Ghost is a top pairing defenseman
Radko Gudas is also a top pair defenseman, and is Shea Weber.

discuss.
- jmatchett383

I believe what you are saying is that Ghost is actually Shea Weber

I believe what you are saying is that Ghost is actually Shea Weber
- YuenglingJagr

I like the way you think sir. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

It's actually a bad read in my opinion. His take on the first goal and who is to blame is completely wrong and the author has no understanding of Flyers systems play or defensive zone coverage schemes. He omits the fact that on that goal, Voracek was a spectator and was the goat on the goal against as well as Giroux. He also left that out of his critique of the top lines play. That line especially Voracek, were phenomenal offensively but the effort on that goal by Voracek and Giroux is inexcusable and needs to be cleaned up. Voracek has been horrendous in his own zone going back to last year. They're not going to be able to take advantage of a depleted and worn out defense corps every game.
- MJL

Does anyone not realize the rationale of starting manning over sanheim vs the caps? Ovechkin had what 8,9 goals coming into the opener? The coaching staff was obviously worried that the capitals would come into the game and eat sanheim up.

I love sanheims game and didn't think he would fair poorly, but my job doesn't count in my opinion or play of rookies. Maybe we should reserve our judgement until the team and sanheim have played a few more games before we go apesh!t over his usage.
- twotoekenn

Who knows. The only rookie that was eaten up was Bowey. Jake properly welcomed him to the NHL.

Who knows. The only rookie that was eaten up was Bowey. Jake properly welcomed him to the NHL.
- arichardson22

I agree, but hakstols job is on the line not ours.

Nothing wrong with booing during a game if a team or a player is playing poorly or made a bad play. During opening game ceremonies, have some class.
- MJL

Said Santa Claus...

Who knows. The only rookie that was eaten up was Bowey. Jake properly welcomed him to the NHL.
- arichardson22

That was so nasty! lol

I agree, but hakstols job is on the line not ours.
- twotoekenn

So basically, he's coaching out of fear and worried about the short-term? That's not the direction they were headed in, from what Hextall has said. I understand that they want to stay competitive in the present, but they also need to let the kids have their growing pains in the present as well.

If the coach is too worried about his job to let the kids develop, then how will they develop?

Said Santa Claus...
- Konalover

OMG SOME DRUNK EAGLES IDIOTS THREW SNOWBALLS AT A DRUNK, DISHEVELED LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT SANTA CLAUS LIKE 80 YEARS AGO!!! PHILLY IS THE WORST!!!

That was so nasty! lol
- Scoob

He was in 14-15' Jake-mode. I loved it. If he can consistently play like this, watch out.

So basically, he's coaching out of fear and worried about the short-term? That's not the direction they were headed in, from what Hextall has said. I understand that they want to stay competitive in the present, but they also need to let the kids have their growing pains in the present as well.

If the coach is too worried about his job to let the kids develop, then how will they develop?
- jmatchett383

I don't see it that way, I see it as they saw the caps coming in on fire and wanted to ice a team that could counter it. I've said for awhile now I think sanheim is ready for a full time role, but I'm not an nhl coach. I don't think every rookie dman has to play 80 games in his first year to develop properly.

I usually defer to nhl coaches/personal after I thought vaclav prospal and Danis zubrus were going to be perennial all stars.

So basically, he's coaching out of fear and worried about the short-term? That's not the direction they were headed in, from what Hextall has said. I understand that they want to stay competitive in the present, but they also need to let the kids have their growing pains in the present as well.

If the coach is too worried about his job to let the kids develop, then how will they develop?
- jmatchett383

Not every player can come back after being a minus 5 in one game and then becoming the teams best dman. As much as Hakstol makes mistakes he does get it right.

I don't see it that way, I see it as they saw the caps coming in on fire and wanted to ice a team that could counter it. I've said for awhile now I think sanheim is ready for a full time role, but I'm not an nhl coach. I don't think every rookie dman has to play 80 games in his first year to develop properly.

I usually defer to nhl coaches/personal after I thought vaclav prospal and Danis zubrus were going to be perennial all stars.
- twotoekenn

I'm not expecting him to play 80+ games as rookie. But Hakstol has to balance the present and future, and should not let fear (or a 3rd liner from the opposition) let him make lineup decisions. If he's worried about his job, he's probably going to make panicked decisions. I hope that's not the case.

FWIW, sitting Sanheim for one game, even though I wish we had someone better than Manning, isn't the end of the world, but I've seen no signs thus far to show me than Sanheim can't do everything better than Brandon Manning, aside from getting punched in the head.

Not every player can come back after being a minus 5 in one game and then becoming the teams best dman. As much as Hakstol makes mistakes he does get it right.
- twotoekenn

I don't expect anyone on this team to do that this season. I do think that, at present, Travis Sanheim is a better hockey player than Brandon Manning.

Edit: I'm not going to be one of the people who will get upset when we win with Manning in the lineup because I want to be proven right. I just don't think that having him in the lineup over Sanheim makes them a better team.

I'm not expecting him to play 80+ games as rookie. But Hakstol has to balance the present and future, and should not let fear (or a 3rd liner from the opposition) let him make lineup decisions. If he's worried about his job, he's probably going to make panicked decisions. I hope that's not the case.

FWIW, sitting Sanheim for one game, even though I wish we had someone better than Manning, isn't the end of the world, but I've seen no signs thus far to show me than Sanheim can't do everything better than Brandon Manning, aside from getting punched in the head.
- jmatchett383

I don't think it had anything to do with fear or with being worried about his job. Whether we agreed with the decision or not, I think the decision was made on what the coach felt was the best lineup to win the hockey game.

I don't think it had anything to do with fear or with being worried about his job. Whether we agreed with the decision or not, I think the decision was made on what the coach felt was the best lineup to win the hockey game.
- MJL

cool

In Key West, town looks good and just about every place that was damaged, is repaired and open!

I don't expect anyone on this team to do that this season. I do think that, at present, Travis Sanheim is a better hockey player than Brandon Manning.

Edit: I'm not going to be one of the people who will get upset when we win with Manning in the lineup because I want to be proven right. I just don't think that having him in the lineup over Sanheim makes them a better team.
- jmatchett383

I agree that sanheim is/will be a better player. The reason I'm not terribly upset is that manning has more experience and while I want sanheim to get that experience I'd rather not have him get taken behind the woodshed and beaten. That didn't happen Saturday night but It easily could have. If it was 8-2 the other way the discussion might be "why did hak play all those young guys against the machine that is the capitols?"

I agree that sanheim is/will be a better player. The reason I'm not terribly upset is that manning has more experience and while I want sanheim to get that experience I'd rather not have him get taken behind the woodshed and beaten. That didn't happen Saturday night but It easily could have. If it was 8-2 the other way the discussion might be "why did hak play all those young guys against the machine that is the capitols?"
- twotoekenn

That's why I'm not up in arms about that particular decision. But if you really think that Hakstol's job is "on the line" then I don't want him as a coach. The coach should have enough security that he can make decisions without having to look over his shoulder.

In Key West, town looks good and just about every place that was damaged, is repaired and open!
- BiggE

So...much ado about nothing then?

I agree that sanheim is/will be a better player. The reason I'm not terribly upset is that manning has more experience and while I want sanheim to get that experience I'd rather not have him get taken behind the woodshed and beaten. That didn't happen Saturday night but It easily could have. If it was 8-2 the other way the discussion might be "why did hak play all those young guys against the machine that is the capitols?"
- twotoekenn

I think the biggest thing we have to keep in mind is that the development of young players is a process. That process will vary with each individual player. The trust that Hakstol had in Provorov and the resulting increase in responsibility came very quickly with Provorov. I personally think that they should just put Sanheim in the lineup and leave him there, but there is nothing wrong with sheltering a player from certain situations if they feel that is best for the player and the team. I haven't seen much to suggest that under Hextall and Hakstol that they don't know what they're doing in regards to developing young players.

Every coach's job is on the line every day.
That's why they don't worry about it and instead just do what they think is best for the team to win.

Patrick Sharp's goal the other night against the Predators is a perfect example of why video review "to get it right" is a franking joke.

That's why I'm not up in arms about that particular decision. But if you really think that Hakstol's job is "on the line" then I don't want him as a coach. The coach should have enough security that he can make decisions without having to look over his shoulder.
- jmatchett383

"I" don't think that, but with the way coaches are used up like tissues I understand that hak might think that way. IF that's the way it is Hextall needs to address development vs on ice performance.

You and I are probably ok with the young players growing pains, is the entirety of the fan base?

I hate that I sound like another poster right now.

It's actually a bad read in my opinion. His take on the first goal and who is to blame is completely wrong and the author has no understanding of Flyers systems play or defensive zone coverage schemes. He omits the fact that on that goal, Voracek was a spectator and was the goat on the goal against as well as Giroux.
- MJL

San Fillippo at CB agrees with you, FWIW.

Andrew MacDonald did NOTHING wrong on this play, yet was crucified for it. Here’s the breakdown. You don’t see the full play on the gif, but here’s how it went:

AMac passes the puck up the wall to Voracek, trying to start a zone exit.
Voracek mishandles the pass, and after a second, loses it to the Capitals
The puck ends up on the stick of Alex Ovechkin – and although he was dreadful last night – a minus-4 in only 14:25 of ice time – he had scored nine goals in Washington’s first five games.
AMac marks Ovechkin, forcing him to give up the puck.
AMac then stays with Ovechkin – which is part of the game plan – whoever is defending him, stay with him and everyone else covers for each other except…
Neither Giroux nor Voracek – both on AMac’s side of the ice, covers his area, creating a 2-on-1 down low and leaving both Ivan Provorov and Brian Elliott out to dry. John Carlson finds Evgeni Kuznetsov who slides it to a wide open Vrana for an easy goal.

I think we've got it. It did take a closer look from me on later shifts to figure out that was the plan to stop OV, but that was the plan to stop OV.