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?
- MJL

I believe he was right here, saying it was unsustainable due to a variety of puzzling personnel decisions that would eventually prove to be the team's undoing.

Additionally, with all of our depth why can't we seem to have a AHL goalie come up and have confidence to play him.
Pitts MAF goes down in comes murrfy
murry down now this kid Jerry steps up to stone us....
Um we can't have nice things or our nice things will never rise to occassion and be ready for prime time?

Additionally, with all of our depth why can't we seem to have a AHL goalie come up and have confidence to play him.
Pitts MAF goes down in comes murrfy
murry down now this kid Jerry steps up to stone us....
Um we can't have nice things or our nice things will never rise to occassion and be ready for prime time?
- Konalover

Lingering effects of the Holmgren era. Hextall has done a great job stocking the goalie pipeline but it takes a significant amount of time for those guys to develop.

It's a bummer that Stolarz has missed so much time because he should really be the guy in line to be a decent 2nd backup option at this point.

Additionally, with all of our depth why can't we seem to have a AHL goalie come up and have confidence to play him.
Pitts MAF goes down in comes murrfy
murry down now this kid Jerry steps up to stone us....
Um we can't have nice things or our nice things will never rise to occassion and be ready for prime time?
- Konalover

Lyon should play tonight.

Just tired of watching the same guys cost the team games night in and night out. I am down with the way they are building the team. I think it is the right way.

Just think more could have been done to improve this team for this final stretch. They have three defensemen that should not be playing big minutes. One is a rookie so I am fine with him learning on the job. They have three forwards that are close to useless at this point. All three are vets that should not be getting regular shifts.

It is what it is right now. It sure is frustrating.

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

That was a clinic on how to handle our PP. Fast pressure and puck support. Wow I had PK envy.

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.
- Feanor

this is accurate....yes, sit him the odd game, to catch his breath when he seems to be getting overwhelmed. But in the end I firmly believe had we lived with some of those miscue's we would probably have a deeper more talented D core with Sanheim on it today. Your know what you get with Manning and Macdonald.

Lyon should play tonight.
- dragonoffrost

Hope he makes B's look as bad as Jerry did us last night.

That was a clinic on how to handle our PP. Fast pressure and puck support. Wow I had PK envy.
- Konalover

Our PK was aggressive last night. It actually didn't look that bad.

That game came down to one matchup and that matchup was way lopsided.

Looking forward to Stepford Sam's take.....

Lingering effects of the Holmgren era. Hextall has done a great job stocking the goalie pipeline but it takes a significant amount of time for those guys to develop.

It's a bummer that Stolarz has missed so much time because he should really be the guy in line to be a decent 2nd backup option at this point.
- hereticpride

Had Stolarz stayed healthy he probably would have had the first chance to be "the guy" ....now others have caught him...Frankly both Hart and Sandstrom have more upside, but they are younger. Not sure what they have in Lyon.

Lingering effects of the Holmgren era. Hextall has done a great job stocking the goalie pipeline but it takes a significant amount of time for those guys to develop.

It's a bummer that Stolarz has missed so much time because he should really be the guy in line to be a decent 2nd backup option at this point.
- hereticpride

I do doubt they would've traded for Mrazek if Stolarz were healthy. He should be playing soon though

It’s frustrating that this team does not seem to adapt their approach when facing superior talent. It’s Hak’s emotionless way or the highway basically.

Obviously it’d be foolish to expect the team to play like the Lavi era groups did against the Pens years ago, but why not try to emulate that to some degree last night? Oh yeah, we saw it when there was 0.0 left on the clock and a 5-2 score...

Not saying they should take unnecessary penalties but at least push the envelope a tad.

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

It’s frustrating that this team does not seem to adapt their approach when facing superior talent. It’s Hak’s emotionless way or the highway basically.

Obviously it’d be foolish to expect the team to play like the Lavi era groups did against the Pens years ago, but why not try to emulate that to some degree last night? Oh yeah, we saw it when there was 0.0 left on the clock and a 5-2 score...

Not saying they should take unnecessary penalties but at least push the envelope a tad.
- IvanBrovorov

I agree. The lack of emotion is concerning. The Pens are two time defending champs. Got to get after them in anyway possible.

I also thought the refs were terrible in the first period. Took a lot of wind out of this game with ticky tack calls. 7 penalties in the first? Just two or three the rest of the way.

I also thought the refs were terrible in the first period. Took a lot of wind out of this game with ticky tack calls. 7 penalties in the first? Just two or three the rest of the way.
- mickel25

The call on Hagg was dumb. They blew the whistle immediately when Lehtera still had the puck after being tripped, which prevented them from killing time off the 5v4 advantage the Pens had. I haven't seen a replay, but did Lindblom even hit the guy with his stick at the end of the first?

The call on Hagg was dumb. They blew the whistle immediately when Lehtera still had the puck after being tripped, which prevented them from killing time off the 5v4 advantage the Pens had. I haven't seen a replay, but did Lindblom even hit the guy with his stick at the end of the first?
- YuenglingJagr

To me it seemed like the refs were out to limit the emotion of this game. I think almost all of those calls were judgement calls which I don't have a problem with. I do have a problem with the whistles being swallowed basically for the rest of the game. Let them play. Physical play is entertaining.

Lyon should play tonight.
- dragonoffrost

Going to see them tonight in Boston. Really worried that I am going to witness a beat down as we're in a big slump. I think we'll need mrazek to steal one but he hasn't been making that big momentum save of late. Just praying for a miracle to stay close tonight.

Some thoughts:

- This team is a little ahead of where they should be. Let's be honest. But they are also in a spot they need to capitalize on. I was ok with Hextall not throwing out a huge package for a rental but i do think he could have explored something for a 3rd line center. Kind of why i think Simmonds could be moved in the offseason for maybe a youngish vet 3rd line center. I know the Flyers have some depth(Vorobryev, Frost, Rubtsov, Vecchione, Laughton) Just not sure any of them are sure fire guys to produce next year. I do like Vorobryev's game and the size has has and skills. Frost looks like a find but will need a huge camp to earn a spot next season.

- There is no way they will bring up Myers, Morin and Sanheim for a playoff run. We all know they have more talent then guys like MacDonald, Gudas and Manning but it just isn't happening this year.

- This team is a bubble team. There will be these highs and lows. i actually find it pretty exciting they are even where they are right now.

- Next season you lose Filppula, Read, Manning for sure as all are UFAs. Maybe Manning is brought back to be 6/7 swing man. But more youth will be in the lineup again.

- As much as I want to push things forward i still have to take a step back at times and realize this team is probably a little ahead of schedule and not totally ready yet.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Surge, Then Tumble in 5-2 Loss to Pens
- bmeltzer

We're getting average goaltending. I'm concerned about that glove hand. We're getting even worse defense. Hagg, Manning. What the hell!?

Going to see them tonight in Boston. Really worried that I am going to witness a beat down as we're in a big slump. I think we'll need mrazek to steal one but he hasn't been making that big momentum save of late. Just praying for a miracle to stay close tonight.
- Hextall271

I'm headed to the game as well. Is Lyon going to start?

Going to see them tonight in Boston. Really worried that I am going to witness a beat down as we're in a big slump. I think we'll need mrazek to steal one but he hasn't been making that big momentum save of late. Just praying for a miracle to stay close tonight.
- Hextall271

I actually think they win.

I think it could be interesting with two super pests in Marchand and Konecny going at it. Konecy's game is growing so much. If he can become our Marchand, just hope he doesn't cross the line too much, it would be huge going forward. Especially if he could be a PK guy with his skills.

I really wish this team would just shoot the damn puck instead of trying to make difficult passes. Shoot the damn puck and go to the net. Giroux passed up a prime chance to make a low percentage pass. Sure had it connected it was a tap in for (I think) TK but just take the shot.

this team is simply a two line team. Actually I am fine with the 4th line for the most also I liked the Leier-Laughton-Raffl line from earlier this season. They need to upgrade the third line. Weal has been a big disappointment. i wanted him re-signed and I do believe it was the right call per se (worth signing cause the cap hit isn't bad) but outside of his work on the boards and protecting the puck he has not been good enough. Filppula - just meh. I believe teams need 3 good lines to compete for a cup and a 4th line that creates energy and chips in some goals here and there.

Honestly no shock in the sense we saw a borderline playoff team coming into the season and that is what we have but being so close to first its still frustrating

(frank) Oleksiak for that knee on Voracek

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

See, that is not totally true. the first two lines have produced. the bottom 6 is the issue. I'm fine with Laughton and Raffl for the most part. Weal and Filppula have both been a problem. Lehtera is meh but he is on the 4th line anyway. the 3rd line has to be better for this team to win consistently IMHO.