To me the biggest issue is secondary scoring.
I can honestly say I dont feel like goaltending has been a problem.
I dont feel like the D have been a problem.
No one can argue with the way the 3 players on the first line are playing.
Adding to that seeing Giroux bounce back a bit is great.
Coots and Jake are producing..


And then you get beyond those 3 and Ghost and literally no one else is doing anything. I'm not advocating a trade..Im not calling for a panic move. I do however see nothing wrong with swapping one/some/all the rookies for the players that are struggling.
- opeth_pa

Do you think it's possible that one/some/all of the rookies could come up and also struggle in the same spots that current players are struggling in?

Oh, man, I don't know. I want to believe that he didn't two-hand a guy on purpose, but man. That backside angle does him no favors
- AllInForFlyers

He's not going to get the benefit of the doubt given his history. And rightfully so. Gudas at times can be a good player, but he's often out of control running around looking for a big hit. He's just not a very smart player imo.

His repeat offender status is going to hurt him and I feel the NHL is going to choose to make him a symbol of gross inconsistency with player suspensions for a guy who I feel just lost his balance and instinctively reached his stick out and accidentally hit a guy in the head.
- MJL

Have to agree here, but as mentioned only Gudas knows what his own intentions were

Do you think it's possible that one/some/all of the rookies could come up and also struggle in the same spots that current players are struggling in?
- MJL

whose fault would it be if Hextall decides one of them are ready and they come up and struggle?

whose fault would it be if Hextall decides one of them are ready and they come up and struggle?
- YuenglingJagr

Assigning fault really isn't a factor. Don't see the relevance of that in the decision making process of whether to call players up or not.

He's not going to get the benefit of the doubt given his history. And rightfully so. Gudas at times can be a good player, but he's often out of control running around looking for a big hit. He's just not a very smart player imo.
- PLindbergh31

Agree.

Rowdy Radko is not going to get any benefit of the doubt here, as he shouldn't. He should be ecstatic with anything less than a ten gamer.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the officials being permitted to look at the reply to assist in determining if the infraction was intentional, then doling out the appropriate sanction.

I've seen all the angles. I could be wrong but I have little doubt that it was accidental.
- MJL

He definitely needs to control his stick better.

What he did was definitely illegal, but if he really wanted to hit the guy in the squash, he could have.

The optics are far worse on that play than the actual result. I completely believe it was unintentional.

He's almost certainly going to get suspended, right or wrong.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the officials being permitted to look at the reply to assist in determining if the infraction was intentional, then doling out the appropriate sanction.
- 77rams

That's fine but for that to happen the rules would need to be changed.

Do you think it's possible that one/some/all of the rookies could come up and also struggle in the same spots that current players are struggling in?
- MJL

Yup..its certainly possible.
It's also possible that a call up doesn't struggle and helps the team with their scoring issues.

He definitely needs to control his stick better.

What he did was definitely illegal, but if he really wanted to hit the guy in the squash, he could have.

The optics are far worse on that play than the actual result. I completely believe it was unintentional.

He's almost certainly going to get suspended, right or wrong.
- johndewar

If he wasn't a repeat offender maybe he's be let off the hook but he's definitely getting suspended.

I think 5 to 8 games seems about right for the Gudas play.

Yup..its certainly possible.
It's also possible that a call up doesn't struggle and helps the team with their scoring issues.
- opeth_pa

True, but that's not how a team makes player decisions. Just goes to show that there certainly could be harm.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Unable to Nail Down Win, Flyers Sustain 3-2 SO Loss to Jets
- bmeltzer

Simmonds is snake bitten, Patrick hasn't played in weeks and Weise sucks. Let's put those three together.

Although I believe the Gudas stick was a follow through and completely accidental, you still have to be in control of your stick. It was wreckless. I respect the apology he made the box. Still a major. Still hurt the D.

I just feel like the team took there food off the gas.

He's not going to get the benefit of the doubt given his history. And rightfully so. Gudas at times can be a good player, but he's often out of control running around looking for a big hit. He's just not a very smart player imo.
- PLindbergh31

At some point, the juice isn't worth the squeeze

I don't mind guys who play hard and tough, will hit people, like he does. I don't want him to hurt people on dirty plays, but I don't mind if guys know when he's out there and if he drills somebody admiring a pass or trying to cut across the middle with their head down

But as you are noting, you have to be smart enough to not catch suspensions. I think he might've known Perraualt's head was there, and to me, if I kinda think it, that means you are not being smart enough if you were trying to get away with it

Agree.

Rowdy Radko is not going to get any benefit of the doubt here, as he shouldn't. He should be ecstatic with anything less than a ten gamer.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the officials being permitted to look at the reply to assist in determining if the infraction was intentional, then doling out the appropriate sanction.
- 77rams

I think you nailed it. Gudas hurt his team, had to play pretty much a full game with 5 D, not to mention having to kill off a major penalty.

I think 5 to 8 games seems about right for the Gudas play.
- opeth_pa

Yeah. That smells about right to me, as well

That's fine but for that to happen the rules would need to be changed.
- MJL

They have video reply now.

I disagree with the thinking but I'm not going to debate because we have different views here and neither will sway

and to clarify, I am not saying rush young players. what I am saying is if you cannot change things with a trade, then maybe give a kid/guy who is playing well in the AHL a look see. Why do callups always have to be about injury?
- nastyflyergirl

your not wrong at all. Its not like some of these guys down in LHV are that much different in skill, talent ect....anybody that thinks there's this big gap is just talking nonsense. Sure some of the current group has more experience, but eventually that's what happens....someone gets a chance and that's how you start to get that experience. I'm not sure the Flyers want to go with even more inexperience in a perfect world, but this team needs something to change if they truly think they can challenge for the playoffs. If clearly obvious to fans and I'm sure its clearly obvious to Hextall that eventually if this continues then changes will have to be made....Hextall is a very patient guy but that doesn't mean he would be dumb enough to let this continue with out attempting some sort of change.

True, but that's not how a team makes player decisions. Just goes to show that there certainly could be harm.
- MJL

Sure there could harm but you dont know until you give a player a chance to succees or fail.

I have faith that the hockey staff, have a lot more info on the players being talked about then we do, are doing what they think is right for the long term development.

Im okay with that but it doesnt mean I have to like it or enjoy it as a fan.

This version of the Flyers brings nothing dynamic once you get past the first line. No physical play, no offensive threat..

Shut the first line down and you are golden.

what shouldn't be lost in any Gudas suspension is the fact the player continues to put the team in peril with some of his reckless play...I'm not sure last nights was intentional, but when your constantly doing this stuff your not getting the benefit of the doubt.
He gets calls against him strictly by reputation....yes for sure....but those calls that will continue sure do put the team in bad spots at in opportune times.

what shouldn't be lost in any Gudas suspension is the fact the player continues to put the team in peril with some of his reckless play...I'm not sure last nights was intentional, but when your constantly doing this stuff your not getting the benefit of the doubt.
He gets calls against him strictly by reputation....yes for sure....but those calls that will continue sure do put the team in bad spots at in opportune times.
- landros 2

This

Assigning fault really isn't a factor. Don't see the relevance of that in the decision making process.
- MJL

Of course you don't...so say they come up and struggle...that just means he wasn't actually ready?

What if there's an injury and the player gets called up and does well (i.e. ghost) does that mean he actually was ready?

The point is that not every single Phantom is still there because they are developing in a way that they couldn't continue that development at the NHL level. Based on what you are saying is Hextall's philosphy, Ghost magically became ready to play in the NHL as soon as Mark Streit was injured.

What actually happened was that an opportunity presented itself for Ghost to succed on the power play and he showed that his skillset could translate to the NHL once he got the opportunity. Watching Lindblom, the skills are obviously there, and there is a clear opportunity to add skill to the top 9 (especially when Patrick was out)

NHL teams just don't toss something against the wall and see if it sticks. They know with relative certainty whether players like Carey or Bardreau could help them improve. Hextall is not going to promote young player if he doesn't feel they're ready unless he is forced to. I don't think it's reached that point. Hextall may feel differently.
- MJL

I don’t know if I believe this. From every little glimpse into behind the scenes of pro sports that I’ve seen they’re as any of us.

But here is something. You do have some Phantoms who are what they are. Guys that might not develop a lot more because of roles and just skills.

Greg Carey...He's 27 now but was ale to produce 26 and 28 goals in back to back years. has an NHL shot. Not great defensively. Could you find a way to shelter him a little defensively to get his scoring in the lineup?

Cole Bardreau - his skill and role always has seems to be for a 4th line. Couldn't he come up and play with Laughton and Leier to allow maybe Raffl to move into the top nine?


Right there are two guys that wouldn't need a huge change to the lineup but could provide a different look to the Flyers that might help with secondary scoring.
- J35Bacher

There are at least fours prospects on the Phantoms who would be better than options than them. Lindblom, Vecchione, Martel and NAK.

They have video reply now.
- 77rams

Not for whether it's a major or minor.

So yes a rule would need to change