Voracek is a veteran player who is being paid over 8M a year. I think it's fair to expect more than just trying and to expect him to clean up his play away from the puck. That's not asking him to be Bergeron. I sure hope he is taking responsibility for it and I never said he wasn't so your "give me a break man" comment doesn't make any sense. The true way a veteran leader takes responsibility for it is to improve and clean it up. His defensive breakdowns have been a major problem for the team this season. Both in terms of actual goals against and games lost and in terms of setting an example of leadership.
- MJL

Cool your feedback is impeccable

Anyone trying to say Voracek, Giroux or Couturier are an issue on this team obviously doesn't watch the games haha. They are the only ones doing anything out there offensively whatsoever!
- FreshFlyer

How about Gostisbehere? Is his defense part of the problem?

How about Gostisbehere? Is his defense part of the problem?
- MJL

He is a defenceman key word defence obviously forwards have to backcheck and play their role in a team defence aspect but I am more concerned with the forwards scoring goals. Ghost has been bad defensively these last couple of games he was good at the beginning of the year. He is still a young player. There are peaks and valleys in every season hopefully he picks it up.

Pretty much , Vegas has way less talent than the Flyers yet they are first in their division obviously their coach has nothing to do with that right?Hakstol has not shown me he is getting the players to really buy in to whatever system he is trying to execute and that is on him as much as it is on the players in my eyes.
- FreshFlyer

I disagree. Ottawa and Vegas have a lot of talent. They might now be superstars but they have great players. What do the Flyers have? They have one of the best top lines in hockey and nothing else. Simmonds has nothing much to work with. Weal is not a 2nd line LW, Konecny is also not a 2nd line player. Patrick has not played that great. These 3 are playing above what they are ready to handle. Raffl, Weise, Lehtera, Read, Leier and Laughton are all 4th line players. Our currently consists of all rookies\2nd to 3rd year players. Our only Vet is Manning right now.

This team is not on the same level as teams like Ottawa who have talented players like B.Ryan, Duchene, Hoffman, Stone, Brassard, Karlsson, Phaneuf, Oduya and Anderson. Vegas might not have too many big name guys but they have a bunch of solid players that were rostered by NHL teams and were unprotected.

This team just is not good. In time perhaps Konecny and Patrick will be good enough to be 2nd line players but they are not right now. We currently do not have a 2nd line capable LW or C. Fillpula was buried on the 3rd line in Tampa for a reason. The guy couldnt even pass a struggling Tyler Johnson who hasnt done that well in years. Trading Schenn gaves us great value but we set ourselves back a few years in doing so.

Voracek might make some defensive mistakes out there but you can tell he is trying. It's not as if he goes on the ice giving no (frank)s whatsoever. Are you saying Voracek is a player who hasn't bought in because I believe by the way he carries himself and works on the ice he is a guy trying to do his all and his best to win night in and night out. Not every player can be Bergeron in the defensive zone every player will make a mistake eventually. Who is to say once the guys get back to the room after the Calgary game for example he isn't the one taking responsibility for what happened on the ice give me a break man. Voracek is not the problem far from it
- FreshFlyer

Votacek is coming close to ovechkin territory when he was younger where he freelanced for points and if it didn't involve hitting people didn't partake much in defense. Combine that with he's not a 50 goal sniper it infuriates me. I've said for a while I think of the "core" Jake is least likely to still be here. I stand by that.

Voracek is a veteran player who is being paid over 8M a year. I think it's fair to expect more than just trying and to expect him to clean up his play away from the puck. That's not asking him to be Bergeron. I sure hope he is taking responsibility for it and I never said he wasn't so your "give me a break man" comment doesn't make any sense. The true way a veteran leader takes responsibility for it is to improve and clean it up. His defensive breakdowns have been a major problem for the team this season. Both in terms of actual goals against and games lost and in terms of setting an example of leadership.
- MJL

Baily was Gostibehere's man not Voracek's. Voracek was covering his man. Ghost was standing alone jerking himself off while Bailey sat in front of the net.

Votacek is coming close to ovechkin territory when he was younger where he freelanced for points and if it didn't involve hitting people didn't partake much in defense. Combine that with he's not a 50 goal sniper it infuriates me. I've said for a while I think of the "core" Jake is least likely to still be here. I stand by that.
- Tfaehner

Voracek is a +5..... He has been on the ice for 5 more goals for than against. Clearly his defense is not close to Ovechkin who is a -2. Wingers also do not cary much defensive responsibilities. They defend the Defenceman

Voracek is a +5..... He has been on the ice for 5 more goals for than against. Clearly his defense is not close to Ovechkin who is a -2. Wingers also do not cary much defensive responsibilities. They defend the Defenceman
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Spoken from someone whose never played hockey. Covering the defenseman is an important position especially with how offensive defenseman are today.

People saying Voracek is bad is laughable man take him off this team and I'm sure they lose way more games then the couple they may have lost because of a defensive lapse or two he's had. People say we have no offence yet complain about the only guy driving play out there and our top scorer go figure. Voraceks job is to score and he's clearly doing that I have no issues with him

shall I say it guys?
Ted Nolan

People saying Voracek is bad is laughable man take him off this team and I'm sure they lose way more games then the couple they may have lost because of a defensive lapse or two he's had. People say we have no offence yet complain about the only guy driving play out there and our top scorer go figure. Voraceks job is to score and he's clearly doing that I have no issues with him
- FreshFlyer

His job as a 8 million dollar player is to be a leader, play by example and olay well in all 3 areas of the ice. He constantly takes bad penalties. He's overly emotional. And he doesn't play good defense. He's a liability late in games. Nobody said he's bad. We said he's bad at defense. The standard is raised when you get that contract for what you need to contribute to the team.

Filppula has been a solid addition as a center without giving up any of the future to acquire him. Lehtera won't be around when it really matters and this team is ready to contend. The last thing Hextall should've done is used that money to add any high priced veterans on longer term deals if that is what you're suggesting.
- MJL

Not suggesting that Hextall should have used the money on high priced veterans. There is 9.7 million dollars tied up in their contracts. That is a lot of money for what we are getting out of them.

It was a curious question posed about Vegas with a bunch of guys cobbled together including Bellmare are playing a brand of Hockey I would love to see out of our team.
Not sure why their millionaires are play harder then our millionaires.
It can't be the coach, since these guys are millionaires and self motivated.
What other answers could there be for any reason why we come flying out of gates and now have regressed daily rather then improved?
Please help cause every answer that keeps coming to my mind is that it is this coach.

when hakstol was hired I thought that this guy would be able to really help the young prospects grow into great hockey players.
I see plenty of regression in players Ghost, Weal, Raffl, Simmonds - Laughton since first 6-7 games, G Jake last year.
I place Provy's steady improvement on his father that critiques his every game not the coach.

when hakstol was hired I thought that this guy would be able to really help the young prospects grow into great hockey players.
I see plenty of regression in players Ghost, Weal, Raffl, Simmonds - Laughton since first 6-7 games, G Jake last year.
I place Provy's steady improvement on his father that critiques his every game not the coach.
- Konalover

I'm with you, I'm becoming less of a fan of Hakstol each and every day. The team just looks flat and uninspired far to often for my liking and it's getting hard to remember the last time they came out with a complete, hard working 60 minute effort.

when hakstol was hired I thought that this guy would be able to really help the young prospects grow into great hockey players.
I see plenty of regression in players Ghost, Weal, Raffl, Simmonds - Laughton since first 6-7 games, G Jake last year.
I place Provy's steady improvement on his father that critiques his every game not the coach.
- Konalover

You aren't accounting for injury though. I'm almost certain Simmonds has been playing injured after his hot start. G and Ghost we're definitely playing injured last year.

The team has issues and coaching isn't the only problem. They're often slower and smaller than the opposition. Something that has plagued this team basically the entire G/Jake/Simmonds era.

He is a defenceman key word defence obviously forwards have to backcheck and play their role in a team defence aspect but I am more concerned with the forwards scoring goals. Ghost has been bad defensively these last couple of games he was good at the beginning of the year. He is still a young player. There are peaks and valleys in every season hopefully he picks it up.
- FreshFlyer

If you want to be a top team the defensive side of the puck is just important as the offensive side. Forwards are just as important defensively. You're willing to give Voracek a pass for his defensive shortcomings, why not Gostisbehere? He's ranked in the top 10 in the NHL in scoring among defenseman.

Baily was Gostibehere's man not Voracek's. Voracek was covering his man. Ghost was standing alone jerking himself off while Bailey sat in front of the net.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Wasn't discussing that play specifically. I'm aware that Bailey was Gostisbehere's man.

Voracek is a +5..... He has been on the ice for 5 more goals for than against. Clearly his defense is not close to Ovechkin who is a -2. Wingers also do not cary much defensive responsibilities. They defend the Defenceman
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That is largely dependent on a team's system. Winger don't just defend the defenseman. If a winger is the first forward back on the backcheck he assumes the center position defensively.

I'm with you, I'm becoming less of a fan of Hakstol each and every day. The team just looks flat and uninspired far to often for my liking and it's getting hard to remember the last time they came out with a complete, hard working 60 minute effort.
- BiggE

Or if they do put one game together like vs blackhawks or caps they come out soon after and let a winless team come in and get their first win or they make some journeymen goalie look like a vezina winner.

People saying Voracek is bad is laughable man take him off this team and I'm sure they lose way more games then the couple they may have lost because of a defensive lapse or two he's had. People say we have no offence yet complain about the only guy driving play out there and our top scorer go figure. Voraceks job is to score and he's clearly doing that I have no issues with him
- FreshFlyer

Nobody has said that Voracek is bad overall as a player. His play away from the puck defensively has been criticized. It's also more than just a lapse or two. He has been horrendous defensively going all the way back through last season.
It is your contention that his only job is to score. That is false. Every players job is to play both ends of the rink and both sides of the puck. You made numerous comments to me that I've never played the game. I'm wondering how someone who has played the game is not aware of the defensive responsibilities of every player and how important it is to being a top team.

I'm with you, I'm becoming less of a fan of Hakstol each and every day. The team just looks flat and uninspired far to often for my liking and it's getting hard to remember the last time they came out with a complete, hard working 60 minute effort.
- BiggE

that's were most fans probably are ...including me. To me I always liked a coach when their winning....not so much when their losing. The signs are starting to show that this group isn't responding consistently to his message.. I wish they were playing like a well oiled machine, Its nothing personal I have against Hakstol....Ive never met the guy, but I know a poopty hockey team when I see one.

Provorov's dad should be the head coach tbh

Nobody has said that Voracek is bad overall as a player. His play away from the puck defensively has been criticized. It's also more than just a lapse or two. He has been horrendous defensively going all the way back through last season.
It is your contention that his only job is to score. That is false. Every players job is to play both ends of the rink and both sides of the puck. You made numerous comments to me that I've never played the game. I'm wondering how someone who has played the game is not aware of the defensive responsibilities of every player and how important it is to being a top team.
- MJL

Vorecek is also a team leader....young guys see him mailing in a defensive assignment or making careless plays with the puck it really sets a bad example. If Vorecek had the effort and commitment to the defensive side/team system of the game the same way he approaches the offensive side he'd be a top 5 player in the league.

edit: he's paid like one.

All Fraude Giroux's fault. Guy is a slug and can't do anything out there. Retain salary and send him to whoever will take him. I'm old and crotchety and I want a winning team RIGHT NOW