Ghost was absolutely putrid in his own end once again. Turnover after turnover. It's hard to watch. If he isn't going to produce anything at all offensively then replace him with hagg. I can't stand Ghost and his elementary school defensive abilities.
- Richieattack18

Yes, no one else played poorly or turned the puck over. People leap all over Ghost but all 4 of out top-4 were flat-out bad last night (thought Niskanen looked a bit better, though).

Let's play Hagg instead so we can stay pinned in our own zone all shift long or chip the puck out to the NZ only for NYI to bring it right back in.

But I mean, he hits, right? That makes him a good defenseman.

They need to qualify him to retain his rights, at which point he can accept or decline. But they can sign him to any contract they want as long as they both agree before that. For instance, he may prefer a $1.3M one-way contract over a $2M two-way contract.
- jmatchett383

unless league min i bet they let him walk. dime a dozen type.

Yes he did. Right now, I'm more concerned with getting a lead than protecting it. I know one has to follow the other, but I feel there are players who could protect the lead adequately while improving the ability to get the lead.

Just my opinion.
- jmatchett383

No question. I'm just saying that the coach greatly trusts Thompson. That doesn't suggest that he is going to scratch Thompson.

Yes, no one else played poorly or turned the puck over. People leap all over Ghost but all 4 of out top-4 were flat-out bad last night (thought Niskanen looked a bit better, though).

Let's play Hagg instead so we can stay pinned in our own zone all shift long or chip the puck out to the NZ only for NYI to bring it right back in.

But I mean, he hits, right? That makes him a good defenseman.
- jmatchett383

The poster is completely inaccurate in his description of Gostisbehere's play last night. He played well.

No question. I'm just saying that the coach greatly trusts Thompson. That doesn't suggest that he is going to scratch Thompson.
- MJL

I agree, just giving what I would consider doing.

Yes.....I have been saying this for a while...Hextall was an overrated talent evaluator.
2014 picks Sanheim over Pastrnak
2016 picks Rubstov over DeBrincat
2017 picks Patrick over Heiskanen, Makar and Suzuki

To me the biggest blunder is that with the No 2 pick falling into your lap, it appears Hextall and his scouting team took the lazy way out and drafted a guy in Nolan Patrick whose stock was falling fast. Re-drafts of the 2017 draft have evaluated Patrick as a middle tier center and worthy of the 15th pick! Elias Pettersson was the pick and I expect, as a fan, that Hextall and his staff would have done due diligence of the 4 or 5 prospects at the top and pick the right one, but either they are incompetent or lazy, either way we wasted a gift and I believe set this franchise back another several years. How is it Vancouver and Colorado get it right, and Hextall gets it wrong? What is the use of stock piling picks if you are going to draft mediocre talent with it. Does anyone look at this team and say they are built to win in today's NHL. Where is the speed? Where is the skill? At least they have a good goalie, but that will only take them so far, for example winning a first round playoff series. After that, you need talent up and down your lineup.

Why can’t we say how we feel on these boards? Someone explain to me the rules. The Flyers were crap yesterday. Some players more than others. A lot of us are venting as fans, and we have this right. Why can’t someone poop or an individual player and what they saw.

Go ahead. Explain. Tell me what the standard is.

The poster is completely inaccurate in his description of Gostisbehere's play last night. He played well.
- MJL

He had a lot of turnovers last night.

They lost one game. Jesus.
- Flyers1218

its not that they lost 1 game. its that they were winning wrong since the restart and that 1 game was just another example. they will lose 3 more in a row if things dont change. that said, i dont have any idea of how to rebuild confidence of g, coots, tk, jvr, etc and raise their level of play which has been subpar from the start

Honestly I’m ok with Grant or Thompson getting a night off. Neither have been too impressive.
- arichardson22

FRom The Athletic:

6. Instead of sending the Couturier line out against the Barzal top line for the Isles, Vigneault and his coaching staff chose a different, risky tactic — hand the bulk of the tough matchup to Nate Thompson’s line. And to be sure, there were some tense moments when the Thompson line was pinned in its own zone against Barzal and company. But on the whole, Thompson, Michael Raffl and Tyler Pitlick held their own against the Barzal line, limiting it to a just-OK 51.79 expected goals for percentage in 6:49 of play.

That’s why the struggles of the Couturier line were especially difficult for the Flyers to accept. Thompson ate up the toughest minutes in Game 1 — head-to-head against New York’s best center, regularly taking defensive zone draws while doing it — and didn’t get crushed, which in theory should have given Couturier easier matchups. Yet Couturier’s line failed to take advantage of the strong performance of the fourth line. In retrospect, it felt like a major missed opportunity, especially because if the Barzal versus Thompson matchup continues, it’s far from a guarantee that the latter can continue to tread water in those minutes.

and this....

8. The Flyers’ best player by advanced metrics in Game 1? Derek Grant, who led the team in both shot-attempt and expected-goal differential at even strength. His line (with Scott Laughton and Aubé-Kubel, after Giroux bumped up to Line 1) was effective.

The poster is completely inaccurate in his description of Gostisbehere's play last night. He played well.
- MJL

I thought Ghost was their best Dman last night.

He had a lot of turnovers last night.
- login

In Ghost's defense, he wasn't on the ice for any of the goals against.

To me the biggest blunder is that with the No 2 pick falling into your lap, it appears Hextall and his scouting team took the lazy way out and drafted a guy in Nolan Patrick whose stock was falling fast. Re-drafts of the 2017 draft have evaluated Patrick as a middle tier center and worthy of the 15th pick! Elias Pettersson was the pick and I expect, as a fan, that Hextall and his staff would have done due diligence of the 4 or 5 prospects at the top and pick the right one, but either they are incompetent or lazy, either way we wasted a gift and I believe set this franchise back another several years. How is it Vancouver and Colorado get it right, and Hextall gets it wrong? What is the use of stock piling picks if you are going to draft mediocre talent with it. Does anyone look at this team and say they are built to win in today's NHL. Where is the speed? Where is the skill? At least they have a good goalie, but that will only take them so far, for example winning a first round playoff series. After that, you need talent up and down your lineup.
- jd250

Hindsight is always 2020.

Of course a redraft would have Patrick lower, that is common sense. After having the hindsight to see what has happened to him SO FAR.

He is still a kid and will have a long career in the NHL.

We have to stop talking about him as if his career is over. The only reason he isnt playing right now is because the Flyers have chosen to be overly cautious and shut him down until next season. Patrick is going to be fine.

I haven't looked outside today - has anyone put the sky back up where it belongs?

In Ghost's defense, he wasn't on the ice for any of the goals against.
- dramado

doesnt change what was said.

In Ghost's defense, he wasn't on the ice for any of the goals against.
- dramado

To me Laughton was about as bad as I have ever seen him play in the first 15 minutes of that game. Turnovers galore and lost his cover on seemingly every shift. One of which lead to the first goal. Also, Coots was pretty damn bad last night. I don't recall seeing him as lost positional as he was on that second goal.

Both of these observations are simple fixes by two players that are capable of better. Just clean up the laziness/indecisiveness and they will win games.

Hindsight is always 2020.

Of course a redraft would have Patrick lower, that is common sense. After having the hindsight to see what has happened to him SO FAR.

He is still a kid and will have a long career in the NHL.

We have to stop talking about him as if his career is over. The only reason he isnt playing right now is because the Flyers have chosen to be overly cautious and shut him down until next season. Patrick is going to be fine.
- MBFlyerfan

A long career based on what? Pure speculation. We all hope he does. You have no idea why he isnt playing right now is because the flyers are being overly cautious.

Andy Greene and Ross Johnston played better last night than Provorov and Couturier.
Think about that. Think of how absurd that is.

Game 2 I'm looking forward to Nate Thompson and Robert Hagg outplaying Barzal and Pullock.

Andy Greene and Ross Johnston played better last night than Provorov and Couturier.
Think about that. Think of how absurd that is.

Game 2 I'm looking forward to Nate Thompson and Robert Hagg to outplay Barzal and Pullock.
- PLindbergh31

Absurd yes. But also reason for optimism. Can't get any worse than that? Can it?

VERY disappointed last night. It's one game but i understand why everyone is freaking out.

Gotta put JVR back in and switch up who Couts is skating with. I'd like to see G and TK with Hayes.

Let's take game 2.

what's more entertaining losing 5-4 or 4-0? put ghost as a forward and let him skate around

I haven't looked outside today - has anyone put the sky back up where it belongs?
- Scoob

no my sky is still covered in smoke

A long career based on what? Pure speculation. We all hope he does. You have no idea why he isnt playing right now is because the flyers are being overly cautious.
- login

Based on the fact he is only 21.

https://www.sportstalkphi...07/high-expectations.html

That million-dollar question that everyone wanted answered was brought up by GM Chuck Fletcher when he spoke to the media on Monday. Patrick was not on the Flyers Phase 3 roster. His season is over.

“Our focus is on getting him ready for the 2020-2021 season," Fletcher said. "We want to be prudent and prioritize his health and safety in the long run. We have a short run way here before we jump right into playoff hockey."

I thought Ghost was their best Dman last night.
- BiggE

Ghost was fine last night.

Braun and Niskanen? Not so much.

Why can’t we say how we feel on these boards? Someone explain to me the rules. The Flyers were crap yesterday. Some players more than others. A lot of us are venting as fans, and we have this right. Why can’t someone poop or an individual player and what they saw.

Go ahead. Explain. Tell me what the standard is.
- SuperSchennBros

Who says you’re not allowed to express your opinion on an open forum hockey chat board lol. That’s what this place is for. Who cares if people don’t agree with you, let them respectfully debate points with you. If you don’t like to debate, not you personally, then perhaps this isn’t for you.