They will be opening the season with four rookies (two forwards, two defensemen) penciled in as starters. They also have a second-year forward (Konecny) and second-year defenseman (Provorov) as regulars in the lineup. Ghost has all of 142 games of NHL experience. That's a lot of youth in the lineup.
- bmeltzer

If the Flyers were successful I could see the addition of youth being a little more of an issue. This team failed last year, and quite frankly have been average to below average the entire tenure of Hextall's reign....Yes the farm system has improved, but when your first round picks (Sanheim and Morin) can't beat out the likes of Macdonald and Manning then are they really as deep as I keep hearing??

I don't think the amount of minutes played on the 3rd line is that limited, especially when your linemates are Filppula and Konecny.

I get what they are doing, but when the option to replace him is Dale Weise, I'd rather he learn on the job.
- BiggE

He'd be looking at about 12 minutes or so on average per game. They feel playing top minutes on a top scoring line and on the PP is better for his development at this point in time. I think they should place the focus on what is best for Lindblom rather than on a decision that likely at least right away wouldn't make a big difference in the Flyers fortunes this season. They're not a contender. Focus on what is best for Lindblom's development.

He'd be looking at about 12 minutes or so on average per game. They feel playing top minutes on a top scoring line and on the PP is better for his development at this point in time. I think they should place the focus on what is best for Lindblom rather than on a decision that likely at least right away wouldn't make a big difference in the Flyers fortunes this season. They're not a contender. Focus on what is best for Lindblom's development.
- MJL

I think what BiggE is saying is he feels Lindblom's development would be just fine in the NHL...I tend to agree.

EP has the Flyers as the 8th youngest team in the league, but that's without Morin and Sanheim being included. So they could be in the top 5.

I think what BiggE is saying is he feels Lindblom's development would be just fine in the NHL...I tend to agree.
- landros 2

I would disagree. It's not that I think he would be ruined playing in the NHL at this point in time, but that with the situation the way it is, he would be better off getting some AHL time under his belt. I don't agree with how they're handling the defense but I agree on how they're handling Lindblom.

I would disagree. It's not that I think he would be ruined playing in the NHL at this point in time, but that with the situation the way it is, he would be better off getting some AHL time under his belt. I don't agree with how they're handling the defense but I agree on how they're handling Lindblom.
- MJL

so I guess I will just agree to disagree. Hopefully Lindblom gets on a run and is back in Philly quickly, because this team will need scoring.

The idea that Hextall is making roster decisions based on concerns about his job security is so stupid.
- Feanor

You can laugh at the idea if you want, but its obvious which players were better than others.

At some point, they got cold feet at the idea of a high number of rookies playing in the NHL at once. It made them uncomfortable, so they defaulted to corporate conservative mentality.

so I guess I will just agree to disagree. Hopefully Lindblom gets on a run and is back in Philly quickly, because this team will need scoring.
- landros 2

He didn't show he was ready to score at the NHL level in pre season.

ttt

Manning should be the 7th man, period, end of story.
- BiggE

The story I wrote has AMac as the 7th dman and Manning waived to the AHL.

I would disagree. It's not that I think he would be ruined playing in the NHL at this point in time, but that with the situation the way it is, he would be better off getting some AHL time under his belt. I don't agree with how they're handling the defense but I agree on how they're handling Lindblom.
- MJL

Lindblom i agree. Yes he could play on the 3rd line because he did show to be defensively responsible. That's not the problem. they want him to be aggressive offensively and that is what the Flyers want to see in the AHL. Top line minutes. Top PP time. big minutes to round out the offensive game.

The defense is really my only argument because the rookies clearly beat out veterans and make the team better.

I'm not a Manning hater at all. the kid has worked very hard to make himself a 6/7 dman in the NHL but no one can convince me he should be in the lineup over Morin or Sanheim, Yes the kids will make mistakes and maybe Morin's decision making in certain areas need to be better but I can live with kids making mental mistakes as long as they are working on cleaning them up. Fact is Manning will make mistakes due to physical limitations. I rather see them go with the players with the higher upside at this point.

You can laugh at the idea if you want, but its obvious which players were better than others.

At some point, they got cold feet at the idea of a high number of rookies playing in the NHL at once. It made them uncomfortable, so they defaulted to corporate conservative mentality.
- StepfordSam

This is not specific to any player but in general. Pre season play tends to create mirages. The idea that some fans have that rookies and young players are solely competing against veterans in the pre season games is not accurate. They're also competing against the past for the veterans and what the coaches and GM's know about what those players have done over a large sample of NHL action.

You can laugh at the idea if you want, but its obvious which players were better than others.

At some point, they got cold feet at the idea of a high number of rookies playing in the NHL at once. It made them uncomfortable, so they defaulted to corporate conservative mentality.
- StepfordSam

Troll it up, light it up, inhale, exhale.

I'm not a Manning hater at all. the kid has worked very hard to make himself a 6/7 dman in the NHL but no one can convince me he should be in the lineup over Morin or Sanheim, Yes the kids will make mistakes and maybe Morin's decision making in certain areas need to be better but I can live with kids making mental mistakes as long as they are working on cleaning them up. Fact is Manning will make mistakes due to physical limitations. I rather see them go with the players with the higher upside at this point.
- nastyflyergirl

I agree. I'm not a Manning hater either. Manning in the lineup over Morin makes zero sense to me. If it happens.

What's worse is that it basically tells the kids: guess what? We're full of crap. It doesn't matter how well you perform we have a quota of rookies that we will carry and on D that number is 2, so enjoy riding the buses.
- BiggE

You're acting like the news will be a surprise to them and therefore devastating and career ruining.

This is not specific to any player but in general. Pre season play tends to create mirages. The idea that some fans have that rookies and young players are solely competing against veterans in the pre season games is not accurate. They're also competing against the past for the veterans and what the coaches and GM's know about what those players have done over a large sample of NHL action.
- MJL

Yes, and the calculation made by the Flyers in this particular case with the defensemen is wrong in my opinion.

Troll it up, light it up, inhale, exhale.
- mickel25

Good contribution

They will be opening the season with four rookies (two forwards, two defensemen) penciled in as starters. They also have a second-year forward (Konecny) and second-year defenseman (Provorov) as regulars in the lineup. Ghost has all of 142 games of NHL experience. That's a lot of youth in the lineup.
- bmeltzer

BuT BIlL - iT'S nOT eNouGH!!!!!1 MAnaGeMeNT iS RuInINg ThIS tEAm wItH tHeIR fILtHy LiES!!!!!1

I think what BiggE is saying is he feels Lindblom's development would be just fine in the NHL...I tend to agree.
- landros 2

The Lindblom thing doesn't bother me at all.

But this defense thing does. At the beginning of camp I was positive Hagg and Morin would make the team. And the preseason games did nothing to dispel me of that idea, especially when it comes to Morin.

Sanheim was the surprise, and a pleasant one at that.

All three EARNED an NHL spot that Hexy said would be available if they outplayed the veterans, which they did.

The point that has been made over and over is that this is NOT a cup team, and there is no reason to not have the kids playing.

So in the end what I see is, Hexy says if the rookies earn it they get a spot, but we apparently have a rookie quota so sorry Sam and Travis, you earned it, but you are rookies so screw you.

Interestingly, I wonder if the same thing will happen next season when it happens again with Myers and some of the rookie forwards who are on their way.

Sorry, rookie quota!

Sorry for the hyperbole...Im just really angry about this because I honestly feel the team is NOT AS GOOD as it would be with the three rookie defensemen in the lineup.

They are simply better players right now.

In regards to too much youth on the back end.

2014-2015 Season.

Carolina went 35-31-16

Defense was:
Justin Faulk 23
Noah Hanifin 19
Ryan Murphy 22
Brett Pesce 21
Jacob Slavin 21
Ron Hainsey 34
John Micheal-Liles 35

ANd right now I think they are better off for doing it. That defense is a solid core of young talented players.

Good contribution
- StepfordSam

Wittier retort.

This is not specific to any player but in general. Pre season play tends to create mirages. The idea that some fans have that rookies and young players are solely competing against veterans in the pre season games is not accurate. They're also competing against the past for the veterans and what the coaches and GM's know about what those players have done over a large sample of NHL action.
- MJL

This is true, but it is also the only way these rookies can compete. They outperformed the vets (clearly, to use Hextalls oft stated criteria) in the only arena they had at their disposal. What else can they do?

I'm not a Manning hater at all. the kid has worked very hard to make himself a 6/7 dman in the NHL but no one can convince me he should be in the lineup over Morin or Sanheim, Yes the kids will make mistakes and maybe Morin's decision making in certain areas need to be better but I can live with kids making mental mistakes as long as they are working on cleaning them up. Fact is Manning will make mistakes due to physical limitations. I rather see them go with the players with the higher upside at this point.
- nastyflyergirl

In my view, I'd like to see both morin and sanheim stay up but if I had to pick one. I'd keep morin. We really need that intimidating crease clearer imo and he helps make us hard to play against which we clearly are not with amac or manning. Sanheim s been great but imo we need morins Jam more than offense.

It's funny that I thought I was the most impatient fan, (probably still am).
I can understand Oskar in the AHL, he wants him to get better acclimated to the smaller North American rink. It can be an adjustment with time, and space.
I hate Manning, and Amac over the 2 blue chippers, but I understand where Hex is coming from. No, neither Manning, nor Amac are top 4 in this league.
But they do have NHL experience under trying times, something that will hold a ton of weight with inexperienced players taking their jobs.
It's not so much that these vets are better than them, it's that Hex is very cautious about what can go wrong, and the possible snowball effect on a young players confidence.
These kids outplaying them is the physical part of the game, he's more concerned about the psychological issues that can plague a young player when things go wrong.
Again, I don't agree with it either, but I understand where he's coming from.