Exactly. If Holmgren gets canned, and Hextall is named GM, I want him to have full autonomy.
- PLindbergh31

That will never happen. It will be "Ok Hexy, build for the future but we need to make the playoffs next season no matter what."

Tye McGinn was drafted in the 4th round. Him playing or not is not a big deal to me. L Schenn was traded for a 30 goal per season (2nd overall pick). Let him play and get his growing pains in now.
- Jimmygrazz

Very true. The thing about the 4th line is, if it can only play 3 minutes a night, it's a bigger load on the top 3 lines. Most good teams can roll 4 lines for the bulk of the game, and get a 4th line that averages 8-10 minutes a night.

It's not so much about Tye McGinn as it is about not having a 4th line that can play regular minutes.

He's supposed to be nearing the end of his growing pains by now. He's been in the league 5 years. We should at least be able to count on him as a steady top 4 guy.

I still think he turns things around. He's the top of players who plays better when given more minutes.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think for D-men it is around 26-27, but I agree with you that he SHOULD be nearing the end of his growing pains. But that won't happen sitting upstairs every game.

Not sure who made that decision, or the logic behind it.
- PLindbergh31

Maybe it was the fact he was getting beat night in and night out.

That I do agree with, but people seem more upset that he isn't playing as opposed to 2 young defensemen the are rotting away in the Shelly suite.
- Jimmygrazz

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to who gets scratched. I won't deny L. Schenn performance thus far is worthy of him being scratched, but why is Timonen immune? He's been awful. I guess it comes down to if they benched players based solely on performance Mason would be the only guy out there. Hell, he basically is.

I've been banned for 6+ months before. Step up your game junior
- 2Real

WOW!!! that's like bragging that you can drink a case of beer at one sitting......I see issues.

Tye McGinn was drafted in the 4th round. Him playing or not is not a big deal to me. L Schenn was traded for a 30 goal per season (2nd overall pick). Let him play and get his growing pains in now.
- Jimmygrazz

I don;'t care what round he was selected. playing Newberry or Rosehill over him pisses me off. I am not saying McGinn is the answer to anything but why not play a kid who drives the net and has 29 goals in 115 career AHL games and 6 goals in 24 NHL games. why not play a kid who can continue to grow. people feel its ok to have Laughton centering the 4th line but why not have a kid like McGinn on the 3rd or 4th? I want this team to go young.

It's not just you -- Meszaros was right back to being the player who got benched earlier this year. He was outhustled and had no compete level in numerous board battles I saw.

Kimmo...I don't even know what you do with him. You bench him...that just opens up so many doors to ugliness. It's what they should do, with how he's played. But they won't.
- AllInForFlyers

For me watching Kimmo has been just about the worst part of this awful season.
Just so painful, because we know what kind of player he was.

For me watching Kimmo has been just about the worst part of this awful season.
Just so painful, because we know what kind of player he was.
- Marc D

It's like Desjardins in his final year. Brutal to watch.

I don;'t care what round he was selected. playing Newberry or Rosehill over him pisses me off. I am not saying McGinn is the answer to anything but why not play a kid who drives the net and has 29 goals in 115 career AHL games and 6 goals in 24 NHL games. why not play a kid who can continue to grow. people feel its ok to have Laughton centering the 4th line but why not have a kid like McGinn on the 3rd or 4th? I want this team to go young.
- nastyflyergirl

Exactly -- Kris Newbury's flat-lined, Jay Rosehill's flat-lined, Andrej Meszaros and Hall Gill are flat-lined.

Not only are they not in our future, they're probably not in ANYBODY'S future.

If McGinn's not good enough to play, fine. But what purpose does playing Rosehill or Newbury serve? Giving a young player a chance sucks sometimes, but you know what else sucks? Having players on the roster who you won't use, for different reasons, who aren't even going to be here.

It's like Desjardins in his final year. Brutal to watch.
- Jimmygrazz

Thankfully I retained mainly my good memories of Rico.
Hopefully I can forget this year for Kimmo also.

Exactly -- Kris Newbury's flat-lined, Jay Rosehill's flat-lined, Andrej Meszaros and Hall Gill are flat-lined.

Not only are they not in our future, they're probably not in ANYBODY'S future.

If McGinn's not good enough to play, fine. But what purpose does playing Rosehill or Newbury serve? Giving a young player a chance sucks sometimes, but you know what else sucks? Having players on the roster who you won't use, for different reasons, who aren't even going to be here.
- AllInForFlyers

A 4th line of Hall Rinaldo and Mcginn would be solid IMO.

Thankfully I retained mainly my good memories of Rico.
Hopefully I can forget this year for Kimmo also.
- Marc D

I remember going to a game against the Devils and he made a turnover and got beat on the same play to let up a goal. I was so mad I screamed "You suck Rico!" I think he heard me...

Exactly -- Kris Newbury's flat-lined, Jay Rosehill's flat-lined, Andrej Meszaros and Hall Gill are flat-lined.

Not only are they not in our future, they're probably not in ANYBODY'S future.

If McGinn's not good enough to play, fine. But what purpose does playing Rosehill or Newbury serve? Giving a young player a chance sucks sometimes, but you know what else sucks? Having players on the roster who you won't use, for different reasons, who aren't even going to be here.
- AllInForFlyers

It all comes back to they believe they still have a chance to win this year.
Playing Gill and Mezsaros they must believe gives them a better chance then Schenn and Gusty.

At least win more games. I'm guessing they still are hoping for some miracle turn around to make the play offs but that seems impossible.

I want them to win, but am realistic.
Trying out prospects is one of the benefits to having a bad year.
See what you have, give them some experience.

But no way is the management going to throw in the towel yet for this year even if it benefits them down the road.

The scary part is they could try and trade away picks/prospects for immediate help, until they admit the truth.

I don't think it's about heart or effort. They just aren't very good. Their defense is one of the 5 worst in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

and the highest paid, w/o Pronger.

It's like Desjardins in his final year. Brutal to watch.
- Jimmygrazz

It's even worse, because Desjardins could still skate some.

Exactly -- Kris Newbury's flat-lined, Jay Rosehill's flat-lined, Andrej Meszaros and Hall Gill are flat-lined.

Not only are they not in our future, they're probably not in ANYBODY'S future.

If McGinn's not good enough to play, fine. But what purpose does playing Rosehill or Newbury serve? Giving a young player a chance sucks sometimes, but you know what else sucks? Having players on the roster who you won't use, for different reasons, who aren't even going to be here.
- AllInForFlyers

Sometimes giving a kid a chance pays off too. Maybe a kid that gets a chance takes the ball and runs. meh I am so annoyed

I just keep hoping that they will wake up and realize a 4th line of Raffl-Hall-McGinn can play 10 minutes and not kill you with dumb penalties
- Jsaquella

But they won't allow the 4th line to play 10 minutes b/c they're pressing the top 2 lines to score goals. Hard to roll 4 lines when you're averaging 1.5 goals a game.

A 4th line of Hall Rinaldo and Mcginn would be solid IMO.
- Jimmygrazz

you know, watching Malholtra score last night with his speed. watching 4th lines with speed. I wish they had someone faster than hall on the 4th line. someone with wellwood speed. youth and speed.

The scary part is they could try and trade away picks/prospects for immediate help, until they admit the truth.
- Marc D

my biggest fear

you know, watching Malholtra score last night with his speed. watching 4th lines with speed. I wish they had someone faster than hall on the 4th line. someone with wellwood speed. youth and speed.
- nastyflyergirl

You want Darrol Powe back?

WOW!!! that's like bragging that you can drink a case of beer at one sitting......I see issues.
- huks99

He's a ban-oholic, he can't get enough ban-ohol!

It all comes back to they believe they still have a chance to win this year.
Playing Gill and Mezsaros they must believe gives them a better chance then Schenn and Gusty.

At least win more games. I'm guessing they still are hoping for some miracle turn around to make the play offs but that seems impossible.

I want them to win, but am realistic.
Trying out prospects is one of the benefits to having a bad year.
See what you have, give them some experience.

But no way is the management going to throw in the towel yet for this year even if it benefits them down the road.

The scary part is they could try and trade away picks/prospects for immediate help, until they admit the truth.
- Marc D

I don't even know how they think that. There's no reason to think that.

This team is playing exactly like it did last year...worse, actually, because now the power play's gone, Claude Giroux isn't scoring, Luke Schenn's regressing, Timonen's either done or close to it.

Being bad is tough. Not knowing you are bad just means you are delaying the inevitable, and as much as I want them to win...they're not going to win with this roster.

They're just not. The roster isn't good enough, and it keeps showing it every time they play.

you know, watching Malholtra score last night with his speed. watching 4th lines with speed. I wish they had someone faster than hall on the 4th line. someone with wellwood speed. youth and speed.
- nastyflyergirl

Malhotra is not all that fast.
Just looked it playing against the Flyers.

my biggest fear
- nastyflyergirl

I don't think that happens. Honestly, I could see another small "tweak" type trade. If the team doesn't turn things around by the new year, Homer will sit tight for the trade deadline and then sell off the vets.