Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Own Worst Enemy in 6-3 Loss in Columbus

Sounds like it was a good thing that I missed this game.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I’m going to defend Hak a bit, and I am no fan.

In his time as coach, in arguably the most important position in the game - hes had a trash heap of goalies or mediocre at best, and that’s clearly evident this year.

Hard to get much going when you have no confidence in the guys between the pipes, and have to play in a way to cover for them.

A lot of issues overall.

I’m going to defend Hak a bit, and I am no fan.

Is his time as coach, in arguably the most important position in the game - hes had a trash heap of goalies or mediocre at best, and that’s clearly evident this year.

Hard to get much going when you have no confidence in the guys between the pipes, and have to play in a way to cover for them.

A lot of issues overall.
- flyer_nutter

Not sure which is worse, the goaltending or the defense? Bottom line I have never witnessed in a long time the amount of giveaways and absolute garbage coverage in their end. This team looks as bad as i have seen defensively in a long time.We have given up the most goals in the league and I dont see it getting any better when all we have is Amac to plug back in.

Not sure which is worse, the goaltending or the defense? Bottom line I have never witnessed in a long time the amount of giveaways and absolute garbage coverage in their end. This team looks as bad as i have seen defensively in a long time.We have given up the most goals in the league and I dont see it getting any better when all we have is Amac to plug back in.
- Buzzo

My thing is this. They could put in Myers or Friedman, something I’ve wanted. They could have had Voro playing instead of one of the turds.

You aren’t winning jack poop with the quality of goaltending they have this year. It is not NHL caliber, breakdowns or not.

I feel a little bad for Hak. He’s been (frank)ed over a bit. Again, not all on goalies.

Going to throw something out here, which I hope isn’t true. We aren’t in the first couple years of a rebuild here. Hextall better hope some real star power shines out of some more of these kids because if not he’s chosen to hang on to and waste the prime years of the vets, to only get mediocrity in return.

It’s a long season. I do believe they turn it around, but games like tonight tell me a coaching change may be looming. We shall see, but no coach is having luck with this poop between the pipes.

I don't really think Hak deserves to be entirely blamed for this poor start to the season, but for better or worse if the team continues to play like this a coaching change may be in the cards. Unclear if it will do anything but I don't think Hexy wants to blow up the team and trade a star and often a GM will show to his team that they aren't playing up to standards with a coaching change. Not saying it should happen as idk if any coach can find a way to make up for poop goaltending, but the defense looks lost out there and beyond the flyers top guns noone is really producing (laughton aside). Yes I know they've been hit by injuries but if they don't turn it around soon then I would expect some changes.

I don't really think Hak deserves to be entirely blamed for this poor start to the season, but for better or worse if the team continues to play like this a coaching change may be in the cards. Unclear if it will do anything but I don't think Hexy wants to blow up the team and trade a star and often a GM will show to his team that they aren't playing up to standards with a coaching change. Not saying it should happen as idk if any coach can find a way to make up for poop goaltending, but the defense looks lost out there and beyond the flyers top guns noone is really producing (laughton aside). Yes I know they've been hit by injuries but if they don't turn it around soon then I would expect some changes.
- bulet13

JVR and NP can'r play goalie and defense so cant help there.Until the defense starts to play even average defense, that is a start, they are playing below average.

Good observation by nutter. Too often the players’ lack of confidence in their goaltending, has their focus and time spent defending, or worse, chasing the game. They’re not dictating or creating. Hope they can rectify their issues soon, or it will be a huge step backwards.

ug same crap i don't know how they've won some of their games

My thing is this. They could put in Myers or Friedman, something I’ve wanted. They could have had Voro playing instead of one of the turds.

You aren’t winning jack poop with the quality of goaltending they have this year. It is not NHL caliber, breakdowns or not.

I feel a little bad for Hak. He’s been (frank)ed over a bit. Again, not all on goalies.

Going to throw something out here, which I hope isn’t true. We aren’t in the first couple years of a rebuild here. Hextall better hope some real star power shines out of some more of these kids because if not he’s chosen to hang on to and waste the prime years of the vets, to only get mediocrity in return.

It’s a long season. I do believe they turn it around, but games like tonight tell me a coaching change may be looming. We shall see, but no coach is having luck with this poop between the pipes.
- flyer_nutter

how has hak been (frank)ed over?
it seems like he's just the transition coach until we get better players now

Did the team play some stretches of poor hockey? Yes, they sure did. However no team, none, is going to win when they get the kind of putrid goaltending they got last night.

I really hope Hart or Sandstrom is the real deal, because I can’t take much more of this.

Who cares.....Taryn Hatcher!!

Time to go shopping for a new GM and coaching staff. Neither has shown they can do the job

I'm not advocating firing the coach (yet), but I've seen better coaches get let go after performances like we've seen over the course of the past week.

Several people stole my thunder. If you have little to no confidence that the goalie will back you up, you start looking to be safe and end up not.

I don’t agree with the D pairings or some of the line shuffling, but with the goaltending they are getting, the 77 Canadiens would look bad.

Something needs to change. Coaching maybe. But bring up Friedman or Myers. Bring up Hart, Stolarz, or Lyon. Bring up Gouldburn. IDK but do something. They are playing terrible outside Giroux, simmomds, and Voracek. We can't afford another 11 game streak or under.500 this season.

I’ve never played ice hockey but are you not taught when racing back defending a rush to skate hard for the opposite post? How Voracek a vet of 10 years does not Know this? Did he sleep through hockey 101? When your best players and leaders continually fail to do the little simple things that win games this team is doomed and this coach has always let the leaders of this team take these liberties.

We can blame the goalies and that’s fun to do but 93 is a disgrace in his own zone. Non competitive, floating, stick fanning pile of poo

Not sure which is worse, the goaltending or the defense? Bottom line I have never witnessed in a long time the amount of giveaways and absolute garbage coverage in their end. This team looks as bad as i have seen defensively in a long time.We have given up the most goals in the league and I dont see it getting any better when all we have is Amac to plug back in.
- Buzzo

It has been very obvious that a healthy MacDonald playing to his capabilities makes the Flyers a better team.

JVR and NP can'r play goalie and defense so cant help there.Until the defense starts to play even average defense, that is a start, they are playing below average.
- Buzzo

Playing defense involves all 5 skaters. The team defensive issues are not just about the defenseman.

Playing defense involves all 5 skaters. The team defensive issues are not just about the defenseman.
- MJL

Exactly. This isn't a situation where you can tweak the lineup a bit and everything is fixed.

It’s all YJ’s fault.

Time to go shopping for a new GM and coaching staff. Neither has shown they can do the job
- twpguy

You don't think the players who've already been through 2 GMs and 3 coaches, who haven't won a playoff series in 6 years might be the issue?

Another season with the same issues again and again and I'll be in favor of Hextall moving core members of this team.

I'm not advocating firing the coach (yet), but I've seen better coaches get let go after performances like we've seen over the course of the past week.
- johndewar

I'm not calling for Hak's head today, but it may be soon getting to that point. I'm not going to downplay the injuries or the shoddy goaltending, but, if this keeps up for another couple weeks, Hextall may need to pull the trigger on a coaching change.

This doesn't mean I blame Hak for all the Flyers failings. Hell, it's not like he can go out on the ice and make the routine saves that way too often both Elliott and Pickard have failed to make, but something has to give.

If this poor play/bad goaltending goes on, I really see only four choices:

1. Make a deal for a legit starting goalie.
This is a lot easier said than done as, especially early in the season, it's going to take a significant overpayment to pry that type of goalie from any team. I really don't see this happening

2. Trade a core player
Perhaps they move a guy in the last year of a deal like Simmonds, but I doubt it. Moving Giroux or Voracek isn't happening and there really is no one else that fits the bill. You rarely see trades of significant players in the early part of the season, and I don't see it happening here.

3. Move some fringe players and replace with kids from LHV
This would certainly give them a boost in the adrenaline/enthusiasm dept, but it's not going to fix systemic issues of poor defensive play, nor is going to magically improve the goaltending.

4. Fire the coach.
This is the usual M.O. in the NHL because, quite simply, it's the easiest move to make. Hakstol is in year 4 of a five year deal. When a team is underperforming, coaches in that situation tend to lose their jobs. Again, I don't think this happens today, nor am I calling for it, but it could certainly happen sooner rather than later if things don't start to improve.