Well, the Flyers are doing something right in the neutral zone this season, compared to last season, because clearly based on just watching the games the Flyers are generating more turnovers and scoring off the rush a lot more. Whether that's a trap or overloading (which you can do in the neutral zone BTW) its just semantics.
- jd250

No it's not semantics. They are playing better in the neutral zone. No you can't play an overload in the neutral zone. Show me a neutral zone checking scheme that overloads in the neutral zone? To explain it to you, AV's system of overloading cuts the ice in half vertically in an attempt to out man the opposition on the puck. Now lets try and apply that to the neutral zone. Teams play a neutral zone forecheck situationally. Such as behind a dump in and a line change or against a teams controlled breakout. If you overload on one side of the ice in that situation, what's going to happen? Again, a trap and an overload are two completely different schemes.

A swing and a miss is hardly what I would call a punch.

- MBFlyerfan

Perhaps like how being an assistant NHL coach, doesn’t necessarily mean one is any good at it?

Alas, all in good fun. I enjoy a little bit of banter from time to time.

Or a new head coach wanted to bring in his own bench coaches and kept Lappariere on as an assistant. Same with the new GM who promoted him to be the AHL head coach. Why?
- MJL

Because Lappy was the easy lazy hire. Did they even interview anyone else?

An interesting situation that may come up this season is where the team will put priority on in terms of acquiring improvements via trade if possible.

On one hand there is a definite hole in the middle of the ice with Frost stagnating and Hayes needing surgery again. Brassard has been a good pickup, and his play admirable.

On the other, a second pair of Ristolainen and Sanheim seems to be a definite weak spot with both players having some valid questions to their game.

Clearly one wouldn’t rush to a panic trade, but I am wondering what sort of move we might see from Fletcher assuming they are in a playoff hunt. He is not likely to stand pat this season.
- FlyerFan3260

I agree, he's not likely to stand pat but he should.

Injured, upper body day to day.

Unfortunate for the kid but he’s got bust written all over him. I don’t blame Hextall for picking him up, but really was an unfortunate turn of events.
- FlyerFan3260

Really was

I agree, he's not likely to stand pat but he should.
- MJL

Id like a continuous exploration of trying to upgrade the backup goaltender spot, but they will be limited early on. Tough to do in a league designed for parity.

Very much agree I’d like to see patience in other areas. Team needs to show whether it can perform as currently constructed to gauge a proper direction forward.

Id like a continuous exploration of trying to upgrade the backup goaltender spot, but they will be limited early on. Tough to do in a league designed for parity.

Very much agree I’d like to see patience in other areas. Team needs to show whether it can perform as currently constructed to gauge a proper direction forward.
- FlyerFan3260

There's a ton of hockey left and it's really hard to try and predict what is going to happen. I have a gut feeling about it and a direction I'd like the team to take but that doesn't mean I'm right about it. After a handful of games there are some good things happening and some bad things. Have to let it play out.

No it's not semantics. They are playing better in the neutral zone. No you can't play an overload in the neutral zone. Show me a neutral zone checking scheme that overloads in the neutral zone? To explain it to you, AV's system of overloading cuts the ice in half vertically in an attempt to out man the opposition on the puck. Now lets try and apply that to the neutral zone. Teams play a neutral zone forecheck situationally. Such as behind a dump in and a line change or against a teams controlled breakout. If you overload on one side of the ice in that situation, what's going to happen? Again, a trap and an overload are two completely different schemes.
- MJL

Ok, this is last thing I am going to say about this. A neutral zone trap in essence is overloading the side of the ice the puck carrier is on, forcing the puck carrier to dump the puck in. The way to beat the trap is precisely the same as beating an overload in any one zone, i.e. pass the puck quickly across to the weak side.

Because Lappy was the easy lazy hire. Did they even interview anyone else?
- hello it's me 2050

I am not sure I would say lazy. I mean I guess it could be argued but on paper it does make sense. A number of years in a developmental/support role, and essentially all we have heard is the players enjoy working with him.

I do think his performance on the job itself should have been analyzed deeper but the hire on the surface is easily explained. Even if I do not agree with it.

The concern I suppose is what I’d deem a bit of a tunnel vision pattern by Fletcher. Those comments about Ristolainen being coveted for years were a little strange, as his performance really doesn’t warrant that kind of continued positive interest. They were dead seat on bringing Thompson back, signed 1st day of FA with again, his performance not really dictating that kind of positive intrigue.

Yeo was an extremely familiar hire, after a very poor performance in St Louis. They also very much doubled down on the idea that “it’s the players” this off season.

There is nothing wrong with a confident GM, but I get a bit of a sense that he’s got blinders on at times.

There's a ton of hockey left and it's really hard to try and predict what is going to happen. I have a gut feeling about it and a direction I'd like the team to take but that doesn't mean I'm right about it. After a handful of games there are some good things happening and some bad things. Have to let it play out.
- MJL

All just for the sake of conversation. I find the cheers or dismays about singular events in a game to be a little bit of a bore.

The larger direction of things is always what interested me more. What would your path be in a bit more detail if you have a second or two?

Ok, this is last thing I am going to say about this. A neutral zone trap in essence is overloading the side of the ice the puck carrier is on, forcing the puck carrier to dump the puck in. The way to beat the trap is precisely the same as beating an overload in any one zone, i.e. pass the puck quickly across to the weak side.
- jd250

No a neutral zone trap is a 3/4 ice 1-2-2 that does not forecheck and attempts to force the puck carrier to the boards into the trap set by the player in the 1 spot and the forward on that side. It does not cut the ice in half vertically with all 5 skaters on the same side of that vertical line such as in the overload system that has been employed by AV. A neutral zone trap retains a player presence on the other half of the vertical ice. The reason why the way to beat it is to pass to the weak side is because the forward in the 1 spot can't get from the strong side to the weak side fast enough to form another trap.

A neutral zone trap and an overload system played in either the offensive zone or defensive zone is not remotely the same thing. One is aggressive in nature and the other is not.

All just for the sake of conversation. I find the cheers or dismays about singular events in a game to be a little bit of a bore.

The larger direction of things is always what interested me more. What would your path be in a bit more detail if you have a second or two?
- FlyerFan3260

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.

What are peoples feelings on this upcoming Canada west road trip?
Edmonton and Mcdavid are unbeaten.
Vancouver best is opening night in our own barn.
Calgary looks better then last year.
I think it’s going to be a very thought trip on the Flyers and could see them easily go 1-2 or 0-2-1.
I just don’t like the speed of other teams they are playing against. We seem to struggle against quick teams with a very good transition game.
I’d be happy to go 1-1-1 honestly.

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.
- MJL

The next few drafts are said to be some of the best in recent memory, and I say that acknowledging there is some hype about every crop of youngsters.

They would be wise to try and add more picks if possible.

What are peoples feelings on this upcoming Canada west road trip?
Edmonton and Mcdavid are unbeaten.
Vancouver best is opening night in our own barn.
Calgary looks better then last year.
I think it’s going to be a very thought trip on the Flyers and could see them easily go 1-2 or 0-2-1.
I just don’t like the speed of other teams they are playing against. We seem to struggle against quick teams with a very good transition game.
I’d be happy to go 1-1-1 honestly.
- Buzzo

The Metro will be a challenge this season. One would have hoped for a poor start from Pittsburgh or Washington with key injuries to their top centermen but we have haven’t had such luck.

Edmonton is an offensive powerhouse when healthy, but the latter two need to be wins.

I know it might be looked at as conceding but I’d have gone with Hart against Vancouver and kept Jones for Edmonton. Meltzer is tweeting out that Hart will be in for McDavid and company.

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.
- MJL

Every team in every sport uses the draft and develop approach. This is not some new idea.

Well what if you never get to that plateau? Flyers been rebuilding since when? 2 years away. Flyers had holes that needed to be filled. They filled them. Cant wait forever. Yet you are on board with the resigning of ex selke. Seems odd as that goes against what you are preaching.

Was Ellis smart trade? What about Cam? Risto?

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.
- MJL

I think it’s very difficult when it is time to actually take that next step. Flyers probably thought a guy like Frost was ready to take the reigns, he’s on the verge of being a guy that might never make it. I think the prospect pool was thought of very highly the past few years, and that might not be the case. I worry we are in a spot that we made the move to take that next step and the supplemental pieces will never be there from inside the organization.

I agree, he's not likely to stand pat but he should.
- MJL

Why should he stand pat? Isnt the GMs goal to make the team better?

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.
- MJL

Do you think Chuck should've kept patrick and meyers, and not made the ellis trade?

What are peoples feelings on this upcoming Canada west road trip?
Edmonton and Mcdavid are unbeaten.
Vancouver best is opening night in our own barn.
Calgary looks better then last year.
I think it’s going to be a very thought trip on the Flyers and could see them easily go 1-2 or 0-2-1.
I just don’t like the speed of other teams they are playing against. We seem to struggle against quick teams with a very good transition game.
I’d be happy to go 1-1-1 honestly.
- Buzzo

It's always hard to win on the road so 3 to 4 points I'll take.

I think it’s very difficult when it is time to actually take that next step. Flyers probably thought a guy like Frost was ready to take the reigns, he’s on the verge of being a guy that might never make it. I think the prospect pool was thought of very highly the past few years, and that might not be the case. I worry we are in a spot that we made the move to take that next step and the supplemental pieces will never be there from inside the organization.
- ClaudeFather

You really emphasize my point. The pieces from inside should not be supplemental. They should be the main pieces. If they aren't then you aren't ready yet and you should remain patient.

In my opinion the major focus has to be on drafting and developing. Always be open for smart trades. The mistake the Flyers have made in my opinion is that they are trying to trade and sign their way to true contention. Taking on older and higher cap hit players to try and escalate the growth of the team. Rarely works. Supplement with trades and signings but you have to draft your way there first. Then identify weak areas that you need to fill in and use prospects and draft picks as assets to fill in once you get to that plateau.
- MJL

See, this where I disagree with you. This happened this off-season, but happening once in what, the past decade?, does not equate to a trend or a drastic shift in team plans. Fletcher had no choice this off season, the vibe on his team had to be addressed. There were several huge holes on this team, and clearly no young prospects or players to fill them all, in fact, as we saw this camp, a player like Frost could not even make the team. Fletcher had to fill these holes with outside players, there were no other options. Now I believe there is a some stability on this team, and they can now at least contend in their division, maybe even more. There is no doubt drafting and developing must continue, and be a lot more effective than it has been so far, if this team is going to grow, but I think its an exaggeration to state that the Flyers have changed their direction and want to sign and trade their way to a cup. Again, if the moves made by Fletcher this off season were not made, you can forget about signing Coots and Farabee to long term, team-friendly deals!

You really emphasize my point. The pieces from inside should not be supplemental. They should be the main pieces. If they aren't then you aren't ready yet and you should remain patient.
- MJL

we might as well be patient for another 10 years.

You really emphasize my point. The pieces from inside should not be supplemental. They should be the main pieces. If they aren't then you aren't ready yet and you should remain patient.
- MJL

or they just are not as good as you prop them up to be

Why should he stand pat? Isnt the GMs goal to make the team better?
- bradster

no. It is to collect draft picks, build a top rated farm system, and win the cap cup.