Targeting is one of the biggest modern day hockey myths.
- Tomahawk

Of course; the opposition would never ever go after a player nursing an injury... especially if they knew the player and the exact injury... would they? Why on earth give their own team an advantage?

Ellis said last week that he's never had this particular type of injury (believed to be a recurring groin pull, but not confirmed as such) before in his career.
- bmeltzer

And he is not the first hockey player nor the last that has started from a bad groin pull. I think it's premature and unfair to tie this back to the reason Nashville traded him. However I am starting to wonder if the Flyers have the right people looking at this injury and treating it.

Of course; the opposition would never ever go after a player nursing an injury... especially if they knew the player and the exact injury... would they? Why on earth give their own team an advantage?
- ForeverFlyer16

Don't you think that seems to have gone away or at least has diminished importance nowadays. How often did you see Petry being targeted after he returned with that well-publicized hand injury? He was a key to the style Habs play. Was there a single slash in his direction even when VGK were losing?

I think the game is so tightly structured that that sort of hounding does not pay off and may even harm the team ...

Mullen coached the PP for 10 years ending in 16-17. They finished in the top 6 for 7 of those years and 4 years in the top 3. His worst year was his last when they finished #14, still top half of the league. Letting him go was just another Hextall blunder.
- Djapana

But the facts are the Flyers since the 2011 season have only hit 20% or more on their PP 4 times, the highest being 23.64% in 2014 under Craig Berube. They were up and down under Joey Mullin just as much as they are now. The Flyers average PP% over the past decade is under 20%, which means at best it's been average. I still conclude the players are responsible more than the coaching. Good PPs attack the slot area, they don't rely on shots from the point! Giroux is probably the only real sniper on this team, they have got to get him shooting more from the bumper or top of the circle.

Cried watching Oskar’s video and reading this for Hockey Fights Cancer night. 😭

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-328051884?tid=282796264

Oskar is going to have a great night tonight. 💜

Let’s go Flyers!

And he is not the first hockey player nor the last that has started from a bad groin pull. I think it's premature and unfair to tie this back to the reason Nashville traded him. However I am starting to wonder if the Flyers have the right people looking at this injury and treating it.
- jd250

That injury specifically, no but being injury prone overall and a concern that he is going to breakdown. I don't think there is any doubt about that. That's why they made the deal. That's why they didn't get a bigger haul for a RH top pairing two way defenseman. An injury prone player with 6 years left on his deal. Too good to be true.

From a layman's perspective on soft tissue injuries. A lot of it based on feed back from the player and how he feels as to when he is ready to play.

Willman recalled.

But the facts are the Flyers since the 2011 season have only hit 20% or more on their PP 4 times, the highest being 23.64% in 2014 under Craig Berube. They were up and down under Joey Mullin just as much as they are now. The Flyers average PP% over the past decade is under 20%, which means at best it's been average. I still conclude the players are responsible more than the coaching. Good PPs attack the slot area, they don't rely on shots from the point! Giroux is probably the only real sniper on this team, they have got to get him shooting more from the bumper or top of the circle.
- jd250

Giroux does not play the bumper position.

The Flyers averaged 20% or better 5 times in that period. They also hit 19.7% twice and 19.5% once.

The Flyers power play over that period of time is 20.0%. 7th overall in the league.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/...layPct&page=0&pageSize=50

What about Cam Atkinson? Can't the culture change fix the PP issues?

Willman recalled.
- Ftown19125

I guess we'll find out the mystery injured player soon.

Of course; the opposition would never ever go after a player nursing an injury... especially if they knew the player and the exact injury... would they? Why on earth give their own team an advantage?
- ForeverFlyer16

Teams only started doing it in 90's. There were a lot of teams that fully disclosed everything into the 2000's. There has never been a rash of injury picking that I know of.

Plus the game moves too damned fast to target somebody so specifically. And if the stakes are high enough that you'd deliberately injure somebody, the risk of taking a penalty (or getting suspended for intent to injure) in that situation would be a huge deterrent.

Not to mention what it would do to a offender's reputation around the league.

Again, it's a myth. A scary story that paranoid coaches/GMs have told over the years so they could gain an "advantage"... and it's just become coopted into the broader meta and now the fans regurgitate the talking point, too.

feels like a 5-3 game

That injury specifically, no but being injury prone overall and a concern that he is going to breakdown. I don't think there is any doubt about that. That's why they made the deal. That's why they didn't get a bigger haul for a RH top pairing two way defenseman. An injury prone player with 6 years left on his deal. Too good to be true.

From a layman's perspective on soft tissue injuries. A lot of it based on feed back from the player and how he feels as to when he is ready to play.
- MJL

I'm just glad we finally know the answer.

I'm just glad we finally know the answer.
- BenderRodriguez

I wouldn't say it's a fact. I'm just offering my opinion. Which is the same opinion I had since the deal was made.

I wouldn't say it's a fact. I'm just offering my opinion. Which is the same opinion I had since the deal was made.
- MJL

Just busting your balls. I don't necessarily agree, but an argument can certainly be made.

Just busting your balls. I don't necessarily agree, but an argument can certainly be made.
- BenderRodriguez

It's okay if you don't agree. I just can't see any other reason why Nashville made that trade.

Don't you think that seems to have gone away or at least has diminished importance nowadays. How often did you see Petry being targeted after he returned with that well-publicized hand injury? He was a key to the style Habs play. Was there a single slash in his direction even when VGK were losing?

I think the game is so tightly structured that that sort of hounding does not pay off and may even harm the team ...
- PT21

The rule changes have reduced it for sure. But weaknesses in a competitive environment are always targeted.

The rule changes have reduced it for sure. But weaknesses in a competitive environment are always targeted.
- Peter Richards

Unless targeting those weaknesses is more trouble than it causes, right? I mean, when was the last series you saw where a specific player was being targeted post-injury?

And if it happens in hockey, why not in NFL, where hitting is far easier? The NFL is much more transparent about injuries. Have you ever seen a guy come back from injury to body part and have same body part be targeted?

How often will you see opposing LBs target Miles Sanders ankles? Or give him an extra yank there?

So Ellis is out 4-6 weeks? I can see how this ends. We wait 4 to 6 weeks for him to play a game and then he reinjures himself 10 minutes into that game, and then he has season ending surgery. Tanks for nuttin!!

The rule changes have reduced it for sure. But weaknesses in a competitive environment are always targeted.
- Peter Richards

I agree but only in the right sense. For example if a team knows a defenseman has a knee injury, I don't think they're going to try and attack that body part to see if they can knock him out of the game. I do however think that they will try and attack that defenseman offensively to try and gain an advantage.

I agree but only in the right sense. For example if a team knows a defenseman has a knee injury, I don't think they're going to try and attack that body part to see if they can knock him out of the game. I do however think that they will try and attack that defenseman offensively to try and gain an advantage.
- MJL

You mean like what teams do to Seth Jones, even when he's healthy?

You mean like what teams do to Seth Jones, even when he's healthy?
- Tomahawk

That team is just not good defensively. Murphy and McCabe are worse.

Bill, is there a stat or way to see goals scored and shots on goal from high danger scoring areas for the Flyers?
That area between the circles and the slot seem like areas this team just doesn’t get to and get quality shots on goal.
I would bet a high percentage of the Flyers overall SOG come from the blue line.

Bill, is there a stat or way to see goals scored and shots on goal from high danger scoring areas for the Flyers?
That area between the circles and the slot seem like areas this team just doesn’t get to and get quality shots on goal.
I would bet a high percentage of the Flyers overall SOG come from the blue line.

Bill, is there a stat or way to see goals scored and shots on goal from high danger scoring areas for the Flyers?
That area between the circles and the slot seem like areas this team just doesn’t get to and get quality shots on goal.
I would bet a high percentage of the Flyers overall SOG come from the blue line.
- Buzzo

The Flyers rank 29th in the league in high danger scoring chances for.

Hayes not in warmups.