I'd get Manning and Schultz out of the lineup asap.
- BiggE

I think Manning is fine with Gudas while MDZ is hurt.

I'd get Manning and Schultz out of the lineup asap.
- BiggE

Aside from multiple injuries on a road trip or in the first game of a back-to-back, Nick Schultz should never play another game for this team. He's been a good soldier, he plays hard, and gives it his all, but he just isn't good at anything but getting hit by pucks.

We should trade Laughton to the Islanders for de Haan, and then trade them back after expansion

Aside from multiple injuries on a road trip or in the first game of a back-to-back, Nick Schultz should never play another game for this team. He's been a good soldier, he plays hard, and gives it his all, but he just isn't good at anything but getting hit by pucks.
- jmatchett383

can't say I disagree with this.

For a bottom-6 forward on a team that struggles mightily at 5v5, I'd say that's pretty great. Sure it would be nice for him to score more, but he shouldn't be getting poop by the fan base like he has been.
- JFlyers00

Yeah, he does deserve it, he's being paid to be a 3rd line forward that can chip in on both sides of special teams. One goal and 5 points in his last 27 games is just awful. There is no way around that.

L

O

motha frankin L

I think Manning is fine with Gudas while MDZ is hurt.
- Feanor

Agreed, I was talking about when MDZ is ready to return.

He'd actually be on the 4th line if Weise hadn't been ice cold all season.
- Feanor

Honestly the flyers dont have a true third line...

In a perfect world you could have something like this...

Konecny-G-Simmer
Schenn-Couts-Jake
A-Real-3rdline
Weise-Belle/Read-Luby/Raffl

Aside from multiple injuries on a road trip or in the first game of a back-to-back, Nick Schultz should never play another game for this team. He's been a good soldier, he plays hard, and gives it his all, but he just isn't good at anything but getting hit by pucks.
- jmatchett383

Agree 100%. When everyone is healthy, I'd waive him and just make Manning the 7th guy. Between Hagg, Morin and Sanheim, they have plenty of guys they can call up if someone gets injured.

Praise Hakstol
- Nucker101

I'm not gonna praise Hakstol. I'm not gonna say he's hitting all the right buttons. Everyone on here has always said, the youngsters have to play if they're gonna be here. This was Konecny's second scratch. This was Gostisbehere's third or fourth. One thing Hakstol has no tried is taking something away from a player like Ghost, like ice time. Why not take Ghost off the top unit of the PP and go with Streit indefinitely? Ghost can than either not get PP time as he watches from the bench or Ghost can skate with the second unit. In fact I would love to see Ghost set up in Jake's spot on the second PP, with Provorov at the top of the umbrella and everything filtering through Konecny in Giroux's spot with Couturier and Weise being used as the double screen. Too many scratches by Hakstol. Not enough creative change to get things going. Switching up line combinations doesn't make him creative, especially if it's clear they're not gonna work out.

We should trade Laughton to the Islanders for de Haan, and then trade them back after expansion
- YuenglingJagr

I am praying that Laughton will be the 3rd line center this team needs...

If he finishes strong and can carry that over next season that will be a UUUGGEE boost for the Flyers.

It was the first game all season where I noticed him playing with a heartbeat.
- jak521

Yesterday it was discussed how Hak's system is playing a more responsibly smart game and taking less penalties; playing scared/afraid I think it was referred to a certain degree. But, between Weise getting an early suspension from a hit, and Hak's more responsible system, I wonder if that has had an impact on Weise's physical/aggressive game.

Honestly the flyers dont have a true third line...

In a perfect world you could have something like this...

Konecny-G-Simmer
Schenn-Couts-Jake
A-Real-3rdline
Weise-Belle/Read-Luby/Raffl
- jak521

And that is exactly the problem. Guys like Raffl, Weise and Read are being paid to be 3rd line players. Committing 2.35 to 3.625 million per 4th line player is terrible cap management.

As much as we complain about Vdv and to a lesser extent PEB, at 712.5K, you are getting your moneys worth from them.

I am praying that Laughton will be the 3rd line center this team needs...

If he finishes strong and can carry that over next season that will be a UUUGGEE boost for the Flyers.
- jak521

Would be great.

Honestly the flyers dont have a true third line...

In a perfect world you could have something like this...

Konecny-G-Simmer
Schenn-Couts-Jake
A-Real-3rdline
Weise-Belle/Read-Luby/Raffl
- jak521

Couturier's line of Read and Cousins or Weise is a real third line. They've actually been awesome! If Hakstol deserves any credit, it's been getting the most of what he can from Schenn playing center, so we're deeper at center.


I think we're finally living in our perfect world. Enough with the changing of the combinations. We have 30 games left.

And that is exactly the problem. Guys like Raffl, Weise and Read are being paid to be 3rd line players. Committing 2.35 to 3.625 million per 4th line player is terrible cap management.
- BiggE

But Raffl's scoring just as much as you'd expect for his salary. He doesn't get used on the PP, so all his points are ES.

I don't know how you can lump Read and Weise together when Read is scoring at three times the rate at 5 on 5.

Aside from multiple injuries on a road trip or in the first game of a back-to-back, Nick Schultz should never play another game for this team. He's been a good soldier, he plays hard, and gives it his all, but he just isn't good at anything but getting hit by pucks.
- jmatchett383

Simply put, yes.

My favorite question of the night from Tim to Hakstol......paraphrasing...Do you wonder why Read can't shoot like that more often? I mean, I get that 82 games a year, you kinda run out of questions but come on

According to Kevin Weekes or Mike Rupp (can't remember which one of them said it), Ghost's problem is Provorov. Can't take the heat of a younger/better guy stepping in.

Andrew MacDonald took an icing with 1:00 left on the clock, and Montreal called timeout before the ensuing left circle faceoff

Didn't see the game last night... but what's up with Montreal calling a timeout after our icing? Didn't that give the Flyers players on ice at the time - forced to stay out there - a breather before Montreal got their O-zone faceoff?

Yeah, he does deserve it, he's being paid to be a 3rd line forward that can chip in on both sides of special teams. One goal and 5 points in his last 27 games is just awful. There is no way around that.
- BiggE

In that respect, I get the frustration. I still think scratching him would hurt the team for those particular games. But hey, he's only got 1 more year left on his deal.

I doubt that he will ever be a guy who will score 20+ goals again, and I admire the transformation he's done to his game to become a solid bottom-6 play driver since losing his scoring touch.

But Raffl's scoring just as much as you'd expect for his salary. He doesn't get used on the PP, so all his points are ES.

I don't know how you can lump Read and Weise together when Read is scoring at three times the rate at 5 on 5.
- Feanor

I've always felt Read was as important to Couturier as Jake is to G. Read basically saw no time with Couturier last season and not at all this season. If Read and Couturier stay together, I think you'll see mutual improvement in both their two way game.

But Raffl's scoring just as much as you'd expect for his salary. He doesn't get used on the PP, so all his points are ES.

I don't know how you can lump Read and Weise together when Read is scoring at three times the rate at 5 on 5.
- Feanor

True, and my post was in response to wanting them to be 4th line players. And yeah, Read has been clearly better than Weise, but that is like saying that a heart attack is better than being shot in the head.

According to Kevin Weekes or Mike Rupp (can't remember which one of them said it), Ghost's problem is Provorov. Can't take the heat of a younger/better guy stepping in.
- Scoob

Wow, that's even dumber than most of what Panotch says. In fact, that is almost beyond the level of Milbury/Roenick dumb.

Agreed. Like it or not, in today's NHL, to be successful, players need to at least live up to, if not exceed their contracts. Very few Flyers are doing either at the present.
- BiggE

I blame management for that problem. Very often management overpays players.