Why on earth would we trade for a rental? Raffl isn't the second coming, but he's a cheap, under contract, versatile guy who can play wherever in the lineup, and we hve a bottom 6 problem. We shouldn't get 10 feet near rentals right now. Trade assets to win a few meaningless games to pick lower?
- Mononoke

While I agree we should not be trading for rentals...saying that raffl can play wherever is somewhat of a stretch. He's basically proving this year that he is a bottom 6 winger since his forays at center haven't been productive either.

Just screams systems issue to me.
- JFlyers00

Doesn't scream systems issue, it screams lack of offensive talent, and poor team defense.

Weise can play up and down the lineup

One small caveat....he needs to actually get into the lineup

Doesn't scream systems issue, it screams lack of offensive talent, and poor team defense.
- MJL

Some would argue that consistent poor team defense is directly related to a poor system.

Watching the games, it seems as though the forwards option #1 is to get the puck to the point most of the time.

It would be like running a pass play in the NFL, and having the check-down be the primary option.
- JFlyers00

Point shots are never option #1 in a teams offensive system. It can however, be the option that is available a lot of times.

I didn't know weise and raffl can play up and down and here and there and be capable of anything you throw at them. Except special teams is too much to ask apparently. Swiss Army knives these guys

I didn't know weise and raffl can play up and down and here and there and be capable of anything you throw at them. Except special teams is too much to ask apparently. Swiss Army knives these guys
- Just5

Very dull Swiss Army Knifes.

Very dull Swiss Army Knifes.
- SuperSchennBros

The kind that rips your nail off when you try to open it up.

I didn't know weise and raffl can play up and down and here and there and be capable of anything you throw at them. Except special teams is too much to ask apparently. Swiss Army knives these guys
- Just5

I didn't know weise and raffl can play up and down and here and there and be capable of anything you throw at them. Except special teams is too much to ask apparently. Swiss Army knives these guys
- Just5

Ya really....I could play up and down the lineup too....I'm just not very good.

I've seen that graphic plenty. It's just I'm not sure how people suddenly believe this team is magically devoid of talent up top and reason out that literally EVERY single player (inanimate objects don't count) has significantly gotten worse scoring. They scored more under Berube. Are we saying that roster had more talent then? When it happens to a few players, that's a slump, or decline, or whatever. When it is an entire team, from top to bottom all-at-once? That's bigger.

What it feels like to me is the Flyers are playing a Chip Kelly like "college" system. It's low on skill, high on reliable, safe plays up to the point, get traffic, and repeat. And teams read the poop out of it. That's not an issue in and of itself because you have to do that in the NHL. But it is their Plan A.....and probably B and C. You see highly skilled players just stop inside the blue line, and instead of make a skill play or try to create, they just turn to the point and give them the puck so Brandon Manning can shoot over and over miles away from the net. It seems plain as day to me that Hakstol has to reassess this, because if HE doesn't look inwards and see his share of blame in this, we have a problem. Teams in the NHL are simply too good at blocking and getting in lanes. This isn't college hockey where players are more fungible. Our top 6 plays no differently than the Bellemare line.
- Mononoke

No offense, but this post shows a lack of understanding of hockey systems. There is no system that is robotic to the point of players having to stop inside the blueline, and give the puck to the point. With any offensive system there is leeway for creativity in creating plays. It's more about positioning and lanes in the offensive zone as well as a forechecking structure. It is absurd to believe that any hockey coach as experienced as Hakstol would prioritize the lowest percentage shot in the offensive zone as his main strategy of attack. The Flyers are a team that does not create a lot of odd man rushes and neutral zone turnovers, nor they have a lot of transition speed or skill on the puck rush. Hence they often face a lot of attack against a 5 man defense in the offensive zone. With the way teams defend, that doesn't leave a lot of open space. When the Flyers are able to control play, and get in on the forecheck, they generate more chances at the net. The better the Flyers improve all of these areas, the more they will be able to generate better quality chances within Hakstol's system.

Some would argue that consistent poor team defense is directly related to a poor system.
- Mordecai

I'll bet that we are about to see that happen.

I was endorsing your point. If you're a GM for 20+ years and you take three teams to 5 finals I think you might know what you're doing.
- mayorofangrytown

My bad, I picked up on that after posting.

Some would argue that consistent poor team defense is directly related to a poor system.
- Mordecai

Well I seriously doubt that players consistently puck watching while not picking up players in the dangerous areas, poor stick and player positioning, along with poor puck management is by design by Hakstol. Criticism towards Hakstol is valid for not fixing these season long issues, but the system related talk is absurd.

The idea of picking up draft picks in exchange our UFAs is tempting. Another return would to see Morin or Hagg in a few games before season's end.




- SuperSchennBros

Yes, with all the talk about Hagg's progress this season, I'll be disappointed not to see him get a shot with the team for the last 1/4 of the season. I can understand if they feel Morin can use a little more seasoning.

I didn't know weise and raffl can play up and down and here and there and be capable of anything you throw at them. Except special teams is too much to ask apparently. Swiss Army knives these guys
- Just5

Is Weise in the line up right now? Has he not played on lines 2, 3 and 4 at some point this season? The 2nd PP unit has again been a mess this season, it's not just Weise who isn't producing on it.

While I agree we should not be trading for rentals...saying that raffl can play wherever is somewhat of a stretch. He's basically proving this year that he is a bottom 6 winger since his forays at center haven't been productive either.
- Just5

I think the entire team has proven this year they're all awful players. Because track record doesn't matter, only this catastrophic scoring year for the entire team. Couturier is a 4C. Schenn is a 4W. Ghost a #6 d man. Giroux is Vinny reincarnated. Jake is an albatross. Everyone except Simmonds....who is scoring at the same rate as everyone else, but we like him more. Raffl has had the same dip everyone else has.

And he can play anywhere in a pinch. Hakstol has never played him at center, and that's his choice though, even with injuries. Raffl is a 3rd line winger in skill and that's hopefully where he can go if there's more talent to boost depth (and it's where he is), but if Raffl is the 3rd best player on a scoring line, it's not worst case. Jake and Giroux still score at higher rates with Raffl than apart. People have poop on Raffl every single year, so this is nothing new.

Point shots are never option #1 in a teams offensive system. It can however, be the option that is available a lot of times.
- MJL

Impossible to say. Perhaps "primary" would be better used in place of "#1."

I think the entire team has proven this year they're all awful players. Because track record doesn't matter, only this catastrophic scoring year for the entire team. Couturier is a 4C. Schenn is a 4W. Ghost a #6 d man. Giroux is Vinny reincarnated. Jake is an albatross. Everyone except Simmonds....who is scoring at the same rate as everyone else, but we like him more. Raffl has had the same dip everyone else has.

And he can play anywhere in a pinch. Hakstol has never played him at center, and that's his choice though, even with injuries. Raffl is a 3rd line winger in skill and that's hopefully where he can go if there's more talent to boost depth (and it's where he is), but if Raffl is the 3rd best player on a scoring line, it's not worst case. Jake and Giroux still score at higher rates with Raffl than apart. People have poop on Raffl every single year, so this is nothing new.
- Mononoke

It's a very simple equation. It's not about labeling an individual player, it's about the overall makeup of the team. The Flyers simply have too many depth grinding forwards, and not enough skill and speed and players who are offensive catalysts. They're too heavy on the all around depth forward column. That's just looking at the forwards.

Impossible to say. Perhaps "primary" would be better used in place of "#1."
- JFlyers00

Primary would also be wrong, in my opinion.

Point shots are never option #1 in a teams offensive system. It can however, be the option that is available a lot of times.
- MJL

Regardless of whether the option is available, it's being used too often. It's become a predictable crutch in the offensive attack. I don't know if it's the players, the coaching staff or both but it's a problem that is Hakstol's to solve.

No offense, but this post shows a lack of understanding of hockey systems. There is no system that is robotic to the point of players having to stop inside the blueline, and give the puck to the point. With any offensive system there is leeway for creativity in creating plays. It's more about positioning and lanes in the offensive zone as well as a forechecking structure. It is absurd to believe that any hockey coach as experienced as Hakstol would prioritize the lowest percentage shot in the offensive zone as his main strategy of attack. The Flyers are a team that does not create a lot of odd man rushes and neutral zone turnovers, nor they have a lot of transition speed or skill on the puck rush. Hence they often face a lot of attack against a 5 man defense in the offensive zone. With the way teams defend, that doesn't leave a lot of open space. When the Flyers are able to control play, and get in on the forecheck, they generate more chances at the net. The better the Flyers improve all of these areas, the more they will be able to generate better quality chances within Hakstol's system.
- MJL

Learn to sense hyperbole before you waste more time with long, drawn out autoresponses to the same poop as always that boil down to something completely obvious like if they Flyers played better they would get better chances.

I have no doubt that the Flyers know where there shots come from and how many they get and if they had a problem with it they would be making noticeable changes to how they attempted to score. Lack of skill adds to the equation, but there is plenty of evidence that they are willing to take shot attempts from low percentage areas more than most teams.

And if Weise was producing would anyone care?

Right now it looks bad. but he can turn it around. Also if they move on from some guys he can still be a veteran presence and the deal isn't crippling.
- J35Bacher

My concern is Hextall has swung and missed on a few free agents.

Just last year alone Gordon and Weise.

Lets stop downplaying the bad signings.

Regardless of whether option is available, it's being used too often. It's become a predictable crutch in the offensive attack. I don't know if it's the players, the coaching staff or both but it's a problem that is Hakstol's to solve.
- Baxter27

It's not by design to be the primary option. If that's the only available option for a player on a cycle, then you have to take what's open. If far too many of your offensive possessions are dump ins and cycles against a 5 man team defense, and you lack creativity and skill in the talent of the players on the team, you're going to see a lot of low percentage plays, and point shots. Better defense, transition and neutral zone play will create better quality chances.

My concern is Hextall has swung and missed on a few free agents.

Just last year alone Gordon and Weise.

Lets stop downplaying the bad signings.
- ggunky

I am more concerned with the type of FA signing than who he actually signed. It represented a desire to focus on "veteran, dependable" BS instead of skill. Blocking younger players is another story, but I am at least optimistic that could change shortly