I agree with Bill Meltzer, plenty of blame to go around. MacDonald should be down the list.
- MJL

Certain players will always be the scape goat regardless. Just how it is with fans

Im aware the PK has been terrible this season. My point was that recently it looks to be doing better things.

The Flyers were still in a position to win a hockey game despite allowing 2 pp goals last night. It was their third line that let them down late.
- Baxter27

If the PK was remotely decent, the failed clear/turnover at the end wouldn't have been the nail in the coffin...

We will never know. And this is one of those things that doesn't make any sense to compare. if Schenn is here maybe Couturier doesn't get the chance to break out. Maybe Patrick is limited to a 3rd line center role all year. maybe Giroux never shifts to wing. Maybe Konecny's game doesn grow.

There are so many variables.

I look at it like this:

The Flyers lost a 20 goal guy in Schenn.

But they also got to see Couturier breakout offensively and growth from some young players. Would Schenn help...YES. Was the trade good though....Yet to be determined but Frost looks like a find right now and the Flyers thought it was best for them in the long term.
- J35Bacher

points both ways, for me it gets down to what is the team issue, that would be the PK, Schenn wouldnt solve that, you can argue there would be more secondary scoring but then you can argue he is not as good on the D side, very subjective.

Yep, a guy with the puck who could've walked right out to the net unchecked if MacDonald wasn't there isn't the most dangerous. Got it. If MacDonald had left him and went to Carpenter, and Eakins came out in front and scored, you would then be stating the opposite.
- MJL

Actually I wouldn't have, but continue to assume. You're good at that! I'm not a MacDonald hater or basher by any means, just thought he should have placed himself between the goal line and the slot due to two other Flyers being there already and no one covering the slot.

points both ways, for me it gets down to what is the team issue, that would be the PK, Schenn wouldnt solve that, you can argue there would be more secondary scoring but then you can argue he is not as good on the D side, very subjective.
- wcorvette

Agree.

I guess I was trying to say there are way to many variables to just say this guy replaced this guy

Certain players will always be the scape goat regardless. Just how it is with fans
- nastyflyergirl

they will but i was tough on AMAC but he has proven to be a solid D, playing up in the line up, you have to respect that. I respect Manning for the same but he is just over matched.

point is, if they play well consistently most folks will recognize it, some are just negative by nature.

I think criticism is more about the coach and the available players than the actaul player who is playing.

meaning, we would care if Manning made a mistake but if he is not playing everyday it becomes easier to accept.

they will but i was tough on AMAC but he has proven to be a solid D, playing up in the line up, you have to respect that. I respect Manning for the same but he is just over matched.

point is, if they play well consistently most folks will recognize it, some are just negative by nature.
- wcorvette

I love that people pile on Manning and yet i think Gudas has been a huge disappointment this season and rarely gets talked about

I love that people pile on Manning and yet i think Gudas has been a huge disappointment this season and rarely gets talked about
- J35Bacher

Agreed, I actually talk about Gudas, been better the last few games but before that he was a disaster. I do think some of Gudas is having a better partner than Manning. That is not a cut on Manning, just if Gudas felt like he had to do less, be more of
a complimentary D on the D pair, he would play his game more consistently.

Agreed, I actually talk about Gudas, been better the last few games but before that he was a disaster. I do think some of Gudas is having a better partner than Manning. That is not a cut on Manning, just if Gudas felt like he had to do less, be more of
a complimentary D on the D pair, he would play his game more consistently.
- wcorvette

Same could be said with Manning if he had a complimentary partner.

And I know my view could be biased because I am not a huge Gudas fan.

Same could be said with Manning if he had a complimentary partner.

And I know my view could be biased because I am not a huge Gudas fan.
- J35Bacher

I wouldn't disagree, have to give them both the benefit of the doubt in that scenario. I think Gudas brings some things that Manning doesnt that makes him a legit top 6 D.

I cant wait until we have 2 D over 6'3/6'4, size and reach can be a huge tool, Flyers just dont have it

they will but i was tough on AMAC but he has proven to be a solid D, playing up in the line up, you have to respect that. I respect Manning for the same but he is just over matched.

point is, if they play well consistently most folks will recognize it, some are just negative by nature.

I think criticism is more about the coach and the available players than the actaul player who is playing.

meaning, we would care if Manning made a mistake but if he is not playing everyday it becomes easier to accept.
- wcorvette

people are also critical of Hagg but Sanheim gets leeway because he is a rookie. Hagg is also a rookie but that is overlooked. I get it, certain players have higher upside than others and some guys are making too much so there is always going to be criticism that is sometimes fair and sometimes not.

people are also critical of Hagg but Sanheim gets leeway because he is a rookie. Hagg is also a rookie but that is overlooked. I get it, certain players have higher upside than others and some guys are making too much so there is always going to be criticism that is sometimes fair and sometimes not.
- nastyflyergirl

seen a few things on Hagg but not much, he is a real good bottom pair D and has done more than you could ask for playing second pair minutes. He will be even better as the whole D gets better. I like AMAC but he has a lid, you put Hagg with a partner with a higher lid, you will see more from him.

He is also an amazing trade chip

You know what's amazing?

Sammy Hagar's voice is the same today as it was 45 years ago.

You know what's amazing?

Sammy Hagar's voice is the same today as it was 45 years ago.
- Scoob

And Reba McEntire isn't half bad for her age.

And Reba McEntire isn't half bad for her age.
- J35Bacher

This was the first post I read here today..

My point is Coots and Schenn's output last year was replaced by Coots, G and Jake.

Coots alone is 15g and 15a ahead of last season. So 5 and 20 isn't hard to replace with others...
- dragonoffrost

My point would be that it's this year and Couturier's current output plus what Schenn could've given is more.

You know what's amazing?

Sammy Hagar's voice is the same today as it was 45 years ago.
- Scoob

He needs to update his hit song

And Reba McEntire isn't half bad for her age.
- J35Bacher

Creepy KFC commercial aside

Actually I wouldn't have, but continue to assume. You're good at that! I'm not a MacDonald hater or basher by any means, just thought he should have placed himself between the goal line and the slot due to two other Flyers being there already and no one covering the slot.
- aantny88

Based on the simple fact that you blamed MacDonald when there were others that were far more culpable, it's a pretty safe assumption on my part. Also the point is that you continue to fail to see that there weren't other Flyers on Eakins and that's why MacDonald positioned himself as he did.

Creepy KFC commercial aside
- dragonoffrost

Minus that.

Offense has really slowed down for this team.

Giroux is ridiculous right now. Watching him skate its like he has gone back 5 years. If anyone honestly said he would be 6 points from leading the league overall while being a +18 based off last year you would be lying. I thought he would bounce back but it's a pleasure watching him this season.

Based on the simple fact that you blamed MacDonald when there were others that were far more culpable, it's a pretty safe assumption on my part. Also the point is that you continue to fail to see that there weren't other Flyers on Eakins and that's why MacDonald positioned himself as he did.
- MJL

How about if Simmonds and Filppula did there jobs we wouldn't even be talking about MacDonald.

Reading the philly.com article about the scoring drought and this really sums it up. The Ghost item is scary given how good he was earlier with scoring.



Several Flyers are in long droughts:

Lindblom hasn’t collected a point since being recalled from the Phantoms, though he has played a responsible two-way game and has gotten lots of scoring opportunities.
Third-line center Val Filppula, whose failed clear led to Vegas’ winning goal with 2 minutes, 40 seconds left Monday, has no goals in the last 24 games.
Shayne Gostisbehere has no goals in the last 19 games.
Michael Raffl has no goals in the last 15 games.
Jordan Weal, a healthy scratch the last three games, has no goals in his last 13 games.
Sean Couturier, who has been stuck on 29 goals since Feb. 16, hasn’t turned on the red light in 12 games.
Scott Laughton has no goals in the last 11 games.

My point would be that it's this year and Couturier's current output plus what Schenn could've given is more.
- MJL

I don't think Schenn would have done that much more than career average here this year at 2C or a wing on the second line. I think him and Wayne kinda are what they are. If they didn't trade Schenn and get lucky with the pick of Patrick, I think G is still at center. Which totally blocks Schenn from being much more than he was last year in my eyes.

And Reba McEntire isn't half bad for her age.
- J35Bacher

not incorrect