Everything is literally terrible

The general sentiment from most posters was that Provorov had a "good shot" to make the team but that he was no lock. Konecny was a "long shot", the most frequent support for such a stement being that the Flyers would have to make a trade of some kind because of a glut of forwards. I only remember MJL because I me and him almost always butt heads and I got into it with him over this particular topic on more than one occasion.

Not looking for any type of recognition, I promise. Most of you will likely just say "good guess" anyway. I don't need my confidence boosted from the internet. Just not really sure why it's taken so long for most NHL fans to catch onto the youth movement of the league. People reference technical, cookie cutter GM speak all the time like it's the law...

"Nothing wrong with over cooking a prospect. Dont get your hopes up."

"Junior isn't pro's. You can't stick handle through everyone in the NHL."

That's all well and good when it applies. There are no universal laws to hockey prospects. What I'm basically getting at is I'm not sure why the above statements seem to be programmed responses that are so often repeated, especially in Bills blogs. Most who post here consistently are very, very smart hockey people. There are definitely more hardcore than casual fans in Bills blogs, which is why it puzzles me that the way this game is trending still seems so taboo to some.
- mochoson

Because this place is the same place as last year when several of the defensemen outplayed all but a couple of the incumbents and couldn't make the team because "preseason hockey isn't regular season hockey so you can't evaluate rookies against lesser competition" and "prospects can't be over cooked so be safe and send them back."

Now they're the same folks going "Well they obviously earned their spot" even though it's still the preseason.

You know... whatever the Flyers decide is gospel when it comes to Hextall and prospects.

The general sentiment from most posters was that Provorov had a "good shot" to make the team but that he was no lock. Konecny was a "long shot", the most frequent support for such a stement being that the Flyers would have to make a trade of some kind because of a glut of forwards. I only remember MJL because I me and him almost always butt heads and I got into it with him over this particular topic on more than one occasion.

Not looking for any type of recognition, I promise. Most of you will likely just say "good guess" anyway. I don't need my confidence boosted from the internet. Just not really sure why it's taken so long for most NHL fans to catch onto the youth movement of the league. People reference technical, cookie cutter GM speak all the time like it's the law...

"Nothing wrong with over cooking a prospect. Dont get your hopes up."

"Junior isn't pro's. You can't stick handle through everyone in the NHL."

That's all well and good when it applies. There are no universal laws to hockey prospects. What I'm basically getting at is I'm not sure why the above statements seem to be programmed responses that are so often repeated, especially in Bills blogs. Most who post here consistently are very, very smart hockey people. There are definitely more hardcore than casual fans in Bills blogs, which is why it puzzles me that the way this game is trending still seems so taboo to some.
- mochoson

If you're not currently among the GM ranks in the NHL you are mis-employed.

I don't know Moat.
Hexy can obviously make mistakes.
I respect what says because he seems to have a plan and is doing well executing it so far. He did strike gold with Provorov and Konecny in one year.
The other drafts are still question marks.

We don't know what is going to happen with these two guys, but I think Provorov will thrive and Konecny, if he sticks on a line with Voracek, will be in the top 5 for rookie scoring.

Because this place is the same place as last year when several of the defensemen outplayed all but a couple of the incumbents and couldn't make the team because "preseason hockey isn't regular season hockey so you can't evaluate rookies against lesser competition" and "prospects can't be over cooked so be safe and send them back."

Now they're the same folks going "Well they obviously earned their spot" even though it's still the preseason.

You know... whatever the Flyers decide is gospel when it comes to Hextall and prospects.
- mayorofangrytown

I disagree and think the main consensus here was that the kids should stay...it was obvious that they were physically mature and mentally capable of playing in the NHL. Many of the doubts that they would be on the team came from the expectations that Hextall himself had created

ob is so pissed they both made the team
- Mononoke

has crim weighed in yet

I don't know Moat.
Hexy can obviously make mistakes.
I respect what says because he seems to have a plan and is doing well executing it so far. He did strike gold with Provorov and Konecny in one year.
The other drafts are still question marks.

We don't know what is going to happen with these two guys, but I think Provorov will thrive and Konecny, if he sticks on a line with Voracek, will be in the top 5 for rookie scoring.
- Marc D

I wasn't really commenting on what Hextall is doing. More over the reaction on here when decisions are made.

Yeah, I don't agree with everything that they do and I'm not all "rush them to the show" either. I just want the players who play the best to be in the lineup when I turn on the TV or go to the game.

Oh, and not to trash your optimism but if Konecny is in the top 5 in rookie scoring I'd be stunned. Happily stunned but stunned none the less.

I wasn't really commenting on what Hextall is doing. More over the reaction on here when decisions are made.

Yeah, I don't agree with everything that they do and I'm not all "rush them to the show" either. I just want the players who play the best to be in the lineup when I turn on the TV or go to the game.

Oh, and not to trash your optimism but if Konecny is in the top 5 in rookie scoring I'd be stunned. Happily stunned but stunned none the less.
- mayorofangrytown

only way I see him ending up in the top 5 in scoring is with an injury to Giroux

I disagree and think the main consensus here was that the kids should stay...it was obvious that they were physically mature and mentally capable of playing in the NHL. Many of the doubts that they would be on the team came from the expectations that Hextall himself had created
- YuenglingJagr

Not sure what you disagree with. I didn't even try to infer they shouldn't be on the team if you read it that way.

However there were plenty of people on here who had Konecny tagged for a return to the OHL before camp even opened. Agreed that Hextall created that himself which feeds into my concept that people that post here just adopt the company line...

So I'd have to say to that extent you agree with me.

has crim weighed in yet
- -davies-

214 lbs. The beer's getting the best of him.

Not sure what you disagree with. I didn't even try to infer they shouldn't be on the team if you read it that way.

However there were plenty of people on here who had Konecny tagged for a return to the OHL before camp even opened. Agreed that Hextall created that himself which feeds into my concept that people that post here just adopt the company line...

So I'd have to say to that extent you agree with me.

- mayorofangrytown

The disagreement was from your comments about last year. I don't think it was the same as this year because it wasn't just about playing better than guys on the team, it was about being physically and mentally ready for the NHL

Other than that...yes I agree and if you werent saying that then I double agree

214 lbs. The beer's getting the best of him.
- mayorofangrytown

Woof

only way I see him ending up in the top 5 in scoring is with an injury to Giroux
- YuenglingJagr

With Matthews, Laine, Pool-party, Nylander, Marner, even Barzal and Zacha and Tkachuk and Strome possibly, idk where Konecny will end up. That's some stiff competition. On merit though, he's just as skilled as a lot of those guys and went toe for toe scoring with some of them in juniors.

But playing solid PP2 minutes on a powerplay that should be the best it has been in years with Streit, Provy, Coots, Konecny, Weise on it, and playing on the best line on the team with Coots and Jake...there's a lot of points for the taking, and not many rookies start with linemates like those. If we project Coots as a 50+ point scorer, Konecny will be seeing the exact same minutes minus PK. If he gets around 35-40, that's a great 19 year old NHL debut. I think that's a realistic number to set, with room to outdo it.

only way I see him ending up in the top 5 in scoring is with an injury to Giroux
- YuenglingJagr

because then he gets first PP time?

I think the Couts line with Konecny and Voracek is going to be used very heavily at 5 v 5 and I think Konecny will get 2nd PP time and hopefully that unit will score a few.

Maybe top 5 in rookie scoring is overly optimistic, but I think big things are coming.

Yeah, I don't agree with everything that they do
- mayorofangrytown

Same, but I also know that they know more than I do, and have more information and data at their disposal than I do, and have a larger NHL staff than I do, so I pretty much don't get bent out of shape or overly excited about their decisions.

The disagreement was from your comments about last year. I don't think it was the same as this year because it wasn't just about playing better than guys on the team, it was about being physically and mentally ready for the NHL

Other than that...yes I agree and if you werent saying that then I double agree
- YuenglingJagr

You didn't think Ghost was ready last year because that was who I was talking about.

only way I see him ending up in the top 5 in scoring is with an injury to Giroux
- YuenglingJagr

??

??
- Scoob

Top PP I'm guessing

With Matthews, Laine, Pool-party, Nylander, Marner, even Barzal and Zacha and Tkachuk and Strome possibly, idk where Konecny will end up. That's some stiff competition. On merit though, he's just as skilled as a lot of those guys and went toe for toe scoring with some of them in juniors.

But playing solid PP2 minutes on a powerplay that should be the best it has been in years with Streit, Provy, Coots, Konecny, Weise on it, and playing on the best line on the team with Coots and Jake...there's a lot of points for the taking, and not many rookies start with linemates like those. If we project Coots as a 50+ point scorer, Konecny will be seeing the exact same minutes minus PK. If he gets around 35-40, that's a great 19 year old NHL debut. I think that's a realistic number to set, with room to outdo it.
- Mononoke

There's a lot of good players debuting this year.

Not sure what you disagree with. I didn't even try to infer they shouldn't be on the team if you read it that way.

However there were plenty of people on here who had Konecny tagged for a return to the OHL before camp even opened. Agreed that Hextall created that himself which feeds into my concept that people that post here just adopt the company line...

So I'd have to say to that extent you agree with me.

- mayorofangrytown

I don't think that's the case, actually.

Speaking for myself, I liked the idea that Hextall was going to actually build a development program and have prospects in the system. This was new for Flyers fans because the organization hasn't had such a mindset probably since the early 80's. Hextall was actually talking the talk, too, which sounded good to people like me who want them to build a good organization that can fill openings using players within their system rather than depending on free agent signings, trades, or cast offs.

So, Hextall speaking that language probably emboldened people who already held that bent rather than drinking some sort of organization Kool-aid.

Don't forget: It wasn't that long ago many people on this board were mentioning that Scott Laughton could do Sean Couturier's job before Laughton played a minute of professional hockey. It's 50/50 whether Laughton would even be on the team this year, regardless of his injury situation. So, there's merit to taking a wait and see approach sometimes with players.

Top PP I'm guessing
- Mononoke

Ahh, got it.

Well, let's not wish for that to happen. lol

It wasn't that long ago many people on this board were mentioning that Scott Laughton could do Sean Couturier's job
- johndewar

Goooood times. I bet a couple still think that.

Same, but I also know that they know more than I do, and have more information and data at their disposal than I do, and have a larger NHL staff than I do, so I pretty much don't get bent out of shape or overly excited about their decisions.
- Scoob

Me either but I get frustrated seeing what's been rolled down the street the last couple years and wonder incessantly about the off season signings over the last three years.

Ahh, got it.

Well, let's not wish for that to happen. lol
- Scoob

With the full lineup in, Konecny actually wasn't even playing in the Giroux spot in PP2. He was on the right with Coots in the Giroux spot like last year.

I don't think that's the case, actually.

Speaking for myself, I liked the idea that Hextall was going to actually build a development program and have prospects in the system. This was new for Flyers fans because the organization hasn't had such a mindset probably since the early 80's. Hextall was actually talking the talk, too, which sounded good to people like me who want them to build a good organization that can fill openings using players within their system rather than depending on free agent signings, trades, or cast offs.

So, Hextall speaking that language probably emboldened people who already held that bent rather than drinking some sort of organization Kool-aid.

Don't forget: It wasn't that long ago many people on this board were mentioning that Scott Laughton could do Sean Couturier's job before Laughton played a minute of professional hockey. It's 50/50 whether Laughton would even be on the team this year, regardless of his injury situation. So, there's merit to taking a wait and see approach sometimes with players.
- johndewar

It was the five years that Holmgren took to try to push his rebuild into the finals. They cast away far too many picks and desperately signed free agents to fill the prospect pool which was hit or miss to say the least.

Prior to that the Flyers always had a decent pipe line to the NHL. Their inability to select a decent D prospect for 20 years is mind numbing when you look at where they selected them.