Konecny is starting to look more like a Scottie Upshall long term as opposed to a regular top 6 winger. Hopefully I'm wrong. Stolarz looked a little off last night. That PP clapper by Aho was an amazing shot but Stolarz looked a bit weak and off on his angle coming from his right to his left all night. I know last night was just a tiny sampling but Hagg looked really decent. Looks like he could potentially be a top 4 guy that eats some solid minutes for the Flyers.
- Pixote Andolini

Way, way waaaaaay too soon to make that sort of pronouncement on Konecny. Upshall was himself a 1st round pick but not even a semi-regular in NHL until age 22. Konecny right now is a galaxy ahead of where Upshall was at the same age.

Re: Stolarz, Hägg (who played an excellent game last night) or even a vet who has recently arrived, beware the dangers of small sample sizes. What small sample sizes show are trends that you'd hope continue going forward or get corrected/ improved upon. As tools for making any judgments, they are quite unreliable.

I really do NOT understand their handling of Mason. There has to be stuff behind the scene at work, IMO. I think they're making a mistake. A big one.
- hammarby31

I don't understand it either. I still think he is the best available free agent goalie out there this offseason.

Something really bad must have happened between him and the organization.

Way, way waaaaaay too soon to make that sort of pronouncement on Konecny. Upshall was himself a 1st round pick but not even a semi-regular in NHL until age 22. Konecny right now is a galaxy ahead of where Upshall was at the same age.

Re: Stolarz, Hägg (who played an excellent game last night) or even a vet who has recently arrived, beware the dangers of small sample sizes. What small sample sizes show are trends that you'd hope continue going forward or get corrected/ improved upon. As tools for making any judgments, they are quite unreliable.
- bmeltzer

1 game eye test! I'm sold.

I really do NOT understand their handling of Mason. There has to be stuff behind the scene at work, IMO. I think they're making a mistake. A big one.
- hammarby31

Sorry to be so vague here: I have heard stuff that explains their thinking, and there is one thing from a few years that do I find bothersome, but I personally find most of it to be nonsense Milbury-type thinking. If it were my decision to make, I'd have been in favor of an extension.

One thing that was impressive/worrisome to me last night was how much Hagg likes to get involved offensively. He had no problem int he 2nd/3rd with joining the rush, and for his first game, that was good. However, I don't know enough of his game to know if that's something that should happen regularly. From what I've read, his game is a more simple, defensive, stay-at-home type.

In conclusion, I take forever to say nothing.

Couturier finished at +12


That is amazing.


I had a debate yesterday with a guy who wants him gone because he is lazy.


I agreed to disagree.
- MBFlyerfan

Also finished as the team's best 5 on 5 scorer, apart from Weal who only played 23 games. 17 points in 20 games since supposedly being moved to 3C while the alleged 2C Filppula had 8 points in that span.

Konecny is starting to look more like a Scottie Upshall long term as opposed to a regular top 6 winger. Hopefully I'm wrong. Stolarz looked a little off last night. That PP clapper by Aho was an amazing shot but Stolarz looked a bit weak and off on his angle coming from his right to his left all night. I know last night was just a tiny sampling but Hagg looked really decent. Looks like he could potentially be a top 4 guy that eats some solid minutes for the Flyers.
- Pixote Andolini

Extremely premature to think that about Konecny. Not every 19 year old comes right into the NHL like Provorov has to be a top player. The skill and talent with Konecny is obviously there. He needs to learn how to play in the NHL and that is going to take time.

Sorry to be so vague here: I have heard stuff that explains their thinking, and there is one thing from a few years that do I find bothersome, but I personally find most of it to be nonsense Milbury-type thinking. If it were my decision to make, I'd have been in favor of an extension.
- bmeltzer

The mysterious leave of absence........

The mysterious leave of absence........
- MBFlyerfan

It's not mysterious. His girlfriend/wife had a miscarriage.

It's not mysterious. His wife had a miscarriage.
- Feanor

Really? I had never heard that explanation.

you can't quit me.
- hammarby31

Extremely premature to think that about Konecny. Not every 19 year old comes right into the NHL like Provorov has to be a top player. The skill and talent with Konecny is obviously there. He needs to learn how to play in the NHL and that is going to take time.
- MJL

One thing that I noticed was that he seemed to run out of gas about 75% of the way through. It's his first year playing an 82-game season against grown men, so I'm sure he'll have to get accustomed to that.

Really? I had never heard that explanation.



- MBFlyerfan

Me neither. I figured that was it, but I'd never heard it confirmed.

Also finished as the team's best 5 on 5 scorer, apart from Weal who only played 23 games. 17 points in 20 games since supposedly being moved to 3C while the alleged 2C Filppula had 8 points in that span.
- Feanor

If Couturier could just find away to be more consistent offensively, that would bode well for the Flyers 2nd line center.

Really? I had never heard that explanation.



- MBFlyerfan

They had a baby together a year later.

http://sonsofpenn.com/ste...n-is-officially-a-father/

One thing that I noticed was that he seemed to run out of gas about 75% of the way through. It's his first year playing an 82-game season against grown men, so I'm sure he'll have to get accustomed to that.
- jmatchett383

Yes, he definitely looked worn down during the final stretch of the season.

Bill, I know you wrote "for whatever reasons," but do you have any inside knowledge as to why they don't want to extend Mason? Is there some turmoil there, possibly over the Jeff Reese firing? Mason didn't have a great season, but Neuvirth was one of the worst goalies in the league this year. I don't want the league's worst goalie to be our starter next year.
- jmatchett383

Here's a newsflash:Mason isn't that good. He's not worth the 4.1 million they paid him, he definitely isn't worth the 5 million he'll probably want next season.

he's inconsistent, can't play long stretches without breaking down, has confidence problems (if he's not named the flat out number one goalie he struggles as he admitted), for every "great" save he makes rest assured there's a soft goal to counter it. Also, the next time he accepts responsibility it will be the first.

Off the top of my head his list of excuses since getting here for his struggles: Too many shots, not enough shots, shots get deflected, defenseman screened him, he wishes the defense would let him see the puck, he wishes the defense would challenge the shooter more, the penalty kill is weak, his knee hurts, his back hurts, his head hurts, his goaltending coach was fired, he gets too much playing time, he doesn't get enough playing time, having Neuvrith behind him put too much pressure on him, having Neuvrith out injured tired him out...and my personal favorite: The LED lights at the Wells Fargo center kept him from seeing the puck clearly.

Good riddance, Steve.

The difference between Neuvrith and Mason is not that great. But one dude made 4.1 million dollars, the other 1 million dollars. Neither one was getting you anywhere. The got Neuvy cheap to hold down the fort next year.

It's not mysterious. His girlfriend/wife had a miscarriage.
- Feanor

Oh wow didn't hear that. very sad. I like Mason as I have said over and over and I am disappointed they are moving on, most likely, from him. I am not confident in Neuvirth as a starter and I won't be happy with a veteran and Neurvirth moving forward. I want Stolaz as the backup

Oh wow didn't hear that. very sad. I like Mason as I have said over and over and I am disappointed they are moving on, most likely, from him. I am not confident in Neuvirth as a starter and I won't be happy with a veteran and Neurvirth moving forward. I want Stolaz as the backup
- nastyflyergirl

Hextall doesn't strike me as the kind of GM who would go into next season without two veteran goalies on the roster. A one or two year deal for a guy like Bernier or Chad Johnson is what I expect him to do.

Also finished as the team's best 5 on 5 scorer, apart from Weal who only played 23 games. 17 points in 20 games since supposedly being moved to 3C while the alleged 2C Filppula had 8 points in that span.
- Feanor

This is why I keep praying Hakstol gets enough depth where thes is no 1C, 2C, 3C or 4C... it's just centermen.

Hextall doesn't strike me as the kind of GM who would go into next season without two veteran goalies on the roster. A one or two year deal for a guy like Bernier or Chad Johnson is what I expect him to do.
- Feanor

i just don't see Neuvirth as more than a backup. a very good backup but a backup none-the-less. but what do I know

One thing that was impressive/worrisome to me last night was how much Hagg likes to get involved offensively. He had no problem int he 2nd/3rd with joining the rush, and for his first game, that was good. However, I don't know enough of his game to know if that's something that should happen regularly. From what I've read, his game is a more simple, defensive, stay-at-home type.

In conclusion, I take forever to say nothing.
- jmatchett383

The entire year at LHV he had 3 games of 5 or more shots. He had 5 last night. At least 2 maybe 3 of them looked like dangerous opportunities off the rush. I've watched about 5-7 phantoms games this year and from what I can tell he never was so involved like that. He played in those games much like he played the first period last night. Nothing special just move the puck to your partner who will bear the responsibility of getting it up ice. It was ghost last night instead of Brennan. So when it came down to it yeah I was surprised because I didn't expect to see it.
It's concerning to me because I wonder how much of a push they get at LHV to expand on their game. Hak or someone on the staff liked what he was seeing last night and got in his ear to take those opportunities. You are not going to convince me Hagg took it upon himself to take those chances in his first game. Kudos to the coaching

I know it's just one game...but 5 shots, no PP time, looking dangerous while joining the offense. Why did it have to be such a surprise?

i just don't see Neuvirth as more than a backup. a very good backup but a backup none-the-less. but what do I know
- nastyflyergirl

I'm holding out hope that we see Neuvirth as Vegas' backup goalie next season.

This is why I keep praying Hakstol gets enough depth where thes is no 1C, 2C, 3C or 4C... it's just centermen.
- dragonoffrost

Ever since Filppula arrived he gave the top three centers almost identical ice time.

The 4C is almost always going to a step down, but that's OK if the 4th line isn't consistently and significantly out scored. Bellemare already looks more dangerous offensively to me just by not having to be at center. I think Vecchione or Laughton taking the 4C spot for 17-18 would be great.

The entire year at LHV he had 3 games of 5 or more shots. He had 5 last night. At least 2 maybe 3 of them looked like dangerous opportunities off the rush. I've watched about 5-7 phantoms games this year and from what I can tell he never was so involved like that. He played in those games much like he played the first period last night. Nothing special just move the puck to your partner who will bear the responsibility of getting it up ice. It was ghost last night instead of Brennan. So when it came down to it yeah I was surprised because I didn't expect to see it.
It's concerning to me because I wonder how much of a push they get at LHV to expand on their game. Hak or someone on the staff liked what he was seeing last night and got in his ear to take those opportunities.

I know it's just one game...but 5 shots, no PP time, looking dangerous while joining the offense. Why did it have to be such a surprise?
- Just5

They kept talking about how he was a stay at home tye defender but from everything I knew about him is he was a two way type. Not going to be offensily like sanheim but not some like Nick Schultz.