Can we please stop with the Jakey and Ghost worship. Yes, there are aspects of their games that the Flyers miss, but there were also many aspects of their games that the Flyers absolutely don't miss. Ghost is thriving on a terrible team in a market where no one cares about hockey. Guess there was too much pressure on him here? The Flyers do miss Jake's ability to carry the puck and there's no doubt about that, but it's not like Jake wasn't given a chance to succeed in Philly. Buh bye to both!
- Phillywhiteout

C’mon man ….we would have been much better off bringing the whole gang back. Seriously we were starting to turn the corner….just two years away.

At the time, a team would have to take on the contract. It was about the cap, not about nobody wanting him. Many GM's who did have the cap space, made a mistake.
- MJL

To me it was as much to do with his injury history as with his contract. Everyone knows how dynamic he can be offensively. When he’s on he’s worth his salary. Unfortunately he is often injured and seemed to be alternating good and bad seasons. It seemed to me that there were signs that the injuries were slowing him down and his overall effectiveness was trending down. Phoenix got lucky. He’s been healthy and effective. The Flyers took a chance on Ellis’ health and have not been as lucky.

To me it was as much to do with his injury history as with his contract. Everyone knows how dynamic he can be offensively. When he’s on he’s worth his salary. Unfortunately he is often injured and seemed to be alternating good and bad seasons. It seemed to me that there were signs that the injuries were slowing him down and his overall effectiveness was trending down.
- Dkos

In my opinion, Gostisbehere is similar to Ristolainen. Not the same kind of player but the same impact. Mediocre at best. Gostisbehere just doesn't have the overall game to be in your top 4 if you want to be a contender. He can put up points and play on the PP. If you could play him with other top players, it could result in some decent overall play. Unfortunately the cap situation has degraded the trade market and the Flyers had other needs. Needed the cap space.

Quite simple actually:

1. Martin Jones - Has proven to be a more than capable backup, has stole games for this team already
2. Ryan Ellis - Top pairing defenseman, plays in all situations. LOL We see how good he is every time he is on the ice, but unfortunately he has not been on the ice too frequently this season. But when he is, he clearly is our best defenseman
3. Risto - has played solid this year. Not perfect, but is a very good defender that adds a strong physical presence that this team sorely lacked last season.
4. Atkinson - started out of the gates strong but honestly has slid off and frankly I'm disappointed in him of late. But we got out from Jake's horrible contract, and his horrible 200 foot play, so in the end, its a win for the Flyers
5. Yandle - signed to help the PP which has been atrocious so far. Given Yandle's lack of defensive ability, this signing has not worked out.
6. Brassard/Thompson - depth forward signings which turned out to be very necessary given the injuries to Hayes and Allison. They are what they are, they have filled in admirably, Brassard in fact is 4th on the team in scoring, with more points that TK and Bee!
7. Seeler/Glendening - Depth signings for defense and Seeler has had to play pretty much all season. He is what he is, a decent depth defenseman that has been exposed because he has had to play a lot more than anyone intended him to.

So I conclude that CFs moves this off season were mostly positive, with the exception of Yandle. But even Yandle would be better if Ellis was back in the lineup and Yandle got Braun back as a partner. Injuries are not an excuse to loose 5 in a row, but they clearly are having a significant negative impact on this team that we can't simply ignore.
- jd250

A player who does not play due to injury is not a player that can play all situation

Jones stole a point YAY!

He traded cap hit for an extra year of term on jakes contract after game 6-7 Atkinson has been MIA, much like the rest of the team

No matter how much you scream about Risto, cf was bent over and anally reamed by a rookie gm on that trade.

lol talking about lipstick on a pig -- mentioning Thompson signing as a positive is hilarious

cf built this team in his likeness - bland and incapable of winning anything

LOL, what do you think it's relative to? You're completely wrong. The overall team's possession numbers are completely relevant.
- MJL

The average possession numbers of the team he is on, of course.

Here are Ghost's #s. The last line in the circled columns is what TMHK means when he uses the term "possession drag." Its how much possession of the team gets dragged down when he is on ice.

At the time, a team would have to take on the contract. It was about the cap, not about nobody wanting him. Many GM's who did have the cap space, made a mistake.
- MJL

Incorrect. After the season same scenario. We had to pay to get rid of him. His 5 v5 numbers are mediocre. In fact the other day risto had better numbers than ghost. He is effective in the p p, sure. He’s a head case. Won’t take long.

In my opinion, Gostisbehere is similar to Ristolainen. Not the same kind of player but the same impact. Mediocre at best. Gostisbehere just doesn't have the overall game to be in your top 4 if you want to be a contender. He can put up points and play on the PP. If you could play him with other top players, it could result in some decent overall play. Unfortunately the cap situation has degraded the trade market and the Flyers had other needs. Needed the cap space.
- MJL

This makes more sense.

The average possession numbers of the team he is on, of course.

Here are Ghost's #s. The last line in the circled columns is what TMHK means when he uses the term "possession drag." Its how much possession of the team gets dragged down when he is on ice.


- PT21

I'm completely aware of his numbers. He is not a possession drag. The entire team is.

I'm completely aware of his numbers. He is not a possession drag. The entire team is.
- MJL

He brings the team average down, which means however bad the team is, he is worse.

Dude.

He brings the team average down, which means however bad the team is, he is worse.

Dude.
- PT21

LOL. Dude. He is the team average. Slightly below it. He's also 2nd overall in team ice time at 5 on 5. Which means he's taking on a lot of the tougher minutes against better players. Many of the other players who are on the plus side of the ledger are undoubtedly not playing in the same situations. This is the issue with relative stats.

The condescension coming from someone without a good grasp. Dude.

cf built this team in his likeness - bland and incapable of winning anything
- corduroy

Could not agree more about building a bland team and not just Fletcher. Hextal too. I can’t understand why such a fiery and unique player would want to build such a vanilla team

Could agree more about building a bland team and not just Fletcher. Hextal too. I can’t understand why such a fiery and unique player would wan build such a vanilla team
- Dkos

Hextall wasn't close to building the team he wanted to build. This organization lacks the patience that is needed and now this team is in a big hole.

LOL. Dude. He is the team average. Slightly below it..
- MJL

That is all that "possession drag" means. He drags the team's possession stats down.
How much, why, and so on was never discussed.

Glad we agree. I am moving on.

Hextall wasn't close to building the team he wanted to build. This organization lacks the patience that is needed and now this team is in a big hole.
- MJL

He had what 5 years. This is a poor excuse. He had plenty of time. He chose to do nothing.

That is all that "possession drag" means. He drags the team's possession stats down.
How much, why, and so on was never discussed.

Glad we agree. I am moving on.




- PT21

No a possession drag is a significant drop from the rest of the team. An outlier. That is not the case here. He is a top minute player, who plays tough minutes on a very poor team. His CF% number is around the average of the team.

Glad I could educate you. I am moving on.

Could not agree more about building a bland team and not just Fletcher. Hextal too. I can’t understand why such a fiery and unique player would want to build such a vanilla team
- Dkos

Hextall wasn’t given the full 10 years to see his plan out. I agree 100% these teams are tough to watch. I like it better then last year, but they appear to be slipping back into unwatchable play.

Hextall wasn't close to building the team he wanted to build. This organization lacks the patience that is needed and now this team is in a big hole.
- MJL

Management did not trust him. That’s his failing as a GM. Not the other way around. Look at the players he drafted. Look at the moves he made. Yawn.

Could not agree more about building a bland team and not just Fletcher. Hextal too. I can’t understand why such a fiery and unique player would want to build such a vanilla team
- Dkos

There are really only 2 Non-vanilla flavors on a team's taste spectrum: 'physicality' and talent.

The former plays an increasingly smaller role (though not 0). As an analytics guy, Hextall probably saw the trend and did not bring in players who fulfill that role when there were more important traits to seek out. The talent was largely in the mid 1st round range, and he could not beat the odds, he got on average mid-1st round talent.

So, I guess thats why.

Could not agree more about building a bland team and not just Fletcher. Hextal too. I can’t understand why such a fiery and unique player would want to build such a vanilla team
- Dkos

Yes. After hex the identity was still not there. We are not fast, physical or highly skilled. The years of drafting and thought we had a deep prospect pool is coming up shallow.

Not defending chuck. But at least he saw the team had no physicality and tried to address it.

Management did not trust him. That’s his failing as a GM. Look at the players he drafted. Look at the moves he made. Yawn.
- Dkos

He should have been given longer so we could have added more Nolan Patrick’s, JOB’s, German Rubstov’s, Isaac Ratcliff’s ….Christ what were they thinking firing him….you sign a guy like JVR for 7 million on a long term deal it’s obviously a win….oh wait that was top management getting impatient with him? That wasn’t his call.
God only knows what else Hextall had in store for us.

I tried to tell you all Summer when you were clamoring about the culture change. I appreciate your optimism but continue to not look at reality.
- MJL

You can change the culture and still get the same results. Not sure why you continue to think they go hand in hand.

There are really only 2 Non-vanilla flavors on a team's taste spectrum: 'physicality' and talent.

The former plays an increasingly smaller role (though not 0). As an analytics guy, Hextall probably saw the trend and did not bring in players who fulfill that role when there were more important traits to seek out. The talent was largely in the mid 1st round range, and he could not beat the odds, he got on average mid-1st round talent.

So, I guess thats why.
- PT21

It’s also why analytics are a tool and shouldn’t be a main focus when looking at constructing a team. Similar to predictive index. Helpful tool. But only provides a part of the picture.

Management did not trust him. That’s his failing as a GM. Not the other way around. Look at the players he drafted. Look at the moves he made. Yawn.
- Dkos

I don't think it was about trust. They wanted him to escalate the situation and get more aggressive. Hextall smartly refused. Look at the situation now. Instead of a younger developing team, we now have an older, aging capped out mediocre team. Worst position a team can be in.

Hextall added a franchise potential goaltender, a top pairing defenseman. A 2nd pairing defenseman. Two top 6 level wingers. 4 other NHL players as well as the potential for 3 more. Unfortunately he was not able to add that star level skater but in 5 drafts, his record is solid.

At the time, a team would have to take on the contract. It was about the cap, not about nobody wanting him. Many GM's who did have the cap space, made a mistake.
- MJL

That is your opinion not a fact. Cap and his shoddy play were the reason. If any GM though he could help them for free they would have found a way make it work. They always do. Right or Wrong no one wanted him. Wast all cap despite your narrative.

I wouldn't say that Gostisbehere is thriving. He's simply making some plays with the puck. It's going to be difficult for him to continue doing that on that team. Jake Voracek succeeded to the point of being what, top 5 in franchise history in assists? If we want to look at team success when he was here, can we not say the same for Couturier and Giroux? Have they not succeeded also?
- MJL

No, no one had had success in the past 10 years IMO. It's about team success, and Couts and Giroux have not done enough. You can argue about not having players around them, but this team hasn't been nearly good enough for a decade now. Their last REAL playoff series win was in 2012 against the Pens and that's a joke. I don't consider the win against the Habs a REAL playoff series win cause they wouldn't have even made the playoffs if not for the virus.