In my day, it was play the man, don't know what they teach now. The puck can't shoot itself into the net. Guys that played the puck often looked like fools.
- FlyerFan16

It's always been play the man. I believe that play was 4 on 4. Players away from the puck, including Gostisbehere were caught watching the puck, instead of watching their man.

I think that's misguided. Looking at what kind of player Vadevelde was, how many available players are equals to the level of player that Vandevelde was, and how few spots are available for a player of that caliber, it's not at all a surprise.

Using the fact that Vandevelde did not get another NHL job after leaving the Flyers to push the narrative that he was not a legitimate NHL player is not valid in my opinion.
- MJL

I actually never minded that he was on the Flyers. My main issue was that he was used so much/so often when you take into account the part that I bolded.

Was he a role player who played the safe/responsible type of game that Hakstol wanted? Yes. Was he anything more than a dime-a-dozen 4th line winger? To me, no. So really, my main issue was how he was never made a healthy scratch (until, for some reason, the last game of the season) during his last 2 years here. He had a limited skillset, and the fact that he was never made a healthy scratch while other, more skilled players were, is my issue. I know the reasons (Hakstol wants certain players to play certain ways, made younger players learn, etc.). But the fact that even similar players like Bellemare and Raffl, who plays similar roles but have more upside, could be healthy scratched while Vandevelde was immune to it.

I view him kind of like I view Manning. Yes, both players can play roles in the NHL. There are a large amount of players (more so in VandeVelde's case) that can perform that role in a similar capacity. So it wasn't so much them as the coach's overreliance and inability/unwillingness to ever healthy scratch them, unless it was done as a last resort, that I had an issue with.

Also, you asked a question that I answered. If you don't agree, that's fine, just giving my view on it.

In my day, it was play the man, don't know what they teach now. The puck can't shoot itself into the net. Guys that played the puck often looked like fools.
- FlyerFan16

It depends on the situation. Generally speaking, I'd look the play the body. Much easier to miss the puck than the player.

It depends on the situation. Generally speaking, I'd look the play the body. Much easier to miss the puck than the player.
- jmatchett383

Play the man by focusing on the crest of the uniform. Where ever that is going is hard to move from where he is really going. Coots misses the crest by a little but still made a solid enough play that if everyone is in proper places there is no danger.

Its always about the goal. For all the work Tavares did to SC, he wasnt a threat, he was up against the boards. Ghost lost his man. If hes with him, then he breaks up the pass.
- KINGKENZO

This. It was excellent work by Tavares, nobody can deny that, but had Bailey been properly covered the work would've been for naught.

Are we really discussing a game from last season to this extent over a simple miscoverage? Man, you know it’s the dog days of summer... how many more days until camp

I'm bored, so, FWIW, here are some picks for the upcoming season:

Presidents Trophy winner: Tampa
Cup Winner: Nashville (finally)
Where the Flyers finish: 2nd in the Metro
How far the Flyers get in the playoffs: Lose in 2nd round
Flyers leading goal scorer: JVR with 32
Flyers leading assist scorer: Giroux with 57
Flyers leading point scorer: Giroux with 86
Goals and points for Provorov: 15/49
Does Provorov finish in the top 10 for the Norris: Yes...Top 5: No
Goals/assists/points for Nolan Patrick: 24/35/59
Hart Trophy winner: Kucherov
Ross Trophy winner: McDavid
Richard Trophy winner: Patrick Laine
Norris Trophy winner: Hedman
First coach fired:Todd McClellan

Are we really discussing a game from last season to this extent over a simple miscoverage? Man, you know it’s the dog days of summer... how many more days until camp
- arichardson22

Maybe we could look at positive, instead.

Ghost and Couturier scored a total of 141 points last season, and they have a combined cap hit of less than $9m.

I'm bored, so, FWIW, here are some picks for the upcoming season:

Presidents Trophy winner: Tampa
Cup Winner: Nashville (finally)
Where the Flyers finish: 2nd in the Metro
How far the Flyers get in the playoffs: Lose in 2nd round
Flyers leading goal scorer: JVR with 32
Flyers leading assist scorer: Giroux with 57
Flyers leading point scorer: Giroux with 86
Goals and points for Provorov: 15/49
Does Provorov finish in the top 10 for the Norris: Yes...Top 5: No
Goals/assists/points for Nolan Patrick: 24/35/59
Hart Trophy winner: Kucherov
Ross Trophy winner: McDavid
Richard Trophy winner: Patrick Laine
Norris Trophy winner: Hedman
First coach fired:Todd McClellan
- BiggE

for some random reason i have a feeling Preds will disappoint this year

Maybe we could look at positive, instead.

Ghost and Couturier scored a total of 141 points last season, and they have a combined cap hit of less than $9m.
- Feanor

That’s the spirit!

for some random reason i have a feeling Preds will disappoint this year
- YuenglingJagr

Lavy wears out his welcome and gets canned?

I actually see Torts being due to get canned.

Maybe we could look at positive, instead.

Ghost and Couturier scored a total of 141 points last season, and they have a combined cap hit of less than $9m.
- Feanor

Maybe we could look at positive, instead.

Ghost and Couturier scored a total of 141 points last season, and they have a combined cap hit of less than $9m.
- Feanor

well Tavares has a cap hit of 11m and he made them both look soooooo stupid!

well Tavares has a cap hit of 11m and he made them both look soooooo stupid!
- Ftown19125

I'm bored, so, FWIW, here are some picks for the upcoming season:

Presidents Trophy winner: Tampa
Cup Winner: Nashville (finally)
Where the Flyers finish: 2nd in the Metro
How far the Flyers get in the playoffs: Lose in 2nd round
Flyers leading goal scorer: JVR with 32
Flyers leading assist scorer: Giroux with 57
Flyers leading point scorer: Giroux with 86
Goals and points for Provorov: 15/49
Does Provorov finish in the top 10 for the Norris: Yes...Top 5: No
Goals/assists/points for Nolan Patrick: 24/35/59
Hart Trophy winner: Kucherov
Ross Trophy winner: McDavid
Richard Trophy winner: Patrick Laine
Norris Trophy winner: Hedman
First coach fired:Todd McClellan
- BiggE

Selke Winner ????????

Lavy wears out his welcome and gets canned?

I actually see Torts being due to get canned.
- dragonoffrost

I can see Columbus disappointing and dropping out of the playoff picture, for sure, depending on health.

It depends on the situation. Generally speaking, I'd look the play the body. Much easier to miss the puck than the player.
- jmatchett383

The situation 🤗 is he still on the telly 🤔

for some random reason i have a feeling Preds will disappoint this year
- YuenglingJagr

I call it - The Curse of Rinaldo.

[quote=BiggE]I'm bored, so, FWIW, here are some picks for the upcoming season:

Presidents Trophy winner: Tampa
Cup Winner: Nashville (finally)
Where the Flyers finish: 2nd in the Metro
How far the Flyers get in the playoffs: Lose in 2nd round
Flyers leading goal scorer: JVR with 32
Flyers leading assist scorer: Giroux with 57
Flyers leading point scorer: Giroux with 86
Goals and points for Provorov: 15/49
Does Provorov finish in the top 10 for the Norris: Yes...Top 5: No
Goals/assists/points for Nolan Patrick: 24/35/59
Hart Trophy winner: Kucherov
Ross Trophy winner: McDavid
Richard Trophy winner: Patrick Laine
Norris Trophy winner: Hedman
First coach fired:Dave “squirrel face” Hakstol.

Selke Winner ????????
- jmatchett383

If he’s healthy enough to play 70+ games, Couturier will finally win it. If not, probably Bergeron

I'm bored, so, FWIW, here are some picks for the upcoming season:

Presidents Trophy winner: Tampa
Cup Winner: Nashville (finally)
Where the Flyers finish: 2nd in the Metro
How far the Flyers get in the playoffs: Lose in 2nd round
Flyers leading goal scorer: JVR with 32
Flyers leading assist scorer: Giroux with 57
Flyers leading point scorer: Giroux with 86
Goals and points for Provorov: 15/49
Does Provorov finish in the top 10 for the Norris: Yes...Top 5: No
Goals/assists/points for Nolan Patrick: 24/35/59
Hart Trophy winner: Kucherov
Ross Trophy winner: McDavid
Richard Trophy winner: Patrick Laine
Norris Trophy winner: Hedman
First coach fired:Todd McClellan
- BiggE

1 week ago
Calder: Dahlin
Selke: Couturier
Hart: McDavid
Art Ross: Giroux
Lindsay: McDavid
Richard: Malkin
Norris: Provorov
Presidents: Tampa
Cup: Columbus
Vezina: Vasilevskiy

If he’s healthy enough to play 70+ games, Couturier will finally win it. If not, probably Bergeron
- BiggE

Lotta people saying that Barkov in Florida is a new Selke challenger but because he plays in Florida he doesn't get as much national coverage (US & Canada) as Bergy, Coots and Kopitar.

1 week ago
Calder: Dahlin
Selke: Couturier
Hart: McDavid
Art Ross: Giroux
Lindsay: McDavid
Richard: Malkin
Norris: Provorov
Presidents: Tampa
Cup: Columbus
Vezina: Vasilevskiy
- Pixote Andolini

Could you imagine if provy won the Norris at this point of his career? Never could understand how jersey didn't select him

1 week ago
Calder: Dahlin
Selke: Couturier
Hart: McDavid
Art Ross: Giroux
Lindsay: McDavid
Richard: Malkin
Norris: Provorov
Presidents: Tampa
Cup: Columbus
Vezina: Vasilevskiy
- Pixote Andolini

I hope Dahlin struggles mightily just to shut up that Idiot Sabres "blogger".

I actually never minded that he was on the Flyers. My main issue was that he was used so much/so often when you take into account the part that I bolded.

Was he a role player who played the safe/responsible type of game that Hakstol wanted? Yes. Was he anything more than a dime-a-dozen 4th line winger? To me, no. So really, my main issue was how he was never made a healthy scratch (until, for some reason, the last game of the season) during his last 2 years here. He had a limited skillset, and the fact that he was never made a healthy scratch while other, more skilled players were, is my issue. I know the reasons (Hakstol wants certain players to play certain ways, made younger players learn, etc.). But the fact that even similar players like Bellemare and Raffl, who plays similar roles but have more upside, could be healthy scratched while Vandevelde was immune to it.

I view him kind of like I view Manning. Yes, both players can play roles in the NHL. There are a large amount of players (more so in VandeVelde's case) that can perform that role in a similar capacity. So it wasn't so much them as the coach's overreliance and inability/unwillingness to ever healthy scratch them, unless it was done as a last resort, that I had an issue with.

Also, you asked a question that I answered. If you don't agree, that's fine, just giving my view on it.
- jmatchett383

How many times was Bellemare a healthy scratch? It's really a futile argument. Some just are unwilling to accept that the players that were more skilled simply weren't better in the role with the qualities that the coach was looking for. If they were, they would've played more. Nobody refutes that there were more skilled and talented players available, but that does not automatically translate into an upgrade for the role.