I don't care if all of America voted and there is a possibly recount in Florida. There was a time when the "A" really meant something.
- SuperSchennBros

nerds here like advanced stats right? Amac's leadership per 60 was off the charts!

How confident are you that the goaltending is going to be appreciably better this season?

I'm not at all confident. I have questions.

I also question how the Caps, Rangers, Pens, and 'Jackets will fare this year compared to last. Are they all going to regress? If two or more of them do, then the Flyers chances would appear to be better.

Are the Canes and Islanders going to be for realsies? I don't know.

If they arent, clearly that helps the Flyers case.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I don't know about the goaltending, other than Elliott finished strong last year in Calgary and he had a very solid, underrated run in St Louis. Neuvirth can be out standing. He can also be terrible and injured. I don't know what version of him we're going to get. I admit it's a question mark, but the capability IS there.

I'm not concerned with the Canes and Islanders yet. I will be when I have reason to be. I want to imagine a world where the caps, pens, and rangers suck. I might expect a regular season let down for the caps because their top seeding never amounts to anything, and the pens are riding 2 straight cups. the rangers? i don't know. they've shed a lot of good players in the last couple of years, but they're always right there.

Almost zero. It seems as though it was predetermined that 8/9 top 9 spots were filled prior to camp. Lindblom lost to Patrick for that last spot.
- JFlyers00

I don't get it. There's at least one guy in that top 9 who can go.

I might be the only guy who hasn't bought into the Jordan Weal bandwagon yet. Not that weal is my biggest problem in the top 9.

and we still might make the playoffs. it could happen.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I agree. All the miserable, sad-sack, Debbie Downers can go pound sand.

I don't know about the goaltending, other than Elliott finished strong last year in Calgary and he had a very solid, underrated run in St Louis. Neuvirth can be out standing. He can also be terrible and injured. I don't know what version of him we're going to get. I admit it's a question mark, but the capability IS there.

I'm not concerned with the Canes and Islanders yet. I will be when I have reason to be. I want to imagine a world where the caps, pens, and rangers suck. I might expect a regular season let down for the caps because their top seeding never amounts to anything, and the pens are riding 2 straight cups. the rangers? i don't know. they've shed a lot of good players in the last couple of years, but they're always right there.
- hammarby31

I give him points for wearing the "cujo" mask!

I agree. All the miserable, sad-sack, Debbie Downers can go pound sand.
- Scoob

No sand. No pounding device.

I agree. All the miserable, sad-sack, Debbie Downers can go pound sand.
- Scoob

Count me in on this wagon!

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.

Lineup?

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

What a bummer

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww.... Glad I'll be sleeping.

I really want to hear a reason from both Hextall and Hakstol on why both kids are in the press box tonight over the other two pylons!!

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

great news Bill! keep up the good work

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

How wonderfully conservative of our coach...

Lethera for Patrick too?

great news Bill! keep up the good work
- 2Real

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

Bill, did Hextall not just say the kids would not be here to sit in the press box? What is the logic behind this? I’m not going to go on about AMac, he’s got an A now, but there is no reason Manning plays over either of the kids.

I don't get it. There's at least one guy in that top 9 who can go.

I might be the only guy who hasn't bought into the Jordan Weal bandwagon yet. Not that weal is my biggest problem in the top 9.
- mayorofangrytown

add me to that list....I think Weal has a chance to be pretty good....But not sold yet.

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

i am enraged.

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

Hac loves him some Manning.

i am enraged.
- hammarby31

I'm struggling desperately right now not to completely justify my username

Someone please do their best to convince me that Manning in over Morin gives the Flyers a better chance to win

Per Dave Isaac, Ghost w/ Hägg in morning skate, Manning w/ Gudas plus expected Provorov-MacD pair. If these pairings hold, Sanheim & Morin are the scratches.
- bmeltzer

Honestly, i read this and my shoulder got tight, I instantly felt rage and frustration.

I thought the kids were to either play or be sent down...

Sigh...

I think this season is the first that neither goalie that I thought would be on the team is actually on the team. I hope Elliott can return to his mean average and not continuing a downward trend.

There were several disconcerting things about Sunday's game. Being that it was labeled by the management team as a dress rehearsal for the season the goalie play was sub par and they scratched both Morin and Sanheim for MacDonald and Manning. These things are what they left me with coming into tonight's game and I can't say I'm pleased with the decision making.

If they expect to start the season scratching rookies and Elliott's play is going to loom large over their fortunes I just don't see the playoffs in the picture. I'm apprehensive that the promise of the preseason will atrophy through poor team management.

This could spiral into a top 10 pick with just a few mishandled players. It's that fragile of a playoff bubble for them.
- mayorofangrytown

i'm disappointed with this too. but i don't want to put too much stock in a pre-season game either way.

i will be watching the goalies closely. i don't know if they are interchangeable yet for Hak or if Neuvirth has the slight nod because of his tenure here.

i could see things going very badly too, but i don't think that will happen. what i want to see is real progress which will give reason to be hopeful that they will be contenders soon.

Someone please do their best to convince me that Manning in over Morin gives the Flyers a better chance to win
- nastyflyergirl

Manning is a vet, Morin is a know nothing rookie???