I don’t care how hot a goalie is in Nov/dec. when your playing 3 in 4 you rest a guy no matter how sharp he appears and how poor the other one may have played.

Does it help the goalie who is in a funk to see the ice 2 times over the course of 11-12 weeks?

This is not revisionist history. Many of us brought it up, I can remember numerous occasions where I was scratching my head earlier this year when Elliott got yet another start.

Hextall said over the summer it’s really hard to find the goalie capable of starting 65 games for you and that’s why they’re going with a tandem. Words out of his mouth

“The way the schedule is and how tight games are and the demands on our players these days, it’s really hard to find a [goalie] who can play 65 games,” Hextall said. “So we’re really comfortable with our tandem.” July 2

Listening to BSH podcast. Someone suggested we sign free agent James Wisniewski. could he help our bottom 4 more so than Manning?

I'm aware of how many games Elliott was playing. I don't think it's an issue.
- MJL

apparently it was....He's hurt.

Listening to BSH podcast. Someone suggested we sign free agent James Wisniewski. could he help our bottom 4 more so than Manning?
- arichardson22

I don't think so, but I haven't seen him play much in the last year or so after he already tried to get back in the NHL. Could've taken him a bit to recover from the knee though

apparently it was....He's hurt.

- landros 2

So you know for a fact that 1) fatigue existed, and that 2) fatigue is the cause of the core muscle injury?

I don't think so, but I haven't seen him play much in the last year or so after he already tried to get back in the NHL. Could've taken him a bit to recover from the knee though
- YuenglingJagr

It's not a bad thought.

A lot will depend on how he looks in the Olympics. But I wouldn't be against it depending on cost.

I don’t care how hot a goalie is in Nov/dec. when your playing 3 in 4 you rest a guy no matter how sharp he appears and how poor the other one may have played.

Does it help the goalie who is in a funk to see the ice 2 times over the course of 11-12 weeks?

This is not revisionist history. Many of us brought it up, I can remember numerous occasions where I was scratching my head earlier this year when Elliott got yet another start.

Hextall said over the summer it’s really hard to find the goalie capable of starting 65 games for you and that’s why they’re going with a tandem. Words out of his mouth

“The way the schedule is and how tight games are and the demands on our players these days, it’s really hard to find a
- Just5[goalie] who can play 65 games,” Hextall said. “So we’re really comfortable with our tandem.” July 2

And they didn't play them like a tandem should be played. Now the one you rode in the ground is injured.

Shocking. Hopefully this is a lesson learned for both Hextall and Hak.

I didnt have a big problem with the way it was officiated. I’d rather they let them play than anything else
- Just5

I dont mind letting them play but when one team is up it becomes unfair

The last two shootouts Giroux has not been one of the first three to go. How is this possible? Jordan Weal is our best option to shoot first?

That's a really poor analogy. I don't agree with the opinion that Elliott is not capable of playing 60 games in a season. I think you could look back on the season and find games where maybe a reasonable comment can be made that the backup should've played. Overall though we have to consider that Neuvirth has also had his share of injuries and illnesses that made him unavailable along with poor play that is a contributing factor to how many games each goalie has played.
- MJL

Losing Stolarz has had a big impact

I don’t care how hot a goalie is in Nov/dec. when your playing 3 in 4 you rest a guy no matter how sharp he appears and how poor the other one may have played.

Does it help the goalie who is in a funk to see the ice 2 times over the course of 11-12 weeks?

This is not revisionist history. Many of us brought it up, I can remember numerous occasions where I was scratching my head earlier this year when Elliott got yet another start.

Hextall said over the summer it’s really hard to find the goalie capable of starting 65 games for you and that’s why they’re going with a tandem. Words out of his mouth

“The way the schedule is and how tight games are and the demands on our players these days, it’s really hard to find a
- Just5[goalie] who can play 65 games,” Hextall said. “So we’re really comfortable with our tandem.” July 2

What you're stating here is a non issue. Everyone knows the Flyers plan was to go with a tandem this year. The plan and the actual circumstances sometimes don't work out. When looking at all the factors, I don't think Hakstol over used Elliott nor do I think that was the cause of the injury.

Losing Stolarz has had a big impact
- wcorvette

I'm sure that when Neuvirth was unavailable if the Flyers had had a better 3rd goalie he might have seen a few more games.

The last two shootouts Giroux has not been one of the first three to go. How is this possible? Jordan Weal is our best option to shoot first?
- IvanBrovorov

Hak can't seem fix anything without springing a leak elsewhere.

No Giroux is dumbfounding. And before that no TK was was dumbfounding. To me your best options are G, TK & Patrick (the kid might have the best deke moves of anyone on the team. Right there with Giroux imo). After that I go Jake. From there a coach should be able to use common sense on who to go with.

The last two shootouts Giroux has not been one of the first three to go. How is this possible? Jordan Weal is our best option to shoot first?
- IvanBrovorov

I don't blame Hakstol because ultimately it is on the players but I don't particularly care for the player selections he has made overall in the shootout.

Hak can't seem fix anything without springing a leak elsewhere.


- hereticpride

That tends to happen when you have holes in the roster and are a developing team. Hakstol is trying to get better at walking on water but he's not there yet.

What you're stating here is a non issue. Everyone knows the Flyers plan was to go with a tandem this year. The plan and the actual circumstances sometimes don't work out. When looking at all the factors, I don't think Hakstol over used Elliott nor do I think that was the cause of the injury.
- MJL

I am by no means a Hak hater. I don't mind him at all, and typically give him the benefit of the doubt when I do disagree with his decisions. That said, his goalie usage since he joined the team has always been in my opinion an area that he does not manage well. Did it play an impact in the injury? Maybe, maybe not, not a single one of us can say one way or the other. Is he doing what he thinks is best to give the team the best chance to win, of course, but I do think it is fair to question Hak's goalie usage since day 1 really, IMHO.

I'm sure that when Neuvirth was unavailable if the Flyers had had a better 3rd goalie he might have seen a few more games.
- MJL

you have to be impressed where the Flyers are right now. Nuevy has pretty much been a non factor due to injury and Elliot, Stolarz goes down for the season and somehow they are right in the middle of it.

Blue Jackets scare me, then Rangers and then blue jackets again, they are 2 teams the Flyers struggle with.

RE: Elliot's usage

While I understand that you can't point to Elliot's usage as a 32 year old goaltender and say that is any kind of a smoking gun, it is naive to think it may not have played a part.

Elliot is 32 years old.

Going into last night, he played in 41 out of the Flyers' 56 games this year.

For reference, Elliot's usage through his career, for the past 9 years, looks like this:

49, 42, 46, 31, 24, 38, 55, 55, 31

Elliot was on a pace to surpass a workload he hasn't seen since 2010-2011.

Given this info, I think questioning the role of usage of an aging goaltender is a very fair question.

That tends to happen when you have holes in the roster and are a developing team. Hakstol is trying to get better at walking on water but he's not there yet.
- MJL

That is a pretty good analogy for playing Manning and expecting him to be good

I don't understand that trade from the perspective of Ottawa at all

The last two shootouts Giroux has not been one of the first three to go. How is this possible? Jordan Weal is our best option to shoot first?
- IvanBrovorov

He hasn't been particularly crafty his last few shootout attempts anyway honestly. The last two shootouts most of the players seem to like to take the wrist shot instead of trying to make a move to deke the goalie. Giroux used to be really creative in his shootout attempts, not sure what the difference is now.

So you know for a fact that 1) fatigue existed, and that 2) fatigue is the cause of the core muscle injury?
- Scoob

I understand that you aren't just going to believe me, either, and that's fine. But I'm telling you, an older athlete who is subjected to a greater usage than he's ever seen is the most likely reason why he sustained a core injury. Now, do I know that it was a chronic use issue, no I don't. But a lot acute injuries, stem from overuse.

That's what the research would say, anyways.

I am by no means a Hak hater. I don't mind him at all, and typically give him the benefit of the doubt when I do disagree with his decisions. That said, his goalie usage since he joined the team has always been in my opinion an area that he does not manage well. Did it play an impact in the injury? Maybe, maybe not, not a single one of us can say one way or the other. Is he doing what he thinks is best to give the team the best chance to win, of course, but I do think it is fair to question Hak's goalie usage since day 1 really, IMHO.
- Fryman4

I don't like some of his personnel decisions, but he is a pretty good X's and O's coach, particularly in the NZ.

I am going to hold my full judgement on him next season when I think he'll have the chance to ice a very good team.

Hak can't seem fix anything without springing a leak elsewhere.

No Giroux is dumbfounding. And before that no TK was was dumbfounding. To me your best options are G, TK & Patrick (the kid might have the best deke moves of anyone on the team. Right there with Giroux imo). After that I go Jake. From there a coach should be able to use common sense on who to go with.
- hereticpride

Agreed on your top 3.

Even though G is far and away our top shootout option, I feel like there have been a number of occasions where he’s the third shooter with a chance to win the game and doesn’t bury it. I admittedly have not done the research to back up this statement, just going off memory.

I honestly think that it is so bizarre to not have Giroux take one of the first three shots that it has to be G himself telling Hak he doesn’t want it. There is no other explanation. And I know Giroux wants the game on his stick. Just doesn’t make sense.

I’m not sure what they can do to improve in this area of the game, but it has been costing us points the last few years. Not ideal when you’re right on the playoff bubble.

I am by no means a Hak hater. I don't mind him at all, and typically give him the benefit of the doubt when I do disagree with his decisions. That said, his goalie usage since he joined the team has always been in my opinion an area that he does not manage well. Did it play an impact in the injury? Maybe, maybe not, not a single one of us can say one way or the other. Is he doing what he thinks is best to give the team the best chance to win, of course, but I do think it is fair to question Hak's goalie usage since day 1 really, IMHO.
- Fryman4

I think the majority of the criticisms I've seen as far as his goalie usage has been Monday morning qb'ing.