On average the young players are playing far more than 7-8 minutes a night. The Patrick line with Koncecny and Weise got shellacked last night. They weren't generating any offense and were bleeding shots against. I think the thought that there is a difference between 2 and 3 goals up with this team is shortsighted. This team has been very fragile and one goal scored against on this team when they've had a lead has quickly escalated into more. Hakstol did the right thing last night. - MJL
Hakstol actually does have a sense of humor, but rarely loosens up enough to show it. None of it side-splitting stuff, but it goes a long way during the grind of the season. It almost caught us off guard a few times when he let his guard down and joked around.
One time last year, I forgot to turn off my cell phone during media availability (a no-no, that I have made double sure not to have happen again).
"That's a fine," Hakstol said. "Goes to my beer fund."
Then Jay Greenberg's phone went off not even five seconds later.
"Today's a windfall for my beer fund!"
Another time, he was asked whether, as a former defensemen, what he later applied to working with young defensemen.
"Well, I wasn't a very good defenseman. Chip off the glass and out. If not, I was in trouble. "
A third occasion, he joked that as a dual citizen, he roots for ties in games between Team Canada and Team USA.
Again, not really hilarious stuff. Just little moments that I think he ought to allow to happen more often instead of the game face.
One thing I do think he's gotten better at doing -- a little blunter player assessments with less generic. I wish he'd be more like Scott Gordon or Terry Murray when you ask him about a player, though. They'd go into lots of detail and nuance about what they do well and what needs to get better. Hak is more prone to say "well, I'm not going to go into specifics but.."
Hakstol gave a great answer -- very detailed with various factors behind the thought process -- about the decision to move Couturier to the top line and Giroux to wing: Giroux's enthusiasm to try it, Couturier's puck-possession ability, adding more two-way element in the middle with a chance to free up Giroux a bit more, Voracek's size and playmaking and the possible matchup benefits.
Wish he'd do more of that. He doesn't have to be like Hitch -- who would bring reporters to his office and talk over video to illustrate a point or give a 3-minute answer to either agree or disagree with a question -- but not everything needs to be Fort Knox, either. - bmeltzer
Fun to have a view behind the curtain Bill, thanks.
Location: this space for rent, PA Joined: 09.19.2006
Dec 5 @ 11:11 AM ET
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
Boston - they are the ones that passed on him THREE times. THREE
arichardson22 Season Ticket Holder Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philly, PA Joined: 06.10.2013
Dec 5 @ 11:12 AM ET
Fun to have a view behind the curtain Bill, thanks.
Bet Hak is a Natty Light guy. - Lip_Out
But he’s familiar with the pit of misery. Dilly Dilly!
Boston - they are the ones that passed on him THREE times. THREE - nastyflyergirl
Boston and Edmonton are equally at fault. Edmonton traded out for Griffin reinhart. Edmonton might have the best offense in the league with mcjesus draisalt and barzal
Boston and Edmonton are equally at fault. Edmonton traded out for Griffin reinhart. Edmonton might have the best offense in the league with mcjesus draisalt and barzal - Tfaehner
They actually traded that pick and a second rounder for Reinhart. That's insane. Like, worse than Thomas Hickey insane.
Morin has had bad luck with injuries while Gudas is suspended. So it's tough to say what the view is on Morin. - dragonoffrost
Sammy was hurt when AMac went down as well. He was getting the call and Hexy had to do the quick shuffle and bring up Alt, then O'Niel. I suspect he would have rather seen Morin in for one or both of those guys if he was healthy.
Danick Martel on the Patrick line in place of Weise cant be worse than the line with Weise on it, can it?
Weise has been atrocious all season. Both to the naked eye and the advanced metrics - jak521
Not defending Weise but Martel isn't the guy to replace him. The Flyers need someone who does a better job at what Weise was signed to do. Lindblom brings something closer to that with more offensive upside. He could move up in the top six of the lineup down the road. If nothing else, Lindblom is good on the walls and responsible defensively.
I know that Lindblom is with the Phantoms because the Flyers want him to be more than just a bottom six guy who is solid defensively. In time, I still think he can and will be a good supplementary offense source.
