Yep, a lot of players need to be much better.
- MJL

The old saying goes....you can't change the 20 players.

It all counts the same. The Flyers as a team are just simply not a good 5 on 5 offensive team. We can compare one player relative to another all we want, the fact remains that the Flyers are not getting enough from their top forwards offensively. That includes Couturier.
- MJL

It looks like Hak may abandoning or postponing the aggressive forechecking and aggressive d men pinching in for awhile. Do you think he thinks he doesn't have the horses to play this way?

The team this year has bled more odd man rushes against and high quality chances against, at least from my eye, than I can ever remember. I just wonder if this roster needs more turnover than we all think to do what Hak wants to do.

If some of these prospects don't pan out then it is obviously on the guy who drafted them.....it's not like Hextall can stand on his record of trades or free agent signings, he had better hit on home grown talent.
As far as Hakstol....although I can't say I'm impressed, the jury is still out. Today I thought his decisions in OT cost the Flyers the game.
- landros 2

I think Brandon Manning losing his man and staring at the puck in OT cost them the game. Also the entire team not scoring a goal in the 60 minutes of hockey that preceded OT.

Hakstol is not going anywhere, nor should he be. A 20 year old kid led the team in ice time today.
- MJL

Not today.....but he may not be as safe as you think.....fair or not.

I think Brandon Manning losing his man and staring at the puck in OT cost them the game. Also the entire team not scoring a goal in the 60 minutes of hockey that preceded OT.
- MJL

Dale Weiss on the ice in OT was a stupid decision......Manning can't let Carter go, your right. The reason the 20 year old gets the most ice time is because he deserves it.

It looks like Hak may abandoning or postponing the aggressive forechecking and aggressive d men pinching in for awhile. Do you think he thinks he doesn't have the horses to play this way?

The team this year has bled more odd man rushes against and high quality chances against, at least from my eye, than I can ever remember. I just wonder if this roster needs more turnover than we all think to do what Hak wants to do.
- Just5

I think it's obvious that the Flyers won't be a good team if they continue to turn the puck over and bleed quality chance after quality chance like they did during the losing streak. They have no chance of making the playoffs or growing as a team moving forward if they don't improve defensively as a team. You look at game after game, and see the bad habits. Players constantly on the wrong side of the puck, staring a watching the puck instead of looking around and finding your coverage, bad puck management etc. I don't want the Flyers to be a team that plays a 1-2 forecheck game in and game out. I don't think that's the best way to play in today's NHL. Playing more conservatively for now though, may be a way to break some bad habits and get this team playing better as a 5 man unit and fixing all the issues that plague it without the puck. Hakstol's strategy today, along with some key saves by Neuvirth, gave the Flyers a chance to win the game against a bigger, faster, stronger, and a better team.

Dale Weiss on the ice in OT was a stupid decision......Manning can't let Carter go, your right. The reason the 20 year old gets the most ice time is because he deserves it.
- landros 2

Weise wouldn't be a choice for me, but he was out there to check Kopitar/Carter. I don't think that decision deserves the amount of criticism it's getting. Just my opinion.

Completely agree that Provorov deserves the ice time he is getting. It plainly shows that Hakstol is perfectly willing to play young players in key roles if they earn it.

Weise wouldn't be a choice for me, but he was out there to check Kopitar/Carter. I don't think that decision deserves the amount of criticism it's getting. Just my opinion.

Completely agree that Provorov deserves the ice time he is getting. It plainly shows that Hakstol is perfectly willing to play young players in key roles if they earn it.
- MJL

All we need is to draft a bunch of Provorov's.

Kid better hope he doesn't have a bit of a slump in his second year.

Good thing that ES points count more than other points..

Oh wait they dont, he is 9th on the team in points..

Coots has a lot value , this season so far he isnt producing well enough.
- opeth_pa

ES don't count more and they're not any more important in a vacuum. The entire point is that a player who doesn't play on the top PP unit (and the PP2 for a long long time, well before Coots even, has sucked here, even adding Provorov and Konecny now. It's a problem from the top down) will never put up the points you expect. So it's just unfair to evaluate his raw point totals to guys with oodles of PP1 time.

The point is that Couturier is not scoring enough 5v5 either. Period. But he's still 5th among forwards somehow in scoring per game there. The continual need to poop on only him and ignore every single other person because they get the benefit of the PP1 is nonsensical. It's a team-wide problem, but he doesn't get to boost his stats with special teams like some. Put him on PP1 in front somewhere, and magically 10 points get added to his totals probably.

Weise wouldn't be a choice for me, but he was out there to check Kopitar/Carter. I don't think that decision deserves the amount of criticism it's getting. Just my opinion.

Completely agree that Provorov deserves the ice time he is getting. It plainly shows that Hakstol is perfectly willing to play young players in key roles if they earn it.
- MJL

My opinion is just as simple. I'm not sold on Hakstol as a coach. Don't think he deserves to be fired, but if Weise is such a defensive stalwart then why has he been a healthy scratch so often ?

I think it's obvious that the Flyers won't be a good team if they continue to turn the puck over and bleed quality chance after quality chance like they did during the losing streak. They have no chance of making the playoffs or growing as a team moving forward if they don't improve defensively as a team. You look at game after game, and see the bad habits. Players constantly on the wrong side of the puck, staring a watching the puck instead of looking around and finding your coverage, bad puck management etc. I don't want the Flyers to be a team that plays a 1-2 forecheck game in and game out. I don't think that's the best way to play in today's NHL. Playing more conservatively for now though, may be a way to break some bad habits and get this team playing better as a 5 man unit and fixing all the issues that plague it without the puck. Hakstol's strategy today, along with some key saves by Neuvirth, gave the Flyers a chance to win the game against a bigger, faster, stronger, and a better team.
- MJL

I really don't know what people want Hak to do. The scratches in the long run aren't a huge deal if they're being told the right things behind the scene.

But really this team is just lacking on talent. Coots isn't developing past a 3rd line center and Giroux is regressing rapidly. He used to carry these guys on his back but now he is just one of the other guys on the ice. They stopped signing impact UFA's and kids take time to come up...we're left with this.

I like Hak. I want to see a guy given a fair shake and if he gets this team into the playoffs by whatever means he feels necessary, or even if he comes damn close, I'm supposed to want to can the guy? Sorry not with this roster

My opinion is just as simple. I'm not sold on Hakstol as a coach. Don't think he deserves to be fired, but if Weise is such a defensive stalwart then why has he been a healthy scratch so often ?
- landros 2

I will attack Hak this way. Has there ever been a thought to maybe scratch VDV in favor of Weise? Is that at all a possibility? I don't get the incessant mating with Bellemare/VDV

My opinion is just as simple. I'm not sold on Hakstol as a coach. Don't think he deserves to be fired, but if Weise is such a defensive stalwart then why has he been a healthy scratch so often ?
- landros 2

I didn't label Weise a defensive stalwart, I just simply offered an explanation for why Hakstol chose to put him out there. Weise has played well away from the puck, but has simply not offered any offense whatsoever. The issue is that Hakstol doesn't have enough two way players that he trusts enough so he has to overplay other players in some situations. I personally would rather see Read out there in place of Weise.

At the very least G should bring back a forward of significant relevance. Clode for a goalie or even a really good defenseman doesn't make this team better IMO.

They struggle as is on offense, getting rid of one of your 2 playmakers all but guarantee you picking in the top 5.
- Pelle31Forever

I don't see another NHL team wanting to trade for Giroux. Paying out over 8M cap hit for a pp and faceoff specialist until 2022. That's of course if Giroux approves of the trade. If his decline continues at this rate his contract may end up being one of the worst in the league.

I don't see another NHL team wanting to trade for Giroux. Paying out over 8M cap hit for a pp and faceoff specialist until 2022. That's of course if Giroux approves of the trade. If his decline continues at this rate his contract may end up being one of the worst in the league.
- Pixote Andolini

They may have already missed their window. Smart to trade Richards when they did. I think a year ago you could've gotten Montreal to go for it. The only problem is he makes SO much money the low cap hit teams wouldn't take him NOT bc of the cap hit but bc of the salary being paid out. And the NMC is an issue like you mentioned.

Its looking bad. He doesn't skate. Like ever

Are people in this thread watching? I hope hes hiding an injury but this has been a steady decline

I don't see another NHL team wanting to trade for Giroux. Paying out over 8M cap hit for a pp and faceoff specialist until 2022. That's of course if Giroux approves of the trade. If his decline continues at this rate his contract may end up being one of the worst in the league.
- Pixote Andolini

Broke down...heavy usage. Im not buying it. I cant go there the guy is 29! Maybe at 32-33. I know every player is different but its not just a case of the league getting faster. Watch his highlights from 2011 its a different player. Its not his precious wrists that Crosby destroyed he still is a beast on faceoffs. He's married now, maybe he hunkers down this offseason and trains like a beast and comes back better. Have to hope.

I think Brandon Manning losing his man and staring at the puck in OT cost them the game. Also the entire team not scoring a goal in the 60 minutes of hockey that preceded OT.

Agree Manning lost his guy but reason him and Schenn were coming over is because Weise was getting walked around , happens in seconds but plainly can see Schenn and Manning start to go over to cover weak play by Weise and Carter who Manning should of stayed with was wide open.

I think Brandon Manning losing his man and staring at the puck in OT cost them the game. Also the entire team not scoring a goal in the 60 minutes of hockey that preceded OT.

Agree Manning lost his guy but reason him and Schenn were coming over is because Weise was getting walked around , happens in seconds but plainly can see Schenn and Manning start to go over to cover weak play by Weise and Carter who Manning should of stayed with was wide open.
- Skinner

Kopitar is a horse and there was a slight pick play by Carter on Weise. Schenn came over to help out but Manning didn't cover anyone. He was a spectator on the play. I think he was calling for the hot dog vendor.

Schenn came over to help out but Manning didn't cover anyone. He was a spectator on the play. I think he was calling for the hot dog vendor.
- MJL

I could care less about analyzing 3 vs 3. Its just like a shootout to me.

I kind of like how Hak went to the 1-2-2. Its almost like a team benching. Kind of threw in the towel at least for awhile telling them if their not going to skate and make smart decision your going to be Lemaires Devils

I could care less about analyzing 3 vs 3. Its just like a shootout to me.
- Just5

It's not easy to cover with all of the open ice.

After the hat trick last night Cooper Marody has 1 g and 2 a so far tonight in the rematch with OSU. Laszynski with an A

the blackhawks, my god they're fun to watch

THere really is nothing like watching a veteran, mediocre team scratch its two most exciting players so they can play a conservative style and lose 1-0

THere really is nothing like watching a veteran, mediocre team scratch its two most exciting players so they can play a conservative style and lose 1-0
- PhillySportsGuy

TH I know right