The Clown really went off the deep end yesterday
- Mordecai

I'm not here on weekends

- PLindbergh31

That makes sense.

I think the fact that Hextall acquired Filppula, who is a skilled 2 way player doesn't support that. It supports that they think they need more skill and scoring in the lineup, to form 3 scoring lines. Weal had an opportunity in camp to win a spot, just like every other player who was not a regular had. Two 19 year old players in Konecny and Provorov made the team out of camp.
- MJL

The moves to add Weise and Gordon were attempts to make the Flyers forward lines better. The move to add Filppula was another attempt to make the Flyers forward lines better. Hopefully the results are different. I think the skill Filppula adds is more much desirable than the size/defense/veteran leadership/faceoff prowess the other two supposedly had the ability to give the Flyers. The Flyers move to add Filppula (or a player like him) is exactly what I have been asking for since I started posting here

I did laugh a little when Mason stared down Manning like " How could you".

Maybe Manning should have starred down Mason after he gave up the center ice dump in in the playoffs.

The moves to add Weise and Gordon were attempts to make the Flyers forward lines better. The move to add Filppula was another attempt to make the Flyers forward lines better. Hopefully the results are different. I think the skill Filppula adds is more much desirable than the size/defense/veteran leadership/faceoff prowess the other two supposedly had the ability to give the Flyers. The Flyers move to add Filppula (or a player like him) is exactly what I have been asking for since I started posting here
- YuenglingJagr

Well the reality of the NHL is that you can't just ask for what you want, and have it magically become available. How easy it is to sit on a message board and ask for moves, and or judge the team's moves in hindsight. Hextall obviously felt that Weise could provide some size, grit, forechecking, and 2 way play in chipping in some points in a 3rd line role. It hasn't materialized as Weise's offensive contribution is non existent. I fault the player more than the idea behind it. Gordon was signed for a specific role, and the contract had zero risk to it. I judge a team, a coach, a player on the balance of their decisions or play, not on isolated situations. The reality is that the play of Weise, Gordon, or the decision not to re-sign a player like Gagner is not what is going to define Hextall's tenure as GM. One subpar season where the entire team has played poorly overall, and not one player has stepped up for the coach, is not going to define Hakstol as an NHL coach, despite any of the criticism we want to levy against Hakstol for the decisions he has made. I want to see what he can do with a better roster, and the team's top players, playing like top players.

I did laugh a little when Mason stared down Manning like " How could you".

Maybe Manning should have starred down Mason after he gave up the center ice dump in in the playoffs.
- J35Bacher

Yeah, that was kind of funny but really it was just bad luck.

Well the reality of the NHL is that you can't just ask for what you want, and have it magically become available. How easy it is to sit on a message board and ask for moves, and or judge the team's moves in hindsight. Hextall obviously felt that Weise could provide some size, grit, forechecking, and 2 way play in chipping in some points in a 3rd line role. It hasn't materialized as Weise's offensive contribution is non existent. I fault the player more than the idea behind it. Gordon was signed for a specific role, and the contract had zero risk to it. I judge a team, a coach, a player on the balance of their decisions or play, not on isolated situations. The reality is that the play of Weise, Gordon, or the decision not to re-sign a player like Gagner is not what is going to define Hextall's tenure as GM. One subpar season where the entire team has played poorly overall, and not one player has stepped up for the coach, is not going to define Hakstol as an NHL coach, despite any of the criticism we want to levy against Hakstol for the decisions he has made. I want to see what he can do with a better roster, and the team's top players, playing like top players.
- MJL

Got about half way...all you do is dance in circles...I am not going to be your dance partner.

Good day, sir

Yes, but honestly I don't think anyone here defends 100% of the moves.

But there are plenty of folks here who do nothing but whine and complain. They must be real treats in real life. frank them
- Scoob

There is one unnamed individual who defends the moves and reasons (as far as he can garner) for making those moves. And it's beyond (frank)ing annoying. But at least there's only one of him.

Yeah, that was kind of funny but really it was just bad luck.
- Scoob

It was.

I know he's not supposed to but with 5 seconds left it was so reactionary. And because it's Manning everyone piles on. if that's Provorov people chalk it up to learning experience.

And this is Hextall's 3rd year. So you need to give time for his players to develop that he drafted. He's gradually reshaping the roster. First step was getting rid of deals like Pronger, Grossmann, Vinny and Schenn. This year he made a move to slightly upgrade the forwards for the rest of this year and next without being tied down in term like a FA would.

Next we will start to see youth inserted into the lineup.

There are steps. And Hextall is following the path which he thinks gives this team the best chance to win and sustain it.
- J35Bacher

Got about half way...all you do is dance in circles...I am not going to be your dance partner.

Good day, sir
- YuenglingJagr

It was.

I know he's not supposed to but with 5 seconds left it was so reactionary. And because it's Manning everyone piles on. if that's Provorov people chalk it up to learning experience.
- J35Bacher

Provorov got walked while biting hard on a poke check at his own blue line. Not a word about it. Macdonald's support limited it to a partial break away. Macdonald get's muscled off the puck by a quality play by Pastarnak soon after and everyone explodes. Switch the defensemen involved in each play and watch the different reactions.

Provorov got walked while biting hard on a poke check at his own blue line. Not a word about it. Macdonald's support limited it to a partial break away. Macdonald get's muscled off the puck by a quality play by Pastarnak soon after and everyone explodes. Switch the defensemen involved in each play and watch the different reactions.
- Baxter27

I get the point behind the different reactions, but I think it is safe to say if Provorov develops into MacDonald, people will react the same way. I personally think it is obvious that will not happen

I'm trapped at the office until it passes

Well the reality of the NHL is that you can't just ask for what you want, and have it magically become available. How easy it is to sit on a message board and ask for moves, and or judge the team's moves in hindsight. Hextall obviously felt that Weise could provide some size, grit, forechecking, and 2 way play in chipping in some points in a 3rd line role. It hasn't materialized as Weise's offensive contribution is non existent. I fault the player more than the idea behind it. Gordon was signed for a specific role, and the contract had zero risk to it. I judge a team, a coach, a player on the balance of their decisions or play, not on isolated situations. The reality is that the play of Weise, Gordon, or the decision not to re-sign a player like Gagner is not what is going to define Hextall's tenure as GM. One subpar season where the entire team has played poorly overall, and not one player has stepped up for the coach, is not going to define Hakstol as an NHL coach, despite any of the criticism we want to levy against Hakstol for the decisions he has made. I want to see what he can do with a better roster, and the team's top players, playing like top players.
- MJL

Hexy? Is that you?

I'm trapped at the office until it passes
- dragonoffrost

Stella is a pretty sexy name

I'm trapped at the office until it passes
- dragonoffrost

My worked closed tomorrow. Paid to stay home.

There's that, but it would also make Hexy look bad. The hiring was clearly 100% on Hextall. It was also very unconventional and likely required a full explanation to the rest of management. To pull the plug after two years would raise eyebrows throughout the organization.

I imagine they won't even entertain the idea of firing him this offseason, but there may be a little more pressure for better results next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree.

I get the point behind the different reactions, but I think it is safe to say if Provorov develops into MacDonald, people will react the same way. I personally think it is obvious that will not happen
- YuenglingJagr

I understand that. It's just annoying with the microscope Macdonald is playing under. If Macdonald is so universally bad you would think people would have low expectations already. But instead, the haters come out from the woodwork after every single mistake and stroke their egos with an I told you so. Meanwhile, there is usually an excuse or outright ignorance for every mistake Couturier, Ghost, Konecny or Provorov makes.

I understand that. It's just annoying with the microscope Macdonald is playing under. If Macdonald is so universally bad you would think people would have low expectations already. But instead, the haters come out from the woodwork after every single mistake and stroke their egos with an I told you so. Meanwhile, there is usually an excuse provided for every mistake Couturier, Ghost, Konecny or Provorov makes.
- Baxter27

I think it has more to do with the thought that younger players will cut out the mistakes. AMac is a "he is what he is" player.

The same error over and over from a veteran is always more upsetting than when a young player makes the error.

I understand that. It's just annoying with the microscope Macdonald is playing under. If Macdonald is so universally bad you would think people would have low expectations already. But instead, the haters come out from the woodwork after every single mistake and stroke their egos with an I told you so. Meanwhile, there is usually an excuse or outright ignorance for every mistake Couturier, Ghost, Konecny or Provorov makes.
- Baxter27

The fact is if we want to look at which players who are playing well relative to their ability as a player, MacDonald is a player who is playing well. He's again being asked to play in a role that he shouldn't be, and he's playing well. That doesn't mean there isn't an issue with a player like MacDonald on the top pairing playing 20+ minutes a game, but the coach only has the options he has available. Some will pretend that the coach isn't aware of it, and make him aware of corsi numbers at STH meetings, and post numbers on line.

The fact is if we want to look at which players who are playing well relative to their ability as a player, MacDonald is a player who is playing well. He's again being asked to play in a role that he shouldn't be, and he's playing well. That doesn't mean there isn't an issue with a player like MacDonald on the top pairing playing 20+ minutes a game, but the coach only has the options he has available. Some will pretend that the coach isn't aware of it, and make him aware of corsi numbers at STH meetings, and post numbers on line.
- MJL

Id like a WOWY analysis on VDV relative to a traffic cone

I think it has more to do with the thought that younger players will cut out the mistakes. AMac is a "he is what he is" player.

The same error over and over from a veteran is always more upsetting than when a young player makes the error.
- mickel25

I'm all for letting the younger players experience some failures in the interest of long term success. Couturier however had 2 of the worst defensive lapses I've seen from him in his career over the past 2 games.

Everyone can watch, judge and enjoy the game their own way. I'm just saying, it gets annoying when so many are trying to prove how smart they're by constantly pointing out 1 player's mistakes on a team playing this poorly.

I'm all for letting the younger players experience some failures in the interest of long term success. Couturier however had 2 of the worst defensive lapses I've seen from him in his career over the past 2 games.

Everyone can watch, judge and enjoy the game their own way. I'm just saying, it gets annoying when so many are trying to prove how smart they're by constantly pointing out 1 player's mistakes on a team playing this poorly.
- Baxter27

We're spoiled by the play of Provorov as a 19 year old defenseman in the NHL, and how efficient he is. We should expect a lot more growing pains from other young defenseman who are added the lineup. Similar to Gostisbehere and the breakdown of the fundamentals in his defensive play this season.

We're spoiled by the play of Provorov as a 19 year old defenseman in the NHL, and how efficient he is. We should expect a lot more growing pains from other young defenseman who are added the lineup. Similar to Gostisbehere and the breakdown of the fundamentals in his defensive play this season.
- MJL

Yeah Provorov is really setting expectations high for those who will follow him. I'm especially concerned about Myers. Expectations are quickly becoming sky high for him. Though I'm excited about his potential, I doubt his transition and development will be anything close to as smooth as Provorov's has been.