You had that in Schultz and let him walk. So yes, I think they are happy with what they have.

I think Hexy sees Morin and Hagg more than we do. I think he saw them play a few games with the big club and was as impressed as we were, the players were, and the coaches were.

I dont think there are many options out there that you can sign for a year a 1m that wouldnt have any of the worries that come with Morin or Hagg. I also dont think we are challenging for a cup next season.
- jak521

With Hagg, Morin, Gudas, Provorov, Ghost and AMac in the top 6, they already have a safety valve/7th man in Manning. Can't see them signing another. Plus, Hextall has made it very clear that he does not want to carry 8 Dmen. And, if someone gets injured early, picking up a 6/7 guy isn't all that hard to do.

With Hagg, Morin, Gudas, Provorov, Ghost and AMac in the top 6, they already have a safety valve/7th man in Manning. Can't see them signing another. Plus, Hextall has made it very clear that he does not want to carry 8 Dmen. And, if someone gets injured early, picking up a 6/7 guy isn't all that hard to do.
- BiggE

I think you are underestimating how much he will be in the lineup. He is their heart and soul

With Hagg, Morin, Gudas, Provorov, Ghost and AMac in the top 6, they already have a safety valve/7th man in Manning. Can't see them signing another. Plus, Hextall has made it very clear that he does not want to carry 8 Dmen. And, if someone gets injured early, picking up a 6/7 guy isn't all that hard to do.
- BiggE

Yes...but the safety valve would be only if one of Hagg/Morin don't make the team/falter. So now you would have Manning as your 6th and TJ Brennan as your 7th.

I just don't see the harm in, if nothing else, bringing in a guy like McBain/Guenin/Ruhwedel/etc. as a camp PTO in case one of Morin/Hagg gets injured or has a terrible camp.

Yes...but the safety valve would be only if one of Hagg/Morin don't make the team/falter. So now you would have Manning as your 6th and TJ Brennan as your 7th.

I just don't see the harm in, if nothing else, bringing in a guy like McBain/Guenin/Ruhwedel/etc. as a camp PTO in case one of Morin/Hagg gets injured or has a terrible camp.
- jmatchett383

I think the Flyers will be completely fine not signing anyone and running with the players they currently have signed or RFA.

I think that Hextall will sign someone

Really good backread this a.m. -- totally serious. Good debates, good info. Really liked the article about Lindblom that was posted.

Where I sit right now: This past season was one of the most frustrating I've seen with this franchise, not because they were awful or underachieved or whatever, but because they simply could not score some nights, especially against the kinds of teams they will have to beat in the playoffs.

But at the same time, you know, I can read, too. They have more talent in the system that might translate into winning, and hopefully we will see it next year. I would really like for this team to at least look like they can win something next year, even if they sneak into the playoffs, whatever. Just look like they could win something.

I'm with jmatchett on the prospect piece: All prospects are suspects until they actually make it. I haven't seen Hagg or Morin enough to have a real opinion, and I know better than to look at anything in the last few weeks of a season when you are out of the playoffs with any real degree of seriousness.

That being said: You can see that Hagg has tools -- legit tools. That's something. The Flyers' NHL roster needs more overall talent to be inserted. Me, I probably would've brought back MDZ, but at the same time, I understand why you don't. You gotta take the training wheels off some of these prospects, at some point.

As for Bill's blog about Couturier...I'm not really worried about him. He's so far down the list of my concerns. The coach needs to stop overthinking it and just play him with Schenn from the jump and move on to other things.

I think that's my biggest concern with Hakstol. I don't think he is a bad coach. I think his systems can win, and I don't have to agree with every decision he makes.

Sometimes over the course of last season...man. Man. I just think they should've made the playoffs, and I don't think that Hakstol gave them enough on the coaching side to get them the points they needed. I don't know that he hurt them, but I don't know that he helped them as much as he could have.

Just my opinion. Optimistic about next season, though!

Yes...but the safety valve would be only if one of Hagg/Morin don't make the team/falter. So now you would have Manning as your 6th and TJ Brennan as your 7th.

I just don't see the harm in, if nothing else, bringing in a guy like McBain/Guenin/Ruhwedel/etc. as a camp PTO in case one of Morin/Hagg gets injured or has a terrible camp.
- jmatchett383

Yeah they may bring in a 7th man type on a PTO, but I think that is as far as they go. Even if one or both of Morin/Hagg struggle at times, I think they will put it down as growing pains. Hextall knows that this team is not contending in 17-18 and he needs to start breaking these kids. I can only speak for myself, but between Phantoms games, their 1 game call ups, and previous preseason games, I've seen enough of both to say that both are ready to be NHL defenseman.

I guess the question is are you happy with his production this season? Because my point is over an 82 game season, he is already in your range. It means two things, he is either as good as those other guys on the list or his scoring totals have peaked. I think it is more the former
- YuenglingJagr

Actually, looking at TOTAL ES scoring, he scored 31 ES points. As you mentioned earlier, I was only looking at 5v5 (mistake on my end). That puts him at 38 total ES points per 82GP.

Looking at total ES, (http://www.nhl.com/stats/...gte,&sort=evPoints,points) he is certainly at that level to get to 40, or even low 40ies if he can stay healthy.

So, to answer your question, yes I was happy with a pace of 38 ES points. I am not happy with the 2 PP points he scored, and think he can bump that up to 6-10.

Bottom line, 40 ES points should be his target, (33-38 5on5)

I honestly can't think of another player who has been so good at even strength and so bad on the power play

Really good backread this a.m. -- totally serious. Good debates, good info. Really liked the article about Lindblom that was posted.

Where I sit right now: This past season was one of the most frustrating I've seen with this franchise, not because they were awful or underachieved or whatever, but because they simply could not score some nights, especially against the kinds of teams they will have to beat in the playoffs.

But at the same time, you know, I can read, too. They have more talent in the system that might translate into winning, and hopefully we will see it next year. I would really like for this team to at least look like they can win something next year, even if they sneak into the playoffs, whatever. Just look like they could win something.

I'm with jmatchett on the prospect piece: All prospects are suspects until they actually make it. I haven't seen Hagg or Morin enough to have a real opinion, and I know better than to look at anything in the last few weeks of a season when you are out of the playoffs with any real degree of seriousness.

That being said: You can see that Hagg has tools -- legit tools. That's something. The Flyers' NHL roster needs more overall talent to be inserted. Me, I probably would've brought back MDZ, but at the same time, I understand why you don't. You gotta take the training wheels off some of these prospects, at some point.

As for Bill's blog about Couturier...I'm not really worried about him. He's so far down the list of my concerns. The coach needs to stop overthinking it and just play him with Schenn from the jump and move on to other things.

I think that's my biggest concern with Hakstol. I don't think he is a bad coach. I think his systems can win, and I don't have to agree with every decision he makes.

Sometimes over the course of last season...man. Man. I just think they should've made the playoffs, and I don't think that Hakstol gave them enough on the coaching side to get them the points they needed. I don't know that he hurt them, but I don't know that he helped them as much as he could have.

Just my opinion. Optimistic about next season, though!
- AllInForFlyers

The 2 biggest reasons they missed the playoffs were, sadly, pretty much out of Hak's control. There was nothing he could do to get Giroux to start feeling like himself any sooner, nor was there anything he could do to make either goalie play more consistently. Going into the season, if we all knew that Giroux would spend most of the year far from 100% and that on many nights the goaltending would be subpar, would any of us still expected them to make the playoffs?

I honestly can't think of another player who has been so good at even strength and so bad on the power play
- PhillySportsGuy

I have to admit, I've never seen that before. I've never seen a guy produce how Couturier does it, because everything he does at ES should translate to him being able to run a PP off the wall or down low

Actually, looking at TOTAL ES scoring, he scored 31 ES points. As you mentioned earlier, I was only looking at 5v5 (mistake on my end). That puts him at 38 total ES points per 82GP.

Looking at total ES, (http://www.nhl.com/stats/...gte,&sort=evPoints,points) he is certainly at that level to get to 40, or even low 40ies if he can stay healthy.

So, to answer your question, yes I was happy with a pace of 38 ES points. I am not happy with the 2 PP points he scored, and think he can bump that up to 6-10.

Bottom line, 40 ES points should be his target, (33-38 5on5)
- VladDrag

If Coots plays with Schenn all year, and another skilled guy on his other wing, say Weal or TK, I see no reason why, as long as he stays healthy, that he can't put up 45 ES points. Add to that perhaps 7-9 pp points and (hopefully) 1 or 2 while shorthanded. That would give him 53-56 points, which is excellent production for a 2C that doesn't see top pp unit time.

I have to admit, I've never seen that before. I've never seen a guy produce how Couturier does it, because everything he does at ES should translate to him being able to run a PP off the wall or down low
- AllInForFlyers

I dunno.

I can kind of see it. Look at the PP2 previously and look who was on it. They are finally getting some talent and depth there now.

I honestly can't think of another player who has been so good at even strength and so bad on the power play
- PhillySportsGuy

Evander Kane at 35/8 is the only guy I can think of that even comes close.

I honestly can't think of another player who has been so good at even strength and so bad on the power play
- PhillySportsGuy

He compliments Giroux well

The 2 biggest reasons they missed the playoffs were, sadly, pretty much out of Hak's control. There was nothing he could do to get Giroux to start feeling like himself any sooner, nor was there anything he could do to make either goalie play more consistently. Going into the season, if we all knew that Giroux would spend most of the year far from 100% and that on many nights the goaltending would be subpar, would any of us still expected them to make the playoffs?
- BiggE

I'm curious how G looks next year. If anything even remote to the Claude we saw this season is the new reality, there is a huge hole to fill.

I think they expected G to keep going for a few more years without having to address his position.

Wonder a little about Galchenyuk (sp?).

The 2 biggest reasons they missed the playoffs were, sadly, pretty much out of Hak's control. There was nothing he could do to get Giroux to start feeling like himself any sooner, nor was there anything he could do to make either goalie play more consistently. Going into the season, if we all knew that Giroux would spend most of the year far from 100% and that on many nights the goaltending would be subpar, would any of us still expected them to make the playoffs?
- BiggE

Here's the thing about the goaltending: They were both below the bar. They absolutely were. But I thought Hakstol tried to force Neuvirth into the No. 1 slot at every opportunity, and it simply did not work often enough. I can't sit here and say that I know every single time I questioned whether Neuvirth should have been starting that Mason would've played better, because, again, neither of them were Dominik Hasek out there.

Just felt that there were a few times that I would've done it differently, but as I said during the season, he's the coach and he gets to make those calls, and ultimately, one day he has to answer for all the decisions he makes.

I have to admit, I've never seen that before. I've never seen a guy produce how Couturier does it, because everything he does at ES should translate to him being able to run a PP off the wall or down low
- AllInForFlyers

It should help when instead of being saddled with guys like Read, Cousins and Weise on the PP, he's spending more time with Filpulla, TK, Weal, Lindblom and a more experienced Provorov.

I don't want to see them sign anyone over the amount that can be buried in the AHL because I don't want any of the kids blocked from winning a job. Sure, hextall has said guys will be in the NHL if they earn the job but if you have too many contracts that cannot be buried and you don't really have the cap space, it in a sense can block a kid. I have no issue with signing a veteran D man as insurance if its for 950K or less. otherwise I just don't want to see it because I want to see hagg and Morin in the NHL. 3 and 2 seasons in the AHL respectively is enough for me

The 2 biggest reasons they missed the playoffs were, sadly, pretty much out of Hak's control. There was nothing he could do to get Giroux to start feeling like himself any sooner, nor was there anything he could do to make either goalie play more consistently. Going into the season, if we all knew that Giroux would spend most of the year far from 100% and that on many nights the goaltending would be subpar, would any of us still expected them to make the playoffs?
- BiggE

I agree with 1, but not with 2 (bolded)

Here's the thing about the goaltending: They were both below the bar. They absolutely were. But I thought Hakstol tried to force Neuvirth into the No. 1 slot at every opportunity, and it simply did not work often enough. I can't sit here and say that I know every single time I questioned whether Neuvirth should have been starting that Mason would've played better, because, again, neither of them were Dominik Hasek out there.

Just felt that there were a few times that I would've done it differently, but as I said during the season, he's the coach and he gets to make those calls, and ultimately, one day he has to answer for all the decisions he makes.
- AllInForFlyers

Everything you said about Hak's goalie usage is correct and I agree 100%. However, the plethora of soft goals, often given up at the worst time by both, is solely on the players themselves. Those type of goals are just backbreakers too, and they're often very hard to bounce back from.

It should help when instead of being saddled with guys like Read, Cousins and Weise on the PP, he's spending more time with Filpulla, TK, Weal, Lindblom and a more experienced Provorov.
- BiggE

One can only hope. Curious to see who they bring in to run the PP, if it changes much.

I agree with 1, but not with 2 (bolded)
- YuenglingJagr

See my post right below yours for what I meant.

Here's the thing about the goaltending: They were both below the bar. They absolutely were. But I thought Hakstol tried to force Neuvirth into the No. 1 slot at every opportunity, and it simply did not work often enough. I can't sit here and say that I know every single time I questioned whether Neuvirth should have been starting that Mason would've played better, because, again, neither of them were Dominik Hasek out there.

Just felt that there were a few times that I would've done it differently, but as I said during the season, he's the coach and he gets to make those calls, and ultimately, one day he has to answer for all the decisions he makes.
- AllInForFlyers

His management of the goaltenders was similar to a lot of his lineup decisions. I was happy when Mason more or less called him out on it. He'd ride a guy into the ground, or play musical chairs.

Everything you said about Hak's goalie usage is correct and I agree 100%. However, the plethora of soft goals, often given up at the worst time by both, is solely on the players themselves. Those type of goals are just backbreakers too, and they're often very hard to bounce back from.
- BiggE

Absolutely -- they couldn't score some nights to save their lives, but some of those nights it wouldn't have mattered because you aren't winning a thing with goalies coming in at .890 SVPCT, which they were for almost half the damn season

One can only hope. Curious to see who they bring in to run the PP, if it changes much.
- AllInForFlyers

My thought regarding the assistant coaches is that they are going to bring in an experienced coach to oversee ALL of the special teams. Hextall is far from stupid, and I'm sure he knows that Lappy is not the guy going forward who should be handling the PK. Lappy's new job with be working with the forwards in general, especially the kids and overseeing the scratched and/or recovering from injury players getting their skating in.

Lappy, being a relatively recently retired player, should be well suited for this type of role as he is a guy the kids are likely familiar with and can relate to.