be added to this list.

I never said he was " way better" than Luke Schenn. What I said was IF we are playing Luke at the 6 Dman position and paying 3.5M, I would rather have Manning at that position and pay him 650K.
Schenn has been better this year, but I would still trade him at deadline or sooner.
- 3flyerkids

You've pretty much all summer put on a "Vote for Manning" campaign on how much better he is than Luke. It was never realistic. I have no issue with Schenn's deal, especially now.

You've pretty much all summer put on a "Vote for Manning" campaign on how much better he is than Luke. It was never realistic. I have no issue with Schenn's deal, especially now.
- SuperSchennBros

As a 6th dman ( which is what manny had him slotted to be) for $ value, yes I did say he was better. Manning is getting paid to be a 6th Dman, Schenn is not so its about time he has played some " consistent" hockey. He played well in NYR series but was bad last year. Let's see if he can stay consistent for once, I hope for the team sake he can. It will increase trade value

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/1/15 @ OTT
- bmeltzer

Really want to see a good effort tonight. Last time they played on Ottawa it was an absolute embarrassment and I work with several sens fans. Not cool.

From Friedman's 30 thoughts about a week ago...

14. The sportlogiq data and eye test both indicate it. Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Hakstol confirms it. The Flyers are the exact reverse of the team they were in 2014-15.

Last season, they tended to dump the puck out of their zone and carry it into the offensive zone. In 2015-16, only three teams carry it out of the defensive more than Philly. And only five play chip-and-chase on offence more than they do.

Let’s look at the their end first.

“You ask your players to manage and take care of the puck,” Hakstol said last weekend. “We work to outnumber teams. If they have one forechecker, let’s have two men back. If they have two forecheckers, let’s have three. Teams are so good at covering the wall. We have to create the bump pass or the pop out.”

They generally do this well.

15. The other end is a problem, though, and Hakstol didn’t hide from it.

“We have to improve our ratio (of carry-ins to dump-ins). It’s not good enough.”

What is the perfect ratio?

“Changes on a game-to-game basis. Some teams let you go outside with speed. L.A. doesn’t let you do anything.”

No one is impacted more by all of this than Jakub Voracek. Two numbers were obvious going into last Saturday’s game in Ottawa: fewer offensive-zone starts and his shooting percentage cratered. Here’s the deeper data: last year he carried the puck into the offensive zone four times for every chip. Now he’s at 1.9/1. That’s a significant drop. Finally, 90 per cent of NHL forwards attempted a higher percentage of shots from the slot.

16. So, how to fix?

“We need more of a mentality of getting bodies and pucks to the blue paint,” Hakstol said. He referred to “building trust” — that if someone gets there, a teammate is going to get it to them in position to do some damage. At the same time, he’s not going to tell a Voracek or a Claude Giroux to be simple.

“They have more leeway. I don’t want Voracek to get away from pulling up and finding a guy. Those guys can do a lot of damage on the rush, they’re good in tight spaces. Tenacious. They’ve got some snot and balls to them.”

17. Did Hakstol talk to Voracek about his struggles? “Yes.”

Is it any different talking to an NCAA player than an $8M NHLer?

“It doesn’t matter how old someone is or how experienced he is,” the coach replied. “You have to have a point. Make it simple and give it to him.”

As a 6th dman ( which is what manny had him slotted to be) for $ value, yes I did say he was better. Manning is getting paid to be a 6th Dman, Schenn is not so its about time he has played some " consistent" hockey. He played well in NYR series but was bad last year. Let's see if he can stay consistent for once, I hope for the team sake he can. It will increase trade value
- 3flyerkids

Luke Schenn also had a good season next to Kimmo Timonen on the top pair his first season as a Flyer.

I'm not trying to throw your beliefs in your face. I had faith in Vinny and believed he deserved redemption but Vinny has had his shot and I believe his time is up now. I was wrong.

My thoughts...

Surprised that Hakstol is asking for a higher percentage of carry ins. There are lots of times where it seems obvious to me that the Flyers are actively trying to dump and chase whenever they can. It has been one of the more frustrating things to watch, for me.

He said Giroux has snot...how do the linesmen defend against that?

Luke Schenn also had a good season next to Kimmo Timonen on the top pair his first season as a Flyer.

I'm not trying to throw your beliefs in your face. I had faith in Vinny and believed he deserved redemption but Vinny has had his shot and I believe his time is up now. I was wrong.
- SuperSchennBros

Schenn is also 26. I think there are some GMs that would think he could still mature as a player, and also a chance he becomes top 4 somewhere else if the flyers did get rid of him. Does that mean they should try to hold onto him? Not sure if its a risk worth taking, but his RH shot seems valuable

"They’ve got some snot and balls to them."

Roenick and Gagne can be added to this list.
- SuperSchennBros

As well as MAB

Here you go, Hak. No acknowledgment necessary.

Laughton-Giroux-Voracek
Read-Couturier-BSchenn
Raffl-Cousins-Simmonds
VdV-Bellemare-McDonald
- Feanor

I like it

He said Giroux has snot...how do the linesmen defend against that?
- YuenglingJagr

With Zicam?

/shows self out

As well as MAB
- missingmike

He also hid a concussion from the team. Have to assume that trying to play through some of this, as they used to do, contributed to the ultimate demise of some careers

With Zicam?

/shows self out
- johndewar

wouldnt have helped this guy

Sorry to burst Sparks' bubble but he played the Oilers. Not an NHL team. His shutout should have an asterisk besides it. I'd be more impressed with a 5-4 over the Blackhawks than a 2-0 shutout over the Soilers
- riceroni

And how many other goalies this year have shut out the "Not an NHL team" Oilers? By my count, only Pekka Rinne and Braydon Holtby have. So I guess he's on par with those 2, which is pretty good for a guy with 1 career game under his belt.

Roenick and Gagne can be added to this list.
- SuperSchennBros

Recchi, too. Missed a check and concussed himself on the boards.

wouldnt have helped this guy


- YuenglingJagr

What's some boogers among friends, AMIRITE?

Schenn is also 26. I think there are some GMs that would think he could still mature as a player, and also a chance he becomes top 4 somewhere else if the flyers did get rid of him. Does that mean they should try to hold onto him? Not sure if its a risk worth taking, but his RH shot seems valuable
- YuenglingJagr

I'm not for or against trading Luke Schenn. I think he could be an asset for us moving forward. First, I do think he's bettee than Radko Gudas and Gudas is playing way over his head. Second, Wayne Simmonds, Radko Gudas, Ryan White and Luke Schenn are our only consistent physical players. Four names. That's not good. The team seems to be responding well since he's asked them to play tough. This is Flyers Hockey.

My thoughts...

Surprised that Hakstol is asking for a higher percentage of carry ins. There are lots of times where it seems obvious to me that the Flyers are actively trying to dump and chase whenever they can. It has been one of the more frustrating things to watch, for me.

He said Giroux has snot...how do the linesmen defend against that?
- YuenglingJagr

With the way teams check nowadays it's difficult to generate off of the rush. You want to manage the puck, and avoid turnovers in the neutral zone or in the offensive zone. When a carry in is not available, rather than make a low percentage play best thing to do is chip it and get it behind the defense and pursue. That's what makes retrieval and defensive quickness so important. If we look at Hakstol system and his neurtal zone scheme it's all about turning pucks over to try and generate odd man and rush chances. I don't think any team prefers a dump in over a carry in but you also have to manage the puck when a carry in is not available. Flyers don't have a ton of team speed that can beat defenseman wide.