@davegissac has the D pairings in practice as:

MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
Manning-Ghost
Medvedev-Schenn

But I'd be shocked if Medvedev sits. He's been logging tons of ice time lately.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&season=20152016&view=log

If Ghost is scratched tomorrow along with Manning would anyone here be mad?

I'm perfectly fine with the kid getting a rest while they keep playing Luke Schenn with less than two months till the trade deadline. And as good as Ghost has been, I think Streit is still a better 5 on 4 PP QB.
- Feanor

Gostisbehere has struggled the last few games, and might be helped by a night off. Of course, getting right back on the bull isn't the worst idea, either.

I wouldn't be mad over a game here or there, especially if they can use it to showcase a guy like Luke Schenn for a potential trade

Agreed, but the PP is terrible this year, so it's not really saying much. In all honesty, I think Schenn is the least important of the 5 players on the PP anyway.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think the PP has been terrible. Not up to our usual standards but not terrible. Schenn gets the least amount of touches on the PP.

..

We've already had the debate that Schenn should be carrying Giroux or Schenn is somehow holding Giroux back, even though I've seen Giroux carry a guy like Arron Asham. Giroux has to be better. He has to be the best player his line and on this team. Lately he hasn't.
- SuperSchennBros

Giroux is getting older. He's still good, but he's not the guy who is going to carry weak linemates to great point production. His possession numbers remain strong and he's still a great PKer.

They let him walk, which is different than releasing him. Sucks to give up assets for him, but it's not that big of a deal. Team could have 4 first rounders along with Saric and Embiid joining the team next year. Those 2nd rounders were going to be used as draft and stash players anyway. They can always acquire more 2nds if they need to anyway.
- PhillySportsGuy

Isn't it about time to swap Okafor for another 1st rounder? Seems like he's played the requisite number of games for Sam's liking.

How bout trading two picks for a player they released last year? Ish Smith. I believe they released him.
- PLindbergh31

poop, at least Ish Smith is an active player. Brand retired last year.

Gostisbehere has struggled the last few games, and might be helped by a night off. Of course, getting right back on the bull isn't the worst idea, either.

I wouldn't be mad over a game here or there, especially if they can use it to showcase a guy like Luke Schenn for a potential trade
- Jsaquella

I am ok living with his mistakes.

My question is when does Schultz get a breather.

I am ok living with his mistakes.

My question is when does Schultz get a breather.
- J35Bacher

It's not uncommon to see a coach fall in love with some players at the expense of other players.
- johndewar

It's a tough area on the ice. No touches. Acts as a screen. When he does touch it, it's a split second decision. Pass or shoot. If he shoots, Schenn has to be incredibly accurate. Raffl and Vinny struggled some here.
- SuperSchennBros

IMO, they might want to look into changing their PP formation soon.

The high forward in the middle is often irrelevant, and creates a lot of unnecessary traffic in passing and shooting lanes -- particularly potential cross-ice one-timers between Jake and G that gets the goalie going post to post.

I'd try a more traditional umbrella setup vs the 1-3-1 they're using now:

I am ok living with his mistakes.

My question is when does Schultz get a breather.
- J35Bacher

You and that crazy talk

Isn't it about time to swap Okafor for another 1st rounder? Seems like he's played the requisite number of games for Sam's liking.
- jmatchett383

I hope so. Okafor is brutal defensively and I'm sick of his (frank)ing moping every game like the losing is everyone else's fault. Maybe try hedging on a pick and roll once in a while instead of planting yourself in the (frank)ing paint.

Giroux is getting older. He's still good, but he's not the guy who is going to carry weak linemates to great point production. His possession numbers remain strong and he's still a great PKer.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think he will look younger when the team gets better. The Sedins best seasons came when they were 29 and 30.

Giroux is getting older. He's still good, but he's not the guy who is going to carry weak linemates to great point production. His possession numbers remain strong and he's still a great PKer.
- PhillySportsGuy

This is your argument? He's getting older...

poop, at least Ish Smith is an active player. Brand retired last year.
- Jsaquella

Everyone complained about not having enough vets on the team. Now you complain about having a vet.

You and that crazy talk
- Jsaquella

Sorry.

Don't know what I was thinking.

Him and Vandevelde are untouchables in the lineup.

poop, at least Ish Smith is an active player. Brand retired last year.
- Jsaquella

They are a total mess. I'm not a Sixers fan, nor am I really an NBA fan, but jfc couldn't they have at least retired Moses Malone's number before he passed away? Give the guy a night. He was such a great player.

Sorry.

Don't know what I was thinking.

Him and Vandevelde are untouchables in the lineup.
- J35Bacher

I heard Schultz was recently given an honorary degree from UND.

IMO, they might want to look into changing their PP formation soon.

The high forward in the middle is often irrelevant, and creates a lot of unnecessary traffic in passing and shooting lanes -- particularly potential cross-ice one-timers between Jake and G that gets the goalie going post to post.

I'd try a more traditional umbrella setup vs the 1-3-1 they're using now:


- Tomahawk

I 100% agree with you. It's not all Schenn, it's how he's used. It's the strategy of the team. The new argument is he prefers right at even strength. We just put him there this year. So what was the expectation the moment we finally gave him a home in his 5th season?

This is your argument? He's getting older...
- SuperSchennBros

I'm not arguing anything. I'm saying Giroux isn't what he was 2-3 years ago. He's not going to score 80-90 points with just any linemates. His ES scoring hasn't been elite for a while now. I still think he's really good, but he needs more help than Schenn and Raffl.

They are a total mess. I'm not a Sixers fan, nor am I really an NBA fan, but jfc couldn't they have at least retired Moses Malone's number before he passed away? Give the guy a night. He was such a great player.
- PLindbergh31

That was when I really stopped being a Sixers fan. Traded Moses Malone for a white dude with bad knees. Jesus, what an awful trade

Sorry.

Don't know what I was thinking.

Him and Vandevelde are untouchables in the lineup.
- J35Bacher

I'm waiting for Hakstol to rip the C off of Giroux's jersey and give it to VDV in a very close, romantic (yet somewhat hexterosexual) public display.

I think he will look younger when the team gets better. The Sedins best seasons came when they were 29 and 30.
- Feanor

Agreed. He needs better players around him. His even strength scoring was down when he played with Voracek too though.

That was when I really stopped being a Sixers fan. Traded Moses Malone for a white dude with bad knees. Jesus, what an awful trade
- Jsaquella

Hey, lay off of random unknown white dude, he's got bad knees. Give him a break!

I'm not arguing anything. I'm saying Giroux isn't what he was 2-3 years ago. He's not going to score 80-90 points with just any linemates. His ES scoring hasn't been elite for a while now. I still think he's really good, but he needs more help than Schenn and Raffl.
- PhillySportsGuy

Getzlaf has been a bandaid for along time and still managed to get into Hart Trophy talks with Giroux 2 or 3 years ago and he's a number of years older.