A very winnable game. I watched them the other night in Boston and they were terrible, the game was no where close to the score. I am not a Paul Maurice fan, I think he is a mediocre coach with a mediocre track record of mediocre teams. Florida didn't look anything like the team they were last year.
- jd250

Montour and Eklab also are out for tonight’s game.

I know you weren't, I am comparing them to demonstrate the difference between a young player (Cates) that is showing the goods to be a very good top 6 NHL forward, and a young player (Frost) that I think comes no where close.
- jd250

LOL. It is very doubtful that Cates long term is a top 6 NHL forward. His most likely role moving forward is as a 3rd line winger. Frost is already playing like a top 6 forward.

The Flyers best forward to this point of the season in a small sample is Scott Laughton. By far.

Nic Deslauriers has been on the ice for 2 goals against in 2:31 of PK time.
- Feanor

So were 3 other skaters and a goalie

The Flyers best forward to this point of the season in a small sample is Scott Laughton. By far.
- MJL

TK has been.

Imagine trading Giroux Jake Ghost and having nothing to show for it.What

They're different players. Yes, Cates is more well-rounded. Frost is more naturally gifted offensively. I judge Cates by what I want to see from him, and vice versa from Frost. I will say that Frost has become a much more well-rounded player over the last season-plus than he was in his first pro season (year 2 was a lost season due to injury).

Have said this before, and Frost himself confirmed it when I had a 15-minute one-on-one interview with him last Friday: It almost did him no favors with the Soo that he and his line almost always had the puck. His +70 in 2017-18 and +33 (with much lesser linemates) in 2018-19 with the Soo were way more a reflection of dominating puck possession to a level that simply doesn't exist in the pros. He had to make large-scale adjustments to the way he played in junior hockey ("to be honest, I got away with playing a bit lazy in junior," Frost said the other day) because you don't have the puck nearly as much in the pros, especially in the NHL and, unless you're Wayne Gretzky, you can't play from a standstill or even a glide. Have to keep the feet moving.

Yeo pushed and pushed and pushed Frost last year on those areas. That was good prep for playing under Tortorella. Yeo also said multiple times that he told Frost don't worry about points -- worry about process and the points will eventually start to come more frequently again, too.

Side note that I forgot to mention above: Was happy to see Frost pull out his toe-drag and shoot move last night on Victor Hedman. Hedman used his long reach to recover after being beaten but he's an elite D who is also 6-foot-7 with a freakish reach. Not many would have recovered.
- bmeltzer

Thank you

The Flyers best forward to this point of the season in a small sample is Scott Laughton. By far.
- MJL

I didn't realize it until it was mentioned during last night's game that he's the only player wearing a letter this year. That speaks volumes.

I didn't realize it until it was mentioned during last night's game that he's the only player wearing a letter this year. That speaks volumes.
- Scoob

I don't think Hayesy is getting his letter back any time soon. Especially if he keeps PK'ing like he did last night.

No comparison, indeed. Cates got caved in at ES last night, while Frost did not.
- Feanor

Wasn’t cates line mostly lined up against kuch and point?

I don't think Hayesy is getting his letter back any time soon. Especially if he keeps PK'ing like he did last night.
- Tomahawk

Just awful back door awareness by Hayes.

Imagine trading Giroux Jake Ghost and having nothing to show for it.What
- furio16

Bro what? Lmao. Atkinson, Tippett, Gauthier is something I’d rather have right now than 2 aging ex stars and an awful dman.

Nic Deslauriers has been on the ice for 2 goals against in 2:31 of PK time.
- Feanor

Neanderthal thinking - must reward him with PT for his "bravery"

Remember Hart played at this level for the first couple of months of last season as well...


- Tomahawk

Eek don't remind me of that!

There does seem to be a much better defensive support system around him now though. I haven't seen the free slam dunk gifted goals from the doorstep like I did the last 2 seasons though. Let's hope that changes bc I still want Bedard!

Wasn’t cates line mostly lined up against kuch and point?
- Peter Richards

Fancy stats don’t care for any context !

Fancy stats don’t care for any context !
- ClaudeFather

Were they lined up mostly against Point or Kucherov or weren't they?

Bro what? Lmao. Atkinson, Tippett, Gauthier is something I’d rather have right now than 2 aging ex stars and an awful dman.
- Richieattack18

Bro what does Gauthier have to do with those trades ?

Yeah Tippet is a stud in waiting. Cam not even in the Lineup and did nothing once Giroux was traded. Lmao

Oh and clearly you missed the point.

The coach's claims about accountability seem starkly at odds with him continuing to roll out MacEwen after that totally unnecessary hugging penalty he took five minutes into the third period. Hopefully Tippett is healthy soon and Zack can take his clown show back to Allentown.
- Feanor

MacNothing will never ride a bus again - at least until he is on another team

Were they lined up mostly against Point or Kucherov or weren't they?
- MJL

I have no idea but I assume he saw the tougher matchup seeing how he seemed to be out there much more frequently. Didn’t zero in on the line matching
Edit, looks like an additional 4 minutes of ice time looking at game log

I have no idea but I assume he saw the tougher matchup seeing how he seemed to be out there much more frequently. Didn’t zero in on the line matching
Edit, looks like an additional 4 minutes of ice time looking at game log
- ClaudeFather

When talking to Cliff please bring facts to the table. He only deals in facts.

Wasn’t cates line mostly lined up against kuch and point?
- Peter Richards

The information is readily available. Cates faced harder opposition, but it's not like Frost was deployed exclusively against 4th liners.

Frost - Opposition
Hagel - 4:31
Perry - 4:16
Namestnikov - 3:58
Colton - 3:43
Kucherov - 3:40
Point 2:58
Killorn - 2:48
Bellemare - 2:33
Paul - 2:30

Cates - Opposition
Paul - 7:10
Killorn - 6:37
Stamkos - 6:36
Point - 4:34
Kucherov - 4:15
Hagel - 4:13
Namestinikov - 2:51
Marron - 2:43
Colton - 2:46

Have to admit... 4-5 guys standing around in front of him is probably an improvement over 4-5 guys chasing the strong side puck carrier lol.



- Tomahawk

Exactly... at keast someone may accidentally block a puck or something.

Also worth noting... the Flyers are 3-0 without risto! Coincidence, I'm aure

Uh... you really see Cates as a top-six player?
- Tomahawk

Potentially ... yes. I mean Mike Richards was a top 6 player. Patrice Bergeron is a top 6 player. I see a lot of the same qualities, so far in a limited sample, in this kid. Not saying he is there yet, but that play last night in the 3rd and the way he fell on the puck with 1.6 seconds left are the types of plays those top players make.

LOL. It is very doubtful that Cates long term is a top 6 NHL forward. His most likely role moving forward is as a 3rd line winger. Frost is already playing like a top 6 forward.
- MJL

The Flyers best forward to this point of the season in a small sample is Scott Laughton. By far.
- MJL

Can't argue .. he has been very good. I would say TK and Cates are right behind him.