No, he's amazing, and we need him at 2C. Remember how well he did last year too? It's Christmas time, and you can't get rid of his veteran presents.

I got to page 8-9 or so and just found it too nauseating to continue. Everyone is so much saner and has more interesting discussions at pizzabuzz. I've been going there more and more.
- Mononoke

I should x-post more often cause my takes in here have been as good as ever. My ban from pizzabuzz for the 1800 word blog about pineapple on pizza will be ending shortly though

That's exactly why Hextall signed Wiese. His FA signings have been exceptionally poor.
- Sinisalo4vr

The comment was meant as a response to G's PK time.

Holy poop. Glancing at the last thread you people want to trade Ghost and Gudas.

Yes, trading 2 of our best d-men should make the team better! You guys are beneath hockeybuzz GMs. This poop is hard to read tbh. Provorov-Ghost/Sanheim-Gudas is the best top 4 they could come up with, not that this play to not lose, safety first moron of a coach could wrap his head around that. More Hagg, more Manning, more MacDonald! That’s the ticket!
- Mononoke

Gudas has struggled for the majority of the season and Hagg has been better. I agree that they're overplaying Manning but with the injury to MacDonald that forced some of that. Gostisbehere has also been struggling as of late. You should listen to the podcast that Bill linked. They discuss the makeup of the blueline and why you just can't throw a bunch of rookie and young defenseman to the wolves.
As for the play not lose comment, that's disqualifying because it is simply false.

Definitely looking forward to your take on Lappy.

The PK has been consistently bad for awhile (even going back to last year and prior) and I don't see any noticeable change, from an x's and o's standpoint.

Lately, they've even put Giroux back on the PK and I thought the whole idea of taking him off of the PK is to keep him from wearing down.

You are right in noting their 5v5 defensive play, but their PK is murdering this team right now. It now stands at 29th and on a team that is developing talent and trying to cultivate better 5v5 play, even an average PK would make a world of difference in wins and losses.
- johndewar

They've got Coots playing on the PK too from some of what I've seen recently. Hell of a way to wear down your top line.

Lines 2, 3 & 4 are just not doing much for this team right now.

http://www.nbcsports.com/...es-going-remain-our-coach

They've got Coots playing on the PK too from some of what I've seen recently. Hell of a way to wear down your top line.

Lines 2, 3 & 4 are just not doing much for this team right now.
- hereticpride

Couturier has been playing on the PK all season. He averages 2:08 per game on the PK second only to Laughton at 2:09 per game among forwards.

Bill,
Great as always. I agree with much of your assessment. IMHO, and this was beaten over my head today from several times...this team is changing. If you look at this team you can see the place holders who are currently taking regular shifts. The defense is crazy young. The second line center is 19 and coming off sports hernia surgery (which usually means a year to completely recover).

The team desperately need wingers who can and will score. They need all of the forwards to manage their gaps. They need to find scoring from someone not on the top line. All in all...they have holes...but they are still in a better place than last season.

http://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/ron-hextall-dave-hakstols-our-coach-and-hes-going-remain-our-coach
- MJL

If that’s Hextall choice then let’s hope he can get this team straightened around. Time will tell, not sure I agree with Hextall on this but I sure hope he’s rewarded for his loyalty.

Couturier has been playing on the PK all season. He averages 2:08 per game on the PK second only to Laughton at 2:09 per game among forwards.
- MJL

You play your best players when you can.

Is it total panic for many here yet?
- ob18

I'd call it acceptance for some, anger for others.

http://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/ron-hextall-dave-hakstols-our-coach-and-hes-going-remain-our-coach
- MJL

So how should i take this? Does he really mean that Hak is the coach or is he saying that he is only the coach right now because he is waiting for someone else to become available first?

Or is he saying that he is still grooming Knob and that he isn't ready yet to become the guy?

Sure wish Hextall would come out of retirement - The Flyers need a goalie in the worst way.

So how should i take this? Does he really mean that Hak is the coach or is he saying that he is only the coach right now because he is waiting for someone else to become available first?

Or is he saying that he is still grooming Knob and that he isn't ready yet to become the guy?
- ggunky

I can't tell you how to take something. I took it as Hextall saying he has no plans of making a coaching change.

If that’s Hextall choice then let’s hope he can get this team straightened around. Time will tell, not sure I agree with Hextall on this but I sure hope he’s rewarded for his loyalty.
- landros 2

Good sentiment.

Bill, your state of the team blog re-assured me on a single major front: Weise. This "feisty" play you speak of...when was that part of his resume? Before the Flyers? I'm spread thin these days with my kids and their activities and cannot pay as much attention to the overall NHL like I used to, however, I still have a pretty solid knowledge base and when we signed this guy, I never heard of him.

It seems to be that being feisty is a pretty effortless aspect of one's game to apply. Act like you care would be a fine start. This guy is absolutely worthless. Horrible signing. Horrible length to contract. I've said it on this board before and I'll repeat it, the two Flyers I can recall (I'm 43 and can say I've been watching faithfully since 1985) that demonstrated so little heart in their play: Kyle Calder and Dale Weise.

Every game I wait for him to demonstrate in any kind of way some backbone, some heart, a pulse, for God's sake. He seems to exemplify for me what's wrong with this team.

I can't tell you how to take something. I took it as Hextall saying he has no plans of making a coaching change.
- MJL

Fair enough. It was't directed at you as much as the last blob and how i was told not to believe what Hextall said and how i need to interpret what it is he is saying.

I want to make sure i understand what he is saying an interpret it the right way.

Fair enough. It was't directed at you as much as the last blob and how i was told not to believe what Hextall said and how i need to interpret what it is he is saying.

I want to make sure i understand what he is saying an interpret it the right way.
- ggunky

Right way is subjective isn't it? We all have an opinion. I'll say this, I'm on the opposite side of this than I think you are but I do respect the passion you have. The frustration is clear and understandable. Nobody wants to hear the GM saying he does't think they're playing that badly when they've lost the last 9 games. Fans can be emotional about the team, GM's can't in this context.

Right way is subjective isn't it? We all have an opinion. I'll say this, I'm on the opposite side of this than I think you are but I do respect the passion you have. The frustration is clear and understandable. Nobody wants to hear the GM saying he does't think they're playing that badly when they've lost the last 9 games. Fans can be emotional about the team, GM's can't in this context.
- MJL

Agreed.

If you read my posts you will know i didnt call for trades or firing of the coach.

I don't think the GM stating the obvious, that the team isn't playing well is a GM that is being emotional.

Lets be honest they aren't playing well. Any team that has lost nine in a row and is 6th from the bottom in the league, isnt playing well.

Doesnt it bother anyone that as soon as the flyers go on a dreadful run that everyong starts picking apart every aspect of the team? There is a case to make for.everyones points about hakstols and hextalls choices but lets look at this point brayden shenn is now.a top line center for the blues hit 30 points on the season when philly fans saw him as a streaky at best player, he goes to another team and becomes a top line talent he was coached by two diffrent coaches in philly with the same streaky scoring in saying that im one that thinks that it is a problem within the whole organization ..not with any one player or any one coach i believe its more of.mentality and passion then it does anything else when i watch the flyers play i dont see a team playing together with any kind of passion or hunger that i believe amy pro athlete needs

Agreed.

If you read my posts you will know i didnt call for trades or firing of the coach.

I don't think the GM stating the obvious, that the team isn't playing well is a GM that is being emotional.

Lets be honest they aren't playing well. Any team that has lost nine in a row and is 6th from the bottom in the league, isnt playing well.
- ggunky

The emotional part for the GM was in context of making emotional decisions based on what is happening right now such as firing the coach or making an reactionary trade.

I think there was some truth to what Hextall said. If you listen to the podcast that Bill linked to in his blog, he said a lot of the same things.

Hextall has simply chosen to be supportive and circle the wagons. He knows he has some young players and he wants to be as supportive as he can. I don't think there is any value to him in calling out the team hard in this situation. If they were a team built to win now, I think his tone and overall reaction would be different but that is speculation. Hextall is very even keeled and focused in direction.

I look at as if say you were going through a rough time in your personal life. It really helps to think that it's temporary and things will get better.

A year or two from now there will be significant changes. My viewpoint as a fan is that this is temporary and my focus is on the future. This losing streak doesn't change that for me. I look at the young players on the team and the prospects that they have and see that there is a chance for something special in the future. The current level of play of the team will not make me lose sight of that.

Fans are frustrated and upset which is understandable but there is a lot of nonsense being spewed. Sorry if that offends anyone.

Doesnt it bother anyone that as soon as the flyers go on a dreadful run that everyong starts picking apart every aspect of the team? There is a case to make for.everyones points about hakstols and hextalls choices but lets look at this point brayden shenn is now.a top line center for the blues hit 30 points on the season when philly fans saw him as a streaky at best player, he goes to another team and becomes a top line talent he was coached by two diffrent coaches in philly with the same streaky scoring in saying that im one that thinks that it is a problem within the whole organization ..not with any one player or any one coach i believe its more of.mentality and passion then it does anything else when i watch the flyers play i dont see a team playing together with any kind of passion or hunger that i believe amy pro athlete needs
- Orange@black

Schenn was a good player here. 25 goal 50+ point players are nothing to sneeze at. That's not about a problem in the whole organization, it's about a good player finding chemistry on a line with two very good players.

The emotional part for the GM was in context of making emotional decisions based on what is happening right now such as firing the coach or making an reactionary trade.

I think there was some truth to what Hextall said. If you listen to the podcast that Bill linked to in his blog, he said a lot of the same things.

Hextall has simply chosen to be supportive and circle the wagons. He knows he has some young players and he wants to be as supportive as he can. I don't think there is any value to him in calling out the team hard in this situation. If they were a team built to win now, I think his tone and overall reaction would be different but that is speculation. Hextall is very even keeled and focused in direction.

I look at as if say you were going through a rough time in your personal life. It really helps to think that it's temporary and things will get better.

A year or two from now there will be significant changes. My viewpoint as a fan is that this is temporary and my focus is on the future. This losing streak doesn't change that for me. I look at the young players on the team and the prospects that they have and see that there is a chance for something special in the future. The current level of play of the team will not make me lose sight of that.

Fans are frustrated and upset which is understandable but there is a lot of nonsense being spewed. Sorry if that offends anyone.
- MJL

It sure would help my psyche if Myers can put two healthy games in a row together.

It sure would help my psyche if Myers can put two healthy games in a row together.
- Just5

That would be nice but not every prospect is going to work out. We'll see with Myers. Feel bad for the guy.

Anyone watching the Tampa/Boston game?

The holy trinity of bad commentary.

Kenny Albert play by play
Mike Milbury color commentary
Pierre McGuire lubed up head to toe between the benches

Schenn was a good player here. 25 goal 50+ point players are nothing to sneeze at. That's not about a problem in the whole organization, it's about a good player finding chemistry on a line with two very good players.
- MJL

I wasnt saying he wasnt a good player im saying that every player seems to play for themselves its about them not the team ..just take for.instance that there is no players with the exception of laughton that goes after an apposing player for a dirty hit or for even contacting our goalie