Offensively they didn't play well. Giroux was not a good player at 5 on 5 and didn't produce well. Voracek put up decent point totals but overall struggled in his game.The Flyers offensive woes started with their struggles defensively. Injuries and poor play snowballed the offense from there. The point is an option that is available in any offensive system. NHL coaches preach and coach individuality and creativity in the offensive game. No coach is going to take away a players skill and creativity in creating plays. When a team is taking a lot of low percentage point shots it's because that's all they are able to generate not because the coach is telling them don't take the puck to the net and the dangerous areas of the ice becaue that's my offensive system and I prefer that. Mononoke's repeated false narrative lacks real insight and is simply off base.
- MJL

The coach was telling them to get the puck back to the point to create offense. That has been said by multiple people at this point

Yep

Right now I think they'll be closer to the playoffs this coming season than last - whether they can cross the line remains to be seen
- Scoob

In order to make the playoffs, you have to be one of the better teams in this division.

In order to make the playoffs, you have to be one of the better teams in this division.
- SuperSchennBros

Top 5, at least

The coach was telling them to get the puck back to the point to create offense. That has been said by multiple people at this point
- YuenglingJagr

Context is important here. Was the coach telling them not to get the puck to the slot and the circle areas and the dangerous areas of the ice in favor of low percentage point shots? Or was the coach telling them that if better and higher percentage options are not there than work the puck to the point if that's all that's available to get the puck to the net? Big difference.

In order to make the playoffs, you have to be one of the better teams in this division.
- SuperSchennBros

Yes, that's how it works

Yes, that's how it works
- Scoob

Context is important here. Was the coach telling them not to get the puck to the slot and the circle areas and the dangerous areas of the ice in favor of low percentage point shots? Or was the coach telling them that if better and higher percentage options are not there than work the puck to the point if that's all that's available to get the puck to the net? Big difference.
- MJL

You seem to be the only one capable of knowing

In order to make the playoffs, you have to be one of the better teams in this division.
- SuperSchennBros

Did you expect Columbus to be one of those better teams last season?

You seem to be the only one capable of knowing
- YuenglingJagr

No, he just has a different opinion than others are espousing

You seem to be the only one capable of knowing
- YuenglingJagr

I have serious doubts that's true. Honestly this is really so simple and fundamental that it's embarrassing that it has to be explained. The thinking that a coach of Hakstol's pedigree and how successful he has been as a hockey coach builds his offensive philosophy around the lowest percentage shot in hockey is comical.

Yes, that's how it works
- Scoob

Okay. Are the Philadelphia Flyers currently better than the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets and Cup defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins?

Did you expect Columbus to be one of those better teams last season?
- Baxter27

Yes! I expect them to be even better this year.

I have serious doubts that's true. Honestly this is really so simple and fundamental that it's embarrassing that it has to be explained. The thinking that a coach of Hakstol's pedigree and how successful he has been as a hockey coach builds his offensive philosophy around the lowest percentage shot in hockey is comical.
- MJL

Maybe watch more college hockey then.

And yes, it was comical. Hope he learned something.

Okay. Are the Philadelphia Flyers currently better than the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets and Cup defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins?
- SuperSchennBros

I don't know, but nobody does, so I have lots of company. I think they'll be a little better than they were last year which puts them in the thick of things for the last playoff spot.

I don't know, but nobody does, so I have lots of company. I think they'll be a little better than they were last year which puts them in the thick of things for the last playoff spot.
- Scoob

You have a lot of company. I'm sure every team's fan base in the league is talking up their own team.

Simmonds - prime years
Voracek - prime years
Konecny - rising star
Provorov - rising star
Gostisbehere - rising star

Giroux - declining
Filppula - declining
Read - declining
Raffl - declining
Elliot - declining
Lehtera - Who knows what the (frank)

Couturier - inconsistent

Neuvirth - injury prone

Gudas - good/overrated by fans

Patrick - Rising star/inexperienced/injury prone
Lindblom - inexperienced
Morin - inexperienced
Sanheim - inexperienced
Hagg - inexperienced

MacDonald - Not Good
Weise - Not Good
Laughton - Not Good

Weal - Nobody knows

A lot of question marks with this team and things can go either way. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong but I expect bumps and bruises and for this team to be as frustrating as any.
- SuperSchennBros

Look better than the Phillies But Elliott is rated to high or is he declining from average or horrible

Look better than the Phillies But Elliott is rated to high or is he declining from average or horrible
- Bonerfide69

I just feel we downgraded in the most important position on the ice, which I said in goal. Plus Elliot will be playing in front of a very young and very inexperienced defense, in a very tough division.

No, he just has a different opinion than others are espousing
- Scoob

It's a fact that the Flyers took no danger shots from further out than any team in the league and conservatively barely attempted plays in the juicy areas of the ice. They were a disaster offensively at ES. Anyone with two working eyes, before the eclipse, could see that. That part is indisputable. Why? is the only matter for discussion.

Now, if some want to believe -- as a difference of opinion -- that the players dictate the offensive schemes and the coach plays Pokemon Go all day and has little to no input on the systems, go for it lol! But there has been a clear style Hakstol has established in his regime. Since I know you're someone who values quotes, all of Schenn, Simmonds, and Voracek voiced, towards the end of the year, their dissatisfaction with the team's offensive style. They said exactly what many of us are: that their offense system was too formulaic, and you can't create goals in the NHL by never working the dangerous areas. It was actually a bit surprising how blunt they were, especially Schenn, but it's not surprising they saw what we saw.

I have serious doubts that's true. Honestly this is really so simple and fundamental that it's embarrassing that it has to be explained. The thinking that a coach of Hakstol's pedigree and how successful he has been as a hockey coach builds his offensive philosophy around the lowest percentage shot in hockey is comical.
- MJL

So you think the coach and players are making it up?

I don't think anyone is suggesting they attempt to create offense only from point shots, but I think it is obvious they prefer to use the point to create shots more often than most teams. There was a clear emphasis on shot generation, which caused for taking a shot from low percentage areas over not taking one at all. No coincidence the coach fell in love with two guys who could only do that anyway.

It's a fact that the Flyers took no danger shots from further out than any team in the league and conservatively barely attempted plays in the juicy areas of the ice. They were a disaster offensively at ES. Anyone with two working eyes, before the eclipse, could see that. That part is indisputable. Why? is the only matter for discussion.

Now, if you want to believe -- as a difference of opinion -- that the players dictate the offensive schemes and the coach plays Pokemon Go all day and has little to no input on the systems, go for it lol! But there has been a clear style Hakstol has established in his regime. Since I know you're someone who values quotes, all of Schenn, Simmonds, and Voracek voiced, towards the end of the year, their dissatisfaction with the team's offensive style. They said exactly what many of us are: that their offense system was too formulaic, and you can't create goals in the NHL by never working the dangerous areas. It was actually a bit surprising how blunt they were, especially Schenn, but it's not surprising they saw what we saw.
- Mononoke

bro, Hakstol plays minecraft

Maybe watch more college hockey then.

And yes, it was comical. Hope he learned something.
- Mononoke

Your comments above lack any real substance or value. Perhaps you can teach him something? Give the Flyers a call and tell them you want to help.

Why? is the only matter for discussion.


- Mononoke

yep - and there will be disagreements

It's a fact that the Flyers took no danger shots from further out than any team in the league and conservatively barely attempted plays in the juicy areas of the ice. They were a disaster offensively at ES. Anyone with two working eyes, before the eclipse, could see that. That part is indisputable. Why? is the only matter for discussion.


- Mononoke

Nobody, including myself has disputed that the Flyers took a high level of point shots last season. What is in dispute is why they did.

Now, if you want to believe -- as a difference of opinion -- that the players dictate the offensive schemes and the coach plays Pokemon Go all day and has little to no input on the systems, go for it lol! But there has been a clear style Hakstol has established in his regime. Since I know you're someone who values quotes, all of Schenn, Simmonds, and Voracek voiced, towards the end of the year, their dissatisfaction with the team's offensive style. They said exactly what many of us are: that their offense system was too formulaic, and you can't create goals in the NHL by never working the dangerous areas. It was actually a bit surprising how blunt they were, especially Schenn, but it's not surprising they saw what we saw.
- Mononoke

Can you provide these quotes? I'd like to read them and read where they say they didn't like Hakstol's system and that they were directed to bypass higher quality chances and plays in order to get the puck back to the point because the coach ordered them to do so.

Your comments above lack any real substance or value. Perhaps you can teach him something? Give the Flyers a call and tell them you want to help.
- MJL

I have Hakstol's cell phone number but i am sure he have changed it

So you think the coach and players are making it up?

I don't think anyone is suggesting they attempt to create offense only from point shots, but I think it is obvious they prefer to use the point to create shots more often than most teams. There was a clear emphasis on shot generation, which caused for taking a shot from low percentage areas over not taking one at all. No coincidence the coach fell in love with two guys who could only do that anyway.
- YuenglingJagr

No, I think you and others are making this narrative up.

It starts in the defensive end of the ice. If you spend too much time hemmed in and too much time defending and therefore playing a lot of dump and chase hockey, you wind up constantly trying to create offense against all 5 defenders back and that's a tough way to play. If you become a better team in the neutral zone and on the forecheck, and spend less time defending you create far more higher quality chances for your team. It's a question of talent and ability. Especially when your #1 center is struggling physically and is a perimeter player. Hakstol struggled all season trying to come up with a consistent lineup. If only he knew that all he had to do was change from the point shot offensive system to the higher percentage slot shot system! Just write that on the blackboard in the pregame meeting and it just happens!

Also a point shot is a higher percentage shot than no shot at all, so if that's all you're able to generate consistently than using the points with traffic at the net can produce some offense. That is a tactic that every team employs. Some teams are simply better teams and are able to generate a higher volume of quality chances and don't have to do that as much.The volume of point shots the Flyers took last year is a symptom of how well they played and their overall talent level and not a product of the coaches system which favors that over better quality opportunities.