Yep, Morin can be a high end role player as a defenseman and take some of the hard minutes. If he be effective in that role, that will go a long way to making the Flyers a top team.
- MJL

Chris Phillips brah. I'd be really happy with that.

Class dismissed, people. And if you missed the learnings the first time, go back and read it again.

Don't make me name names - you know who you are.
- Scoob

How the fack do they lose to the Coyotes? Cost me 200 hammers
- Vukota

gambling is for suckers

I don't agree with Bill that the Flyers didnt deserve to get a point out of that game. Its not like they tied it up on flukey bounces. They got off to a bad start. They're missing some important guys and playing with a lot of young guys. They didnt give up on the game and they managed to tie it at the end. It was by no means a good game, and a real snoozer to watch, but they earned the tie.

I don't agree with Bill that the Flyers didnt deserve to get a point out of that game. Its not like they tied it up on flukey bounces. They got off to a bad start. They're missing some important guys and playing with a lot of young guys. They didnt give up on the game and they managed to tie it at the end. It was by no means a good game, and a real snoozer to watch, but they earned the tie.
- Dkos

It's more like some of us were saying last night: No team in that sport has ever played 82 perfect games

I wish they had played a little better overall, but the reality is that they are down a little depth and they stole a point

After 82 games, if they make the playoffs by a point, I'm not going to look back at Game 12 and say, "wow, they shouldn't be in the playoffs because they had to steal that point against the Coyotes"

As for Bill's blog, whatever happened to the concept that you don't know what a defenseman really is until 350-400 games played?

I know I've read that before, and IIRC, no less an authority than Chris Pronger says it/believes it

Personally, I don't think Sanheim is good or bad. He's a rookie, with talent. The only thing I care about him is that he gets ice time and learns, and as I've said, I don't think he even needs to play every game for this season to be a good one for him, because it's hard being a defenseman in that league

I think I glanced at it and he played 23 minutes last night? The Flyers got a point out of it, and that's good TOI

I want them to make the playoffs this year, just like every year. But some of these young guys need TOI and experience, too

As for Bill's blog, whatever happened to the concept that you don't know what a defenseman really is until 350-400 games played?

I know I've read that before, and IIRC, no less an authority than Chris Pronger says it/believes it

Personally, I don't think Sanheim is good or bad. He's a rookie, with talent. The only thing I care about him is that he gets ice time and learns, and as I've said, I don't think he even needs to play every game for this season to be a good one for him, because it's hard being a defenseman in that league

I think I glanced at it and he played 23 minutes last night? The Flyers got a point out of it, and that's good TOI

I want them to make the playoffs this year, just like every year. But some of these young guys need TOI and experience, too
- AllInForFlyers

I agree with some of what you said. I was angry last night at the play Sanheim made in OT, but at the end of the day I want the kids to play and will live with their mistakes.

Bill, you are a beacon of sanity in our usual thread of overhype, overreaction and mindless obsession.

Thank you.

Rookies make mistakes, the good ones learn from them. Kids that can step in and within a few weeks look like 10 year vets like Provorov did are extremely rare, especially when it comes to Dman

Thank God we didn't have the internet and social media in the early 70s or Rick Macleish, Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa would all have been ridden out of town as total busts 5 or so games into their careers.

Player development is usually a long term process with peaks and valleys. Outside of truly special players like Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux and Lindros, very few kids come in and dominate from day one. Savor Provorov, players like him are few and far between. Years from now, when they re-rank the 2015 draft class, don't be surprised to see him at #2 behind only McDavid.

Chris Phillips brah. I'd be really happy with that.
- flyer_nutter

Hell I'd be fine with a bigger, much nastier, version of Coburn.

As for Bill's blog, whatever happened to the concept that you don't know what a defenseman really is until 350-400 games played?

I know I've read that before, and IIRC, no less an authority than Chris Pronger says it/believes it

Personally, I don't think Sanheim is good or bad. He's a rookie, with talent. The only thing I care about him is that he gets ice time and learns, and as I've said, I don't think he even needs to play every game for this season to be a good one for him, because it's hard being a defenseman in that league

I think I glanced at it and he played 23 minutes last night? The Flyers got a point out of it, and that's good TOI

I want them to make the playoffs this year, just like every year. But some of these young guys need TOI and experience, too
- AllInForFlyers

As side from his gaffe in OT I actually thought it was a step forward for him last night. That ugly sequence for him may turn out to be a few valuable lessons learned.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: O'Neill Recalled, Road Trip, Sanheim, Morin & More
- bmeltzer

I will never rain on a solid victory by this team but somehow, some way, we find ways to take an absolute dump against teams we should kill in our sleeps. Sadly this is nothing new. This goes back to when Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were here.

Now before everyone gets on me about Luke Schenn and his three brutal turnovers. He's still on the side of victory on his winless team heading into last night's game, which featured Nick Cousins and Zac Rinaldo on their third line.It doesn't matter how bad Zac Rinaldo is, he beat us! End all, be all. Shouldn't happen.

The feeling of beating a good team (especially your old team) is a lot better than losing to a bad team.

What's sad is, you guys are gonna forget about this in a couple of days. What's sad is, some nights I feel like 5 corpses on wheelchair s could beat us but as we throw points away, a day later "Everything is awesome!!!" In Flyerdom attitude. Let's just call a spade a spade. We're not there yet and I hope we trade Filppula at the deadline. I would trade a guy we know can bring back something decent, than be a sacrificial lamb in the first round of the playoffs with him.

Now feel free to rain down the hate but common, I want this team to win as much as anyone and I'm not letting them off the hook for coming to the rink dressed as zombies for two periods last night for Halloween.

It shouldn't have reached the point that it did.

WTF happened in NYC?

Man, it's always something these days, the world has gone flat out mad.

Sanheim's game is still forming. He has to play at this level in order to learn when/how he best fits. This is just going to be a matter of time.

Morin will be a good to above average to very good. Only time will tell. He could be a buts....we don't know. He could be a dominant ... he has only played 1 NHL Game

Sanheim made a bad turnover, but Simmonds barely even got mentioned for an absolutely terrible change into a 3v2 which led to the goal, with the trailer getting the primary assist. I get he's hurting, maybe he was tired, but with even a bit of hustle that odd man is neutralized instead of the others being left out to dry. Again, he's not fully healthy, but his decision making has been disaster level on/off the puck these last handful of games.

Yep, Morin can be a high end role player as a defenseman and take some of the hard minutes. If he be effective in that role, that will go a long way to making the Flyers a top team.
- MJL

I've been a little disappointed with Sanheim but I see the potential. I would like to see him in a little more offensive situations. I think he'll be fine.

I'll be happy if Morin becomes Coburn with much more bite. I don't think he'll become Derian Hatcher but we'll see.

Yep, Morin can be a high end role player as a defenseman and take some of the hard minutes. If he be effective in that role, that will go a long way to making the Flyers a top team.
- MJL

I think he's going to be great on the PK. It'll be Sanheim's job to bowl over goalies and knock defensemen through the goal on rushes. I've seen enough of both of these guys to be confident they can make plays in the NHL and the rest can get worked on.

Sanheim made a bad turnover, but Simmonds barely even got mentioned for an absolutely terrible change into a 3v2 which led to the goal, with the trailer getting the primary assist. I get he's hurting, maybe he was tired, but with even a bit of hustle that odd man is neutralized instead of the others being left out to dry. Again, he's not fully healthy, but his decision making has been disaster level on/off the puck these last handful of games.
- Mononoke

When I was watching it I just kept expecting the 3rd Flyer on the ice to appear on the left for Sanheim to dish the puck to...I bet that's what Sanheim was expecting too.

I'll be honest, I thought looking for a trailer was an acceptable thought. Unfortunately he didn't realize there wasn't a trailer on the play and he coughed it up. Looked ugly, but honestly wasn't a bad idea IMO. He'll learn to have his head on more of a swivel in those kinds of situations in the future.

Sanheim has been spotty at times defensively (though playing hard and more inconsistent than bad), but he hasn't been sub-800 save% bad. He's having some brutal luck right now too with the goalies just never making saves. It happens. His underlying stats are fine.

I actually think the less is more, simple approach -- whether that's the coaches telling him to do so (Hakstol had a comment about d-men not leading rushes) or him trying to be safe to impress or getting the hang of things or likely all of the above -- isn't helping much. He's not a simple, steady player. He's dynamic and needs offensive confidence, and it feels like he's hesitant to fully unleash his puck skills and creativity. He's not skating with many pucks off the rush and is shooting more than playmaking (which is his speciality). It'll come one way or another, probably with time, but I keep seeing he shouldn't be a "rover." To an extent, no, you have to do your job, but that's his skill-set too. You have Tortorella, on the cutting edge of coaching, calling Werenski a "rover."

Playing him on PP2 would help him get minutes and confidence, I think, but when Ghost comes back, that likely ends again.

When I was watching it I just kept expecting the 3rd Flyer on the ice to appear on the left for Sanheim to dish the puck to...I bet that's what Sanheim was expecting too.

I'll be honest, I thought looking for a trailer was an acceptable thought. Unfortunately he didn't realize there wasn't a trailer on the play and he coughed it up. Looked ugly, but honestly wasn't a bad idea IMO. He'll learn to have his head on more of a swivel in those kinds of situations in the future.
- Giroux_Is_God

That too.

But I'm talking about Simmonds giving up when Arizona got the puck after and changing. Puck was going the other way, and he went right to the bench. Skating normally back likely neutralizes it. Voracek had no time to get there but took the minus. Simmonds can't do that.

Hell I'd be fine with a bigger, much nastier, version of Coburn.
- BiggE

Even a Larry Hillman....

Ghost, Patrick and Amac officially placed on IR today.

Month into the season and their record reflects what I thought they'd be heading into the season.

I will never rain on a solid victory by this team but somehow, some way, we find ways to take an absolute dump against teams we should kill in our sleeps. Sadly this is nothing new. This goes back to when Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were here.

Now before everyone gets on me about Luke Schenn and his three brutal turnovers. He's still on the side of victory on his winless team heading into last night's game, which featured Nick Cousins and Zac Rinaldo on their third line.It doesn't matter how bad Zac Rinaldo is, he beat us! End all, be all. Shouldn't happen.

The feeling of beating a good team (especially your old team) is a lot better than losing to a bad team.

What's sad is, you guys are gonna forget about this in a couple of days. What's sad is, some nights I feel like 5 corpses on wheelchair s could beat us but as we throw points away, a day later "Everything is awesome!!!" In Flyerdom attitude. Let's just call a spade a spade. We're not there yet and I hope we trade Filppula at the deadline. I would trade a guy we know can bring back something decent, than be a sacrificial lamb in the first round of the playoffs with him.

Now feel free to rain down the hate but common, I want this team to win as much as anyone and I'm not letting them off the hook for coming to the rink dressed as zombies for two periods last night for Halloween.

It shouldn't have reached the point that it did.
- SuperSchennBros

Everyone knows this. Nobody expected us to be "there" now. (I'll spare you the question of where "there" is)

In this nor the other thread have I seen one person "let them off the hook"

Month into the season and their record reflects what I thought they'd be heading into the season.
- Pelle31Forever

Sincerely believe if Ghost and Patrick stayed healthy their record would be a handful of points better, and there's a lot less "we suck again" around Flyerdom. Additionally, a healthy AMac and Sanheim/Morin instead of Manning and I really think we'd be calling this season a surprise.

With that said, I do think they'll improve on what they've shown in the first couple weeks.

Month into the season and their record reflects what I thought they'd be heading into the season.
- Pelle31Forever

Same. A win one, lose one team.

If we make the playoffs it's because the Rangers suck and the caps have taken steps back. The Pens don't look great from what little I've seen of them but I know they're gonna turn it around.