Not sure how much that would help. I think both Weise and Read will give you very little, so I'd take the one that's 6'2 206 over the guy who is 5'10 180. Honestly, after watching Weise so far this season, I'm wondering which of the coaches coffee cups did Lehtera piss into. Surprised he hasn't at least been given a shot to replace Weise in the lineup.
- BiggE

It's only game 4. I don't think Weise has been that bad, or bad enough to get yanked just yet. He hasn't been too noticable, either.

I do think that Lehtera can add a bit more to the offensive potency of the top 9, tho

Not sure how much that would help. I think both Weise and Read will give you very little, so I'd take the one that's 6'2 206 over the guy who is 5'10 180. Honestly, after watching Weise so far this season, I'm wondering which of the coaches coffee cups did Lehtera piss into. Surprised he hasn't at least been given a shot to replace Weise in the lineup.
- BiggE

I didn't think he did a whole lot in the preseason but as you said neither has Weise or Read really. I've liked all of the lines except for the lines Filppula has been on but he isn't coming out of the lineup and I do have expectations that he will pick up his play.

That's a huge bummer Morin's not practicing. I thought for sure he was our only lock from the preseason. Just sucks.... welcome to Lehigh, Sam.

That's a huge bummer Morin's not practicing. I thought for sure he was our only lock from the preseason. Just sucks.... welcome to Lehigh, Sam.
- Boyer83

Hopefully he goes down with a chip on his shoulder in a good way, not bad way

It's only game 4. I don't think Weise has been that bad, or bad enough to get yanked just yet. He hasn't been too noticable, either.

I do think that Lehtera can add a bit more to the offensive potency of the top 9, tho
- VladDrag

He's not been brutal, just ineffective and pretty much invisible. If they are going to keep Patrick and Konecny together on a line, I'd much rather see them with Lehtera, who has some skill, rather than Weise, who basically just skates up and down his wing and rarely makes a play.

Although not playing, Sam got to experience travel rigors and jet lag while being part of the club (good meals and hotels) will make him work that much harder.

He's not been brutal, just ineffective and pretty much invisible. If they are going to keep Patrick and Konecny together on a line, I'd much rather see them with Lehtera, who has some skill, rather than Weise, who basically just skates up and down his wing and rarely makes a play.
- BiggE

But Lehterä and Patrick on the same line make for a slow line, even with Konecny on it. Weise has limitations with the puck but is a good skater.

I didn't think he did a whole lot in the preseason but as you said neither has Weise or Read really. I've liked all of the lines except for the lines Filppula has been on but he isn't coming out of the lineup and I do have expectations that he will pick up his play.
- nastyflyergirl

The puck on Filppula's stick has been a bit of a hand grenade.

The puck on Filppula's stick has been a bit of a hand grenade.
- Konalover

That is not his norm, though. He is one of the team's better stickhandlers and passers.

But Lehterä and Patrick on the same line make for a slow line, even with Konecny on it. Weise has limitations with the puck but is a good skater.
- bmeltzer

Yeah, I hear you. There really is no perfect solution. They are just one or 2 players short of having a really effective top nine. Just gotta be patient, help should soon be on the way.

edit: As well as the 4th line has played, I'd still trying flipping Weise and Raffl. I think Raffl would be a better fit with the 2 kids and Weise isn't going to destroy a line that only plays 9 minutes or so at ES anyway.

That is not his norm, though. He is one of the team's better stickhandlers and passers.
- bmeltzer

Agreed. I think he will end up being ok at ES, however I really think he needs to come off that shooters spot on the top pp unit. He just doesn't have the skill set that fits the position.

Although not playing, Sam got to experience travel rigors and jet lag while being part of the club (good meals and hotels) will make him work that much harder.
- Konalover

He also took a nice video of Hagg catching a fish in LA

He also took a nice video of Hagg catching a fish in LA
- YuenglingJagr

He's not been brutal, just ineffective and pretty much invisible. If they are going to keep Patrick and Konecny together on a line, I'd much rather see them with Lehtera, who has some skill, rather than Weise, who basically just skates up and down his wing and rarely makes a play.
- BiggE

Did you just compare Weise to Jody Freaking Shelley?

I used to swear Shelley was one of the bubble hockey players...

That's a huge bummer Morin's not practicing. I thought for sure he was our only lock from the preseason. Just sucks.... welcome to Lehigh, Sam.
- Boyer83

Honestly it's borderline poor management IMO. Sure he's only comfortable on one side of the ice but I think his size and skating immediately impacts and pays dividends for the Flyers on the backend. I know their PK has been solid to start the season but I think Morin makes it even better. There's nothing more he can do in the A at this point. I also think his game and skating translates even better at the NHL level as opposed to getting used to the speed/NHL pace.

After starting the season 3 for 3, the Flyers power play is now 0 for its last 12. Hakstol will continue to leave Valtteri Filppula on the number one unit, as they worked on their setup and puck movement during Monday’s practice.

“Part of that role is shooting,” Hakstol said. “He hasn’t spent a lot of time in that spot. I think just overall adjusting to that position and that role on the power play is something that he’s done pretty well. It’s a real puck support role as well. You’re in a support role with anybody on the rink that has the puck and you’re in a puck retrieval role. I think he’s adjusting to it really well.”

After starting the season 3 for 3, the Flyers power play is now 0 for its last 12. Hakstol will continue to leave Valtteri Filppula on the number one unit, as they worked on their setup and puck movement during Monday’s practice.

“Part of that role is shooting,” Hakstol said. “He hasn’t spent a lot of time in that spot. I think just overall adjusting to that position and that role on the power play is something that he’s done pretty well. It’s a real puck support role as well. You’re in a support role with anybody on the rink that has the puck and you’re in a puck retrieval role. I think he’s adjusting to it really well.”
- nastyflyergirl

That comment is like a lame puck cycle... all it does is go round and round.

That comment is like a lame puck cycle... all it does is go round and round.
- dragonoffrost

Maybe Hakstol should tell Filppula to pass the puck to the back of the net.

After starting the season 3 for 3, the Flyers power play is now 0 for its last 12. Hakstol will continue to leave Valtteri Filppula on the number one unit, as they worked on their setup and puck movement during Monday’s practice.

“Part of that role is shooting,” Hakstol said. “He hasn’t spent a lot of time in that spot. I think just overall adjusting to that position and that role on the power play is something that he’s done pretty well. It’s a real puck support role as well. You’re in a support role with anybody on the rink that has the puck and you’re in a puck retrieval role. I think he’s adjusting to it really well.”
- nastyflyergirl

I think the pp coach is as much to blamr. If filp has to play pp than why he can't be 2nd unit facilitator and move a 2nd unit shooter up in the lineup.

Also for all the goalie conversation if we think hextall patience with defenseman took a while get ready for it being twice as bad with goalies. Lucky if we see them by 2022

Yeah, I hear you. There really is no perfect solution. They are just one or 2 players short of having a really effective top nine. Just gotta be patient, help should soon be on the way.

edit: As well as the 4th line has played, I'd still trying flipping Weise and Raffl. I think Raffl would be a better fit with the 2 kids and Weise isn't going to destroy a line that only plays 9 minutes or so at ES anyway.
- BiggE

I was thinking the same thing for Raffl and Weise.
Raffl can finish some of the sweet outta the box thinking plays NP and TK have made at a better clip.

Honestly it's borderline poor management IMO. Sure he's only comfortable on one side of the ice but I think his size and skating immediately impacts and pays dividends for the Flyers on the backend. I know their PK has been solid to start the season but I think Morin makes it even better. There's nothing more he can do in the A at this point. I also think his game and skating translates even better at the NHL level as opposed to getting used to the speed/NHL pace.
- Pixote Andolini

Last year Provy going to Juniors was a nothing more to do scenario.
Going to the A will leave him lots of things to do:
like dominate the league.
pound people
score
log huge minutes
lead the team
and continue to get better as a D man in the second best league in the world.

Read Bill's blog yesterday as to why it has been numbers game/side played at hand for further analysis.

As a long time Laughton basher, I would like to say that year in the A really helped this kid.
He sure looks solid in that grinder role and he can chip in some finishing that was lacking last year (yeah yeah vdv yada yada).
That whole line has been tenacious on the puck causing havoc when they hit the ice!
Leier has not shown an iota of not belonging.

Yeah, I hear you. There really is no perfect solution. They are just one or 2 players short of having a really effective top nine. Just gotta be patient, help should soon be on the way.

edit: As well as the 4th line has played, I'd still trying flipping Weise and Raffl. I think Raffl would be a better fit with the 2 kids and Weise isn't going to destroy a line that only plays 9 minutes or so at ES anyway.
- BiggE

I agree. Raffl is strong on the puck in all 3 zones and is a demon on the forecheck. He's also shown he can pot goals when given the opportunity. That's the first tweak to try in my opinion.

Crazy prediction:

Morin is scratched tonight...

Then Saturday night pregame skate only 5 defensemen hit the ice. Someone is hidden just stretching in the bowels of the WFC. They do the one by one announcements and get to the starting lineup. Starting at Defense #53 Shayne Gostisbehere... then the place goes dark and a single orange spotlight hits the tunnel... at Defense #5.... SAM MORIN! and the place explodes...


Ok what ... oh sorry I was dreaming again....

That comment is like a lame puck cycle... all it does is go round and round.
- dragonoffrost

Not really. A huge part of the Flyers PP success in the past was Schenn's ability to retrieve pucks and win battles for loose pucks off of faceoffs to buy the Flyers zone attack time. Filppula does that well also. He needs to work on a shoot first mentality in that spot. Give him some time.