The quality of your conversations are quite low. I do believe it increased slightly.
- Giroux_Is_God

He seems to go for quantity over quality.

Some observations from last night's game and just Flyers stuff in general:

Can really see now why Hextall preferred signing Elliott over re-signing Mason. Not only has his play been solid, but this guy is all about the team and never about himself. This is the attitude you want from your starting goalie. I also thought he played very well in each of the last 2 games, but I am a little concerned with him starting his 3rd game in 4 nights.

Ivan Provorov was a flat out horse last night. He shut down McJesus and gave the Flyers 28+ outstanding minutes. What he's doing at age 20 is just remarkable.

Coots made a rare mistake last night which led to the SH goal against, but he more than made up for it with his overall play. If he's not in discussion for the Selke trophy, it would be a disgrace.

Yeah, Mark Alt is a solid defensive Dman...in the AHL. In the NHL he's a deep reserve. Sanheim has been playing pretty well, Hak needs to give him a shot right now on the PK, at least until Gudas returns.

I understand shortening the bench and what Hak is doing to win games right now. In the short term it will do no harm to Patrick or Konecny. However, at some point this season, both need a chance to play more. I also think at some point soon, Hak should have them on different lines. Maybe something like:

G-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Patrick-Voracek
Weal-Filppula-TK
Leier-Laughton-Weise

While it's great to see them win back to back games, I still the playoffs are a longshot at best. They will still likely need at least 92 points minimum to get in and I just don't see this team picking up 65 points in 54 games. With that in mind, Hextall needs to at least listen to offers for guys like Simmonds and Gudas as the deadline approaches. And, if the offer is good enough, he needs to make the deal.
- BiggE

I was always a quiet proponent of them being on the second line with Jake, but the Jake/Raffl combo looks nice thus far. I just hope they both end up with semi-reliable 2nd line minutes sometime this season.

Two wins changes little. I am still not a fan of Hak. Will see what happens with his development of younger talent. If that starts happening which certainly the jury is out on I will be open to a change of mind.

No problem sitting the kids in the third and limiting their ice time. And please save me the "he's hurting their development", these guys have played hockey their whole lives, if they can't take some low minute totals they weren't cut out for this. That line has not been great 5 on 5 either. We are battling out of the basement, I'm fine seeing defensively reliable guys in the third period. If we were down two goals I'd like to see them out there but I have no problem with them on the bench with the lead.

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?

Yup, the kid can do it all. He's going to be the cornerstone of this D group for a very long time and that's just awesome!
- BiggE

I was reading some stories about him and this quote really made me smile.

He’s the blueline equivalent of Guy Carbonneau; a modern-day permanent shadow.

The quality of your conversations are quite low. I do believe it increased slightly.
- Giroux_Is_God

I welcome your feedback on hockey discussions. I'm around. They may be low but still higher than the comment you made so I'm good.

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?
- Feanor

broken line change

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?
- Feanor

It was in the middle of a change I believe.

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?
- Feanor

Prep for the Simmonds trade

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?
- Feanor

It was late in the PP shift for the first unit and I believe Simmonds changed.

Making it personal again


Patrick's game has deteriorated and he has been having puck management issues. Ice time is being used to try and correct those issues. I think there have been some decisions that I don't agree with such as the 3rd period in the Boston game but overall I have no problems with how Hakstol has been handling the young players.
- MJL

I know you don't. That is why you didn't post the paragraphs about the issues you had like Mono did. If you wanted to have an intelligent hockey discussion like you're always asking for, maybe respond to every single one of his posts with something other than Hakstol quotes or something you read in an article somewhere

Thanks.

Ice time for TK, Patrick and Sanheim needs to get back to normal soon. For a few games it doesn't affect their development, but it can't become the standard going forward.

I understand shortening the bench and what Hak is doing to win games right now. In the short term it will do no harm to Patrick or Konecny. However, at some point this season, both need a chance to play more. I also think at some point soon, Hak should have them on different lines. Maybe something like:

G-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Patrick-Voracek
Weal-Filppula-TK
Leier-Laughton-Weise

- BiggE

Lack of a 3rd center really hurts them IMO, even though it is really a 4th center due to Laughton. There is a big part of me that wouldn't mind seeing Simmonds with 20-21 and Konecny with 28-14 since the refuse to move G back to center

I missed the game. Why was Weal on PP1 for the goal?
- Feanor

Because that's what you do with players that are trade throw-ins that you waive.

Hakstol is a special coach. He won two games in a row on the road with Lehtera as a healthy scratch, Weise barely playing, and Manning out injured for the second one, and yet he still managed to increase the overall annoyance level among the fanbase.

My biggest regret in life so far is never playing the actual board game version of Risk

I know you don't. That is why you didn't post the paragraphs about the issues you had like Mono did. If you wanted to have an intelligent hockey discussion like you're always asking for, maybe respond to every single one of his posts with something other than Hakstol quotes or something you read in an article somewhere
- YuenglingJagr

Your description of my posts is inaccurate. For example in response Mononoke's ridiculous opinion that Hakstol does not allow defenseman to be aggressive offensively, I gave numerous real game examples to show how he is incorrect. Referencing comments that the coach has made is valid information towards that discussion but is only part of my rebuttal. What's interesting though is that Mononoke repeatedly references Tortotrella's comment that he wants Werenski to be a rover.

Lack of a 3rd center really hurts them IMO, even though it is really a 4th center due to Laughton. There is a big part of me that wouldn't mind seeing Simmonds with 20-21 and Konecny with 28-14 since the refuse to move G back to center
- YuenglingJagr

I don't think they should move G back to center. In fact, I personally don't want to see him playing center ever again. I believe it will extend his longevity, and productivity.

Thanks.

Ice time for TK, Patrick and Sanheim needs to get back to normal soon. For a few games it doesn't affect their development, but it can't become the standard going forward.
- Feanor

Absolutely.

Lack of a 3rd center really hurts them IMO, even though it is really a 4th center due to Laughton. There is a big part of me that wouldn't mind seeing Simmonds with 20-21 and Konecny with 28-14 since the refuse to move G back to center
- YuenglingJagr

Yeah, I don't quite understand this.

I liked the move to wing (and still do), but not as a permanent deal. More as a way to get Giroux on the ice in different situations with different players.

The way it's being carried out now is more along the lines of "this is Giroux's life now".

I don't think they should move G back to center. In fact, I personally don't want to see him playing center ever again. I believe it will extend his longevity, and productivity.
- MBFlyerfan

Agree completely.

I don't think they should move G back to center. In fact, I personally don't want to see him playing center ever again. I believe it will extend his longevity, and productivity.
- MBFlyerfan

Two things about that I don't understand:
1. Are his points more important than the overall depth of the Flyers?
2. Why are we talking about his longevity at age 29 (30 in a month)? Isn't the guy they're using at center in place of him soon to be 34?

I guarantee if he wasn't hampered by the injury last year people wouldn't be talking about his longevity. There will come a time to move him to wing...it isn't right now

I don't think they should move G back to center. In fact, I personally don't want to see him playing center ever again. I believe it will extend his longevity, and productivity.
- MBFlyerfan

With you on that one amigo

Two things about that I don't understand:
1. Are his points more important than the overall depth of the Flyers?
2. Why are we talking about his longevity at age 29 (30 in a month)? Isn't the guy they're using at center in place of him soon to be 34?

I guarantee if he wasn't hampered by the injury last year people wouldn't be talking about his longevity. There will come a time to move him to wing...it isn't right now
- YuenglingJagr

The guy that's 34 that they're using at center is not a core player, and is not a player expected to be part of the future of this team. It's the right move.