If this is the case then we may see them call up someone else. They are not going to call up Morin just to have him eat popcorn in the Cote suite.
- MBFlyerfan

They did that for the first four games with no intentions on putting him into the line up.

Unfortunately yes, I think Manning comes back in.
- SuperSchennBros

Agreed

They did that for the first four games with no intentions on putting him into the line up.
- Buzzo

That was the first 4 games on a long West coast road trip. Situation is different this time.

That was the first 4 games on a long West coast road trip. Situation is different this time.

That was the first 4 games on a long West coast road trip. Situation is different this time.

Probably not to start at least. From what I've seen of Hak, it's almost a given that Manning goes back in the lineup Tuesday, and we see:

Provorov-Gudas
Even Hak doesn't like Manning enough to put him on the top pair.

Ghost-Hagg
If it ain't broke....

Sanheim-Manning
Sorry kid.
- BiggE

I'm gonna say this about Mac. I do believe he's an NHL player, I don't think he should be waived and even though he did have a good game yesterday, my opinion hasn't changed. The Edmonton Oilers aren't a very good team. Mac has been apart of many miscommunications this season that led directly to goals, whether we allowed 2 but scored 8 or allowed one and scored zip.

I'm not at the games in Philly but I think the locker room hears the Mac boo's and the team is really working hard to tune out that noise, including offering him assistant captaincy. I've never seen anything like it before.

Those were great blocks yesterday but I've seen it before. I'll only go as far as saying as Mac had his best game of the season yesterday and I don't think I'm being unfair. We probably take Nashville into a 0-0 game if Mac isn't trying to be a hero.

If this is the case then we may see them call up someone else. They are not going to call up Morin just to have him eat popcorn in the Cote suite.
- MBFlyerfan

I still think he gets called but it's going to take a loss or Manning playing awful before he gets in to a game. The Flyers are better than last season, but they aren't going to go on a 5 game win streak. Morin will get in soon.

I'm gonna say this about Mac. I do believe he's an NHL player, I don't think he should be waived and even though he did have a good game yesterday, my opinion hasn't changed. The Edmonton Oilers aren't a very good team. Mac has been apart of many miscommunications this season that led directly to goals, whether we allowed 2 but scored 8 or allowed one and scored zip.

I'm not at the games in Philly but I think the locker room hears the Mac boo's and the team is really working hard to tune out that noise, including offering him assistant captaincy. I've never seen anything like it before.

Those were great blocks yesterday but I've seen it before. I'll only go as far as saying as Mac had his best game of the season yesterday and I don't think I'm being unfair. We probably take Nashville into a 0-0 game if Mac isn't trying to be a hero.
- SuperSchennBros

Simmonds was the most at fault for the goal youre referring to. Not Macdonald "trying to be a hero".

I still think he gets called but it's going to take a loss or Manning playing awful before he gets in to a game. The Flyers are better than last season, but they aren't going to go on a 5 game win streak. Morin will get in soon.
- BiggE

Yeah I'd say that's most likely. Manning played with Provorov a bit last season which will help his case.

I'm gonna say this about Mac. I do believe he's an NHL player, I don't think he should be waived and even though he did have a good game yesterday, my opinion hasn't changed. The Edmonton Oilers aren't a very good team. Mac has been apart of many miscommunications this season that led directly to goals, whether we allowed 2 but scored 8 or allowed one and scored zip.

I'm not at the games in Philly but I think the locker room hears the Mac boo's and the team is really working hard to tune out that noise, including offering him assistant captaincy. I've never seen anything like it before.

Those were great blocks yesterday but I've seen it before. I'll only go as far as saying as Mac had his best game of the season yesterday and I don't think I'm being unfair. We probably take Nashville into a 0-0 game if Mac isn't trying to be a hero.
- SuperSchennBros

The players voted him an A to keep the fans off his back....hahahahahahahahahahhaha

It's amazing how many people like you think they understand hockey and actually don't get it at all. If MacDonald in in LV and Morin is playing daily in his place, the Flyers are 4-4 or 3-5 at best. There is a reason why MacDonald is revered by the rest of the locker room, by his coaches, and the GM. It's not because he is likeable, or for his locker room speeches. Its because he does the things that fans don't notice and that don't show up in advanced stats that makes the difference between winning and losing. The fact that you can make THIS POST, after THIS GAME, makes me wonder if you even watch hockey.

Ghost does look a lot like he did two seasons ago when he was paired with MacDonald. Part of that IS that he has fully recovered from surgery and has reclaimed some speed he was missing last season. But a big part of his resurgence is the play of Hagg. It's not that Gostisbehere is playing defensively sound hockey all of the sudden. Think about the guys he was paired with most last season. Streit and Schultz are gone from hockey and Del Zotto is a third pairing defenseman (playing first pairing minutes due to injuries) on a bad team. None of those guys could counter Ghost's issues, but Hagg is a perfect fit. I see those two playing together long after AMac and Gudas hang them up.
- hockeyal

I agree with everything you state except the part about Gostisbehere playing defensively sound hockey. He definitely is. Combined with his offensive game, it makes for a very good player.

Simmonds was the most at fault for the goal youre referring to. Not Macdonald "trying to be a hero".
- Baxter27

Yup. Simmonds' pinch was a poor decision. Then Filp gets burned and gives up backchecking

As much as I'm critical of Amac, he is an NHL player. The issue I and most others have is that he isn't a 20 minute all situations defenseman, but that's how he's typically used here. I know there's been no better options for the last few seasons, but now with Morin, Sanheim, and Hagg knocking on the door/taking on bigger roles, there are better options.

AMac is a 2nd pair, 3rd pair on a deep defense type of player and that's where he'd see the most success. 15 semi-sheltered minutes a night, with some on the PK. That's the player he is. He just gets exposed too much/isn't as "set it and forget it" as you should be to see 20 all situation minutes. This juxtaposed with his usage by Hakstol, coupled with his salary, is why people get knee jerkish with him.

Yeah I'd say that's most likely. Manning played with Provorov a bit last season which will help his case.
- Baxter27

I see a lot if posts saying Provey and Gudas should be paired together. If I remember correctly, that was tried some early last year with bad results.

I have to think that Hagg may play with him, Sanhiem with Gudas and Sam with Ghost. They have played well.together. Perhaps Hagg and Provey become twice as good together and Ghost does even better playing with the giant.

I see a lot if posts saying Provey and Gudas should be paired together. If I remember correctly, that was tried some early last year with bad results.

I have to think that Hagg may play with him, Sanhiem with Gudas and Sam with Ghost. They have played well.together. Perhaps Hagg and Provey become twice as good together and Ghost does even better playing with the giant.
- jaws1955

Morin-Ghost was a preseason pair wasn't it? Could be an idea...But I don't know, I wouldn't break up Hagg and Ghost right now. I'd try to see if something else works first.

The players voted him an A to keep the fans off his back....hahahahahahahahahahhaha
- KINGKENZO

Our very own Bill wrote a featured article for NHL.com today about how well respected AMac is. It's simply something we as fans don't see.

Morin-Ghost was a preseason pair wasn't it? Could be an idea...But I don't know, I wouldn't break up Hagg and Ghost right now. I'd try to see if something else works first.
- Giroux_Is_God

Morin and Ghost played in pre-season as well as in the game Sam played last year. They may have played a bit together before Ghosts call up his rookie year. Wasn't that Sam's first year in LHV?

Our very own Bill wrote a featured article for NHL.com today about how well respected AMac is. It's simply something we as fans don't see.
- Giroux_Is_God

I love Bill, but he done messed up there.

Yup. Simmonds' pinch was a poor decision. Then Filp gets burned and gives up backchecking

As much as I'm critical of Amac, he is an NHL player. The issue I and most others have is that he isn't a 20 minute all situations defenseman, but that's how he's typically used here. I know there's been no better options for the last few seasons, but now with Morin, Sanheim, and Hagg knocking on the door/taking on bigger roles, there are better options.

AMac is a 2nd pair, 3rd pair on a deep defense type of player and that's where he'd see the most success. 15 semi-sheltered minutes a night, with some on the PK. That's the player he is. He just gets exposed too much/isn't as "set it and forget it" as you should be to see 20 all situation minutes. This juxtaposed with his usage by Hakstol, coupled with his salary, is why people get knee jerkish with him.
- Giroux_Is_God

3 different NHL coaches have used MacDonald in that role. Might be something to it. I would agree totally that MacDonald is not a top pairing defenseman per se. He is however capable of playing solid hockey in that role, just not the hockey needed for a top pair. He's a much better player than he is given credit for. You drastically undersell the vitriol that MacDonald receives from the fan base. In this very thread there is a poster stating that he's been out of position a lot and responsible for goals against. That poster is not well informed but that doesn't change much.

The players voted him an A to keep the fans off his back....hahahahahahahahahahhaha
- KINGKENZO

Yeah, I gotta admit that one is pretty funny.

So amac has an A because fans boo him? Got it.

The players voted him an A to keep the fans off his back....hahahahahahahahahahhaha
- KINGKENZO

I know sounds crazy but I'm reading articles on Mac lately. He does this well. He's respected in the room. Blah blah blah.

Manning slides right in with no issues at all. This is how you go, which incidentally is how I thought it should be from the beginning of the season:

Provy-Sanheim
Ghost-Hagg
Manning-Gudas

This will be fine until AMac gets back.

Manning slides right in with no issues at all. This is how you go, which incidentally is how I thought it should be from the beginning of the season:

Provy-Sanheim
Ghost-Hagg
Manning-Gudas

This will be fine until AMac gets back.
- boxcar65

Nothing with Manning is fine. He is bad.

Nothing with Manning is fine. He is bad.
- Giroux_Is_God

You can't be more wrong. Manning is fine in his role as the 7th D man. Put on the jacket and tie and relax.

Nothing with Manning is fine. He is bad.
- Giroux_Is_God

Manning is a capable NHL defenseman. I'd bring Morin up though.

Simmonds was the most at fault for the goal youre referring to. Not Macdonald "trying to be a hero".
- Baxter27

Bull!

Mac cut in looking to make something happen. Simmonds passed him the puck and was forced to cover his point. I love Simmonds but he's not a guy I want covering the point. Mac did not have to cut in looking to make something happen.