There's just no reason to justify Morin not in the lineup. Amac is horrible and save me the he's a veteran who can log minutes or whatever other bogus excuse people use. This organization has showed they can draft really well but if we aren't going to put the best lineup on the ice that's not going to matter. Someone mentioned earlier if Morin gets cut or is the 7th D-man for any lengthy period of time, I'm calling my agent and asking to be dealt.
- ClaudeFather

They could justify their AMac needs to be in the lineup spiel if they actually had success with him in the lineup. However with AMac, they've had little success since his acquisition:

13-14 eliminated in round one
14-15 missed the playoffs
15-16 eliminated in round one
16-17 missed the playoffs

Obviously AMac is far from the only or even main reason that the club has been struggling, but facts are facts. The Flyers have not been a successful team with Andrew MacDonald playing top 4 minutes. Enough is enough.

True, but my expectations are a little higher -- they have enough veterans and experience that they shouldn't be getting worked out there. They really shouldn't

Again, I don't love Brian Elliott. I really don't. Same with Neuvirth.

But what I can say is that I have seen Elliott get insanely hot for weeks on end. That guy will rattle off a month of .950 SVPCT and look like the love child of Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy. He will do that for the Flyers at least once this season.

Elliott's not a great goalie. But even I will admit that his mentality is probably more consistent than Mason's -- I can admit that he's probably tougher. And the Flyers did not get nearly enough tough-minded goaltending last season, and I don't think it's crazy of me to think that's gonna get them another four or five points if they get that
- AllInForFlyers

No it's not crazy, but like I said, since you can't predict injuries, making predictions on how a team will finish is a fool's game. What if Giroux struggles, what if 2 or 3 key players go down at the same time with significant injuries? On paper, they should be a better team than last year, but that's on paper. And, even if they improve from 88 to 96 points, that is still no guarantee that will make the playoffs. Then again, they could also finish with 92 points and get in. You just don't know. That's why we watch the games!

Man. That sucks. I thought he had been doing better.
- YuenglingJagr

Heartbreaking news

I know everyone is enamored with Morin, but I think he could use some more time developing and defining his game. His positioning and hockey iq are there, but a lot of the time, I feel as if his timing and hands are slightly off There have been a few times this preseason where he has a chance to make a good breakout pass, or play, and just kinda throws the puck in the right direction, but without NHL precision...

Either way I don't think it'd be the end of the world for him to get sent down to the A, and whoever is the odd-man out on rookie D will at least get 23+ mins a night for the Phantoms.

No it's not crazy, but like I said, since you can't predict injuries, making predictions on how a team will finish is a fool's game. What if Giroux struggles, what if 2 or 3 key players go down at the same time with significant injuries? On paper, they should be a better team than last year, but that's on paper. And, even if they improve from 88 to 96 points, that is still no guarantee that will make the playoffs. Then again, they could also finish with 92 points and get in. You just don't know. That's why we watch the games!
- BiggE

True! I am not fighting, by the way -- I'm actually excited by this season. I think, if Sanheim does go down to start, he'll be back before too long and I think Patrick's gonna come in around 50-ish points, look legit

http://corsica.hockey/predictions/

Corsica said 90 and finishing 17th. With the playoff format it is tough to put too much into these predictions. I wouldn't worry about it much. They'll be fine and hopefully by the middle of the season, looking a bit different than right now
- YuenglingJagr

I'm really not too worried, you know? It's taken longer than I would've liked, and I wouldn't have done some of the things that Hextall has. But overall, they're almost ready. This season could/should be fun, better than last year

True! I am not fighting, by the way -- I'm actually excited by this season. I think, if Sanheim does go down to start, he'll be back before too long and I think Patrick's gonna come in around 50-ish points, look legit
- AllInForFlyers

All good, I'm always optimistic until they give me reason to feel otherwise!

In a perfect yet reasonable world:

Patrick scores 20+ goals and 55+ points

Lindblom comes up by the end of Nov and in 60 games plays on the 2nd pp unit, and puts up a total of 15 goals and 30 points

Giroux has a bounce back season, in 80 games he puts up 20+ goals and 65+ points

Simmonds is Simmonds

Couturier gets regular pp time and puts up 20 goals and 45 points

Jake bounces back and puts up 20+ goals and 65+ points

Konecny has a breakout season and finishes with 25 goals and 60+ points.

Provorov cements himself as a true #1 Dman

Ghost has a bounce back year and is dominant on the pp

All 3 young Dmen are in the lineup by US Thanksgiving and all 3 play key roles on the team

Both goalies stay healthy and Elliott beats out Neuvirth cleanly for the #1 spot.

The team finishes with 102 points, and squeaks past both the Rags and Jackets for 3rd in the Metro. They go on to upset the Caps in the 1st round and then shock the Pens in a 7 game 2nd round war before falling to the Lightning in a tough 6 game series.

If all of the above happens, I think we would all be ecstatic.

I'm really not too worried, you know? It's taken longer than I would've liked, and I wouldn't have done some of the things that Hextall has. But overall, they're almost ready. This season could/should be fun, better than last year
- AllInForFlyers

Right there with you, all I ask is to put the best lineup on the ice. No more of this mediocre veterans playing because noone is behind them. We have players with talent ready to go.

The team finishes with 102 points, and squeaks past both the Rags and Jackets for 3rd in the Metro. They go on to upset the Caps in the 1st round and then shock the Pens in a 7 game 2nd round war before falling to the Lightning in a tough 6 game series.

If all of the above happens, I think we would all be ecstatic.

- BiggE

I can dig it, brother!

Wow. So that was real last night, what I saw? The feeling is they're not going to challenge for a playoff spot?
- AllInForFlyers

doesn't seem so surprising to me. Do they have top 10 talent at any position? Where's the scoring going to come from? The powerplay looks woeful. The goaltending is average. The coaching is nothing special. I'm looking forward to watching the young kids. I hope Patrick turns into something special. I hope Sanheim gets a chance. This year should be more fun to watch than last year. I don't expect much beyond that.

What more could they realistically have expected from Morin?

I know everyone is enamored with Morin, but I think he could use some more time developing and defining his game. His positioning and hockey iq are there, but a lot of the time, I feel as if his timing and hands are slightly off There have been a few times this preseason where he has a chance to make a good breakout pass, or play, and just kinda throws the puck in the right direction, but without NHL precision...

Either way I don't think it'd be the end of the world for him to get sent down to the A, and whoever is the odd-man out on rookie D will at least get 23+ mins a night for the Phantoms.
- PVL29

So basically, as a 21 year old, hes a better, bigger, cheaper Brandon Manning.

What more could they realistically have expected from Morin?
- jmatchett383

Kill AMac and wear his face over his own

Eagles game day boys

2-1 Eagles take on the 0-3 Chargers

The NFL pundits on the radio have the Eagles losing this week.
Do you guys think Rivers chokes as usual or plays like a half competent QB?

They can't move him this early in the year, and really, there's no obvious place to put him in the lineup except with Provorov

He's sunk-cost. They're gonna play him. It's tough to swallow sometimes, and if we're lucky maybe this is the last season they'll do it, but at some point, we have to accept that they're gonna play him
- AllInForFlyers

You are right when you say Mac is a sunk cost. It won't matter if he plays here or in LV. I just think he belongs behind at least 6 other guys, three of which happen to be rookies...rookies in the sense that all 3 have played pro hockey just not at the NHL level. Manning is a 7th type guy that plays pretty steady...and sitting him for long stretches shouldn't be an issue. No wonder the Flyers are picked to finish outside looking in yet again.

All good, I'm always optimistic until they give me reason to feel otherwise!

In a perfect yet reasonable world:

Patrick scores 20+ goals and 55+ points

Lindblom comes up by the end of Nov and in 60 games plays on the 2nd pp unit, and puts up a total of 15 goals and 30 points

Giroux has a bounce back season, in 80 games he puts up 20+ goals and 65+ points

Simmonds is Simmonds

Couturier gets regular pp time and puts up 20 goals and 45 points

Jake bounces back and puts up 20+ goals and 65+ points

Konecny has a breakout season and finishes with 25 goals and 60+ points.

Provorov cements himself as a true #1 Dman

Ghost has a bounce back year and is dominant on the pp

All 3 young Dmen are in the lineup by US Thanksgiving and all 3 play key roles on the team

Both goalies stay healthy and Elliott beats out Neuvirth cleanly for the #1 spot.

The team finishes with 102 points, and squeaks past both the Rags and Jackets for 3rd in the Metro. They go on to upset the Caps in the 1st round and then shock the Pens in a 7 game 2nd round war before falling to the Lightning in a tough 6 game series.

If all of the above happens, I think we would all be ecstatic.

- BiggE

we're more likely to get the 1st overall pick

Eagles game day boys

2-1 Eagles take on the 0-3 Chargers

The NFL pundits on the radio have the Eagles losing this week.
Do you guys think Rivers chokes as usual or plays like a half competent QB?
- 2Real

I have a bad feeling about this game....maybe it's just the memories of the last 2 years creeping in.

What more could they realistically have expected from Morin?
- jmatchett383

It's a head scratcher ....

we're more likely to get the 1st overall pick

- 2Real

Who cares...theres no room for him until Weise retires anyways.

What more could they realistically have expected from Morin?
- jmatchett383

From what I heard, the decision-makers were less impressed by Morin's game on Tuesday than the media and fans were. At least one other game as well.

From what I heard, the decision-makers were less impressed by Morin's game on Tuesday than the media and fans were. At least one other game as well.
- bmeltzer

And they were impressed by Macdonald's?

I know everyone is enamored with Morin, but I think he could use some more time developing and defining his game. His positioning and hockey iq are there, but a lot of the time, I feel as if his timing and hands are slightly off There have been a few times this preseason where he has a chance to make a good breakout pass, or play, and just kinda throws the puck in the right direction, but without NHL precision...

Either way I don't think it'd be the end of the world for him to get sent down to the A, and whoever is the odd-man out on rookie D will at least get 23+ mins a night for the Phantoms.
- PVL29

I'm one of them. The kid takes up an entire lane when he's out there whether the opponents are coming up ice or going across ice or behind the net. You can't teach that. His frame is freakish and he's a huge obstacle out there now. Wait until his play reading gets a little better . . . and I think it will get better faster playing in the NHL. Hakstol rolls his lines. Morin won't get less than 15 minutes, probably 17-18.

From what I heard, the decision-makers were less impressed by Morin's game on Tuesday than the media and fans were. At least one other game as well.
- bmeltzer

Is it next year they finally have poop or get off the pot with Morin....when is he no longer waiver exempt? If I'm Morin I'm asking the Flyers for change of scenery if sent the LHV.
Pretty big organizational failure in the development of this kid if he's still not ready.

And they were impressed by Macdonald's?
- ClaudeFather

Or Manning's first period which was complete train wreck.

Eagles game day boys

2-1 Eagles take on the 0-3 Chargers

The NFL pundits on the radio have the Eagles losing this week.
Do you guys think Rivers chokes as usual or plays like a half competent QB?
- 2Real

It's very difficult to fly cross country and beat an NFL team on the road. It gets even harder when your secondary is thin and you are missing key guys like Cox and Sproles.

With all that in consideration, I think the Eagles score a late TD and pull out a tough 20-17 win.