He's a great offensive defensemen. He isn't called on to put up stellar defensive numbers. Can he be better defensively? Absolutely. But he is absolutely excelling in his main role on this team. Referring to his play as good in the aggregate is to me, a slight.

By this thought process someone like Paul Coffey would be classified as a "good", but not great player?
- hereticpride

Ghost's main role at even strength is to help his team outscore the opponent when he's on the ice. I'm not sure why people don't view every player this way instead of placing them into specific bins. If Ghost became a good defender in his own zone, he could be a future Norris finalist.

On the same token just because some fans think they aren't doing a good job with player development doesn't mean they are. I don't think you can make a legitimate case that they aren't doing a good job.
- MJL

I think people are confusing player management with player development. Because players are not being called up does not automatically equate to failing development.

The Flyers right now don't have an absolute bust of a draft pick on their hands since I don't know when.(honestly someone help me out with that) The only developmental issue I see is the handling of Sanhiem but he is far from ruined. He just needs to be playing somewhere, which I have to assumed will be addressed shortly.

PSG ready to risk it all
- Mordecai

These (frank)ers are too sensitive to hear the truth

Another win today boys get ready.

Gradual improvement should be the measure of success. Which young player has improved from last year to this year?
- PhillySportsGuy

Who are the candidates?

Leier. He is not been promoted to the NHL full time where last year he was in the AHL full time

Laughton. Now playing a full time role on the 4th line in the NHL compared to the AHL last year.

Gostisbehere. He is second in the NHL in scoring among defenseman. I think his defensive shortcomings are who he is as a player and will always be a part of his game.

Hagg. Now playing full time in the NHL versus last year in the AHL.

Sanheim is not in the NHL. His growth curve and ups and downs is to be expected.

Konecny is now playing on the top line and playing very well.

Patrick is simply not quite ready to make an impact.

I see a non linear growth pattern that is typical of most young players.

I think the system is largely fine. The real issue is the NHL team management. It's not the systems fault Hak would rather play vets over kids. The system is currently light years beyond where Clarke and Homer ever had it.

My one legit knock on the system is that they are too in love with developing the "200ft player" and shy away from taking on highly offensive-minded forwards. I think it's important to have a mix of everything in the system and I feel like they just play it a little safe in that regard.
- hereticpride

The Flyers have a bunch of offensive minded prospects in the system that aren't known as 200 foot players.

Ghost's main role at even strength is to help his team outscore the opponent when he's on the ice. I'm not sure why people don't view every player this way instead of placing them into specific bins. If Ghost became a good defender in his own zone, he could be a future Norris finalist.
- PhillySportsGuy

His +/- is currently zero so the notion that he is a liability at 5 on 5 is a bit presumptuous. For reference 5 of the top 10 Defensemen in points are currently in the negative. Only 2 of the remaining 5 are +10 or better.

So while his +/- of 0 is certainly not Hedman's +20 it's also certainly not Karlsson's -16 or Burns' -14 either.

I think people are confusing player management with player development. Because players are not being called up does not automatically equate to failing development.

The Flyers right now don't have an absolute bust of a draft pick on their hands since I don't know when.(honestly someone help me out with that) The only developmental issue I see is the handling of Sanhiem but he is far from ruined. He just needs to be playing somewhere, which I have to assumed will be addressed shortly.
- hereticpride

Morin played two years in the Q and 2.5 years in the AHL and he still isn't on the NHL roster after being the 11th pick. Either he isn't developing the way he should be or the team choosing the play an inferior player in Manning over him.

The Flyers have a bunch of offensive minded prospects in the system that aren't known as 200 foot players.
- MJL

im terms of draftint i think they have done great. my only regret is not getting bellows but thays mainlyna function of me really wanting him during the draft and being dissapointed that we didnt snag him. Watching him dominate the world juniors didnt help

i think we have a good mix of prospects

G

Laughton played 2 NHL games last year because Hexy and Hak felt playing Bellemare, Vandevelde and Weise for an entire season was better for the team, so it's hard to tell what his improvement was. Still, taking 5 years to develop a first round pick into a bottom 6 forward isn't exactly one for the win column.
- PhillySportsGuy

That's false. Laughton only played 2 NHL games last year because the team felt it was better for him to develop his game and fine tune areas to be able to be an effective player in the NHL in the future by taking a full year in the AHL. It seems to be so far that they've done an excellent job is developing a former first round pick who was headed towards bust territory into a valuable and viable NHL player.

His +/- is currently zero so the notion that he is a liability at 5 on 5 is a bit presumptuous. For reference 5 of the top 10 Defensemen in points are currently in the negative. Only 2 of the remaining 5 are +10 or better.

So while his +/- of 0 is certainly not Hedman's +20 it's also certainly not Karlsson's -16 or Burns' -14 either.
- hereticpride

+/- is a useless stat. Ghost is a liability in his own zone. He's not a liability at 5 on 5.

Morin played two years in the Q and 2.5 years in the AHL and he still isn't on the NHL roster after being the 11th pick. Either he isn't developing the way he should be or the team choosing the play an inferior player in Manning over him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Morin was always a project pick. Him not being up with the boys is more of a function of bad timing and numbers than his abilities. He'll be up soon

+/- is a useless stat. Ghost is a liability in his own zone. He's not a liability at 5 on 5.
- PhillySportsGuy

his shot suppression metrics are actually decent sooooo

Also, the 2nd paragraph, the MJL response, is based on the premise that GMs and coaches don't make mistakes, so we should just trust they're doing things correctly.
- PhillySportsGuy

You should adopt some of my responses and consider that NHL GM' s and coaches are the experts and give them some benefit of the doubt that they know what they're doing. Everyone of your responses has been with a negative bias and pretty much stating that they aren't doing anything right. Comparatively I'm on solid ground compare to your responses and history will vindicate my stance versus yours.

Free Sanhiem.

Seriously. If you're at the point where you can separate the player Hextall from the GM Hextall you have to admit he is really in the wrong continuing to allow Sanhiem to be healthy scratched. He needs to be sent down or Hak needs to be told to play him.

On another note, as crazy as it sounds. Bring back Jagr. If you don't want to bring up Martell or Lindbolm to replace Jori freaking Lehtera on the power play that's fine. But don't try to tell me Jagr wouldn't be more useful on PP2 and to the kids in the locker room.
- hereticpride

Hakstol finally changed up the second PP unit. His plan was scratch Sanheim who should have got PP time all along and stick Manning on it. Keep Konecny off who is heating up and keep Patrick on who isn't offering much. Also make sure one of Weise or Lehtera is on it, who is also doing nothing.

His logic is flawless.

+/- is a useless stat. Ghost is a liability in his own zone. He's not a liability at 5 on 5.
- PhillySportsGuy

+/- is not a useless stat. It is simply a measure of goals for and against when a player is on the ice. Used correctly, nothing wrong with it.

Hakstol finally changed up the second PP unit. His plan was scratch Sanheim who should have got PP time all along and stick Manning it. Keep Konecny off who is heating up and keep Patrick on who isn't offering much. Also make sure one of Weise or Lehtera is on it, who is also doing nothing.

His logic is flawless.
- SuperSchennBros

2nd pp unit

sanheim and prov up top
Patrick and TK on the boards (can move TK behind the net on plays)
Raffl front of net

would even give laughton a look up there

his shot suppression metrics are actually decent sooooo
- bulet13

I know. That's due to his outstanding zone entry denials and his ability to drive play.

When he's in his own zone without the puck is when he struggles. It's harder to gain control in the offensive zone against Ghost, but when teams do, they can exploit him a bit.

PSG. God how I love you.

+/- is not a useless stat. It is simply a measure of goals for and against when a player is on the ice. Used correctly, nothing wrong with it.
- MJL

He literally said he wants Ghost to work to outscore the other team at 5 on 5. Idk how he can come back saying +/- is a useless stat but I'm not going to argue it.

I know. That's due to his outstanding zone entry denials and his ability to drive play.

When he's in his own zone without the puck is when he struggles. It's harder to gain control in the offensive zone against Ghost, but when teams do, they can exploit him a bit.
- PhillySportsGuy

That is always going to be the case with Gostisbehere. He is at a physical disadvantage down low along the walls and in the corners. Right now the Flyers are limited in being able to get the deployment and line mates to make up the best scenario to be a top team. As the younger players develop and they get better and better, so will Gostisbehere and others. It's a team game.

2nd pp unit

sanheim and prov up top
Patrick and TK on the boards (can move TK behind the net on plays)
Raffl front of net

would even give laughton a look up there
- bulet13

Laughton is deserving.

He literally said he wants Ghost to work to outscore the other team at 5 on 5. Idk how he can come back saying +/- is a useless stat but I'm not going to argue it.
- hereticpride

Right now, the Flyers are basically trying to win by loading up one defense pairing with one top line and playing them together in offensive situations as much as possible. While playing two defenseman, MacDonald and Hagg and using them as a shut down pair against top lines with heavy D zone starts. Neither player is really suited for that and the best that will happen there is that they survive. Luckily right now the Flyers have been getting better support play from other players in the last few games. That has certainly been up and down so we'll see how that continues.

In goal differential at 5 on 5, Gostisbehere is actually a +6.

Do people actually think Hak is doing well developing young players? Or do people just assume the young players will develop no matter what?
- PhillySportsGuy

While I do see some encouraging signs with the development I’m not totally sold on Hak being responsible.....is he getting blood from a stone or are some of these kids developing in spite of him ? While Bill is correct that kids develop on different levels if a lot of these kids do not pan out or turn into disapointments then Hak and Hex will be held responsible.

Morin played two years in the Q and 2.5 years in the AHL and he still isn't on the NHL roster after being the 11th pick. Either he isn't developing the way he should be or the team choosing the play an inferior player in Manning over him.
- PhillySportsGuy

He’s the one that sticks out with me as well....I actually think he’s played well, from my limited viewing.