I think that's a bad misread of Bill's intent with this blog.
- MJL

Eventually it'll happen. Maybe he's saving it for darker times.

It doesn't look that way to my eyes. Maybe someone #fancy can prove otherwise.
- Scoob

Not even fancy stats can save us here

And for tonight there’s absolutely no question we need to root for pittsburgh as much as it pains me to say

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.

And for tonight there’s absolutely no question we need to root for pittsburgh as much as it pains me to say
- Just5

cannot do that

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

A noble cause, good sir. May your death be quick and painless

A noble cause, good sir. May your death be quick and painless
- YuenglingJagr

A scholar and a gentleman, you are.

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

Manning's last game as a Flyer will be the last game the Flyers play this season.

And for tonight there’s absolutely no question we need to root for pittsburgh as much as it pains me to say
- Just5

count me in

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

That is definitely a not irrational possibility.

count me in

- all-pgh

lol

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

Get outta here! C'mon get with the program and call the coach out.

Eventually it'll happen. Maybe he's saving it for darker times.
- Nucker101

He's going to have to wait. Nothing but brightness ahead.

The Rolling Stones - Stripped

good stuff

He's going to have to wait. Nothing but brightness ahead.
- MJL

with greater brightness, comes greater expectations.

with greater brightness, comes greater expectations.
- Nucker101

Absolutely.

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

Aint nobody got time for logic and reasoning in Flyersbuzz.

That is definitely a not irrational possibility.
- Scoob

Might not be irrational, but that doesn't mean it is smart. Not good enough isn't a relative scale. If a player isn't playing up to the level required, they should be held accountable regardless of their perceived ceiling or reputation as "offensive/defensive"

Might not be irrational, but that doesn't mean it is smart. Not good enough isn't a relative scale. If a player isn't playing up to the level required, they should be held accountable regardless of their perceived ceiling or reputation as "offensive/defensive"
- YuenglingJagr

Yes it absolutely is a relative scale. What's the bench mark for playing well? Is that the same for every player? With any coach there are going to be decisions that one might not agree with. For example, last night I felt Hakstol played the Manning/Gudas pairing too much in the 3rd and I think he should've played the MacDonald/Sanheim pairing more and had more trust in Sanheim based on his recent play. In terms of playing Manning in the lineup, a very important factor is what is the alternative.

Bill speaks the truth... lol

I think he described Manning to T, he saw manning like most of us did last night and prior

Great points on Hak, I get talking about manning has no value but players do read the articles. I dont think Hak will
Lose the room but you can’t have to many double standards. To be fair we weren’t at the press conference.

Unfortunately, the chemistry displayed by Manning and Gudas together in recent weeks has been rather consistent, and not in a good way. They seem to end up on each other's side of the ice an awful lot or too tightly bunched behind the net (often without forward support at net front). Manning has failed to clear pucks time and time again, and was also making too aggressive up-ice plays reminiscent of his early AHL days as an offensive-minded defenseman. Add to that a tendency to fall down in puck battles, and there have been way too many rough shifts for Number 23.

Ok, someone has to take the other side here.

What would the upside would be for Hakstol, as a coach, to light up Brandon Manning in the press?

Manning at 27 is at a much different point in his career than a guy like Konecny, who just turned 21. And unlike Manning, Konecny will be with the franchise for a long time. There is more to mine from Konecny's game and that is what Hakstol is trying to do.

Contrast that with Manning.....at age 27, he is not going to get better. He is what he is. I think Hakstol likely knows this. There is a very good possibility that Manning won't even be a Flyer by the end of this calendar year. I'm guessing Hakstol knows this too.
- johndewar

Couldn't say it any better.

Yes it absolutely is a relative scale. What's the bench mark for playing well? Is that the same for every player? With any coach there are going to be decisions that one might not agree with. For example, last night I felt Hakstol played the Manning/Gudas pairing too much in the 3rd and I think he should've played the MacDonald/Sanheim pairing more and had more trust in Sanheim based on his recent play. In terms of playing Manning in the lineup, a very important factor is what is the alternative.
- MJL

Might not be irrational, but that doesn't mean it is smart. Not good enough isn't a relative scale. If a player isn't playing up to the level required, they should be held accountable regardless of their perceived ceiling or reputation as "offensive/defensive"

Bill speaks the truth... lol

I think he described Manning to T, he saw manning like most of us did last night and prior

Great points on Hak, I get talking about manning has no value but players do read the articles. I dont think Hak will
Lose the room but you can’t have to many double standards. To be fair we weren’t at the press conference.

Unfortunately, the chemistry displayed by Manning and Gudas together in recent weeks has been rather consistent, and not in a good way. They seem to end up on each other's side of the ice an awful lot or too tightly bunched behind the net (often without forward support at net front). Manning has failed to clear pucks time and time again, and was also making too aggressive up-ice plays reminiscent of his early AHL days as an offensive-minded defenseman. Add to that a tendency to fall down in puck battles, and there have been way too many rough shifts for Number 23.
- wcorvette

I don't think people give NHL players enough credit and place way too much value on what a coach says to the media. Players know that life isn't fair and that "perks" of being a veteran are earned. Konecny to his credit seems quite aware of what is going on and the reasoning behind it.

Might not be irrational, but that doesn't mean it is smart. Not good enough isn't a relative scale. If a player isn't playing up to the level required, they should be held accountable regardless of their perceived ceiling or reputation as "offensive/defensive"
- YuenglingJagr

It is because every player is different. The players are measured against themselves first.

Might not be irrational, but that doesn't mean it is smart. Not good enough isn't a relative scale. If a player isn't playing up to the level required, they should be held accountable regardless of their perceived ceiling or reputation as "offensive/defensive"
- YuenglingJagr

Highlight it all you want, it won't change. In the context of the conversation, I believe we are getting all we're going to get out of Manning. He has a celling and he has reached it. Should they hold a player accountable for not playing better than he is capable of playing?