Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Playoff Chase, Phantoms. Prospects, Flyers Alumni Team and More

Bill teabagging all parties involved on the Konecny debate

and Manning sympathizers

Manning is a big boy and can take it.
- Bill

Fists and pucks won't break his bones, but words might be what hurts him.

Bill teabagging all parties involved on the Konecny debate
- YuenglingJagr

I'll wait for the defense of the professor

I understand Bill's assessment of TK's benching, and to a lesser extent, Hak's assessment--but you can't sit a guy who has two goals in the game with 7 minutes left of a one-goal lead. That's utterly ridiculous and unacceptable in such an important game of consequence. If this was game 12, fine, it's a learning tool. But not in game 72 when you need a regulation win.

Hak's greatest strength as a coach is development. I truly believe that. Look at how far Ghost, TK, Hagg, and Patrick have come along. That being said, he's utterly clueless when it comes to in-game man management--and that's going to lose playoff games.

For real though, I love when Bill lets loose a little. Enjoyable to read and offers a lot more insight than most covering the team.

points 1 and 2 well the whole blog of course but specifically and especially those 2

ttt

For real though, I love when Bill lets loose a little. Enjoyable to read and offers a lot more insight than most covering the team.
- YuenglingJagr

this

Spot on as always Bill. If Hagg is healthy enough to go, he needs to be in the lineup. Sit Manning, hell you can even sit Gudas, Hagg should be playing ahead of both of them.

Solid blog.

Good for the media guys to question the benching. Always nice to single out a kid in the media.

Varsity Gunna Varsity.

Where he still has to build trust is in third periods with the Flyers up by one goal and the directive is to go north if possible and otherwise not expose the puck to dangerous areas. Simplify with the game in the balance.
- bmeltzer

This seems like a bit of a Catch-22. He's not going to get ice time in those situations unless he shows he can handle them, but he needs to show he can handle them to get the ice time in those situations.

Also, this is a very fair, unbiased blog, and I appreciate that we have a guy like Bill to make people lower (if not put down) their pitchforks and warhammers.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Playoff Chase, Phantoms. Prospects, Flyers Alumni Team and More
- bmeltzer

Damn Bill, you went in on em!

I understand Bill's assessment of TK's benching, and to a lesser extent, Hak's assessment--but you can't sit a guy who has two goals in the game with 7 minutes left of a one-goal lead. That's utterly ridiculous and unacceptable in such an important game of consequence. If this was game 12, fine, it's a learning tool. But not in game 72 when you need a regulation win.

Hak's greatest strength as a coach is development. I truly believe that. Look at how far Ghost, TK, Hagg, and Patrick have come along. That being said, he's utterly clueless when it comes to in-game man management--and that's going to lose playoff games.
- KGBflyers10

I don't see it that way. With a one goal lead and a player who is having issues with puck management and making the right play in certain game situations, it is the right move to sit that player, even more so if he is a young player. These are lessons that Konecny needs to learn. Even if he has scored 2 goals, that cannot excuse the responsibilities of playing the game the correct way and recognizing game situations. The future is far more important then now. Imagine if Konecny can be a trusted player late in games along with his fire, jump, and offensive skill? Is that a better situation for the Flyers? I think so. I completely agree with the change Hakstol made in that situation.

I would laugh if it ever got to the point that Konec wanted out r/t that dumbass.

I eagerly await to see Manning in for Hägg yet again.

Coach has his pet after VDV was shipped out.

This seems like a bit of a Catch-22. He's not going to get ice time in those situations unless he shows he can handle them, but he needs to show he can handle them to get the ice time in those situations.

Also, this is a very fair, unbiased blog, and I appreciate that we have a guy like Bill to make people lower (if not put down) their pitchforks and warhammers.
- jmatchett383

Konecny is given plenty of ice time to show he can manage the game and make the right plays at the appropriate time. Lessons like this are very important for a player and the team moving forward.

Every coach is different....but the same. There have always been different rules for different players to some extent. Hak has his favourites and coaches that way. For the most part I’m fine with it as long as they win. From what I can tell is that he has the respect of the players....as long as that’s the case Hak has a chance to succeed as their coach. However if he were to lose guys like Konecny and Sanheim in the future then he’s doomed. We’ll see what the future holds. Great write up Bill.

I would laugh if it ever got to the point that Konec wanted out r/t that dumbass.

I eagerly await to see Manning in for Hägg yet again.

Coach has his pet after VDV was shipped out.
- flyer_nutter

Konecny to his credit doesn't sulk and pout, it only drives him to get better.

A number of sources including Bill in his blog today have speculated that Hagg is not 100% yet.

This seems like a bit of a Catch-22. He's not going to get ice time in those situations unless he shows he can handle them, but he needs to show he can handle them to get the ice time in those situations..
- jmatchett383

If I may interject my opinion here, I think he'll get the ice time in those types of end of game situations when he plays better (according to coach) in the other parts of the game.

Every coach is different....but the same. There have always been different rules for different players to some extent. Hak has his favourites and coaches that way. For the most part I’m fine with it as long as they win. From what I can tell is that he has the respect of the players....as long as that’s the case Hak has a chance to succeed as their coach. However if he were to lose guys like Konecny and Sanheim in the future then he’s doomed. We’ll see what the future holds. Great write up Bill.
- landros 2

Imo he’s going to end up losing the room with his approach.

Hopefully he proves me wrong.

I don’t get the obsession with turds like Manning and VDV. Safe plays and all sure, but it’s weird to me.

I would laugh if it ever got to the point that Konec wanted out r/t that dumbass.

I eagerly await to see Manning in for Hägg yet again.

Coach has his pet after VDV was shipped out.
- flyer_nutter

I don’t see that as an issue yet with Hak and the youngsters....no one can argue that Konecny has taken huge strides this year and last and Hak is partially responsible for that

If I may interject my opinion here, I think he'll get the ice time in those types of end of game situations when he plays better (according to coach) in the other parts of the game.
- Scoob

One could possibly argue that having a player out there who could also score you a goal to go up by two would be deemed as important as “protecting a lead”. I get what he’s doing trying to turn him into a more complete player but imo the kid hasn’t exactly been Yakupov in the defensive zone either.

Crazy thoughts.

I don’t see that as an issue yet with Hak and the youngsters....no one can argue that Konecny has taken huge strides this year and last and Hak is partially responsible for that
- landros 2

You don’t know the level of dislike I have for me.

Easy to argue that. They do it in spite of him haha.

If I may interject my opinion here, I think he'll get the ice time in those types of end of game situations when he plays better (according to coach) in the other parts of the game.
- Scoob

Well, if that's the case, I'd going to assume that Simmonds and Voracek are defensive juggernauts since they are gifted those responsibilities without having to be benched or publicly called out in the media.