To this point there is no actual evidence that this team plays better than last year's team.
- MJL

Are you saying working harder is not playing better???? Someone better tell Chuck that he’s failed yet again… or still… or ad infinitum.

There’s a major problem with the construction of a team of a bunch of millionaire professional NHL players who need to be taught to work hard.

The Flyers right now don't have a number 1 defenseman so if they move Provorov they still will be without a number 1 defenseman. I think Torts summed up Provorov nicely in yesterday's press conference. Provorov should focus on defending first instead of holding on to the puck and turning it over. The problem with Provorov is he thinks he is a number 1 defenseman and that gets him into trouble. As torts states, "Know thyself!" The bottom line is the Flyers have a logjam of highly priced mediocre defenseman and if they were smart, which they aren't, they would trade one or two of them at the deadline or this off season and aggressively draft and develop a true top end defender.
- jd250

If this was the plan why didn’t they take Jiricek last draft? There isn’t even any projected #1 d-men in the ‘23 draft. If you are waiting until the ‘24 draft, keep in mind, most d-men take longer to develop. You are talking many years out before you develop an impact #1 d-man, maybe, if all goes well.

If this was the plan why didn’t they take Jiricek last draft? There isn’t even any projected #1 d-men in the ‘23 draft. If you are waiting until the ‘24 draft, keep in mind, most d-men take longer to develop. You are talking many years out before you develop an impact #1 d-man, maybe, if all goes well.
- NC Flyers Fan

Because… Flyers.

Jay O’Brien hasn’t sniffed NHL ice yet. Who knows what Nolan Patrick could have been if he hadn’t taken so many shots to the head before age 22. I don’t think Morgan Frost has established anything yet. Felix Sandstorm becomes a regular back up at age 25. I wouldn’t say most of my list is established.
- SuperSchennBros

I clearly called out Frost as not established, comprehension. JOB is nothing, he might not even get a contract. And a backup goalie lol come on

First of all, Provorov plays the most minutes of any of the defenseman. Are the other defenseman on the team the target of a lot of teams' forecheck or just Provorov. The Flyers are a target of other teams forecheck because of how much time they spend defending and how little time they spend attacking the other teams net. The Flyers have an issue in that they have 3 guys who play the left side and unless someone like Sanhiem moves to the right side. The Flyers have to make a decision on who to keep and who to move.
- MJL

We might have to agree to disagree on this one. I see Provy pressured by the forecheck a lot, in a losing cause (a turnover). He tries to out skate the forecheckers when other posters have said accurately here - he needs to defend first vs. skating end to end for an offensive rush. He needs to think outlet pass more often then skating it himself. Until he changes this in his game, he will continue to struggle. Unfortunately this change might make him less dynamic. But it would help the team in reducing turnovers, then they can play offense in the opposing zone, and he can skate there.

If this was the plan why didn’t they take Jiricek last draft? There isn’t even any projected #1 d-men in the ‘23 draft. If you are waiting until the ‘24 draft, keep in mind, most d-men take longer to develop. You are talking many years out before you develop an impact #1 d-man, maybe, if all goes well.
- NC Flyers Fan

Well unfortunately that is the only way to get a true top defenseman. No team that has one will trade them, and there are no top defenseman coming out of free agency this year also. Teams have been so desperate they have been handing out 8 year contracts to good but not close to great defenseman. The Flyers are going to have to do this by committee until time either one of their current young defenseman takes a big jump of they can draft one. I like Jiracek but I also like the Gauthier pick from what I am seeing from him so far. The Flyers have so many holes its hard to put your finger in everyone of them at once.

I clearly called out Frost as not established, comprehension. JOB is nothing, he might not even get a contract. And a backup goalie lol come on
- ClaudeFather

Agreed, the jury is still out of Frost and JOB will not get a contract from the Flyers.

Because… Flyers.
- mikeyo27

They need to smarten up an move one LD to the right side. My vote has been on Sanheim for going on two and a half seasons now. Maybe York has a change of heart and finds he likes the right side after all because it means more minutes and better opportunities. If not, move Sanheim there a.s.a.p.

Well unfortunately that is the only way to get a true top defenseman. No team that has one will trade them, and there are no top defenseman coming out of free agency this year also. Teams have been so desperate they have been handing out 8 year contracts to good but not close to great defenseman. The Flyers are going to have to do this by committee until time either one of their current young defenseman takes a big jump of they can draft one. I like Jiracek but I also like the Gauthier pick from what I am seeing from him so far. The Flyers have so many holes its hard to put your finger in everyone of them at once.
- jd250

Stop trading away first and second round picks and they give themselves a better chance to plug more holes long term.

Torts' need to assert dominance is frankly kinda sad.

He's like the dog at the park that does nothing but hump other dogs in the face, cuz he's insecure about pack order.
- Tomahawk

This made my day! 😂😂

Niskanen's disappearing act didn't help. That said, the assets used and cap implications incurred to shift from two LHD (Gostisbehere/Hagg) to two RHD (Ristolainen/Deangelo) for, at best, a neutral impact to the on ice product, is, by itself, a reason for termination.

Partly because they know he was left w zero talent & a dumpster fire maybe. He’s not the greatest but not the main to blame for this mess
- Fopa21

Which Are you?
chuck feltcher or David Scott hiding behind a keyboard?!

https://bleacherreport.co...nd-nhl-playoff-contenders

Interesting read. Provy to the Kings, who apparently have a surplus of RHD.

I clearly called out Frost as not established, comprehension. JOB is nothing, he might not even get a contract. And a backup goalie lol come on
- ClaudeFather

You said most of the guys I named outside of York and Frost are established. I named you the guys who aren’t established, which was half the players I listed, making you wrong. Comprehension.

Niskanen's disappearing act didn't help. That said, the assets used and cap implications incurred to shift from two LHD (Gostisbehere/Hagg) to two RHD (Ristolainen/Deangelo) for, at best, a neutral impact to the on ice product, is, by itself, a reason for termination.
- GeorgeBailey

Yep, this really sums it up. The thing is none of these defensemen are #1 d-men and most would say none are really #2 d-men. If Ellis worked out or if those picks had been used to draft potential top RHD, the Flyers would be better off now. I don’t blame the players. Just have to make the best of it now.

You said most of the guys I named outside of York and Frost are established. I named you the guys who aren’t established, which was half the players I listed, making you wrong. Comprehension.
- SuperSchennBros

A guy that will never play an NHL game and a potential backup, congrats on that victory lap 😂

The Flyers right now don't have a number 1 defenseman so if they move Provorov they still will be without a number 1 defenseman. I think Torts summed up Provorov nicely in yesterday's press conference. Provorov should focus on defending first instead of holding on to the puck and turning it over. The problem with Provorov is he thinks he is a number 1 defenseman and that gets him into trouble. As torts states, "Know thyself!" The bottom line is the Flyers have a logjam of highly priced mediocre defenseman and if they were smart, which they aren't, they would trade one or two of them at the deadline or this off season and aggressively draft and develop a true top end defender.
- jd250

Disagree. Provorov is the team's #1 defenseman. Why is pretty much every opinion you have just parroting a coach? The comment that Provorov thinks he is a #1 defenseman makes zero sense. Perhaps if Tortorella did something so Provorov didn't have to defend so much and give Flyers defenseman some options on the breakout. There would be less turnovers. Tortorella makes himself look like more of a fool every day. Those that follow him, likewise.

That's because these stats don't matter for a player like TK. What are these numbers like for other top line players across the league? I bet you they are bad, but maybe not as bad considering TK is playing for a vastly inferior team.
- jd250

This isn't the case at all.

There is no correlation between top line players and goals/chances against.

This is one of those cases where stats are misleading. I didn't think TK had a bite in last year's games. This year, he does. Why ? Part of this game is momentum. He is the flip side of Hart out there. He scores when it is needed, swings momentum. And he is an agitator, along with playing with tons of energy. Hart makes stops at key times of the game, even though his numbers aren't stellar. But both pass the eye test with flying colors. Because this year they both impact the game when needed.
- BluehorseShoe64

What does "momentum" have to do w/ TK's bad defensive numbers?

"Momentum" also happens to be Torts' favorite cop out when anybody tries to make him explain why his team is so bad on both sides of the puck.

We might have to agree to disagree on this one. I see Provy pressured by the forecheck a lot, in a losing cause (a turnover). He tries to out skate the forecheckers when other posters have said accurately here - he needs to defend first vs. skating end to end for an offensive rush. He needs to think outlet pass more often then skating it himself. Until he changes this in his game, he will continue to struggle. Unfortunately this change might make him less dynamic. But it would help the team in reducing turnovers, then they can play offense in the opposing zone, and he can skate there.
- BluehorseShoe64

You seem to think that I'm saying that I don't see Provorov, or other Flyers defenseman pressured on the forecheck a lot.

First of all before we dive in deeper to systems play, of which knowledge is lacking overall, I have a few simple questions.

When Provorov or any other defender is going back on a puck retrieval and gathering a puck and facing a forecheck. What does focusing on defending first mean? When a defenseman has the puck in the defensive zone, is he in a defending posture?

In order for a defenseman to think outlet pass first, what has to be available to that defenseman?

After answering those basic questions, then we can delve into breakout schemes, neutral zone checking and how teams defend and what other coaches do to allow defenseman to one, have more time on puck retrievals and to also have other options with the puck.

Agreed, the jury is still out of Frost and JOB will not get a contract from the Flyers.
- jd250

So you have rescinded your guarantee that after watching him play, O'Brien will be an NHL player?

Are you saying working harder is not playing better???? Someone better tell Chuck that he’s failed yet again… or still… or ad infinitum.

There’s a major problem with the construction of a team of a bunch of millionaire professional NHL players who need to be taught to work hard.
- mikeyo27

I'm saying that effort is not this team's issue. It wasn't last year, and it isn't this year.

Picked up Hertl in fantasy this specifically for this game. Here’s hoping for a hatty tonight

I'm saying that effort is not this team's issue. It wasn't last year, and it isn't this year.
- MJL

Torts has said from day 1 that he saw no problem with effort on the team.

The team was super disorganized last season. They were all pulling but in different directions. This season they're on the same page (Torts gets credit for that) and that may look like "effort" to some, but it's really not.

Now the question is... is the page they're currently on put them on a path to winning in the year 2022 and beyond? The answer is probably no. Turtle hockey is losing hockey. Nobody plays like that anymore for a reason.

Torts has said from day 1 that he saw no problem with effort on the team.

The team was super disorganized last season. They were all pulling but in different directions. This season they're on the same page (Torts gets credit for that) and that may look like "effort" to some, but it's really not.

Now the question is... is the page they're currently on put them on a path to winning in the year 2022 and beyond? The answer is probably no. Turtle hockey is losing hockey. Nobody plays like that anymore for a reason.
- Tomahawk

It's just an embarrassment to watch how they play by design. I watch and read about how other coaches coach their teams to play and it makes me angry. Then Tortorella has the balls to call out players trying to play under his archaic systems and style of play. Just maybe Provorov and the rest of the team would like to not have to concentrate on defending and play with the puck in the other teams end more. Just maybe. Tortorella is proving that opinions of him being a complete jerk off are not off base. I can see him losing this team real quick. Hey Provy, just play harder!