Hope that this doesn't really happen. Makes zero sense as you mention. I'm not an NHL coach but I'll tell you what I'd do. If the team gave a solid effort even in a loss, I wouldn't touch the lineup for at least 5 games. Let the lines gel and let the guys play without the fear of the coach randomly scratching guys or putting the line combos in a blender. Nothing against Hak but constant juggling hasn't worked of late.
- Hextall271

Exactly. Put your best players in the best position to succeed and stick with it. For example, Cousins has been a center his entire hockey career, stop trying to make him into a winger, he looks like a fish out of water. Schenn played his best hockey as a Flyer down the stretch last year as a winger, so get him out of the middle and move him back to the wing. AMac's biggest defender wouldn't try to claim that he is a top pair Dman, so stop using him as one.

Since they don't seem willing to change the roster and that Hak will never sit his favorite PK twins, I would prefer to see the following lineup tonight:

Schenn-G-Jake
TK-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Cousins-Read
VdV-PEB-Weise or Lyubimov

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-Ghost
AMac-Streit

I read yesterday that the WOS was skating with the extras. Not sure why the blog says Konecny would be a healthy scratch.
This team is averaging less than 2 goals a game over the last 15. Would make zero sense to sit a skill player.
- PLindbergh31

He needs to learn how to be defensively responsible! Even if he showed a good jump when coming back from scratching him already.

Anyways, with guys like Read, Raffl, Cooter, VDV, PEB, Dale, there's plenty of scoring to go around

VDV knows where the body is buried...
He will never be out of lineup like he was for a lottery edm team...

He needs to learn how to be defensively responsible! Even if he showed a good jump when coming back from scratching him already.

Anyways, with guys like Read, Raffl, Cooter, VDV, PEB, Dale, there's plenty of scoring to go around
- Yosimar89

We shall lose all games 2-0

and there was much rejoicing

I'd like to know the reasoning behind scratching Konecny. I think coming off the bye week, they should reset and have a clean slate. What was he late for practice on Friday or something? Otherwise I can't agree with it.

Exactly. Put your best players in the best position to succeed and stick with it. For example, Cousins has been a center his entire hockey career, stop trying to make him into a winger, he looks like a fish out of water. Schenn played his best hockey as a Flyer down the stretch last year as a winger, so get him out of the middle and move him back to the wing. AMac's biggest defender wouldn't try to claim that he is a top pair Dman, so stop using him as one.

Since they don't seem willing to change the roster and that Hak will never sit his favorite PK twins, I would prefer to see the following lineup tonight:

Schenn-G-Jake
TK-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Cousins-Read
VdV-PEB-Weise or Lyubimov

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-Ghost
AMac-Streit
- BiggE

Flip flop Cousins and Bellmare, then flip flop Del Zotto and MacDonald. Other than that you nailed it IMO.

Exactly. Put your best players in the best position to succeed and stick with it. For example, Cousins has been a center his entire hockey career, stop trying to make him into a winger, he looks like a fish out of water. Schenn played his best hockey as a Flyer down the stretch last year as a winger, so get him out of the middle and move him back to the wing. AMac's biggest defender wouldn't try to claim that he is a top pair Dman, so stop using him as one.

Since they don't seem willing to change the roster and that Hak will never sit his favorite PK twins, I would prefer to see the following lineup tonight:

Schenn-G-Jake
TK-Couturier-Simmonds
Raffl-Cousins-Read
VdV-PEB-Weise or Lyubimov

Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-Ghost
AMac-Streit
- BiggE

I'd be fine with this. Barring injury I'd just do this and stick with it for 10 games. We can't be any worse

Flip flop Cousins and Bellmare, then flip flop Del Zotto and MacDonald. Other than that you nailed it IMO.
- Pelle31Forever

Works for me. I just want AMac off the top pair and far away from Provorov, Cousins at center and Schenn on the wing.

I read it's Manning, Schultz, Weise....but Weise and TK were subbing for each other yesterday. I thought Weise has actually been playing better of late, and I don't know how many times you can scratch him. 3.5 more years......

I read it's Manning, Schultz, Weise....but Weise and TK were subbing for each other yesterday. I thought Weise has actually been playing better of late, and I don't know how many times you can scratch him. 3.5 more years......
- Mononoke

Hak trying to keep the Devils guessing who are no doubt building two game plans depending on whether Weise or TK plays.

Going to stay away from this one.

Devils hockey is not something I'm going to put myself through if it can be avoided. Absolute trash, and I don't know how anyone can consistently watch that club. Been boring fans to sleep for years.

No thanks.

Can someone who saw the Phantoms tell me how boss Boyd Gordon was out there last night? Were AHLers shaking in their boots stepping up to the dot against him?

Hextall has seriously got to poop or get off the pot with the NHL and AHL rosters. There are simply way too many players, especially on the Phantoms, and it is cutting into playing time for everyone. Prospects are being scratched, sent down to the ECHL to play even though they are clearly AHLers, vets being subbed in and out for each other. It's ridiculous.

Konecny scratched again?

Get this nooby HC away from the team. Varsity at it again. I'll enjoy back reading the defense of that turd again. The firing is coming, at some point anyway. It will be ohhh so sweet. Sack of poop.

Konecny scratched. Hahahaha.

Can someone who saw the Phantoms tell me how boss Boyd Gordon was out there last night? Were AHLers shaking in their boots stepping up to the dot against him?

Hextall has seriously got to poop or get off the pot with the NHL and AHL rosters. There are simply way too many players, especially on the Phantoms, and it is cutting into playing time for everyone. Prospects are being scratched, sent down to the ECHL to play even though they are clearly AHLers, vets being subbed in and out for each other. It's ridiculous.
- Mononoke

It's too much. Just seems like roster moves for the sake of roster moves.

He just had 5 days off and is one of the few players who consistently generates some sort of even strength offense. Scratching him makes no sense I don't care that he's a rookie. He's one of our best players and barring some sort of crazy slump, he needs to play. Period.
- Mordecai

Hakstol probably likes what he saw from Weise Schenn Simmons more than any combinations with Konecny. Where I disagree with him is keeping Cousins in the 2nd line LW slot over Konecny. But again as long as this isn't an extended line up decision it's not the end of the world. I don't see Consistency in any part of Konecny's game right now. Which is why he's not immune to a scratch.

It's too much. Just seems like roster moves for the sake of roster moves.
- Mordecai

He wanted to have a competitive Phantoms team and went overboard. And he thought getting a lot of bottom 6 players on the Flyers and in camp would create competition and improve the roster. And now the Flyers are seeping players onto the Phantoms. But the fix was in with that bottom 6 before camp even started so it was all in vain.

But the Phantoms are juggling so many players. It's not good for the prospects; it's not good for some of the vets; and Scott Gordon will always gravitate towards scratching Fazleev and NAK for Boyd Gordon. Their roster is a Chinese fire drill.

Can't believe all these people marching in protest to Konecny's scratching. Good to know I'm not alone.

Hakstol probably likes what he saw from Weise Schenn Simmons more than any combinations with Konecny. Where I disagree with him is keeping Cousins in the 2nd line LW slot over Konecny. But again as long as this isn't an extended line up decision it's not the end of the world. I don't see Consistency in any part of Konecny's game right now. Which is why he's not immune to a scratch.
- Baxter27

Thank god for that consistency VDV, Belle, Weise and Mac bring.

Sitting a kid who has played damn well in his first year for those fools is ridiculous. Hak will be out on his ass soon enough.

Works for me. I just want AMac off the top pair and far away from Provorov, Cousins at center and Schenn on the wing.
- BiggE

Absolutely . I think the Ghost AMac pair last season looked well. Almost Tom-ma-to /To-may-to with Bellmare and Cousins. I just trust PEB more than Cousins in a defensive role

Can't believe all these people marching in protest to Konecny's scratching. Good to know I'm not alone.
- PhillySportsGuy

Flyers need to drain the swamp soooo (frank)ing badly

Flyers need to drain the swamp soooo (frank)ing badly
- Mononoke

Goldman Sachs banksters don't play hockey...

He wanted to have a competitive Phantoms team and went overboard. And he thought getting a lot of bottom 6 players on the Flyers and in camp would create competition and improve the roster. And now the Flyers are seeping players onto the Phantoms. But the fix was in with that bottom 6 before camp even started so it was all in vain.

But the Phantoms are juggling so many players. It's not good for the prospects; it's not good for some of the vets; and Scott Gordon will always gravitate towards scratching Fazleev and NAK for Boyd Gordon. Their roster is a Chinese fire drill.
- Mononoke

I agree with the general point you're getting at, I just dont wholeheartedly agree. I'll take an environment of excessive depth that promotes intense competition over a different organizational paradigm anyday.

This is exactly the kind of environment these kids all need to be playing in. The Phantoms are abundant with talent finally after years of borderline mediocrity. Hextall is building a winning culture throughout the farm system and there's nothing wrong with. If some of our AHL players are briefly down playing in the ECHL, that (theoretically) helps that team as well. If those guys are too good for the ECHL, then they should excel down there. The team and player benefits from that.

Sure, it's not ideal in the long term, but guys like Fazleev, Leir, NAK, Morin, Sanheim etc need to learn how pro hockey works. There is a learning curve and there may be times in your early years even once you make it to the top level that you are scratched occasionally so that you can "reset" yourself both physically and mentally. The fact that this is being done at the NHL level with young guys like Konecny and Ghost shows that there will be no exceptions. Conversely, the same thing is happening for vets. Boyd Gordon made the team and has since been waived and demoted.

I know it's sometimes hard to appreciate, but I truly believe this is the best our organizational culture has looked top to bottom in a long, long time. I understand some may respond and say something along the lines of "for you to preach their is universal accountability and competition is wrong because Andrew MacDonald Chris VandeVelde are every game players". Thats a fair point, but coaches are always going to have favorite players they feel they can lean on. But at some point, that stuff evens itself out. We have to remain patient.

As good as Hextall has been, he's still a fairly new GM. The experience he got in LA as an Assistant obviously put him way ahead of the curve, but he's learning on the fly just like anybody else would be. Ditto Hakstol. I love the system and concepts Hak is trying to instill, but some of the personel decisions have been very suspect in his first 1.5 seasons. That's ok. He's learning too. He's made a huge jump from NCAA D1 to coaching grown men. He deserves an opportunity to learn as well.

It's been very bleak lately and easy to be overly hypocritical, but it wasn't long ago our attitudes were a complete 180 from where they are now because this team was winning. It has plenty of talent and without question has under-performed lately. Tweaks need to be made. Hex/Hak have a strict vision in place and are sticking to it. As a fan, I want that continuity.

Last point Ill raise in this rant is that I'm certain Hextall has been trying to do whatever possible to try and tweak this team. However, the entire league has basically been frozen by this incoming expansion draft. No one is making deals because every GM is looking for something very specific. 30 teams have strict visions right now and wont make a deal unless they feel they unequivocally "win" and are getting back what they need. The deals will eventually come as more teams realize they are no longer in contention.

That, IMO, is what I think Ron is handcuffed by at the moment. He wants to give this team every opportunity to compete this year. But after a certain point, the writing will be on the wall. That's when guys like MDZ, Streit, etc could be dealt to help us continue to "re-tool".

Thank god for that consistency VDV, Belle, Weise and Mac bring.

Sitting a kid who has played damn well in his first year for those fools is ridiculous. Hak will be out on his ass soon enough.
- flyer_nutter

So you would like seeing Konecny on the 4th line or paired with Provorov? The other scratch options here are Weise Or Cousins. Considering Cousins was caught holding his wang on the second goal last Sunday he would've been my scratch.

I agree with the general point you're getting at, I just dont wholeheartedly agree. I'll take an environment of excessive depth that promotes intense competition over a different organizational paradigm anyday.

This is exactly the kind of environment these kids all need to be playing in. The Phantoms are abundant with talent finally after years of borderline mediocrity. Hextall is building a winning culture throughout the farm system and there's nothing wrong with. If some of our AHL players are briefly down playing in the ECHL, that (theoretically) helps that team as well. If those guys are too good for the ECHL, then they should excel down there. The team and player benefits from that.

Sure, it's not ideal in the long term, but guys like Fazleev, Leir, NAK, Morin, Sanheim etc need to learn how pro hockey works. There is a learning curve and there may be times in your early years even once you make it to the top level that you are scratched occasionally so that you can "reset" yourself both physically and mentally. The fact that this is being done at the NHL level with young guys like Konecny and Ghost shows that there will be no exceptions. Conversely, the same thing is happening for vets. Boyd Gordon made the team and has since been waived and demoted.

I know it's sometimes hard to appreciate, but I truly believe this is the best our organizational culture has looked top to bottom in a long, long time. I understand some may respond and say something along the lines of "for you to preach their is universal accountability and competition is wrong because Andrew MacDonald Chris VandeVelde are every game players". Thats a fair point, but coaches are always going to have favorite players they feel they can lean on. But at some point, that stuff evens itself out. We have to remain patient.

As good as Hextall has been, he's still a fairly new GM. The experience he got in LA as an Assistant obviously put him way ahead of the curve, but he's learning on the fly just like anybody else would be. Ditto Hakstol. I love the system and concepts Hak is trying to instill, but some of the personel decisions have been very suspect in his first 1.5 seasons. That's ok. He's learning too. He's made a huge jump from NCAA D1 to coaching grown men. He deserves an opportunity to learn as well.

It's been very bleak lately and easy to be overly hypocritical, but it wasn't long ago our attitudes were a complete 180 from where they are now because this team was winning. It has plenty of talent and without question has under-performed lately. Tweaks need to be made. Hex/Hak have a strict vision in place and are sticking to it. As a fan, I want that continuity.

Last point Ill raise in this rant is that I'm certain Hextall has been trying to do whatever possible to try and tweak this team. However, the entire league has basically been frozen by this incoming expansion draft. No one is making deals because every GM is looking for something very specific. 30 teams have strict visions right now and wont make a deal unless they feel they unequivocally "win" and are getting back what they need. The deals will eventually come as more teams realize they are no longer in contention.

That, IMO, is what I think Ron is handcuffed by at the moment. He wants to give this team every opportunity to compete this year. But after a certain point, the writing will be on the wall. That's when guys like MDZ, Streit, etc could be dealt to help us continue to "re-tool".
- mochoson

Really well said.

I guess you missed the part where I said it's not just prospects. Vets have to rotate. There are way too many players; it has nothing to do with scratching a kid a couple times to learn. Hextall needs to offload some guys because the roster is messy at the moment. That's just reality, and it's good for no one.