Weal is a solid possession guy who creates some chances. He's having a rough year in the scoring department, but he has value. He's really not someone to worry about that much.

I'd be more worried that the coach thinks matching Filppula against Crosby is a good idea or that the team has 3 bad defensemen playing when there are viable replacements in the minors. Ditto for the veteran 4th liners.
- PhillySportsGuy

Weal has been absolutely snake bitten in the points department, but he's done a pretty good job with his possession numbers, considering his CF% rel is better than his most of his linemates:

33% PATRICK,NOLAN - SIMMONDS,WAYNE - WEAL,JORDAN
22.1% FILPPULA,VALTTERI - SIMMONDS,WAYNE - WEAL,JORDAN
21.3% LAUGHTON,SCOTT - RAFFL,MICHAEL - WEAL,JORDAN

Skater CF% Rel
Filppula -7.6
Patrick -2.4
Simmonds -1.4
Weal -0.4
Laughton 1.7
Raffl 1.8

When the line of Raffl-Laughton-Weal was together, Weal was crushing it. He finished some of those games with a CF of 80%. Then, he got moved back w/ Filp and has suffered since. I don't understand the Weal bashing. He's not a make or break player, but he's a good bottom 6 option when he's paired with the right linemates.

post

Weal is a solid possession guy who creates some chances. He's having a rough year in the scoring department, but he has value. He's really not someone to worry about that much.

I'd be more worried that the coach thinks matching Filppula against Crosby is a good idea or that the team has 3 bad defensemen playing when there are viable replacements in the minors. Ditto for the veteran 4th liners.
- PhillySportsGuy

Who do you want him to match up against Crosby? They have Crosby and Malkin. We have Coots, a rookie in Patrick and Flip. There is bound to be a mismatch somewhere.

I mean I suppose you could've moved G to Center for a game but that kind of move would end up altering every forward line on the team.

I'm probably in the minority, but I feel the Flyers could be contenders if they brought up their younger players. I would definitely bring up Sanheim right now and I would likely bring up Morin if he got into game shape. I wouldn't rule out Myers either.

They also have some forwards performing well like NAK who could help with secondary scoring. He's been one of the best even strength forwards in the AHL this year in scoring.

I just don't get the coddling of players in their early-mid 20s. If Morin is too weak minded to rebound from a bad outing, then he shouldn't even be playing in the NHL. These kinds need to play and they'll be fine when they make a mistake. They should have been broken in long ago. This idea that the seas will part and Hexy will receive a sign from a god that it's time to play them is such a fallacy. There is no perfect time. You just gotta jump in.

As a fan, I'd rather lose with rookies making mistakes they can learn from than watching MacDonald and Hagg back 40 feet off the blue line.

The only productive thing about playing these sloths on defense for a full season is that some dumb team might talk themselves into taking one of these guys in the offseason. "The Flyers made the playoffs and MacDonald logged a bunch of minutes for them, so he must be a solid player!"
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree 100%. NAK should be here playing, Misha should be up (or at least given a real shot next year), Sanheim should've been here all year, Lindblom should have been up 2 months ago, Myers should be here sometime next season.

When you get the guys like Filp, Lehtera, Weise, AMac, Manning either off the team, or slotted into their capable roles the team is going to look a lot better.

Still need a goalie.

I'm probably in the minority, but I feel the Flyers could be contenders if they brought up their younger players. I would definitely bring up Sanheim right now and I would likely bring up Morin if he got into game shape. I wouldn't rule out Myers either.

They also have some forwards performing well like NAK who could help with secondary scoring. He's been one of the best even strength forwards in the AHL this year in scoring.

I just don't get the coddling of players in their early-mid 20s. If Morin is too weak minded to rebound from a bad outing, then he shouldn't even be playing in the NHL. These kinds need to play and they'll be fine when they make a mistake. They should have been broken in long ago. This idea that the seas will part and Hexy will receive a sign from a god that it's time to play them is such a fallacy. There is no perfect time. You just gotta jump in.

As a fan, I'd rather lose with rookies making mistakes they can learn from than watching MacDonald and Hagg back 40 feet off the blue line.

The only productive thing about playing these sloths on defense for a full season is that some dumb team might talk themselves into taking one of these guys in the offseason. "The Flyers made the playoffs and MacDonald logged a bunch of minutes for them, so he must be a solid player!"
- PhillySportsGuy

I understand your frustration but there is no way that adding 4 or 5 rookies to the lineup with a month to go in the season is going to make this team a contender. None.

Now if you want to argue that Hextall has a tendency to over cook his prospects, I won’t argue with you at all. Lindblom should have been up by mid December and if I were Hextall, I would have forced Hak to play Sanheim by trading Manning. His choice then would have been Sanheim or Alt. Other than that, I don’t see what else he could really do.

Who do you want him to match up against Crosby? They have Crosby and Malkin. We have Coots, a rookie in Patrick and Flip. There is bound to be a mismatch somewhere.
- hereticpride

I match Couts against Crosby, Patrick against Malkin and Laughton against Brassard.

But my bottom 6 looks a bit different.

40-21-17
12-51-20

Crossbar
- VladDrag

If the coach decides to sit Sanheim, what option does he give Hextall other than sending him to the minors?

The fact that this team continues to play Hagg, MacDonald and Manning while a better defenseman is sitting in the minors dominating lesser competition is an indictment of the entire organization.

Putting Ghost and Provorov on the top pair has really shown how much this team relies on them. With both of them away from the anchors, we've seen them flourish as a legitimately great top pair while the leftovers can't even move the puck out of their own zone.
- PhillySportsGuy

what's tough to watch game in and game out is the same guys are costing them night in and night out. I don't ever remember watching a team...any team...role out the same mistake prone guys...game after game...year after year. I understand patience but holy (frank). Hagg is going to make some mistakes, he's young and there's going to be those moments. Some of these other guys that are costing the Flyers are not new to this league but its the same old same old. Yes this team still has a good record...thx in main part to Giroux, Ghost, Vorecek, Coot's all having out of this world years. You add in the young kids who have been given the chance and have run with it...Provorov, Konecny and now Patrick and this team really could be closer then everyone seems to think.

I understand your frustration but there is no way that adding 4 or 5 rookies to the lineup with a month to go in the season is going to make this team a contender. None.

Now if you want to argue that Hextall has a tendency to over cook his prospects, I won’t argue with you at all. Lindblom should have been up by mid December and if I were Hextall, I would have forced Hak to play Sanheim by trading Manning. His choice then would have been Sanheim or Alt. Other than that, I don’t see what else he could really do.
- BiggE

If they were going to sprinkle in some rookies it should have been done through out the year. But it appears the coaching staff and management (for the most part) choose a different path.

edit: I also think Lindblom should have been hear since day 1. Like Patrick I think he needs 20-30 games to get comfortable on the offensive side of the puck. Its not like it would have been and issue on the defensive side of the puck, He's been NHL ready as a two way player since he arrived. I'm actually pretty impressed with his over all game and hopes he's here for the remainder of the year.

Who do you want him to match up against Crosby? They have Crosby and Malkin. We have Coots, a rookie in Patrick and Flip. There is bound to be a mismatch somewhere.

I mean I suppose you could've moved G to Center for a game but that kind of move would end up altering every forward line on the team.
- hereticpride

I had to laugh when I got home and Jonesy and Millbraindead kept saying Patrick was against the Crosby line all night. Ummmmmmmmmmm then how was he + while Filp and Simmer were -.

If the coach decides to sit Sanheim, what option does he give Hextall other than sending him to the minors?

The fact that this team continues to play Hagg, MacDonald and Manning while a better defenseman is sitting in the minors dominating lesser competition is an indictment of the entire organization.

Putting Ghost and Provorov on the top pair has really shown how much this team relies on them. With both of them away from the anchors, we've seen them flourish as a legitimately great top pair while the leftovers can't even move the puck out of their own zone.
- PhillySportsGuy

It's not an indictment on the entire organization. It was an indictment on Sanheim, specifically that he was not better than the other 6 defenseman. More talented does not automatically mean better. He may be better now and if so, they should call him up.

So the team should continue to play two bad defense pairs rather than take a chance on a very talented young Dman? That's sound logic. You seem like a good fit for an NHL front office.
- PhillySportsGuy

No where in my post did I state that the Flyers should not take a chance with Sanheim. Myself and the rest of the NHL front office are not the expert that you are.

Where were you when the Flyers were humming along and racking up wins?

Yeah, Weal is far from their biggest problem, no doubt about it. I wish the guy could bury a chance now and then and had the strength to win a puck battle or 2 but he is what he is.

I’d like to see AMac, Manning and Hägg all replaced by better players but other than Sanheim, right now, who is going to replace them? Morin has pretty much been hurt all year and I don’t think rushing Myers, who has also missed some time, up right now is the answer.

I kind of get what Hextall is doing though it is frustrating. Bringing up any more kids right now isn’t going to magically make them a contender nor will it probably change them from being a team that gets bounced in the first round. Let them try and help the Phantoms make a deep playoff run and perhaps win a championship.

Back in 2005, Richards and Carter both said that winning the AHL title was a great experience. I think some AHL playoff experience will be beneficial for our younger players.

Now all that being said, if Sanheim, Morin and Myers are all healthy next year and playing well, all 3 need to be playing in the NHL.
- BiggE

Well said for the most part although I don't agree on Weal. He simply doesn't make any plays with the puck. If he's not chipping in any offense then he doesn't have much value.

It’s time to do what is needed with Flip. Put Lehterä in his spot, Lehterä actually in the past has played well with skilled players. It can’t be worse than Flip.

It was not Simmonds and Weal, Flip is a disaster

It’s time to do what is needed with Flip. Put Lehterä in his spot, Lehterä actually in the past has played well with skilled players. It can’t be worse than Flip.

It was not Simmonds and Weal, Flip is a disaster
- wcorvette

I thought the next sentence was going to be take him out behind the shed

Not going to harp on the usual suspects contributing to the loss. Disappointing night for sure. Shocked those first few penalties early on were killed off. Why do other teams seem to always build momentum and capitalize off of killing a big penalty yet we rarely see that happen with the flyers?

Can’t win against a team like the penguins if the power play is nonexistent. Looked like we were playing at even strength whenever had the PP.

Not going to harp on the usual suspects contributing to the loss. Disappointing night for sure. Shocked those first few penalties early on were killed off. Why do other teams seem to always build momentum and capitalize off of killing a big penalty yet we rarely see that happen with the flyers?

Can’t win against a team like the penguins if the power play is nonexistent. Looked like we were playing at even strength whenever had the PP.
- IvanBrovorov

The power play last night looked to me like they figured Simmonds was back they could make the pretty plays and score. Rather than just get the puck to the net and try to get rebounds which is Simmonds's bread and butter and what was working with Patrick as part of the PP1 unit.

So it looks like they get the Bruins without Backes/Bergeron/McAvoy and it looks like they might get the Jets without Scheifele

"I don’t know what you guys saw up there, but like I said we’re playing good teams right now that are on top of the standings, with a lot of experience so sometimes it shows that we are not there yet. We are still in the hunt for a spot. Obviously it was a big game today, but we’re still not there, so we gotta make sure we find a way around some points," Voracek said.

- bmeltzer

I dont know whether I love this statement from Voracek or hate it.

So it looks like they get the Bruins without Backes/Bergeron/McAvoy and it looks like they might get the Jets without Scheifele
- YuenglingJagr

No worries. Marchand/Laine gonna light us up like a Christmas tree with the way we've been playing lately.

Filipula treats the puck like a hand grenade with a communicable disease.
From the sublime to the ridiculous.

It's not an indictment on the entire organization. It was an indictment on Sanheim, specifically that he was not better than the other 6 defenseman. More talented does not automatically mean better. He may be better now and if so, they should call him up.
- MJL

Because the organization that had one 10 game losing streak this season and is working on another always makes the correct decision.

It's laughable for anyone to watch the continued struggles of Manning, MacDonald and Hagg and think Sanheim couldn't have helped this team in 2018. He was only the best possession player on the defense.

If the season ended today we'd be picking 14 and 19 so at least there's that.

I say they miss the playoffs.Win the lottery.St.louis finishes with 11th pick.Flyers stanley cup winners in 6 yrs.Everyone happy?