Only you would defend Weise on the PP. The big body that doesn't play big. Not as if they've been lighting it up? With that logic let's throw John Scott in there. FFS there's no defending your hill, Marines have taken over, planted the flag, and are already drilling for oil.
- SimmerDown17

He isnt defending Weise on the power play. He said QUITE CLEARLY he would rather see Raffl.

I don't think it's hard to find a better coach than hasktol. I do however think it's hard to find a coach that will make this team a playoff team.
- Tfaehner

That's for sure. I have no expectations of this team making the playoffs and I thought back in October, if they stayed remarkably healthy, the best they would do would be to sneak in with the last wildcard spot. They just have too many holes on this roster to be a playoff team in a deep 16 team conference.

I don’t think it’s fair to ever judge a 19 year old, but perhaps in hindsight (easy for me to say lol) he should have gone back to junior.

Edit: there is still 1/2 a season to go...so we will see.
- landros 2

Someone smarter than I can comment but I don't think Patrick was eligible.

He isnt defending Weise on the power play. He said QUITE CLEARLY he would rather see Raffl.

- MBFlyerfan

Read his post again

I feel like Nick Foles became the QB of the Flyers about mid-November.... wtf happened to this team? They were ROLLING those first 10 games. They were unbelievably sharp and fun to watch. They looked like a contender already.

Last night's game was just hard to watch. It looked like the Panthers came in wanting to pressure whoever the puck-carrier was the entire game and the Flyers just couldn't cope with that for the first half of the game. They looked listless.

Someone smarter than I can comment but I don't think Patrick was eligible.
- SimmerDown17

he was drafted in 2017 so he definitely could have gone back to juniors as well as play in the world juniors. I'm fine with him being here. wasn't saying they should have sent him back

That's for sure. I have no expectations of this team making the playoffs and I thought back in October, if they stayed remarkably healthy, the best they would do would be to sneak in with the last wildcard spot. They just have too many holes on this roster to be a playoff team in a deep 16 team conference.
- BiggE

I'm still open on tanking for svechnikov or dahlin. 😂

I'm still open on tanking for svechnikov or dahlin. 😂
- Tfaehner

I've been impressed by Tkachuk snd Zadina.

Here's what I expected going to into the season, compared with the reality of the situation:

First the good stuff:

Giroux: I expected him to have a bounce back season and I thought that he'd do well at LW.
The reality: He's done exactly what I expected and perhaps a bit more

Voracek: I expected him to have a much better season than last year.
The reality: he's exceeded my expectations

Couturier: I thought moving him between G and Jake would lead to a 20 goal, 50 point season
The reality: he has greatly exceeded my expectations and has potential to finish with over 30 goals and 65 points and be a Selke finalist

Provorov: Thought he'd continue to improve and slowly develop into an all situation #1 dman.
The reality: he is an all situations #1 Dman and if he may already be one of the top 10-15 overall dmen in the game.

Ghost: Thought he'd bounce back offensively and in his all around game now that he'd be fully healthy
The reality: he's done it and perhaps a bit more, I like him being paired with Provorov.

Hagg: I expected him to be a solid 3rd pair guy as a rookie
The reality: he's been all that and a little more

AMac: I thought he'd be his usual mediocre self
the reality: he's played better than I expected and seems to be a good influence on the young Dmen.

Here are the guys who are pretty much doing what I expected going into the season:

Elliott: Thought he'd be an upgrade over Mason due to both his personality and I also thought he'd be less streaky

Weise: He's doesn't do much, nor did I expect him to.

Manning: He's his usual self.

Laughton: His generally solid play is what I expected from after the way he finished the season with the Phantoms

Leier: He's been what I expected.

Raffl: Had a slow start offensively, but he's playing his usual game

Sanheim: He's breaking into the league the way most 21 year old rookie Dmen do, slowly with ups and downs.


Next up the disappointments

Biggest issue for me seems to be the culture. This team has been struggling with the same issues since the Flyers had Richards and Carter. Really, the only difference between this team and our 2010 team is that we wont be so luckily.

Next up the disappointments
- BiggE

Sorry, the date for that is 12/23. You'll have to wait for next year.

Try and cover up a dogpoop product with pissant sarcasm all you want.
- PLindbergh31

See, Giants, New York

And now the guys who've done worse than I expected:

Simmonds: I thought he'd be his usually fiesty, yet streaky self, but he would still finish with his usual 30 or so goals and 50-55 points.
the reality: on way too many nights, he's been a total non factor. Some of it may be injury related, but either way, he's been a disappointment.

Konecny: I expected him to have the usual 2nd year ups and downs but I still thought he could be relied on to provide solid secondary scoring and finish with 15 or so goals and 40+ points.
the reality: He looks like a kid who isn't sure when to go and when to hang back and I think he's really pressing. With half a season left, there is still plenty of time for him to put up better numbers, but overall, he's been a slight disappointment

Patrick: I expected a slow start due to the offseason surgeries, but still figured him to get 12-15 goals and 30-35 points.
the reality: the early season concussion did the kid no favors, but he at least seems to be skating better the last few weeks. Right now, I'd call him a slight disappointment in regards to the first half of this season, but I still think he is going to be an excellent player.

Weal: While I did expect some drop off from last years stretch run, I did at least think he'd be a solid top 9 guy who would add some secondary scoring
the reality: he's been a big disappointment, there are no 2 ways around it.

Filppula: I expected 10-12 goals and 35-40 points along with leadership and the ability to chip in on both sides of special teams.
the reality: after a good first couple of weeks, he's been another big disappointment.

Lehtera: I expected a guy who could chip in a little top 9 offense now and then and/or anchor a 4th line
the reality: he's not an NHL player anymore and has pretty much become the new Corpseburger.

Gudas: I thought he'd take the next step and could be the guy they would pair with Provorov on the top pair.
the reality: the suspension was bad enough, his play has been extremely inconsistent as well. I expected a lot more. He's one of the biggest disappointments on this team IMO.

Neuvirth: I figured he'd get dinged up now and then,but he'd at least be better than last year and would be a good 1B buy behind Elliott.
the reality: The dude is made of paper mache and if he can actually remain healthy enough to play another 10 games this season, I'd be shocked.

and finally...

the coaching staff: I expected this team to compete hard every night, to improve the PK and their overall defensive play and for the pp to get a fresh makeover and be one of the better PP's in the league.
the reality: well, they are a better team defensively 5 on 5, I'll give them that. The pp has been very inconsistent, the PK has been pretty bad and the team seems to often forget that the first period counts. At this point, I'm hoping for changes after the season.

I'm really not worried about Patrick. The guys size is a huge part of his game and until he fully fills out he's going to struggle to dominate like he did in junior.

Also, you know, because he also hasn't played much NHL hockey at all yet.

he was drafted in 2017 so he definitely could have gone back to juniors as well as play in the world juniors. I'm fine with him being here. wasn't saying they should have sent him back
- nastyflyergirl

It must have been he wasn't AHL eligible, correct?

It must have been he wasn't AHL eligible, correct?
- SimmerDown17

That is correct. NHL or Juniors were his options.

Patrick took two stick penalties the previous game and last night high sticked a player in the face for no reason whatsoever. He was just skating beside him. Not sending a message to Patrick is what would've been ridiculous. His lack of ice time
was earned and deserved.
- MJL

Day in and day out your a complete you know what.. I’m now under the assumption you are Hakstols wife?

Day in and day out your a complete you know what.. I’m now under the assumption you are Hakstols wife?
- Buzzo

Did you see Patrick as he skated to the box? He knew he (frank)ed up and knew the price he was going to pay.

Day in and day out your a complete you know what.. I’m now under the assumption you are Hakstols wife?
- Buzzo

Let's stay on point. You're fine with the penalty Patrick took last night?

Man up and make an argument.
- MJL

I’ll man up, I remember one game where Amac took stupid penalties in one game and a dumb one at the end, and who goes right back out there after they scored? Amac to defend the tie game which lead to the game winner.
How about Gudas taking dumb penalties in game and never missing a shift?

Let's stay on point. You're fine with the penalty Patrick took last night?
- Scoob

Never said I was fine with the penalty, I never even mentioned the penalty, but your telling me outside of this game he’s getting the minutes to develop?
If G, Jake or I’ll even say Weise takes those same penalties, you think they lose ice time in game?

I’ll man up, I remember one game where Amac took stupid penalties in one game and a dumb one at the end, and who goes right back out there after they scored? Amac to defend the tie game which lead to the game winner.
How about Gudas taking dumb penalties in game and never missing a shift?
- Buzzo

A rookie has a shorter leash than a vet with 90% (my estimation) of coaches in the NHL. It's called using ice time as a learning tool to push the kid to be better. The vet has proven he is what he is.

Hell even the NHL taking ice time from Gudas isn't going to fix him

Honesty I look forward to Filppula being gone and Weise a constant healthy scratch or at most a 4th liner. Just rather see young players continue to trickle onto the roster. Of course while Hakstol is feeling pressure to win I am sure the young players aren't going to get minutes. I rather live and die with the kids than continue to rely so heavily on veterans that just aren't coming thru (not talking about 14/28/93). D men not named Provorov take time to get their game refined so I would continue to play Hagg and Sanheim.
- nastyflyergirl

Outside of Provorov and Sanheim, The young kids really are not doing much for this team currently. Is there a chance Hextall and fans has over rated some of these kids?

Outside of Provorov and Sanheim, The young kids really are not doing much for this team currently. Is there a chance Hextall and fans has over rated some of these kids?
- Buzzo

I'll call foul on that as Hagg has been solid in most of his games.

A rookie has a shorter leash than a vet with 90% (my estimation) of coaches in the NHL. It's called using ice time as a learning tool to push the kid to be better. The vet has proven he is what he is.

Hell even the NHL taking ice time from Gudas isn't going to fix him
- dragonoffrost

Herein lies my issue. A vet should know better. Also, since he's "proven what he is", and that is a bottom-3/bottom-pair defenseman, why keep putting them out there if they're costing you goals? Yeah, maybe the kid will mess up, maybe he won't. But if you already know that the vet is gonna cost you and will never get better, why keep going back to him?

It's like comparing an unknown to a known failure. At least there's a chance with the unknown.