Hak sucks.
Professional Coaches are all-knowing gods of their sport.
Read out for TK; Ghost still out
Ghost should be sent to LHV; (frank) Waivers ;
Lets give Ghost to someone who will appreciate him
Hak sucks.
- JFlyers00

Nobody here said that.
The rest is true.

Schenn and Couturier have grown?

Same inconsistency to one, and Coots has grown? Really?
- flyer_nutter

As I said before, last season Schenn set career highs in goals, assists, and points. This season he is on pace to come close to equalling that output and is leading the league in PP goals, 3rd in the league in PP points.

No matter how you look at it, he has grown.

That in no way takes away from your broader point, I just think using Schenn as one of your examples damages your point.

Ohhh it's many things. I know I'm been crazy with the Hak hate but just like every player and position matters to a team's success so does coaching.

Can't just disqualify one and blame the other.

The players have a big part in this too. G is alarming as has been the lack of consistent secondary support from Coots/Schenn. Goaltending too inconsistent, the list goes on.
- flyer_nutter

Yeah, Idk how anyone could dispute this after seeing what Pitt did last year with a new forward-thinking coach.

Berube was just laughably bad, and should have never been here in the first place. Its very possible the Flyers just haven't found a good coach/the right coach yet.

A lot of conflicting reports it seems...

Who is winning the thread? I will side with them
- YuenglingJagr

I think we're all losers here.

As I said before, last season Schenn set career highs in goals, assists, and points. This season he is on pace to come close to equalling that output and is leading the league in PP goals, 3rd in the league in PP points.

No matter how you look at it, he has grown.

That in no way takes away from your broader point, I just think using Schenn as one of your examples damages your point.
- MBFlyerfan

I would say Schenn's point totals were never in question. His effort from game to game has remained an issue. It's why I bring him up.

Valid point though.

Ghost and Couturier for Duchene we got our 1st line center move giroux to 2nd line... PROFIT

Perhaps I should have clarified better. I was implying coaching is more the problem than players. That we haven't had a proven NHL coach.
- arichardson22

So when Giroux is lazy and disappears for stretches that's on coaching?

I think blaming the coach is easy because people like players. No one wants to criticize Simmonds when he goes on stretches of doing nothing. But will point out Schenn's inconsistencies.

If Gostisbehere was playing well would he have gotten scratched?

If Neuvirth gives up a softie tonight is that Hakstols fault because he played a goalie whose playing well?

I think more onus should be played on these players. Maybe Hakstol has made some bad decisions. But he isn't on the ice.

I think we're all losers here.
- flyer_nutter

We're all losers now.

As I said before, last season Schenn set career highs in goals, assists, and points. This season he is on pace to come close to equalling that output and is leading the league in PP goals, 3rd in the league in PP points.

No matter how you look at it, he has grown.

That in no way takes away from your broader point, I just think using Schenn as one of your examples damages your point.
- MBFlyerfan

That's not necessarily true

Ghost and Couturier for Duchene we got our 1st line center move giroux to 2nd line... PROFIT
- 2Real

I'd give up on this team if that happened.

A lot of conflicting reports it seems...

Who is winning the thread? I will side with them
- YuenglingJagr

This is my first post on the thread so that means I am OBVIOUSLY winning.

Yeah he's got them playing some creative hockey now. Please. He's a sack of poop coach, and you can defend the organization's every move at any cost as much as you wish.

Irrelevant.

You think that he isn't telling them to play this conservative style? Is Giroux rebelling and telling the boys to do it?
- flyer_nutter

You're making my point and embarrassing yourself.

I would say Schenn's point totals were never in question. His effort from game to game has remained an issue. It's why I bring him up.

Valid point though.
- flyer_nutter

I get that.

I would say an inconsistent effort has been the hallmark of this team for going on three coaches now.

I mean when referring to Laughton and Leier as the AHLers to call up / make the team / improve the team, im not just saying hey let's throw them in because I don't like so and so. This is Leier's 3rd season with the Phantoms; what else does he need to do down there? He's shown he can succeed and be an all star down there. For his development sake, couldn't it be beneficial to have him up for longer look with consistent playing time to see how he handles, adjusts, or improves in that small span? We all know Laughton has had 100+ games up in the NHL but struggled bewteen play and injuries and was sent down to work on things; like I said I'll cut slack for him. But I don't think Leier has struggled enough in his time up with the Flyers to not get a fair (full) chance. Our team has struggled in recent weeks and even before then, I don't see a harm in trying something out to get a little extra energy or effort from a young guy trying to earn a permanent spot. I also don't view such a move as tossing a season or playing to lose. I don't see why we can't be competitive and push for playoffs with Leier on this roster or even dressing. Between internal growth and personal player development, how can Leier playing for the Flyers be that detrimental to either?
- arichardson22

The points I made apply to Laughton, Leier, or any other player on the Phantoms.

So when Giroux is lazy and disappears for stretches that's on coaching?

I think blaming the coach is easy because people like players. No one wants to criticize Simmonds when he goes on stretches of doing nothing. But will point out Schenn's inconsistencies.

If Gostisbehere was playing well would he have gotten scratched?

If Neuvirth gives up a softie tonight is that Hakstols fault because he played a goalie whose playing well?

I think more onus should be played on these players. Maybe Hakstol has made some bad decisions. But he isn't on the ice.
- J35Bacher

A part of me wonders what this coach is doing however. When I consistently see a play like when Jake has solid control of the puck coming out from behind the net looking for someone to pass it to and I see Giroux standing out at the blueline flanked by both defensmen....no one going to the net, I have to wonder if that is just Giroux doing what the coach is telling him to do or what.......and if that is the plan? ....then SMH is all I can do.

For the most part, my eyes tell me the slot is some sort of "no go" area for this team. I know that isn't the case, but it happens enough that I get angry. This team does not like to get to the net. And is that on the players, or are they doing what the coach wants them to do?

Ghost and Couturier for Duchene we got our 1st line center move giroux to 2nd line... PROFIT
- 2Real

Interesting proposal. I may be on board with this.

all they needed to do was kick that damn field goal. so Eagles to not run the ball twice when you have the ball on the 23 or whatever it was. an 11 point lead would have sealed it. I was sitting there saying cool, just run the ball, take time off the clock and kick the FG and next thing you know Sack, penalty.
- nastyflyergirl

I'm still shocked how badly they handled that. As you say, a field goal does it and they mismanaged it.

A part of me wonders what this coach is doing however. When I consistently see a play like when Jake has solid control of the puck coming out from behind the net looking for someone to pass it to and I see Giroux standing out at the blueline flanked by both defensmen....no one going to the net, I have to wonder if that is just Giroux doing what the coach is telling him to do or what.......and if that is the plan? ....then SMH is all I can do.

For the most part, my eyes tell me the slot is some sort of "no go" area for this team. I know that isn't the case, but it happens enough that I get angry. This team does not like to get to the net. And is that on the players, or are they doing what the coach wants them to do?
- MBFlyerfan

I have some of the same questions. My view on Hakstol at this point is that he is a good hockey coach, but is he a good NHL hockey coach? The jury is still out on that. I think a lot of the criticism's are unfounded. While I think there are some player deployment decisions he has made, that I disagree with such as the matchup in 3 on 3 on the GA, but for the most part I think that criticism is nitpicking. Many line suggestions are made, but if Hakstol used that to the same level of success, they would then just criticize him for that, and make up some other suggestion. There are holes in this roster. There is no perfect setup.

Some of the criticism reaches the level of comedic absurdity such as he doesn't work the refs or use timeouts properly. Just have to laugh.

As far as systems, I think his systems are solid, but very basic. I think he needs to grow into that and tweak it for the NHL level. I'll reiterate though what I've always said and that is that players win games, not systems.

The simple and fair criticism, and really the only criticism towards Hakstol that I think is necessary is that to this point, he has not gotten the team towards a consistent level of play, and fixed the key issues this team has. They've been a poor team defensively all season. It's not just a question of talent, it's a question of detail. He hasn't fixed that.

For the most part, my eyes tell me the slot is some sort of "no go" area for this team. I know that isn't the case, but it happens enough that I get angry. This team does not like to get to the net. And is that on the players, or are they doing what the coach wants them to do?
- MBFlyerfan

The system is entirely geared around getting the puck from down low to up high, and the forwards then trying to create traffic when a d man shoots.

It kind of IS the case that the Flyers offensive systems are not geared towards skill plays and exploiting the slot for chances. Their among league worst scoring chance generation (and 1 glimpse at their nightly shooting chart heat maps) shows that.

I'm still shocked how badly they handled that. As you say, a field goal does it and they mismanaged it.
- Hextall271

Was it mismanagement or blown coverage that allowed the sack?

Schenn and Couturier have grown?

Same inconsistency to one, and Coots has grown? Really?
- flyer_nutter

A part of me wonders what this coach is doing however. When I consistently see a play like when Jake has solid control of the puck coming out from behind the net looking for someone to pass it to and I see Giroux standing out at the blueline flanked by both defensmen....no one going to the net, I have to wonder if that is just Giroux doing what the coach is telling him to do or what.......and if that is the plan? ....then SMH is all I can do.

For the most part, my eyes tell me the slot is some sort of "no go" area for this team. I know that isn't the case, but it happens enough that I get angry. This team does not like to get to the net. And is that on the players, or are they doing what the coach wants them to do?
- MBFlyerfan

I think it's on the players. I have seen Giroux play a mostly perimeter game this year. The coach has stated plenty of times of getting pucks on net and getting to the net.

This isn't Madden. Professional sports coaches know more than everyone else.
- JFlyers00

in all seriousness I would never pretend that I could game plan or develop plays, etc but it doesn't take a football guru to know you milk the play clock in general (they were snapping the ball well before hitting 0) and run the ball in that situation. all you didn't want to see happen was a turnover or plays that resulted in large losses.

I have some of the same questions. My view on Hakstol at this point is that he is a good hockey coach, but is he a good NHL hockey coach? The jury is still out on that. I think a lot of the criticism's are unfounded. While I think there are some player deployment decisions he has made, that I disagree with such as the matchup in 3 on 3 on the GA, but for the most part I think that criticism is nitpicking. Many line suggestions are made, but if Hakstol used that to the same level of success, they would then just criticize him for that, and make up some other suggestion. There are holes in this roster. There is no perfect setup.

Some of the criticism reaches the level of comedic absurdity such as he doesn't work the refs or use timeouts properly. Just have to laugh.

As far as systems, I think his systems are solid, but very basic. I think he needs to grow into that and tweak it for the NHL level. I'll reiterate though what I've always said and that is that players win games, not systems.

The simple and fair criticism, and really the only criticism towards Hakstol that I think is necessary is that to this point, he has not gotten the team towards a consistent level of play, and fixed the key issues this team has. They've been a poor team defensively all season. It's not just a question of talent, it's a question of detail. He hasn't fixed that.
- MJL

And I think we will see a change once he has more skill on the roster. It's like trying to say Brett Brown was a terrible coach because he didn't have Embiid or Simmons. Until the roster construction is complete I think we'll have to give some time. This team needs more talent.

And I think we will see a change once he has more skill on the roster. It's like trying to say Brett Brown was a terrible coach because he didn't have Embiid or Simmons. Until the roster construction is complete I think we'll have to give some time. This team needs more talent.
- J35Bacher

This team has 50x the talent of the Sixers in those years. Sixers still aren't a good team, they just have a couple actually good players now so Brown isn't working with absolutely nothing. And it's still mostly just one player in Embiid. Not sure how tough it is for Hakstol having to make magic with AHL talent like Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Konecny, Provorov, Ghost, Gudas, Couturier, Schenn, etc..

If you're saying he needs a Stanley Cup caliber team before we're evaluating him falrly, then.....it'll be a while. And it's a stretch.