Clearly coaching for the exactly the reason you stated here, because they are vets. They had several years of mediocre play and now they are playing at a much higher level. Regarding Frost and Farabee .. maybe this is just what they are, middling forwards. Sometimes our expectations have to be tempered on what these players are.
- jd250

What coaching did they give TK that now he is a PPG player? This progression is more on the player by a big margin than any coaching.

Maybe that is what they are. However, you can't claim others have been "good" and don't mention others haven't. Works both ways.

Point still stands more have regressed/static than progressed.

On the optimistic side, I think after last season, DB and the gang knew there was a strong likelihood of a step back for some of the young players. This is where player development, evaluation and the natural growth path of an NHL player comes in. You could sell a Tippet but does he hit his prime and become a better player, did you move him to soon, same could be said for the 22-25 year old group of players they have. I would hope they would move some of them, reshape the team to fill some holes, but you could end up on the wrong side of those moves.

He is playing much better, and more importantly is staying on the ice. He is finally taking steps forward.
- jd250

He is playing better defensively. That is, of course, relative. He has gone from objectively brutal, to objectively mediocre, as a defensive player. He had to sacrifice all of his offense to get there. He basically went from an ok offensive defenseman who was a black hole defensively, to a defensive defenseman who is mediocre defensively and mediocre on offense.

His defensive improvements have not offset his offensive regression. Overall he is just as overpaid as he has always been.

How can you make this statement? Look at the players that have developed under Torts and his staff. Cates, Brink, Foerster, York, Risto, Sanheim and most of all, TK. What the heck are you talking about??
- jd250

Tortorella had nothing to do with Konecny and Sanheim developing. Cates was a strong defensive forward before Tortorella got here and it remains to be seen if he can continue to produce offensively. York has been up and down this season and was better overall last season. Ristolainen is a slightly improved player who is a 3rd pair defenseman who has for the most part completely lost his offensive game, which was his strong suit under Tortorella. The jury is still out on Brink and Foerster.
Tippett has regressed, Frost has not developed fully, Michkov is being stifled.

You should be. If, BIG IF, Drysdale can stay on the ice, he will develop under Shaw to be a very good offensive defenseman. He will never be a shutdown defenseman, but thats OK. Drysdale has to be all about generate offense and he has the skillset to do so.
- jd250

Shaw is not the coach you think he is. He is not the guy to develop an offensive defenseman.

Clearly coaching for the exactly the reason you stated here, because they are vets. They had several years of mediocre play and now they are playing at a much higher level. Regarding Frost and Farabee .. maybe this is just what they are, middling forwards. Sometimes our expectations have to be tempered on what these players are.
- jd250

So when players are doing well, that's due to coaching. When a player is struggling, then a different standard is applied and that isn't due to the coach. That's due to the player is maybe just what they are. Contradictions are your specialty

Share your blueprint.
- furio16

do what the flyers are doing