I agree. He does a lot of things that I don't agree with, but I understand why he does most of what he does. Every now and then there's a head scratcher (the challenge vs. Nashville being a prime example). But generally, I get why he does what he does.
- jmatchett383

It was a very good read and, for the most part, I understand and agree with what Hakstol has been trying to do. He's spent the last 3 seasons working on installing his system and getting his team to play the game the way he wants it to be played. My biggest complaint has nothing to do with benchings or even, for the most part, with his lineups. I'm more concerned that he tends to get locked into this system and doesn't adjust well on the fly if things aren't working. However, in his defense, this is a failing of many NHL coaches. My only other complaint is that he has a tendency to ride a hot goalie until the guy just falls apart. You can get away with that if you have a stud, workhorse number 1 guy, but when your goalies are Elliott, Neuvirth and whatever kid steps in for Neuvirth while injured, you just can't do that. He needs to improve in this facet of his game. Obviously the other issue is the PK. We all lob most of the blame on Lappy, but Hak is the head coach and, at the end of the day, it falls on him. Obviously, personnel has a lot to do with the success/failure of the PK. When you only have average goalies and only 1 Dman who can really match up well against a top pp unit, you are going to have problems. However, being a little more aggressive in how they pressure the opponent when coming through the neutral zone and in their D zone puck pursuit, would also help quite a bit.

This will be an interesting year. He finally has pretty good talent at all positions, save possibly the most important position (goal), and the expectations will be greater. Just squeaking into the playoffs is not going to be enough, I think the front office will be disappointed with another first round exit. I also think the decision to go forward with Hakstol will be made following this season as well. He'll either be signed to an extension or let go. I don't think they want to go into 19-20 with a lame duck coach. I don't think you can say he has to win a round or he's gone as injuries and whatnot make that pretty difficult to say. However, I think Hextall will want to see him give more responsibility to younger players who have been here for a while and also he'll be closely watching how he eases rookies into the lineup of what should be a playoff team.

He seems like a good guy, and I hope he can get us into the playoffs, win a round or better yet 2 this season and be the guy who leads us to a Cup in another year or two, but time will tell. The jury is still out.

Trivia: What also floats in water?
- YuenglingJagr

hmm....very small rocks?

I think a good coach would have figured out a way for this roster to not be the 27th best team at scoring goals in the first period, and to not be the 28th best PK in the league. The roster may not have been great the past three years, but it was not bottom five, either.
- Feanor

The 27th best at scoring in the first is the much more troublesome stat to me. The PK, IMO, while too passive for my liking, suffers just as much from personnel issues. Outside of Provorov, they had no Dmen who you'd really want out there against a top pp unit and their goaltending, for most of the season, was average at best.

Soon we will see one of those mock "Sacrifice everything" pictures with Gritty.
- J35Bacher

Lol

ttt

Goodnight, internet. pic.twitter.com/gx2Pbxfcds

— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) September 25, 2018

the guys that invented Gritty are geniuses
- 2Real

lol!!
Gritty is my latest follow

Trivia: What also floats in water?
- YuenglingJagr

AMacs mistakes?

Trivia: What also floats in water?
- YuenglingJagr

Very small rocks

Trivia: What also floats in water?
- YuenglingJagr

Pool noodles, dead bodies, and poop.

He might run away with the job or he could get shelled because they rushed him and destroy his confidence. I'd rather play Elliot and Stolarz/Lyon than see Hart in the NHL to start the season. There is literally zero need to rush Hart into the NHL, zero.
- ajw12

Neither Lyon nor Neuvirth will be ready at the start of the season, so unless you acquire someone, the other goalie along with Elliott will be Stolarz or Hart. Stolarz has barely played in over a year and could really benefit, even more than Hart, from getting steady work in the AHL. Hart will be fine. The kid has a good head on his shoulders and getting a few NHL games under his belt in October, whether he plays well or poorly, won't do any lasting damage to him. So far he's been, by far, their best goalie in preseason.

I'd like to see them start Elliott again against the Rags Thursday and see if he's any sharper. I'd then give Hart the start against Boston in the final pre-season which will likely feature, for the most part, each teams opening night lineup. This will be his toughest test and if he performs well, there is no reason not to open the season with Elliott/Hart as the goalie tandem.

Pool noodles, dead bodies, and poop.
- arichardson22

Not if you properly weigh them down first....um, at least that's what I've seen on tv...I, uh..have no personal experience with this whatsoever. Nope, none at all.....

Not if you properly weigh them down first....um, at least that's what I've seen on tv...I, uh..have no personal experience with this whatsoever. Nope, none at all.....
- BiggE

In totally unrelated news, Dale Weise never made it home last night.

Go back to bed, you're still drunk.
- BenderRodriguez

I want to see what JVR can do HERE. If he is anywhere close to what he was in Toronto, then yes, they have good multiple line scoring. I'm not drunk, I'm being realistic.

In totally unrelated news, Dale Weise never made it home last night.
- jmatchett383

Addition by subtraction.

Addition by subtraction.
- CupOnBroadSt.

(It was a joke)

I want to see what JVR can do HERE. If he is anywhere close to what he was in Toronto, then yes, they have good multiple line scoring. I'm not drunk, I'm being pessimistic.
- CupOnBroadSt.

ftfy

So Gritty = Kaepernick
- wcorvette

He's orange, frightens women and children, and has blown up the internet. It's more like Gritty = Trump

Trivia: What also floats in water?
- YuenglingJagr

Natalie Wood...wait...no, that's not it

very small rocks was indeed the correct answer...well done

(It was a joke)
- jmatchett383

Yes, I know.

Article on Hak if anyone wants to read it: http://www.philly.com/phi...-flyers-north-dakota.html
- opeth_pa

Very good read. Will read again.

My favorite two words of the entire article: mirthless look lol, perfect description

I like DH and think he's going to do big things with this team over time.

ftfy
- ajw12

Neither Lyon nor Neuvirth will be ready at the start of the season, so unless you acquire someone, the other goalie along with Elliott will be Stolarz or Hart. Stolarz has barely played in over a year and could really benefit, even more than Hart, from getting steady work in the AHL. Hart will be fine. The kid has a good head on his shoulders and getting a few NHL games under his belt in October, whether he plays well or poorly, won't do any lasting damage to him. So far he's been, by far, their best goalie in preseason.

I'd like to see them start Elliott again against the Rags Thursday and see if he's any sharper. I'd then give Hart the start against Boston in the final pre-season which will likely feature, for the most part, each teams opening night lineup. This will be his toughest test and if he performs well, there is no reason not to open the season with Elliott/Hart as the goalie tandem.
- BiggE

I agree, I think he would be fine mentally if he were to get shelled in the NHL. But I just don't see the need to rush him. Neuvirth should be back not long after the regular season begins and then Lyon a little bit after that.

I also see your side though, if Elliott falters again and then Hart plays well against Boston I could see them keeping Hart up with Elliott. I just want them to be careful with Hart because if he pans out and they finally have that bonafide number 1 goalie, they're going to have a long window of being cup contenders.

It was a very good read and, for the most part, I understand and agree with what Hakstol has been trying to do. He's spent the last 3 seasons working on installing his system and getting his team to play the game the way he wants it to be played. My biggest complaint has nothing to do with benchings or even, for the most part, with his lineups. I'm more concerned that he tends to get locked into this system and doesn't adjust well on the fly if things aren't working. However, in his defense, this is a failing of many NHL coaches. My only other complaint is that he has a tendency to ride a hot goalie until the guy just falls apart. You can get away with that if you have a stud, workhorse number 1 guy, but when your goalies are Elliott, Neuvirth and whatever kid steps in for Neuvirth while injured, you just can't do that. He needs to improve in this facet of his game. Obviously the other issue is the PK. We all lob most of the blame on Lappy, but Hak is the head coach and, at the end of the day, it falls on him. Obviously, personnel has a lot to do with the success/failure of the PK. When you only have average goalies and only 1 Dman who can really match up well against a top pp unit, you are going to have problems. However, being a little more aggressive in how they pressure the opponent when coming through the neutral zone and in their D zone puck pursuit, would also help quite a bit.

This will be an interesting year. He finally has pretty good talent at all positions, save possibly the most important position (goal), and the expectations will be greater. Just squeaking into the playoffs is not going to be enough, I think the front office will be disappointed with another first round exit. I also think the decision to go forward with Hakstol will be made following this season as well. He'll either be signed to an extension or let go. I don't think they want to go into 19-20 with a lame duck coach. I don't think you can say he has to win a round or he's gone as injuries and whatnot make that pretty difficult to say. However, I think Hextall will want to see him give more responsibility to younger players who have been here for a while and also he'll be closely watching how he eases rookies into the lineup of what should be a playoff team.

He seems like a good guy, and I hope he can get us into the playoffs, win a round or better yet 2 this season and be the guy who leads us to a Cup in another year or two, but time will tell. The jury is still out.
- BiggE

I think some of the issues are organizational and some are on him. Overall I expect him to have enough to be very competitive this year.

organizational:
PK
4th line
slow starts

him:
goalies
veteran presents
slow starts
turtling

I hated it at first. But I like it now. I don't think I like it for the reasons the creators intended, but I really am enjoying it.



Edit: So supposedly, Gritty was going to be on GMA and Preston and Steve. Can Gritty talk???
- jmatchett383

I anticipate his voice sounding like a life long chain smoking 90 year old