I don't agree with your assessment of Morin. I think the Flyers were trying to limit his minutes to help him, his knees specifically, not get injured again. But when Morin played, he brought that physical edge to the backend this team sorely missed, and I thought he was very effective on the PK.
- jd250

I don't think the coach played because he didn't trust him in any way. We shall see.

I don’t think he’s a shoe in to play in the top 6, but he does add an element the Flyers severely lack. I remember before the last 7-8 years when the Flyers strived to be a big, skilled, fast and physical team….I hope they try and back to that.
- landros 2

He does have an element they lack. Then go get a guy who has that element and play in your top 6 then. That isnt Morin at this point.

This is what Carolina is exactly doing, which should tell you they are not committed to Hamilton as a top defenseman in the league and not wanting to pay him as such. This supports what I said earlier about Hamilton. Carolina sees what Boston saw, what Calgary saw (who traded Hamilton for Hanafin who I think we would agree on paper is not as good), and are clearly demonstrating they are balking at his asking price. This also may be an indication that teams are not willing to pay for top end contracts given the flat cap. This could be a good thing for the Flyers.
- jd250

I disagree that is supports what you said about Hamilton. The reason why Carolina is approaching the situation the way they are, is salary cap related. They are interested in brining Hamilton back, just at the right price.

Rod Brind'Amour is the Canes head coach. We all know what Brindy is about. He just won the Jack Adams. If Hamilton is soft, how do you explain that Brindy played Hamilton 25 minutes a game in the playoffs? Which was an increase from the 22 minutes a game he averaged in the regular season

He does have an element they lack. Then go get a guy who has that element and play in your top 6 then. That isnt Morin at this point.
- hello it's me 2050

Id rather Morin than Hagg.

I didn't call out anything you posted. I responded to and agreed with BMeltzer's pushback on what it would take to get Jones from Columbus and reiterated I don't do any deal unless Jones was signing an extension with the Flyers. I mean, Columbus has 0 leverage given Jones' claim he wants to test FA, they thus either make a trade this season or he walks for nothing. Therefore I don't think the Flyers should get stupid in what they give up for Jones, since they can always sign him next season and give nothing to Columbus.
- jd250

The leverage that Columbus has is that they are trading a very valuable commodity in the NHL and there will be many teams bidding to acquire the player.

Id rather Morin than Hagg.
- bradster

I think hagg stinks. Yet Morin didn't do enough to replace him imo.

I agree, Myers had more than a down year. Its one thing to struggle with injuries, or struggle with the new system, but Myers demonstrated something that is extremely worrisome and got him benched a few times, i.e. the unwillingness to go into a corner, take a hit and win a puck battle. This is not something you can teach, you either want it or your don't. Myers is soft in his own end, and given he adds very little offensively, a real liability at this point. He is still on the younger side, has speed and is a RHS, so maybe there is trade value for him, but I would move on from him if I were the Flyers. Give me a Dman like Morin any day of the week!
- jd250

Before last season, in all honesty, what did you think of Myers as a player?

Morin is far closer to the end of his NHL career than he is to earning a spot on the Flyers.

These are not poor sources, these are local Boston media talking about what the Bruins should do next and their unwillingness to consider Hamilton. Look, one thing you have to realize is these guys sometimes get these talking points from "unnamed sources" which means from within the Bruins organization. But my opinion is not based on these sources, my opinion comes from watching him play against Tampa in the playoffs and see pretty much the same player I saw in Boston a few years earlier. Again, I understand why you would want Hamilton, he would instantly upgrade our PP and score 50+ points which is a very nice thing. My point is Hamilton is not tough to play against, and I believe its more important to be physical and tough to play against as a Dman than to score 50+ points in the regular season. In the playoffs, games tighten, scoring naturally decreases, and IMO Hamilton is not going to be a difference maker, he hasn't been so for his entire career.
- jd250

Yes, they are poor sources. It's similar to forming an opinion based on what is said on WIP. Oh, the famous unnamed sources. Actual internal high up sources from the Bruins are not talking about a player on another team to media personalities. I refuted your point of watching him play on another post, asking you a question. I await your answer on that. Hamilton is absolutely a difference maker and a really, really good defenseman. He would be a huge upgrade for the Flyers defense.

Before last season, in all honesty, what did you think of Myers as a player?

Morin is far closer to the end of his NHL career than he is to earning a spot on the Flyers.
- MJL

I thought he looked good the previous year. but which is the real Meyers. Was like two completely different players. And the mistakes last year were horrific mistakes, mistakes that pros dont make over and over.

I didn't call out anything you posted. I responded to and agreed with BMeltzer's pushback on what it would take to get Jones from Columbus and reiterated I don't do any deal unless Jones was signing an extension with the Flyers. I mean, Columbus has 0 leverage given Jones' claim he wants to test FA, they thus either make a trade this season or he walks for nothing. Therefore I don't think the Flyers should get stupid in what they give up for Jones, since they can always sign him next season and give nothing to Columbus.
- jd250

I have to disagree here. Their leverage will be using each teams offer against each other. They have plenty of leverage once the offers start coming in.

I don't agree with your assessment of Morin. I think the Flyers were trying to limit his minutes to help him, his knees specifically, not get injured again. But when Morin played, he brought that physical edge to the backend this team sorely missed, and I thought he was very effective on the PK.
- jd250

Morin definitely brought a physical edge but he was not good overall and was not very effective in any manpower situation. His minutes were limited because he was just not very good. Not because of injuries. He needs to improve drastically but that can be said about almost every player on the team last season. So he'll get a fresh start and we'll see what happens.

I thought he looked good the previous year. but which is the real Meyers. Was like two completely different players. And the mistakes last year were horrific mistakes, mistakes that pros dont make over and over.
- bradster

Myers was in a huge mental funk and lacked confidence in his play. The situation on the team for a young player was horrendous. We'll see if he can recover.

Myers was in a huge mental funk and lacked confidence in his play. The situation on the team for a young player was horrendous. We'll see if he can recover.
- MJL

Or maybe he lacks between the ears. The coach called him out several times

Myers was in a huge mental funk and lacked confidence in his play. The situation on the team for a young player was horrendous. We'll see if he can recover.
- MJL

I'm glad you know what's wrong with him and hope he can sort it out. He isnt close to old, but he isn't that young, he should be entering his prime years now.

I'm glad you know what's wrong with him and hope he can sort it out. He isnt close to old, but he isn't that young, he should be entering his prime years now.
- bradster

Well it was pretty obvious when you look closely at his play. Last year was a lost development year for a number of players. He is approaching his prime years.

Myers was in a huge mental funk and lacked confidence in his play. The situation on the team for a young player was horrendous. We'll see if he can recover.
- MJL

All the resident tough guys keep screaming about excuses. But I am still a little leery about throwing the entire team under the bus after the extraordinary circumstances that last season presented.

yeah yeah yeah every team had to deal with it blah blah blah, but does that make it any less a fact?

I dont think we were as bad as it looked. I still think we need the help we need, but I dont think we are as big a trainwreck as it ended up being.

If we even got an average Carter Hart season for example, this team would have been right in the playoff hunt.

The Athletic did an article on Myers.

https://theathletic.com/2...-turned-into-a-step-back/

Almost every example they use of an egregious decision he makes, and there are many, are snowballed by a really poor effort by the goalie where he simply does not make a save he should have made.

Myers specifically needs to be better, but I know from experience in my own life that sometimes your confidence can be rescued when a teammate bails you out. BUt if every mistake you make ends up in the back of the net, goodbye confidence.

Its all related.

I've said over and over, this team played like they had no confidence in themselves or each other. That spirals in to a never ending cycle. In the future both the staff and the players need to be better in breaking that cycle.

Well it was pretty obvious when you look closely at his play. Last year was a lost development year for a number of players. He is approaching his prime years.
- MJL

Is that is your excuse for their poor play?

Well it was pretty obvious when you look closely at his play. Last year was a lost development year for a number of players. He is approaching his prime years.
- MJL

Like i said, i hope that's right and its just confidence. Because if its hockey IQ, then that would be trouble.

Like i said, i hope that's right and its just confidence. Because if its hockey IQ, then that would be trouble.
- bradster

The coach has questioned his hockey IQ several times.

I disagree that is supports what you said about Hamilton. The reason why Carolina is approaching the situation the way they are, is salary cap related. They are interested in brining Hamilton back, just at the right price.

Rod Brind'Amour is the Canes head coach. We all know what Brindy is about. He just won the Jack Adams. If Hamilton is soft, how do you explain that Brindy played Hamilton 25 minutes a game in the playoffs? Which was an increase from the 22 minutes a game he averaged in the regular season
- MJL

That's easy, Hamilton is one of Carolina's top pairing defenseman. The minutes of any team's top 4 go up in the playoffs since those are your 4 best defenseman. But don't forget, Carolina is sitting home right now, they did not get out of their division. During his exit interview, Brindy was clear that what he learned was his team was not good enough.

I have to disagree here. Their leverage will be using each teams offer against each other. They have plenty of leverage once the offers start coming in.
- MBFlyerfan

true, but my point is Columbus is not in a position to ask for the sun and moon for Jones, and the teams interested would only be teams Jones is willing to sign a long term deal with, which limits the playing field.

All the resident tough guys keep screaming about excuses. But I am still a little leery about throwing the entire team under the bus after the extraordinary circumstances that last season presented.

yeah yeah yeah every team had to deal with it blah blah blah, but does that make it any less a fact?

I dont think we were as bad as it looked. I still think we need the help we need, but I dont think we are as big a trainwreck as it ended up being.

If we even got an average Carter Hart season for example, this team would have been right in the playoff hunt.

The Athletic did an article on Myers.

https://theathletic.com/2...-turned-into-a-step-back/

Almost every example they use of an egregious decision he makes, and there are many, are snowballed by a really poor effort by the goalie where he simply does not make a save he should have made.

Myers specifically needs to be better, but I know from experience in my own life that sometimes your confidence can be rescued when a teammate bails you out. BUt if every mistake you make ends up in the back of the net, goodbye confidence.

Its all related.

I've said over and over, this team played like they had no confidence in themselves or each other. That spirals in to a never ending cycle. In the future both the staff and the players need to be better in breaking that cycle.
- MBFlyerfan

I isolated on Myers all through the season to look at his play. Playing defense in the NHL is difficult especially for young players. The Flyers lacked structure and consistency in their play. Flyers defenseman were faced with all season having to make a split second decision on which high danger player to cover in an attempt to cover breakdowns. Some certainly caused with their own error. This was an extremely difficult situation to play in. With Myers, it just snowballed. He got deeply frustrated, confused and lacked confidence. To the point where he looked like he didn't belong at times. You can't ignore everything that went on with last season but I see most of it as an outlier. Like you said, the coaching staff did a horrendous job in correcting issues when they first started. With the lack of practice time, it just got worse and worse.

Like i said, i hope that's right and its just confidence. Because if its hockey IQ, then that would be trouble.
- bradster

It's not hockey IQ.

true, but my point is Columbus is not in a position to ask for the sun and moon for Jones, and the teams interested would only be teams Jones is willing to sign a long term deal with, which limits the playing field.
- jd250

Yes they are in that position. Teams bidding against each other will drive up the price. They don't have to trade him this off season.

The coach has questioned his hockey IQ several times.
- hello it's me 2050

that's right, it was nice that AV was honest, though I think it was public comments like this that may might have caused him to lose the room last year. But its a big deal when a coach calls into question a players IQ and unwillingness to pay the price. These are not things that you can teach a player, they either have it or they don't IMO.