I think that goes to show that it's different for every player and that it is rarely linear. It's ups and downs. Stuff we already know. The only player that really concerns me is Gostisbehere due to the extreme up and down nature of his seasons. It's in his head but we know the ability that he has. With Provorov, I think it's a case of the pressure and responsibilities that he was burdened with as a very young player catching up to him a little bit. He would've been much better off playing a lesser role earlier in his career but the Flyers didn't have much choice.
- MJL

Provorov also got his first serious girlfriend and spends his weekend on island drinking and eating where he used to be one the best conditioned players in hockey

Benching Sanheim so much he had to be sent to the AHL and playing Manning and Hagg ahead of him in the lineup was truly a genius development move by former NHL coach Dave Hakstol.

Sanheim's 18-19 ATOI has jumped from a shamefully low 16:07 under Hak, to 21:22 under Gordon, and the team has benefited accordingly.
- Feanor

Of course what is omitted from your narrative is that Sanheim's play is what dictated his benching and caused him to get sent to the AHL. That Sanheim has progressed to the point he is at now shows that the development hard lessons and tactics used under Hakstol and Hextall as well as other coaches including Gordon, has worked very well. It shows how good the Flyers have been and are in developing young players.

Almost as good as the days when you defended Hak giving Manning, MacDonald and Hagg more ice time than Sanheim.

There really wasn't a single thing Hak did that you thought deserved criticism. Not even using Lehtera as a regular player when he was clearly cooked.
- Feanor

Completely false. Lack of understanding player development on your part.

Of course what is omitted from your narrative is that Sanheim's play is what dictated his benching and caused him to get sent to the AHL. That Sanheim has progressed to the point he is at now shows that the development hard lessons and tactics used under Hakstol and Hextall as well as other coaches including Gordon, has worked very well. It shows how good the Flyers have been and are in developing young players.
- MJL

NAH, they should have just left him out there to be overwhelmed on a nightly basis.

Benching Sanheim so much he had to be sent to the AHL and playing Manning and Hagg ahead of him in the lineup was truly a genius development move by former NHL coach Dave Hakstol.

Sanheim's 18-19 ATOI has jumped from a shamefully low 16:07 under Hak, to 21:22 under Gordon, and the team has benefited accordingly.
- Feanor

Just to clarify, the first paragraph was about when he was recalled last season and was played (sparingly) in just 1 game in a month, correct?

Well, I would say doubtful. He doesn’t have an all-around game...not very physical, doesn’t initiate contact, not a big shot blocker. He could easily be our best offensive defenseman and can play big minutes. Times change but I see the best as having more of an all-around game.
- NC Flyers Fan

In my opinion, Sanheim does have an all around game. There certainly are areas of his game that still need refinement but I would classify him as a two way defenseman.

NAH, they should have just left him out there to be overwhelmed on a nightly basis.
- MBFlyerfan

They recalled him, stuffed him in the press box for a week and a half, let him play low minutes in 1 game, and then stuffed him back in the press box for another 2 and a halfweeks.

But apparently, they did that based on his abysmal play when given low minutes after not playing for over a week. Great way to evaluate a young player, and great player development.

They recalled him, stuffed him in the press box for a week and a half, let him play low minutes in 1 game, and then stuffed him back in the press box for another 2 and a halfweeks.

But apparently, they did that based on his abysmal play when given low minutes after not playing for over a week. Great way to evaluate a young player, and great player development.
- jmatchett383

Game play is not the only situation where a player is evaluated. I'm puzzled by those who can look at where Sanheim was last season to now, and criticize them for how Sanheim as developed.

Game play is not the only situation where a player is evaluated. I'm puzzled by those who can look at where Sanheim was last season to now, and criticize them for how Sanheim as developed.
- MJL

thanks

thanks
- jmatchett383

You're welcome. Pretty clear and obvious that the Flyers have done a strong job in developing Sanheim as a player.

You're welcome. Pretty clear and obvious that the Flyers have done a strong job in developing Sanheim as a player.
- MJL

Nah, he did all that on his own despite the Flyers trying to crush his spirit.

Game play is not the only situation where a player is evaluated. I'm puzzled by those who can look at where Sanheim was last season to now, and criticize them for how Sanheim as developed.
- MJL

Well, maybe if they had let him practice with the team, and be around the team for meetings while learning from veterans on how to be on and off the ice instead of hiding him in a closet all day he would have progressed faster.

Idiot organization I tell ya.

We should focus on the players and coaches on this current team. They are doing so good, but for me it feels so hallow. I e-mailed my Flyers rep and told her I won't be renewing next year. There are multiple reasons, but I just feel betrayed that these players knowingly tanked part of the season because they weren't happy. I'm not happy at my job, but I don't tank my performance to get a new boss.....

As a matter of fact I don't think I have ever been this angry at the Flyers.

thanks
- jmatchett383

Can you expand on that a little

In my opinion, Sanheim does have an all around game. There certainly are areas of his game that still need refinement but I would classify him as a two way defenseman.
- MJL

Certainly, it can change if he “refines” some things. However, I see two-way and all-round as different. I already pointed to some areas, but PK would be another. I see Sanheim having top 4 ability now so it is not as if I don’t think he is good. It’s actually a really awesome thing to think of how good many of the Flyers young defensemen will be. “Best” when I think several will be very good to great is subjective. However, internal competition is good...so I hope Sanheim keeps pushing and this debate of who is the “best” goes back and forth for years.

We should focus on the players and coaches on this current team. They are doing so good, but for me it feels so hallow. I e-mailed my Flyers rep and told her I won't be renewing next year. There are multiple reasons, but I just feel betrayed that these players knowingly tanked part of the season because they weren't happy. I'm not happy at my job, but I don't tank my performance to get a new boss.....

As a matter of fact I don't think I have ever been this angry at the Flyers.
- youarewrong

I get where you're coming from but they didn't purposely tank because they weren't happy.

We should focus on the players and coaches on this current team. They are doing so good, but for me it feels so hallow. I e-mailed my Flyers rep and told her I won't be renewing next year. There are multiple reasons, but I just feel betrayed that these players knowingly tanked part of the season because they weren't happy. I'm not happy at my job, but I don't tank my performance to get a new boss.....

As a matter of fact I don't think I have ever been this angry at the Flyers.
- youarewrong

Uhmmmm where did you pull that information from? Your ass? Flyers didnt tank at all. They just sucked and for several reasons.

1) Provorov struggled
2) PP struggled
3) Pickard was our starting goalie to start the year

Flyers season had nothing to do with who coached or GM. Whether they are happy or not is not known to us but the fact that they got no goaltending to start the season killed them. The team itself isnt playing much better. They still mismanage the puck, they still get caught in their own end often and they still fail clearing the zone. Everything about the start of the season is still there. The difference was Hart and a healthy Elliott. You can also add removing Lehtera and Weise the list but to me that is a minor change.

This team would have still gone on this streak with Hakstol.

Certainly, it can change if he “refines” some things. However, I see two-way and all-round as different. I already pointed to some areas, but PK would be another. I see Sanheim having top 4 ability now so it is not as if I don’t think he is good. It’s actually a really awesome thing to think of how good many of the Flyers young defensemen will be. “Best” when I think several will be very good to great is subjective. However, internal competition is good...so I hope Sanheim keeps pushing and this debate of who is the “best” goes back and forth for years.
- NC Flyers Fan

I don't think there is any doubt that Sanheim will play on the PK in the future. You referenced block shots earlier. On the season, Haag leads with 128, Provorov with 117, Gudas with 109 and Sanheim with 107.

Uhmmmm where did you pull that information from? Your ass? Flyers didnt tank at all. They just sucked and for several reasons.

1) Provorov struggled
2) PP struggled
3) Pickard was our starting goalie to start the year

Flyers season had nothing to do with who coached or GM. Whether they are happy or not is not known to us but the fact that they got no goaltending to start the season killed them. The team itself isnt playing much better. They still mismanage the puck, they still get caught in their own end often and they still fail clearing the zone. Everything about the start of the season is still there. The difference was Hart and a healthy Elliott. You can also add removing Lehtera and Weise the list but to me that is a minor change.

This team would have still gone on this streak with Hakstol.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I don't know where to start....

You should watch more hockey if you truly believe the same issues you mention are not happening on other teams, especially the winning teams.

If the Flyers can go 17-4-2 in the last 23 games while playing the same hockey they played earlier in the year where they were a dumpster fire then the NHL needs to shut down immediately. That means other teams are HORRIBLE.

I don't think there is any doubt that Sanheim will play on the PK in the future. You referenced block shots earlier. On the season, Haag leads with 128, Provorov with 117, Gudas with 109 and Sanheim with 107.
- MJL

Blocked shots are bad according to the analytic brainchildren. Blocking a shot means the other team has possession and if the other team has possession that means all players on the ice are bad.

We talk about Frost but Farabee is pretty skilled


https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1102046708718923776

Is it possible the Myers turns into our best defenseman?
- bulet13

Maybe!

I don't know where to start....

You should watch more hockey if you truly believe the same issues you mention are not happening on other teams, especially the winning teams.

If the Flyers can go 17-4-2 in the last 23 games while playing the same hockey they played earlier in the year where they were a dumpster fire then the NHL needs to shut down immediately. That means other teams are HORRIBLE.
- Glak18

He contradicts himself there but I think his basic point is correct for the most part. Lot of the same issues are still there but a lot has also been improved, mostly the goaltending.

I don't know where to start....

You should watch more hockey if you truly believe the same issues you mention are not happening on other teams, especially the winning teams.

If the Flyers can go 17-4-2 in the last 23 games while playing the same hockey they played earlier in the year where they were a dumpster fire then the NHL needs to shut down immediately. That means other teams are HORRIBLE.
- Glak18

I do watch hockey, I have watched almost every single game this year. They arent playing that good. The difference right now is that they are capitalizing on their chances and they are getting saves. They still spend a majority of time in their own end like I stated, they are still often skating around in their own end lost, they are still turning pucks over in their zone, they still allow too many shorthanded scoring chances and they still allow too many odd man rushes\breakaways.

They Flyers have always been getting scoring chances, they had trouble burying them. Go back to the start of the season and you will see high shots for the flyers. They still arent playing well, they are just getting the needed support they werent getting from their goalies at the start.

The detroit game is a perfect example. They were dominated by a weak Red Wings team and won because Hart stole the game. Elliot has done the same thing. We are winning because we are getting big saves.

Can you expand on that a little
- wcorvette

Absolutely, but I won't.