Bill, rather than call the Lehtora/Wise substitution for Weal/Leier something sure to be unpopular with the social media crowd why not just call a spade a spade? It's a high risk low reward move by a coach who keeps going back to it.
- hereticpride

Low risk, low reward, I would agree.

High risk, though? High risk of what? Their 8-10 mins tomorrow will be a non-factor? They'll be all THAT much less effective than the Nov play of the guys sitting for a game or two? Weal and Leier will be ruined?

Easy big fella, it’s a battle you can’t win with him.
- Buzzo

Yeah, it's like playing chess with a pigeon. At some point the bird just knocks the pieces over, craps all over the board and declares itself the winner.

They've lost 7 in a row. Any coach who goes through that kind of losing streak will try anything.

Possible he's feeling pressure, but he's probably just trying to get a win with this nutclan.

So Weal came in like gangbusters from another coach and played well last year.
My point is that he has "regressed" since then and the only head coach in that period from signing him cause he seemed to have an upside, so did other teams, but the kid has gone backwards. Yes yes injury yada yada coach doesn't have any impact, players should be self motivated to improve themselves.

I don't think you can say Weal has "regressed". It makes a big difference whether you are playing with a really top notch centerman like Giroux or Couturier, vs Filppula and Patrick. Maybe if Schenn was playing with Giroux and Voracek all the time last year his 5v5 numbers would have been inflated.

I don't think you can say Weal has "regressed". It makes a big difference whether you are playing with a really top notch centerman like Giroux or Couturier, vs Filppula and Patrick. Maybe if Schenn was playing with Giroux and Voracek all the time last year his 5v5 numbers would have been inflated.
- hockeyal

Schenn saw his share of LW1 time with Giroux and Voracek over parts of several seasons but was not especially effective.

So Weal came in like gangbusters from another coach and played well last year.
My point is that he has "regressed" since then and the only head coach in that period from signing him cause he seemed to have an upside, so did other teams, but the kid has gone backwards. Yes yes injury yada yada coach doesn't have any impact, players should be self motivated to improve themselves.
- Konalover

Weal played well last season in 23 games under Hakstol. Weal has not played well overall in 20 games this season under Hakstol. Does Weal have any culpability in that?

MacDonald's absence has not been the primary cause of the team's recent struggles.

I have to disagree here. When you have an absence that makes forwards more accountable for back checking and defense because the guys behind them are less able to stop opponents, that will change the way they play (or opponents will score). When you make your #1 defender less effective, because he loses his safety net, that will suppress your scoring. When you have to play your #1 defender 30 minutes a game, he will get tired (see above about scoring). When you lose your #1 penalty killing defender, and you draw a lot of dumb penalties (often taken by defenders trying to compensate for his absence), that will impact your scoring. The last two years the team played better and had a better record with MacDonald then without. This year, its just worse because of the rookies. He will calm them down. The question is, can the Flyers play well enough, soon enough to average 5 points per 4 games from here on out with the most back-to-back games in the NHL on their schedule?

I'm willing to give Hak the rest of the season, but he's trending in the wrong direction. I'm sure his advocate will soon pop in to tell us that it's all on the players and the coach is blameless, but I think we can all see and judge for ourselves.
- BiggE

To me it’s going to depend on how they play in the next while. I hope they get it back....and Hakstol shows he can survive tough times....I have my doubt’s. Pretty bad when I’m glad to see Andrew MacDonald back in....I know things can’t get much worse....lol.
Disappointed that Morin will be out of lineup again. I think his play warrants a spot in top 6 but when a team loses 7 in a row it’s tough for a coach to justify 3 rookies on the backend . His time is coming here or with another organization, because he is of NHL talent.

I don't think you can say Weal has "regressed". It makes a big difference whether you are playing with a really top notch centerman like Giroux or Couturier, vs Filppula and Patrick. Maybe if Schenn was playing with Giroux and Voracek all the time last year his 5v5 numbers would have been inflated.
- hockeyal

Weal has definitely regressed this season to this point.

Schenn saw his share of LW1 time with Giroux and Voracek over parts of several seasons but was not especially effective.
- bmeltzer

True, but what if he had centered Giroux and Voracek? I bet that line would have been pretty effective. You can also argue (I think most people would) that Terasenko and Schwartz are better finishers than Giroux and Voracek.

Low risk, low reward, I would agree.

High risk, though? High risk of what? Their 8-10 mins tomorrow will be a non-factor? They'll be all THAT much less effective than the Nov play of the guys sitting for a game or two? Weal and Leier will be ruined?
- bmeltzer

Agreed....you keep trying until something works....I haven’t liked the 4th line as much without Raffl.

Weal has definitely regressed this season to this point.
- MJL

I guess you could make that statement if who you play with had no effect on how you play, or if Weal hadn't played well before his injury. If you want to say that his point production has nothing to do with his linemates .... that's just dumb. If you want to say he has failed the eye test since he missed time with an "upper body injury" I would agree.

Flyers are going to have to make a decision at some point this season. I think Morin needs another 20-30 games hopefully of refinement and then he'll be pushing for a regular spot in the lineup if not sooner. I see Provorov, Hagg, Gostisbehere, and Sanheim as locks for the top 6. If Morin eventually is permanently promoted then that leaves one spot among MacDonald, Gudas, and Manning for the top 6.

Yeah, it's like playing chess with a pigeon. At some point the bird just knocks the pieces over, craps all over the board and declares itself the winner.
- BiggE

😂😂

I guess you could make that statement if who you play with had no effect on how you play, or if Weal hadn't played well before his injury. If you want to say that his point production has nothing to do with his linemates .... that's just dumb. If you want to say he has failed the eye test since he missed time with an "upper body injury" I would agree.
- hockeyal

If you want to say that Weal's point production has nothing to do with the players own play....that's just dumb.

man the eagles are laying the smack down
- 2Real

Did you expect something else to happen today?

Oh goodie, Mac is back. Let's make sure we sit all the young players with actual futures and play all the hasbeen's and never will be's. Back to sleep everyone, nothing to see here. Apparently, Hexy thinks this is a lifetime job.

I see people blaming the coach and individual players but this to me is an organization problem and the current face of that organization is Hextall. This team is no better than when he took over three and a half years ago, it may be worse. We assume that his draft picks pan out, but what if they don't? He has given me no reason to trust his decision making with the lousy trades and free agent signings he has made to date.

I think we should trade Simmonds while his value is still high, but I am afraid Hexy would totally botch it. But knowing the Flyers, they will give him 6 years at 6 per and we will regret it in 2 years or less when he is only able to play PP...he's almost there now. I would say trade other people, but we all know that most of the rest of the team either has no value(would clear waivers) or untradeable contracts or both.

Spoiler Alert: This team is going nowhere this season, so if we aren't developing prospects, then it will truly be a waste of a year. I would rather see Martel, Lindblon, Vechy, etc than Weisse, Raffl, Lehtera, Fillpula, etc any day as I know what those guys bring to the table...nothing. Anyone want to see Mac and Manning instead of Morin or Myers? I certainly don't hold rookies to the same standard as veterans as they will make mistakes as they learn at the NHL level. I can live with that. What I can't live with is watching aMac or any of these other deadbeats making the same mistake for the 200th time; or the media highlighting every rookie mistake but somehow overlooking the generally poor play of half of this team. It's not the players fault that they aren't good, I believe they are trying their best, it's Hextall's fault for bringing them here in the first place.

You want to blame Hak? Go ahead, but the truth is he has 2 backup goalies, one line, some younger players, and a whole lot of 4th line/6 or 7 defensemen...pretty hard to win with that for any coach.

Again, I didn't expect us to be good this year, but I did expect to see more younger players playing over veterans and that to me is the biggest failure.

Yeah, it's like playing chess with a pigeon. At some point the bird just knocks the pieces over, craps all over the board and declares itself the winner.
- BiggE

That's a false narrative and hyperbolic!

Flyers are going to have to make a decision at some point this season. I think Morin needs another 20-30 games hopefully of refinement and then he'll be pushing for a regular spot in the lineup if not sooner. I see Provorov, Hagg, Gostisbehere, and Sanheim as locks for the top 6. If Morin eventually is permanently promoted then that leaves one spot among MacDonald, Gudas, and Manning for the top 6.
- MJL

Depending upon Sanheim's development, which has been arrested by the way he is being played, either he or Ghost is not going to be a part of the Flyer's long term plans.

Did you expect something else to happen today?
- ob18

no i continued to think the eagles would have more wins than the flyers

That's a false narrative and hyperbolic!
- Konalover

Nah, I'm just out of line for holding players accountable for their play. I'd should fall in line and blame the coach for pretty much everything. Hopefully Hakstol finds a way to motivate the players for the Pens game tomorrow night or else we can expect another loss. I can't think of any legitimate reason for the players to be self-motivated for the game. Cross state rivals, losing streak, danger and falling too far down in the standings to make the playoffs, etc. They need a pre game motivational speech to get ready for this one.

Nah, I'm just out of line for holding players accountable for their play. I'd should fall in line and blame the coach for pretty much everything. Hopefully Hakstol finds a way to motivate the players for the Pens game tomorrow night or else we can expect another loss. I can't think of any legitimate reason for the players to be self-motivated for the game. Cross state rivals, losing streak, danger and falling too far down in the standings to make the playoffs, etc. They need a pre game motivational speech to get ready for this one.
- MJL

False narrative for the win!!

Depending upon Sanheim's development, which has been arrested by the way he is being played, either he or Ghost is not going to be a part of the Flyer's long term plans.
- hockeyal

Sanheim's development is not being arrested by the way he is being played. He is progressing along nicely. I think you're wrong about it being a choice between Sanheim and Gostisbehere at this point. Both players are strongly a part of the Flyers future.

Weal played well last season in 23 games under Hakstol. Weal has not played well overall in 20 games this season under Hakstol. Does Weal have any culpability in that?
- MJL

Dude, he came up with another coaches drive and fire last year that he had been playing under.
He slotted in and played well because of another coach initially.
He has not played well with Hakstol, who has been coaching him since he signed a contract in summer!!! Nothing more nothing less it is my observation.
I know you line...Coach has no responsibility to motivate inspire et al

Low risk, low reward, I would agree.

High risk, though? High risk of what? Their 8-10 mins tomorrow will be a non-factor? They'll be all THAT much less effective than the Nov play of the guys sitting for a game or two? Weal and Leier will be ruined?
- bmeltzer

High risk in that it slows the team down and we've seen what happens when this team can't keep up.

If Wiese can get his chemistry back with Patrick fine but theres no reason Lehtera should be in this lineup.

At no point in my post did I say Weal or Leier will be ruined by being taken out of the lineup. You're better than that Bill. They do have 82 games to play though and taking games away from players that give you a better shot to win does indeed hurt the team. With all due respect you're the last person I feel like I should have to make this argument with...