Will there be any Phantoms Playoff Games on NBCsports or NBCsportsplus?
- Hckygoalie31

no

Thanks for great year Bill. Always enjoy reading, will miss the daily reads over the summer months.

Still not sold on any of Hextall's signings. He has drafted well, and made some trades for picks. He has some big decisions ahead of him. Excited to see how things play out.

Although I love our guys, and they played hard for each other, these blow out losses to the Pens just shows how far away we are from ever truly contending. I would hope Hextall explores the idea of trading Simmonds and Jake. I just don't think they are the players who could lead us to a Conf final.

Can we feasibly make a run for Tavares? That would make my summer if we could. Just don't see it happening.

no doubt...

Had to put Flip with G and Jake, that indicates that don't even have a top 6, let alone a bottom 6. If Weal has a good center and fast winger, I think he plays much better.


what about Letestu from Columbus, could he be a stop gap for 2 years
- wcorvette

No interest in him for me

Since we have a need for 3 centers, and we already have Coots and Patrick, how would you guys feel about making a run at Sidney Crosby as our 3C?

Since we have a need for 3 centers, and we already have Coots and Patrick, how would you guys feel about making a run at Sidney Crosby as our 3C?
- jmatchett383

I just did a google on this player. He seems good at hockey.

However, I do recall being at the Wells Fargo center, and everyone there seems to think he sucks at hockey, so as you could imagine, I am a little confused.

Since we have a need for 3 centers, and we already have Coots and Patrick, how would you guys feel about making a run at Sidney Crosby as our 3C?
- jmatchett383

Sign Tavares, trade for Crosby and Scheifele.


Giroux - Scheifele - Konecny
Lindblom - Tavares - Voracek
Patrick - Couturier - Simmonds
Goulbourne - Crosby - Weise

or

Giroux - Scheifele - Konecny
Lindblom - Tavares - Voracek
Weal - Couturier - Simmonds
Goulbourne - Patrick - Weise
Crosby

The continued infusion of better talent is bound to make the team better over the next few years.

I do not however agree with simply letting the league operate around you and relying on ONLY the draft to fill needs. The Flyers have made some moves and should continue to do so if it makes sense.

I do feel that for better or worse Hextall is very loyal to these coaches. I expect the same men back next year. Doing so he ties his fate to them partly as well. We shall see.

The club imo needs to at the very least explore a goaltending upgrade. You can’t just throw seasons away which is what coming back with some combo of Elliot/Neuvirth will basically do.

That's fair as well. But you do need SOME supplemental production from the bottom 6. I don't think that the Weise/Filppula/Lehtera/Leier types of the world are going to give it to you.
- jmatchett383

To Weise's credit. Some players aren't built for the playoffs. When I saw Weise playing in the last two games ahead of Weal and Lindblum, I was upset. Weise showed his value right away. We weren't physical enough in the first half of the series and he helped change that.

Flyers need to get bigger.

Sign Tavares, trade for Crosby and Scheifele.


Giroux - Scheifele - Konecny
Lindblom - Tavares - Voracek
Patrick - Couturier - Simmonds
Goulbourne - Crosby - Weise

or

Giroux - Scheifele - Konecny
Lindblom - Tavares - Voracek
Weal - Couturier - Simmonds
Goulbourne - Patrick - Weise
Crosby
- Streit2ThePoint

Patrick can’t play the wing!?!?!

To Weise's credit. Some players aren't built for the playoffs. When I saw Weise playing in the last two games ahead of Weal and Lindblum, I was upset. Weise showed his value right away. We weren't physical enough in the first half of the series and he helped change that.

Flyers need to get bigger.
- SuperSchennBros

Mark Stone would be fun

Patrick can’t play the wing!?!?!
- corduroy

Schenn 2.0

The continued infusion of better talent is bound to make the team better over the next few years.

I do not however agree with simply letting the league operate around you and relying on ONLY the draft to fill needs. The Flyers have made some moves and should continue to do so if it makes sense.

I do feel that for better or worse Hextall is very loyal to these coaches. I expect the same men back next year. Doing so he ties his fate to them partly as well. We shall see.

The club imo needs to at the very least explore a goaltending upgrade. You can’t just throw seasons away which is what coming back with some combo of Elliot/Neuvirth will basically do.
- flyer_nutter

I don't think he is going to do that. I look at what the Kings did. They were getting close and then they go out and acquire Richards and Carter via trades. And gave up some good pieces (Schenn, Simmonds, Johnson etc) to get them.

I think the Flyers are on that same path. And since Hexy learned at Lombardi's side, he will be using the same overall plan.

I feel like Lappy should be replaced, you cant finish at or near the bottom of the league 2 years running at your primary job and expect to keep it. But you never know.

Personally I don't think they start the season with both Elliot and Nuevirth.

I don't think he is going to do that. I look at what the Kings did. They were getting close and then they go out and acquire Richards and Carter via trades. And gave up some good pieces (Schenn, Simmonds etc) to get them.

I think the Flyers are on that same path. And since Hexy learned at Lombardi's side, he will be using the same overall plan.

I feel like Lappy should be replaced, you cant finish at or near the bottom of the league 2 years running at your primary job and expect to keep it. But you never know.

Personally I don't think they start the season with both Elliot and Nuevirth.
- MBFlyerfan

Maybe he should follow Lombardi’s plan for hiring coaches

Maybe he should follow Lombardi’s plan for hiring coaches
- mayorofangrytown

John Stevens it is......

i would look at bozak as a potential 3c but he may be expensive
is riley nash an rfa?

go all in on JT
trade Voracek for a goalie
???
PROFIT

go all in on JT
trade Voracek for a goalie
???
PROFIT
- 2Real

Where’s Evander??

Just wanted to stop by an express some gratitude, Bill. Your work is always appreciated and I look forward to reading your blogs everyday, especially during the highest of highs and lowest of lows this season.

I feel like you're a hidden gem to Flyers fans and I've recommended you to anyone who will listen. You and Charlie O'Connor set yourselves apart from the other writers with hard work and fantastic analysis.

Looking forward to an offseason of blogs!

Where’s Evander??
- arichardson22

Probably snorting coke in a hotel room around here somewhere.

Just wanted to stop by an express some gratitude, Bill. Your work is always appreciated and I look forward to reading your blogs everyday, especially during the highest of highs and lowest of lows this season.

I feel like you're a hidden gem to Flyers fans and I've recommended you to anyone who will listen. You and Charlie O'Connor set yourselves apart from the other writers with hard work and fantastic analysis.

Looking forward to an offseason of blogs!
- TobyFlenderson

Appreciate it, thank you. I also really like Charlie's work.

The continued infusion of better talent is bound to make the team better over the next few years.

I do not however agree with simply letting the league operate around you and relying on ONLY the draft to fill needs. The Flyers have made some moves and should continue to do so if it makes sense.

I do feel that for better or worse Hextall is very loyal to these coaches. I expect the same men back next year. Doing so he ties his fate to them partly as well. We shall see.

The club imo needs to at the very least explore a goaltending upgrade. You can’t just throw seasons away which is what coming back with some combo of Elliot/Neuvirth will basically do.
- flyer_nutter

I don't know that they will but goaltending and good 3c that can bridge them to Frost is what I would be looking at via trade or FA this offseason. Everything always depends on the cost.

Let the kids filter in on D and see what they can work out for the bottom 6 from what is already here or in the system.

There aren't too many UFA centers out there that intrigue me all that much. Desharnais, Tavares, Jumbo Joe, Brodziak, Paquette, Bozac, Plekanec, Moore, Grabovski, Stastny, Vermette, Matthias, to name many, are all available.


Some will be very expensive, some may be too expensive for what they bring, etc etc.

I do agree they need to improve the 3c spot.

Bill,

Any info on Allison or Laczynski? i really thought those two might leave school but does it look like they will go back?

Weal disappointed me this year. Thought he might bring more to the table.
- Hextall271

I have to agree, I expected a bit more from Weal.

I do think however, if he's the best offensive player on a line, they are going to have trouble scoring. I'm not completely writing him off, but he's on a shorter leash for me.

I have to agree, I expected a bit more from Weal.

I do think however, if he's the best offensive player on a line, they are going to have trouble scoring. I'm not completely writing him off, but he's on a shorter leash for me.
- VladDrag

From watching him he seems like a really fast guy with not much else in his tool bag.