The MacDonald-Hagg pairing is seeing a lot of ice time against top lines with heavy D zone starts. I don't see Sanheim doing well in that role and I don't think it would be fair or good for his development. I don't think it's great for Hagg either.
- MJL

Aside from the reallly dumb play by Hagg the other night, I dont think he has been bad.

Mac and Manning on the other hand. Its a shame, I thought Mac started the year very strong. Was playing (IMO) his best hockey as a Flyer up until he got hurt. Hasnt been the same since he came back.

Manning has been a GD tire fire.. Yes he scored in that game against the Lightning, but he is not an everyday d-man.

Id replace him with Sanheim again.

Aside from the reallly dumb play by Hagg the other night, I dont think he has been bad.

Mac and Manning on the other hand. Its a shame, I thought Mac started the year very strong. Was playing (IMO) his best hockey as a Flyer up until he got hurt. Hasnt been the same since he came back.

Manning has been a GD tire fire.. Yes he scored in that game against the Lightning, but he is not an everyday d-man.

Id replace him with Sanheim again.
- jak521

Hagg's game has been deteriorating in the last few weeks. I disagree about MacDonald. He has been playing solidly all season and the defense corps stabilized when he returned from injury. Manning right now is a better player than Sanheim is. I don't want Sanheim continuing to sit though.

Hagg's game has been deteriorating in the last few weeks. I disagree about MacDonald. He has been playing solidly all season and the defense corps stabilized when he returned from injury. Manning right now is a better player than Sanheim is. I don't want Sanheim continuing to sit though.
- MJL

Yeah I don't think Manning or MacDonald have been bad.

I know Gostisbehere is playing well but i also wouldn't mind getting the top 4 back to Provorov - MacDonald and Gostisbehere - Hagg. That seemed to be the most productive top 4 and had more people playing well.

Agree that Sanheim should be back in.

Never going to happen. Imho, of course.
- Scoob

It’s a very high bar
I mean kimmo was one of the two way greats

The Goulbourne call up doesn't seem to have been well managed considering they let him go to Toronto with the Phantoms on Wednesday.

It shouldn't have been difficult for Hextall to make a call telling the Phantoms to leave Ghoul behind. Now he will at most get to play two NHL games before the 5 day no-practice holiday starts.

Aside from the reallly dumb play by Hagg the other night, I dont think he has been bad.

Mac and Manning on the other hand. Its a shame, I thought Mac started the year very strong. Was playing (IMO) his best hockey as a Flyer up until he got hurt. Hasnt been the same since he came back.

Manning has been a GD tire fire.. Yes he scored in that game against the Lightning, but he is not an everyday d-man.

Id replace him with Sanheim again.
- jak521

Mac is fine if you don't miss use him...13-15 good minutes a night as never going to be a true top 4 guy, but there's nothing wrong with that. I understand Hak's dilemma as he's dealing with a lot of youth, but the cracks start to show when he's forced to over play him. Manning has spurts of some good play then makes some glaring errors that really make him stand out....

Yeah I don't think Manning or MacDonald have been bad.

I know Gostisbehere is playing well but i also wouldn't mind getting the top 4 back to Provorov - MacDonald and Gostisbehere - Hagg. That seemed to be the most productive top 4 and had more people playing well.

Agree that Sanheim should be back in.
- J35Bacher

Here is the thing. There are some very good things about the Provorov-Gostisbehere pairing. The bad thing is it takes the Flyers best defender away from the main role of playing against top lines. Still sees some time such as late in games but for the most part that responsibility has gone to MacDonald-Hagg. The best that pairing is going to do against top lines with heavy D zone starts is survive. It does free up Provorov and Gostisbehere to play in more offensive zone situaitons and more with Giroux and company. Over a larger sample we'll see if that strategy is what is best for this current team.

The coach has been leaning heavily on Hagg this year. Of course as a first year he’s going to have rough patches. A game off or two would likely be of benefit to Hagg but not sure the coach is ready to pull him. I think their team play declines if you give Sanheim the same minutes and match ups Hagg has been seeing.

My point about Ghost is not that he can become another Kimmo, but that he can use his hockey sense and speed to be a very effective defender.

Sanheim cannot replace MacDonald on the Flyers defense corps now. MacDonald plays too big of a role on the Flyers.
- MJL

If his role is to suck then you are right - irreplaceable.

If his role is to suck then you are right - irreplaceable.
- omaplata

The Goulbourne call up doesn't seem to have been well managed
- Feanor

I disagree.

They called him up.
They played with energy and won.
Mission accomplished.

The Goulbourne call up doesn't seem to have been well managed considering they let him go to Toronto with the Phantoms on Wednesday.

It shouldn't have been difficult for Hextall to make a call telling the Phantoms to leave Ghoul behind. Now he will at most get to play two NHL games before the 5 day no-practice holiday starts.
- Feanor

He callup seemed to have more to do with waking the team up, and getting more energy in the lineup.

It wasn't a planned move, or at least doesn't seem like it. I bet if the Flyers played with some energy on Tuesday, Goulbourne isn't called up.

I disagree.

They called him up.
They played with energy and won.
Mission accomplished.
- Scoob

On second thought, this is accurate.

I disagree.

They called him up.
They played with energy and won.
Mission accomplished.
- Scoob

Team and potentially coach got the message. Not sure those 3 fights were a coincidence. They've been pretty hesitant to drop the gloves all year. Couturiers fight was ill timed but it was good to see the team sticking together and battling for a win.

He callup seemed to have more to do with waking the team up, and getting more energy in the lineup.

It wasn't a planned move, or at least doesn't seem like it. I bet if the Flyers played with some energy on Tuesday, Goulbourne isn't called up.
- VladDrag

Right, but the Pens game finished at 9:30pm on Tuesday. If Hextall watched that game and decided Goulbourne should be on the Flyers, he never should have traveled to Toronto.

He callup seemed to have more to do with waking the team up, and getting more energy in the lineup.

It wasn't a planned move, or at least doesn't seem like it. I bet if the Flyers played with some energy on Tuesday, Goulbourne isn't called up.
- VladDrag

I agree.

The secondary players showed some fire.

I don’t think any player wants to be the guy who sits for Goulbourne.

I realize it’s likely Leier coming out for Goul, but I would like to see a 4th line of Laughton, Leier and Goul and give Goulbourne a chance to PK.

I agree.

The secondary players showed some fire.

I don’t think any player wants to be the guy who sits for Goulbourne.

I realize it’s likely Leier coming out for Goul, but I would like to see a 4th line of Laughton, Leier and Goul and give Goulbourne a chance to PK.
- Marc D

Leier missed a pretty critical shot block last night. Considering the PK is already a concern and a major part of his role, it would make sense.

I agree.

The secondary players showed some fire.

I don’t think any player wants to be the guy who sits for Goulbourne.

I realize it’s likely Leier coming out for Goul, but I would like to see a 4th line of Laughton, Leier and Goul and give Goulbourne a chance to PK.
- Marc D

I'm hoping for this as well....hopefully Leier over Weise....would be a pretty quick line....all though we would lose our net front presence on the 2nd pp.

Bill --
It was interesting to read what Hexy said about Hogberg. You can tell the Flyers highly rate Hogberg.

What do you think about Hogberg timetable to the USA? Do you think he comes over next season, or one more after that?
- VladDrag

At least one more SHL season, possibly two. With draftees from Swedish league, you have a four-year signing window if drafted at 18 (and he was one of the youngest players in the 2016 Draft).

Right, but the Pens game finished at 9:30pm on Tuesday. If Hextall watched that game and decided Goulbourne should be on the Flyers, he never should have traveled to Toronto.
- Feanor

Agreed, what I'm saying is that he didn't make the decision until it was too late. I think it was more of a knee-jerk reaction, as opposed to a planned move.

I doubt Ghost will ever even be in Timonen's stratosphere defensively. Matt Carle may be his defensive ceiling.
- jmatchett383

Carle was a D monster when he was paired with Pronger

Mac is fine if you don't miss use him...13-15 good minutes a night as never going to be a true top 4 guy, but there's nothing wrong with that. I understand Hak's dilemma as he's dealing with a lot of youth, but the cracks start to show when he's forced to over play him. Manning has spurts of some good play then makes some glaring errors that really make him stand out....
- landros 2

He's fine playing 15-20. He's had a solid year and was missed while he was injured.

When he gets beyond playing 20 minutes a game consistently is when he starts getting exposed but he can handle even handle that in spot duty. He's not someone that needs to be sheltered which is pretty important with a young blue line.

At least one more SHL season, possibly two. With draftees from Swedish league, you have a four-year signing window if drafted at 18 (and he was one of the youngest players in the 2016 Draft).
- bmeltzer

Thanks, Bill. I was basing it off Hagg's path. As he came over at the conclusion of +1 draft year, at least I remember?


Taking into account that all players develop differently, is it safe to assume that Haag came over a bit earlier than your typical Swede?

Carle was a D monster when he was paired with Pronger
- Landsbergfan

I don't think I'd call him a "D monster" but he was definitely good even when not paired with Pronger. Not great, and he had his fair share of WTF moments, but he was good.

Thanks, Bill. I was basing it off Hagg's path. As he came over at the conclusion of +1 draft year, at least I remember?


Taking into account that all players develop differently, is it safe to assume that Haag came over a bit earlier than your typical Swede?
- VladDrag

Yes, Hägg came over at 19 (so early that he was slide-rule eligible despite playing the year in the AHL). That's not typical.