Its a tough spot..
Basically what you are saying is you would rather the team loses as long as they play young kids vs winning the way they are..

That is a tough call for management to make.
- opeth_pa

When the upside of winning the way they are is a first round knockout, then I think the decision is pretty easy

Maybe they should stop trying to balance it and just commit to building for the future
- PhillySportsGuy

Nonsense. 1st round exists and a handful more wins boring the fan base to sleep is the way to go.

Continue to play this way for an extended time and see what happens to the fans. Nobody new is going to be attracted to this poop and those "alumni" nights that have the organization trying to draw interest from old days of glory will be more and more irrelevant.

Scratching talented kids over vets who wouldn't even make the fourth line of a top tier NHL club.

According to Tim P., this is the way Hakstol wants the team to play for the rest of the season . If that's the case... I'm out. I don't want to watch this boring ass poop. I've been a never-miss-a-game fan for 20 years, but I just can't watch an untalented team playing boring hockey in the hopes that they can squeak into the playoffs. And now they're not even going to play the only interesting young guys they have? What's the point? I always hoped the flyers would build a better team from within rather than trying to buy one, but I don't really see that happening. We're tied into underperforming players for the foreseeable future and I don't see much of a chance of drafting a real difference maker if we're going to be a middle of the pack team.
- Dkos

I rarely missed a game from 1996 to 2014.

Now I rarely watch an entire game. They're boring as (frank) 9 times out of 10.

Nonsense. 1st round exists and a handful more wins boring the fan base to sleep is the way to go.

Continue to play this way for an extended time and see what happens to the fans. Nobody new is going to be attracted to this poop and those "alumni" nights that have the organization trying to draw interest from old days of glory will be more and more irrelevant.

Scratching talented kids over vets who wouldn't even make the fourth line of a top tier NHL club.
- flyer_nutter

Since the end of the10 game winning streak, they Flyers have played 21 games. Essentially a quarter of a season. They have scored 37 goals in 21 games. That is an average of 1.76 goals per game.

Unwatchable. Hextall has done nothing to improve the team through FA/trades. You can't just build a team through the draft. Where are the players in the system that can put the puck in the net?

I watch to be entertained. Hockey is a beautiful game when played the right way.

If this is the new approach count me out. They can win a cup playing the Devils style and having 10 people watch. Castrating the limited skill already on the team.
- flyer_nutter

Exactly. Who are the top players on this team? Well, if we look at salaries it's; Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Streit, MacDonald, Coots, Simmonds. Other than Couturier and, theoretically, the two defensemen, none of these guys are what you would call strong defensive players. The best young guys we have on the team are Konecny, Porvorov and Ghost. Provorov plays solid defense, but Ghost and Konecny are built for offense. So, almost all of our "best" players are offensive specialists...why are we trying to play a defensive game?

I rarely missed a game from 1996 to 2014.

Now I rarely watch an entire game. They're boring as (frank) 9 times out of 10.
- MikesPillBottle

I cant make it through a game anymore.

I cant make it through a game anymore.
- Dkos

I get so bored I go do dishes, clean the garage, or wonder into the office and surf the web until the game is over

Hak's job is to win games, and sadly this D first, take no chances style is their best chance to do so. It's boring as sin and hopefully it changes when the team adds speed and talent, but it's the best bet for now.

My issues with the coach are much more about personnel use than style of play. With Provorov, Streit and AMac available yesterday, Manning should have never been on the ice in OT
- BiggE

Streit unfortunately just doesn't skate well enough anymore for 3 on 3 play. He did use MacDonald and Provorov in the 3 on 3, but I agree he could've double shifted somebody. The game was lost when the Flyers didn't score a single goal in 60 minutes of regulation play.

That's been an issue I had hoped would change under Hex.

Winning games at all cost. I figured with a young coach who was supposed to be strong at development that's what we wouldn't see.

Hell we may as well put Ghost on 4th line wing Sbisa style.

They can continue to play this way and watch the fans dwindle, this is trash Neanderthal hockey.
- flyer_nutter

This is an overreaction. An NHL coaches number one priority is to win hockey games. The fans haven't dwindled in 50 years, they aren't going to now.

Exactly. Who are the top players on this team? Well, if we look at salaries it's; Giroux, Voracek, Schenn, Streit, MacDonald, Coots, Simmonds. Other than Couturier and, theoretically, the two defensemen, none of these guys are what you would call strong defensive players. The best young guys we have on the team are Konecny, Porvorov and Ghost. Provorov plays solid defense, but Ghost and Konecny are built for offense. So, almost all of our "best" players are offensive specialists...why are we trying to play a defensive game?
- Dkos

There is no such thing in today's NHL in not playing well defensively. If you don't check and pressure the puck well, you cannot win. It's not the 1980's.

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN 2m2 minutes ago
Ghost and Konecny still on ice which means they remain scratched for StL

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN 2m2 minutes ago
Ghost and Konecny still on ice which means they remain scratched for StL
- PhillySportsGuy

That is a relief. I was worried Wiese and Manning might be scratched

There is no such thing in today's NHL in not playing well defensively. If you don't check and pressure the puck well, you cannot win. It's not the 1980's.
- MJL

so why do you sign two two guys, who are not very strong two-way players, to 8 year $8 mil plus contracts?

so why do you sign two two guys, who are not very strong two-way players, to 8 year $8 mil plus contracts?
- Dkos

Both Giroux and Voracek are capable of playing well defensively. Giroux was a star player with 96 and 83 point seasons. Voracek had an 81 point season. Do you think they shouldn't have re-signed both players?

Tim Panaccio ‏@tpanotchCSN 2m2 minutes ago
Ghost and Konecny still on ice which means they remain scratched for StL
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm going to the game tomorrow

Lol @ whoever said "you cant build through the draft"

Both Giroux and Voracek are capable of playing well defensively. Giroux was a star player with 96 and 83 point seasons. Voracek had an 81 point season. Do you think they shouldn't have re-signed both players?
- MJL

Not for that $$$ and term. I like both players, but still think their contracts are too long and too much.

Not for that $$$ and term. I like both players, but still think their contracts are too long and too much.
- Dkos

Market value.

I'm going to the game tomorrow
- Mordecai

At least you get to watch Tarasenko . Now that is a player

That is a relief. I was worried Wiese and Manning might be scratched
- PLindbergh31

#Trusttheresults

Lol @ whoever said "you cant build through the draft"
- Mordecai

It is hard to build a Cup winning team through the middle of the draft

Market value.
- MJL

if you say so.

if you say so.
- Dkos

The NHL market says so.

if you say so.
- Dkos

The NHL market also dictated MacDonald got market value.

The NHL market says so.
- MJL

The Flyers are the ONLY team in the league with two $8 mil plus forwards who havent won the cup. Doesn't sound like the going rate to me.