I think this is one of the worst things a team can do. Become reactionary to one series or short playoff run. The answer really isn't adding a Sam Morin as a forward. The answer is to be more competitive within your lineup as a whole. Don't copy or react to other teams. Build your own identity as a team and play at a maximum competitive level. This is a speed and skill league. You need grit and competitiveness within those skill players.
- MJL

I’m not sure that I disagree...meaning I don’t think a team has to have it. And as I already said, a player must be able to play well outside that role. I really believe it to be a preference and don’t find anything wrong with that.

Who is Sam Morin replacing in the lineup?
- Striiker

Someone sick or injured or needing rest. Unless of course he blows us all away and beats out Raffl or NAK.

Someone sick or injured or needing rest. Unless of course he blows us all away and beats out Raffl or NAK.
- NC Flyers Fan

So he should only be playing as a last resort?
He shouldn’t even be on the taxi squad.

Absolutely amazing some think Sam Morin will be a deterrent and actual prevent people from taking cheap shots. What is this actually based on?
- Striiker

It did in the past. If you checked Clarke, you knew that you may need to drop them with Schultz. The role of the goon has diminished with new rules - instigator. Today, you check some one and just skate away with the only fear is a penalty. Currently Goons need to multifaceted. And, the retaliation is to check their star player or maybe a goon to goon fight. Morin is a big guy that can fight and could deliver bone rattling checks. We have big guys but most are soft as cream cheese (jvr, Jake, etc). We have smaller guys 4 line guy that will mix things up but no one will be look over there shoulder for them.

Let me clarify. I meant based on what in Sam’s past makes anyone think he will be a “deterrent”. That doesn’t exist anymore.

I get what it is based on in the sense they want physicality. I think that is misplaced.

If the goal is to win games and accumulate points; Morin has no business being in the top 12 for any game. Less every forward is hurt or covid.

Also strikes me that the coach doesn’t seem to hold himself accountable for the playoffs at all.
- Striiker

I agree with all of this.

So he should only be playing as a last resort?
He shouldn’t even be on the taxi squad.
- Striiker

The extra roster players and taxi squad are the replacements. That is the hope/goal if he can be there. More than that would be exceeding expectations and less would be back to the drawing board. We’ll see.

It did in the past. If you checked Clarke, you knew that you may need to drop them with Schultz. The role of the goon has diminished with new rules - instigator. Today, you check some one and just skate away with the only fear is a penalty. Currently Goons need to multifaceted. And, the retaliation is to check their star player or maybe a goon to goon fight. Morin is a big guy that can fight and could deliver bone rattling checks. We have big guys but most are soft as cream cheese (jvr, Jake, etc). We have smaller guys 4 line guy that will mix things up but no one will be look over there shoulder for them.
- leon neon

It wasn't just Schultz, though. It was also Dupont or Kelly or Saleski (or, later, Holmgren or Wilson or Bridgman) or multiple Flyers at once if the action against Clarke was incendiary enough. That doesn't exist anymore in today's game.

His skating has improved and prob will continue too. This is an area that players can improve on easier than others.

I don’t feel he has been out of place and keeps up with the pace just fine. Interesting that you think Tyson will do better even though brink is the better skater. What you can’t teach is his drive, attitude, those hands and fearlessness. All the wheels in the world do nothing without other abilities. ( nodl). Not saying speed isn’t important. Just the kid has time to improve more.
- Peter Richards

Brink impressed me with his forechecking. This directly lead to a goal last night. He seems to dog players well, until they cough it up.

The extra roster players and taxi squad are the replacements. That is the hope/goal if he can be there. More than that would be exceeding expectations and less would be back to the drawing board. We’ll see.
- NC Flyers Fan

You can only allow so many on the taxi squad.
So looking at the forwards you have Frost, Sandin, the 2 college kids, and Bunnaman ahead of him.

You can only allow so many on the taxi squad.
So looking at the forwards you have Frost, Sandin, the 2 college kids, and Bunnaman ahead of him.
- Striiker

Morin is not playing lol stop responding to them

Morin is not playing lol stop responding to them
- ClaudeFather

It’s fun though. Though I disagree as I have no doubt with this coaching staff he plays a game or 2. They want to justify this move; so when he plays they will say see we were correct.

There is no deterrent in hockey. It is a false concept. Doesn't exist. Grit and competitiveness is important in your skilled players but you shouldn't have a player in the lineup based on a deterrent concept.
- MJL

This is just flat out wrong. Just an embarrassing comment. Obviously physical play is, has, and will always be a deterrent against a vast number of players who do not like that type of play. What sets the great players apart beyond skill in a lot of cases are guys willing to engage in this part of the sport. My god this isn’t soccer or basketball.

It’s fun though. Though I disagree as I have no doubt with this coaching staff he plays a game or 2. They want to justify this move; so when he plays they will say see we were correct.
- Striiker

I can agree. It is fun to talk about the team again as we really anticipate the season starting soon.

Is your disagreement really based on an issue(s) with the coaching particularly during the playoffs? And then how you perceive they are addressing or not addressing those issues?

Morin is not playing lol stop responding to them
- ClaudeFather

I dont think anyone has said he would play for sure....in fact he’s a long shot, for good reason. But if he’s in camp, they obviously aren’t ready to totally give up on him.

You can only allow so many on the taxi squad.
So looking at the forwards you have Frost, Sandin, the 2 college kids, and Bunnaman ahead of him.
- Striiker

Bun na man is a great example of a player no one gave a shot to last year...and yet he deserved his opening night spot by outplaying guys who were apparently ahead of him on any depth charts I saw. Good for him.

I can agree. It is fun to talk about the team again as we really anticipate the season starting soon.

Is your disagreement really based on an issue(s) with the coaching particularly during the playoffs? And then how you perceive they are addressing or not addressing those issues?
- NC Flyers Fan

I don’t think the issues in the playoffs were just that the Flyers were not physical enough. As someone said that is reactionary and very shortsighted. Then add they think Sam can address that is scary to me.

The coaches I don’t think did that great of a job along with many players disappeared or struggled.

I dont think anyone has said he would play for sure....in fact he’s a long shot, for good reason. But if he’s in camp, they obviously aren’t ready to totally give up on him.
- landros 2

I mean they weren’t going to tell him to kick rocks and stay home...

I don’t think the issues in the playoffs were just that the Flyers were not physical enough. As someone said that is reactionary and very shortsighted. Then add they think Sam can address that is scary to me.

The coaches I don’t think did that great of a job along with many players disappeared or struggled.
- Striiker

The coaching staff had them playing phenomenal hockey prior to the stoppage. That restart bubble playoffs clearly did us no favors. Not saying the coaching staff did a great job but I’m not putting the players struggles on them.

I mean they weren’t going to tell him to kick rocks and stay home...
- ClaudeFather

If he has no shot at a future of course they would.

I don’t think the issues in the playoffs were just that the Flyers were not physical enough. As someone said that is reactionary and very shortsighted. Then add they think Sam can address that is scary to me.

The coaches I don’t think did that great of a job along with many players disappeared or struggled.
- Striiker

Perhaps this is only one of the avenues that they have explored. I am hopeful for other adjustments to playoff hockey as well. The physicality certainly wasn’t the only thing I noticed. They seemed to have gotten away from the puck possession game in some matches and during some parts of play. Some of the argument probably comes from why that happened. Was it because wingers like Farabee and TK are smaller and outmatched physically in board battles?

If he has no shot at a future of course they would.
- landros 2

Good talk

Good talk
- ClaudeFather

As usual with you.

This is just flat out wrong. Just an embarrassing comment. Obviously physical play is, has, and will always be a deterrent against a vast number of players who do not like that type of play. What sets the great players apart beyond skill in a lot of cases are guys willing to engage in this part of the sport. My god this isn’t soccer or basketball.
- landros 2

Your comment is laughable and it seems as though you don't understand what a deterrent is. There is no player in the league that is going to deter other teams from playing physically against their team. Now if were talking about playing physically against a player causing them to hesitate or make bad plays, well of course that exists. However it is a completely different concept.

Before making comments like you did above, you should first understand what you're actually talking about. Clearly you don't.

Your comment is laughable and it seems as though you don't understand what a deterrent is. There is no player in the league that is going to deter other teams from playing physically against their team. Now if were talking about playing physically against a player causing them to hesitate or make bad plays, well of course that exists. However it is a completely different concept.

Before making comments like you did above, you should first understand what you're actually talking about. Clearly you don't.
- MJL

I can only go by the stupidity of your own words which were embarrassing. Not much to understand or take away from your laughable comments. Really does show your true understanding of the sport or lack there of.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers 2021 Training Camp Roster & Schedule
- bmeltzer

Hate to hear about Ratcliffe, but really hate to hear about Ustimenko with a hip labrum at such a young age.