You mean he's trying to get more scoring depth throughout the lineup?

C'mon, we have to despise Hakstol.
- MJL

i'm sorry but I do. Didn't start that way. didn't even enter this season that way. Hakstol has gotten me to this point. Do I think he has made some good decisions? of course. Lehtera at center? just no. my biggest complaint is to continue to throw Manning/Gudas out there game in and out. they have been terrible. But hey Hagg doesn't have chemistry with Gudas. Has he watched manning/Gudas? (rhetorical so please don't respond) Gudas has been god awful. that pairing has not been good. the fact they got 20 mins the last game blows my mind.

28 14 12
54 19 93
11 51 17
21 15 24

Tonight’s lines

Laughton in, Weal out

Raffl with Couts and G
TK with Filp
- Marc D

Why is Konecny demoted

Why

Why

Why
Why
Why
Why
Y
Why

Just got word, due to the obviously stupid lineup decisions by an incompetent coach, the game has been cancelled and the victory and two points awarded to Carolina. No reason to play the game.
- MJL

dude, really? come on. just stop. this is stupid and you know I have no issue with you normally

i'm sorry but I do. Didn't start that way. didn't even enter this season that way. Hakstol has gotten me to this point. Do I think he has made some good decisions? of course. Lehtera at center? just no. my biggest complaint is to continue to throw Manning/Gudas out there game in and out. they have been terrible. But hey Hagg doesn't have chemistry with Gudas. Has he watched manning/Gudas? (rhetorical so please don't respond) Gudas has been god awful. that pairing has not been good. the fact they got 20 mins the last game blows my mind.
- nastyflyergirl

What do we know though? We're not NHL coaches.

agreed but Tk is the one player who can create O on his own, while Coots and G can still plug away and hope Raffle locks down the D

I dont like it but I can see why, just not the last game of the year
- wcorvette

Any offense he created ends once his linemates touch the puck so

i'm sorry but I do. Didn't start that way. didn't even enter this season that way. Hakstol has gotten me to this point. Do I think he has made some good decisions? of course. Lehtera at center? just no. my biggest complaint is to continue to throw Manning/Gudas out there game in and out. they have been terrible. But hey Hagg doesn't have chemistry with Gudas. Has he watched manning/Gudas? (rhetorical so please don't respond) Gudas has been god awful. that pairing has not been good. the fact they got 20 mins the last game blows my mind.
- nastyflyergirl

If you're finding this funny, wait until the Flyers give up another crushing late goal with Hakstol's Heroes on the ice. It will be a regular laugh riot.
- Feanor

I am finding it funny. Pontificating know-it-alls make me laugh.

Lethera is a big body and makes sense against the canes, didnt against the Isles.
- wcorvette

Weal has been a disappointment for most of the year with the good games here and there. I'm fine with him being scratched. I just don't like Lehtera centering that line.

Perhaps months?
- BiggE

Nice

I'll give Hak credit, I don't think his job was even a little in danger, doing this and if it fails, those percentages go up a good bit.
- wcorvette

I don't see Hakstol in any jeopardy regardless of what happens from here on out.

Why is Konecny demoted

Why

Why

Why
Why
Why
Why
Y
Why
- Giroux_Is_God

When it's the 3rd period and the Flyers need goals hopefully Varsit throws him out for a couple of shifts in Raffl's stead.

When it's the 3rd period and the Flyers need goals hopefully Varsit throws him out for a couple of shifts in Raffl's stead.
- Pixote Andolini

Right.

Regarding Hagg, do we even know if he’s healthy enough to play?

I mean if he’s injured, what is the point of bemoaning Manning Gudas pair?

The coach isn’t going to split the other pairs but I guess that is the argument you can make if Hagg is not available.

i'm sorry but I do. Didn't start that way. didn't even enter this season that way. Hakstol has gotten me to this point. Do I think he has made some good decisions? of course. Lehtera at center? just no. my biggest complaint is to continue to throw Manning/Gudas out there game in and out. they have been terrible. But hey Hagg doesn't have chemistry with Gudas. Has he watched manning/Gudas? (rhetorical so please don't respond) Gudas has been god awful. that pairing has not been good. the fact they got 20 mins the last game blows my mind.
- nastyflyergirl

Hakstol's performance this season has been overwhelmingly on the positive side. The coach can only play the players he has. Hagg played the entire season before getting hurt. What is a possible reason why he remains out?

Looking at the big picture overall, I don't see a legitimate reason to not like Hakstol as a coach.

What do we know though? We're not NHL coaches.
- Pixote Andolini

This is true. The coach also has analytics and information that we are not aware of.

I know a few people who have seen the book. Their faces melted off like Belloq in Raiders of the Lost Ark when they opened the Ark of the Covenant.

Regarding Hagg, do we even know if he’s healthy enough to play?

I mean if he’s injured, what is the point of bemoaning Manning Gudas pair?

The coach isn’t going to split the other pairs but I guess that is the argument you can make if Hagg is not available.
- Marc D

I have very little doubt he is healthy enough

Bill's probably too entertained by this comment thread to post another blog to be honest.

No point getting worked up over line changes:

1. If it’s not working early, he’ll probably just switch em back

2. I’m more concerned about our horrid 3rd D pair playing in front of a rusty goalie
and

3. Hak doesn’t give a (frank) what we think
- BiggE

Totally agree. Just not sweating a lineup change after a loss.

Don't see it as a big deal.
- MJL

The Philadelphia Flyers command you to jump off the Walt Whitman Bridge. Don't forget they are never wrong.

I have very little doubt he is healthy enough
- YuenglingJagr

How do you know this?

Bill's probably too entertained by this comment thread to post another blog to be honest.
- ajw12

He's going over it with a fine-toothed comb to ensure that there are no typos.

I think where they are, with a chance to make the playoffs, is a huge credit to Giroux, mainly.

PK has been awful. Goaltending inconsistent and below average. PP just average. Third D pair and bottom 6 forwards, not so good.

G has pushed them all year.
Bill was right, he should be in top 3 for Hart.
Taylor Hall should win because NJ has been good with maybe less to work with than the Flyers.

The coach has made some line up decisions that are controversial but he has to work with what he’s got.
- Marc D

Under any scenario, I don't mind Hak returning next year. I still am not a fan, and don't believe he is the right coach once the team is a contender, but I think I can keep a relatively open mind for one more year. I think this roster is a lot better than most though, and its not like Hak doesn't have a lot to work with. Go back 3 years and its night and day. No roster is going to be perfect in this salary cap era. Maximizing what you have is on the coach.

Hak has been better this year admittedly. Last year, I would have pegged him as one of the 5 worst coaches in the NHL. This year, he's been about average, but most NHL coaches in general are bad IMO. I won't go into detail with this cause it'll piss off the dinosaurs.

I will be irate if Lappy isn't fired though. Long overdue.

Under an scenario, I don't mind Hak returning next year. I still am not a fan, and don't believe he is the right coach once the team is a contender, but I think I can keep a relatively open mind for one more year.

I will be irate if Lappy isn't fired though. Long overdue.
- JFlyers00

The jury is still out on if Hakstol is the right coach for a contender, but I have no doubt that he is the right coach for now.

I'd like to see a change with the assistant in that spot but I think it's quite possible the Flyers don't see the PK as a coaching issue.

I am finding it funny. Pontificating know-it-alls make me laugh.
- Scoob

I'm finding this whole thread to be absolutely hilarious.


Another thing that amuses me: Several weeks back I snarkily asked the question (after the Flyers had lost a few games in a row) whether or not the Flyers were a borderline playoff team again. Bill took me to task over that... and yet, here we are with two games left in the season, and guess what? The Flyers are a borderline playoff team.

The reasons for this are many and varied, but it is what it is. (I hate that phrase, but sometimes...)

Hakstol's performance this season has been overwhelmingly on the positive side. The coach can only play the players he has. Hagg played the entire season before getting hurt. What is a possible reason why he remains out?

Looking at the big picture overall, I don't see a legitimate reason to not like Hakstol as a coach.
- MJL

Hakstol has said he does not like Hagg's chemistry with Gudas. those were his comments. Gudas was ridiculously bad the last game and has been for a good while. that pairing is bad. I'm not a Gudas or manning hater at all but they are BAD. I still can't wrap my head around them getting 20 mins of ice the last game as bad as they were, esp Gudas. I get the right hand shot thing but how can you continue to throw them out there? change it up