I'm with you except on the starting Jones. The backup is going to have to play more games than just in back to backs. There is help on the way and they have to do a better job in helping the young players.
- MJL

I didn't see much of the game, so I'm basing my thoughts on last night's game from what others are saying. I did see a highlight of the Brooooins 4th goal and I thought it was rather weak. Sanheim had him cut off and you can't give up a short side goal there. Other successful teams play their #1's all the time(Tampa...etc.) and the schedule isn't that compressed yet. I stand by what I said and think it was a mistake. I don't know what help you see on the way cause I see no bonafide young players in the pipeline. I see all these other teams(Devils and Rags to name two of them) incorporating young talent into their respective lineups and I see nada from the Flyers.

I didn't see much of the game, so I'm basing my thoughts on last night's game from what others are saying. I did see a highlight of the Brooooins 4th goal and I thought it was rather weak. Sanheim had him cut off and you can't give up a short side goal there. Other successful teams play their #1's all the time(Tampa...etc.) and the schedule isn't that compressed yet. I stand by what I said and think it was a mistake. I don't know what help you see on the way cause I see no bonafide young players in the pipeline. I see all these other teams(Devils and Rags to name two of them) incorporating young talent into their respective lineups and I see nada from the Flyers.
- Phillywhiteout

It was a save you’d like to see but Sanheim sure as hell did not cut him off

Derek Brassard has more points than Cam Atkinson, JVR, Konecny and Farabee. Only two less points than Couturier.
- MJL

It’s also worth noting that at least two of Couturier’s goals were empty netters.

It was a save you’d like to see but Sanheim sure as hell did not cut him off
- ClaudeFather

Perhaps I worded it wrong, but the guy didn't have a lane to the net, so Jones should have cut down the angle and at least made the dude beat him with a much tougher shot to the long side. That was too easy for the shooter.

I would say you’re right. Very concerning that they received clearance to go and now are out again. I wonder if it’s a physics injury or something else with Hayes. Maybe he’s still dealing with his brothers death and needs time away which is perfectly understandable
- Hextall271

If Hayes is struggling mentally that would be understandable. If that was the case I'd assume he would be on LTIR already. He appeared to injure himself in Dallas.

The lack of scoring is something I knew would be an issue with this team. Far too many streaky players. Averaging less than 2 goals per game over the last 11 games is absurdly inept.

Their main source of O zone entries are wingers deflecting the dmen’s first passes in from the neutral zone. That’s not how the good teams do it.

Perhaps I worded it wrong, but the guy didn't have a lane to the net, so Jones should have cut down the angle and at least made the dude beat him with a much tougher shot to the long side. That was too easy for the shooter.
- Phillywhiteout

Yea he was deep in his net. Sanheim and Jones underestimated Smiths speed

Coaching is part of it but I don't know if making a coaching change would do anything. Maybe if they brought in a coach who would tighten things up defensively and play more conservatively. This team has a major issue with defensive transition and center play. It's why they don't drive play. Have trouble scoring and spend too much time defending
- MJL

Yeah, it’s more than coaching, management and injuries is as much to blame too. You aren’t going to be a playoff team running Brassard, Laughton and Thompson as your 2-4 centers, especially when Couts is not on top of his game. Likewise, you aren’t going to be successful with Braun playing on the top pair.

To get through these types of injuries requires out of the box thinking by both the GM and the coaches though, and that is sorely lacking with this franchise. FWIW, this is the lineup I’d go with right now and yes, it will involve sinking or swimming with some kids until injured players return

JVR-Couts-TK
G-Frost-Farabee
Lindblom-Laughton-Atkinson
Wilman-Brassard-McEwan

Thompson is shot and needs to come out of the lineup and putting Frost with G at least gives him a chance to succeed.

On D
Provorov-Sanheim
You need a legit top pair and this is the closest they have right now

York-Braun
Zamula-Risto

Again, not sure if the kids will sink or swim but Yandle, like Nate, is shot and Seeler has no business taking a regular shift in the NHL

It’s also important that they stick with the kids for a while and don’t bench them the minute they make a mistake. Again, this will require patience and creative thinking from the coaching staff which you aren’t going to get from AV and his crew.

If Hayes is struggling mentally that would be understandable. If that was the case I'd assume he would be on LTIR already. He appeared to injure himself in Dallas.

The lack of scoring is something I knew would be an issue with this team. Far too many streaky players. Averaging less than 2 goals per game over the last 11 games is absurdly inept.
- PLindbergh31

I’m just speculating. It’s prob a physical injury. Guy can buy a break.

I didn't have these types of struggles. Losing Ellis has not helped their pp and I expect if he returns healthy it’ll improve. His absence probably is also hurting offence in general. Regardless the drop off shouldn’t be this bad.

Their main source of O zone entries are wingers deflecting the dmen’s first passes in from the neutral zone. That’s not how the good teams do it.
- dmleip

Automatically have one forward flat footed and the others aren’t getting in there quick enough. It’s a sad state this team is in

Yeah, it’s more than coaching, management and injuries is as much to blame too. You aren’t going to be a playoff team running Brassard, Laughton and Thompson as your 2-4 centers, especially when Couts is not on top of his game. Likewise, you aren’t going to be successful with Braun playing on the top pair.

To get through these types of injuries requires out of the box thinking by both the GM and the coaches though, and that is sorely lacking with this franchise. FWIW, this is the lineup I’d go with right now and yes, it will involve sinking or swimming with some kids until injured players return

JVR-Couts-TK
G-Frost-Farabee
Lindblom-Laughton-Atkinson
Wilman-Brassard-McEwan

Thompson is shot and needs to come out of the lineup and putting Frost with G at least gives him a chance to succeed.

On D
Provorov-Sanheim
You need a legit top pair and this is the closest they have right now

York-Braun
Zamula-Risto

Again, not sure if the kids will sink or swim but Yandle, like Nate, is shot and Seeler has no business taking a regular shift in the NHL

It’s also important that they stick with the kids for a while and don’t bench them the minute they make a mistake. Again, this will require patience and creative thinking from the coaching staff which you aren’t going to get from AV and his crew.
- BiggE

I’ll have to check but is yandle eating too many minutes or same amount as before? Braun is doing his best but bound to hit a wall. Everyone is slotted incorrectly with Ellis out. Major loss and going they can weather the storm here.

Automatically have one forward flat footed and the others aren’t getting in there quick enough. It’s a sad state this team is in
- ClaudeFather

Yes. They love that play. It’s likely because they don’t possess the speed through the neutral zone to evade checks. The good teams either skate through or make several short quick passes to gain entry. We just give it away by deflecting it in because the forwards don’t beat the other teams d.

Also the rim around madness on the pp has to stop. Why don’t they seek to make quick passes to keep teams on their heels and open the box up.
Rimming it causes a scrum and a 50 50 puck battle. Exactly what the other teams pk wants. Kill time etc.

I have zero answers. Especially on offense. I don't think their is a right mix right now to get some sort of offensive zone time for more than 10 consecutive seconds.

Defense is what is right now. With Ellis out for the foreseeable future, it's going to be a challenge every night.

People want to blame the prior GM and current GM for this but in reality it’s the ownership. They weren’t willing to do a rebuild the right way. Hextall and the rebuild on the fly left them scraps, a good goalie and then middling talent. CF went win now, only thing ownership would accept, it was far too early. But in reality this team wasn’t 2 years away it was probably 5 at the least, we don’t have a single prospect worth mentioning. This organization has gone to sh!t and it isn’t changing anytime soon.
- ClaudeFather

Great post.

Flyers ran out of patience with Hextall's patience.

Given how last season ended, Fletcher was put into a spot to fix it ASAP. I don't have a huge issue with whom he acquired. In honesty, the Flyers should have gone the opposite way they did in the offseason and become more of a seller than buyer.

Great post.

Flyers ran out of patience with Hextall's patience.

Given how last season ended, Fletcher was put into a spot to fix it ASAP. I don't have a huge issue with whom he acquired. In honesty, the Flyers should have gone the opposite way they did in the offseason and become more of a seller than buyer.
- Pelle31Forever

Not sure who we’d have sold. You’re not getting a lot back for jvr etc. It’s going to be interesting to see where this goes with g. I expect the team to improve once they have a full lineup but I wonder if they trade him at the deadline if this year does go off the rails. Gives you cap space.

Yes. They love that play. It’s likely because they don’t possess the speed through the neutral zone to evade checks. The good teams either skate through or make several short quick passes to gain entry. We just give it away by deflecting it in because the forwards don’t beat the other teams d.

Also the rim around madness on the pp has to stop. Why don’t they seek to make quick passes to keep teams on their heels and open the box up.
Rimming it causes a scrum and a 50 50 puck battle. Exactly what the other teams pk wants. Kill time etc.
- Hextall271

It says a lot about how the coaches feel about this teams abilities by having guys deflect that puck in. That’s a fine play if you need to make a change but too often it leads to possession change or icing.

Derek Brassard has more points than Cam Atkinson, JVR, Konecny and Farabee. Only two less points than Couturier.
- MJL

Not bad for a player that is washed up.

It says a lot about how the coaches feel about this teams abilities by having guys deflect that puck in. That’s a fine play if you need to make a change but too often it leads to possession change or icing.
- dmleip

It’s also ok if you’re killing time with a lead etc. Continually giving up possession is a dangerous game and In general I want them to play to win rather than rope a dope even vs good teams.

Both florida teams back to back. Jones likely gets one of those games. So the coach would than have played his backup 2 of the 3 games against top eastern teams. Seems like a great decision.

Keep Frost and any others down in lehigh as let AV sink his own ship.

Yeah, it’s more than coaching, management and injuries is as much to blame too. You aren’t going to be a playoff team running Brassard, Laughton and Thompson as your 2-4 centers, especially when Couts is not on top of his game. Likewise, you aren’t going to be successful with Braun playing on the top pair.

To get through these types of injuries requires out of the box thinking by both the GM and the coaches though, and that is sorely lacking with this franchise. FWIW, this is the lineup I’d go with right now and yes, it will involve sinking or swimming with some kids until injured players return

JVR-Couts-TK
G-Frost-Farabee
Lindblom-Laughton-Atkinson
Wilman-Brassard-McEwan

Thompson is shot and needs to come out of the lineup and putting Frost with G at least gives him a chance to succeed.

On D
Provorov-Sanheim
You need a legit top pair and this is the closest they have right now

York-Braun
Zamula-Risto

Again, not sure if the kids will sink or swim but Yandle, like Nate, is shot and Seeler has no business taking a regular shift in the NHL

It’s also important that they stick with the kids for a while and don’t bench them the minute they make a mistake. Again, this will require patience and creative thinking from the coaching staff which you aren’t going to get from AV and his crew.
- BiggE

Also the lack of talent on the team is an issue. They just are not good enough.

We both know sadly they likely wont even play 1 rookie on the backend let alone 2. Let AV sink hmself and keep playing the over the hlll vets.

Not sure who we’d have sold. You’re not getting a lot back for jvr etc. It’s going to be interesting to see where this goes with g. I expect the team to improve once they have a full lineup but I wonder if they trade him at the deadline if this year does go off the rails. Gives you cap space.
- Hextall271

So hextall the guy who had great vision & patience is also the guys who signed a 30 year vet who is a big soft gummy bear to a 7 million dollar contract. Seems like a move that screams smarts & patiences

Frost & York need to be up now

Look at this offensive incompetence. It's hard to fathom how awful this team has been offensively.

Farabee 1 point last 13 games
Lindblom 1 point in 15 games
Van Riemsdyk 2 goals in 16 games
Macewan/Brown/Thompson 3 points total in a combined 36 games played
Laughton 4 points in 16 games

This more than half of your regular forwards literally doing (frank)ing nothing over the course of 20% of the schedule.

So hextall the guy who had great vision & patience is also the guys who signed a 30 year vet who is a big soft gummy bear to a 7 million dollar contract. Seems like a move that screams smarts & patiences

Frost & York need to be up now
- Fopa21

Simply put he’s not effective if not scoring. He’ll likely get hot at some point but we need him now.

Look at this offensive incompetence. It's hard to fathom how awful this team has been offensively.

Farabee 1 point last 13 games
Lindblom 1 point in 15 games
Van Riemsdyk 2 goals in 16 games
Macewan/Brown/Thompson 3 points total in a combined 36 games played
Laughton 4 points in 16 games

This more than half of your regular forwards literally doing (frank)ing nothing over the course of 20% of the schedule.
- PLindbergh31

Everyone needs to realize lindblom will never be the same
Laughton is horrible. Everyone will say look how hard he works. Bottom line is he suck’s contributes very little & his new contract is brutal!
That’s the point total I’d expect from a grinder 4th line
The problem is this team has no one w balls except Risto but he’s too new to take control of team

Simply put he’s not effective if not scoring. He’ll likely get hot at some point but we need him now.
- Hextall271

He stinks. Waste a 7 million.