Tried it, doesn't help how I feel about the lineup choices. Like I said, I was close to done with him earlier after a year+ defending him, this just puts the nail in the coffin.

Edit: I mean, he's in the NHL and I'm not, which means his decisions are always 100% right. Because the average fan can't possibly understand anything or make offer and educated opinion.
- jmatchett383

Fact 1: NHL coaches know more about hockey than we do
Fact 2: NHL coaches have access to more data, information, and analytics than we do
Fact 3: NHL coaches have access to players that we don't have
Fact 4: NHL coaches know more about the team than we do
Fact 5: NHL coaches ice the roster they think will give the team the best chance to win on any given night
Fact 6: NHL coaches are human and make mistakes
Fact 7: Fact #6 in no way negates Facts 1-5

Ghost can go to LV. Would it help him? Sure probably would, but then you got a log jam in LV. Unless of course they call up Brennan, Alt or O'Neill to ride the press box.

Konecny can't, and if they send him back to the CHL he's not back until next year.
- dragonoffrost

I know they can't send him back to the CHL and recall him or send him to the AHL. But if they're going to sit him for a prolonged stretch (5 or more games), then just let the kid return to juniors to play.

I feel ya. The product that has been on the ice for the past month since the 10 game streak hasnt been very good. Yes we have been getting points, but I cant tell ya the last time I enjoyed watching a game win or lose. Just meh.

Im patient though and I know that in 2 years we are gonna have a lot to be excited about.. but I am 30 and I am tired of waiting. Its all I have done my whole life.

- jak521

I'm pushing 50. I barely recall the cup wins. So yes I want to win another. I'm using the Sixers theory right now to tolerate what is happening. Trust in the process.

This year is very frustrating but it will be worth it if it leads to many years of great hockey.

You're getting an inferior product with little to no explanation. I'd be livid if I had tickets to the game.

Its almost like a gourmet restaurant serving you a big mac.
- JFlyers00

Here's how much explanation the fans are entitled to:

I feel ya. The product that has been on the ice for the past month since the 10 game streak hasnt been very good. Yes we have been getting points, but I cant tell ya the last time I enjoyed watching a game win or lose. Just meh.

Im patient though and I know that in 2 years we are gonna have a lot to be excited about.. but I am 30 and I am tired of waiting. Its all I have done my whole life.


As for the game last night, no words really. It was phenomenal. Tom Brady (i dont care what other people say) is the greatest to ever play. He somehow also managed to score a smoking hot wife that makes almost double what he makes.
- jak521

I feel that Peyton Manning was the best at understanding how to play the QB position, but that Tom Brady is the best QB of all time. Tom Brady knows how to win better than any QB ever, but Peyton understood the position better, if you know what I mean. But yes, best QB ever is Brady.

Its not a strawman argument at all.. You made a comment about people making mistakes repeatedly and having to suffer the consequences of those mistakes. I watch players make mistakes every night. MacDonald is third on the team in turnovers behind our two top puck moving d-men in Provy and Ghost. He is the worst on the team in take aways. He is a plug and go d-man who makes mistakes frequently but doesnt get benched often. Accountability is selective it seems.
- jak521

You're talking about something completely different, and you don't even realize it. Accountability is absolutely selective, and it always has been, and it always will be. I shared my thoughts on the below post, which includes the different reasons for handling different players.

Scratching MacDonald has no chance of making him better. He is as good as he is going to get at this point. Right now, he one of the team's better defenseman and is playing well.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...p?thread_id=141508&page=8

Fact 1: NHL coaches know more about hockey than we do
Fact 2: NHL coaches have access to more data, information, and analytics than we do
Fact 3: NHL coaches have access to players that we don't have
Fact 4: NHL coaches know more about the team than we do
Fact 5: NHL coaches ice the roster they think will give the team the best chance to win on any given night
Fact 6: NHL coaches are human and make mistakes
Fact 7: Fact #6 in no way negates Facts 1-5
- Scoob

I agree with #5 and #6.

Also, saying they know more about hockey than we do, but that does not mean that fans cannot also form an informed opinion.

Sure they could have. Had Ghost played instead of Schultz, maybe he takes a shot from the point that hits Giroux in the head and kills him. Anything can happen. Unlikely, but it could happen.

Maybe they do create a turnover that leads to a goal against. But I'd rather they have the opportunity to create offense instead of the "safe" guys.
- jmatchett383

I'd rather both Konecny and Gostisbehere improve and become the best players they can be.

I agree with #5 and #6.

Also, saying they know more about hockey than we do, but that does not mean that fans cannot also form an informed opinion.
- jmatchett383

Fans can absolutely form opinions. How informed those opinions are is open for debate and I submit that they are not nearly as informed as the opinion holder thinks they are.

Imho, of course

You're talking about something completely different, and you don't even realize it. Accountability is absolutely selective, and it always has been, and it always will be. I shared my thoughts on the below post, which includes the different reasons for handling different players.

Scratching MacDonald has no chance of making him better. He is as good as he is going to get at this point. Right now, he one of the team's better defenseman and is playing well.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...p?thread_id=141508&page=8
- MJL

I agree that scratching him won't make him better (I feel the same about a 3-game banishment of Ghost and Konecny). However, that's talking about player development over accountability. Accountability should be the same for every player (ideally. not real life).

I'd rather both Konecny and Gostisbehere improve and become the best players they can be.
- MJL

let them play and make their mistakes and learn from them. Benching them all the time will kill their confidence and make them think to much on the ice because they don't want to sit again. But hey, as long as we got vdv doing absolutely nothing and belle turning the puck over non stop on a pk its all good according to this crap coach we have.

I'd rather both Konecny and Gostisbehere improve and become the best players they can be.
- MJL

And you think that a week stay in the Cote suite is the best way to improve their games? I feel that playing the games while undergoing some 1-on-1 practice/video time with the coach would be more beneficial.

Here's how much explanation the fans are entitled to:
- Scoob

So the people who pay money for merchandise and tickets supporting everyone around the team deserves nothing? That's laughable.

I'm on board with these comments. These guys have to be playing. Sitting them for extended periods because the team has performed better defensively and we're getting points just isn't sensible.
- Hextall271

I get that the coach's bottom line is he is hired to win and will be fired eventually for losing. I get the coach will do what he thinks is best and considering the lack of overall skill and speed defense first is probably the only way they are going to win. that said, there is an organizational responsibility to also make sure players are developed properly and to the best of their ability. its in the best interest of the team to see to it. Sitting Ghost and Konecny this long makes me question the latter a bit esp in Ghost's case where he can be demoted. Sit the kid down and say we believe in you, you are part of the future of this team but we need you to work on this.....we are sending you to the Phantoms for a bit to work on it. that is what I would do if I were Hextall

I'd rather both Konecny and Gostisbehere improve and become the best players they can be.
- MJL

People seem more worried about the individuals then the Philadelphia Flyers. All these decisions are made in the best interest of the Flyers. If sitting Gostisbehere some games really hurts him then maybe he isn't mentally strong enough. But all these moves are made to help the Flyers in the now and future.

Maybe having Konecny sit now for mistakes helps him not make those mistakes in the Stanley cup playoffs later on?

Do I like watching the kids play..yes. Do I think these scratches are detrimental...no.

The Flyers website needs better proofreading:

5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:

FLYERS (D: #20 - Ivan Provorov)

The 19-year-old defenseman has earned extended ice time throughout his rookie season and now leads the club with an average of 21:31 per-game, which also ranks second among all rookie defensemen this season… He also leads the Flyers defense in scoring with 22 points (4g-18a), 19 of which have come at even strength.

where is the accountability for some of the veteran players who make the same mistakes but don't sit?
- nastyflyergirl

It's a completely different situation. There is no value in scratching veterans if the replacement players aren't better.

let them play and make their mistakes and learn from them. Benching them all the time will kill their confidence and make them think to much on the ice because they don't want to sit again. But hey, as long as we got vdv doing absolutely nothing and belle turning the puck over non stop on a pk its all good according to this crap coach we have.
- jmdodgeser4

This. There is a difference between a snowflake and a human being. No one is saying these guys will be crushed emotionally and ruined by a benching. But there is a chance it could make them a bit more timid for fear of being benched again, which is not what you want with them. I don't want Ghost to always make the "safe" play because that is not what got him here.

I agree that scratching him won't make him better (I feel the same about a 3-game banishment of Ghost and Konecny). However, that's talking about player development over accountability. Accountability should be the same for every player (ideally. not real life).
- jmatchett383

Only in fantasy land. That's just not the way it is.

So the people who pay money for merchandise and tickets supporting everyone around the team deserves nothing? That's laughable.
- JFlyers00

Fans are entitled to no explanation as to player decisions. None. If a team wants to offer explanations that's on them, and nice of them to do, but they're under no obligation to do so.

Imho, of course.

Wow, that's ridiculous. (edit: imho, of course)

Maybe there are other issues. Remember Mason's mystery personal issues? Maybe Ghost has something going on. Or maybe he's got some kind of injury. A third game does seem a little odd for a "learning" experience but wanting him traded right now is just silly.

Imho, of course.
- Scoob

Player is having a rough season: Trade him at his lowest value!

Player is having an unsustainable good season: We can't trade him!

Only in fantasy land. That's just not the way it is.
- MJL

Which is why I said ideally, not in real life.

It's a completely different situation. There is no value in scratching veterans if the replacement players aren't better.
- MJL

Again, there is a difference between accountability and player development. They can overlap, but they are separate.

People seem more worried about the individuals then the Philadelphia Flyers. All these decisions are made in the best interest of the Flyers. If sitting Gostisbehere some games really hurts him then maybe he isn't mentally strong enough. But all these moves are made to help the Flyers in the now and future.

Maybe having Konecny sit now for mistakes helps him not make those mistakes in the Stanley cup playoffs later on?

Do I like watching the kids play..yes. Do I think these scratches are detrimental...no.
- J35Bacher

Players come and players go. The Flyers are always here. I root for the Flyers.

I agree with the bold.

To me, it's kind of like the Sixers with Embiid right now. When you buy tix to a Sixers game, you're hoping/expecting to see Embiid. But when the coach decides to sit him (when not due to injury) on the morning of the game, you still want the team to win, but you're kinda bummed out that you won't get to see the exciting player(s), which is why you paid money for the ticket. Does that make a lick of sense?
- jmatchett383

This is spot on. We're all in the mode that we're excited for the future of the team and want to see the kids play. Mistakes and all. I remember I was so pumped that both TK and Provy made the squad. in my mind it showed progress.