I think Gostisbehere shoots the puck better than either Weal or Konecny. I think the Flyers need to find ways to generate more goals somehow, some way. Gostisbehere to wing might be one crazy way . . . which is perfect for off season speculation.
- fls13

You mean his one timer from the point on the PP? OK. But how many forwards have the time to wind up like that at 5v5 in the flow of the game?

I understand the intrigue but when I look at his skills I don't see them to be good enough to be a forward. Also he isn't exactly big and really not a speedster. So what more is he going to bring going against defenders?

He makes a lot of plays from the back end because forwards are trying to defend him. Not actual defenders.

I'm pretty sure Lenny was never in Sid's head. David created a place in his mind where he and Sid could be together. The only time Sid and Lenny came together was in that place in David's head. If she WAS in Sid's mind it would be because Farouk accessed David's powers to make that happen. I think Lenny/Farouk exists solely in the mind of Oliver. Unless Oliver has powers at the same level as David (doubtful) Farouk will be far less able to effect the outside world.

- mayorofangrytown

Is this about the Phillies and the Mets?

Didn't a team briefly try to convert Sbisa?
- Scoob

I really believe that screwed him up. Never understood why the hell they thought that was a good idea

Didn't a team briefly try to convert Sbisa?
- Scoob

Not really. Sbisa made the team out of camp because he had a great camp and the Flyers D was banged up. As the D got healthy, they spotted him up on the wing. I predicted Sbisa would make the team when everyone, including Bill Meltzer, said i was nuts. I just mention it in passing.

I don't think anyone is asking him to be like the others. But he does need to be better in his own end. Even guys like Karlsson and Burns were asked to be better in their own zones.

He doesn't need to be a shutdown guy but he has to be able to defend and not be a liability like he was sometimes this year.
- J35Bacher

So he needs to be a better defender that the guy who's likely going to win the Norris (Burns)? Dude's a horrible defender, but he's also better offensively than Ghost.

But I agree that he has to be at least adequate defensively.

Why?

Gostisbehere-Giroux-Simmonds
Lindblom-Filppula-Voracek
Konecky-Couturier-Schenn

I'd be happy with that and not feel the need to get a UFA winger.
- fls13

Not really. Sbisa made the team out of camp because he had a great camp and the Flyers D was banged up. As the D got healthy, they spotted him up on the wing. I predicted Sbisa would make the team when everyone, including Bill Meltzer, said i was nuts. I just mention it in passing.
- fls13

Well, then, there you have it.

I really believe that screwed him up. Never understood why the hell they thought that was a good idea
- nastyflyergirl

I think it was more out of need.

If I remember correctly they were on a west coast trip and had a bunch of forward injuries and couldn't get anyone out there in time so it was more out of necessity.

Not really. Sbisa made the team out of camp because he had a great camp and the Flyers D was banged up. As the D got healthy, they spotted him up on the wing. I predicted Sbisa would make the team when everyone, including Bill Meltzer, said i was nuts. I just mention it in passing.
- fls13

No, they healthy scratched him because he hit the wall. When the forwards then got banged up, they tried him out of the wing, and it was a colossal disaster.

I don't know what you saying he'd make the team as an 18-year-old has to do with this, but congrats to you.

So he needs to be a better defender that the guy who's likely going to win the Norris (Burns)? Dude's a horrible defender, but he's also better offensively than Ghost.

But I agree that he has to be at least adequate defensively.
- jmatchett383

No.

My point was more even the other offensively dynamic guys were asked to be better defenders. I know Gostisbehere isn't going to be a shutdown guy but people seem to think they just need to let him run around out there and really not play ANY structure.

With the defense prospects coming up, he needs to be at least adequate in his own zone. Guys like Sanheim, Myers, Provorov, Hagg can all bring a two way game but all have some size and are better in their own end.

I don't know what you saying he'd make the team as an 18-year-old has to do with this, but congrats to you.
- jmatchett383

Duh. It means you can add him to the long and glorious list of posters on this board who are over-qualified to be an NHL GM.

No, they healthy scratched him because he hit the wall. When the forwards then got banged up, they tried him out of the wing, and it was a colossal disaster.

I don't know what you saying he'd make the team as an 18-year-old has to do with this, but congrats to you.
- jmatchett383

I didn't bring up Sbisa's name, other folks did and I responded. Besides all that, he didn't play that much forward when he was here. His ice times tell the tale and he was used mostly on D

http://www.espn.com/nhl/p...5098/year/2009/luca-sbisa

The consensus here seems to be the Flyers should really do nothing about their forward situation in the off season and I disagree and have thrown out a couple ideas that might fix that. I can't say Hextall won't pull another rabbit out of the hat like he did with Filppula. I hope he does.

- YuenglingJagr

I think most of our eyes rolled the other way.

I didn't bring up Sbisa's name, other folks did and I responded. The consensus here seems to be the Flyers should really do nothing about their forward situation in the off season and I disagree and have thrown out a couple ideas that might fix that. I can't say Hextall won't pull another rabbit out of the hat like he did with Filppula. I hope he does.
- fls13

They could get one in UFA, trade for one, or convert their most dynamic defenseman to forward. Yeah, the last one is the best idea!!!

Sbisa was brought up as an example of how a player was potentially ruined by being asked to go from defenseman to forward, a position he was not suited to play. I feel the same can be said about Ghost. The reason he is effective is because he brings it from the back end. Making him a winger, I think, would largely diminish his effectiveness.

Fair enough. But Lenny/SK/Farouk did kind of lead Sid into letting him free.
- jmatchett383

Certainly, no doubt.

I didn't bring up Sbisa's name, other folks did and I responded. The consensus here seems to be the Flyers should really do nothing about their forward situation in the off season and I disagree and have thrown out a couple ideas that might fix that. I can't say Hextall won't pull another rabbit out of the hat like he did with Filppula. I hope he does.
- fls13

The vibe I get in here is "do something to fix the hole in the forward group but don't overpay to do so"

I didn't bring up Sbisa's name, other folks did and I responded. The consensus here seems to be the Flyers should really do nothing about their forward situation in the off season and I disagree and have thrown out a couple ideas that might fix that. I can't say Hextall won't pull another rabbit out of the hat like he did with Filppula. I hope he does.
- fls13

Really?

I think almost everyone sees a problem with the forwards.

That's why I would suggest moving a guy like Gostisbehere to bring in more offensive punch. I would even entertain moving the 1st rounder if I could get back a young forward to play in my top 6.

No.

My point was more even the other offensively dynamic guys were asked to be better defenders. I know Gostisbehere isn't going to be a shutdown guy but people seem to think they just need to let him run around out there and really not play ANY structure.

With the defense prospects coming up, he needs to be at least adequate in his own zone. Guys like Sanheim, Myers, Provorov, Hagg can all bring a two way game but all have some size and are better in their own end.
- J35Bacher

I've actually heard that Sanheim still needs to clean up his own end.

And again, all of those guys sans Provorov have shown the ability to do absolutely nothing at the NHL level.

Stars blog day

They could get one in UFA, trade for one, or convert their most dynamic defenseman to forward. Yeah, the last one is the best idea!!!

Sbisa was brought up as an example of how a player was potentially ruined by being asked to go from defenseman to forward, a position he was not suited to play. I feel the same can be said about Ghost. The reason he is effective is because he brings it from the back end. Making him a winger, I think, would largely diminish his effectiveness.
- jmatchett383

That would be a great story if that's what happened. He played very little forward when he was here.

I've actually heard that Sanheim still needs to clean up his own end.

And again, all of those guys sans Provorov have shown the ability to do absolutely nothing at the NHL level.
- jmatchett383

Two of those guys are probably NHL D men next year. I hope we're all ready for an unmitigated disaster!

The vibe I get in here is "do something to fix the hole in the forward group but don't overpay to do so"
- dragonoffrost

Your right.

People want a young impact forward but when you bring up names to maybe get one they then say no.

The only way to get them is to draft them or make a deal. I feel less and less are making it to FA while still relatively young. You usually get them as they are leaving their prime.

That would be a great story if that's what happened. He played very little forward when he was here.
- fls13

Yes, because it was a colossal failure. He was terrible as a forward. Likely because the position reduced (greatly) his effectiveness. I don't want Ghost digging pucks out of the corner in the offensive zone, I want him headmanning the puck from the back end.

I've actually heard that Sanheim still needs to clean up his own end.

And again, all of those guys sans Provorov have shown the ability to do absolutely nothing at the NHL level.
- jmatchett383

I have heard the same thing. but I have also heard he made great strides in that.

How did they know Gostisbehere was ready when he was brought up?

Two of those guys are probably NHL D men next year. I hope we're all ready for an unmitigated disaster!
- dragonoffrost

Much like Ghost's 15/16 season, there will be same major rookie (frank)ups, but they'll be exciting to watch because of what they can bring nonetheless.