I actually liked how Umberger was playing this season before he went down. I want him to take as long as he needs and be fully healthy before coming back.
- jmatchett383

For his personal life, yes, full health is important.

As a professional hockey player, the clock is ticking and he's been somewhat fragile the last few years. I don't think the Flyers need him back.

oh the good old days...the younger Flyer fans missed the fun
- vejim

Yep, those poor babies.

Ghost-Morin
Hagg-Alt
Ghost-Hagg
- jmatchett383

spooky

ok so if the coach puts him in a role of 4th line winger with white and vdv. that is a good role for him to be in?
- rinaldo

He is technically on his 4th NHL team, been put in multiple situations to succeed of varying degrees, and you are going to suggest the Flyers aren't doing enough to find a role for him?

I agree with your point, the 4th line is not where he is best suited. His best asset is playmaking. But he has tried him with other players and Gagner has not done what was needed from the coach to receive ice time. It is a system of accountability and I dont think he has done much to show he deserves top 6 minutes.

I wouldnt mind seeing if he can play with Laughton and Jake on a 3rd line...but besides Jake none of those guys deserve 16 minutes a night

Not only did the Flyers get the far inferior player in the Hartnell trade, they got a guy who can't stay on the ice. He was injured when Hextall traded for him, and he's been injured the entire time he's been with the Flyers. Really a brutal trade. The future cap space gained does not remotely offset the loss of production.
- PLindbergh31

Hartnell's 9 goals would be nice this year, but we have that offensive juggernaut of a second line.

He is technically on his 4th NHL team, been put in multiple situations to succeed of varying degrees, and you are going to suggest the Flyers aren't doing enough to find a role for him?

I agree with your point, the 4th line is not where he is best suited. His best asset is playmaking. But he has tried him with other players and Gagner has not done what was needed from the coach to receive ice time. It is a system of accountability and I dont think he has done much to show he deserves top 6 minutes.

I wouldnt mind seeing if he can play with Laughton and Jake on a 3rd line...but besides Jake none of those guys deserve 16 minutes a night
- YuenglingJagr

don't care about his previous stops. you know what kind of player he is when you acquired him. so therefore you do what you can to bring out the best in him. trying to change him likely wont work. so you need to put him with better players for more than a game or 2. you live with his faults and see if the good outweighs it. now if it doesn't work out then you move on.

if he puts up points and helps others I can live if other areas lack

Works for me. I really don't think he'll get claimed, but if he does, so what? He will never be more than a 6/7 guy at best. He's 25 and in his 4th or 5th pro season, he is what he is. Between AMac, Morin, Alt, Hagg and Drewiskie, they have more than enough depth.
- BiggE

He has less than 50 games experience at the NHL level. I think his ceiling is nothing special, but I wouldn't say he is what he is. I wouldn't risk losing a player because of brandon manning, but at the same time I don't think they should just cast him off. That is where having useless contracts like Vinny bite them in the ass.

Luckily, they actually started drafting and developing so there are guys who can come up in Mannings place if he is lost.

Yep, those poor babies.
- Scoob

Jake Bean

Flyers need to draft this kid.

don't care about his previous stops. you know what kind of player he is when you acquired him. so therefore you do what you can to bring out the best in him. trying to change him likely wont work. so you need to put him with better players for more than a game or 2. you live with his faults and see if the good outweighs it. now if it doesn't work out then you move on.

if he puts up points and helps others I can live if other areas lack
- rinaldo

I think that is what they are doing. They don't think the good outweighs the bad and are fine with letting him move on. The coach preaches a system of accountability and they should make an exception for Sam Gagner?

Then he is a 15th forward lol. McDonald will go back when Umberger or White is healthy
- YuenglingJagr

I was assuming Umberger/White/Gagner/Streit were healthy and Cousins had been returned. You could waive Manning/MacDonald to keep Ghost. Basically, the same roster as opening night pus Ghost minus Manning/MacDonald.

Love seeing what appears to be becoming a well-stocked farm system.

Also very happy to see that Ghoul has been extremely disciplined. If he keeps that type of play up, he could certainly carve himself out a role in the NHL one day. And I will very gladly eat crow if (and when) that happens.

He has less than 50 games experience at the NHL level. I think his ceiling is nothing special, but I wouldn't say he is what he is. I wouldn't risk losing a player because of brandon manning, but at the same time I don't think they should just cast him off. That is where having useless contracts like Vinny bite them in the ass.

Luckily, they actually started drafting and developing so there are guys who can come up in Mannings place if he is lost.
- YuenglingJagr

And that is my main point. Could Manning perhaps develop some more and improve a bit? Maybe. Is he ever going to be a top 4 guy? No, he's not.

Hartnell's 9 goals would be nice this year, but we have that offensive juggernaut of a second line.
- JoeRussomanno

He would make them more fun to watch as well. The cap flexibility might not even be as necessary as it was made out to be.

Love seeing what appears to be becoming a well-stocked farm system.

Also very happy to see that Ghoul has been extremely disciplined. If he keeps that type of play up, he could certainly carve himself out a role in the NHL one day. And I will very gladly eat crow if (and when) that happens.
- five4fighting10

If Ghoul makes the NHL and is a positive asset to the Flyers (more than giving them a boost when they kill off a 5-minute major) then 'll gladly eat my words. I think we're still a bit away from that, though.

I was assuming Umberger/White/Gagner/Streit were healthy and Cousins had been returned. You could waive Manning/MacDonald to keep Ghost. Basically, the same roster as opening night pus Ghost minus Manning/MacDonald.
- jmatchett383

If everyone is healthy, I'd waive Manning and go with:

Schenn-G-Jake
Read-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Laughton-Gagner
VDV-PEB-White
spare: Umberger
here only cause we can't rid of his worthless ass: Vinny

MDZ-Gudas
Medvedev-Streit
Ghost-Schenn
spare: Schultz

He would make them more fun to watch as well. The cap flexibility might not even be as necessary as it was made out to be.
- YuenglingJagr

getting production is what matters

Nice to see Mikhail Vorobyov (the throw in pick from the Hartnell trade) progressing well so far.

Flyers need to draft this kid.
- Tomahawk

Another LHD?

I think that is what they are doing. They don't think the good outweighs the bad and are fine with letting him move on. The coach preaches a system of accountability and they should make an exception for Sam Gagner?
- YuenglingJagr

well I don't think they are doping that. that's were we disagree. has he had any set linemates for an extended period? preaches accountability, yet doesn't always act on it now does he?

Hartnell's 9 goals would be nice this year, but we have that offensive juggernaut of a second line.
- JoeRussomanno

At least they are playing solid hockey the last 3 games. Tomorrow is a good test, they don't play well against the Devils at all. A win tomorrow night, and the ship might be heading in the right direction.

I was assuming Umberger/White/Gagner/Streit were healthy and Cousins had been returned. You could waive Manning/MacDonald to keep Ghost. Basically, the same roster as opening night pus Ghost minus Manning/MacDonald.
- jmatchett383

I know what you are assuming. You must be forgetting someone though. Because the opening night roster had 14 forwards. Fully healthy the Flyers will be scratching 2 forwards, so McDonald has to be sent back down and then the decision will be made on who to remove to keep Ghost

If Ghoul makes the NHL and is a positive asset to the Flyers (more than giving them a boost when they kill off a 5-minute major) then 'll gladly eat my words. I think we're still a bit away from that, though.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Just pleasantly surprised from his early showing in the AHL.

If everyone is healthy, I'd waive Manning and go with:

Schenn-G-Jake
Read-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Laughton-Gagner
VDV-PEB-White
spare: Umberger
here only cause we can't rid of his worthless ass: Vinny

MDZ-Gudas
Medvedev-Streit
Ghost-Schenn
spare: Schultz
- BiggE

I agree. But like someone (Feanor) had said, we'd have the option to put Gagner on waivers to see if someone would claim him. I don't think he or Umberger, although they play a different game, make the Flyers better or worse if they're switched out.

If Ghoul makes the NHL and is a positive asset to the Flyers (more than giving them a boost when they kill off a 5-minute major) then 'll gladly eat my words. I think we're still a bit away from that, though.
- jmatchett383

maybe not that far.....guys in that role don't always need a lot of ahl seasoning!!

well I don't think they are doping that. that's were we disagree. has he had any set linemates for an extended period? preaches accountability, yet doesn't always act on it now does he?
- rinaldo

Who is he not holding accountable?