Well...Sanheim looked pretty good.

So there's that.
- jmatchett383

He and Laughton are the bright spots of the season so far.

Well...Sanheim looked pretty good.

So there's that.
- jmatchett383

he's been really good the last 4-5 games. Laughton's game has been good as well. Gudas also is playing well.

what if hart never becomes ready then what? They should have had a better plan in place than Elliot and the other dreck to hold the fort down for the next 3 years. He choose not to and tis will hurt this team.
- rinaldo

They have Hart and Sandstrom in the pipeline and their 2 vets are on expiring deals. I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say that goaltending will be upgraded for 19-20.

It’s basically a combo of all of the above etc...

- BiggE

I like the players selected. The only thing I think should change would be to keep Weal in for a few more games. Yes, he's been rough with the stick infractions, but he's also been part of a line that has been real successful apart from last night.

I'd go:

28-14-11
23-19-93
21-40-17
24-15-NAK

If Raffl is back in I would switch the bottom line to 24-15-12. As much as I dislike Lehtera as an NHL player, he's not been an issue. I think we have the in-house players to make a better 4th line. By year's end..I would like something like:

28-14-11
25-19-93
23-24-17
12-21-NAK

Well...Sanheim looked pretty good.

So there's that.
- jmatchett383

yeah that and vorobyev should get back in are the positives for me

I thought provorov looked a little more active offensively

He and Laughton are the bright spots of the season so far.
- BiggE

I think Gudas improving in his play from last season is also a positive. Patrick looked pretty good in the two games coming off of injury.

They have Hart and Sandstrom in the pipeline and their 2 vets are on expiring deals. I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say that goaltending will be upgraded for 19-20.
- BiggE

And Ustemenko, who is crushing the MHL, should be (and may now be) in the KHL.

When does the time come to start dealing some of the picks/prospects to you know actually help the nhl club? I am not talking about acquiring aging vets or the like.
They expect to be a playoff club and take steps forward yet he kept the slop they have in goal while also not addressing the pk.

This is one area Ronald has pretty much completely ignored; helping the flyers. Hoarding picks and prospects is only one aspect of being a GM.

Also seems Bill and other media types are going out of there way to not put much blame on the goalies on both flyers and phantoms. Just my opinion.
- rinaldo

Agreed, if only Hexy would have signed a high profile player this Summer.

yeah that and vorobyev should get back in are the positives for me

I thought provorov looked a little more active offensively
- YuenglingJagr

I will be surprised if Vorobyev and Knight don't make an appearance for Raffl (injury dependent) and Weal. Hak was critical of Weal in the presser.

I actually agree re Provy. He's still in a slump, but he's getting better than the beginning of the season, kinda a two step forward one back scenario. I don't think anyone should really worry about Provy.

When does the time come to start dealing some of the picks/prospects to you know actually help the nhl club? I am not talking about acquiring aging vets or the like.
They expect to be a playoff club and take steps forward yet he kept the slop they have in goal while also not addressing the pk.

This is one area Ronald has pretty much completely ignored; helping the flyers. Hoarding picks and prospects is only one aspect of being a GM.

Also seems Bill and other media types are going out of there way to not put much blame on the goalies on both flyers and phantoms. Just my opinion.
- rinaldo

your comment about Hextall's job is really true. he has done a great job re-stocking the prospect pool. But his other work, in the way of trades and personnel changes really hasn't proved to work out so far.

I also believe Bill works for the Flyers and has to keep it professional when critiquing these guys...he's around them daily. I don't expect him to rip players or coaching or management.

If the goaltending continues this way Hextall will have to act. Im sure ownership signed off on JVR with the thoughts of a better team and certainly a playoff one.

They have Hart and Sandstrom in the pipeline and their 2 vets are on expiring deals. I think it’s a pretty safe bet to say that goaltending will be upgraded for 19-20.
- BiggE

the point is he should have addressed this already. Those while in the pipeline, no one knows when they will be ready.

Had he acquired a better goalie then the team itself would be better, I think you would agree with that. Then you don't have to rush the other 2 if you have some stability in net covered the next 3/4 years. Then when they are ready they have a vet in place to guide them along.

I just believe he crapped the bed in this are is all. My guess those players have little confidence in the current goalies.

yeah that and vorobyev should get back in are the positives for me

I thought provorov looked a little more active offensively
- YuenglingJagr

he jumped in the play a couple times in the 3rd period last night...is was good to see.

Jesus, Drama queens are out in full force. Flyers are not playing well, that is typical at this time of year. They have a strong team that isnt clicking atm. This is similar to when the flyers went on a 10 game losing streak last season. They will start playing better sometime next month.

And Ustemenko, who is crushing the MHL, should be (and may now be) in the KHL.
- VladDrag

Exactly. They will, hopefully, bring in a vet who is an upgrade over the current bunch for 19-20 and they are loaded with good goalie prospects. I don’t think goaltending will be an issue here for much longer.

Being patient sucks, and if they can make a reasonable deal to upgrade the goaltending now, I’m all for it. But now is certainly not the time to make a panic move or to fire the GM and start all over. The only guy I want to see fired and replaced right now is Lappy.

In regards to Hakstol, let’s see where this team is after 25 or so games. If they are sitting at something like 10-12-3, and still having bad starts to most games, then you make a coaching change. If they’ve picked it up a bit and are sitting at 12-10-3, then you give him the rest of the season.

Agreed, if only Hexy would have signed a high profile player this Summer.
- opeth_pa

wow you give one example out of how many? kudos to you.

the point is he should have addressed this already. Those while in the pipeline, no one knows when they will be ready.

Had he acquired a better goalie then the team itself would be better, I think you would agree with that. Then you don't have to rush the other 2 if you have some stability in net covered the next 3/4 years. Then when they are ready they have a vet in place to guide them along.

I just believe he crapped the bed in this are is all. My guess those players have little confidence in the current goalies.
- rinaldo

As I posted earlier, re-signing Neuvirth was a mistake and is totally on Hextall. However, overall, I think the good (cap management, drafting, not overpaying for UFA on long term deals) outweighs the bad.

the point is he should have addressed this already. Those while in the pipeline, no one knows when they will be ready.

Had he acquired a better goalie then the team itself would be better, I think you would agree with that. Then you don't have to rush the other 2 if you have some stability in net covered the next 3/4 years. Then when they are ready they have a vet in place to guide them along.

I just believe he crapped the bed in this are is all. My guess those players have little confidence in the current goalies.
- rinaldo

Realistically what better goalie should he have acquired for this season knowing that unless you go the FA route you need another team that is willing to trade.

I'm not a fan of Elliott long term and at this point not even short term and you are right Hart hasn't proven anything yet but I'm also not a fan of complaining without viable solutions.

the point is he should have addressed this already. Those while in the pipeline, no one knows when they will be ready.

Had he acquired a better goalie then the team itself would be better, I think you would agree with that. Then you don't have to rush the other 2 if you have some stability in net covered the next 3/4 years. Then when they are ready they have a vet in place to guide them along.

I just believe he crapped the bed in this are is all. My guess those players have little confidence in the current goalies.
- rinaldo

Why would he do that? He already had two goalies signed that he wasnt going to be able to move. Bob is a FA at the end of the year. That is our best chance at a goalie aside from waiting for Hart. Hextall unlike many here makes moves for the future, just not today

the point is he should have addressed this already. Those while in the pipeline, no one knows when they will be ready.

Had he acquired a better goalie then the team itself would be better, I think you would agree with that. Then you don't have to rush the other 2 if you have some stability in net covered the next 3/4 years. Then when they are ready they have a vet in place to guide them along.

I just believe he crapped the bed in this are is all. My guess those players have little confidence in the current goalies.
- rinaldo

To be fair Hextall signed Elliot and Nuevy in the hope to provide stability for a few years while some of these kids got the necessary experience. It just hasn't worked out.

I will be surprised if Vorobyev and Knight don't make an appearance for Raffl (injury dependent) and Weal. Hak was critical of Weal in the presser.

I actually agree re Provy. He's still in a slump, but he's getting better than the beginning of the season, kinda a two step forward one back scenario. I don't think anyone should really worry about Provy.
- VladDrag

No definitely not worried...just prefer he start playing the way he is capable for the Flyers sake lol.

I still haven't seen a replay of that trip. Can't take penalties like that when the PK sucks, but it's tough to only blame a guy if the PK lets up a goal.

Jesus, Drama queens are out in full force. Flyers are not playing well, that is typical at this time of year. They have a strong team that isnt clicking atm. This is similar to when the flyers went on a 10 game losing streak last season. They will start playing better sometime next month.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

It's not the fact that they're 4-5, it's the fact that there have been some seriously atrocious games. Even when they won vs. Florida, they had a full collpase and had to hang on for dear life. Columbus and San Jose were trainwrecks, as well.

Over Hakstol's tenure, they're a .500 team (by points) prior to this season, so being 4-5 isn't a huge concern. The process by which they are 4-5 is the bigger concern to me.

Exactly. They will, hopefully, bring in a vet who is an upgrade over the current bunch for 19-20 and they are loaded with good goalie prospects. I don’t think goaltending will be an issue here for much longer.

Being patient sucks, and if they can make a reasonable deal to upgrade the goaltending now, I’m all for it. But now is certainly not the time to make a panic move or to fire the GM and start all over. The only guy I want to see fired and replaced right now is Lappy.

In regards to Hakstol, let’s see where this team is after 25 or so games. If they are sitting at something like 10-12-3, and still having bad starts to most games, then you make a coaching change. If they’ve picked it up a bit and are sitting at 12-10-3, then you give him the rest of the season.
- BiggE

not much to bring in...maybe Jimmy Howard. I think Varlamov might be on the move, but he gets injured often, I doubt Rinne or Bob come here...then it is pretty much the same old poop

I know everyone has Neuvirth written off (and for good reason) but there is a chance he comes in and stabilizes this for a while

Jesus, Drama queens are out in full force. Flyers are not playing well, that is typical at this time of year. They have a strong team that isnt clicking atm. This is similar to when the flyers went on a 10 game losing streak last season. They will start playing better sometime next month.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Complacency is a hell of a drug.

Realistically what better goalie should he have acquired for this season knowing that unless you go the FA route you need another team that is willing to trade.

I'm not a fan of Elliott long term and at this point not even short term and you are right Hart hasn't proven anything yet but I'm also not a fan of complaining without viable solutions.
- opeth_pa

I would have gone after Varlamov, but it seemed like Washington was insisting the team take Orpik to keep the price down. Even so, with the cap space, buying out Orpik (which Colorado did) would have been doable.

Aside from that, nothing made sense if they plan on any of Hart/Sandstrom/etc. being NHL ready in 1-2 years.

As I posted earlier, re-signing Neuvirth was a mistake and is totally on Hextall. However, overall, I think the good (cap management, drafting, not overpaying for UFA on long term deals) outweighs the bad.
- BiggE

They had to at the time because they didn't want to lose Stolarz in the expansion draft. Neuvirth didn't want a one-year deal, so he had a bit of leverage.