That's fair; he did deploy the line. He can be criticized for that. I think the players, veterans like that, need to at least be able to get a puck out or deep and should be held accountable for such egregious failures, but if they are consistently hurting you, then yeah, it's fair to criticize using them
- AllInForFlyers

Simmonds has just not looked good most of the season. I'm guessing we will hear about injuries once the season ends. At least I hope its that or just a bad year and not a plunge of his abilities. either way I am reluctant to give him a new contract. It just scares me. Filppula had a good start but has just fallen off a cliff.

I do blame him for said players usage. after making it 2-1 I would have liked to have seen Patrick's line come out. Filppula's line has been spending way too much time hemmed in the defensive zone since becoming a line going by memory.
- nastyflyergirl

the usage bothers me the most. but at the same time, he has what he has.

Simmonds has just not looked good most of the season. I'm guessing we will hear about injuries once the season ends. At least I hope its that or just a bad year and not a plunge of his abilities. either way I am reluctant to give him a new contract. It just scares me. Filppula had a good start but has just fallen off a cliff.
- nastyflyergirl

i'm on the fence about simmonds. i agree, he's not looked this year. bye filp. see ya.

I was the only one who didn't believe.
- VladDrag

No you weren't /aren't. After the Boston letdown, I gave up hope.

i'm 2 weeks post-op. 6 months full recovery. i'm healing nicely, but christ this sucks.
- hammarby31

Hope you feel better soon

they need to play like G isnt there.

Hakstol doesn't have carte blanche with no repercussions. You continue with the hyperbole. All season long this team has been on the edge of wins and losses. That's the kind of team they are for various reasons. That's why they can go on the runs of wins they have and then have losing streaks. When they lose the detail in their game, they have issues because they simply don't have a lot of room for error. When looking at the progress overall of what is important for the future, Hakstol has done a strong job. Hakstol isn't going to get fired simply because there is no reason why he should be fired. That's the reality.
- MJL

More great analysis of Hakstol's coaching from the guy who resolutely defended Hak playing Chris VandeVelde in 81 games last season. The same VdV who could not get a job in the NHL the very next season at the ripe old age of 30. Overplaying stiffs is not good coaching.

Hope you feel better soon
- BiggE

thanks, biggE. feeling much better but it's gonna' be a long road.

All season long this team has been on the edge of wins and losses. That's the kind of team they are for various reasons. That's why they can go on the runs of wins they have and then have losing streaks. When they lose the detail in their game, they have issues because they simply don't have a lot of room for error.
- MJL

This.
All season long.

I don't see it as a coaching issue (except for the PK) but rather a personnel issue. Fortunately that issue will be resolved relatively soon.

on another note-

would ya at the right price

sign Kovalchuk this summer???

It’s no secret I am not a fan.

We won’t be able to really assess him all that well anyway as the team is bound to improve with the infusion of talent.

He’s Hextall’s man. I’m not really sure what it would take for him to be fired.
- flyer_nutter

He fired Berube for not making the playoffs with this roster in 14-15.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier/Laughton-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Umberger
VdV-Bellemare-Rinaldo/White

Coburn/MDZ-Schultz
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn

If the flyers are offered a 1st for simmonds this yr they need to trade him.The 1st pp wont suffer but the 2nd unit would.Need to teach morin to stand in front of net on 2nd pp like chara.lol

This.
All season long.

I don't see it as a coaching issue (except for the PK) but rather a personnel issue. Fortunately that issue will be resolved relatively soon.
- Scoob

The coach has them focus on point shots more than any other team in the league. It's no surprise that has led to three straight years of anemic 5 on 5 scoring.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...d,gte,1&sort=goalsFor5on5

on another note-

would ya at the right price

sign Kovalchuk this summer???
- wcorvette

1. do the devils still need to grant him permission to talk to other teams? i think there was some provision there as they had his rights when he left.

2. i haven't watched him play, so i can't say yes based on my lack of information. assume he's the same as when he left, i'd consider it.

He fired Berube for not making the playoffs with this roster in 14-15.

Raffl-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier/Laughton-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Umberger
VdV-Bellemare-Rinaldo/White

Coburn/MDZ-Schultz
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-Schenn
- Feanor

Right but Hextall didn't hire Berube. Wanting to get his own guy in there helped along the Berube firing.

That and the fact that Berube was a bad head coach. I think the man that hired him is still climbing the ranks in the Flyers organization if I'm not mistaken.

Turns out you can break the Peter Principle and rise ABOVE your level of incompetence. I want to work for a company like that!

If the flyers are offered a 1st for simmonds this yr they need to trade him.The 1st pp wont suffer but the 2nd unit would.Need to teach morin to stand in front of net on 2nd pp like chara.lol
- flyeredup85

The Flyers should definitely move Simmonds. The question is on timing. I'd wager that his value would be highest at the draft, but I could see Hextall (mistakenly) waiting until the deadline to move him to see how the season plays out with Simmonds on the Flyers.

Right but Hextall didn't hire Berube. Wanting to get his own guy in there helped along the Berube firing.

That and the fact that Berube was a bad head coach. I think the man that hired him is still climbing the ranks in the Flyers organization if I'm not mistaken.

Turns out you can break the Peter Principle and rise ABOVE your level of incompetence. I want to work for a company like that!
- StepfordSam

i still wish we had lava.

1. do the devils still need to grant him permission to talk to other teams? i think there was some provision there as they had his rights when he left.

2. i haven't watched him play, so i can't say yes based on my lack of information. assume he's the same as when he left, i'd consider it.
- hammarby31

I believe he is now an unrestricted free agent, having a real good year in KHL and had a good Olympics.

The Flyers should definitely move Simmonds. The question is on timing. I'd wager that his value would be highest at the draft, but I could see Hextall (mistakenly) waiting until the deadline to move him to see how the season plays out with Simmonds on the Flyers.
- StepfordSam

would you target a top 4 dman or just want picks?

1. do the devils still need to grant him permission to talk to other teams? i think there was some provision there as they had his rights when he left.

2. i haven't watched him play, so i can't say yes based on my lack of information. assume he's the same as when he left, i'd consider it.
- hammarby31

1. no, that is over

2. i watched him a bit in the olympics, but obviously that is different competition. I wouldn't bother signing him

I believe he is now an unrestricted free agent, having a real good year in KHL and had a good Olympics.
- wcorvette

i'd definitely kick the tires...but...money would likely be a sticking point and with many young players coming in through the next few years not sure it makes sense.

1. no, that is over

2. i watched him a bit in the olympics, but obviously that is different competition. I wouldn't bother signing him
- YuenglingJagr

no? because?

would you target a top 4 dman or just want picks?
- hammarby31

His value is probably one or the other, not both as some may think.

I don't know what year Hextall legitimately thinks this team can contend. If it's sooner with Giroux and company still in the mix I'd do the d-man. If it's later I'd take the picks.

His value is probably one or the other, not both as some may think.

I don't know what year Hextall legitimately thinks this team can contend. If it's sooner with Giroux and company still in the mix I'd do the d-man. If it's later I'd take the picks.
- StepfordSam

i would choose the dman, even with sanheim being a regular and myers/morin being possibilities. we have a ton of picks and prospects. i want value now.

on another note-

would ya at the right price

sign Kovalchuk this summer???
- wcorvette

Nope