Elliott is the Pens MVP of this series.
- ggunky

Nah Crosby is, but I'd give Elliott consideration for CO-MVP.

any series should show teams making adjustments

i'm cranky at hak
- -davies-

But d00d, he moved Giroux to wing. HE MOVED A WINGER WHO SWITCHED TO CENTER BACK TO WING!!! Best coach of all time.

He's in a tight race with Gudas. Horrible defensive play, turns the puck over, and took out Couturier.
- jmatchett383

any series should show teams making adjustments

i'm cranky at hak
- -davies-

I think as a team they over achieved this year, large credit to G and Jake and Couts and Gost and Provy, but also credit to the coach.

But zero adjustments vs the Pens. I’m also frustrated by this.

Exactly!!

Why not roll with

Provorov-Gudas
Ghost-Hagg
Sanheim-AMac

To just keep rolling out the same 3 pairs every game is just asinine.
- BiggE

Exactly. They say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Newsflash, Hak....it's broke. You don't put your two best defensemen on the same friggin line and leave the other 4 to just get picked off. Spread the wealth.

The Devils also did. They didn't dress Hall or Kinkaid....who they THOUGHT was going to be their stud starter for the playoffs. Didn't exactly pan out that way though. I think they sat a couple other players too.

Funniest thing is that the Devils were 3-1 vs. the Pens this year
- Hckygoalie31

Kind of puts a kink in your conspiracy theory, huh?

When they made the playoffs, I said that Hak should be fairly safe because it was a slight overachievement (despite the fact I believe he was not the main reason they made it).

But given the way they've played in 3 of these last 4 games, I'm more done with him that I was, and I was done with him a few months ago.

Might. But what do people actually think you would need to give the Rangers for Henrik? Who again are in the metro.

I think if the Caps loose you could see some big changes finally.

Here is a question. Everyone seems to want Hakstol gone. If the Caps moved on from Trotz would you go after him? Everyone loves him it seems
- J35Bacher

Without a doubt. And that's a testament to how I feel about Trotz, not how I feel about Hakstol (which is a mixed bag, more on the negative side at the moment..surprisingly I know). It is concerning that Trotz has never been able to get over that hump, but he's still a tremendous coach.

I'm usually a fan of bringing in a new coach rather than a retread, but I'd make an exception for Trotz. Plus, I guess I don't see him as the typical retread since he hasn't bounced around. Just in Nashville forever and now Washington.

He's in a tight race with Gudas. Horrible defensive play, turns the puck over, and took out Couturier.
- jmatchett383

Ghost has been pretty sucky, too.

Without a doubt. And that's a testament to how I feel about Trotz, not how I feel about Hakstol (which is a mixed bag, more on the negative side at the moment..surprisingly I know). It is concerning that Trotz has never been able to get over that hump, but he's still a tremendous coach.

I'm usually a fan of bringing in a new coach rather than a retread, but I'd make an exception for Trotz. Plus, I guess I don't see him as the typical retread since he hasn't bounced around. Just in Nashville forever and now Washington.
- five4fighting10

Trotz is the NHL's version of Andy Reed. I don't want Trotz anywhere near this hockey team!

but honestly did you see Giroux having a 102 pt season? or Couturier having 70 + points or Ghost having a career year? had some one said that at the start of the year I honestly wouldn't have even thought there was a chance they wouldn't make the playoffs....I think "some" of the criticisms are justified.
- landros 2

I agree. But the "the sky is falling!!!!1" routine being played out here these last couple days is ridiculous.

Ghost has been pretty sucky, too.
- Scoob

The entire defense sans Provorov has been terrible, and even he's had his hiccups (dude's on a (frank)ing island though). But at least Ghost had been producing SOG and has some tangible offense.

Hakstol really did botch the defensive pairings. Badly.

For whatever reason he was completely enamored with the Provorov/Ghost pairing. He completely overvalued that pairing. In doing so he refused to break it up, sealing the fate of Hagg to ride the bench and end up with zero playoff experience this season.

At least he knew what he was getting with a veteran player like Manning. Consistently bad hockey.

I agree. But the "the sky is falling!!!!1" routine being played out here these last couple days is ridiculous.
- Scoob

I know, it is crazy to think people get emotional about a team they root for, support and are invested in.

Kind of puts a kink in your conspiracy theory, huh?
- Scoob

It does! So why did they bench Hall, Palmeri, Vantanen, Zajac and Kinkaid?

Columbus benched Bob, Panerin, Jones and Werenski.

When they made the playoffs, I said that Hak should be fairly safe because it was a slight overachievement (despite the fact I believe he was not the main reason they made it).

But given the way they've played in 3 of these last 4 games, I'm more done with him that I was, and I was done with him a few months ago.
- jmatchett383

How do you feel about the GM? Honest question. I understand your opinion on the coach. But he has only what the GM gives him to work with.

I think not switching up the D pairs and getting Hagg in there is pretty bad. Also I think moving G to center last night would have been a good move.

Other then that, the choices he had were limited. Maybe to play Weal and Leier in place of two slower guys like Lehterä and Read. Not going to make much difference in all likelihood. With the goalies, there was no good option, if Neuvy was hurt.

hopefully hak makes a couple of changes in the lineup Friday night....Id like to at least see an effort to change the momentum.
- landros 2

Beck, bring in Ghoul. Get some energy back if possible.

The entire defense sans Provorov has been terrible, and even he's had his hiccups (dude's on a (frank)ing island though). But at least Ghost had been producing SOG and has some tangible offense.
- jmatchett383

Yes to the shots, no to the tangible offense. Nobody on the team has produced tangible offense this series.

How do you feel about the GM? Honest question. I understand your opinion on the coach. But he has only what the GM gives him to work with.

I think not switching up the D pairs and getting Hagg in there is pretty bad. Also I think moving G to center last night would have been a good move.

Other then that, the choices he had were limited. Maybe to play Weal and Leier in place of two slower guys like Lehterä and Read. Not going to make much difference in all likelihood. With the goalies, there was no good option, if Neuvy was hurt.
- Marc D

The only issues I have with Hexy is his choice on coach, his being too over-patient on the young guys in the minors...and his signing of Weiss. That's it.

As for being too over-patient....we may not see Hart till he's 30.

Yes to the shots, no to the tangible offense. Nobody on the team has produced tangible offense this series.
- Scoob

They've been shut out twice in 4 games.

It does! So why did they bench Hall, Palmeri, Vantanen, Zajac and Kinkaid?

Columbus benched Bob, Panerin, Jones and Werenski.
- Hckygoalie31

To rest them before the playoffs...

How do you feel about the GM? Honest question. I understand your opinion on the coach. But he has only what the GM gives him to work with.

I think not switching up the D pairs and getting Hagg in there is pretty bad. Also I think moving G to center last night would have been a good move.

Other then that, the choices he had were limited. Maybe to play Weal and Leier in place of two slower guys like Lehterä and Read. Not going to make much difference in all likelihood. With the goalies, there was no good option, if Neuvy was hurt.
- Marc D

Like I said, Hakstol's choices are limited by what Hextall gives him. Hextall is, to me, a little too patient and over-cautious. I understand his reasons for not adding big pieces, although I don't agree with them.

So overall, I think he's done more good than bad, although I don't like his unwillingness to go for it a bit more and promote young players.

Yes to the shots, no to the tangible offense. Nobody on the team has produced tangible offense this series.
- Scoob

He had the opening goal in the only game they won. I can look at the video and show you evidence of him putting a goal onto the scoreboard for his team.

Bill Meltzer: Game 4 Wrap: Penguins Blitz Flyers, 5-0
- bmeltzer

Excuse my negativity and my low Hockey IQ but I never had this team making it a series. We simply have trouble keeping the puck out of the net and we don't match up well against the Penguins. We were a sacrificial lamb the moment we made the playoffs and we would be absolute world beaters just to get to Game 6 against Pitts. What troubles me now is, in order to get between the pipes for Hakstol is, you have to be hurt for two months and out of rhythm.

Watched until it was 3-0 and shut it off.

I’m not going to go into all of it, just a thought that was kind of hammered in.

As a fan, from an entertainment point of view the club is kind of boring. It has been so for a while and when I see things about the fans being quiet in the building I don’t blame them.

I feel for whatever reason, I watch a team play the game with a very robotic and vanilla approach. It’s not the Flyers I grew up cheering for.

Rebuild, youth moment whatever... Id like to see a more aggressive approach to this game.

What identity is being built here?