Player buy in paramount. There isn't a coach worth a dam if his players don't play. Coaches who win Cups like Hitchcock, Laviolette, and Tortorella don't forget how to coach but they eventually get fired. It's a results oriented business. I don't believe that the Flyers have a roster that doesn't want to win. A lot of the players haven't learned how to win yet.
- MJL

I don't think that a pro should have to learn to play hard for 60 minutes. Or that they need to focus and keep their stick on the ice. I don't think a pro should have to learn their job doesn't end at the red line. That's the difference between winning and losing. A couple of players would benefit from some other players pinning them up against their lockers and educating them.

Pronger teams were madly inconsistent as well, often not showing up until the 3rd-period. Remember 2010, they almost didn't even make the PO's -- everybody remembers Boucher and that SO, but playing really poorly in the stretch run is what made that game do or die. The room was fractured between Prongs and the Richie/Carts crew. Michael Leighton.

Fiery coaching and intimidating vets don't solve everything.
- Tomahawk

But a heck of a lot more fun!

pseudo kidding aside....that could be a problem now as well

I’m going to throw a name out there. No idea how, or if he would even be available.

Trochek. I would like to explore a hockey trade here. Not sure what it takes.

Ummm, no. Absolutely not.
- MJL

There was a lot of sarcasm and voice inflection in the "Really" part of that statement

I'm in the same boat. I know very little about Knoblauch.

Here is how I see it right now. In terms of Hakstol, I think he is a very good development coach. He is very sound in the strategy of the game. Where I think the issue is his command of players and pushing the right buttons to get them to respond. I just don't think he has the pedigree and weight behind him to demand enough from his players. Will Knoblauch be any different? I think this team is at a crossroads here. At a point where some decisions on some players need to be made. If they're going to fire Hakstol, I'd prefer a more experienced NHL coach be brought in that has more experience handling an NHL bench and locker room.
- MJL

I'd rather see an experienced NHL coach come in and right the ship but I think we may see Knoblauch as heir apparent. Kris was drafted by Islanders but never played in NHL. All coaching success came at junior level.

I don't think that a pro should have to learn to play hard for 60 minutes. Or that they need to focus and keep their stick on the ice. I don't think a pro should have to learn their job doesn't end at the red line. That's the difference between winning and losing. A couple of players would benefit from some other players pinning them up against their lockers and educating them.
- hockeyal

This isn't about not playing hard team wide. There are some instances such as Voracek failing to back check, etc. but for the most part, it's not an effort issue. It's misdirected effort. They have a lot of fundamental issues to correct, especially defensively and on the PK.

Again, not advocating that.
- nails

Yeah sorry I saw that after I posted

I'd rather see an experienced NHL coach come in and right the ship but I think we may see Knoblauch as heir apparent. Kris was drafted by Islanders but never played in NHL. All coaching success came at junior level.
- cdearth23

I just think that would be another coach learning on the job and having to build up his command and authority on the bench. However, in reality, I have no idea if he would be a good coach or not.

I don't think that a pro should have to learn to play hard for 60 minutes. Or that they need to focus and keep their stick on the ice. I don't think a pro should have to learn their job doesn't end at the red line. That's the difference between winning and losing. A couple of players would benefit from some other players pinning them up against their lockers and educating them.
- hockeyal

They SHOULDN'T have to be externally motivated, but after working with college kids for 15 years, I can tell you that many of them do and the ones that don't rarely understand how to lead their peers to another level day in/day out. so yes, a coach that knows how to motivate is important.
As for one player pinning another against the locker....those days are long gone.

I’m going to throw a name out there. No idea how, or if he would even be available.

Trochek. I would like to explore a hockey trade here. Not sure what it takes.
- flyer_nutter

I would guess a lot. Probably too much

Yeah sorry I saw that after I posted
- VladDrag

No prob

I'd rather see an experienced NHL coach come in and right the ship but I think we may see Knoblauch as heir apparent. Kris was drafted by Islanders but never played in NHL. All coaching success came at junior level.
- cdearth23

I don’t like the idea of Knob. He is as much a part of this as Hak. His PP has regressed since they let Mullen go. Another noob terrifies me the more I think of it.

I would guess a lot. Probably too much
- VladDrag

Purely a hypothetical. Do you think Florida trades you Trochek for Couturier straight up?

I don’t like the idea of Knob. He is as much a part of this as Hak. His PP has regressed since they let Mullen go. Another noob terrifies me the more I think of it.
- flyer_nutter

Just like the PK, I don't see coaching as the issue with the PP. Watching the PP, it's obvious what the problems are there.

Purely a hypothetical. Do you think Florida trades you Trochek for Couturier straight up?
- flyer_nutter

Yes, but Hextall would laugh at it.

Purely a hypothetical. Do you think Florida trades you Trochek for Couturier straight up?
- flyer_nutter

Tough question. Their value is probably the same. Even their cap hit and term

The players you list are literally all of the good veterans on the team, and the ones with heart. Hartnell was always a guy who played hard when he wanted to. If Chief was behind moving him, them it was genius. He is exactly the kind of guy you move to get the room back.
- hockeyal

Huh?

Your original comment stated that it was best to move on from the players and not the coach because we’ve always moved forward with the group of players, which isn’t true. You also stated that the players loved Berube, which I don’t see any indication of that being true either by Hartnell’s comments of Berube once he was moved.

good to see theat HB hasn't changed much over the years

I thought they might miss Filppula.

This team has issues top to bottom with no areas of strength right now. So where do they start?

Goaltending? Special teams? Balanced scoring? Team defense? Nothing is up to par.

This team has issues top to bottom with no areas of strength right now. So where do they start?

Goaltending? Special teams? Balanced scoring? Team defense? Nothing is up to par.
- Baxter27

Checking and defensive play. Always start there, the rest will follow. Shouldn't have to coach fundamentals in the NHL.

I saw Vorobyov was sent down and two kids up. Not the kids I was hoping though.

I just think that would be another coach learning on the job and having to build up his command and authority on the bench. However, in reality, I have no idea if he would be a good coach or not.
- MJL

My thinking exactly. Why hire someone who has to develop as coach? Just worried it may have already been decided.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Islanders Throttle Flyers, 6-1
- bmeltzer

We suck so bad that other fans dont even troll us anymore
This is not how I expected this season to start out
This is sad to even watch

This team has issues top to bottom with no areas of strength right now. So where do they start?

Goaltending? Special teams? Balanced scoring? Team defense? Nothing is up to par.
- Baxter27

The offense and PP should be this team’s strengths. MJL is not wrong about the fundamentals but if they can manage to get the scoring going again, they can regain their confidence and limit the defensive errors.