It is a problem and they're nearly impossible to get unless you draft one. I'm not going to hold my hands on my ears and pretend it's not a huge problem though.
- PhillySportsGuy

Looking at the prospect situation, and the current state of the team, it's probably the biggest hurdle they face right now moving forward.

Winning is the top priority in hockey. Your a process guy as I am in basketball. The sports are different. In the NBA if you don't have two stars tank until you get another. Hockey is much more of a team game. Part of developing young talent and a culture to a team, is bringing them into a winning environment.
- Just5

First round exists are hardly a winning environment.

Ok I'm here. Just returned from the second level.

It's just sad. It makes sense now though. They didn't know how to play his Neanderthal hockey. Too much energy and creativity damnit.
- flyer_nutter

There is a big picture to consider. The Flyers just played two very good teams in Montreal and LA, and got 3 out of 4 points without Gostisbehere and Konecny.

To be clear, I am not trying to say that they're a better team without them, because I don't think they are long term.

It's just sad. It makes sense now though. They didn't know how to play his Neanderthal hockey. Too much energy and creativity damnit.
- flyer_nutter

Embrace it Nutter. On a team void of talent and skill, two of those players are in the press box while the half a dozen useless plugs are dressed game after game.

First round exists are hardly a winning environment.
- flyer_nutter

It's far more of a winning environment than tanking is.

I just enjoy how one of the worst defensive teams in hockey is deciding to shift into a non aggressive defense first system straight out of the Berube textbook to maybe Devils our way into a few wins with a lucky shot or two from the point, where the team is only allowed to shoot from.

There is a big picture to consider. The Flyers just played two very good teams in Montreal and LA, and got 3 out of 4 points without Gostisbehere and Konecny.

To be clear, I am not trying to say that they're a better team without them, because I don't think they are long term.
- MJL

They did.

Wins aren't all, especially when the team is not winning a cup and basically we are looking at a first round exit or barely missing the playoffs.

The 'new nhl' organizational success of "winning at all cost" definitely proves they should continue on this path.

Yes it should be his top priority. That's what he is hired to do. Calling up players and changing the context of the roster is the GM's decision. You're conflating two different things. Coaching to win, and developing young players are often intertwined.
- MJL

There is often a great deal of polarity as well. My belief is that the future should always supersede the present with regards to this team.

Embrace it Nutter. On a team void of talent and skill, two of those players are in the press box while the half a dozen useless plugs are dressed game after game.
- PLindbergh31

The fans won't go anywhere.

I thought about buying tickets for the game here this season. Playing this way and not even playing the kids? Haha yeaaaah.

I just enjoy how one of the worst defensive teams in hockey is deciding to shift into a non aggressive defense first system straight out of the Berube textbook to maybe Devils our way into a few wins.
- Mononoke

It's not just to squeak out a few wins, it's to try and help this team correct poor habits, and improve team play away from the puck. Once that base is corrected, they can then look to make some strategy changes to become more aggressive again. The Flyers are not going to play like the Devils of the past. Hakstol is often criticized for not making adjustments. Now that he has, he is still criticized.

It's far more of a winning environment than tanking is.
- MJL

They maple leafs agree with you.

Nobody is saying to tank, to play the kids at the very least. God forbid Leier and Laughton also get a shot, Belle and VDV are too crucial.

There is often a great deal of polarity as well. My belief is that the future should always supersede the present with regards to this team.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's when we get into the subjective points of view of how that is done, or should be done.

They maple leafs agree with you.

Nobody is saying to tank, to play the kids at the very least. God forbid Leier and Laughton also get a shot, Belle and VDV are too crucial.
- flyer_nutter

When the team feels that prospects are ready, or that the team situation calls for it, they will get a chance.

I just enjoy how one of the worst defensive teams in hockey is deciding to shift into a non aggressive defense first system straight out of the Berube textbook to maybe Devils our way into a few wins with a lucky shot or two from the point, where the team is only allowed to shoot from.
- Mononoke

Dead on with the points comment.

The pass back to the point looking for the shot is comical at this point. Every NHL club knows it's the only strategy.

Winning is the top priority in hockey. Your a process guy as I am in basketball. The sports are different. In the NBA if you don't have two stars tank until you get another. Hockey is much more of a team game. Part of developing young talent and a culture to a team, is bringing them into a winning environment.
- Just5

This is the biggest load of bullpoop I've ever heard. Culture doesn't matter in the NBA, but it does matter in hockey? Clearly the culture in Pittsburgh was too much for Crosby. And Edmonton! Those Oilers were a laughingstock and now McDavid is ruined! How about those tanking Leafs with Matthews. What a disaster!

I'm not saying winning culture isn't important, but building a winning culture starts with acquiring talented players who can, ya know, win hockey games.

Dead on with the points comment.

The pass back to the point looking for the shot is comical at this point. Every NHL club knows it's the only strategy.
- flyer_nutter

If a team is playing a tight low zone collapse defensive coverage, you have to take what is open rather than forcing low percentage plays that lead to turnovers and transition plays the other way. Getting pucks behind a defense on the cycle game, and using the points to get the puck to the net with traffic can be an effective offense.

The fans won't go anywhere.

I thought about buying tickets for the game here this season. Playing this way and not even playing the kids? Haha yeaaaah.
- flyer_nutter

Buy the tickets. Go watch Schiefele, Ehlers, Laine. Talk about bright futures. Imagine having those guys?

Talk about hindsight and doom and gloom in here. When Giroux signed his deal he followed it up with a hart trophy worthy season. If they tried to sign him after that he would've been worth more than the price they got him for. Yet because he's had an underwhelming calendar year of Hockey 3 years later they should've never paid him like a franchise player which he has been for 5 of the past 6 years? I get people are upset with this team being the bubble team they were expected to be but the lack of loyalty to Giroux because he's "too much on the perimeter" or missed a few back checks is getting ridiculous. How about some hope and support for tha captain instead of reserving his spot in the morgue.

Talk about hindsight and doom and gloom in here. When Giroux signed his deal he followed it up with a hart trophy worthy season. If they tried to sign him after that he would've been worth more than the price they got him for. Yet because he's had an underwhelming calendar year of Hockey 3 years later they should've never paid him like a franchise player which he has been for 5 of the past 6 years? I get people are upset with this team being the bubble team they were expected to be but the lack of loyalty to Giroux because he's "too much on the perimeter" or missed a few back checks is getting ridiculous. How about some hope and support for tha captain instead of reserving his spot in the morgue.
- Baxter27

It's often like a protest in here where the left has to come out in unison to revel in their alternate fantasy world.

They maple leafs agree with you.

Nobody is saying to tank, to play the kids at the very least. God forbid Leier and Laughton also get a shot, Belle and VDV are too crucial.
- flyer_nutter

Leafs are playing Marner, Matthews, Nylander (20), Reilly is already 22 who are all top 10 picks.

Sashnikov and Conor Brown are 23. Its not like they're throwing their 19 and 20 year old 2nd and 3rd rounders into the lineup. They are not forcing a Kasperi Kapanen into the lineup bc the GM says to play all the young kids.

They are not going about it in some new fangled way. They have a gold mine of top 10 picks that are seeing playing time which is what normally will happen to prospects graded that high. Like Provorov.

It's not just to squeak out a few wins, it's to try and help this team correct poor habits, and improve team play away from the puck. Once that base is corrected, they can then look to make some strategy changes to become more aggressive again. The Flyers are not going to play like the Devils of the past. Hakstol is often criticized for not making adjustments. Now that he has, he is still criticized.
- MJL

Exactly. This isn't Hakstols system and its not what he ideally wants to do. Hes trying to find a way to win with a flawed lineup. Fire him!

That defensive juggernaut Kings team with career schlub Peter Budaj are really throttling the Caps today. Looks like a replay of yesterdays game.

It's often like a protest in here where the left has to come out in unison to revel in their alternate fantasy world.

- MJL

Yes, the party who believes in alternate facts is the one in touch with reality

Embrace it Nutter. On a team void of talent and skill, two of those players are in the press box while the half a dozen useless plugs are dressed game after game.
- PLindbergh31

Points in 5 out of 6 games...

Damn this team sucks..

Can I be on Team Negative now????