Probably an unpopular opinion but would you sit Simmonds for the outdoor game if he is your biggest trade chip? If your not re-signing him, is it worth it to risk a possible injury?
- J35Bacher

Absolutely not.

I would say Moose has definitely upped his trade value over the past two games.
- MBFlyerfan

Give him the start Saturday

How many coaches does it take before people finally come to the conclusion that the issue is not coaching?
- MJL

Agree 100%. They need a shakeup in the worst way. I’m happy with the kids, but this core has demonstrated enough times that they are not even playoff worthy. Compete levels are too varied from game to game. That’s sad for a team like Philly who has a long history of putting competitive teams on the ice season after season. The last 7 seasons have been hard to watch. Always slow starts to the season, having to climb out of a hole in January to have a sniff at the playoffs. Get rid of the guys that don’t want to play 60-minute hockey, and go after more guys that will backcheck willingly. I know it won’t be easy to get decent returns for some of these guys due to their inconsistent play and/or contracts, but do something with this core to make them give a s h i t again.

Absolutely not.
- MJL

Why not?

He is your biggest chip this trade deadline. Is it really worth the risk? Your the one who talks about looking toward next years team with your moves.

I heard the wisest thing...Elliot comes back and the team goes back to playing the way they did in the first few months of the season...ALL of the team.

Provorov looks sloppy
Hart looks sloppy
Ghost is sloppy

But Elliot, he's a battler...

Agree 100%. They need a shakeup in the worst way. I’m happy with the kids, but this core has demonstrated enough times that they are not even playoff worthy. Compete levels are too varied from game to game. That’s sad for a team like Philly who has a long history of putting competitive teams on the ice season after season. The last 7 seasons have been hard to watch. Always slow starts to the season, having to climb out of a hole in January to have a sniff at the playoffs. Get rid of the guys that don’t want to play 60-minute hockey, and go after more guys that will backcheck willingly. I know it won’t be easy to get decent returns for some of these guys due to their inconsistent play and/or contracts, but do something with this core to make them give a s h i t again.
- dramado

I have been on board for trading Jake this summer to shake things up. I just don’t see them doing it.

Why not?

He is your biggest chip this trade deadline. Is it really worth the risk? Your the one who talks about looking toward next years team with your moves.
- J35Bacher

There is a hockey game. He is a hockey player. He plays. Your last comment is ridiculous.

Agree 100%. They need a shakeup in the worst way. I’m happy with the kids, but this core has demonstrated enough times that they are not even playoff worthy. Compete levels are too varied from game to game. That’s sad for a team like Philly who has a long history of putting competitive teams on the ice season after season. The last 7 seasons have been hard to watch. Always slow starts to the season, having to climb out of a hole in January to have a sniff at the playoffs. Get rid of the guys that don’t want to play 60-minute hockey, and go after more guys that will backcheck willingly. I know it won’t be easy to get decent returns for some of these guys due to their inconsistent play and/or contracts, but do something with this core to make them give a s h i t again.
- dramado

Well there is going to be a shake up.

Simmonds is most likely gone at the TDL. I don't think it is out of the question that Voracek could be shopped at the draft.

That's two big core parts that could be moved.

I heard the wisest thing...Elliot comes back and the team goes back to playing the way they did in the first few months of the season...ALL of the team.

Provorov looks sloppy
Hart looks sloppy
Ghost is sloppy

But Elliot, he's a battler...
- wbon22

Which goaltender started the game last night? How did they play right off the bat?

There is a hockey game. He is a hockey player. He plays. Your last comment is ridiculous.
- MJL

There is a hockey game.

He is an asset. After Monday he will no longer be a Flyer.

I have to do what is best for the Flyers. Not Wayne Simmonds.

Last comment is not ridiculous. You have said many times about they need to make moves geared to next year. You talk about firing Hextall was wrong because he had a plan for the future. Well if the plan doesn't included Wayne Simmonds after Monday, I fail to see the pros in him playing Saturday.

There is a hockey game.

He is an asset. After Monday he will no longer be a Flyer.

I have to do what is best for the Flyers. Not Wayne Simmonds.

Last comment is not ridiculous. You have said many times about they need to make moves geared to next year. You talk about firing Hextall was wrong because he had a plan for the future. Well if the plan doesn't included Wayne Simmonds after Monday, I fail to see the pros in him playing Saturday.
- J35Bacher

You know right well that sitting Simmonds for the game does not fall under the context of making moves geared for next season that I was referring to. Seriously!


Unless there is an agreed upon trade in place just waiting for some details to be cleaned up or a trade call, then I would play Simmonds.

You dont dare sit simmer. I would be irate as a fan. He will be fine.

Goalie I got no clue who to start.

Why not?

He is your biggest chip this trade deadline. Is it really worth the risk? Your the one who talks about looking toward next years team with your moves.
- J35Bacher

Then trade him before the game. If he's still on the team, play him.

This is like saying, if they were 13 points out 2 weeks ago, you should sit him for 2 weeks to not let him get hurt.

Edit: Gudas is a UFA after next season. Let's not play him for the next 12 months, we don't want him to get hurt and lose all value.

You dont dare sit simmer. I would be irate as a fan. He will be fine.

Goalie I got no clue who to start.
- Tfaehner

Hart. Hasn't looked good the last 2 starts, but I'd give him the nod. Get used to playing Pittsburgh on a big stage.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Mauled in Montreal, 5-1
- bmeltzer

Nothing changes. Stick to the plan. Hart will work his way out of this funk. Teams are starting to get a detailed scouting report on him. He'll be okay. That third goal was fluky but the same complaint I've had about Elliott, Nuevy, Pickard, etc. They seem to be in position but puck still gets through.

We were flatfooted most of the 1st. Too tentative. Hart wasn't able to keep us in it this time (and last time). Up until TB, Hart has been the difference.

We still have holes. Even when we were winning, we had the same holes. Nothing has changed. Last 2 games we did not get the saves needed to make up for our turnovers and poor d.

I did think Myers looks like he belongs. Moves really well for a taller d man.

Then trade him before the game. If he's still on the team, play him.

This is like saying, if they were 13 points out 2 weeks ago, you should sit him for 2 weeks to not let him get hurt.
- jmatchett383

Two weeks ago is different then 2 days before TDL.

Two weeks ago maybe they are still talking about a possible deal to re sign him.

I am just saying, I might hold him out. I said it would be unpopular.

Agree 100%. They need a shakeup in the worst way. I’m happy with the kids, but this core has demonstrated enough times that they are not even playoff worthy. Compete levels are too varied from game to game. That’s sad for a team like Philly who has a long history of putting competitive teams on the ice season after season. The last 7 seasons have been hard to watch. Always slow starts to the season, having to climb out of a hole in January to have a sniff at the playoffs. Get rid of the guys that don’t want to play 60-minute hockey, and go after more guys that will backcheck willingly. I know it won’t be easy to get decent returns for some of these guys due to their inconsistent play and/or contracts, but do something with this core to make them give a s h i t again.
- dramado

I've been saying this for a while now. This core has some problems with playing consistently. If its not 10 game losing streaks followed by 10 game winning streaks, its a losing road record, or terrible 5-on-5 play. No matter who is coaching or GMing these problems have been there.

IMO this all started after the Carter/Richards trade. The "Core" that can be linked back to all these issues are Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, and Simmonds. Giroux is your captain, on a NMC, and is your best players so you can't move him. Couturier is your best option at center on an already weak center squad. He would also be very difficult to move.

That leaves Simmonds and Voracek. Obviously Simmonds is already on his way out just because of the contract, but I hopr this helps epople see that we don't want or need to resign him. Voracek however is a bit more difficult. I would take this time to move on from him and get either Duchene, Stone, or Panarin and try and resign them. At least that will reset half the "Core".

There is a hockey game. He is a hockey player. He plays. Your last comment is ridiculous.
- MJL

Why are you so condescending? Does it make you feel better?

Two weeks ago is different then 2 days before TDL.

Two weeks ago maybe they are still talking about a possible deal to re sign him.

I am just saying, I might hold him out. I said it would be unpopular.
- J35Bacher

I wouldn't say it's unpopular, I just think it's unnecessary.

Assuming a team is out of the playoff hunt with an impending UFA, what is the magic number of days/games before the TDL that you'd sit him out? Two days? A week? 2 games? 3 games?

As long as he's part of the roster, and you're not finalizing a trade deal, he plays.

Why are you so condescending? Does it make you feel better?
- youarewrong

He doesn't want to present reasons, he just wants to tell people why they're all stupid and he's so smart.

I disagree with sitting Simmonds for the game, but I'll at least try to give reasons and not call the guy names.

I've been saying this for a while now. This core has some problems with playing consistently. If its not 10 game losing streaks followed by 10 game winning streaks, its a losing road record, or terrible 5-on-5 play. No matter who is coaching or GMing these problems have been there.

IMO this all started after the Carter/Richards trade. The "Core" that can be linked back to all these issues are Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, and Simmonds. Giroux is your captain, on a NMC, and is your best players so you can't move him. Couturier is your best option at center on an already weak center squad. He would also be very difficult to move.

That leaves Simmonds and Voracek. Obviously Simmonds is already on his way out just because of the contract, but I hopr this helps epople see that we don't want or need to resign him. Voracek however is a bit more difficult. I would take this time to move on from him and get either Duchene, Stone, or Panarin and try and resign them. At least that will reset half the "Core".
- youarewrong

I'm not against moving Voracek. But if they're trading Voracek for one of them, I'd ask for permission to talk to the player prior to the trade to see about an extension. No reason to move him for a month+ rental when they're out of the chase.

I wouldn't say it's unpopular, I just think it's unnecessary.

Assuming a team is out of the playoff hunt with an impending UFA, what is the magic number of days/games before the TDL that you'd sit him out? Two days? A week? 2 games? 3 games?

As long as he's part of the roster, and you're not finalizing a trade deal, he plays.
- jmatchett383

You know there is no exact days or time frame. But what's the benefit of playing him tomorrow night in a game that is not like other games.

If he is my biggest trade chip this deadline, I don't see the pro's that make me feel I need to play him compared to the possibility of something happening tomorrow night.

You know right well that sitting Simmonds for the game does not fall under the context of making moves geared for next season that I was referring to. Seriously!


Unless there is an agreed upon trade in place just waiting for some details to be cleaned up or a trade call, then I would play Simmonds.
- MJL

Agreed. This is one of those things that has 2 different philosophies of thought. It is not that there is not an argument for holding a player out for trade. It is just that under this circumstance and most circumstances with a player of Simmonds caliber, I would not hold him out unless the trade was being finalized.

If you look around, there are GMs that don’t think this way. And it bothers me, but the other thinking is out there.

Any mention of playoffs will be flagged. Post accordingly.

Well there is going to be a shake up.

Simmonds is most likely gone at the TDL. I don't think it is out of the question that Voracek could be shopped at the draft.

That's two big core parts that could be moved.
- J35Bacher

These are the two I'm most looking to have out of here. Simmonds seems like he doesn't give a crap anymore. I'm sure the trade talk has to be messing with his play, along with his rehabilitation from injury last year.
Voracek is probably my biggest problem with the core. When guys like him are paid what they are, and are supposed to be leaders, they will play a large part in the team attitude. Watching him skate hard whenever there's even a small chance at scoring, but then coasting back when we're in trouble defensively is frustrating to say the least. Find a way to move that contract out of town, and pick up some guys that will care about playing hard for 60 minutes.