Jay Greenberg: Flyers' Search for the Right Guys Need Not Extend to the Bench.

Farabee will likely make the team next year. He is a more well rounded player than konecny when he broke in with a high skill level to boot.

Regardless of the January to March success. Fletcher better do his due diligence and run a proper coach search

Dear Mr. Greenberg,

Thank you for writing this Flyers blog today. I am very much in agreement.

Best Wishes,

NC

to say wayne will play better next year simply isnt true.

Farabee will likely make the team next year. He is a more well rounded player than konecny when he broke in with a high skill level to boot.

Regardless of the January to March success. Fletcher better do his due diligence and run a proper coach search
- Just5

I doubt Farabee makes the Flyers next season, at least not out of camp. Later in the second, perhaps.

So he's going to pull a Carter? I'm ok with that. If he makes the team out of camp, then it's either 1) because his camp was lights-out ridiculous, and/or 2) out of necessity because Fletcher has a poor summer.

I completely agree on Trouba. I've thought for months that he would be an ideal acquisition for the Flyers D. It's hard to tell what desire/ability the Jets have to keep him but if they would trade him, I'm sure they prefer it be to a team in the East. They will need to shell out big money for Leine and Conner as well as other pieces. He may need to be sacrificed. I also recall some friction between him and Jets management a couple of years ago.

Make it happen Fletch!

Jay Greenberg: Flyers' Search for the Right Guys Need Not Extend to the Bench.
- Jay Greenberg

Jay, great post. Great insight.

Was that all the Patrick incident was? Just a coach trying to tell him his mistake and he fired back? They have moved on? No lingering effects?

The Flyers won some games when Gordon first arrived, but they still made a LOT of bad plays. I would rather see Gordon go and bring in another coach. No matter who gets the coaching Job, I just hope they let the new coach pick his own bench coaches and not be saddled with Lappy and the other bench coaches?

Well said, Jay!! I’m not opposed to bringing back Gordon as coach, but I’d definitely interview the candidates still available. This is what the GM gets paid for. Don’t screw it up, Felch! Other than that, I’m on board with all points in this blog.

The Flyers won some games when Gordon first arrived, but they still made a LOT of bad plays. I would rather see Gordon go and bring in another coach. No matter who gets the coaching Job, I just hope they let the new coach pick his own bench coaches and not be saddled with Lappy and the other bench coaches?
- Thors-Hammer

I agree completely. Gordo and assts had 50 games and I see no improvement in slow starts, no successful breakout of our own end, very sloppy D. It has to be fixed NOW. Get a bona fide coach AND staff. This D coach is terrible.

I don't think Trouba fits what Fletchers looking for. He said he wants an experienced veteran defenseman. To me, if there going to trade for one, it would be Spurgeon. Trouba is 25, whereas Spurgeon is going to be 30 this year, and has more experience.

I don't think Trouba fits what Fletchers looking for. He said he wants an experienced veteran defenseman. To me, if there going to trade for one, it would be Spurgeon. Trouba is 25, whereas Spurgeon is going to be 30 this year, and has more experience.
- dag12

Trouba has only played 183 (591 vs 408) fewer games than Spurgeon and is 5 years younger. To me, the difference in experience would not deter me at all. Now, if the acquisition cost is much lower to get Spurgeon, maybe that's the better route to go. He is certainly a good option. With everything being equal though, I'd to with Trouba. He's not even really in his prime yet and just finished probably his best year as a pro.

I don't think Trouba fits what Fletchers looking for. He said he wants an experienced veteran defenseman. To me, if there going to trade for one, it would be Spurgeon. Trouba is 25, whereas Spurgeon is going to be 30 this year, and has more experience.
- dag12

Trouba, at this point, is a young vet (400+ games in the NHL). He qualifies as an experienced D-man.

I like what Gordon said about sustaining pressure in the offensive zone as a means to improve the defense. However, there is something more fundamental about the issue.

It is difficult to sustain a forecheck when a majority of your zone entries are dump-ins to allow a line change due to struggling to get the puck out of your own zone the previous 90 seconds.

I am not sure whether it is system, buy-in or speed related. My instinct is telling me it is related to team speed. There were too many times at five on five that they looked as though they were on a passive penalty kill. It was worse when the flu was wreaking havoc, but it was a problem the entire season.

Also, on defensive dump-ins, the weak side winger was never consistently in position. While not always the best option for the defenseman, it should be one considered moderately safe with the expectation that the winger will be there for a worst case puck battle.

Nolan Patrick needs to be reminded that he was the 2nd pick OVERALL and to play "hard" each shift. While he is responsible defensively, I don't get the sense he is going all out, all of the time. He needs to trust his shot more. His junior highlights showed him popping water bottles off the top of the net from 20-25 feet out. Those type of shots go in at the NHL level, too. He is strong enough on his skates to drive toward the net, with and without the puck, more often. Force the other team to stop him. There was a game during the run when the team was either behind or had just tied the game, when he had a chance near the goal mouth very late and he put it over the net out of play. Frustrated when he came off, he broke his stick in the runway. When he got his shift in OT, he played possessed and scored the winner. He needs to "Waterboy" that moment and use it every shift.

Incredible write-up.

Both the Blow It up and Stay The Course camps have something to glean from your POV.

There is a middle ground and let's hope that Fletcher successfully navigates that tight rope this summer.

@^ BLOW HALF OF IT UP

Spurgeon is way better than Trouba though...getting Spurgeon would instantly make this team way better. He is worth moving young assets for.

While getting Trouba might have a small positive impact, assuming Hagg leaves the lineup. If Trouba comes in at the expense of Sanheim or Ghost though, not really feeling or seeing the improvement based on all the stats - traditional and advanced - that I have seen.

Aside, no matter what, please no Tyler Myers! He is a joke.

I'm thinking the 11th overall, and either Ghost or Myers gets it done for an extended Trouba.

Spurgeon is way better than Trouba though...getting Spurgeon would instantly make this team way better. He is worth moving young assets for.

While getting Trouba might have a small positive impact, assuming Hagg leaves the lineup. If Trouba comes in at the expense of Sanheim or Ghost though, not really feeling or seeing the improvement based on all the stats - traditional and advanced - that I have seen.

Aside, no matter what, please no Tyler Myers! He is a joke.
- blurop4

I like Spurgeon as well. I think if he's extended as part of the trade, I would do the 11th overall pick for him. If they insist on Ratcliffe being in the deal, I'd do it but I'd hate to trade Ratcliffe. But with an extended Spurgeon, you have to give to get I guess.