I’m already quite frustrated with them. Don’t expect much tonight.
- Hextall271

I saw a report (quote from Hayes) that Oskar has something to tell us postgame. If nothing else, I’ll be happy to watch for that.

Bill, Which college prospects, if any, do you see signing contacts this year?

Bill, Which college prospects, if any, do you see signing contacts this year?
- Djapana

York and Cates.

Hexy wasn't even aiming for deep runs in the playoffs. He was entirely focused on a farm system rebuild with leaving just enough at the NHL level to at least be a bubble team.
- bmeltzer

Bill,

While I respectfully disagree with some of what you wrote, especially the last statement (which makes these long cup droughts seem like a fait accompli), nvm, I want to focus only on the snippet I preserved above.

I understand that NHL teams are particularly dependent on ticket revenue and TV deals are relatively much smaller. As such, there is presumably much greater pressure to not suck for extended periods and produce a decent product on ice. This is probably even truer for a big market team with a long tradition like Flyers.

But for Comcast, the Flyers are no more than pocket money. Further, many teams do go through multiple year periods where they languish. Some strike gold quickly during such basement dwelling (Tampa), others stay longer (Colorado, Canes), some are doing it now for a while (Detroit, NJ Devils), some of these are storied franchises

What is the point of being a playoff bubble team by design, as you clearly allude above? You are essentially conceding you have little chance of winning the cup. If you are in that position, why not concentrate the pain and get a few years of truly bottom feeding status in?

And before some pipe in here yet again with the "there are no guarantees" argument repeated ad nauseum, yeah, sure, there are no guarantees. But there are likelihoods and the data is quite clear on that. If one has early stage cancer, one has surgery, radiation, chemo. None of these are pleasant, nor are there guarantees. But they offer a higher probability of success, which is why humans do it.

Unless those humans are the Flyers brass, I mean.

Bill alluded to that....they’ve tried to get Morin to play a simpler game. After watching this pathetic mix, why not let Morin play ?
- landros 2

because "everyone else sucks" doesn't seem like the best argument for putting Morin on the roster in my opinion. I dont get the impression that AV is tremendously impressed by Morin's defensive play. If you're telling me that Morin has shown great improvement in his defensive play, he's been the Phantoms best shut down Dman and has earned a call up to the big club, I'm all in.

ESPN article about Hart's struggles. Talks about poor defensive play in front of him but also outlines his specific struggles.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/...ter-hart-nightmare-season

Former NHL goalie Stephen Valiquette, CEO of Clear Sight Analytics, is perhaps the best evaluator of netminders working today. The Carter Hart he has seen this season is not the Carter Hart he has seen previously.

"He's been a really good model of a modern-day goalie. I use him a lot in my coaching. However, this year is off. He is performing below expected on virtually every chance type that we track," he said.
- Big_E_88

I cannot read the full article. I would be interested in knowing if there are specific issues with his technique or just loose play in every direction.

I notice, for example, that skaters rarely try to deke him in s/o and always go top shelf.

"Bottom feeder": Flyers have the 18th best record in the league still, despite an atrocious month of March. Want to say bubble team? Sure. Bottom feeder is your on-brand hyperbole and 24/7 Pavel-dom.

The Buffalo Sabres are a bottom feeder. The Detroit Red Wings, since they aged out of contention and had little in the system to replace it with, became a bottom feeder. The Ottawa Senators are a bottom feeder.

The Flyers are an underachieving club that came in with high expectations, seem to still be a bubble-team level club and are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. But not a bottom feeder or even close.
- bmeltzer

Bill don't let the facts get in the way of a good narrative from Pavel.

I cannot read the full article. I would be interested in knowing if there are specific issues with his technique or just loose play in every direction.

I notice, for example, that skaters rarely try to deke him in s/o and always go top shelf.
- PT21

Looking at a shootout and a regular game, one has nothing to do with the other

Looking at a shootout and a regular game, one has nothing to do with the other
- ClaudeFather

I disagree. I would suggest that if players are shooting at a specific region repeatedly it indicates they believe he has a relative weakness there.

Watching paint dry>>>>>>>watching a Fletcher press conference. Zzzzzzzzz 💤

because "everyone else sucks" doesn't seem like the best argument for putting Morin on the roster in my opinion. I dont get the impression that AV is tremendously impressed by Morin's defensive play. If you're telling me that Morin has shown great improvement in his defensive play, he's been the Phantoms best shut down Dman and has earned a call up to the big club, I'm all in.
- Dkos

If the D had played up to their potential Morin probably wouldn’t get a look. But the fact is they have struggled as a group. I’m sure if Morin was not playing well he would be the guy getting called up...obviously the next best option.

because "everyone else sucks" doesn't seem like the best argument for putting Morin on the roster in my opinion. I dont get the impression that AV is tremendously impressed by Morin's defensive play. If you're telling me that Morin has shown great improvement in his defensive play, he's been the Phantoms best shut down Dman and has earned a call up to the big club, I'm all in.
- Dkos

AV hasnt even really seen his defensive play. He wasnt even cleared for skating until they broke for summer. Then as he was doing his personal, on ice skating work they asked him to shift to LW.

I get not hyping it up as he's some kind of savior but do you really see anyone doing that? They are just suggesting he cant be worse defensively than Gus and sometimes Ghost when he is in brain fart mode.

With how the D core has been playing, its worth a look. I would also think that with his training to be a forward he worked a lot on his stopping and starting and change of direction so he should be fairly confident in his knee now.

better to hope for him playing well then fearing he's some train wreck waiting to happen

Did carter hart get his first girlfriend recently?!
I don't know what else to blame his struggles on (shrug)

I saw a report (quote from Hayes) that Oskar has something to tell us postgame. If nothing else, I’ll be happy to watch for that.
- NC Flyers Fan

I did not know that. My guess: the first of his yearly check-ups was normal (and he is still cancer free).

That's not what PT21 says!
- Letterkenney

Oh..... didn't realize he's been checking me out. #flattered

Oh..... didn't realize he's been checking me out. #flattered
- Tomahawk

I check everyone out #equalopportunitylech

Are you Canadian? You are too mild mannered to be one of us. Plus, you like roasted peppers or some such heresy on your cheesesteak.

Did carter hart get his first girlfriend recently?!
I don't know what else to blame his struggles on (shrug)
- Malkins right knee

Confidence, lack of practice time.

To me his main issue seems to be his angles and positioning. He has no confidence in his glove right now and may be cheating a bit because of it.

I think his issues are nothing that a few good days of practice cant fix.

Not sure if it was said, didn’t back read, but Oskar has an announcement after the game apparently

Watching paint dry>>>>>>>watching a Fletcher press conference. Zzzzzzzzz 💤
- Landsbergfan

Hopefully he is not the guy who has to talk human beings of tall buildings or bridges. What a boring catatonic GM. He offer no hope or vision. He just make fans more depressed.

Confidence, lack of practice time.

To me his main issue seems to be his angles and positioning. He has no confidence in his glove right now and may be cheating a bit because of it.

I think his issues are nothing that a few good days of practice cant fix.
- MBFlyerfan

Also wonder if it has to do with virtual sessions vs. face to face with his sports psychologist. Maybe not having that contact and routine is also messing with his confidence. I dont know he is not doing face to face....just think he probably has to from a team ordered COVID protocol

yeah better off losing him for nothing. Oh my bad its 100% fact he resigns; I mean why would he want to leave this perennial cup contender.
- login

You realize that winning and $ are not the only things players consider, right?

Are you Canadian?
- PT21

How dare you.

You realize that winning and $ are not the only things players consider, right?
- Tomahawk

NONSENSE...that's why we didn't get Pieterangelo!!!

You realize that winning and $ are not the only things players consider, right?
- Tomahawk

couturier isn't coming back when his deal is done. giroux isn't coming back when his deal is done. laughton isn't coming back when his deal is done.

no one is re-signing. ever.

I disagree. I would suggest that if players are shooting at a specific region repeatedly it indicates they believe he has a relative weakness there.
- PT21

You would suggest to base a goalies play off of a gimmick where they can stroll in at any speed and do anything they’d like? Most of these guys in the shootout also have go to moves/shots that they do majority of the time. You are a moron if you are judging a goalies play in any sense by their play in the shootout.