Lets look at the kids one by one and see how they are doing. I'm lumping Weal into this group, though he's not really a kid, it's only his first full NHL season:

FORWARDS
Patrick:
Coming off surgery this past Spring, I was counting on too much from him from the start. Add to that an early season concussion and it's hard to expect too much from him right now. For the most part, he seems to play a pretty responsible game, but right now, like most of his teammates, he's clearly pressing. He has a rep as being a very smart player and his past coaches have all remarked about how easy he is to coach. I think Hak needs to give this kid a longer leash, he seems to be the kind of player who learns from his mistakes.

Konecny:
It is a little troubling that he seems to make the same mistakes again and again, the mystery is why. Is he just not the smartest kid? Or, are the coaches failing to reach him? Without actually being with the team in meetings and practices, it's hard to answer that question. However, one thing I would like to see is for the coaching staff to just leave him either at LW or RW and on the same line for an extended period of time and just let him get comfortable. He also needs to play with at least one other skilled and speedy linemate to maximize his potential

Weal:
Weal is an older guy but with limited NHL experience. He's undersized and doesn't have the blazing speed or world class to compensate for it. He may just not be a guy who is going to have long term success as an NHL player, but the only way to find out is to play him consistently in a top 9 role. On a team with no chance to contend, this is the time to give him that shot.

Laughton:
Laughton has settled in nicely as a 4C/PK guy. I think if they had more depth and skill on the wings, he might be able to slide up and be a solid 3C. Can't fault the coaches at all for how they've used him so far this season

Leier:
Kid's got good wheels, but limited skills and is undersized. Could be a decent 4th line/PK guy though, but he needs to stay in the lineup to show it. I can understand sitting him for a game now and then, but keeping him out of the lineup for 3 games in a row is just pointless and a bad coaching move, IMO

Up next, the young D
- BiggE

So 4 out of 5 regressed or failed to progress.

Where are Martel lindblom vecchione our other young forwards on your list? Oh nvm... forgot their not nhl ready

I think we agree that things aren't all doom and gloom that many seem to be viewing.
- dragonoffrost

I look at AZ and Buffalo. They have been drafting in the top of the draft and playing young players and yet they are still on the bottom of the league. The Oilers have a generational talent in McDavid and a top player in Draistal and have 1 less point then the Flyers. Florida has a ton of young talent and are near the bottom.

Point being......NO one has a (frank)ing clue what the exact right way to develop young players is...they just do what they think is best for the player and team and hope it works out.

“Through this stretch, the hidden thing is we’ve played a lot of really good hockey,” Hakstol before the game.

Between Hak and Hextall, there is quite an interesting little PR game they have going here.

It's a bold strategy cotton, let's see if it pays off for them.
- StepfordSam

At a quick glance, looking at a 10 game losing streak it seems it’s obvious we haven’t played good hockey at all. But, some of these losses were very winnable games and were games where we scored enough goals to seal the deal. We just couldn’t hold the lead or repeatedly shot oursleves in the foot with poor mistakes/decisions. We had a strong game against Blackhawks and everything fell apart. Two games against a red hot Dubnyk, a terrible 3 goal blown lead at home against CAL, back-to-back blown lead and winnable games against the Isles. An additional collapse against Pitt and two flat out bad showings with no effort between Boston and San Jose. Most of these games were winnable. Not justifying nor excusing their play, but they really dug themselves into a bad funk and it snowballed. Time to move on and build after this win.

I don't see hasktol starting a kid over gudas. I think gudas amac start as pillars next year and people get worked in from there. I think Morin sanheim and maybe even gost will take turns in the cote suite.

I love hart but people forget sandstrom might have a faster track to the nhl. Either way hope 1 or both succeed.

And our likely top 10 pick this year has a nhl chance.
- Tfaehner

I see Gudas traded. I think his act is worn thin here and with 1 year left he can be dealt easily.

your daily reminder

I see Gudas traded. I think his act is worn thin here and with 1 year left he can be dealt easily.
- dragonoffrost

I thought the same but after hearing hextall talk about how important amac and gudas were to the team as a veteran presence I don't see it.

your daily reminder


- YuenglingJagr

What's the reminder? The Flyers took Provorov. I am ok with that

yeah I am sure #14 was killing it defensively in his first 18 games.
- rinaldo

I don't recall, but I was more referring in general to his "hesucks because he doesn't score" era. While not scoring like he is this year, he brought plenty of good stuff to the table and didn't deserve the "sucks" moniker given to him by some here.

your daily reminder


- YuenglingJagr

I liked barzal but do you really want him over provorov ? If anyone should be upset it's edmonton. They could of had mcdavid barzal draisalt 😨

And now a look at the young D:

Provorov:
This kid is a flat out stud, but as someone else pointed out, he may be a bit tired right now as he's made some mental mistakes recently that he usually doesn't make. While he is a special kid, he's still only 20 and I think the coach needs to be aware of his ice time and, at the very least, try to keep it under 25 minutes per game. You don't want to wear him down and have it lead to an injury. One thing about Provorov, he's that special kind of player that will succeed under any coach. Just put him in and let him play, he's that good.

Hagg:
Hagg is just a steady defensive Dman. He should develop into a solid 2nd pair guy who can log heavy minutes on the PK. He plays the kind of game coaches like and he should have a long NHL career.

Sanheim:
Sanheim oozes speed and skill and while I understand that the coaches want him to work on his all around game, you can't do that in a way that restricts his overall offensive creativity. I also can't understand why this kid isn't getting time on the 2nd pp unit too. He's also one of the few Dmen on this team that can use his speed to catch up to a forward who may have a step on him. In today's NHL that is an extremely valuable skill to have.

Ghost:
Ghost has a world of skill and the ability to completely change the complexion of a game with one play. Recently he's looked to be a frustrated and angry player out there and I don't know if some of that is a reflection on how he's been handled by the coaching staff. I thought Hak was too hard on him last year, and benched him too often, but it's water under the bridge now.


All in all, taking away Provorov who is just a special talent and Hagg who came into the league already playing the kind of safe, steady game that most coaches love, I think Hakstol has had mixed results when it comes to the development of the youth on this team. I'm fine, unless the team utterly collapses, with giving him the rest of this season to figure things out, but unless I see consistent improvement in the kids play and consistency in how they are handled by the coaching staff, I would prefer to see a new coach for the 18-19 season.

What's the reminder? The Flyers took Provorov. I am ok with that
- J35Bacher

The reminder is that YuenglingJagr is smitten.

What's the reminder? The Flyers took Provorov. I am ok with that
- J35Bacher

That I am in love with Mathew Barzal

I liked barzal but do you really want him over provorov ? If anyone should be upset it's edmonton. They could of had mcdavid barzal draisalt 😨
- Tfaehner

It will always be Boston who should be upset with that draft year / class

The reminder is that YuenglingJagr is smitten.
- Scoob

I liked barzal but do you really want him over provorov ? If anyone should be upset it's edmonton. They could of had mcdavid barzal draisalt 😨
- Tfaehner

I had a deal in place to acquire him...I just needed to tell Hextall and Snow

I thought the same but after hearing hextall talk about how important amac and gudas were to the team as a veteran presence I don't see it.
- Tfaehner

Ghost next year will have as many years as Gudas does this year. Manning is #7 next year. The need for Gudas is overrated especially if Morin gets healthy and can fill the physical role.

And now a look at the young D:

Hagg:
Hagg is just a steady defensive Dman. He should develop into a solid 2nd pair guy who can log heavy minutes on the PK. He plays the kind of game coaches like and he should have a long NHL career.

Sanheim:
Sanheim oozes speed and skill and while I understand that the coaches want him to work on his all around game, you can't do that in a way that restricts his overall offensive creativity. I also can't understand why this kid isn't getting time on the 2nd pp unit too. He's also one of the few Dmen on this team that can use his speed to catch up to a forward who may have a step on him. In today's NHL that is an extremely valuable skill to have.
- BiggE

Though there have been parts of their game that directly lead to positive/negative results...Hagg is experiencing a bit of luck while Sanheim is experiencing the opposite. The long term outlook on both hasn't changed for me. I expect Sanheim to have a strong second half of the season (like he has for several years)

xx

New York Islanders rookie center Mathew Barzal wanted a chance at his first NHL shootout attempt ... so he did the only think he could think of -- he kept his eyes trained on his coach, Doug Weight.

Barzal’s plan didn’t work at first. Weight chose Jordan Eberle, who was stopped by goalie James Reimer, and John Tavares, who fell, got up and also got stuffed.

“Johnny (Tavares) slipped on a banana peel,” Weight joked.

Finally, after three Florida Panthers had failed to score a shootout goal, Weight turned to Barzal, and the 20-year-old Canadian delivered, giving the Islanders a wild 5-4 win on Monday night at the BB&T Center.

”He wouldn’t stop staring at me as I picked the first two guys,“ Weight said when asked why he chose Barzal. ”I wouldn’t look at him.

Hakstol would just stare back

the bad news is we probably didnt deserve to win that game
- bulet13

You mean getting outshot 45-21 and winning isn't sustainable?

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers End Winless Streak with 5-2 Win in Calgary
- bmeltzer

We allowed the first goal in the game but stormed back. In my opinion, if you're gonna sit Patrick, Konecny and Sanheim, does Leier, Weal or Hagg get a pass because of AHL season? I understand limited ice time but not an all out benching. If we allowed another goal on top of a three goal cushion, than sure. Bench whoever you think deserves it. We're in early December. Is Hakstol gonna bench these kids all season late in games to hang on to a lead or gain a lead?

You mean getting outshot 45-21 and winning isn't sustainable?
- PLindbergh31

It is sustainable if the 45 shots are taken by the Flyers and at a backup goalie

Hakstol would just stare back
- YuenglingJagr

There's a kid in my homeroom who knows a girl in Barzal's English class. Want me to have him pass her a note to give to Barzal?

It is sustainable if the 45 shots are taken by the Flyers and at a backup goalie
- YuenglingJagr

It's also possible the Flyers would get shut-out in that situation.

Bill your thoughts on Sanheim benched in third when we are up 3 goals and we kleep plugging Manning out there?
- Buzzo

Not thrilled to see Sanheim sit in the third. Not surprised about Patrick. he has been struggling lately with turnovers mostly on bad or ill advised passing. I imagine if they were willing more Hakstol would let him work thru it. I won't lie, I was expecting more from Patrick but at the same time I understand he is coming off of a few surgeries and is still adjusting to the pace of the NHL. I don't feel Konecny deserved to sit but I guess with Patrick and Weiss on the Bench it was just easier to roll the 3 lines.