I understand Hextall's philosophy of patience, but I think he takes it a little too far. The Flyers D has not played well, I don't think anyone can dispute that. Morin has played over 100 games at the AHL level, again this is a fact, not an opinion. I think 100+ games and the fact that he's been playing pretty well at LHV, gives him enough experience and the Flyers enough of a reason, to call him up.

Is the Flyers D the softest in the league? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure, it does lack physicality and overall, it's not a very good group. Being patient is fine, but you also owe it to your current players and to your fans who are buying tickets and merchandise to put the best team possible on the ice.

I'm not calling for the Flyers to bring up half a dozen kids or a bunch of 1st year pros, but guys like Morin, Hagg and Leier all have quite a bit of AHL experience. If the team continues to struggle, changes should be made.
- BiggE

AHL games played is not the decision maker on when to call up a player. His progression in his development, and if he is ready to handle playing defense at the NHL level without it being detrimental to his development is.
Leier was called up due to injury, and then sent back down. What does that tell you?

You know what, I don't buy what I highlighted in your post. Facing a little adversity is not the worst thing in the world for a young player.
- BiggE

Possibly, but I don't think That's hexys philosophy. Also, it's very possible that they've assessed that he needs to work on somethings before being ready. This is just my opinion.

I understand Hextall's philosophy of patience, but I think he takes it a little too far. The Flyers D has not played well, I don't think anyone can dispute that. Morin has played over 100 games at the AHL level, again this is a fact, not an opinion. I think 100+ games and the fact that he's been playing pretty well at LHV, gives him enough experience and the Flyers enough of a reason, to call him up.

Is the Flyers D the softest in the league? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure, it does lack physicality and overall, it's not a very good group. Being patient is fine, but you also owe it to your current players and to your fans who are buying tickets and merchandise to put the best team possible on the ice.

I'm not calling for the Flyers to bring up half a dozen kids or a bunch of 1st year pros, but guys like Morin, Hagg and Leier all have quite a bit of AHL experience. If the team continues to struggle, changes should be made.
- BiggE

AHL games played is not the decision maker on when to call up a player. His progression in his development, and if he is ready to handle playing defense at the NHL level without it being detrimental to his development is.
Leier was called up due to injury, and then sent back down. What does that tell you?
- MJL

I understand what the criteria is to bring up a player, I just sometimes think that they are a little to patient/cautious with their prospects. You obviously disagree. I'm not going to change your mind, nor will you change mine.

Moving on.

I understand Hextall's philosophy of patience, but I think he takes it a little too far. The Flyers D has not played well, I don't think anyone can dispute that. Morin has played over 100 games at the AHL level, again this is a fact, not an opinion. I think 100+ games and the fact that he's been playing pretty well at LHV, gives him enough experience and the Flyers enough of a reason, to call him up.

Is the Flyers D the softest in the league? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for sure, it does lack physicality and overall, it's not a very good group. Being patient is fine, but you also owe it to your current players and to your fans who are buying tickets and merchandise to put the best team possible on the ice.

I'm not calling for the Flyers to bring up half a dozen kids or a bunch of 1st year pros, but guys like Morin, Hagg and Leier all have quite a bit of AHL experience. If the team continues to struggle, changes should be made.
- BiggE

At the end of the day, I trust hexy and the staff. If they deem him or other like Sanheim ready, bring em up. I suspect that won't happen until we're out of it though.

I understand what the criteria is to bring up a player, I just sometimes think that they are a little to patient/cautious with their prospects. You obviously disagree. I'm not going to change your mind, nor will you change mine.

Moving on.
- BiggE

I'm just not going to pretend to know that Morin is ready and that they need to bring up the shiny new toy, because I'm not happy with the current team. That doesn't make sense. Hextall jumped Provorov and Konecny right into the NHL out of juniors at 19.

Possibly, but I don't think That's hexys philosophy. Also, it's very possible that they've assessed that he needs to work on somethings before being ready. This is just my opinion.
- Hextall271

I know they've wanted him to work on both his footwork and on his overall decision making, but, and I'll preface this by saying this is from a small sample of the games I've seen this year, he seems to have improved in both areas quite a bit from last season.

Again, if the team was playing well, I'd have no problem sitting back and doing nothing. That being said, I don't see any lasting damage occurring if they were to waive a guy like Nick Schultz, bring up Morin (or Hagg for that matter), and put the kid in the lineup for a few games. There does come a point in a players development where you need to see how they look against NHL competition.

I'm just not going to pretend to know that Morin is ready and that they need to bring up the shiny new toy, because I'm not happy with the current team. That doesn't make sense. Hextall jumped Provorov and Konecny right into the NHL out of juniors at 19.
- MJL

Ok, like I said..moving on. We aren't going to agree. No need to respond unless having the last word is really that important to you.

AHL games played is not the decision maker on when to call up a player. His progression in his development, and if he is ready to handle playing defense at the NHL level without it being detrimental to his development is.
Leier was called up due to injury, and then sent back down. What does that tell you?
- MJL

I think as an organization you look at what you have. The coaches and GM have to think.." Is this current group of D doing the job".. What can be done to change it or put a different look in for an assessment . Call up one of our top prospects, make a deal, or just stay the course and continue to have the worst GA in the league.
Don't be afraid to make a change

At the end of the day, I trust hexy and the staff. If they deem him or other like Sanheim ready, bring em up. I suspect that won't happen until we're out of it though.
- Hextall271

Knowing Hextall's approach, this is most likely. I'd just like to see a change now. I'm tired of watching this team both get pushed around and not respond at all to it.

I think as an organization you look at what you have. The coaches and GM have to think.." Is this current group of D doing the job".. What can be done to change it or put a different look in for an assessment . Call up one of our top prospects, make a deal, or just stay the course and continue to have the worst GA in the league.
Don't be afraid to make a change
- 3flyerkids

Change for changes sake is not smart. Changes can be bad changes also. Some fans seem to have this idea of bringing up a player to see what he can do, what would it hurt. That is not the mindset of NHL GM's for the most part. They evaluate a player where he is at, and whether they think he is ready for the next step. If an injury forces a move, they bring up the player who is most ready, or who has most merited the call up.

Change for changes sake is not smart. Changes can be bad changes also. Some fans seem to have this idea of bringing up a player to see what he can do, what would it hurt. That is not the mindset of NHL GM's for the most part. They evaluate a player where he is at, and whether they think he is ready for the next step. If an injury forces a move, they bring up the player who is most ready, or who has most merited the call up.
- MJL

You should really work in PR

Knowing Hextall's approach, this is most likely. I'd just like to see a change now. I'm tired of watching this team both get pushed around and not respond at all to it.
- BiggE

Yeah. I hate it as well. Deeply flawed team. I'm amazed that they won 10 in a row. Basically had a hot pp and solid tending. All teams have to do to beat us is to stay out of the box.

Since December 15th, the Flyers have played 14 games. Their record is 2-8-4 for a whopping 8 points. They have scored 25 goals, 1.79 per game and given up 49 goals, 3.50 per game.

But please, tell me how no changes need to made.

This is not a little hiccup, this is over a month of poor play.

You should really work in PR
- PhillySportsGuy

Since December 15th, the Flyers have played 14 games. Their record is 2-8-4 for a whopping 8 points. They have scored 25 goals, 1.79 per game and given up 49 goals, 3.50 per game.

But please, tell me how no changes need to made.

This is not a little hiccup, this is over a month of poor play.
- BiggE

Who has stated that no changes need to be made? Change comes in many forms. Change can be how the current players play. Making a change in strategy or systems play. Changing lines and defense pairings. Changing match up strategies. Change alone isn't a miracle cure. You can make the wrong change.

Yeah. I hate it as well. Deeply flawed team. I'm amazed that they won 10 in a row. Basically had a hot pp and solid tending. All teams have to do to beat us is to stay out of the box.
- Hextall271

Exactly. This team has shown that aren't going to win a lot of games this year if they don't get superlative goaltending and if the powerplay isn't firing on all cylinders. They are a bad team at ES and their overall defensive play is horrible.

The numbers don't lie; 89 goals for at ES vs 109 goals against. Even the special teams numbers are nothing too special. While they've scored a repectable 36 pp goals, they've given up a ridiculous 8 short handed goals so their differential is 28. Opponents have only scored 27 pp goals, but have only allowed the Flyers 2 shorties for a differential of 25.

Outside of the development of Provorov and to a lesser extent Konecny, this season has been nothing to be proud of.

Who has stated that no changes need to be made? Change comes in many forms. Change can be how the current players play. Making a change in strategy or systems play. Changing lines and defense pairings. Changing match up strategies. Change alone isn't a miracle cure. You can make the wrong change.
- MJL

They've been constantly mixing up the lines and pairings, that didn't work and I very much doubt that Hak is going to radically change his system mid season. Saying the current players need to play better is easy, but at some point, you have to look in the mirror and ask: can these guys really play that much better. During the win streak, excellent goaltending, a red hot powerplay and a relatively favorable schedule helped to mask a lot of this teams problems. Outside of the streak, they are 12-18-6. Are they Arizona or Colorado? No. But they are nowhere near what I call a good team.

Under previous GM's they probably would have fired the coach by now, this is NOT what I want them to do. I really think that their biggest problem is that they just don't have good enough players and depth throughout the lineup. At some point you need to start breaking some kids in, or you could end up with a situation in the next year or 2 where you find that you're breaking in too many rookies at the same time. I'm cool with waiting until the deadline, but if when they get there and they aren't in playoff position, it's time to see what teams will give you for your veteran UFAs.

Exactly. This team has shown that aren't going to win a lot of games this year if they don't get superlative goaltending and if the powerplay isn't firing on all cylinders. They are a bad team at ES and their overall defensive play is horrible.

The numbers don't lie; 89 goals for at ES vs 109 goals against. Even the special teams numbers are nothing too special. While they've scored a repectable 36 pp goals, they've given up a ridiculous 8 short handed goals so their differential is 28. Opponents have only scored 27 pp goals, but have only allowed the Flyers 2 shorties for a differential of 25.

Outside of the development of Provorov and to a lesser extent Konecny, this season has been nothing to be proud of.
- BiggE

Agreed but we're also closer to some of these bad contracts coming off the books. As much as I enjoy the back and forth with 2 real about mason sucking, a lot of this seasons struggles are not on them. Goalies eventually can't carry the team when there's a never ending stream of odd man rushes and breakdowns. Your confidence suffers.

Since December 15th, the Flyers have played 14 games. Their record is 2-8-4 for a whopping 8 points. They have scored 25 goals, 1.79 per game and given up 49 goals, 3.50 per game.

But please, tell me how no changes need to made.

This is not a little hiccup, this is over a month of poor play.
- BiggE

The offense at the beginning of the season and during the win streak was above average (shooting percentages) at the beginning of the season the save percentages were garbage. They got hot during the streak (everything stayed out of the net) but since both shooting and save percentages have poop the bed. The offense was predictably going to slow down, but it sucks when it happens to everyone at once.

I think it is based on more than just the players. The lineup decisions definitely have an effect on it

Neuvirth according to Dave Isaac

- BiggE

I don't even think Dave Spadaro defends the Eagles with such vigor

They've been constantly mixing up the lines and pairings, that didn't work and I very much doubt that Hak is going to radically change his system mid season. Saying the current players need to play better is easy, but at some point, you have to look in the mirror and ask: can these guys really play that much better. During the win streak, excellent goaltending, a red hot powerplay and a relatively favorable schedule helped to mask a lot of this teams problems. Outside of the streak, they are 12-18-6. Are they Arizona or Colorado? No. But they are nowhere near what I call a good team.

Under previous GM's they probably would have fired the coach by now, this is NOT what I want them to do. I really think that their biggest problem is that they just don't have good enough players and depth throughout the lineup. At some point you need to start breaking some kids in, or you could end up with a situation in the next year or 2 where you find that you're breaking in too many rookies at the same time. I'm cool with waiting until the deadline, but if when they get there and they aren't in playoff position, it's time to see what teams will give you for your veteran UFAs.
- BiggE

In the context of the situation, where the GM targeted a coach, and went after him and got to agree to leave a good situation such as what Hakstol had in ND, I doubt that another GM would've fired the coach by now a season and a half into his coaching tenure. Especially when the coach led the team to the playoffs last season, and they had a 10 game win streak earlier in the season. Which I agree a lot of the problems were masked, and which I've talked about previously. A coach can certainly make some adjustments in the team approach.

You break kids in when the time is right, and those players are ready. Look at the evidence. Hextall kept two 19 year olds on the team straight out of juniors. He is willing to do that. You don't waver from your plan and approach, just because the team is currently struggling. You don't rush players into the NHL just because the current team is struggling. If they're ready, and they can help, by all means get them up here. Not many players on this team should be blocking younger more talented players from making the jump when they're ready.

As far as changes, one final thought. Even if this team makes the playoffs, hell even wins a round. The fact that changes need to be made will still be present. I'm confident Hextall and Hakstol both know that. The ultimate goal is Lord Stanley.

I don't even think Dave Spadaro defends the Eagles with such vigor
- PhillySportsGuy

Missing the point badly. It's not about defending the Flyers. It's about sound reasoning, and smart decisions on how to handle and develop players. It would be the same if we were discussing any team in the Flyers situation. Name of the team doesn't really matter.