How many good teams, teams that won at least one playoff round, did he play top 4 minutes for?


- BiggE

He has played for two teams in his NHL career. Surely he can't be held responsible for how good the total team around him has been in his career. C'mon, you know better than this.

I don't hate AMac, but by definition above average means at least better than half the Dmen in the NHL. He's not, he's an average NHL Dman. Second pair guy on a poor team, 3rd pair on a good one.


- BiggE

The comment was that he is an above average defender, meaning his defensive play in his own end. Understandable if you thought it meant as an overall player. MacDonald certainly has his faults and weaknesses.

All that being said, I have no problem with AMac in the lineup for an opening game on the road. It's Manning playing over Morin that I find ridiculous.
- BiggE

I agree with you. I don't understand that at all. Manning is not that good of a player that it would offset any inexperience that Morin has for a significant gain.

Do you really think I meant he had a lifetime gig? Or was talking about in the relative near future? Do you think Hakstol is in any way on the hot seat?
- MJL

Like every other coach, he's just one losing streak, one missed postseason, one first round exit, or one strong disagreement away from getting canned.

More illustrious human beings have had the rug yanked out from under them before -- I don't see what's so special about Hak that he should feel completely safe.

I know we are getting shafted with both of these. But for fun:

Would you rather Morin sit out and amac on the bottom pair where he belongs?

Or

Morin in and amac on top pair?
- JFlyers00

I want Morin, especially against the Sharks who are a very big team

I don't think he is or should be on the hot seat....but I also ain't ready to give him passing grade for his job so far....still on the fence.

I only brought up VDV to point out that a guy that was apparently such a large part of the team last year....81 straight games....wasn't offered even a PTO by the Flyers...seemed a little weird considering coach Hakstols affinity for the player.

Tonight decision on sitting two deserving rookies is a head scratcher...but it won't make me cheer any less...I can't say it's performance based because I thought Manning didn't look very good at all, in fact some news outlets thought he might start year on IR, because he looked to be struggling that much.
- landros 2

I'm not sold on him as a coach either. Hasn't accomplished enough at the NHL level. I've said before that Hakstol is a good hockey coach but it remains to be seen how good of an NHL coach he will be.
Vandevelde's time here was over. He was a stop gap player who filled a role while the Flyers developed other players.
I can understand one of them being scratched but I don't agree with playing Manning over Morin.

Like every other coach, he's just one losing streak, one missed postseason, one first round exit, or one strong disagreement away from getting canned.

More illustrious human beings have had the rug yanked out from under them before -- I don't see what's so special about Hak that he should feel completely safe.
- Tomahawk

Hakstol right now is about as safe as any NHL coach can expect to be.

He has played for two teams in his NHL career. Surely he can't be held responsible for how good the total team around him has been in his career. C'mon, you know better than this.




The comment was that he is an above average defender, meaning his defensive play in his own end. Understandable if you thought it meant as an overall player. MacDonald certainly has his faults and weaknesses.




I agree with you. I don't understand that at all. Manning is not that good of a player that it would offset any inexperience that Morin has for a significant gain.
- MJL

My point was that on a good team, a Cup contending team, AMac is a 3rd pair guy. But yeah, at the end of the day it's Manning over Morin that really bugs me.

Hakstol right now is about as safe as any NHL coach can expect to be.
- MJL

If I were him, the Knoblauch hiring would make me pretty nervous.

There was come concern earlier this week that Matt Read wouldn't actually make it to Allentown, but he was there today.

@BobRotruck

Matt Read at Phantoms practice this morning. Wearing #24.
Said he wants to stay positive and continue to be the best hockey player he can.

ty, I do believe it deserved more recognition. I can always count on you, hammar.

I can't wait to be anger buddies for another year
- Giroux_Is_God

giddyup!

If I were him, the Knoblauch hiring would make me pretty nervous.
- Tomahawk

I wouldn't. There is a list longer than your arm of potential available successors for any NHL coach. They're only a phone call away.

There was come concern earlier this week that Matt Read wouldn't actually make it to Allentown, but he was there today.

@BobRotruck

Matt Read at Phantoms practice this morning. Wearing #24.
Said he wants to stay positive and continue to be the best hockey player he can.
- Feanor

he might have to settle for being the best player at LHV (once all the kids get called up and the competition thins out a bit).

Carter Hart is out tonight with mono. Keep piling on the good news.
- JFlyers00

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.

Dunno, I figure he's in the same boat as every other coach not named Babcock -- job security is not really part of the gig.
- Tomahawk

I thought he was totally safe last year cause it was only year two, but he could definitely be fired by Hextall after 3 years of his 5 years deal if things go really badly.

If Sanheim or Morin or neither play, it begs the question that always gets asked. What good are they in the press box? Do you want the kids playing or watching from the press box?
- SuperSchennBros

I think they will both play games on this road trip, and only miss the first two Phantoms games.

When the Flyers are back home a week from now, one dman will need to go down.

There was come concern earlier this week that Matt Read wouldn't actually make it to Allentown, but he was there today.

@BobRotruck

Matt Read at Phantoms practice this morning. Wearing #24.
Said he wants to stay positive and continue to be the best hockey player he can.
- Feanor

3.6 million reasons to go. I still think he'll play games for philly this year.

Rhys HOskins on MLB tonight. Love that guy

Big Mason save he still got it

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.
- Mononoke

Another one on Marleau

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.
- Mononoke

Hands off

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.
- Mononoke

Tell him I said Hi.

It's been way to freaking long since we have seen real Flyers hockey. I am really looking forward to the game tonight. Going to be a LOT of young guys in the game tonight. Not as many as we want but still a lot. I can understand Hak a bit. I can see easing the guys in a bit on the road, at the start of both the season and their NHL careers. By the time they get back home they should all have at least 2 games, one will be in LHV and Morin will play with Ghost, Manning eating popcorn.


OR

Read stays down, Lindblom rip the AHL a new ass for two weeks. We rotate the kids on D until AMac blows out his knee and Manning stays in the press box with Wiess because Lindblom in back up with Filp and TK, shooter first PP. All is well in the world.

Reality is most likely somewhere in between for a while until part two really happens in full. Hopefully no later then Thanksgiving. Then we can give thanks.

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.
- Mononoke

It's like you're Joey to his Mr. Treeger.

It's been way to freaking long since we have seen real Flyers hockey. I am really looking forward to the game tonight. Going to be a LOT of young guys in the game tonight. Not as many as we want but still a lot. I can understand Hak a bit. I can see easing the guys in a bit on the road, at the start of both the season and their NHL careers. By the time they get back home they should all have at least 2 games, one will be in LHV and Morin will play with Ghost, Manning eating popcorn.


OR

Read stays down, Lindblom rip the AHL a new ass for two weeks. We rotate the kids on D until AMac blows out his knee and Manning stays in the press box with Wiess because Lindblom in back up with Filp and TK, shooter first PP. All is well in the world.

Reality is most likely somewhere in between for a while until part two really happens in full. Hopefully no later then Thanksgiving. Then we can give thanks.
- jaws1955

Tremendous. They should be safely out of the playoff race at that point.

Get 'er done.

He's taking me dancing. I told him I don't know how; he said he'd teach me. He's so lovely.
- Mononoke

lol - took me three reads but I finally found the funny