Schenn and Hartnell would set up close to the net. As soon as the puck goes to G they back off to the slot creating a gap for an easy pass and one timer. Very simple and very effective but they no longer do this. It drives me nuts.
- Djapana

Couturier does that often.

So having total reliance on your 2nd year pro and rookie to man the 2C and 3C spots was sound judgement?

Having two goalies coming off injuries was sound judgment?

The team was struggling and yet you didn't make any changes to address them? Coaching or players.

PK wasn't addressed.

Why have almost all the young payers this year regressed it seems?

HE said they needed to take a step forward. They aren't.
- J35Bacher

I'm not sure Hextall neglected the 18-19 team on purpose....I really think he trusted his coaching and his players to fix their problems. I think the trust was misplaced.
I think his inability or reluctance to act infuriated the higher ups when it became apparent that things were only getting worse.
As some have stated, his inflexibility to the core plan was the final straw....I mean Holmgren said as much.
The future now belongs to a guy that none of us really have a feel for...I don't anyway. But what we do know is the previous guy was let go for not addressing this years issue's in an acceptable fashion. Do people actually think that Fletcher wasn't brought in to make some substantial changes? really?

Couturier does that often.
- MJL

He tries but is rarely open for a clean shot. It’s a timing play and also requires the physical ability to take the abuse down low. I thought maybe JVR would be better there now considering the players available . Put Simmonds next to the net, JVR in the slot . Coots goes to PP2.

ttt

The Hall trade was a reminder that you never know, just like when the Weber for Subban trade went down, who knew. Yeah I get RNH make them better but he is in the rumor mill. Hitch also has the Oil playing better D.

just spitballing with Simmonds, main point is kick those tires...

you could also flip Simmer to another team for something the Oil needs and put a package together
- wcorvette

100%....if the Flyers put quality talent up in trade talks, I would expect some quality talent coming back. Over on the Athletic Pierre labrun interviewed Fletch yesterday and basically said he's already had exploratory talks regarding trades. He's been scouting all year for the Devils, he said he studies other teams players and contracts....he's not new to the league. What he does need to do is evaluate what the Flyers have in the way of value and how the pieces fit.

He tries but is rarely open for a clean shot. It’s a timing play and also requires the physical ability to take the abuse down low. I thought maybe JVR would be better there now considering the players available . Put Simmonds next to the net, JVR in the slot . Coots goes to PP2.
- Djapana

I'd like to see that but I think they like having two centers for faceoffs out there. Schenn was just better at it.

Make Brian Elliot #2

Not in our future plans.

Go with Stoltz

I saw Hart play recently and he looked fantastic. In fact, he’s played extremely well for about a month now. I think he’s the real deal. I can see him in a 25-30 start backup role in 19-20 and ready for the top job in 20-21. This is why I’d look to pick up Crawford. He can be the veteran starter in 19-20 and then the Flyers can go the FA route to sign a vet to back up Hart in 20-21
- BiggE

While that would be nice, I think it's more likely the years are 20-21 and then 21-22 in your scenario for Hart. That's why I wouldn't mind getting a good goalie now who is signed for a reasonable deal for 3-4 years.

I wonder what happens when Fletcher starts getting these same kinds of offers Hexy was getting, and then refuses to make them for the same reasons Hexy did?
- MBFlyerfan

It'll be A-OK cause the boys got wings after a game

While that would be nice, I think it's more likely the years are 20-21 and then 21-22 in your scenario for Hart. That's why I wouldn't mind getting a good goalie now who is signed for a reasonable deal for 3-4 years.
- Scoob

this is what I'm hoping for as well...a good, solid tender for 3-4 years and let Hart come when he's ready as a back up that gets 30 odd games a year. That position needs to be solidified.

It'll be A-OK cause the boys got wings after a game
- corduroy

It's going to take a few games for the secret sauce to kick in. They did eliminate the blue cheese though. Have to be healthy.

Hextall attempted to sign Taveras and Stastny. If the cost of other deals out there were unacceptable, then yes, rely on the young players rather than make bad deals.

Relying on Neuvirth was a mistake but not so in the case of Elliott. I think he also thought that Lyon could backup. He also got hurt. If Elliott hadn't gotten hurt, things would be different.

Adding one player is not going to change the PK. Again back to the same issue of what was available and for what.

You said he didn't make any changes. That's false. He brought in JVR, let go of Manning. Brought in Folin.

This is not a situation that they can trade or sign their way out of. The young players developing is how the next step was going to be taken.
- MJL

Did he attempt? We don't know. You can always say that without it really meaning much. The Nationals attempted to sign Bryce harper, knowing full well he wasn't going to sign their deal.

Relying on Elliot after core muscle surgery was a mistake. We saw how long it took for Patrick and Giroux to really get back. You thought a goalie would be fine without another proven backstop to handle games?

The PK could have been tinkered with prior to the start of the season. We see Weise getting time now. Why not earlier. Why isn't lindblom or Patrick working there. Why wasn't a new coach brought in after it was horrendous last year.

He brought in van Riemsdyk but as we are seeing was he a good fit? i don't know yet but the mix doesn't seem to work. Manning was a UFA and got a better deal in Chicago. Folin was a cheap 7 defender. YEAH

I never said you can sign or trade your way out of it. You could have traded or signed your way into a better situation to start.

It's going to take a few games for the secret sauce to kick in. They did eliminate the blue cheese though. Have to be healthy.
- MJL

Cauliflower pizza on deck after wednesday's game

Feel like fletcher should make a trade today just to get the jitters out of the way

Cauliflower pizza on deck after wednesday's game
- corduroy

Harsh

Cauliflower pizza on deck after wednesday's game
- corduroy

the dumbest of pizzas

One thing that I would really like fixed before the start of next season is the # of goalies on the rosters between the NHL and AHL. After we claimed Pickard off waivers, and seemed unwilling to waive him, it became a horrible situation of not being able to provide starts for our goalies. With 3 contracts ending this season, the opportunity is here to fix this moving forward. I would prefer to give AHL guys an opportunity in the NHL and ECHL guys a chance at the AHL when injuries occur. Obviously, long term injuries require a replacement to be found.

This season moving forward if Elliott’s health is questionable, the Flyers almost have to acquire another goalie. I am perfectly fine with that and prefer a stop gap type on a short contract. However, if people really believe that this one move alone is the winning recipe, prepare for disappointment. It will prevent us from getting worse possibly, but it alone will not move the needle far enough to make a significant impact. Would winning 3 or 4 more games, than we would have, get us into the playoffs?

This is why we should prioritize the other trades, because if we can get the center and defenseman, adding the goalie might really be worth what we lose to get him.

He tries but is rarely open for a clean shot. It’s a timing play and also requires the physical ability to take the abuse down low. I thought maybe JVR would be better there now considering the players available . Put Simmonds next to the net, JVR in the slot . Coots goes to PP2.
- Djapana

In previous years, most teams played our power play passively and we were able to pick their pk with passes.

Now most teams pressure the puck against our power play and we don’t have time to see those passes because we are just trying to maintain possession.

It’s the same reason our passive box pk is so awful, we give the other team time to find passes for open shots.

I don’t understand how our coaching staff can’t see this and I don’t understand how our players don’t convey this to the coaches.

So are the Flyers really in much better position than Chicago or LA to be trading for their goalie? I mean, they are "selling" but we are buying on a goalie? honestly doesn't make sense to me

So are the Flyers really in much better position than Chicago or LA to be trading for their goalie? I mean, they are "selling" but we are buying on a goalie? honestly doesn't make sense to me
- nastyflyergirl

I think you have to see how this road trip ends. Right now they are still 5 points from 3rd in the metro. As dumb as it sounds the Metro is so tight that a quick winning streak and another team loses some and your right there.

The holiday roster freeze is the 19th.

So are the Flyers really in much better position than Chicago or LA to be trading for their goalie? I mean, they are "selling" but we are buying on a goalie? honestly doesn't make sense to me
- nastyflyergirl

I agree, trading for a goaltender who aren't playing well on a poor team then putting them in the same situation and expecting them to be different.

So are the Flyers really in much better position than Chicago or LA to be trading for their goalie? I mean, they are "selling" but we are buying on a goalie? honestly doesn't make sense to me
- nastyflyergirl

Changes must be made

So are the Flyers really in much better position than Chicago or LA to be trading for their goalie? I mean, they are "selling" but we are buying on a goalie? honestly doesn't make sense to me
- nastyflyergirl

I think the Flyers, to a man, are better than both of those teams. Also, they Flyers goaltending this year has been poor to put it nicely. If they can get even league average goaltending, they would be in a better spot. I think that both Crawford and Quick can provide that, provided they can stay healthy, which is a concern.

This team is NOT making the playoffs this year. I’d rather see Fletcher take the entire season to evaluate this team and get a good grasp on what is needed and make his changes in the offseason and maybe try to dump a few players by the trade deadline and get some assets. Panic trades usually don’t end well for a team at the bottom of the league anyway. If anything I’d be ok with trying to get Quenville in here if he’d come and let him asses this team as well and then move forward with players he wants come The draft and free agency.

I agree, trading for a goaltender who aren't playing well on a poor team then putting them in the same situation and expecting them to be different.
- Glak18

Change of team might work out for a Quick/Crawford type. It worked for Dubnyk.