Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/4/17 @ CGY

Biggest game of the season

Hope they don't make any knee-jerk reactions and change anything up. After all, they haven't been playing poorly. Keep rolling out the Manning/Weise/Lehtera trifecta of terror.

Also, hope they continue to make sure that players like Konecny and Weal get singled out for benching, as they were the only two players that didn't play well and make mistakes.

Since the Eagles lost last night, it's likely the Flyers break the streak tonight.

If they set a new franchise record for their 11th straight loss, Haxstol will be fired right?

Honest question, Bill. Should the worst happen and they lose all 3 on this trip in regulation and all by 2+ goals, does Hextall bite the bullet and make a coaching change when they return home?

Since the Eagles lost last night, it's likely the Flyers break the streak tonight.
- johndewar

The Magic 8-Ball says: "don't hold your breath"

If they set a new franchise record for their 11th straight loss, Haxstol will be fired right?
- coffee junkie

Everything is litrully fine, they haven't been playing poorly.

I cant wait to see Konecny get some good scoring chances, then try to make something happen and turn over the puck. Hak will then further chip away at his confidence by benching him as always.

Try to score kid, but don't try any funny stuff. If you do and if fails, get your Lemon Pledge ready.

I was firmly in Hak's camp until this last game. Not any more.

I cant wait to see Konecny get some good scoring chances, then try to make something happen and turn over the puck. Hak will then further chip away at his confidence by benching him as always.

Try to score kid, but don't try any funny stuff. If you do and if fails, get your Lemon Pledge ready.

I was firmly in Hak's camp until this last game. Not any more.
- MBFlyerfan

The benching of Konecny was a perfectly cromulent decision. Hopefully it will allow him to embiggen his future performances.

Honest question, Bill. Should the worst happen and they lose all 3 on this trip in regulation and all by 2+ goals, does Hextall bite the bullet and make a coaching change when they return home?
- BiggE

Not Bill but I don't know how Hextall could justify not making a move if that would happen.

I was at the game on Saturday.

They were awful.

They played like a bunch of guys who know how to play hockey fairly well but have never played together.

Not Bill but I don't know how Hextall could justify not making a move if that would happen.
- MJL

After what I saw on Saturday I'm ready for someone to be traded or someone to be fired.

Tough enjoying this team right now even knowing its part of hopefully what is a payoff in the next 1-3 years.

IMO the Giroux goal should have counted last game but all the same they ended up losing by more than 1 goal so who cares.

Ill watch the game and look for any positives at this point.

Not Bill but I don't know how Hextall could justify not making a move if that would happen.
- MJL

I think Hakstol seems like a competent hockey coach, but if they drop every game on this road trip, Hextall almost has to fire him.

I was at the game on Saturday.

They were awful.

They played like a bunch of guys who know how to play hockey fairly well but have never played together.
- Scoob

I can honestly sat that game Sat was brutal to watch on TV and probably even moreso in person.

This current flavor of the Flyers is probably the softest I have ever seen as a fan. Part of that is the league, Provy getting 2 mins for a hit that was borderline at very best, and some of that is the makeup of the team, Simmonds being the only consistently physical player.

IM not asking for Zak Rinaldo levels of Mayhem but this team has to feel like you are playing a bunch of cotton balls for the opponents. I mean Morin could maybe bring some snarl but look he is hurt again and not even on the big team.

Its just brutal, boring, oatmealish hockey.;l

Honest question, Bill. Should the worst happen and they lose all 3 on this trip in regulation and all by 2+ goals, does Hextall bite the bullet and make a coaching change when they return home?
- BiggE

My view is this: If they lose all three in such ugly fashion, the season becomes virtually unsalvageable. I came out in support of giving Hakstol the rest of this season to get the team moving back in the right direction. By that, I'm not referring to a late run of wins after being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. I mean an actual run while there is still time to do it. If it falls short under that circumstance, so be it.

However, if the season gets to the point where the club is already playing out the string well ahead of mathematical elimination, then I think the same assessment of Hakstol that Hexy made on Chief on 2015 might have to come down sooner than later. Three straight ugly losses in this trip would make five straight games where things only deteriorate further from all the winnable games that slipped away late.

That's a very long-winded way of saying, yes, if they go 0-3-0 on this trip in ugly fashion, Hexy might have to bite the bullet and make a change behind the bench.

Honest question, Bill. Should the worst happen and they lose all 3 on this trip in regulation and all by 2+ goals, does Hextall bite the bullet and make a coaching change when they return home?
- BiggE

Not Bill, but I'm not sure I blame the coach. I think a lot of criticisms towards Haktol's lineup decisions are unfounded and are more based on what fans think is the optimal lineup. Not all but a lot. Wouldn't you agree?

I can honestly sat that game Sat was brutal to watch on TV and probably even moreso in person.

This current flavor of the Flyers is probably the softest I have ever seen as a fan. Part of that is the league, Provy getting 2 mins for a hit that was borderline at very best, and some of that is the makeup of the team, Simmonds being the only consistently physical player.

IM not asking for Zak Rinaldo levels of Mayhem but this team has to feel like you are playing a bunch of cotton balls for the opponents. I mean Morin could maybe bring some snarl but look he is hurt again and not even on the big team.

Its just brutal, boring, oatmealish hockey.;l
- opeth_pa

Why are you disparaging oatmeal like that?

I cant wait to see Konecny get some good scoring chances, then try to make something happen and turn over the puck. Hak will then further chip away at his confidence by benching him as always.

Try to score kid, but don't try any funny stuff. If you do and if fails, get your Lemon Pledge ready.

I was firmly in Hak's camp until this last game. Not any more.
- MBFlyerfan

I've been souring on him for a while. I've never liked the way he handles his goalies and I think he has a tendency to be too lax with mistakes made by veterans which leads to them making the same mistakes/poor plays more frequently.

This season, other than his one pearl of wisdom in regards to the top line, he's just been bad and getting worse. The laundry list of stuff I don't like keeps growing:

Not recognizing that after the San Jose game, it was past time to break up the top line and try to get some offense from other parts of the lineup

I thought he should have left Hagg with Provorov on the top pair at least for a few more games when AMac returned. It's a lot to ask a guy, who really isn't a top pair guy to begin with, to come back after a month out of the lineup and immediately go back to being matched up against the other team's best players. Plus, AMac would have been a nice vet partner for Sanheim for a few games.

I don't know what he has said to Ghost since I'm not at practice or in the room, but right now the kid is obviously frustrated, short tempered and struggling and it seems to be getting worse, not better.

How he handled Konecny last game was laughable, as was keeping a kid who hustles and gives his all like Leier out for more than one game.

He's had quite a while to do something to get the PK to be more consistent, so far no luck here, and the 2nd pp unit is a mess. It's mind boggling that a player with the skills of Travis Sanheim isn't getting a look on that pp unit too.



All in all, I see a guy who is just in over his head. When you are coaching college or Junior for that matter, you can just say to the kids "this is how we play my system, go do it". You don't really need to explain yourself beyond that, you just need to teach them the system and put them on the ice. It's not so easy at the NHL level though. Players, especially highly paid veteran players, are going to question you. And, if they don't like what they hear, they're going to tune you out. The players aren't stupid, they know the GM can't trade 18 players, so who is going to win in the players vs coach struggle? The players.

If you have the track record of a Babcock or Quennville, then you can say it's my way or the highway and management will likely back you. Also, having that track record garners you instant respect in the room and you will have veteran players who want to win who will back you and keep the boys in line. I don't think Hak has much of any respect from this Flyers squad and I don't think that can be fixed at this point. He may last the season, but he's done here. It's just a matter of time. I certainly don't feel sorry for him. He's going to make a lot of money for doing nothing for 2 years and, if he wants one, I don't think he'll have a hard time finding another NCAA head coaching post.

I was at the game on Saturday.

They were awful.

They played like a bunch of guys who know how to play hockey fairly well but have never played together.
- Scoob

Luckily they have omnipotent Mensa members running things. I mean imagine questioning anything they do?

10 game losing streak, shutout 6 times in 26 games. Non-competitive clown show.

My view is this: If they lose all three in such ugly fashion, the season becomes virtually unsalvageable. I came out in support of giving Hakstol the rest of this season to get the team moving back in the right direction. By that, I'm not referring to a late run of wins after being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. I mean an actual run while there is still time to do it. If it falls short under that circumstance, so be it.

However, if the season gets to the point where the club is already playing out the string well ahead of mathematical elimination, then I think the same assessment of Hakstol that Hexy made on Chief on 2015 might have to come down sooner than later. Three straight ugly losses in this trip would make five straight games where things only deteriorate further from all the winnable games that slipped away late.

That's a very long-winded way of saying, yes, if they go 0-3-0 on this trip in ugly fashion, Hexy might have to bite the bullet and make a change behind the bench.
- bmeltzer

While not mathematically impossible, right now I see no realistic chance of getting into the playoffs this year. First they need to get their act together now. Next, they need teams in front of them to falter pretty badly. I just don't see it.

I was at the game on Saturday.

They were awful.

They played like a bunch of guys who know how to play hockey fairly well but have never played together.
- Scoob

I tried to find you by talking to everyone in the bathroom to see who would ignore me. It didn't narrow it down as much as I expected it to.

I can honestly sat that game Sat was brutal to watch on TV and probably even moreso in person.

This current flavor of the Flyers is probably the softest I have ever seen as a fan. Part of that is the league, Provy getting 2 mins for a hit that was borderline at very best, and some of that is the makeup of the team, Simmonds being the only consistently physical player.

IM not asking for Zak Rinaldo levels of Mayhem but this team has to feel like you are playing a bunch of cotton balls for the opponents. I mean Morin could maybe bring some snarl but look he is hurt again and not even on the big team.

Its just brutal, boring, oatmealish hockey.;l
- opeth_pa

Oatmeal is delightful, when properly prepared.

I would be thrilled with an oatmeal style of play that produced results.

Hell, if they played "oatmeal hockey", at least they would be playing with an actual identity.

I don't think this team has an identity.

I cant wait to see Konecny get some good scoring chances, then try to make something happen and turn over the puck. Hak will then further chip away at his confidence by benching him as always.

Try to score kid, but don't try any funny stuff. If you do and if fails, get your Lemon Pledge ready.

I was firmly in Hak's camp until this last game. Not any more.
- MBFlyerfan