Ghosts's 'bad' season are better than the best for a lot of current and past Flyers dmen in terms of point production and possession. He's likely gonna be in the top-5 dmen point producers in franchise history after this year is done. In a couple of seasons he ought to catch Kimmo for 3rd all-time. Think about that.
- Tomahawk

points dont' mean poop when you're awful in front of your net

Well Flyers fans are pretty stupid, by and large.
- Tomahawk

I'm not saying that -- really, I'm not.

It just truly baffles me how Ghost is held to this level of scrutiny. I understand people see flaws in his game.

But if you listen to some people, it's like the guy's weaknesses are all he has. I mean, for real. It's like we're running Erik Gustafsson out there again.

This might sound crazy. But hear me out: It's OK for the Flyers to actually coach a guy and help minimize his weaknesses and feature his strengths, instead of always finding reasons to ship that guy out and try somebody else.

Guys get sheltered roles, or are specialists, all the time. Some guys get better over time and develop into more, while some guys become good role players.

Ghost is on a good contract for a Top 4 defender. It's not quite as great if he's heavily sheltered on a third pair, and even that looks better if he's helping facilitate the PP.

I know you understand this stuff; MJL and others do, too.

It's just annoying AF sometimes. If someone tells me a trade where the Flyers break even in picks or prospects or NHL players by moving Ghost on a $4.5 million contract for the next three seasons and replace his production, then hey, I'll listen and understand if they do it

But until then, WTF. The guy had 37 points last year on defense and is one of the best breakout defenders in the league.

Maybe he can't stop Auston Matthews or Brayden Point down low. But I didn't exactly see Provorov or Sanheim or anybody else locking those guys down, either

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gostisbehere at a Crossroads
- bmeltzer

I think Ghost is poop defensively. He’s among the elite of the league offensively on the blueline but defensively, pure poop. Spare me the “He was great two seasons ago next to Provorov”. To me that’s a testament of how good Ivan Provorov is or could be someday. Provorov has been a game changer for the Flyers in all three zones and the ice time he eats since entering the league. Ghost is great with the puck, subpar without it.

he is a bust at this point. You can spin it anyway you want. Regardless of the circumstances imo.

I believe morin will get to play a lot of preseason games; In those games he will log
a lot of minutes. Then they will make a decision obviously which way they want to go.

I am not so sure they have a lot of confidence in him.
- daryl stanley

I can definitively say that youre an idiot and a coward because youve provided ample evidence and examples.

You cant say definitively that Morin is a bust because he doesnt have the experience at the NHL level to prove or disprove it.

I think Ghost is poop defensively. He’s among the elite of the league offensively on the blueline but defensively, pure poop. Spare me the “He was great two seasons ago next to Provorov”. To me that’s a testament of how good Ivan Provorov is or could be someday. Provorov has been a game changer for the Flyers in all three zones and the ice time he eats since entering the league. Ghost is great with the puck, subpar without it.
- SuperSchennBros

Two seasons ago, he was also solid two-ways while with Hägg in the first quarter of the season.

Ghost defends by driving play and keeping the puck in the O zone. It’s how the game is played today. Minimize his D zone starts, don’t use him on the PK and pair him with a calm, skilled partner.

Trading Ghost or severely limiting his ES minutes would be asinine.

I can definitively say that youre an idiot and a coward because youve provided ample evidence and examples.

You cant say definitively that Morin is a bust because he doesnt have the experience at the NHL level to prove or disprove it.
- KINGKENZO

He is bust so far. That’s 100% fact. Get his Johnson out of your mouth. Drafted 6 years ago and has played what 10 games. If that isn’t a bust what is ? Let’s meet up for breakfast one day to discuss. My treat.

So yes I can say definitively as we sit here right now today he is a bust.

Two seasons ago, he was also solid two-ways while with Hägg in the first quarter of the season.
- bmeltzer

See, you just nailed the problem by thinking you’re complimenting him. Clearly he has to be paired with certain players to be an effective all around player. Ghost is far from a consistent player in his own zone.

If the coaching staff has to use Ghost like Erik Karlsson or any player who needs offensive starts to be effective, I don’t have have an issue with it but I’m not gonna talk up a player’s weaknesses like they don’t Exist.

No offense but I find myself disagreeing with bill more and more lately. While I appreciate bill and his writing and articles are very well done and he’s an excellent writer I feel bill must be seeing things with rose colored glasses more and more. Saying ghost showed vast improvement in the d zone 2 seasons ago is just wrong imo. Maybe a slight improvement but expecting him to have a great array season last year was foolish. Ghost sucks in d zone. He is what he is. He’ll never be good. shattenkirk type at best. Not a bad pick in the 3rd round and has value is this league for sure because he can run a pp but he will never be more than a 5/6 dman that should be sheltered and a pp specialist. With us having provy Sanheim Myers York there’s 0 need for a ghost. Foolish to not trade him this season for assets

Ghost defends by driving play and keeping the puck in the O zone. It’s how the game is played today. Minimize his D zone starts, don’t use him on the PK and pair him with a calm, skilled partner.

Trading Ghost or severely limiting his ES minutes would be asinine.
- BiggE

DING DING DING

People talked the same kind of poop about Justin Schultz in Edmonton. He gets to Pittsburgh, the coaches value what he does well and minimize what he doesn't, and he gets a little more consistent and is a Top 4 defender on a Cup winner

Maybe, just maybe, if the player is willing to put in the work, the coaches can earn their paychecks too and devise good ways to use the player who clearly has significant strengths when he is playing well

No offense but I find myself disagreeing with bill more and more lately. While I appreciate bill and his writing and articles are very well done and he’s an excellent writer I feel bill must be seeing things with rose colored glasses more and more. Saying ghost showed vast improvement in the d zone 2 seasons ago is just wrong imo. Maybe a slight improvement but expecting him to have a great array season last year was foolish. Ghost sucks in d zone. He is what he is. He’ll never be good. shattenkirk type at best. Not a bad pick in the 3rd round and has value is this league for sure because he can run a pp but he will never be more than a 5/6 dman that should be sheltered and a pp specialist. With us having provy Sanheim Myers York there’s 0 need for a ghost. Foolish to not trade him this season for assets
- SMS4016

See, this is the kind of crazy poop I'm talking about

York has played 0 -- ZERO -- games at the professional level. NONE.

Myers played, what, 30 games at the NHL in a lost season

But now the Flyers are foolish for not trading the 65-point defender of two seasons ago, aka the 37-point defender of last year, on a $4.5 million contract

There's zero need for Ghost? GTFOH

Man the phils suck

See, this is the kind of crazy poop I'm talking about

York has played 0 -- ZERO -- games at the professional level. NONE.

Myers played, what, 30 games at the NHL in a lost season

But now the Flyers are foolish for not trading the 65-point defender of two seasons ago, aka the 37-point defender of last year, on a $4.5 million contract

There's zero need for Ghost? GTFOH
- AllInForFlyers

Ghost the one time 65 point scoring dman lol

Gabe Kapler, the Hakstol of Major League Baseball

Gabe Kapler, the Hakstol of Major League Baseball
- BiggE

At least the one philly team in the sport no ones cares about won

See, this is the kind of crazy poop I'm talking about

York has played 0 -- ZERO -- games at the professional level. NONE.

Myers played, what, 30 games at the NHL in a lost season

But now the Flyers are foolish for not trading the 65-point defender of two seasons ago, aka the 37-point defender of last year, on a $4.5 million contract

There's zero need for Ghost? GTFOH
- AllInForFlyers

Ghost defends by driving play and keeping the puck in the O zone. It’s how the game is played today. Minimize his D zone starts, don’t use him on the PK and pair him with a calm, skilled partner.

Trading Ghost or severely limiting his ES minutes would be asinine.
- BiggE

Okay, so what happens when the play is being driven against us and Ghost is on the ice?

When Ghost is on the ice and he’s forced to defend, there is some concern. I mean, he’s not an amateur minor league defender but you should be concerned.

Perfect example. AllinfortheFlyers brings up that he didn’t see Provorov or Sanheim stop the likes of certain stars in an Austin Matthews. That’s fair, except, Sanheim is 23 and Provorov is 22. Both those players have surpassed Gostisbehere in most details of the position. Like, we’re asking Provorov to face Alex Ovechkin every night, we’re not asking this of Ghost.

See, this is the kind of crazy poop I'm talking about

York has played 0 -- ZERO -- games at the professional level. NONE.

Myers played, what, 30 games at the NHL in a lost season

But now the Flyers are foolish for not trading the 65-point defender of two seasons ago, aka the 37-point defender of last year, on a $4.5 million contract

There's zero need for Ghost? GTFOH
- AllInForFlyers

4.5 mil for a bottom pair dman. Re read my post. We have 3 dmen on the nhl roster and at least 1 high prospect that can do exactly what ghost offers in offensive zone. Plus the 3 at nhl level at the very least are all better in the d zone. Now if we weren’t that stacked then yes I’d agree that ghost is needed. We are in a great spot with d men. Ghost is a chip to trade to a team short on offensive puck movers. Sorry buts asinine to pay 4.5 mil for a dman that should only be playing 13 minutes a game or so and a pp specialist when we could easily put 3 other dmen on the pp. in fact I’d rather see Sanheim on pp1 to be honest. And he doesn’t get pushed around or cough the pick up in d zone 15 times a game.

I think Ghost is poop defensively. He’s among the elite of the league offensively on the blueline but defensively, pure poop. Spare me the “He was great two seasons ago next to Provorov”. To me that’s a testament of how good Ivan Provorov is or could be someday. Provorov has been a game changer for the Flyers in all three zones and the ice time he eats since entering the league. Ghost is great with the puck, subpar without it.
- SuperSchennBros

1000% agree with this

Two seasons ago, he was also solid two-ways while with Hägg in the first quarter of the season.
- bmeltzer

Really bill? “In the first quarter of the season” and the sabres won 10 straight games last year and look at how bad they suck. Every team and player has hot/cold streaks in season and even years. What did ghost do the other 3/4 of season?

4.5 mil for a bottom pair dman. Re read my post. We have 3 dmen on the nhl roster and at least 1 high prospect that can do exactly what ghost offers in offensive zone. Plus the 3 at nhl level at the very least are all better in the d zone. Now if we weren’t that stacked then yes I’d agree that ghost is needed. We are in a great spot with d men. Ghost is a chip to trade to a team short on offensive puck movers. Sorry buts asinine to pay 4.5 mil for a dman that should only be playing 13 minutes a game or so and a pp specialist when we could easily put 3 other dmen on the pp. in fact I’d rather see Sanheim on pp1 to be honest. And he doesn’t get pushed around or cough the pick up in d zone 15 times a game.
- SMS4016

I’m not at all asking for Ghost to be traded but if there is a proposal that fills a need and sees Ghost going the other way, well, nature of the business. I didn’t want Simmonds or Schenn to go, they’re gone.

I honestly think there is a fear of trading Ghost because the flashy offensive numbers will be missed. I’m much more excited for the future of Provorov, Sanheim and Myers.

Really bill? “In the first quarter of the season” and the sabres won 10 straight games last year and look at how bad they suck. Every team and player has hot/cold streaks in season and even years. What did ghost do the other 3/4 of season?
- SMS4016

Great post!

He is bust so far. That’s 100% fact. Get his Johnson out of your mouth. Drafted 6 years ago and has played what 10 games. If that isn’t a bust what is ? Let’s meet up for breakfast one day to discuss. My treat.

So yes I can say definitively as we sit here right now today he is a bust.
- daryl stanley

I wouldn’t say a bust... he was a project to begin with so was gonna take extra time to develope to begin with. And add then injuries and bam 6 years. But agree if he doesn’t show some marked improvement at nhl level this season or next ya gotta move on and cut the losses.

Ghost the one time 65 point scoring dman lol
- 2Real

Didn’t Devon setagucchi score 50 goals in a season one time? And was out of the league a couple seasons later? Because he sucked and just caught lightning in a bottle one season. That’ll be ghost and the delusional he’s a good dman 65 point season back in the day

I’m not at all asking for Ghost to be traded but if there is a proposal that fills a need and sees Ghost going the other way, well, nature of the business. I didn’t want Simmonds or Schenn to go, they’re gone.

I honestly think there is a fear of trading Ghost because the flashy offensive numbers will be missed. I’m much more excited for the future of Provorov, Sanheim and Myers.
- SuperSchennBros

Yep. And after watching a little of York and doing some checking I really like that pick. I don’t hate ghost. He just so bad defensively. He’s 26. He is what he is. If we were offered a pick around 10-15 round 1 I’d move him in a good draft year. For example trade ghost for pick 14 and draft Farabee or even York. I’d much rather roll with something like that because we have other dmen than pretend ghost is so needed we should overlook his major flaws.