Some may not agree with me, but I think the Hakstol days did damage to the fan base. Even in 06/07, the fans were still coming out. Same in 12/13, even after the half-season lockout. But over the past few years, the brand of hockey was very bland, even when they were winning. If you're losing but playing an exciting, inspired brand of hockey, the fans will come out. If you're playing mediocre and playing a very bland, "responsible" brand of hockey, the fans won't want to spend their time/money on it. Under Hakstol, whether he was the man making the calls or a man who had his hands tied, the team played fairly well overall, but it was not an overly exciting brand of hockey, personified by certain players who were everyday players because of their "responsible" and "consistent" styles. It will take time for the fans to return, but they will.
- jmatchett383

To add to your opinion Saint Ronnie the GM did the damage. For half a decade he put an inferior product on the ice. Hakstol deserves some blame no doubt though ultimately it was the GM. Can only play the players you are given. The fans finally had enough. Ronald contributed greatly to making this organization irrelevant as we sit here today.

Add increasing ticket prices, overpriced concessions, 25 bucks or whatever it is to park. The place was absolutely empty last night. A ghost town

Because they absolutely can cause those symptoms. Trust me I know because I had one of them when I had a sinus infection last winter. During the sinus infection any standing, laying down or sudden head turn to the left brought on dizziness.

Also people aren't robots they don't always present the same symptoms with a prognosis or even heal the same way. Line up 5 people, do an ACL reconstruction using the same approach and all of them will heal at a different pace.
- opeth_pa

And as far as I know Pitlick didn't get hit up high in that game. The last thing he did before leaving the game was commit a high sticking penalty.

Since 11/10 the Flyers have 6 PP GF and 2 SH GA. Buffalo has 7 PP GF and 5 SH GA.

So the Flyers are as likely to score shorthanded as on the powerplay tomorrow.
- Feanor

How about since 11/07? Or 11/12?

To add to your opinion Saint Ronnie the GM did the damage. For half a decade he put an inferior product on the ice. Hakstol deserves some blame no doubt though ultimately it was the GM. Can only play the players you are given. The fans finally had enough. Ronald contributed greatly to making this organization irrelevant as we sit here today.
- daryl stanley

Like when Hextall gave him Lindblom and Lehtera to choose from, and Hak picked Lehtera.

Some may not agree with me, but I think the Hakstol days did damage to the fan base. Even in 06/07, the fans were still coming out. Same in 12/13, even after the half-season lockout. But over the past few years, the brand of hockey was very bland, even when they were winning. If you're losing but playing an exciting, inspired brand of hockey, the fans will come out. If you're playing mediocre and playing a very bland, "responsible" brand of hockey, the fans won't want to spend their time/money on it. Under Hakstol, whether he was the man making the calls or a man who had his hands tied, the team played fairly well overall, but it was not an overly exciting brand of hockey, personified by certain players who were everyday players because of their "responsible" and "consistent" styles. It will take time for the fans to return, but they will.
- jmatchett383

Your premise overall in how the Flyers played, is correct. However putting it on Hakstol is nonsense. If you remember, when Hakstol first came in, his systems and style of hockey was more aggressive. After evaluating the team and what was needed to compete, they switched from a more aggressive 2 man forecheck posture to a 1-2 forecheck. We keep forgetting that Hakstol had some success as a coach here. He did it with a crap lineup. Having to use Filppula to check top lines to at best break even to try and win. He simply didn't have the roster to play a more exciting branch of hockey. Players like Konecny, Lindblom and Sanheim were all going through the early stages of their growing pains and struggling a lot. Biggest culprit in the final year was goaltending. Giving up goals and losing doesn't put fans in the seats.

I think ticket cost is really far down the list on attendance last night at the start.

Bad weather, not an exciting opponent to the casual fan, week before holidays, coming off a disaster of a week.
- opeth_pa

I know that, for me, it's the overall experience. Need to get tix, find a babysitter for the boy, take the 4+ hours including driving, pay for gas/toll, buy the tickets, pay for parking, pay for food, etc. Ticket prices are the #1 issue, but not the sole issue.

How about since 11/07? Or 11/12?
- jmatchett383

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...alsFor&page=0&pageSize=50


http://www.nhl.com/stats/...alsFor&page=0&pageSize=50

While some of the issues between the two will be related (head aches, for instance), I don't think a sinus related issue can cause dizziness when standing and sensitivity to mildly bright light. How in the (frank) can a team of medical professionals confuse the two?
- jmatchett383

I think it can, I have noticed when I have sinus issues sometimes my ears feel as if they are blocked and it makes me feel dizzy at times.

Nice to see NAK finally given a real chance in the NHL.
- Feanor

Don't get to watch him much but understand he has the tools, just has been underwhelming. Last night i thought he played a really good game.

Whoever wanted andreoff in over Carsen.....Andreoff was pretty invisible last night. I would have preferred Carsen in, at least he would've forechecked better.

Hayes and JVR playing decent together. When laughts is healthy and farabee is back it will be interesting to see who hayes wingers are. I prefer laughton on the left side of the ice. we shall see.

Glad they didn't throw a game misconduct at NAK for the kneeing.

Nice to see NAK finally given a real chance in the NHL.
- Feanor

He was given a real chance previously. Becoming a regular NHL player is on him, not anyone else.

Your premise overall in how the Flyers played, is correct. However putting it on Hakstol is nonsense. If you remember, when Hakstol first came in, his systems and style of hockey was more aggressive. After evaluating the team and what was needed to compete, they switched from a more aggressive 2 man forecheck posture to a 1-2 forecheck. We keep forgetting that Hakstol had some success as a coach here. He did it with a crap lineup. Having to use Filppula to check top lines to at best break even to try and win. He simply didn't have the roster to play a more exciting branch of hockey. Players like Konecny, Lindblom and Sanheim were all going through the early stages of their growing pains and struggling a lot. Biggest culprit in the final year was goaltending. Giving up goals and losing doesn't put fans in the seats.
- MJL

I said "The Hakstol days." I also said he may have had his hands tied. I am not putting the blame solely on him. Honestly, as much as I don't think he was a great head coach, I put as much or more of the blame for the on-ice product on upper management as I do on him. So no, I am not putting it on him, simply on the style of play the encompassed the latter 2 years of his regime.

Like when Hextall gave him Lindblom and Lehtera to choose from, and Hak picked Lehtera.
- Feanor

you saint Ronnie acolytes and apologist crack me up.

Don't get to watch him much but understand he has the tools, just has been underwhelming. Last night i thought he played a really good game.

Whoever wanted andreoff in over Carsen.....Andreoff was pretty invisible last night. I would have preferred Carsen in, at least he would've forechecked better.

Hayes and JVR playing descent together. When laughts is healthy and farabee is back it will be interesting to see who hayes wingers are. I prefer laughton on the left side of the ice. we shall see.

Glad they didn't throw a game misconduct at NAK for the kneeing.
- Peter Richards

Had to watch the ANA feed. Their announcing crew went on and on about both of NAK's hit incessantly. Got tired of hearing it.

I know that, for me, it's the overall experience. Need to get tix, find a babysitter for the boy, take the 4+ hours including driving, pay for gas/toll, buy the tickets, pay for parking, pay for food, etc. Ticket prices are the #1 issue, but not the sole issue.
- jmatchett383

tickets were 10 bucks on stub hub for yesterdays game

http://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?report=powerplay&reportType=game&dateFrom=2019-11-07&dateTo=2019-12-18&gameType=2&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=powerPlayGoalsFor&page=0&pageSize=50


http://www.nhl.com/stats/...alsFor&page=0&pageSize=50
- Feanor

I was just curious why you picked that date specifically.

Like when Hextall gave him Lindblom and Lehtera to choose from, and Hak picked Lehtera.
- Feanor

Again, I wasn't a big fan of Hakstol as a head coach...but while the call ultimately should be his as head coach, I think there was push from higher up on who should be playing.

I like Kases speed, this team needs that, trying to think of a player he reminds me of

Played for NY, then Pitt now with Caps
- wcorvette

taylor Leier....darrell POWE

Again, I wasn't a big fan of Hakstol as a head coach...but while the call ultimately should be his as head coach, I think there was push from higher up on who should be playing.
- jmatchett383

That was based on salary

He was given a real chance previously. Becoming a regular NHL player is on him, not anyone else.
- MJL

Getting 5 minutes a game is not a real chance. But of course you would defend the usage of a coach who went out healthy scratching Oskar Lindblom for Jori Lehtera. And that was only a year ago.

Let's hear some more excuses for why the PK was terrible for Hak's entire tenure as head coach. That's always good for a laugh.

I said "The Hakstol days." I also said he may have had his hands tied. I am not putting the blame solely on him. Honestly, as much as I don't think he was a great head coach, I put as much or more of the blame for the on-ice product on upper management as I do on him. So no, I am not putting it on him, simply on the style of play the encompassed the latter 2 years of his regime.
- jmatchett383

Tactically, Hakstol actually did a lot of correct things to try and get the most out of the team. They didn't have the talent or ability to play a more NHL style system more conducive to winning in the NHL.
Hakstol's failure as a coach was not having the ability or the pedigree to get the players past the confidence hole they were in last season.

Again, I wasn't a big fan of Hakstol as a head coach...but while the call ultimately should be his as head coach, I think there was push from higher up on who should be playing.
- jmatchett383

Hextall has already been gone for weeks.

Hextall has already been gone for weeks.
- Feanor

I said upper management, not Hextall.

Where do you go for tix? I want to take my wife and daughter, but can't find any cheap tix (under $75 each out the door) for a weekend game...and that just isn't happening.
- jmatchett383

seat geek. weekends are usually more but you still should be able to get tickets in the upper level for less than that. you know what is really sad, you can get tickets at the Barclay center and Florida for like 15.00.

Getting 5 minutes a game is not a real chance. But of course you would defend the usage of a coach who went out healthy scratching Oskar Lindblom for Jori Lehtera. And that was only a year ago.

Let's hear some more excuses for why the PK was terrible for Hak's entire tenure as head coach. That's always good for a laugh.
- Feanor

Players earn ice time with their play. If a player plays better, he'll get more ice time.
You're narrative that Aube-Kubel has never been given a "real" chance is nonsense.

You still can't tell me why Lindblom was scratched. You also ignore the fact of how often Hakstol chose Lindblom over Lehtera.

You add Hart, Niskanen and Hayes to the PK, it gets better. Players play, coaches coach.

you saint Ronnie acolytes and apologist crack me up.
- daryl stanley

You're the only one calling him a Saint. Hextall made plenty of mistakes, chiefly hiring an incompetent college coach, and then not firing him when he lost the team.