i really get why they got Braun but it is clogging the position. You have to be pleased that all the D picks we have talked about for years are all making it in the NHL in some way.
- wcorvette

it isnt clogging anything. It is possible they dont think highly of Morin. Whole new regime. so we can sit here saying he is getting "blocked" as maybe in their eyes he is just another body.

I personally feel we are way past the time where Morin just being with the big club and being around the vets and the team will help him. The only thing that will help him is playing time. Morin and Haag should be competing for the 6th spot rather than the 7th spot. I do agree that depth is good but the most important thing to me is trying to determine whether Morin can be a regular NHL defenseman. Another player would have to falter for Morin to see the ice a lot
- MJL

Seems like the Flyers have already decided how they feel about Morin. Can’t really blame them for not having much confidence in the guy.

I personally feel we are way past the time where Morin just being with the big club and being around the vets and the team will help him. The only thing that will help him is playing time. Morin and Haag should be competing for the 6th spot rather than the 7th spot. I do agree that depth is good but the most important thing to me is trying to determine whether Morin can be a regular NHL defenseman. Another player would have to falter for Morin to see the ice a lot
- MJL

It would be optimal but you have to balance winning with who plays and the truth now, in paper is that Braun gives that, unfortunate but true. I do think there will an injury and morin will get in. I do think Myers will be on the same course as Sanheim, in the lineup but also out for stretches. All opportunities for Morin, it is then on him to stay in the line up

Having veterans to help younger players is the plus side of things. Morin has to play to be able to figure out if he can be a full time player. I don't see any scenario where Morin is going to pretty close to what would happen if Braun wasn't brought in. There would have to be a significant injury to another player for that to happen and Haag is also in the mix there.
- MJL

so a simple question, should the flyers just have handed Morin a spot to see if he can play? while doing so at the expense of the rest of the team?

Seems like the Flyers have already decided how they feel about Morin. Can’t really blame them for not having much confidence in the guy.
- Dkos

I can understand not wanting to pencil him into the lineup. The Flyers are in a tough spot with him no doubt. But I would hate to see Morin becoming a solid defenseman with another team just because he didn't get a real look here.

I can understand not wanting to pencil him into the lineup. The Flyers are in a tough spot with him no doubt. But I would hate to see Morin becoming a solid defenseman with another team just because he didn't get a real look here.
- MJL

how do you propose he get a real look? just hand him a spot?

if ghost has a so so season trade him we got others to step in

Something has to give with the numbers we have on the backend. I still believe someone gets traded before season starts.
- Buzzo

They could go with 8 D but I don't think they do. I think someone (my guess is Ghost) is traded. It may not happen before the season starts either or it may happen soon after Provy signs.

so how long until Gabe is fired?
i don't think the Phils are going to come back Harper's HR production is down

I can understand not wanting to pencil him into the lineup. The Flyers are in a tough spot with him no doubt. But I would hate to see Morin becoming a solid defenseman with another team just because he didn't get a real look here.
- MJL

He’s in a tough spot because he’s barely been able to play for two years. He wasn’t exactly dominating before the injuries. He was kind of a long shot to begin with. He seems like a good kid and it sucks that he’s had all the injuries. I guess there’s a chance he can become a good player, but it sure seems unlikely at this point.

so how long until Gabe is fired?
i don't think the Phils are going to come back Harper's HR production is down
- 2Real

I heard earlier in the summer that both the coach and GM hammered home the point that they want guys to be patient at the plate and not swing at anything out of the zone. Probably explains why the entire teams power numbers are basically piss poor.

They really need a new coach and to pony up and spend some money on pitching. You don't hand Harper that contract and get to be a penny pincher when it comes to arms.

They could go with 8 D but I don't think they do. I think someone (my guess is Ghost) is traded. It may not happen before the season starts either or it may happen soon after Provy signs.
- FlyerFan16

Part of me does think that they're holding off on moving any D men right now to hold some extra leverage against Provy. I mean that would be the smart thing to do imo...

Part of me does think that they're holding off on moving any D men right now to hold some extra leverage against Provy. I mean that would be the smart thing to do imo...
- hereticpride

This could be exactly what’s happening.

I heard earlier in the summer that both the coach and GM hammered home the point that they want guys to be patient at the plate and not swing at anything out of the zone. Probably explains why the entire teams power numbers are basically piss poor.

They really need a new coach and to pony up and spend some money on pitching. You don't hand Harper that contract and get to be a penny pincher when it comes to arms.
- hereticpride

hold up a sec why aren't the coaches letting the players do what they do best?

they should have traded for MadBum

He’s in a tough spot because he’s barely been able to play for two years. He wasn’t exactly dominating before the injuries. He was kind of a long shot to begin with. He seems like a good kid and it sucks that he’s had all the injuries. I guess there’s a chance he can become a good player, but it sure seems unlikely at this point.
- Dkos

I didn't say Morin was in a tough spot, I said the Flyers are in a tough spot. I don't blame Morin for the injuries. How do you know it's unlikely? How does anyone really know? That's the point. I think the Flyers believe he is capable of playing in the NHL but we'll only find out how well by playing him. That's the most unlikely factor here, playing time.

Part of me does think that they're holding off on moving any D men right now to hold some extra leverage against Provy. I mean that would be the smart thing to do imo...
- hereticpride

They may be holding on to players for depth in case Provorov is not signed and ready to start the season but do you honestly believe that provides leverage in the contract negotiation? It doesn't. What are they going to tell him and his agent? We're going to replace you with Morin and Haag?

All you mother(frank)ers will be jumping back on the Ghost bangwagon soon enough.

I didn't say Morin was in a tough spot, I said the Flyers are in a tough spot. I don't blame Morin for the injuries. How do you know it's unlikely? How does anyone really know? That's the point. I think the Flyers believe he is capable of playing in the NHL but we'll only find out how well by playing him. That's the most unlikely factor here, playing time.
- MJL

I didn’t say I “know” anything. I said, “it sure seems unlikely”. Just my opinion. I don’t blame him for his injuries and I don’t blame the Flyers for wanting to improve their defense right now.

They may be holding on to players for depth in case Provorov is not signed and ready to start the season but do you honestly believe that provides leverage in the contract negotiation? It doesn't. What are they going to tell him and his agent? We're going to replace you with Morin and Haag?
- MJL

That's a hell of a lot better than saying we're going to replace you with some AHL schlub.

I guess what I see when I read some of these things, see what others are saying and reporting and speculating, is that it feels like Ghost is well on his way to becoming the latest scapegoat, the player whose faults will always be what some talk about first.

I understand that he didn't have the best season. He shouldn't get a pass for the mistakes that he makes and if he doesn't improve. But there were, what, 15 other guys and 26 goalies who didn't do nearly enough for them.

I'm not going to say names and try to build Ghost up by tearing other guys down. I am just saying that, to me, Sanheim came on and was probably the best defenseman on the roster by season's end.

I don't think anyone else's flaws from the previous season have been dissected as much as Ghost's. Just my opinion on that.

I just don't understand why that is. Maybe Gudas was OK/good in his role. But if your role is far less, is it better to be good if you don't have to do anything or have a worse season if you have more responsibility?

Ghost, to me, does good things out there. If he gets traded or is sheltered, those are organizational decisions and it happens across the league.

But to me -- and it's not always the boards or the fanbase -- this team always finds a way to single out one guy for the failures of the team. They all failed, but THIS GUY failed more.

When to my eyes, a lot of guys didn't get the job done last season, from the GM to the coaches to the players to the goalies. Maybe Ghost wasn't the solution. But he sure as hell wasn't the biggest problem, or even close to it, to me

All you mother(frank)ers will be jumping back on the Ghost bangwagon soon enough.


- Tomahawk

No, they won't. I've seen this movie before. Some have already decided that he's the next whipping boy. Hayes will be the preferred option for others, while Braun will fill in any gaps

It's already been decided

I guess what I see when I read some of these things, see what others are saying and reporting and speculating, is that it feels like Ghost is well on his way to becoming the latest scapegoat, the player whose faults will always be what some talk about first.

I understand that he didn't have the best season. He shouldn't get a pass for the mistakes that he makes and if he doesn't improve. But there were, what, 15 other guys and 26 goalies who didn't do nearly enough for them.

I'm not going to say names and try to build Ghost up by tearing other guys down. I am just saying that, to me, Sanheim came on and was probably the best defenseman on the roster by season's end.

I don't think anyone else's flaws from the previous season have been dissected as much as Ghost's. Just my opinion on that.

I just don't understand why that is. Maybe Gudas was OK/good in his role. But if your role is far less, is it better to be good if you don't have to do anything or have a worse season if you have more responsibility?

Ghost, to me, does good things out there. If he gets traded or is sheltered, those are organizational decisions and it happens across the league.

But to me -- and it's not always the boards or the fanbase -- this team always finds a way to single out one guy for the failures of the team. They all failed, but THIS GUY failed more.

When to my eyes, a lot of guys didn't get the job done last season, from the GM to the coaches to the players to the goalies. Maybe Ghost wasn't the solution. But he sure as hell wasn't the biggest problem, or even close to it, to me
- AllInForFlyers

Ghost also had one other poor season. So far it's been two good, two bad. I think the concern about what player shows up this fall is justified.

I don't think he'll be a scapegoat but if he has another bad year the expectations for him have to come way back down to earth imo.

That's a hell of a lot better than saying we're going to replace you with some AHL schlub.
- hereticpride

Either way it has no bearing and does not add any leverage to the Flyers in negotiations with Provorov.

Top 20 wings on NHL channel.

I guess what I see when I read some of these things, see what others are saying and reporting and speculating, is that it feels like Ghost is well on his way to becoming the latest scapegoat, the player whose faults will always be what some talk about first.

I understand that he didn't have the best season. He shouldn't get a pass for the mistakes that he makes and if he doesn't improve. But there were, what, 15 other guys and 26 goalies who didn't do nearly enough for them.

I'm not going to say names and try to build Ghost up by tearing other guys down. I am just saying that, to me, Sanheim came on and was probably the best defenseman on the roster by season's end.

I don't think anyone else's flaws from the previous season have been dissected as much as Ghost's. Just my opinion on that.

I just don't understand why that is. Maybe Gudas was OK/good in his role. But if your role is far less, is it better to be good if you don't have to do anything or have a worse season if you have more responsibility?

Ghost, to me, does good things out there. If he gets traded or is sheltered, those are organizational decisions and it happens across the league.

But to me -- and it's not always the boards or the fanbase -- this team always finds a way to single out one guy for the failures of the team. They all failed, but THIS GUY failed more.

When to my eyes, a lot of guys didn't get the job done last season, from the GM to the coaches to the players to the goalies. Maybe Ghost wasn't the solution. But he sure as hell wasn't the biggest problem, or even close to it, to me
- AllInForFlyers

Well said. By far more than anything else, the goaltending was the biggest issue. I believe it was the root cause for a lot of things that happened with this team.